Every now & then, Inventions make history. This one uses concrete & balloons. Link

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Instant concrete field shelter, just push button, add water. Bulletproof & storm proof.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/7107940.stm

An emergency shelter which can be set up in 40 minutes as a solid concrete structure will be made in south Wales after winning worldwide interest.


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Will Crawford and Peter Brewin's design will go into production at their new plant near Pontypridd next summer.

It is made by adding water, pumping it into shape and waiting for it to dry.

Their "concrete canvas" shelters have already drawn interest from aid agencies and the military
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"The concrete cloth is inspired by the material used to make plaster casts in hospital, but we had to come up with a completely different way of making it work with concrete."

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The shelter is delivered in a bag, which is ripped open and water added.

The material soaks up the moisture, activating the concrete. But the cloth remains flexible and is inflated by a battery-operated pump.

After 12 hours, the shelter becomes completely solid, and can even withstand being shot at with handguns.

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The entrepreneurs have already sold a shelter to the US military to be assessed, and they will fly to America in the new year to give a demonstration to the US Naval Construction Force and federal emergency planners.

This is brilliant !

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

DAMMIT!

Nobody even read this?!

[Sierra Indigo]

I saw that episode of Dragon's Den.

I figured the boys would find a market for it - good on them for holding out against the 40% equity grab.

[jjimm]

This was on Dragon's Den (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/), currently the best thing (made in Britain) on British TV. The Dragons refused to invest because they weren't convinced there was any kind of disposal mechanism, because armies and refugees are mobile, and these things aren't, and capping the ends of the tents hadn't been fully explored.

ETA: or perhaps I misremembered what the Dragons said...

That said, I think it's a great idea myself. Then again, I wasn't being asked to put my own money behind the idea...

[silenus]

I can foresee a number of problems with their idea, but it's a neat one anyway.

[Sierra Indigo]

ETA: or perhaps I misremembered what the Dragons said...

IIRC the boys were offering a total of 20% equity share, but either two dragons wanted in but would only accept 20% each OR one was in but wanted 40%. I can't remember that bit 100%. But they would have had the backing if they went with the 40% share.

[Eliahna]

Sounds remarkably similar to a Bini Shell, though possibly more portable and temporary.

[Snarky_Kong]

I wonder how hot it gets during curing. High early strength cement still takes way longer than 12 hours for appreciable strength. I suppose this thing isn't designed to support much load anyway.

[Terrifel]

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the "inflatable concrete igloo" will not, ultimately, join the short list of Inventions that Went On to Make History. But it's a keen idea, and I wish I'd thought of it. The ingenuity of the concept reminds me of the inventions honored by the annual Rolex Awards for Enterprise, most of which sound incredibly cool and are never heard from again (speaking of which: hey Rolex, where's my bioengineered living glow-in-the-dark Christmas tree, dammit?) Thomas Edison, the patron saint of instant concrete housing, would no doubt approve (probably as much of their ability to secure funding for the idea as for any practical application).

[Terrifel]

Something else just occurred to me: combine this invention with Inflatable Woman technology, and you have the basis for the Greatest Act of Vandalism Ever.

"Say, that group of sculptures in front of City Hall wasn't there yesterday-- OH MY GOD!!!"

So perhaps there's history-making potential here after all.

[devilsknew]

You could use the same technology for a concrete boat, if such a thing is deemed necessary, novel, or secondary.

[devilsknew]

I also foresee this invention's use as a "Portable foxhole". It could be a very effective "exoskeleton" for defensive troops that are dug in. I foresee it being used as a layered and prepared carbon composite, kevlar fabric, concrete hardened manhole cover. An impervious anti ballistic unit for each dug in GI- A simple "pup tent" configuration for each entrenched man. Personalized kits for every man. A foxhole with a semi-portable, squad friendly, composite, carbon, kevlar, concrete man sized bunker. A hardened "sleeping bag" with colored concretes for each camo environment.

[devilsknew]

...just add water.

[Tuckerfan]

Ages ago, there was a Popular Science article that described something similar. Sadly, however, all I can find related to it on the web are this (http://www.wikipatents.com/4651479.html) and this. (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4291679.html) Basically, buildings could be made out of little more than rebar, window screen and concrete. The article discussed a number of buildings which were planned or under construction, but I'm unable to find anything useful via Google.

[Mangetout]

This was on Dragon's Den (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/), currently the best thing (made in Britain) on British TV.You like it that much? I think it's jumped the shark - it seems to be moving away from being about showcasing wacky in brainy inventors and offering a crumb of entrepreneurial hope, towards being about how the dragons can afford to be disparaging bastards.

[Mangetout]

Ages ago, there was a Popular Science article that described something similar. Sadly, however, all I can find related to it on the web are this (http://www.wikipatents.com/4651479.html) and this. (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4291679.html) Basically, buildings could be made out of little more than rebar, window screen and concrete. The article discussed a number of buildings which were planned or under construction, but I'm unable to find anything useful via Google.
You're not thinking of the HexaYurt (http://hexayurt.com/) project, are you?

[Tuckerfan]

You're not thinking of the HexaYurt (http://hexayurt.com/) project, are you?
Nope. This was 20+ years ago. The hexayurt ain't even 10 years old, and wasn't invented by a professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.