Abstract:
A mobile container has a functional space and a technical module for power supply and/or air conditioning of the functional space. The technical module can be extended from and retracted into the container and is provided with a closing plate facing the container exterior. The technical module has a second closing plate facing the container interior. Devices are provided to firmly connect the inner closing plate with the container when the technical module is in its extended position and to firmly connect both closing plates with the container when it is in its retracted position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a mobile container having a functional space and a technical module for power supply and/or air conditioning of the functional space, wherein the technical module is extendable from and retractable into the container and has a first closing plate facing a container exterior.  
         [0002]     Today, containers are used in a wide variety of applications as mobile workspaces or living quarters. For independent use in areas without adequate infrastructure, or for operational independence, these containers have not only a functional space, i.e., the actual workroom or living space, but also a technical space housing units and systems for air conditioning, power supply and control of the functional space (e.g., DE 299 18 368 U1). Such a container is depicted in  FIG. 1A . A fixed internal wall W separates the functional space FR from the technical space TR.  
         [0003]     This separation into functional space and technical space is also used for expandable containers in which the functional space is expanded on one or two sides (so-called 1:2 or 1:3 configurations illustrated in  FIG. 2   a  in contrast to the 1:1 configuration shown in  FIG. 1A ) by way of slide-out assemblies and/or foldable sidewalls (EP 0 682 156 A1, DE G 92 16 313 U1). Other containers with 1:2 configurations are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,756, U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,782, GB Patent No. 2 006 298 A and U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,698.  
         [0004]     A drawback in building the technical space within the container is that it reduces the interior volume. Furthermore, the presence of the internal partition requires an external access to the technical space, which reduces the torsional rigidity of the entire container during transport and thereby limits standard transports (e.g., multiple stacking for sea transport).  
         [0005]     The German publication “Deutsche Bauzeitung,” No. 3, pp. 257-258, describes a mobile container in which the technical space is configured as a slide-out technical module. This, however, solves only the problem of the reduced interior volume of the container.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An object of the present invention is to provide a container with optimized torsional rigidity based on the container described in the German publication “Deutsche Bauzeitung,” No. 3, pp. 257-258.  
         [0007]     This object is attained by providing a mobile container in which the technical module has a second closing plate facing the container interior, and apparatus is provided to firmly connect the second closing plate with the container when the technical module in its extended position and to firmly connect the first and second closing plates with the container in its retracted position.  
         [0008]     The container according to the present invention has a technical module which can be retracted into and extended from the container and which houses power supply and/or air conditioning units and systems and possibly other technical supply and control units. The interior of the container, in its operational configuration, can thus be expanded to its full volume (e.g., the standard interior volume of a 20′ ISO container). The technical module can be extended while the container is in its operational state. A further advantage is that the container according to the present invention remains operational even in its transport configuration when the technical module is retracted. External cabling, hoses, etc. are also not necessary.  
         [0009]     According to the present invention, the technical module has two closing plates facing the container interior and exterior. These closing plates can be firmly connected with the container in both the retracted and extended position of the technical module. In the transport position (technical module retracted) both the inner plate and outer plate are connected, e.g., bolted, to the container. The outer plate then forms an outside wall of the container. The firm connection of the two plates with the container substantially increases the torsional rigidity of the container. In the operational configuration, only the inner plate is firmly connected to the container. In this configuration, the inner plate also serves as the boundary between the functional space and the outside.  
         [0010]     In one advantageous embodiment, the container is configured in such a way that in the retracted position of the technical module the outer closing plate is firmly connected, e.g., bolted, to the container. In addition, a firm connection between the inner closing plate and the container is ensured by one or more guide pins which engage with a receiving bore in the container for a positive-locking connection. An additional, e.g., bolted, connection between the inner closing plate and the container is not necessary in this case. The described configuration using guide pins thus makes it possible to rapidly move the technical module from its extended position to its retracted position.  
         [0011]     In another advantageous embodiment, additional guide pins are disposed on the inner closing plate in such a way that these additional guide pins engage with receiving bores in the container to provide a positive-locking connection when the technical module is in its extended position. In addition, the inner closing plate is firmly connected, e.g., bolted, to the container.  
         [0012]     The units located in the technical space often have a considerable amount of weight. The solution according to the invention, i.e., to firmly connect both closing plates of the technical module with the container when the technical module is in its retracted state, makes it possible to transmit to the container the forces of these units acting on the container directly at the point of their origin.  
         [0013]     The mobile technical module is advantageously supported on rollers or rails. Sliding seals may be used to seal the functional space toward the outside on the side formed by the displaceable technical module. Another embodiment uses inflatable seals, which are inflated after the technical module has reached its end position.  
         [0014]     The container can be transported analogously to standard containers (e.g., 20′ ISO containers). The increased torsional rigidity allows multiple stacking to a greater extent (e.g., for sea transport).  
         [0015]     In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the container is configured as a cuboid with a rectangular plan. In this embodiment, the technical module is provided, in particular, on one of the transverse sides of the cuboid container and is displaceable in longitudinal direction. If the cross section of the technical module is substantially the same size as the cross section of the cuboid container, the interior volume can be expanded across the full interior height and width of the container.  
         [0016]     The concept of the displaceable technical module is, of course, also suitable for containers with variable interior volume which have the ability to expand the volume on one or more sides. If these containers are, for example, expanded on one or both longitudinal sides, the technical module is advantageously provided on a transverse side of the container, such that it is displaceable in longitudinal direction.  
         [0017]     The present invention is particularly suited for standard 20′ ISO containers (particularly containers made of steel or aluminum). It is, of course, also suited for containers with other dimensions or for fixed truck shells. The functional space can also be configured as a first aid station or an operating room. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1A-1C  are schematic plan views of several embodiments with a non-expandable interior volume (so-called 1:1 configuration) in which  FIG. 1A  shows a prior art a container.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 2A-2B  are schematic plan views of the embodiments with expandable interior volume (1:3 configuration) in which  FIG. 2A  shows a prior art container.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an embodiment according to the present invention with expandable interior volume (1:3 configuration).  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment according to the present invention with an additional diagonal strut shown in the retracted and fully extended states.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of the container according to the present invention illustrating three different positions (retracted, transitional, extended) of the module. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]      FIG. 1A  shows a standard 20′ prior art container C with an internal, fixed partition W between the technical space TR and the functional space FR. The technical space TR reduces the functional space FR. The additionally required external access door FT configured as a double door for the technical space TR decreases the rigidity of the container C, particularly during transport. The internal partition W, on the other hand, increases the rigidity.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1B  shows a container C according to the invention, based on a standard 20′ container, in its transport configuration, i.e., with completely retracted technical module TM. In this embodiment the technical module TM is arranged on the transverse side of the container C and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction. In this position, the volume of the functional space FR corresponds to the volume of the container C shown in  FIG. 1A . Both closing plates AA, A1 of the technical module TM are bolted to the container. This increases the rigidity of the container C.  
         [0026]      FIG. 1C  shows the container C according to the invention depicted in  FIG. 1B  but in its operational configuration, i.e., with fully extended technical module TM. The inner closing plate A1 of the technical module TM is fixed, e.g., bolted, to the end frame member of the container. In contrast to the prior-art container shown in  FIG. 1A , the volume of the functional space FR is now increased by the hatched area.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2A  shows a prior art expandable container C. On the longitudinal sides, an additional box element Z can be extended from the basic container C to expand the usable interior volume of the functional space FR. Here, a number of different systems are known, all of which can be combined with the solution according to the invention. For example, an additional box element Z may consist of a horseshoe-shaped component, such that the ceiling and floor areas required for a complete external seal are formed by container sidewalls, which can be folded up or down (DE G 92 16 314 U1). In another prior-art design, the additional box element Z is formed by a cuboid component such that only the side facing the basic container is open. In addition, a lowering mechanism may be provided to lower the floor area of the additional box element to the level of the floor area of the basic container (EP 0 682 156 A1). As a function of the design, the interior heights in the area of the additional box element Z are lower than in the basic container. For the rest, the basic container with a separate technical space according to  FIG. 2A  corresponds to the container illustrated in  FIG. 1A .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2B , which is based on the prior art container depicted in  FIG. 2A , shows a container C according to the invention with a displaceable technical module TM. The technical module TM is fully extended. The space thus obtained (hatched) is particularly valuable because it is located within the area with maximum interior height.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a container according to the invention. This embodiment essentially corresponds to the container C of  FIG. 2B , which can be expanded by two additional box elements Z. The technical module TM can be extended and retracted by telescopic rails TS. The figure also shows the two closing plates AI, AA of the technical module TM. On the sidewalls of the technical module TM, parallel to its displacement direction, air conditioning intake and outlet areas L may be advantageously provided. This simplifies the incoming and exhaust air routing for the air conditioning system. The remaining areas in the sidewalls of the extended technical module TM can be used to access the technical module.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows side views of the container C according to the invention, i.e., in the retracted state (top) and in the fully extended state. The bottom view shows an additional diagonal strut DS, which improves stability in the extended state. The technical module Z can be retracted and extended using, for example, a winch unit with a strap. Such measures are known per se, e.g., from EP 0 682 156 A1.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of the container according to the invention in a side view illustrating the three different positions of the technical module:  
         [0032]     Top: technical module TM (with technical space TR) retracted into container C (with functional space FR),  
         [0033]     Center: transition between retracted and extended position,  
         [0034]     Bottom: technical module TM fully extended.  
         [0035]     The embodiment shown in this figures is distinguished by the use of guide pins ZBI, ZBA on the two sides of the inner closing plate AI of the technical module. One guide pin ZBI is disposed on the side facing the container interior. The other guide pin ZBA is disposed on the side of the closing plate AI facing the exterior. The guide pins ZBI, ZBA secure the position of the displaceable technical module TM relative to the container C. The function and advantages of the guide pins will now be described in greater detail.  
         [0036]     The top illustration of  FIG. 5  (position 1) shows how the guide pin ZBI engages with the receiving bore in the container C for a positive-locking connection when the technical module is in its retracted position. In this embodiment, the receiving bore is arranged, for example, in a member PI on the sidewall of the container C. The force of the technical module TM in longitudinal direction of the container is produced by bolts S with which the outer closing plate AA of the technical module is fixed to the end frame member PA of the container from the outside (position 2). For this purpose, a threaded bore GB is provided on the end frame member PA. Hence, the bolts S, arranged in a single plane, enable not only the firm connection between the outer closing plate AA and the end frame member PA but also provide the positive locking connection between the inner closing plate AI and the inner member PI because of the guide pins ZBI. In this embodiment the technical module TM can be moved quickly from its extended to its retracted position.  
         [0037]     The bottom illustration, which depicts the extended position of the technical module TM (position 3), shows how the inner closing plate AI is connected by bolts S to the end frame member PA of the container C from the inside. Here, too, there are guide pins ZBA, which engage with indentations made in the end frame member PA for a positive-locking connection to ensure the correct positioning of the technical module TM in relation to the container C.