TRANSFORMABLE FIELD HOSPITAL ADAPTED TO BE TRANSPORTED BY AIRCRAFTS AND ROAD VEHICLES

Abstract: There is disclosed transformable configuration field hospital,adapted to be transported by aircrafts and road vehicles,which comprises a low central body (2) and a top central body (3) to be telescopically engaged. Between these central bodies side lower bodies (10a, 10b) and side top bodies (11a, 11b) can be housed which can be withdrawn in the inside of the central bodies (2, 3) during the tran­ sportation and extended,in the use condition,from the central bodies (2, 3) so as to be arranged in an adjoining relationship with respect to the central bodies them­ selves.

Description: The present invention relates to a transformable configuration or collapsible field hospital which can be transported both by aircrafts and road vehicles. Several types of field hospitals are already known which,as a main feature,can be transported to isolated places for use in war or calamity applications. However,known field hospitals generally comprise a lot of component parts which must be separately transported and then assembled in order to provide the desired operating unit. Another drawback of known field hospitals is that they hardly afford the desired insulation characteristics against the outside environment,in order to provide highly aseptic conditions. Moreover,known field hospitals frequently comprise high weight component parts which can not be transported by high speed aircrafts,as it would be desired. The document US-A-2 323 106 discloses a collapsible building structure suitable for use as a field hospital having essentially the features of the pre-characterizing portion of the main claim. Thus,the task of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a transformable configuration field hospital which can be transported both by aircrafts and road vehicles, and which consists of a complete unit of comparatively reduced size and weight,while comprising all of the apparatus and devices necessary for sanitary applications. Within the scope of the above mentioned task, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a field hospital which can be assembled in a very reduced time. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a field hospital which,in the assembled condition thereof,provides a perfectly aseptic environment. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a field hospital which can be easily made starting from easily available elements and materials and which,moreover,has a comparatively low cost. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned task and objects,as well as yet other objects,which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a collapsible field hospital,adapted to be transported both by air crafts and road vehicles having the features of the characterizing portion of the main claim. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed description of a preferred, though not exclusive,embodiment of a transformable configuration field hospital,adapted to be transported both by aircrafts and road vehicles, according to the invention,which is illustrated,by way of example,in the accompanying drawings,where: figure 1 is a schematic front view illustrating the framework of the field hospital according to the present invention,in the withdrawn or transportation condition thereof; figure 2 shows the subject field hospital in its maximum extension condition; figure 3 is a perspective view of the framework of the field hospital according to the present invention; figure 4 shows a first step for raising from the ground the field hospital according to the present invention; and figure 5 shows a further step in which the field hospital is loaded on the platform of a transport truck. With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings,the transformable configuration field hospital,adapted to be transported both by aircrafts and road vehicles,which is overally indicated at the reference number 1,comprises a bottom central body 2 and a top central body 3,adapted to be superimposed onto one another. The bottom central body 2 defines a base platform 4 and is provided with guide uprights 5 therein there are engaged guide bars 6 supporting the roof 7 providing the central top body. During the assembling,in particular,the top body 3 is telescopically moved away from the bottom body 2,so as to reach the desired height. The inlet door,as is schematically shown in figure 2,consists of a bottom portion 8 associated with the bottom body 2 and a top portion 9 pivotedly associated with the central top body 3. Between the central bottom and top central bodies 2 and 3 there are arranged left and right side bottom bodies,respectively indicated at 10a and 10b, as well as left and right top side bodies,respectively indicated at 11a and 11b. The side bottom and top bodies are mutually coupled by means of telescopic guide portions 12,which are connected to the side bottom bodies 10a and 10b and therein there are slidingly engaged rod portions 13 which are associated with the said top bodies 11a and 11 b. As is shown,the side bottom bodies 10a and 10b define floor side panels 14 which,upon assembling of the field hospital,can be arranged at the same level as the panel or platform 4 of the central body,whereas the side top bodies 11a and 11b are provided with a side roof portion 15 adapted to be arranged as an extension of the roof 7 of the top central body. The bottom central body is further provided with horizontal guide members therewith there are engaged base cross members 18 rigid with the framework supporting the bottom side bodies. In this connection,it should be apparent that, in the transportation condition,the side bodies will be housed between the space defined by the central bodies and,more specifically,the side walls of the top bodies will be superimposed on the side walls of the bottom side bodies, whereas the top central body will be arranged near the bottom central body so as to greatly reduce the hospital size to the conventional size of a conventional container. During the assembling of the field hospital, by operating piston members,which may be either of the air or of the oil type,the central portion and the elements coupled thereto will be telescopically raised. The disclosed structure further comprises rest feet 30 coupled to the rod 31 of a raising piston 32 which forms an integrating part of the bottom central body. These rest feet 30 can be made by withdrawing the pistons 31 from the cylinders 32 so as to provide a first raising step.After this step fixed stands 40 will be arranged under the structure in order to properly support it. Then the pistons will be moved in a reverse direction and threaded bars 41 will be withdrawn in order to support the feet 30.Then the cylinders 32 will be operated again to provide a further raising of the structure to the level of the platform 50 of a loading truck,so as to easily load the field hospital container directly on the truck loading platform. From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended task and objects. While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof,it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the scope of theappended claims.

Claims: A collapsible field hospital, adapted to be transported both by aircrafts and road vehicles and comprising a central bottom body (2) and a central top body (3) telescopically coupled to one another, characterized in that said field hospital further comprises side bottom bodies (10a, 10b) and side top bodies (11a, 11b) which are adapted to be housed between said central bottom and top bodies (2, 3) during transportation and to be arranged laterally of said central bottom and top bodies (2, 3) in use conditons, said central bottom body (2) defining substantially horizontal guide members for base cross members (18) of said side bottom bodies (10a, 10b) and said side bottom bodies (10a, 10b) including substantially vertical telescopic guide portions (12) slidably coupled with rod portions (13) connected to said side top bodies (11a, 11b). A collapsible field hospital according to Claim 1, characterized in that said field hospital comprises telescopic uprights rigidly coupled to said central bottom body in which telescopic uprights are engaged, as piston members, telescopic portions coupled to said central top body. A collapsible field hospital according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said central bottom body (2) defines a platform (4) forming the floor of the central portion whereas said central top body (3) forms a roof portion (7). A collapsible field hospital according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said field hospital comprises an inlet door (8, 9) coupled, at its bottom portion, to said central bottom body (2) and, at its top portion, to said central top body (3). A collapsible field hospital according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls of said side top bodies (3), in the transportation condition of said field hospital, are arranged outward from the side walls of said side bottom bodies (2). A collapsible field hospital according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said field hospital comprises rest feet (30) coupled to a piston member (32) adapted to slide in a cylinder member rigid with said central bottom body (2). A collapsible field hospital according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said feet (30) are associated with threaded bars (41), adapted to be rotatably housed inside said piston members (32) in order to double the useful stroke of said pistons.

Inventors: OLDANI, GAETANO C/O OMAR DI OLDANI GAETANO
Applicants: OMAR DI OLDANI GAETANO
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1