Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a portable facility including a power generation unit which uses natural energy.

A conventionally known mobile shop is a modified vehicle having a loading bed altered to have a facility and a function as a shop (for example, see Patent Document <NUM>). It has been proposed that in a case where an electric apparatus is mounted on a loading bed of a vehicle, a vehicular storage battery is used as a power source for the electric apparatus (for example, see Patent Document <NUM>). Therefore, also in a case where a shop is set up on a loading bed of a vehicle, a vehicular storage battery may be employed for an electric apparatus used in the shop.

In contrast, in a case where the facility is continuously placed at a same site for a relatively long period of time, it is not necessary to include a vehicle for transport, and it is desirable to set up the facility separately from a vehicle in view of the cost for such a vehicle and the effect on business. In such a case, however, a vehicular storage battery cannot be used, and thus it becomes difficult to secure power supply in unelectrified areas and/or disaster areas where portable facilities are particularly needed. It is conceivable that a power generator which uses fossil fuel is instead installed in such a facility; in this case, fuel supply is necessary.

In order to solve the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable facility having high transportability and capable of being used even in an area where it is difficult to secure power supply.

The present invention provides a portable facility according to appended claim <NUM>.

The term "transportable" as used herein means that the top wall, the bottom wall, and the surrounding wall of each housing are not fixed to the ground, other installation, or the like.

Preferably, the power generation unit includes all of the wind power generation device, the solar power generation device, and the hydraulic power generation device. Further, the function unit may include a plurality of electric apparatuses having different functions.

According to this constitution, the respective housings are capable of being transported, so that the portable facility has high transportability.

Further, since the facility includes a natural energy power generation device such as a wind power generation device, a solar power generation device, and/or a hydraulic power generation device in the power generation unit, it is possible to use an electric apparatus even in areas where it is difficult to secure power supply such as unelectrified areas and disaster areas, so that the facility can be more easily operated. In particular, where the facility includes all of the wind power generation device, the solar power generation device, and the hydraulic power generation device, the power generation amount is less likely to be limited by natural environment such as weather conditions and topographical features, and/or time of the day or night, so that the facility can be set up and be operated with a greater applicability to a wide range of areas.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the power generation unit may include a system power source connection part configured to receive power supply from a system power source. According to this constitution, when the facility is set up at a site where the facility can be connected to a system power source, it is possible to use the power generation unit as a main power source for the function unit, while using the system power source to compensate for a temporary shortage of power generation when it occurs, or to use the system power source as a main power source for the function unit, while using the power generation unit as a backup power source in case of power outage.

The first housing and the second housing are freight containers. According to this constitution, since the respective units are constituted by containers suitable for transport, the units can be transported by different transportation equipments such as automobiles, railroad cars, ships, and airplanes. Since the freight containers have excellent robustness, it is possible to prevent damage due to vibration and/or impact during transport. Because of the robustness, the freight containers also have excellent crime prevention performance against intrusion from the outside. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost for operating the facility. Further, since the first housing and the second housing are constituted by containers having a same size, it is possible to effectively use a freight space and an installation space.

The power generation unit includes the solar power generation device, the solar power generation device is capable of being housed in the first housing, which is the freight container, and includes a solar panel configured to be placed on an upper side of the top wall of the first housing to perform solar power generation,.

According to this constitution, the connecting rail member configured to connect the external rail and the internal rail with the door of the freight container (first housing) opened is provided in a connection-releasable manner, so that the container can be transported with the connecting rail member removed from the external rail and the internal rail to release the connection and with the door of the container closed. When the container is transported, the container can be easily transported to an area of demand with the solar panel supported by the internal rail disposed on a ceiling inside the container. Since the solar panel is housed in the container during transport of the container, the solar panel is not subjected to impact from outside and thus can be easily transported. The area of demand may be, for example, a site where the solar panel is used such as unelectrified areas in developing countries and affected areas of disasters and the like.

When the solar panel is to be placed on the upper side of the top wall, which is a roof of the container, the connecting rail member is placed to connect the external rail and the internal rail with the door of the container opened. Thus, the solar panel is guided and moved by the roller from the internal rail sequentially to the connecting rail member and then to the external rail, so that the solar panel is easily placed on the roof of the container. This makes it possible to facilitate a deployment operation of the solar panel on site and to shorten a time required to place the panel. In a reverse procedure to the above-described procedure, the solar panel can be easily received into the container.

The solar panel may include a plurality of rollers attached to opposing two sides of the solar panel, the plurality of rollers being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the two sides,.

In this case, the solar panel supported by the internal rail can be guided by the plurality of rollers sequentially into the respective rail grooves of the connecting rail member and the external rail to be easily deployed on the roof of the container. In a reverse procedure to the above-described procedure, the solar panel can be easily received into the container.

Each of the internal rail, the external rail, and the connecting rail member may include a web and flanges extending in a bending manner from opposite edge portions of the web so as to define the rail groove,.

In this case, when the solar panel is being deployed, the rollers at the frontward positions in the movement direction are guided into the rail grooves of the connecting rail members and exit the rail grooves from the cutouts formed in the flanges of the middle rail parts which are located outside. This makes it possible to displace the solar panel to a desired angle around the rollers staying inside the rail grooves of the connecting rail members as fulcra and to raise up the solar panel so as to be brought up to the roof of the container. Reversely, when the solar panel is being housed, the rollers at the frontward positions in the movement direction are guided from the external rails into the rail grooves of the connecting rail members and are allowed to exit from the cutouts formed in the flanges which are located outside. This makes it possible to change the posture of the solar panel to a desired angle around the rollers staying inside the rail grooves of the connecting rail members as fulcra and to move the solar panel into the container.

Of the plurality of rollers, rollers located at rearward positions in the movement direction may be guided on outer surfaces of webs of the connecting rail members, and
each of the connecting rail members may have a cutout formed in one of the flanges of the middle rail part of that connecting rail member which is located outside, the cutout being configured to allow one of the rollers located at the rearward positions in the movement direction to be inserted into the rail groove of that connecting rail member.

In this case, when the solar panel is being deployed, the rollers at the rearward positions in the movement direction are guided on the outer surfaces of the webs of the connecting rail members and are inserted into the rail grooves from the cutouts formed in the flanges of the middle rail parts which are located outside. This makes it possible, with the solar panel kept in a desired deployment posture, to smoothly guide the respective rollers into the respective rail grooves of the external rails. Reversely, when the solar panel is being housed, the rollers at the rearward positions in the movement direction are guided on the outer surfaces of the webs of the connecting rail members and are inserted into the rail grooves from the cutouts formed in the flanges of the middle rail parts which are located outside, so that with the solar panel kept in a desired storage posture, the respective rollers can be smoothly guided into the respective rail grooves of the internal rails.

The connecting rail member may be formed in a circular arc shape. In this case, the roller attached to the solar panel can be smoothly and speedily guided along the connecting rail member having the circular arc shape.

The external rail may include a stopper member configured to restrict movement of the solar panel. In this case, it is possible to restrict movement of the solar panel so as to prevent the solar panel from unintendedly moving out of the external rail.

One or both of the wind power generation device and the hydraulic power generation device may be housed in the container which houses the solar panel. In this case, transport efficiency can be improved as compared to a case where the wind power generation device and the hydraulic power generation device are housed in another container or the like to be transported. This constitution is also advantageous in securing electric power.

The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments and the drawings are given only for the purpose of illustration and explanation, and are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way whatsoever, which scope is to be determined by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. In the figures,.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <FIG> shows a portable facility <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention. The portable facility <NUM> includes a power generation unit <NUM> and a function unit <NUM>. The power generation unit <NUM> includes a first housing H1, and a wind power generation device <NUM> and a solar power generation device <NUM> attached to the first housing H1. The function unit <NUM> includes a second housing H2 and an electric apparatus <NUM> disposed inside the second housing H2. The power generation unit <NUM> and the function unit <NUM> are connected by a power supply cable <NUM>, and the electric apparatus <NUM> of the function unit <NUM> is supplied with power from the power generation unit <NUM> to operate.

As shown in <FIG>, the first housing H1 includes a substantially rectangular top wall <NUM>, a substantially rectangular bottom wall <NUM>, and four surrounding walls <NUM> disposed between the top wall <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> and has a substantially cube shape as a whole. The second housing H2 also has the same configuration as that of the first housing H1. More specifically, in the present embodiment, freight containers having a same configuration are used as the first housing HI and the second housing H2. In the following description, the first housing H1 and the second housing H2 are collectively described with referring to a "housing H," unless the distinction between them is necessary in particular.

The term "freight container" as used herein may preferably refer to a container having a standard dimension for freight transport, for example, a container having a dimension meeting a domestic standard for container transport. The container having a "standard dimension" as used herein may be, for example, a container having a dimension meeting a standard established by a domestic administrative body or international authorities such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), or a JR container which has been established as a de facto standard for rail freight containers in Japan.

Since the housing H is constituted by a freight container, the housing can be transported by different transportation equipments such as automobiles, railroad cars, ships, and airplanes. Since the freight container has excellent robustness, it is possible to prevent damage due to vibration and/or impact during transport. Because of the robustness, the freight container also has excellent crime prevention performance against intrusion from the outside. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost for operating the facility. In particular, since both housings H1, H2 have a same configuration, i.e., are constituted by containers having a same size, it is possible to effectively use a freight space and an installation space in a case where a plurality of units of the containers are transported and installed.

As shown in <FIG>, the wind power generation device <NUM> of the present embodiment includes a wind turbine <NUM> and a power generator <NUM> which is driven by the wind turbine <NUM> to generate electric power. The wind turbine <NUM> is constructed as a vertical-axis wind turbine. Specifically, the wind turbine <NUM> includes a plurality of (two in this example) blades <NUM> and a blade support body <NUM> for supporting the blades <NUM>. The respective blades <NUM> extend in a vertical direction, and the blade support body <NUM> is supported at an upper end of a support column <NUM> through a non-illustrated bearing so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. The two blades <NUM> are disposed at positions having a phase shift of <NUM>° around the axis of the support column <NUM>. In this example, the support column <NUM> is fixed to an upper center part of one surrounding wall of the surrounding walls <NUM> of the first housing H1.

The power generator <NUM> of the wind power generation device <NUM> is disposed inside a power generator casing <NUM> attached to an upper portion of the support column <NUM>. A fixed ring of the bearing is attached to the power generator casing <NUM>, and a rotary ring of the bearing is coupled to the blade support body <NUM>. As the wind turbine <NUM> rotates, a rotor of the power generator <NUM> rotates along with the rotary ring inside the power generator casing <NUM>, so that the power generator <NUM> generates electric power. The power generator <NUM> may be, for example, an induction power generator or a synchronous power generator.

Since the vertical-axis wind turbine <NUM> can receive wind to generate electric power, albeit its relatively small configuration, it is suitable as a wind turbine <NUM> for the wind power generation device <NUM> provided to the portable facility <NUM>. It should be noted that the wind turbine <NUM> may be a horizontal-axis wind turbine.

The solar power generation device <NUM> of the present embodiment includes a solar panel <NUM> which receives sunlight to perform photoelectric conversion and a panel mount <NUM> for attaching the solar panel <NUM> to the housing H. In this example, the solar panel <NUM> is attached to an upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM> of the housing H through the panel mount <NUM>. The solar panel <NUM> may be disposed on a surrounding wall <NUM> of the first housing H1 depending on the direction of solar radiation and installation environment or may be deployed around the first housing H1. It should be noted that although the panel mount <NUM> of the illustrated example has a simple plate-like configuration, the panel mount <NUM> may include a mechanism capable of inclining the solar panel <NUM> in accordance with the direction of the sun.

Although the present embodiment is described with reference to an example in which the power generation unit <NUM> of the portable facility <NUM> includes the wind power generation device <NUM> and the solar power generation device <NUM>, the power generation unit <NUM> may include a hydraulic power generation device (not illustrated), in addition to these power generation devices. The hydraulic power generation device includes a water turbine which is placed in water of a water channel and is rotated by flow of the water and a power generator which is driven by rotation of the water turbine. Where the portable facility <NUM> includes a hydraulic power generation device, for example, the housing H is placed by the side of the water channel, and the hydraulic power generation device is supported by a surrounding wall <NUM> of the housing H which is located on the side of the water channel.

It is sufficient that the power generation unit <NUM> includes at least one power generation device, namely, the wind power generation device <NUM>, the solar power generation device <NUM>, and/or the hydraulic power generation device. Where the portable facility <NUM> includes all of the wind power generation device <NUM>, the solar power generation device <NUM>, and the hydraulic power generation device, however, the power generation amount is less likely to be limited by natural environment such as weather conditions and topographical features, and/or time of the day or night, so that the facility can be set up and be operated with a greater applicability to a wide range of areas.

The power generation unit <NUM> may further include a system power source connection part for receiving power supply from a system power source. Provision of the system power source connection part in the power generation unit <NUM> makes it possible, when the facility is set up at a site where the facility can be connected to a system power source, to use the power generation unit <NUM> as a main power source for the function unit <NUM>, while using the system power source to compensate for a temporary shortage of power generation when it occurs, or to use the system power source as a main power source for the function unit <NUM>, while using the power generation unit <NUM> as a backup power source in case of power outage.

As described above, the function unit <NUM> of the portable facility <NUM> includes an electric apparatus <NUM> which is powered by the power generation unit <NUM> to operate. A plurality of electric apparatuses <NUM> having different functions may be disposed inside the second housing H2 of the function unit <NUM>. When the function unit <NUM> is constituted as a mobile shop (or a mobile store), for example, the function unit may include a lighting apparatus for illuminating the interior of the second housing H2, a refrigerator, and a cash register as the electric apparatuses <NUM>.

The function unit <NUM> of the portable facility <NUM> having the above construction can be used as, for example, a shop for selling food and/or convenience goods in a depopulated area. Further, the function unit <NUM> of the portable facility <NUM> can be constituted as a unit having various functions as described later to be used as a shop for other applications than selling goods. Furthermore, the portable facility <NUM> according to the present embodiment may include a plurality of function units <NUM> for a single power generation unit <NUM>. In such a case, the respective function units <NUM> may have a same function or different functions.

In the present embodiment, the power generation unit <NUM> includes a storage battery <NUM> and a control device <NUM> inside the first housing H1. As shown in <FIG>, the storage battery <NUM> stores electric power P1 generated by the wind power generation device <NUM> and the solar power generation device <NUM> and supplies the stored electric power P2 to the electric apparatus <NUM> of the function unit <NUM> as needed. The control device <NUM> controls an input of the electric power P1 generated by the power generation devices <NUM>, <NUM> to the storage battery <NUM> and an output of the electric power P2 from the storage battery <NUM> to the function unit <NUM> (electric apparatus <NUM>). For example, the control device <NUM> includes an AC/DC converter for converting alternating current (AC) electric power generated by the power generation devices <NUM>, <NUM> into electric power having a voltage which can be stored in the storage battery <NUM> as well as an inverter for converting the electric power stored in the storage battery <NUM> into sine wave AC similar to commercial AC power or into square wave AC.

The control device <NUM> may further include: a power generation monitoring section for monitoring a power generation amount of each power generation device <NUM>, <NUM> in the power generation unit <NUM>; a power consumption monitoring section for monitoring a power consumption amount of each electric apparatus <NUM> in the function unit <NUM>; a storage battery monitoring section for monitoring a residual capacity of the storage battery <NUM>; an operation estimating section for estimating an operable time of the function unit <NUM> on the basis of power generation amount data D1, power consumption amount data D2, and residual capacity data D3 obtained by these monitoring sections; and an operable time displaying section for displaying the operable time estimated by the operation estimating section. Where a plurality of function units <NUM> are provided for a single power generation unit <NUM> as described above, the control device <NUM> of the power generation unit <NUM> may be capable of adjusting proportions of power supplies to the respective function units <NUM> as needed.

The following describes examples of the functions and applications of the function unit <NUM> of the portable facility <NUM>, The functions and applications of the function unit <NUM> of the portable facility <NUM>, however, are not limited to these examples.

When a natural disaster (such as earthquakes and floods) occurs, the portable facility <NUM> may be transported to an affected area and serve as food service equipment including electric apparatuses <NUM> such as a water purification device, a kitchen appliance, and a cooking device in the function unit <NUM>. In such a case, electricity generated in the power generation unit <NUM> may be used to supply power to a lighting in that area, to charge a mobile device, or to power a disaster relief device such as the water purification device.

Similarly, when a natural disaster occurs, the portable facility <NUM> may be transported to an affected area and serve as housing equipment (temporary dwelling) including electric apparatuses <NUM> necessary for daily life such as a lighting device, a water purification device, a cooking device, and an air conditioning device in the function unit <NUM>.

When a temporary railroad station is opened during a tourist season, the portable facility <NUM> including an automatic ticket gate as an electric apparatus <NUM> in the function unit <NUM> may be transported to and set up in the temporary station.

The portable facility <NUM> including equipment such as an automated teller machine (ATM) and a coin locker as electric apparatuses <NUM> in the function unit <NUM> may be transported to an outdoor event site and set up during an event period.

The portable facility <NUM> including a book shelf, and an indoor lighting device and/or a loaning system as electric apparatuses <NUM> in the function unit <NUM> may be used as a mobile library.

The portable facility <NUM> including a medical device in the function unit <NUM> may be used as a mobile clinic.

The portable facility <NUM> including a desk, a chair, a personal computer, a projector, a monitor, or the like in the function unit <NUM> may be used as a meeting room or a study room.

It should be noted that the function of the function unit <NUM> which is set at the time of setting up the portable facility <NUM> may be changed depending on the needs in the area of demand later on. That is, the function of the function unit <NUM> can be changed by suitably changing various electric apparatuses <NUM> disposed inside the function unit <NUM> and/or other accessories.

The portable facility <NUM> according to the present embodiment can be separated into the power generation unit <NUM> and the function unit <NUM> so as to be easily transported by logistics or transportation equipments such as automobiles, railroad cars, ships, and airplanes. Where they are transported by transportation equipments other than automobiles (i.e. railroad cars, ships, airplanes, or the like), the power generation unit <NUM> and the function unit <NUM> may be transported to a railroad station, a port, or an airport located near an installation site of the facility, and then be transported by an automobile to the installation site of the facility. In a case where the respective units are transported by an automobile, for example, the automobile is a unic vehicle UV (crane truck) as shown in <FIG>. After the respective units <NUM>, <NUM> is transported by a unic vehicle UV to an installation site, the respective units are unloaded from the vehicle by a crane of the unic vehicle UV. The operation of unloading the respective units of the portable facility <NUM> from different transportation equipments may be carried out by using a forklift or a gantry crane.

Next, a portable facility <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is the same as the embodiment shown in <FIG> except that when the first housing H1 of the power generation unit <NUM> is a freight container, and the power generation unit <NUM> includes a solar power generation device <NUM>, the solar power generation device <NUM> is attached to the first housing H1 in a different manner. Therefore, the following description will only describe how the solar power generation device <NUM> is attached to the first housing H1 with reference to <FIG>, and description of other features will be omitted.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the solar power generation device <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of (eight in this example) solar panels <NUM> which can be accommodated in the first housing H1, which is a freight container, and are configured to be disposed on the upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM>, which is a roof of the first housing H1, to perform solar power generation. That is, the solar power generation device <NUM> is constituted as a container-accommodated mobile power generation device.

As shown in <FIG>, in this example, a container which complies with the ISO standard for <NUM>-ft dry containers is used as the freight container constituting the first housing H1. The first housing H1 of this embodiment has openings <NUM> on opposite sides and is provided with doors <NUM> of a double door design for opening and closing the respective openings <NUM>.

Each solar panel <NUM> includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells (not illustrated) arranged into a panel shape. As shown in <FIG> (an enlarged view of part XIX of <FIG>) and <FIG>, the solar panel <NUM> has left and right end portions to which metal fittings <NUM> having a rectangular flat-plate shape are fixed, and a plurality of rollers <NUM> are attached to each of the metal fittings <NUM>. On each of opposing two sides of the solar panel <NUM>, the plurality of rollers <NUM> are attached through a metal fitting <NUM> so as to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the two sides. The plurality of rollers <NUM> includes a small-diameter roller 55a, a large-diameter roller 55b, and a small-diameter roller 55c sequentially arranged at predetermined intervals along a longitudinal direction of each metal fitting <NUM>.

Each metal fitting <NUM> supports the small-diameter rollers 55a, 55c at a frontward position and a rearward position in a movement direction and includes, between the small-diameter rollers 55a, 55c, the large-diameter roller 55b having an outer periphery having a larger diameter than the diameter of the small-diameter rollers 55a, 55c. The small-diameter rollers 55a, 55c are constituted by same parts. It should be noted that the small-diameter roller 55a at the frontward position in the movement direction is supported near a proximal end, in a transverse direction, of the metal fitting <NUM> (i.e. at a position substantially along a width surface of the solar panel <NUM>), and the large-diameter roller 55b and the small-diameter roller 55c at the rearward position in the movement direction are supported at positions at a proximal end portion, in the transverse direction, of the metal fitting <NUM>.

When the solar panel <NUM> is being deployed, the small-diameter roller 55a serves as a roller at a frontward position in a movement direction, and the small-diameter roller 55c serves as a roller at a rearward position in the movement direction. Reversely, when the solar panel <NUM> is being housed, the small-diameter roller 55c serves as a roller at a frontward position in a movement direction, and the small-diameter roller 55a serves as a roller at a rearward position in the movement direction. The following description will be made with reference to a case where the solar panel <NUM> is being deployed, unless otherwise noted.

As shown in <FIG>, the solar panel <NUM> is constructed in such a way that with the doors <NUM> of first housing H1 opened, the solar panel <NUM> can be moved with the plurality of rollers <NUM> to be guided along internal rails, connecting rail members, and external rails, all of which will be described later.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of (five in this example) attachment metal fittings <NUM> extending in a front-rear direction of the first housing (a depth direction of the first housing H1) are attached at equal intervals on the upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM>, which is a roof of the first housing H1. One external rail <NUM> is attached to each of the attachment metal fittings <NUM>, <NUM> located at left and right ends. As for the attachment metal fitting <NUM> located at the right end, the external rail <NUM> is attached to a left-side surface of the attachment metal fitting <NUM>. As for the attachment metal fitting <NUM> located at the left end, the external rail <NUM> is attached to a right-side surface of the attachment metal fitting <NUM>. To the other three attachment metal fittings <NUM>, external rails <NUM>, <NUM> are attached to left- and right-side surfaces of the respective attachment metal fittings <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each external rail <NUM> has a groove-shaped cross section so as to define a rail groove Rm therein and includes a web Wb and flanges Fg, Fg extending in a bending manner from opposite edge portions of the web Wb so as to define the rail groove Rm. For example, the external rail <NUM> is constituted by channel steel. The external rails <NUM> are arranged in pairs such that opened surfaces of the rail grooves Rm of each pair face each other, and the plurality of rollers <NUM> attached in pairs to the two sides of each solar panel <NUM> are guided in the facing rail grooves Rm, Rm.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in each solar panel <NUM>, the small-diameter rollers 55a at the frontward positions in the movement direction are guided along outer surfaces of one flanges Fg of the respective external rails <NUM> which are located in upper sides of the external rails, and the large-diameter rollers 55b in the middle and the small-diameter rollers 55c at the rearward positions in the movement direction are guided inside the rail grooves Rm of the external rails <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, inside the first housing H1, which is a freight container, a plurality of attachment metal fittings <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction are supported in a suspended manner by the top wall <NUM>, which is a ceiling, and internal rails <NUM> are attached to the respective attachment metal fittings <NUM>. As for the attachment metal fitting <NUM> located at the right end, an internal rail <NUM> is attached to a left-side surface of the attachment metal fitting <NUM>. As for the attachment metal fitting <NUM> located at the left end, an internal rail <NUM> is attached to a right-side surface of the attachment metal fitting <NUM>. To the other three attachment metal fittings <NUM>, internal rails <NUM>, <NUM> are attached to left- and right-side surfaces of the respective attachment metal fittings <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each internal rail <NUM> has a groove-shaped cross section so as to define a rail groove Rm therein and includes a web Wb and flanges Fg, Fg extending in a bending manner from opposite edge portions of the web Wb so as to define the rail groove Rm. For example, the internal rail <NUM> is constituted by channel steel. The internal rail <NUM> are arranged in pairs such that opened surfaces of the rail grooves Rm of each pair face each other, and the plurality of rollers <NUM> attached in pairs to the two sides of each solar panel <NUM> are guided in the facing rail grooves Rm, Rm.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in each solar panel <NUM>, the rollers 55a at the frontward positions in the movement direction and the large-diameter rollers 55b are guided inside the rail grooves Rm of the internal rails <NUM>, and the rollers 55c at the rearward positions in the movement direction are guided along outer surfaces of one flanges Fg of the respective internal rails <NUM> which are located in lower sides of the internal rails.

As shown in <FIG>, the connecting rail members <NUM> are so-called retrofit rail members for connecting the external rails <NUM> and the internal rails <NUM> with the doors <NUM> of the first housing H1 opened, and are provided in a connection-releasable manner. For example, each connecting rail member <NUM> may be detachably coupled to attachment metal fittings <NUM>, <NUM> located above and below. Alternatively, each connecting rail member may be detachably coupled to an external rail <NUM> and an internal rail <NUM> located above and below.

<FIG> is an enlarged view of part XII of <FIG>. <FIG> is a front view of a connecting rail member <NUM> as viewed from the side of the rail groove Rm, and <FIG> is an end view along line XIIIB-XIIIB of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, each connecting rail member <NUM> has a groove-shaped cross section so as to define a rail groove Rm therein and includes a web Wb and flanges Fg, Fg extending in a bending manner from opposite edge portions of the web Wb so as to define the rail groove Rm. The connecting rail member <NUM> is constituted by channel steel or the like. For example, the connecting rail member <NUM> can be easily produced by fixing three pieces of channel steel by welding or the like. The connecting rail members <NUM> are arranged in pairs such that opened surfaces of the rail grooves Rm of each pair face each other, and the pluralities of rollers <NUM> (<FIG>) attached in pairs to the two sides of each solar panel <NUM> are guided in the facing rail grooves Rm, Rm.

Each connecting rail member <NUM> includes an upper rail part 60a having a rail groove Rm to be connected to a rail groove Rm of a corresponding external rail <NUM> (<FIG>), a lower rail part 60b having a rail groove Rm to be connected to a rail groove Rm of a corresponding internal rail <NUM> (<FIG>), and a middle rail part 60c having a rail groove Rm connected to tip end portions of the rail grooves Rm of these rail parts 60a, 60b.

Of the plurality of rollers <NUM>, the rollers 55a at the frontward positions in the movement direction are guided into the rail grooves Rm of the lower rail parts 60b. Each middle rail part 60c has a cutout <NUM> formed in a lower portion of one flange Fg of that middle rail part which is located outside, and the cutout <NUM> allows a roller 55a at the frontward position in the movement direction to exit the rail groove Rm of that middle rail part, so that a posture of the solar panel <NUM> can be changed. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, of the plurality of rollers <NUM>, the rollers 55c at the rearward positions in the movement direction are guided into the rail grooves Rm of the upper rail parts 60a. Each middle rail part 60c has a cutout <NUM> formed in an upper portion of one flange Fg of that middle rail part which is located outside, and the cutout <NUM> allows a roller 55c at the rearward position in the movement direction to be inserted into the rail groove Rm of that middle rail part. The respective cutouts <NUM>, <NUM> are formed as rectangular holes and are sized so as to allow the small-diameter rollers 55a, 55c to exit and be inserted but not to allow the large-diameter roller 55b (<FIG>) to exit.

Next, a procedure for placing the solar panels <NUM> on the upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM>, which is a roof of the first housing H1 (i.e., freight container), will be described. The following process may be performed using human effort, or using a machine such as a motor, or in automated operation. Of course, the solar panels <NUM> may be placed using a motor or the like.

As shown in <FIG>, with the doors <NUM> of the first housing H1 opened, the external rails <NUM> and the internal rails <NUM> are connected by the connecting rail members <NUM>. Next, a solar panel <NUM> supported by the internal rails <NUM> is guided and moved by the rollers <NUM> sequentially through the internal rails <NUM> and the connecting rail members <NUM>. Then, as shown in <FIG>, the small-diameter rollers 55a at the frontward positions in the movement direction are brought out from the cutouts <NUM> in the lower portions of the connecting rail members <NUM>.

When the small-diameter rollers 55a are brought out, the large-diameter rollers 55b in the middle are not brough out from the cutouts <NUM>, so that the posture of the solar panel <NUM> is changed to a desired angle around the large-diameter rollers 55b as fulcra to raise up the solar panel as shown in <FIG>. Next, as shown in <FIG>, the large-diameter rollers 55b are moved into the connecting rail members <NUM>, and the solar panel <NUM> is brought up to the upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM> (<FIG>). Then, as shown in <FIG>, the small-diameter rollers 55c at the rearward positions in the movement direction are inserted into the connecting rail members <NUM> from the cutouts <NUM> in the upper portions of the connecting rail members <NUM>.

Then, as shown in <FIG>, the respective rollers <NUM> are guided along the external rails <NUM>, and the solar panel <NUM> is moved to a predetermined position. In this case, a stopper member <NUM> for restricting movement of the solar panel <NUM> is provided at an end of each external rail <NUM>, and the stopper member <NUM> prevents the solar panel <NUM> from moving out of the external rail <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the same process is repeated to place a second solar panel <NUM> on the upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM> in every row, and the connecting rail members are removed. <FIG> shows a final configuration in which eight solar panels <NUM> in total are placed on the upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM>.

Such a constitution makes it possible to facilitate a deployment operation of the solar panels <NUM> on site and to shorten a time required to place the solar panels <NUM>. When the solar panels <NUM> are attached in advance to the metal fittings which serves as mounts for the panels, and wiring for the panels is completed before placement of the solar panels <NUM>, it is only necessary to connect a connector to a non-illustrated connection box to generate electricity by solar power generation. The electricity generated by solar power generation is applied to a non-illustrated controller to be stored in the storage battery or is supplied to power a load device which requires electricity, such as a lighting device or communication equipment.

According to the container-accommodated mobile power generation device as described above, the connecting rail members <NUM> for connecting the external rails <NUM> and the internal rails <NUM> with the doors <NUM> of the first housing H1 (i.e., freight container) opened are provided in a connection-releasable manner, so that the first housing H1 can be transported with the connecting rail members <NUM> removed from the external rails <NUM> and the internal rails <NUM> to release the connections and with the doors <NUM> of the first housing H1 closed. When the first housing H1 is transported, the first housing H1 can be easily transported to an area of demand with the solar panels <NUM> supported by the internal rails <NUM> which are supported by the top wall <NUM> inside the first housing H1. Since the solar panels <NUM> are housed in the first housing H1 during transport of the first housing H1, the solar panels <NUM> are not subjected to impact from outside and thus can be easily transported.

When solar panels <NUM> are to be placed on the upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM>, which is a roof of the first housing H1, the connecting rail members <NUM> are placed to connect the external rails <NUM> and the internal rails <NUM> with the doors <NUM> of the first housing H1 opened. Thus, the solar panels <NUM> are guided and moved by the rollers <NUM> from the internal rails <NUM> sequentially to the connecting rail members <NUM> and then to the external rails <NUM>, so that the solar panels are easily placed on the upper side 15a of the top wall <NUM> of the first housing H1. This makes it possible to facilitate a deployment operation of the solar panels <NUM> on site and to shorten a time required to place them. In a reverse procedure to the above-described procedure, the solar panels <NUM> can be easily received into the first housing H1, which is a freight container.

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used to denote parts that correspond to those previously described in the respective embodiments, and overlapping description is omitted. Where only a part of a configuration is described, the rest of the configuration is to be construed as being the same as the previously described embodiments unless otherwise indicated. The same configurations provide the same effects. It is possible not only to combine the parts that have been particularly described in the respective embodiments but also to partly combine the embodiments unless there is any hindrance to such a combination.

As shown in <FIG>, each connecting rail member 60A may be formed in a circular arc shape. In this case, the pluralities of rollers <NUM> attached to the solar panels <NUM> can be smoothly and speedily guided along the connecting rail members 60A having the circular arc shape. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the cutouts or the like which allow the rollers <NUM> to be inserted into or exit the connecting rail members 60A, and it is not necessary to form the rollers <NUM> having large and small diameters to differentiate them, so that all the rollers can be constituted by rollers having a same configuration. Thus, the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

As shown in <FIG>, one or both of the wind power generation device <NUM> and the hydraulic power generation device <NUM> may be housed in the first housing H1 (i.e., freight container) which houses the solar panels <NUM> (solar power generation device <NUM>). In this case, transport efficiency can be improved as compared to a case where the wind power generation device <NUM> and the hydraulic power generation device <NUM> are housed in another container or the like to be transported. This constitution is also advantageous in securing electric power.

The freight container constituting the first housing HI is not limited to a <NUM>-ft container and may be, for example, a container meeting an ISO standard for <NUM>-ft dry containers, <NUM>-ft dry containers, <NUM>-ft dry containers, or the like.

As described above, according to the portable facility <NUM> of the present embodiment, the respective housings H are capable of being transported, so that the portable facility has high transportability. Further, since the power generation unit <NUM> includes a natural energy power generation device such as the wind power generation device <NUM>, the solar power generation device <NUM>, and/or the hydraulic power generation device, it is possible to use the electric apparatus <NUM> even in areas where it is difficult to secure power supply such as unelectrified areas and disaster areas, so that the facility <NUM> can be more easily operated. In particular, where the facility includes all of the wind power generation device <NUM>, the solar power generation device <NUM>, and the hydraulic power generation device, the power generation amount is less likely to be limited by natural environment such as weather conditions and topographical features, and/or time of the day or night, so that the facility <NUM> can be set up and be operated with a greater applicability to a wide range of areas.

Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the embodiments thereof, the embodiments disclosed herein are merely examples in all respects and are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way whatsoever. The scope of the present invention is to be determined by the appended claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include any change made within the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A portable facility (<NUM>) comprising:
a power generation unit (<NUM>) including a transportable first housing (H1) and at least one power generation device attached to the first housing, the first housing (H1) including a top wall (<NUM>), a bottom wall (<NUM>), and a surrounding wall (<NUM>), the at least one power generation device being one or more of a wind power generation device (<NUM>), a solar power generation device (<NUM>), and a hydraulic power generation device, and
a function unit including a transportable second housing (H2) and an electric apparatus (<NUM>) disposed inside the second housing (H2) and configured to be powered by the power generation unit (<NUM>) to operate, the second housing including a top wall (<NUM>), a bottom wall (<NUM>), and a surrounding wall (<NUM>), characterised in that:
the first housing (H1) and the second housing (H2) are freight containers, wherein the power generation unit (<NUM>) includes the solar power generation device (<NUM>),
the solar power generation device (<NUM>) is capable of being housed in the first housing (H1), which is the freight container, and includes a solar panel configured to be placed on an upper side of the top wall of the first housing (H1) to perform solar power generation,
a roller (<NUM>) is attached to the solar panel,
an external rail (<NUM>) is provided on the upper side of the top wall of the first housing (H1),
an internal rail (<NUM>) is provided inside the first housing (H1) and is supported by the top wall,
a connecting rail member (<NUM>) configured to connect the external rail and the internal rail with a door of the first housing (H1) opened is provided in a connection-releasable manner, so that the solar panel is allowed to be moved with the roller to be guided along the internal rail, the connecting rail member, and the external rail.