CA2826863A1 - Convertible container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container comprising arrangements (12) for gripping, handling and securing said container, each of said arrangements (12) being placed at a corner of this container in the undeployed position of this container, said container having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension in this non-deployed position.

Description

TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER
The present invention relates to a convertible container which in its undeployed position can be taken, manipulated or docked as anything which transport container, and which in its deployed position forms a structure autonomous floating.
We know containers, or containers, floating that when they are stowed together allow to form a boat to fight against a accidental spilling of oil at sea, in rivers or lakes.
These containers advantageously allow a very fast delivery of means of combating oil slicks, by air or by ship.
In the latter case, and when the ship causing the spill of hydrocarbons is a container ship, these floating sea containers may already be on board.
However, this type of boat needs to have a plurality of separate containers, each having a specific function and the whole being essential for the formation and smooth running of the boat.
In addition, this type of boat has a restricted buoyancy in particular in a sea formed while having a relatively large storage capacity scaled down.
The objective of the present invention is therefore to propose a device for floating transport, simple in its design and in its mode of operation, having the dimensions of a cargo container in a position not deployed, including arrangements for grip, handling and the attachment of this device with for example the port facilities standard, and forming a boat in its deployed position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device for floating transport which from a longitudinal dimension and from a dimension

2 given in its undeployed position, that is to say, those of a container, has a maximized deck area to increase significantly the loading capacity of the boat and a hull volume maximized in order to have the best buoyancy possible in its position deployed.
The dimensions of this transport device in its undeployed position, that is to say of container, are thus advantageously reduced, allowing its transport by truck, ship or cargo plane.
Another imperative for such a container, as in all containers of goods transport, is then to have all of its elements structural elements included in the, and therefore not salient, parallelepiped defined by the free walls of this container so that a plurality of such containers can be stacked and / or juxtaposed.
More generally, the present invention aims to minimize the space lost in the parallelepiped defined by the contours of a container who is convertible into a boat, so as to maximize the useful dimensions of the bridge of this boat.
For this purpose, the invention relates to a container comprising arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing this container, each of these arrangements being placed at a corner of this container in the non-deployed position of the container, said container having a dimension longitudinal and a transverse dimension in this position not deployed.
According to the invention, in said undeployed position, said container is constituted by a stacking n boxes with n> 3, at least one of said boxes being placed between and at least partially in contact with two other of said boxes, at least some of said boxes being interconnected to form a structure rigid, at least a part of said container being waterproof, in said undeployed position, said caissons are at least partially in contact with each other, the number n of boxes and / or the dimensions of each of said boxes being determined so that there is a parallelepiped in which said container is writable, the walls of this parallelepiped being then at least partly formed by the free walls said stacking, the cumulative percentage of empty spaces between said boxes of a part, and the free walls of said stack and said parallelepiped of other part being then between 0.1% and 15% of the internal volume of said parallelepiped, at least some of said boxes are movable between said position deployed and a deployed position in which the whole so deployed form then a floating structure having a longitudinal dimension and / or a

3 transverse dimension greater than said longitudinal dimension and / or cross-section of said container in its undeployed position so as to have a maximized loading area greater than or greater than twice surface of said container in its undeployed position.
In other words, we can find a parallelepiped, and even better a rectangular parallelepiped or cube, each of whose walls is constituted at least partially by said container in its undeployed position, this container being constituted in this non-deployed position by at least 3 boxes.
By "free walls of the stack" is meant the outer shell of this stacking defined by all the shapes of the boxes and their arrangement in the undeployed position of the container.
"Cumulative percentage of empty spaces between said boxes at least partially in contact with each other on the one hand and the free walls said said stack and said parallelepiped on the other hand ", the sum of a part of the percentage of empty spaces between the walls of the caissons placed at least part against the other with respect to the internal volume of the parallelepiped, these walls are therefore fully placed in the interior volume of this parallelepiped, and the percentage of empty spaces between the free walls said stack and said parallelepiped with respect to the internal volume of the parallelepiped.
This percentage does not take into account empty spaces placed in the boxes and resulting, for example, hollow boxes intended at receive loads and / or a hydraulic supply circuit.
For example, in the first case, the empty spaces can result of mobile caissons having a truncated triangular shape leaving a space empty between two mobile boxes superimposed.
The internal volume of a parallelepiped is known to those skilled in the art. AT
purely illustrative, for a rectangular parallelepiped, the volume interior is given by the formula V = LxIx H where L is the length, I is the width and H is the height of this rectangular parallelepiped.
These arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said container are still called corner pieces for gripping, stowage and transhipment of the container.
These arrangements being placed in the corners of the container, at least these angles are full in order to present sufficient rigidity to ensure the recovery of the efforts applied.

4 In different particular embodiments of this container, each having its particular advantages and likely many combinations possible techniques:
in the undeployed position of said container, at least some of the corners of the parallelepiped including one of the arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing of said container, no element of this container is placed projecting from said parallelepiped.
The container is thus fully inscribed in the parallelepiped. As purely illustrative, the actuators allowing the displacement of the caissons moving from the undeployed position to the deployed position of this container are not placed projecting from the parallelepiped.
the cumulative percentage of empty spaces between said boxes of a part, and the free walls of said stack and said parallelepiped of other part is less than 10% of the internal volume of said parallelepiped, in the deployed position of the container, the shell of said structure float has a longitudinal or transverse dimension greater than two time longitudinal dimension, respectively transverse, of said container in its position not deployed, Thus, and by way of example, in the deployed position of said container, the shell of said floating structure has a longitudinal dimension from the bow to the stern greater than twice the longitudinal dimension of the said container in its position not deployed.
said movable boxes are hingedly connected to a fixed block comprising one or more fixed boxes, Advantageously, these mobile boxes are hingedly connected to the block fixed by a hinge. Preferably, this hinge is a hinge to two axes.
This hinge with two axes, also called biaxial hinge, has two articulated parts which are connected to an intermediate part carrying both axes offset rotation.
- the container being made of mobile boxes only, these boxes are hinged together, and even better, are connected between them by biaxial hinges, this container comprises actuators allowing the displacement of moving boxes from the undeployed position to the deployed position of this container and vice versa, Preferably, the mobile pedestals being hingedly connected by hinges with a fixed block comprising one or more fixed boxes, these actuators are motorized hinges or hinges comprising means for opening and closing said hinges.
For purely illustrative purposes, these means for opening and closing said hinges include, for example, rotary actuators powered by a source

5 power supply, hydraulic or pneumatic. Preferably this power source and its distribution circuit are placed in one of the caissons of the container.
Alternatively, the means for opening and closing the hinges can again to be deported, and thus not integrated with the hinges themselves. It could be at purely illustrative, linear actuators or a cable system or again of an external crane.
- the mobile pedestals have complementary profiles in order to cooperate in the undeployed position of the container to form with a block stationary comprising one or more fixed boxes, a set whose walls free define a parallelepiped or substantially a parallelepiped, and better a rectangular parallelepiped or a cube, For purely illustrative purposes, the mobile pedestals can thus have a profile triangular or truncated triangular.
The triangular shape of the mobile caissons ensures the non-determination of a meaning privileged displacement of the floating structure, which is then advantageously amphidromic.
the outer surface of said container in its deployed position is plane or substantially flat so that the bridge of the floating structure is plane or substantially plan, the container comprises at least one propulsion system so that said floating structure is self-propelled, Preferably, this propulsion system allows at least one displacement of the floating structure in a direction transverse or parallel to the axis longitudinal of the floating structure.
at least one of said boxes is hollow to receive loads, - said arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing of the said container being at least eight in number, the said arrangements are placed at the ends of the corners of said container in its undeployed position, said arrangements being intended to cooperate with infrastructures ISO standards for gripping, handling and fixing of container, the container is connected to interconnection means allowing two or more containers to be connected edge to edge or end to end to form a unitary shipping unit at the ends of the corners of which are placed

6 arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said assembly unit, the container comprises inflatable elements so independent or not, to improve the buoyancy of the said structure floating, These inflatable elements are advantageously received in housing provided for this purpose in the side edges of this container. So, we can, in case emergency, move the container from its deployed position to its non deployed without having to deflate these inflatable elements.
Alternatively or additionally, these inflatable elements can be deployed from dwellings placed in the bottom of one or more caissons, the inflatable elements then come under these elements when they are deployed.
These inflatable elements are preferably sized to ensure the stability and buoyancy of the floating structure.
At a minimum, these inflatable elements will have an elementary section of circular type. However, in order to improve stability (increase of inertia floatation), drag resistance (reduced drag hydrodynamics) and buoyancy (limitation of buoyancy volumes lost), these Inflatable elements will have an elementary section derived from the trapezoid or rectangle, with edges at widely rounded corners and faces continuous minimizing breaks in shape.
Advantageously, the underside of these inflatable elements will present a slight slope facing the flows.
Alternatively, and with the aim of reducing hydrodynamic drag inflatable elements of circular section juxtaposed between them, a wall flexibility can be maintained tangentially with their part lower this provision thus making it possible to recreate a certain continuity of form.
Preferably, the container has a feed circuit to ensure inflating independently or not, of these inflatable elements to go a power source for example pneumatic. Purely illustrative, these inflatable elements are inflatable tubes. This source power can for example be placed in one of the boxes.
In order to compensate for pressure losses that may result from leaks or variations in temperature, the inflating pressure of the inflatable elements is controlled and adjusted thanks to a control of the power source by probes such as pressure sensors, checking the pressure of inflation of each inflatable element.

7 the container comprises retractable wheels or not, This container preferably comprises at least two retractable wheels or not by extension block. Of course, the central box may comprise at least one pair of retractable wheels or not to ensure the displacement on container route in its undeployed position.
Advantageously, at least two of the wheels of the container are directional. In addition, at least two of said wheels are preferably drive.
This container then forms in its deployed position, an amphibious vehicle.
said container comprises locking means, These locking means may comprise locks intended to cooperate with two or more arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said container placed opposite. As an illustration, these locks can be double twist locks (also called "twist-lock"), mounted tips opposing, and interposed between two arrangements for gripping placed in vis-à-vis and put in place before the full deployment of the container.
According to another embodiment, or in addition, the means of may include fasteners such as pins or pins bolted brackets.
Alternatively, the container can be self-locking in its position deployed, self-locking being ensured by the effort resulting from the actuators deployment.
For illustrative purposes only, self-locking can be ensured by valves of maintaining load on the hydraulic cylinders ensuring the deployment of the container.
- this container has the dimensions of an Iso 10 transport container feet, 20 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet or 45 feet, or any other dimension of a standard container defined by ISO 668 and ISO 1496-1 or any other reference, standard, or standard used in maritime multimodal transport, fluvial, road, rail or air, the container in its non-deployed position is advantageously floating so that it can be dropped at sea and deployed for example automatically or remotely to form a ship.
When it deploys automatically, the container has one or several probes connected to a hydraulic supply circuit, for example, for feed the hinges and move them from their open position at their closed position. These probes detect the presence of the container in the water, they make sure of its good stability and if so, send a message to

8 the hydraulic power source for supplying the hinges with a view to their activation. Activation of these causes the passage of the container of its position not deployed to his deployed position.
When the container is remotely controlled, it comprises at least one receiver, or transceiver, connected to a control unit, this latest controlling the activation of the hydraulic source to power the hinges and activate these.
The invention also relates to a floating machine comprising at least two containers in their deployed position as described above, these containers being interconnected to form a floating structure unit.
These containers in their deployed position can be assembled end-to-end tip and / or edge to edge.
The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
wherein:
FIG. 1 schematically represents a front view of a container in its undeployed position according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 schematically represents the container of FIG.
his deployed position;
FIG. 3 schematically represents a front view of a container in its undeployed position according to a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 schematically represents the container of FIG.
deployment course;
FIG. 5 schematically represents the container of FIG.
his deployed position;
FIG. 6 schematically represents a front view of a container in its undeployed position according to a third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 schematically represents the container of FIG.
deployment course;
FIG. 8 schematically represents the container of FIG.
his deployed position;
FIG. 9 schematically represents a perspective view of a container in its undeployed position according to a fourth embodiment of the invention FIG. 10 schematically represents the container of FIG.
deployment course;

9 FIG. 11 schematically represents the container of FIG.
his deployed position;
FIG. 12 schematically represents a sectional view of a container with its inflatable elements in the deployed position, for the sake of simplicity, the container in the deployed position has been represented in the form a single block;
Figures 1 and 2 show a convertible container in its positions not deployed and deployed according to a first embodiment of the invention.
This container consists only of a central box 1 having a longitudinal dimension and at the ends of which blocks are placed extension 2, 3 which are connected to the central box 1 by hinges biaxial 4-7.
Each extension block 2, 3 consists of a single box, still called end box later, which is connected in an articulated manner at central box 1 by a pair of 4-7 biaxial hinges. Alternately, each extension block 2, 3 could comprise two boxes placed in contact each other.
These hinges 4-7 here comprise hydraulic rotary cylinders. The container therefore comprises a hydraulic power source and a circuit of distribution of this hydraulic fluid (not shown) to feed the different hinges 4-7 and thus allow their opening and closing. The container is, accordingly, perfectly autonomous.
The end caissons 2, 3 which have a truncated triangular profile, are placed partly on top of one another, superimposed on the central box 1.
So, a end boxes are placed in the undeployed position of the container between the central box 1 and the other end box 3. Each box end 2, 3 has a length greater than half the dimension longitudinal of the central box 1.
At least one of these boxes 1-3 is advantageously hollow to receive charges and / or devices or devices necessary for the proper operation of the container.
Each box 1-3 which is sealed, forms a floating box.
In the undeployed position of the container, the free outer walls end caissons 2, 3 and central box 1 define substantially a parallelepiped rectangle 8, that is to say that this container is writable in his position not deployed in this regular rectangle parallelepiped 8 (in dotted).
No structural element of the container is, by definition, projecting from this parallelepiped rectangle 8 so this container can be stacked on and or plated against other containers for storage or transport.
The container in its undeployed position deviates from this parallelepiped regular rectangle 8 by hollows or voids 9, 10 (hatched areas) enter Boxes 1-3 and the walls of the regular parallelepiped 8.
This parallelepiped rectangle here has dimensions equal to those of a shipping container iso 20 feet so it can advantageously taken, transported, handled, transhipped or stowed as standard iso container without the need for infrastructure or hardware specific.

10 There is also an empty space 11 (hatched area) between caissons end 2, 3 so that the internal volume of this parallelepiped rectangle regular 8 is not fully filled by the container in its position no deployed.
The cumulative percentage of empty spaces between said boxes 1-3 placed at least partly against each other on the one hand and the free walls of the stack formed by the boxes 1-3 and the regular rectangle parallelepiped 8 of other go, here is the sum of hatched areas 9, 10 and 11, ie 8%.
This container comprises, at each of its angles, an arrangement 12 for gripping, handling and fixing the container. It includes eight arrangements 12 which are placed at the ends of the corners of the container in its position not deployed.
The activation of the biaxial hinges 4-7 ensures the passage of the position not deployed from the container to its deployed position. In this last position, the end boxes 2, 3 form longitudinal extensions of the box central 1, said assembly thus deployed then forming a floating structure whose shell has a longitudinal dimension greater than twice the size longitudinal of this central box 1.
While a first end box 2 rotates 180 between the undeployed position and the deployed position of the container, the other box 3 end rotates less than 180, here equal to about 167 , enter these two positions. These two different rotations ensure the realization a bridge plane or substantially plane for the floating structure.
The angle of rotation being less than 180, the end wall 13 of the box central 1 intended to be pressed against the end box 3 in the position deployed from the container, has an inclined shape complementary to the face 14 inclined end of this end box 3 coming into contact, so that the angle form between these two inclined walls 13, 14 is equal to the value of the angle of rotation.

11 Each hinge with two axes 4-7, also called biaxial hinge, has two fixed parts each attached to a casing 1, 3, or making completely left, and supporting one of the two axes of this hinge. These two axes are connected by one or more rods ensuring the shift of the axes of rotation.
Each box 1-3 has aluminum walls forming its waterproof outer shell. Each box 1-3 thus formed is structured by a longitudinal and transverse network of stiffeners designed to take over local efforts and the overall efforts undergone by the container, both in position no deployed, only in deployed position.
Each of these boxes 1-3 thus forms a load bearing structure suitable for receive important loads such as a span, vehicles (truck, ...) equipment and / or personnel. The triangular shape of the end boxes 2, 3 ensures, moreover, a good recovery efforts by the central box 1 authorizing the use of the ends, or points, of these caissons 2, 3 for the port loads. The loading surface of the supporting structure is thus advantageously significantly increased. Of course, the hinges biaxial 4-7 are sized to support significant loads both in deployed position, that is to say in floating structure configuration, that in position not deployed, that is to say in container.
Alternatively, these boxes 1-3 could be made of steel, steel stainless, in cupronickel, in polymer or more generally in materials composites.
Figures 3 to 5 show a convertible container in its positions deployed, deployed and deployed in a second mode of deployment.
embodiment of the invention. The elements of Figures 3 to 5 carrying the same references that the elements of Figures 1 and 2 represent the same objects who will not be described again below.
This container is different from that described in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that in its unfolded position, its periphery forms a rectangular parallelepiped regular. This embodiment is preferred because the cumulative percentage spaces gaps between the caissons 1 5-1 9 on the one hand and between the caissons 1 5-1 9 and the walls of the regular parallelepiped in which is inscribed this container is then near zero.
This ensures that the internal volume of this regular parallelepiped is maximally occupied by the material of the container in its non deployed so that the deck surface of the floating structure obtained by Deployment of this container is then maximized.

12 This container here comprises five boxes 1 5-1 9 of which only one is fixed 15, the other caissons 16-19 being mobile. Two of these mobile pedestals 16, 17 are placed between two other caissons 15, 18, 19, all the caissons 15-being tacked against each other.
By deployment of the mobile caissons 15-19, a bridge surface is formed 20 having a longitudinal dimension greater than twice the dimension longitudinal fixed box 15 on which are superimposed caissons mobile 16-19 in the undeployed position of the container.
A box is here hingedly connected to the other box by a pair biaxial hinges 4-7, 21, 22 ensuring the displacement of one of these two boxes relative to each other.
Figures 6 to 8 show a convertible container in its positions deployed, deployed and deployed in a third mode of embodiment of the invention. The elements of Figures 6 to 8 carrying the same references that the elements of Figures 1 and 2 represent the same objects who will not be described again below.
This container is different from that described in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that in its unfolded position, its periphery forms a rectangular parallelepiped regular.
This container comprises here six caissons 23-28 which during the deployment of the container are movable so as to form in the extended position of the container a floating structure whose longitudinal dimension is better than the longitudinal dimension of the container in its undeployed position. This The floating structure thus has an increased flat deck surface.
These boxes 23-28 are connected in an articulated manner to each other by means of biaxial hinges 4-7, 21, 22, 29 already described above.
Figures 9 to 11 show a convertible container according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
This container comprises in its undeployed position a stack of three boxes 30-32 having equal dimensions, which are therefore bunk on each other.
These boxes 30-32 are more articulated with respect to each other so that two consecutive boxes are connected to each other on each of their side edges by at least two connecting arms 33-38, one of these arms of bond 34, 37 being common to the three boxes 30-32.
Two consecutive connecting arms form with the two caissons consecutive that they connect a regular parallelogram deformable so that the moving one of these boxes relative to a box immediately

13 lower in the stack of said non-deployed position of said container, causes a circular translation of this box relative to the box immediately below the stack.
The connecting arms 34, 37 connecting the three boxes 30-32 ensure advantageously a simultaneous and uniform movement of all the container boxes between the un-deployed position and the deployed position and Conversely.
These link arms 33-38 are advantageously received in lateral housing 39 provided for this purpose so that no structural element of the container is placed projecting from the parallelepiped 40 defined by the walls free boxes 30-32 so that this container can be stacked on and / or plated against other containers for storage or transport. These lateral housings 39 correspond here to recesses in the edges lateral caissons 30-32.
The link arms 33-38 are rotatably mounted on the casings 30-32 to allow the relative displacement of each of these boxes. These arms link 33-38 include, for example, connecting rods.
The face or faces 40, 41 of the boxes 30-32 intended to come into contact with one side of another box when these boxes are put end to end in the deployed position of the container, each have a shape complementary to the face with which it is intended to cooperate in the deployed position of the container. In this way, the faces of two caissons consecutively coupled pairs cooperate to lock in position the structure floating.
This container in its undeployed position can be registered in a parallelepiped rectangle 42, whose container in its undeployed position deviates by the empty spaces between the caissons 30-32 and the walls of this regular parallelepiped 42. The walls of this parallelepiped rectangle 42 are then at least partly formed by the free walls of the stack formed by the caissons 30-32. The cumulative percentage of empty spaces between these boxes 30-32 on the one hand, and the free walls of the stack and the parallelepiped on the other hand is of the order of 15% of the internal volume of this parallelepiped.
Figure 12 schematically shows a sectional view of a container with its inflatable elements in the deployed position on the water, for the sake of simplicity, the container in the deployed position has been represented in the form a single block 43.
One of these inflatable elements 44 has an elementary section derived from the trapezium presenting edges with widely rounded corners and continuous faces

14 minimizing the breaks in shape while the other inflatable elements 45, have a circular section. These last two inflatable elements 45, 46 are interconnected by a web 47 so as to have a continuous surface between these inflatable elements minimizing the breaks in shape.

Claims (8)

1. Container with arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said container, each of said arrangements (12) being placed at a corner of said container in an unexpanded position of said container, said container having a longitudinal dimension and a dimension transversal in this non-deployed position, characterized in that in said undeployed position, said container is constituted by a stack of n boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) with n> = 3, at least one said boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) being placed between and at least partially in contact with two other of said boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28), at least some said caissons (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) being interconnected to form a structure rigid, at least a part of said container being waterproof, in said non-deployed position, said boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) are at least partially in contact with each other, the number n of boxes and or the dimensions of each of said boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) being determined so that there is a parallelepiped (8) in which said container is writable, the walls of this parallelepiped (8) being then at least part formed by the free walls of said stack, the cumulative percentage spaces between said boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) on the one hand, and the walls free said stacking and said parallelepiped (8) then being between 0.1%
and 15% of the internal volume of said parallelepiped (8), at least some of said boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) are movable between said undeployed position and an extended position in which the assembly thus deployed then forms a floating structure having a dimension longitudinal and / or a transverse dimension greater than said longitudinal dimension and or cross-section of said container in its undeployed position so as to have a maximized loading area greater than or greater than twice surface of said container in its undeployed position. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that in the non-deployed position of said container, at least some of the vertices of said parallelepiped (8) comprising one of said arrangements (12) for the gripping, handling and fixing said container, no element of said container is projecting from said parallelepiped (8). Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cumulative percentage of voids between said boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) on the one hand, and the free walls of said stack and said parallelepiped (8) else part is less than 10% of the internal volume of said parallelepiped (8). Container according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in said deployed position, the shell of said structure floating a a longitudinal or transversal dimension greater than or equal to twice the longitudinal dimension, respectively transverse, of said container in its position not deployed. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said movable boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) are connected in a manner articulated to a fixed block comprising one or more fixed boxes. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises actuators allowing the displacement of said caissons (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) moving from the undeployed position to the deployed position said container and vice versa. Container according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said boxes (1-3, 15-19, 23-28) are connected to said fixed block by means of hinges (4-7, 22, 22, 29), and even better two-axis hinges. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least some of said mobile pedestals are interconnected by of the hinges, and even better two-axis hinges.