DE102014002497B4 - Method and device for coupling a first and a second walk-in container - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for coupling a first and a second walk-in container, in which the two containers are brought together until they rest against one another along two parallel side walls, the first container (10) being set down on a base (42) and the second container (12) having an inclined orientation with respect to the base (42), coupling means (66; 56) of the second container (12) with coupling means (64; 110) of the parked first one containers (10) are engaged and then the second container (12) is pivoted downwardly about a pivot axis parallel to the opposing side walls (24) to align the opposing side walls (24) generally parallel, one of the cooperating coupling means (66; 56, 64; 110) comprising at least one roller rotatably mounted on the container (10, 12) while the other of the cooperating coupling means (64; 110 , 66; 56) has at least one rigid element with a hook or trough-shaped contour for cooperation with the opposite roller of the other container (12, 10).

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for coupling a first and a second walk-in container. The invention further relates to an arrangement of two walk-in containers.

Walk-in cuboid residential, office or storage containers with standardized dimensions can not only be set up separately from one another, but also coupled with one or more neighboring containers to form container modules or combined to form larger modular units. For example, a greater or lesser number of individual containers can be assembled into single or multi-storey modular buildings, such as in the U.S. 4,599,829 , the U.S. 5,735,639 or the U.S. 7,594,361 disclosed. Instead of individual containers, however, prefabricated container modules consisting of two or more containers coupled to one another can also be used for construction.

In addition to the uses mentioned in these publications, it is also common for military purposes, for example when building field camps, to combine several living, office or storage containers into command posts, infirmaries, residential accommodation or the like, usually armored, i.e. secured against bullets Containers with reinforced walls and ceilings are used.

The coupling of individual containers or container modules offers advantages above all if at least part of the opposite side walls of the container is provided with larger openings, which are aligned with each other after the containers are coupled, so that modular buildings with almost any room size can be created .

In order to ensure that the coupled containers fit snugly against one another, the parallelepiped containers are usually fitted at the corners with connectors or universal couplings, by means of which the opposite side walls of adjacent containers can be firmly connected together after they have been brought into registry. Alternatively or additionally, the opposite side walls of adjacent containers can be connected by screws which extend through aligned bores in the side walls.

In order to ensure a flat and tight contact of the opposite side walls, these are expediently provided with complementary flat outer contact surfaces and preferably with seals which are pressed tightly against one another when the adjacent containers are connected.

However, because of the relatively high weight of containers, and armored containers in particular, it is not easy, without a crane or other means suitable for lifting heavy loads, to bring two containers that are to be coupled together so that the opposite side walls are aligned parallel to one another and face one another congruently opposite each other at a small distance. However, this is necessary to enable the connectors or universal couplings to be engaged to connect and/or pull the containers together.

From the DE 20 2011 051 213 U1 of the applicant is already known a vehicle for transporting a container as a trailer, in which the position of the trailer in relation to the chassis can be changed in the horizontal and vertical direction, so that the opposite side walls of three trailers on transport vehicles parked next to each other by moving the can be brought together in the manner mentioned at the outset and brought into alignment in parallel alignment in order to connect them to one another in pairs using the connecting devices or universal couplings. As soon as the containers are rigidly connected to each other, the transport vehicle can be driven out from under the middle container and this can then be supported on the ground with the help of vertically extendable supports at its four corners. Finally, the other two transport vehicles can be driven out from under the outer containers, which are supported on the ground via the supports of the middle container, and then the rigidly connected containers can be lowered to the ground using the supports.

However, the known method cannot be carried out without the associated transport vehicles, of which at least three are required.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to create a method and a device of the type mentioned at the outset for coupling a first and a second container, which manages with a single transport vehicle and no other means suitable for lifting heavy loads, such as forklifts or cranes , require.

This object is achieved in the method according to the invention in that the two containers are brought closer together until they abut against each other along two parallel side walls, the first container being set down on a base and that in an orientation of the second container inclined in relation to the ground, coupling means of the second container are engaged with coupling means of the set down first container and then the second container is turned around pivoting down a pivot axis parallel to the opposing side walls (24) to align the opposing side walls generally parallel, one of the cooperating coupling means comprising at least one roller rotatably mounted on the container, while the other of the cooperating coupling means comprises at least one rigid element having a has hooked or trough-shaped contour for interaction with the opposite role of the other container.

By placing the first container on the ground, a single transport vehicle can be used to transport both containers one after the other to the installation site. The engaged coupling means can be used as a guide when pivoting the second container, while the dead weight of the second container can be used as a drive to bring the opposite side walls together and thereby align them generally congruently and parallel. In this way, tools such as forklifts or cranes are not required.

The device according to the invention for coupling a first walk-in container placed on a base and a second walk-in container on two opposite side walls of the two containers, and for carrying out the method to be described, with interacting coupling means on or near the upper edges of the opposite side walls of the two containers, the coupling means of the second container being engageable with the coupling means of the parked first container in an inclined orientation of the second container with respect to the ground, thereafter to guide the second container by one to the engaged coupling means with respect to the first container pivot axis parallel to the opposite side walls, one of the cooperating coupling means comprising at least one roller rotatably mounted on the container, while the other of the cooperating coupling means comprises at least one rigid element with a hook- or trough-shaped contour for cooperating with the opposite roller of the other container owns.

In the arrangement according to the invention, the two containers each have a floor, a roof, two longitudinal side walls and two end walls, one of the two end walls of each container being equipped with devices for hanging on a hook of a loading and unloading device of a hook-off transport vehicle or vehicle from the hook-lift type, wherein cooperating coupling means are arranged at or near the top edges of the other end walls of the two containers, and wherein the coupling means of one container are engaged with the coupling means of the other container such that one of the two containers in relative to the other container about a pivot axis parallel to the opposite side walls, and wherein one of the cooperating coupling means comprises at least one roller rotatably mounted on the container, while the other of the cooperating coupling means comprises at least one rigid element with a hook- or trough-shaped contour for cooperating with the opposite role of the other container.

Vehicles, also known as swap-body vehicles, are e.g. B. from the DE 31 41 769 A1 or the GB 2 085 845 A known. Cooperating coupling means are arranged on or near the upper edges of the respective other end walls of the two containers, with the coupling means of the second container being engaged with the coupling means of the first container in such a way that the second container is tilted in relation to the first container by a distance parallel to the opposite side walls Pivot axis is pivotable.

The devices for hanging a hook of a loading and unloading device of a hook unwinder vehicle can be a bracket rigidly connected to the end wall or a so-called H or X frame, with which an ISO container without a bracket can be retrofitted by detachably connecting the frame, which is provided with a bracket, to the corner fittings on the end wall of the ISO container.

By attaching the interacting coupling means at or near the top edges of the opposite side walls, it is achieved that the pivot axis is also located at or near the top edges of the opposite side walls, so that the two side walls are already aligned largely parallel after pivoting and then only have to be rigidly connected to each other.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the interacting coupling means are designed in such a way that, when the second container is pivoted, they slide on one another or, even better, roll on one another to reduce frictional forces.

Although it is fundamentally possible with the method and the device according to the invention to selectively couple the first and second container in such a way that either two broad side walls or two end walls face each other, the latter alternative is preferred. In this alternative, the two containers are provided with the coupling means at or near the top edge of an end wall.

This alternative has the advantage that a hook-off vehicle can be used to transport and unload the two containers, on which the second container can be approached to the parked first container and then partially unloaded backwards until it is aligned obliquely and the top edges of the opposite end walls are close enough to allow the coupling means to be engaged with each other.

The coupling means of the second container can extend beyond the coupling means of the first container, so that they can be deposited from above onto the coupling means of the first container by lowering the second container further.

In order to bring the top edge of the front side wall of the second container closer to the top edge of the front side wall of the first container, in this case the hook-off vehicle with the second container is appropriately moved backwards under its own power to the parked first container and the second container is lifted with the help of the and dumping device of the vehicle lowered rearwardly until the top edge of its rear end wall is at a slightly higher level than the top edge of the front end wall of the first container. If the hook-off vehicle then moves backwards until the second container strikes the first container and the second container is then lowered again slightly, the cooperating coupling means on the upper edges of the opposite end walls automatically engage with one another, with the second container on the first container is mounted.

After hanging the second container on the first container, the transport vehicle is expediently moved forward under the second container and away from the first container, while the second container is pivoted downwards about the pivot axis by its own weight. The speed at which the second container is pivoted can be controlled by moving the hook-off vehicle under the second container in a controlled manner using the loading and unloading device. As a result, the second container can be lowered in a targeted manner until the two opposite side walls are aligned generally congruently and parallel to one another.

In this case, the interacting coupling means are expediently adapted to one another in such a way that after the second container has been hung on the first container, the coupling means of one container engage behind the coupling means of the other container, so that the two containers do not move in the region of the pivot axis when the second container is then pivoted can easily move apart.

The interacting coupling means are preferably designed in such a way that they can be removably mounted on opposite corner fittings of the containers. On the one hand, corner fittings of this type are already present in many containers, and in particular in ISO containers, in order to connect two containers stacked on top of one another. On the other hand, containers with corner fittings are mostly reinforced in the area of the corner fittings, so that they can absorb greater loads there.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the coupling means of each container protrude over two opposite longitudinal side walls of the container and/or to opposite sides over two corner fittings on the upper edge of an end wall of the container. This avoids the coupling means being located between the opposite side walls of the two containers during coupling, as a result of which they can be brought into a parallel alignment without hindrance when the second container is pivoted.

Alternatively, however, the coupling means can also be arranged on the tops of the containers, so that they do not have to be removed after the two containers have been coupled if further container modules are to be attached to one or both broad side walls. If the roofs of the two containers are designed to be sufficiently stable, a coupling means, for example in the form of a wide rotatable roller, attached above the end wall on the roof of one container and projecting over the end wall, can be placed in a trough opposite or bag can be hung in the roof of the other container and guided to the side with guides.

Advantageously, the cooperating coupling means are adapted to one another in such a way that they guide or center the second container when it approaches the first container in such a way that the longitudinal side walls of the second container are aligned with those of the first container. At least one of the opposing end walls of the two containers is also expediently provided with centering pins which engage in centering bores in the other end wall and ensure even more precise guidance or centering

Preferably, one of the cooperating coupling means comprises at least one roller rotatably mounted on the container, while the other of the cooperating coupling means has at least one rigid element with a hook or trough-shaped contour for cooperating with the opposite roller of the other container.

Preferably, the second container is provided with coupling means in the form of two rigid hook-shaped elements, while the first container is provided with coupling means in the form of two rotatable rollers, each cooperating with one of the rigid hook-shaped elements. In this case, the hook-shaped elements have a contour that is open at the bottom and are placed on the rollers from above. Conversely, the hook-shaped elements can also be provided on the first container and the rollers on the second container. In this case, the hook-shaped elements have a contour that is open at the top, in which the rollers of the second container can be placed from above.

Alternatively, however, the cooperating coupling means can also have at least two paired surfaces sliding on one another, one of which is expediently curved convexly in the direction of the other.

In order to guide the second container when approaching the first container and to prevent the two containers from tilting, a further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the interacting coupling means comprise at least two supports on one of the containers, which are connected by chains or ropes are connected to the other container or the coupling means of the other container. The upper ends of the chains or ropes are each attached to one of the supports at a distance above the corner fittings of the remote first container, while their lower ends are connected to the opposite corner fitting of the second container. The two chains guide the second container when it is pivoted downwards about the pivot axis passing through the upper ends of the chains and the supports, respectively. This prevents tilting. Means are advantageously provided for varying the inclination of the supports to facilitate the connection and disconnection of the lower ends of the chains from the corner fittings. The means are expediently formed by an inclined spindle drive, which also serves to introduce part of the tensile forces exerted by the chains on the supports into the first container.

• 1 zeigt eine Seitenansicht von zwei Containern beim Koppeln der beiden Container mit Hilfe eines Hakenabroller-Transportfahrzeugs;
• 2 zeigt eine Oberseitenansicht der beiden Container und des Hakenabroller-Transportfahrzeugs;
• 3 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht der beiden Container und des Hakenabroller-Transportfahrzeugs;
• 4 zeigt eine vergrößerte perspektivische Ansicht von einem der beiden Container;
• 5 zeigt eine vergrößerte Detailansicht des Ausschnitts A in 1 mit einem Teil der zusammenwirkenden Kopplungsmittel;
• 6 zeigt eine vergrößerte Detailansicht des Ausschnitts B in 3 mit einem Teil der zusammenwirkenden Kopplungsmittel;
• 7 zeigt eine vergrößerte Ansicht eines Teils der 1 jedoch mit anderen Kopplungsmitteln;
• 8 zeigt eine vergrößerte Detailansicht der anderen Kopplungsmittel;
• 9 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines durch starres Verbinden der beiden Container gebildeten Container-Moduls;
• 10 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines aus mehreren Container-Modulen zusammengesetzten modularen Gebäudes.

The invention is explained in more detail below using two exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing.

• 1 shows a side view of two containers when coupling the two containers with the help of a hook roller transport vehicle;
• 2 shows a top view of the two containers and the hook roller transport vehicle;
• 3 shows a perspective view of the two containers and the hook roller transport vehicle;
• 4 shows an enlarged perspective view of one of the two containers;
• 5 shows an enlarged detailed view of section A in 1 with part of the cooperating coupling means;
• 6 shows an enlarged detailed view of section B in 3 with part of the cooperating coupling means;
• 7 shows an enlarged view of part of the 1 but with other coupling agents;
• 8th shows an enlarged detail view of the other coupling means;
• 9 shows a perspective view of a container module formed by rigidly connecting the two containers;
• 10 shows a perspective view of a modular building composed of several container modules.

The containers 10, 12 shown in the drawing are ISO containers with a length of 6.058 m (20 feet), a width of 2.438 m (8 feet) and a height of 2.591 m, which are designed as walk-in cuboid residential , office or storage containers can be used.

In order to expand the possible uses, two containers 10, 12 are coupled and then, forming an in 9 illustrated con tainer module 14 rigidly connected. The container module 14 that is formed can then be assembled with other container modules 14 and/or containers to form a larger modular building 16, as shown in FIG 10 shown.

As best in 1 , 2 and 4 shown, the two containers 10, 12 each have two broad side walls 18, 20, two end walls 22, 24, a floor 26 and a roof 28, which can be reinforced or armored in both containers 10, 12, so that they except for non- military purposes are suitable for use in field camps, field hospitals or other military facilities.

So that after the coupling and assembly of several containers 10, 12 or container modules 14 to form a modular building 16, the interior spaces of which can communicate with one another, at least one side wall 18, 20, 24 of each container 10, 12 is provided with a wall opening, of which in the drawing a large rectangular wall opening 30 in the broad side wall 18 is shown as an example. A wall opening (not shown) can also be provided in the broad side wall 20 and/or in the front side wall 24 . Each wall opening provided side wall 18, 20, 24 is provided on its outside with a seal (not shown) which surrounds the wall opening and after assembly of the container 10, 12 or container modules 14 into a modular building 16 against a corresponding Seal is pressed, which runs around a complementary wall opening of the respective adjacent container 12 , 10 .

Since a crane or forklift is not always available for coupling the containers 10, 12, especially when used in field camps, field hospitals or other military facilities, the two containers 10, 12 should only be lifted with the help of a hook dispenser used to transport the containers 10, 12 -Transport vehicle 32 are coupled together.

So that the containers 10, 12 can be loaded, transported and unloaded solely by means of the hook-off transport vehicle 32, each of the two containers 10, 12, like known roll-off containers, is provided with a bracket 34 on the outside of a front side wall 22 which a hook 36 can be hung on the free end of a hook mount 38 of a loading and unloading device 40 of the vehicle 32 . Below the other end wall 24 on the underside of the floor 26 removable or foldable rollers (not shown) can be provided in a known manner, on which the container 10 , 12 can roll when loading and unloading on a base 42 .

In order to comply with specified dimensions of the ISO containers 10 , 12 to be coupled, the end walls 22 each have a flat, rectangular indentation 44 , the vertical edges of which are reinforced by two upright welded-in supports 46 . Welded between the two supports 46 is the bracket 34, which extends parallel to the upper edge 48 of the end wall 22 and has a bulge in the middle for hanging the hook 36 of the hook receptacle 38, as best shown in 4 shown. Furthermore, a lifting device 50 with two vertical hydraulic cylinders 52 and two removable rollers 54 are provided on the end walls 22 of the two containers 10 , 12 , which are required when assembling the container modules 14 to form the modular building 16 .

The containers 10, 12 have, in a known manner, corner fittings 56 on all corners, which are also referred to as container corners or corner fittings and for attaching the containers 10, 12, for fastening the containers 10, 12 on vehicles and for connecting one above the other stacked containers 10, 12 are used. As best in 4 shown, the corner fittings 56 project slightly beyond the side walls 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 of the containers 10 , 12 . This overhang is slightly smaller than the strength of the seals that run around the wall openings, so that the seals are compressed somewhat when adjacent containers 10, 12 or container modules 14 with their corner fittings 56 rest against one another.

As best in 6 shown, the cuboid corner fittings 56 embedded in the corners of the containers 10, 12 have a central recess 60 surrounded by boundary walls. The boundary walls parallel to the broad side walls 18, 20 of the containers 10, 12 each have an elongate through opening 62.

To couple the two containers 10, 12, the corner fittings 56 on the upper edges 58 of those end walls 24 of the two containers 10, 12 that are not provided with the bracket 34 for hanging the hook 36 of the loading and unloading device 40, either provided with interacting coupling means 64, 66, or in cooperation with a coupling means 100 mounted on the other container 10 themselves serve as coupling means 56. The coupling means 64, 66; which are not integrated in one of the containers 10, 12; 100 are expediently carried in the containers 10, 12 during transport and before the containers 10, 12 are coupled to the corner fittings 56 to the Upper edges 58 are mounted so that the dimensions of the containers 10, 12 are not affected by the coupling means 64, 66; ; 100 can be enlarged.

Two different types of coupling means 64, 66; 100, 56 with reference to FIG 1 until 6 or the 7 and 8th described in more detail, with each part 64 ; 100 of the coupling means 64, 66; 100, 56 on one container 10 and the other part 66; 56 is provided on the other container 12.

How best in the 5 and 6 shown, the coupling means 64 from the 1 until 6 in the case of a container 10, which is also referred to below as the first container 10, two rollers 70 which are each fastened to one of the corner fittings 56 on the upper edge 58. The two rollers 70 are steel rollers which are each rotatably mounted on a shaft journal 72 . A part of each shaft journal 72 that protrudes over the roller 70 and is threaded (not visible) fits through the elongated through-opening 62 in the outer lateral boundary wall of the corner fittings 56, so that it is inserted through the through-opening 62 from the outside and inside the recess 60 a nut can be countered to releasably attach the roller 70 to the outside of the corner fitting 56. After the two rollers 70 have been installed, they can be rotated about aligned axes of rotation which are parallel to the upper edges 58 of the end walls 24 .

In the case of the other container 12, which is also referred to below as the second container 12, the coupling means 66 comprise two hook elements 74, each of which is cut out of a thick metal sheet. The hook elements 74 each comprise an enlarged fastening part 76 which is screwed to the corner fitting 56 abutting against the outside of a corner fitting 56, and a narrower front hanging part 80 with a hook-shaped outline which protrudes over the end wall 24 of the container 12. The fastening part 76 has a through-opening 82 which has a non-round cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the through-openings 62 of the corner fittings 56 . Fastening screws 84 are used for screwing, which have a central part with a non-circular cross-section adapted to the cross-section of the through-openings 62 , so that the hook elements 74 are prevented from twisting about the central axis of the screws 84 . The protruding hanging part 80 of both hook elements 74 has at its free end a projection 86 which, together with the fastening part 76 and the hanging part 80, delimits a flat trough with a flat surface 90 which, when the hook elements 74 are screwed tight to one of the containers 10, 12 is aligned parallel to the roof 28 of the container 10 , 12 .

When the rollers 70 are attached to the corner fittings 56 of the first container 10 and the hook elements 74 to the corner fittings 56 of the second container 12, as shown in the drawing, the troughs are open at the bottom so that the flat surfaces 90 on top of the Rollers 70 rest after the hook elements 74 have been hung on the rollers 70. In this case, the hook elements 74 and the rollers 70 are screwed to the respective corner fittings 56 such that the vertical distance between the top of the corner fitting 56 and the apex of the roller screwed to the corner fitting 56 is equal to the vertical distance between the top of the corner fitting 56 and the flat surface 90 on the underside of the hanging part 80 is identical, so that the tops of the roofs 28 of the two containers 10, 12 are flush after coupling.

It is also possible to attach the rollers 70 to the corner fittings 56 of the second container 12 and the hook elements 74 to the corner fittings 56 of the first container 10. In this case, however, the hook elements 74 are reversed so that the rollers 70 can be inserted into the troughs from above and hung in the hook elements 74 while resting on the surfaces 90 .

The distance between the surfaces 90 and the faces of the corner fittings 56 provided with the hook elements 74 in a direction parallel to the roof 28 is adjusted so that it corresponds to the horizontal distance between the axes of rotation of the rollers 70 and the faces of the corner fittings 56 provided with the rollers 70 . As a result, after the hook elements 74 have been hooked onto the rollers 70 or after the rollers 70 have been hooked onto the hook elements 74, the surfaces 90 remain in contact with the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 70, regardless of the mutual orientation of the containers 10, 12, while the projections 86 hold the Reach behind rollers 70 and prevent the cooperating coupling means 64, 66 from moving apart.

As best in 1 and 3 shown, the hook roller transport vehicle 32 has a loading area 92 for setting down one of the containers 10, 12 and a roller 94 arranged at the rear end of the loading area 92, on which the container 10, 12 can roll during loading and unloading. As is usual with hook unwinder transport vehicles 32, the hook receptacle 38, which is angled and can be pivoted in relation to the loading area 92, of the loading and unloading device 40 by means of a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) by one im Pivot bearing arranged in the area of the loading area 32 in order to pull a container 10, 12 suspended on the hook 36 onto the loading area 92 either for loading via the roller 94 or to move it backwards off the loading area 92 for unloading via the roller 94. In both cases the hook 38 is hung on the bracket 34 .

In order to couple the two containers 10 , 12 , first the first container 10 is transported by means of the hook unwind transport vehicle 32 to the construction site where the containers 10 , 12 are to be coupled and later assembled to form the building 16 . The first container 10 can be set down there with the help of the loading and unloading device 40 either on a previously leveled flat surface 42, as in 4 shown, or can be placed on height-adjustable supports 96 to compensate for uneven floors, as in 1 and 3 shown so that the floor 26 and the roof 28 are aligned substantially parallel to the ground 42 . Alternatively, the supports 96 can also be preassembled on the container 10 .

Next, the second container 12 is also transported with the hook-off transport vehicle 32 to the construction site, where the vehicle 32 is backwards approached to the end wall 24 of the parked first container 10, i.e. the end wall 24 that is not provided with the bracket 34.

The second container 12 with the hook mount 38 of the loading and unloading device 40 is then lowered backwards off the loading area 92 until the top edge 58 of its rear end wall 24 is slightly greater than the top edge 58 of the opposite end wall 24 of the parked first containers 10 . In this position, the second container 12 has an orientation that is inclined relative to the base 42 , in which its floor 26 and its roof 28 enclose an acute angle with the base 42 .

The movement of the hook receptacle 38 is now temporarily interrupted and the vehicle 32 is further backed up until the suspension parts 80 of the two hook elements 74 of the second container 12 protruding beyond the end walls 24 are on both sides of the outer sides of the upper corner fittings 56 and above the rollers 70 of the first Containers 10 are located and thus provide guidance and centering of the second container 12 in relation to the first container 10, and until the end faces of the widened fastening parts 76 strike against the rollers 70.

In this position, the clutch of the transport vehicle 32 is actuated to interrupt power transmission from the engine to the transmission, and then the engine is allowed to idle. With the parking brake released, the hook mount 38 is moved further rearward relative to the vehicle 32 . Since the second container 12 is supported in the region of the opposite upper edges 58 against the parked first container 10, it cannot move further backwards in relation to the ground 42. Therefore, movement of the hook mount 38 results in the vehicle 32 being moved forward out from under the second container 12 and away from the first container 10 . In the process, the second container 12 moves further and further away from the loading area 92 . In the course of this movement, the protruding suspension parts 80 of the hook elements 74 of the second container 12 are first deposited in the area of the surfaces 90 on the rollers 70 of the first container 10 and hung on them by the projections 86 . Thereafter, the top edge 58 of the rear end wall 24 of the second container 12 cannot move any further downward. If the hook receptacle 38 continues to move backwards in relation to the vehicle 32, the second container 12 is pivoted further and further downwards by its own weight until the opposite end walls 24 of the two containers 10, 12 are aligned parallel to one another as a result of being guided by the interacting coupling means 64, 66 and have a defined distance.

If the containers 10, 12 are to be set down on an uneven surface 42, height-adjustable supports 96 can be installed in a retracted state under the lower corner fittings 56 of the second container 12, as soon as the respective corner fittings 56 have moved over the roller 94. As soon as the two end walls 24 of the first and second container 10, 12 are aligned in parallel and thus the roofs 28 of the two containers 10, 12 are aligned with one another, the transport vehicle 32 is braked and the movement of the hook receptacle 38 is stopped in order to extend the height-adjustable supports 96 and thereby supporting the second container 12 on the ground 42 . Finally, the hook 36 is unhooked from the hook mount 38 and the transport vehicle 32 is driven away, with the second container 12 remaining behind, as in FIG 9 shown.

Finally, the opposite end walls 24 of the two containers 10 , 12 are rigidly connected to one another, for example with so-called bridge fittings in the area of the corner fittings 56 on the upper edges 58 and lower edges of the opposite end walls 24 . Old natively or additionally, the opposite end walls 24 can also be connected by connecting screws which are inserted inside one of the two containers through aligned bores in the end walls 24 and countered inside the other container. The end walls 24 can be held at a defined distance from one another by the centering pins.

In this way it is possible to couple two containers 10, 12 alone with a hook unwinder transport vehicle 32 and without further aids such as cranes or forklifts and then to connect them rigidly to one another. The coupling means 64 , 66 can then be removed and used to couple further containers 10 , 12 . The formed container module 14 can be combined with other identical container modules 14 to form a larger modular building 16, as is described in the applicant's German patent application filed on the same date.

The two containers 10, 12 do not necessarily have to be of the same length. For example, it is also possible to couple an ISO container with a length of 6.058 m (20 feet) and an ISO container with a length of 12.192 m (40 feet).

At the in the 7 and 8th The coupling means 100, 56 shown include the coupling means 100 on the first container 10 two supports 104, the lower ends of which are inserted from above into the recesses 60 of the corner fittings 56 on the upper edge 58 of the container 10, so that the two supports 104 upwards over the End wall 24 of the container 10 survive. The coupling means 100 further comprise, for each support 104, a chain 106 and a spindle drive 108, with which the inclination of the support 104 can be changed. Attached to the upper end of each support 104 is a rigid crossbeam 110, on the side of which adjacent to the second container 12 is fastened by means of a bolt 112 the upper end of the chain 106. The upper end of the spindle drive 108 is articulated on the other side of the cross member 110, the lower end of which is inserted into a complementary pocket 114 in the roof 28 of the first container 10 in such a way that tensile forces can be introduced into the roof 28 via the spindle drive 108. The length of the chains 106 corresponds approximately to the height of the supports 104 . The coupling means 100 further comprise two mounting pins 114, the lower ends of which can be inserted from above into the recesses 60 of the corner fittings 56 on the upper edge 58 of the second container 12 and fixed in the corner fittings 56, and two shackles 116, with which the lower ends of the chains 106 can be attached to eyes 118 of the upper ends of the mounting pins 114. On the second container 12, the coupling means 56 are formed by the corner fittings 56 on the upper edge 58 of the end wall 24.

After the first container 10 has been set down, the supports 104 with the chains 106 and the spindle drives 108 are inserted into the two upper corner fittings 56 on the end wall 24 of the container 10 facing away from the bracket 34 and the lower ends of the two spindle drives 108 into the associated Pockets 114 anchored. The mounting pins 114 are already connected to the lower ends of the chains 106 via the shackles 116 .

After the second container 12 has been delivered and partially unloaded by means of the transport vehicle 32 in order to bring it into an inclined orientation in relation to the ground 42, in which the upper edge 58 of its end wall 24 is at a small distance from the opposite upper edge 58 of the end wall 24 of the first container 10, the mounting pins 104 at the lower ends of the chains 106 are inserted into the recesses 60 of the corner fittings 56 of the container 12 and fastened to the corner fittings 56, as shown in FIG 7 and 8th shown. In order to facilitate this, the inclination of the supports 104 can be changed by means of the spindle drives 108 so that the supports 104 are inclined more towards the second container 12 . The supports 104 are then reset by means of the spindle drives 108 so far that the opposite end walls 24 of the two containers 10, 12 come to rest congruently and in parallel alignment with one another when the transport vehicle 32 moves away from the container 10 and under the container 12 and the container 12 is pivoted downwards on the chains 106 about a pivot axis formed by the bolts 112 of the two supports 104 and parallel to the end walls 24 . The chains 106 serve as a guide and prevent the container 12 from tilting in relation to the container 10 . The tensile forces acting on the chains 106 are introduced into the container 10 via the supports 104 and the spindle drives 108 and the pockets 114 . After the two containers 10, 12 have been coupled, the inclination of the supports 104 towards the second container 12 is again increased by means of the spindle drives 108 in order to dismantle the coupling means 100, 102 in order to facilitate the removal of the mounting pins 104 from the corner fittings 56.

Claims (15)

Method for coupling a first and a second walk-in container, in which the two containers are brought together, until they abut against each other along two parallel side walls, the first container (10) being set down on a base (42) and that when the second container (12) is inclined in relation to the base (42), coupling means (66; 56) of the second container (12) are brought into engagement with coupling means (64; 110) of the parked first container (10) and then the second container (12) is pivoted downwards about a pivot axis parallel to the opposite side walls (24) in order to aligning opposite side walls (24) generally parallel, one of the cooperating coupling means (66; 56, 64; 110) comprising at least one roller rotatably mounted on the container (10, 12), while the other of the cooperating coupling means (64; 110, 66 ; 56) has at least one rigid element with a hook or trough-shaped contour for cooperation with the opposite roller of the other container (12, 10). procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that the second container (12) on a vehicle (32) approaches the parked first container (10) and during unloading from the vehicle (32) is brought into the inclined orientation in relation to the ground, in which the allow coupling means (64, 66; 100, 56) to engage. procedure after claim 2 , characterized in that the vehicle (32) with the second container (12) approaches the first container (10) rearward and, after engaging the coupling means (64, 66; 100, 56), forwards under the second container (12) is moved out and away from the first container (10) while the second container (12) is pivoted downwards about the pivot axis. procedure after claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the vehicle (32) is moved under the second container (12) and away from the first container (10) by its own drive and/or by means of a loading and unloading device (40). Device for coupling a first walk-in container placed on a base and a second walk-in container on two opposite side walls of the two containers, and for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, with cooperating coupling means (64, 66; 100, 56) at or near the upper edges (58) of the opposite side walls (24) of the two containers (10, 12), the coupling means (66; 56) of the second container (12) being in an inclined orientation with respect to the ground (42) of the second container (12) engaged with the docking means (64; 100) of the parked first container (10) to move the second container (12) thereafter guided by the engaged docking means (64, 66; 100,56) with respect to the to pivot the first container (10) about a pivot axis parallel to the opposite side walls (14), one of the cooperating coupling means (66; 56, 64; 110) comprising at least one roller rotatably mounted on the container (10, 12), while the other the cooperating coupling means (64; 110, 66; 56) has at least one rigid element with a hook or trough-shaped contour for cooperating with the opposite roller of the other container (12, 10). setup after claim 5 , characterized in that the coupling means (64, 66; 100) of at least one of the two containers (10, 12) are removably attached to the container (10, 12). setup after claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that at least a part (66; 100) of the interacting coupling means (64, 66; 56, 100) projects beyond one of the two opposite side walls (24). Setup according to one of Claims 5 until 7 , characterized in that the cooperating coupling means (64, 66; 56, 100) are mounted or mountable on opposite corner fittings (56) of the two containers (10, 12) or that the coupling means (56) of one of the containers (12) of Corner fittings (56) are formed. Setup according to one of Claims 5 until 8th , characterized in that the coupling means (66) of one container (12) engage behind the coupling means (64) of the other container (10) after they have been brought into engagement. Setup according to one of Claims 5 until 9 , characterized in that the cooperating coupling means (64, 66) slide or roll on each other during pivoting. Setup according to one of Claims 5 until 10 , characterized in that the cooperating coupling means comprise at least one roller (70) which rotates during pivoting. Setup according to one of Claims 5 until 9 , characterized in that the cooperating coupling means (100, 56) comprise at least two supports (104) on one of the containers (10) which are connected by chains (106) or ropes the coupling means (56) of the other container (12) can be connected. setup after claim 12 , characterized by means (108) for changing the inclination of the supports (104). Setup according to one of Claims 6 until 13 , characterized in that at least the second container (12) on a side wall (22) opposite to the opposite side walls (24) with devices (34) for hanging a hook (38) of a loading and unloading device (40) of a hook unwinder -Transport vehicle (32) is provided. Arrangement of two walk-in containers (10, 12), each having a floor (26), a roof (28), two longitudinal side walls (18, 20) and two end walls (22, 24), one (22) of each End walls (22, 24) of each container (10, 12) with devices (34) for hanging a hook (38) of a loading and unloading device (40) of a hook unroller transport vehicle (32), with at or near the Cooperating coupling means (64, 66; 100, 56) are arranged on the upper edges (58) of the other end walls (24) of the two containers (10, 12), and the coupling means (64; 100) of one container (10, 12) are arranged so are in engagement with the coupling means (66; 56) of the other container (12, 10), so that one of the two containers (12) can be pivoted in relation to the other container (10) about a pivot axis parallel to the opposite side walls (24), and wherein one of said cooperating coupling means (66; 56, 64; 110) comprises at least one roller rotatably mounted on said container (10, 12), while the other of said cooperating coupling means (64; 110, 66; 56) has at least one rigid element with a hook or trough-shaped contour for cooperating with the opposite roller of the other container (12, 10).

Images