EP1440879A2

EP1440879A2 - Cabin

Info

Publication number: EP1440879A2
Application number: EP04250427A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ashley Craig David Vinci PLC Rose; Graham Anthony c/o Vinci PLC Fuller
Original assignee: Vinci PLC
Current assignee: Vinci PLC
Priority date: 2003-01-27
Filing date: 2004-01-27
Publication date: 2004-07-28
Also published as: EP1440879A3; GB2397557A; GB0401752D0; GB2397557B; GB0301843D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a prefabricated cabin assembly and a method for manufacture and refit of a ship comprising the steps of manufacturing the cabin, furnishing the cabin, placing the cabin on the ship, moving the cabin to its desired location on the ship, and installing services to the cabin. A method and a cabin for performing such a method permits the cabin to be fitted with operational equipment and furnishings prior to fitting the cabin to the ship. Once the cabin is located on the ship it can be moved into position more easily using rolling means (16). Services such as electricity and water supplies being installed once the cabin is in-situ. The manufacture or refit of the ship may be more time and cost effective according to the invention. Furthermore the refit or new build of a ship with delicate or security sensitive equipment can be fitted in the cabin prior to placing the cabin on the ship. A cabin assembly so arranged may help to provide additional security to the equipment by providing self contained and sealed cabins prior to fitment to the ship.

Description

The present invention relates to a prefabricated cabin and in particular, although not exclusively, to a prefabricated cabin for a ship, and a method for manufacture and refit of a ship.
Ships are required to be fitted with living quarters or cabins for the passengers. They may also be required to be fitted with operational cabins that contain specialised equipment to enable the ship to perform specific tasks. Cabins of this kind are typically manufactured in situ on the ship and are subsequently fitted with furnishings and any necessary equipment.
One of the main disadvantages of manufacturing and fitting cabins in this way is the time required on site when manufacturing or refitting the ship. This adds complexity and consequently time and cost to the build or refitting process. In particular it may be awkward to move bulky items to the ship in the required order for assembly. This awkwardness may contribute to the quality of the assembly and consequently the accuracy with respect to engineering tolerances.
The floor of the cabin may be part of the ship superstructure itself. This may create a further problem whereby the floor is required to be levelled with floor levelling screed which necessarily adds weight to the ship and further complexity to the build or refit process. Corrosion may also develop under such screed which may be difficult to detect.
What is required is an improved cabin, and improved means of fitting cabins in a new build or a refit of a ship.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method for performing one of manufacturing and refit of a ship comprising the steps of:
providing a prefabricated cabin having a floor, a ceiling, walls and steerable rolling means mounted on the cabin;
placing the cabin on the ship;
moving the cabin into a desired location on the ship; and
fixing the cabin in the desired location.
Preferably the method further comprises the step of substantially furnishing and/or equipping the cabin prior to moving the cabin to a desired location.
A method so described permits the cabin to be fitted with equipment and furnishings such as furniture, carpets and finishes to the bottom of internal walls prior to fitting the cabin to the ship, services such as electricity and water supplies being installed once the cabin is in-situ. Once the cabin is located on the ship it can be moved into position more easily. Accordingly the manufacture or refit of the ship may be more time and cost effective. Furthermore the refit or new build of a ship often requires delicate or security sensitive equipment to be fitted in the cabin. A cabin assembly so arranged may help to provide additional security to the equipment by providing self contained and sealed cabins prior to fitment to the ship. The construction or refit of a ship in this manner may provide additional strength to the ship structure by providing self contained modules having their own rigidity. Furthermore, such a method of constructing or re-fitting a ship may improve safety for personnel carrying out the re-fit or new build when compared to conventional methods.
In a preferred embodiment the cabin is moved into position using steerable rolling means. The rolling means may comprise a wheel, or other means that permits movement of the cabin such as a ball. Preferably the rolling means has a compliant rolling surface such as rubber or nylon. Preferably the method further comprises the step of retracting said rolling means when the cabin is in position.
The wheels may inhibit damage to the ship during placement of the cabin and in particular the wheels may inhibit damage to protective coatings of the ship structure. Such coatings may be required for anticorrosion purposes.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a steerable rolling means for a prefabricated cabin, said steerable rolling means comprising a housing for attachment to a cabin, a rolling surface and adjustment means to permit retraction and deployment of the rolling surface with respect to the housing, wherein said rolling surface is substantially contained in the housing in the retracted condition and is substantially outwith the housing in the deployed condition.
Preferably the housing is adapted for securing the cabin to the ship, in use. In a preferred embodiment the housing is substantially in the form of a top hat. The housing is preferably inverted in use such that the rim of the top hat abuts with a spaceframe of the cabin and the base of the inverted top hat abuts with a deck of the ship.
Alternatively said steerable rolling means may comprise a bracket mountable at the base of a cabin, a swinging arm pivotably mounted on the bracket, a rolling surface mounted on the swinging arm, and adjustment means for pivoting said swinging arm between a retracted condition in which the rolling surface is above the floor, in use, and a deployed condition in which the rolling surface is below the floor.
A rolling means so arranged permits the cabin to be moved into position on the ship when the rolling surface is deployed and once in position the rolling means can be retracted so that the cabin can be fixed permanently in position. The rolling means may be mountable on the cabin by releasable fixings such as bolts or may be permanently attached to the cabin by welding. The releasable fixings permit the removal and re-use of the rolling means after movement and positioning of the cabin.
Preferably the rolling means has a screw mechanism for the deployment and retraction of the rolling surface and in a preferred embodiment the screw mechanism is operable by a spanner.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a prefabricated ship cabin, the cabin having a rectangular parallelepiped spaceframe substantially defining the outer envelope of the cabin, cladding defining walls, ceiling and floor, and retractable steerable rolling means adapted to protrude from the floor of the cabin for positioning the cabin to be manoeuvred to a desired deck location. In a preferred embodiment said steerable rolling means comprises a plurality of removable wheel modules arranged one at each comer of a said floor. Preferably the spaceframe is constructed from tubular mild steel.
The panelling may be on the interior or the exterior of the spaceframe. In a preferred embodiment the wall and ceiling panelling are manufactured from a composite material such as a polymer composite or a metallic composite. Preferably the floor is comprised of aluminium panelling. In a preferred embodiment, the aluminium panels are provided with inspection hatches.
Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, in which;
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a frame for a cabin assembly according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross sectional side view of a retractable wheel assembly for the cabin assembly;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a housing for the retractable wheel assembly of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a retractable wheel assembly in position on a fillet of the cabin floor;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the floor of the cabin;
Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a retractable wheel assembly for the cabin;
Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of a composite ceiling panel for the cabin assembly;
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of a cabin floor hatch;
Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of a hinge for the hatch of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of a landing detail of the hatch of Figure 8.
In Figure 1 there is shown an isometric view of a frame for a cabin assembly according to the present invention, generally designated 10. The frame 10 defines the envelope of the cabin and is in the shape of a cuboid with one of the longer faces forming the base of the cabin. The frame 10 has a series of reinforcing ties 12 to provide the necessary triangulation to give the frame 10 sufficient rigidity. The frame 10 is further provided with four reinforcing fillets 14 at the nodes of the base of the frame 10. The frame 10 is constructed by welding or bolting the various parts together.
Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a cross sectional side view of a retractable wheel assembly for the frame 10 of Figure 1, generally designated 16. One wheel assembly 16 is located on each of the reinforcement fillets 14 of the frame 10. Each wheel assembly comprises a housing 18 which is secured to a reinforcing fillet 14. The housing 18 carries a caster wheel assembly 20 which is pivotably mounted to the housing 18 about an axis A. In use, a wheel 22 of the assembly 20 makes contact with a deck 24 of the ship so that the frame 10 can be moved into place on the ship. The wheel 22 can be moved up and down relative to the reinforcing fillet 14 by operating bolts 26. The wheel 22 passes through a hole in the reinforcement fillet 14 so that the base of the frame 10 makes contact with the deck 24 of the ship. The wheels 22 have nylon tyres to provide a degree of flexibility and compliance with the surface over which they roll.
In Figure 3 there is shown a cross sectional view of the housing 18 for the retractable wheel assembly 16 of Figure 2 shown in an inverted condition and with the caster wheel assembly 20 removed. The housing 18 is in the shape of a top hat and is used to secure the cabin to the deck 24. Once inverted, the position of the mounting holes 19 of the housing 18 are marked on the deck 24. The housing 18 is then removed and studs (not shown) are welded to the deck 24 on the marked positions. The housing 18 is then refitted in the inverted condition with the studs through the mounting holes 19. Bolts 17 are then used to secure the housing 18 to the frame 10 and nuts (not shown) are used to secure the housing 18 to the deck 24. The wheel assembly 20 can be kept in a safe place so that it can be used to move the cabin again at a later date if required. Securing the cabin to the deck 24 from inside the cabin allows the cabin to abut against an internal wall of the ship therein utilising the available space on the ship more advantageously. Furthermore an operative is not required to be between the cabin wall and the internal wall of the ship to secure the cabin in place on the ship which is safer.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the retractable wheel assembly 16 in position on a fillet 14 of the cabin floor.
Figure 5 shows a plan view of the floor of the cabin. The floor is comprised of individual aluminium panels 42 that span width wise across the frame 10. Two deck plate inspection hatches 44 are also illustrated.
Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a retractable wheel assembly for the cabin, generally designated 60. The wheel assembly 60 is mounted on an external vertical surface of the frame 10 with a bracket 62. The bracket 62 has a horizontal flange 64 having a hole therethrough. On the underside of the hole, a nut 66 is welded to accept a bolt 26. The free end 68 of the bolt 26 acts on a swinging arm 70, the swinging arm 70 being pivotably mounted 72 to the bracket 62. A caster wheel assembly 20 is pivotably mounted to the swinging arm 70 about an axis B. In use, a wheel 22 of the assembly 20 makes contact with a deck 24 of the ship, thereby lifting the frame 10 from the deck 24, when bolt 26 is fully threaded through the nut 66. When the bolt 26 is unscrewed from the nut 66 the base of the frame 10 makes contact with the deck 24 of the ship.
In Figure 7 there is shown a cross sectional view of a composite ceiling panel for the cabin assembly, generally designated 32. The panel 32 comprises an upper and a lower surface 34,36 between which is sandwiched Rockwool 37 with a density of 36Kg/m³. The panel is fixed to an upright 38 of the frame 10 by self tapping 40 through a flange 41 of the panel 32. The ceiling panel 32 forms a suspended ceiling so that a ceiling void 39 exists between the top of the frame 10 and the panel 32. The void 39 may have a heating and air conditioning unit (not shown) such as a re-heater box which is installed prior to placing the frame 10 on the ship. A duct (not shown) for connecting the heating and air conditioning units of many cabins is located above the cabin. The ceiling 32 may have an access panel (not shown) for periodic maintenance of the heating and air conditioning unit such as replacement of air filters. The access panel can also be used as an access to connect the heating and air conditioning unit to the duct. A suspended ceiling 32 having a void 39 for an air conditioning unit provides a convenient means for ventilation and heating of many cabins placed together. Furthermore if the heating and air conditioning unit fails then only one cabin is uninhabitable. This is in contrast to prior cabin assemblies where many cabins are typically connected to a single heating and air conditioning unit. If the heating and air conditioning unit of the prior cabin assemblies fails then many cabins are uninhabitable which is disadvantageous.
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of a cabin floor hatch 44. The detailed structure of the aluminium panels 42 is also illustrated whereby the webs 46 and flanges 47 that run length wise along the panels are shown. The detail of the hinge 48 and landing 50 are illustrated in Figure 9 and 10 respectively.
In operation the cabin assembly is fabricated in a warehouse by firstly manufacturing the frame 10. The wall, ceiling and floor panels are then secured in place by fasteners such as self tapping screws. The cabin assembly is then fitted out with the required equipment or furnishings, for example, the carpets, beds, desks or other equipment can be fitted. The whole cabin is then moved to where the ship is located. Once the cabin assembly is onboard the ship the wheels are deployed by turning the bolts 26. The cabin can then be moved into place manually and there is less likelihood of damage to any equipment during fitment. The cabin can be steered by operatives from outside the cabin whereby the caster wheel assemblies 20 permit easy steering and manoeuvrability of the cabin. Steering of the cabin from outside of the cabin provides a safe method of locating the cabin in position on the ship. Furthermore there is less likely to be any damage to the coatings of the ship superstructure. In particular there is no need for major deck preparation such as floor levelling screed on the deck of the ship because the cabin is provided with a floor. This reduces cost, complexity of build, and weight of the ship. The wheel assemblies 20 can be deployed again at any time in the future to move the cabin without the requirement to remove coatings to the deck such as screed or other floor finishes.
The cabin may be provided with a service void (not shown) which is fully enclosed and accessible from the outside of the cabin via a door. The service void is located in a comer of the frame 10 and contains connection points for providing services to the cabin such as pipes to supply or drain water to the cabin, or wires for electricity supply. In this way many cabins can be provided with an individual supply of services.
The structure of the cabin may help to contain the stresses and strains generated within the superstructure of the ship as it pitches and rolls. Accordingly the manufacture or refit of the ship may provide additional advantages and may be more time and cost effective.
The preferred materials for construction of the cabin provide a relatively lightweight cabin. Such a lightweight cabin has further advantages such as ease of manoeuvrability on the deck and the possibility of use light wheel assemblies 20 such as single wheel caster wheel assemblies 20. Such a lightweight and rigid cabin also permits a lighter hold down mechanism to be used for connecting the cabin to the ship, whereby the cabin is only required to be fixed to the deck at the base of the cabin.
Furthermore the refit or new build of a ship often requires delicate or security sensitive equipment to be fitted in the cabin. A cabin assembly so arranged may help to provide additional security to the equipment by providing self contained and sealed cabins prior to fitment to the ship.
The construction or refit of a ship in this manner may provide additional strength to the ship structure by providing self contained modules having their own strength and rigidity.

Claims

A prefabricated ship cabin comprising a rectangular parallelepiped spaceframe substantially defining the outer envelope of the cabin, cladding defining walls, ceiling and floor, and retractable steerable rolling means adapted to protrude from the floor of the cabin for permitting the cabin to be manoeuvred to a desired deck location.
A cabin according to claim 1 wherein said rolling means comprises a bracket mountable at the base of the cabin, a swinging arm pivotably mounted on the bracket, a rolling surface mounted on the swinging arm, and adjustment means for pivoting said swinging arm between a retracted condition in which the rolling surface is above the floor, in use, and a deployed condition in which the rolling surface is below the floor.
A cabin according to claim 2, wherein the rolling means further includes a screw mechanism for pivoting said swinging arm between the deployed and retracted conditions.
A cabin according to claim 1 wherein said rolling means comprises a housing for attachment to a cabin, a rolling surface and adjustment means to permit retraction and deployment of the rolling surface with respect to the housing, wherein said rolling surface is substantially contained in the housing in the retracted condition and is substantially outwith the housing in the deployed condition.
A cabin according to claim 4, wherein said housing is adapted for securing a cabin to the ship, in use.
A cabin according to any preceding claim, wherein the rolling means is mountable on the cabin by releasable fixings.
A cabin according to any preceding claim, wherein said steerable rolling means comprises a plurality of removable wheel modules arranged one at each comer of the said floor.
A method for performing one of manufacturing and refit of a ship comprising the steps of:

providing a prefabricated cabin having a floor, a ceiling, walls and steerable rolling means mounted on the cabin;

placing the cabin on the ship;

moving the cabin into a desired location on the ship using the steerable rolling means; and

fixing the cabin in the desired location.
A method according to claim 8 and comprising the step of retracting said rolling means when the cabin is in the desired location.
A method according to claim 9 and comprising the final step of removing said rolling means from the cabin.