EP1624133B1

EP1624133B1 - Movable unit used for first relief operations

Info

Publication number: EP1624133B1
Application number: EP05425548A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Renzo Mussini
Original assignee: Tmt Prefabbricati Metallici
Current assignee: Tmt Prefabbricati Metallici
Priority date: 2004-08-02
Filing date: 2005-07-26
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-26
Also published as: ITRE20040096A1; EP1624133A1; DE602005019502D1; ATE458879T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a movable unit used for emergency relief operations, which is designed for rescue services etc., and which has the following advantages: it can be installed and can be rendered fully effective in only 6 to 7 minutes by only two unskilled persons, without the need of special tools like electric drills etc. The electric equipment and lighting system is already integrated in the movable unit and is fully effective (ready for use). The movable unit can be opened or closed in a bellows-like fashion so that it is easily transportable due to its compactness.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention concerns a movable unit which can be closed or opened like a bellows, and which may be used in first relief operations preferably by the rescue services, the army, the Red Cross, the United Nations, etc., to serve as a dormitory, an office, a refectory, a storehouse, an hospital, etc., in case of natural disasters, when first aid is needed, etc, but also in different sizes; thus, it may serve as a dormitory or a canteen in a yard, or as a bungalow in holiday sites, etc.
A collapsible box-type, water-proof shipping container for transportation of bulk material is disclosed in US 5,190,179 .

Background Art.

Structures used presently during first relief operations by the rescue services and other national and international organisations are often formed by a prefabricated base and a roof, whereas the side walls can be removably mounted and are formed by layered panels of sheet metal and polyurethane, with the electric equipment to be installed in situ and to be disassembled at the end of the service. These structures, for their assembling, require the use of electric tools such as drills, screwers, etc., and the intervention of at least two expert operators who need no less than 2 to 3 hours only for the assembling of a single structure. An usual tractor can usually transport a maximum of four such structures of standard size, piled on top of each other. Their average weight is about 1400 kg.
The object of the present invention is to provide users with a structure which in comparison with structures of the same usable size and volume, has the following advantages:

a) extreme easiness of assembling the same without requiring electric tools or specialised manpower;
b) negligible periods of time needed for the assembling operation, e.g. a maximum of 5 to 6 minutes for each structure;
c) a mass-produced, already integrated, ready-for-use electric equipment (electric installation), which does not require an assembling or disassembling operation to be carried out in situ at the end of its use;
d) a maximum compactness and minimum space required; a standard tractor is capable of transporting up to 6 or 7 structures;
e) an average weight of approximately 1100 Kg.

The above mentioned container disclosed in US 5,190,179 is used for shipping goods, however it shows bifolding side walls and may be piled with other identical containers. It has elements (130,131,132,133) located directly on the roof, to lift the container itself, which is considered a disadvantage in view of the stresses acting during loading/unloading of this container.
WO 03/033831 A1 relates to a structure such as a demountable building, including a base and a plurality of modular units (or modular compartments), each of which is releasably mounted to the base. The releasable nature of these units/compartments permit ready removal of each compartment.
Exchange for another compartment of the same size but different function may be readily achieved.
DE 29914390 U1 relates to a foldable container with foldable side walls (4,104), also usable as an office, or the like. Means (eyelets, metal sections, etc) are provided directly on the roof, to facilitate or allow unfolding/folding by a crane or the like.

Disclosure of Invention

These and further objects are attained by the device according to the present invention, which comprises a structure formed by two side walls, each of which is formed by at least two panels (16, 17) that are horizontally hinged to one another, said panels being hinged in turn to the structure base (1) in case of the lowermost panel (16) of the structure and to the roof (11) in case of the uppermost panel, wherein, when the roof (11) is lowered or lifted, the said two side walls are apt to be folded up or respectively to extend or unfold, so as to become two vertical side walls and to give rise to a structure which in combination with closure head walls (23, 24) realises a bellows-like movable unit; said two head walls (23, 24) being easily inserted into, and separated from, the ends of said structure; four supports (2) being also provided, each having the function of a lifting hook used to load onto, or to unload from, the transport vehicles a plurality of said structures, and support feet being also included for stacking one structure on top of the other during transportation and storing; the unit comprising also a side member and a gutter, appropriate sealing means or gaskets located at the connection points between the walls in order to insure a water seal and a seal against the wind, adjustable feet which act as supports on the floor and as levelling means, brackets for the support and anchoring of the head walls when the structure is disassembled, fittings used to facilitate the opening or closing of the structure and the loading/unloading on/from the transport vehicles, and for enabling the transportation itself; wherein said four supports (2) which are appropriately positioned and sized and are integrally connected with the base structure (1), are configured and dimensioned in such a way as to carry out the following functions and are characterised in the following manner:

their support portion, or support structure (2/a), is maintained at a slight distance from the frame (1) forming the base of the structure;
they have respective pins (4) which will be hooked by the crane used to lift each movable unit in its closed condition, when said movable units need to be loaded and stacked on top of each other, on a transportation vehicle, or simply piled on each other in a warehouse;
said pins (4) are also used to hook a band/strip or a rope in order to maintain the movable units in their closed condition, preventing the head walls (23, 24), which are laid on the roof, from moving, during loading, unloading, or transportation;
the supports (2) have an upper end (2/b) which will contact the following movable unit;
the supports (2) have a base (2/c) to be laid on the upper end (2/b) of an underlying movable unit; characterised in that:
the supports (2) have fins or projections (2/d) which in use facilitate the centring/alignment of a movable unit on an underlying movable unit during the loading on a transport vehicle or in a warehouse; and in that:
the movable unit includes a complete electric equipment and lighting system;

Brief Description of Drawings

Further features and advantages of the present invention will result more clearly from the description of an embodiment of the device, which is actually considered preferred but not binding, and which for illustrative and non limitative purposes is shown in the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, only of the frame that forms the base or floor of the structure;
Figs. 2 and 3 are two orthogonal views, that is, a side view and front view respectively, which are both half-sectioned and schematically illustrate the movable unit according to the invention;
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are details shown according to three orthogonal views, of one of the supports integral with the base of the structure and having several functions to be explained below; Figs. 4 and 5 also show one of the adjustable support feet of the structure;
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the details concerning the structural form of the base and the hinged-type connection of the side walls relative to the base;
Fig. 10 schematically shows the form of the hinged connection between panels that form a side wall;
Fig. 11 schematically shows where and how the head walls (front walls) are maintained united with the remaining part of the structure;
Fig. 12, 13 and 14 show the details concerning the structural form of the roof and the hinged connection between the side walls and the roof;
Fig. 15 schematically shows, in plan view, one of several possible embodiments of the movable unit in accordance with the present invention; in this version there is provided a main entrance door on one front wall (head wall) and a window on the opposite front wall (head wall);
Fig. 16 shows, in plan view, the configuration of the folded (collapsed) movable unit - ready for its transportation- , with the two head walls laid thereon,
Fig. 17 is a side view of the configuration of a load (freight) carried by a transportation means, this load being formed by 5 movable units according to the present invention, stacked on top of each other, and on a container used for the furnishings that may be provided together with the movable units;
Fig. 18 is analogous to Fig. 17, the difference being that the containers of the furnishings have a greater height and the number of movable units is four rather than five;
Fig. 19 is an orthogonal view with respect to Fig. 17;
Figs. 20, 21 show - by means of two orthogonal views - a partially opened movable unit;
Figs. 22, 23, 24 schematically show three steps of the "opening process" applied to a movable unit according to the present invention; more specifically, Fig. 22 shows the closed unit, Fig. 23 shows the half-open unit; Fig. 24 the open unit ready for the assembling of the head walls.

Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention

The details and the particular features that are shown in the figures 4 to 14 are located at the points bounded by circles and identified by the respective figure number in the general views (Figs. 1 to 3) of the movable unit according to the invention.
Moreover, in the various figures, the same alphanumeric reference numbers always denote the same parts or components.
Referring to the drawings, I indicates (see Fig. 1) the supporting structure, which may be constructed using metal tubes, and which forms the base or floor of the movable unit. At least four special supports 2 are integrally attached thereto using any known technique (see Figs. 1 to 6), wherein these supports:

a) are characterised in that (see Figs. 4 and 5):
- their support structure 2/a is maintained slightly spaced apart from the frame 1, by the interposition of a spacer 3;
- they include pins 4 to be hooked by the crane that lifts each movable unit, in its closed condition, at the time the units are loaded and stacked on top of each other on a transport means, and when they are unloaded;
- they have a top end 2/b on which the following movable unit is laid;
- they have a bottom end 2/c designed to rest on the top end 2/b of the underlying movable unit;
- they have fins or projections 2/d facilitating the alignment (centring) of the movable units when they are laid on the underlying movable units, during loading on a transportation means (vehicle) or storing in a warehouse.

Near each support 2, there is provided an upright 5 made integral with the structure 1 according to known configurations, the upright having a threaded hole in the axial direction, into which a known adjustable foot 6 is introduced (see Figs. 4 to 6). These adjustable feet form the support points of the movable unit on the ground or on the floor 7 of a room, and support plates 8 are interposed between them and the ground/floor. The size and positions of the supports 2, of the uprights 5, and the feet 6, are such that on the ground or on a floor the movable unit is supported by means of feet 6 that lie on the plates 8, while when the movable units are closed and stacked on top of each other, it is the base 2/c of the support 2 that contacts the upper end 2/b of the support 2 of the underlying movable unit.
The base, besides the frame 1, includes a plane 9 which is preferably realised by means of multilayered phenolic wood panels (stratified panels), but the base may also be realised in any known manner and with adequate materials suited for the intended purpose and the place of use.
The roof (see Figs. 13, 14) is made by a suitable metallic frame 10 and by a covering or roofing 11 which is preferably formed by sandwich-like (that is, stratified) panels. By means of appropriate section bars it is possible to realise the side member 12 and the gutters 13 that are located on the head (front) part.
In an appropriate position, on the frame 10 (of the roof) there are welded four screws 14 (see Fig. 12) to which eyebolts 15 are screwed, used to lift the roof and thereby open the structure (see Figs. 22, 23, 24).
The panels 16 and 17 (see Fig. 10) which form the side walls are connected to each other by means of hinges 18; the number 19 indicates the inside space of the movable unit and by means of 20 one denotes the outside space.
The lower panel 16 is hinged to the frame 1 of the base by means of hinges 21 (Fig. 8) and the upper panel 17 is hinged to the frame 10 of the roof by means of hinges 22 (Figs. 13 and 14).
The two head walls 23, 24 (Figs. 2, 3), which are interchangeable, are formed by sandwich-like panels (stratified panels) and may include a door or a window.
These are monolithic structures, and are delimited at the edges by a U-shaped channel 25 (Fig. 8), and on the lower part also by a L-shaped section bar 26; they are provided with handles which permit to lift them, to insert them in the end space of the structure, and to lock them by means of wing nuts 27 (Fig. 11) - which are also called "thumb nuts"- to be screwed on screws that are already present on the edge of the structure.
According to the invention, the electric equipment, not shown, is already installed and ready to be used after the structure has been "opened".
Among many possible variants to the embodiment that has been described above and illustrated in the annexed drawings, one may imagine the following ones:

the head walls may be mounted with any kind of joint, or they may be hooked, screwed, or connected by any known means;
by using appropriate connection kits, the structures may be connected to each other by joining their short sides or their flanks (side walls); in the latter case the side walls or flanks may be provided with apertures in communication with each other, so as to realise a kind of intercommunication passageway, such as used, for instance, in a covered hospital area;
the side walls and the head walls (front walls) can be realised with different materials like wood, resin, aluminium, etc.;
if the containers for the furnishings (Figs. 17, 18, 19) are provided with supports 2, of adequate height, aligned to the same supports 2 of the structures, they may act as suitable means to facilitate the loading on the transport means (vehicle) (as shown in the figures), and at the same time, said containers become an "integral part" of the present invention;
the wing nuts 27 (Fig. 11) may be replaced by other known coupling means, that may be rapidly locked;
it is possible to provide tubes for the draining of the meteoric water to the ground;
on the roof, on the side of the inside space, it is possible to mount a toolbox apt to contain small fittings making part of the equipment of the movable unit;
the equipment/fittings is/are provided in accordance with the intended use, or may be personalised for each user. It/they include(s) doors, windows, the particular kind of floor, the particular kind of electric equipment (lighting system, etc.), fittings, etc, such as curtains used to darken a room, small heaters, air-conditioners, etc.;
it is possible to externally paint the structures in accordance with the intended purpose, e.g. military use, use by rescue teams, by the United Nations, the Red Cross, civil use, camouflage, etc.

The use of the device according to the present invention is as follows.

Once the vehicle (transportation means) is arrived at the utilisation place, a first structure is unloaded; however, before the latter is put down on the ground, the plates 8 (which are included in the fittings and are deposited on the roof) are laid on the ground in coincidence with the positions of the adjustable feet;
the crane is lowered and when a first adjustable foot contacts one of the plates, the remaining feet are manually adjusted until they rest on the respective plates;
the structure is definitively laid on the ground and at this time the same should be already levelled;
the head panels are detached from the roof by removing first the four wing nuts used to lock them, and then they are put down on the ground;
then, by engaging the lifting hooks of the crane with the eyebolts on the roof, the structure is gradually opened until the side walls are almost perpendicular to the base (see Fig. 22, 23, 24);
then, two operators grasp the respective handles and lift one of the head walls (head panels); thereafter, they insert the lateral section bar of the same into the upper part of the side walls and guide this section bar downwards;
the head wall is locked to the side walls and to the base, simply by locking manually the wing nuts;
the same operation is effected with the other head wall and the structure is ready for use.

Provided electric current is available, the unit can be supplied with it, by realising a connection to the electric outlet present on the roof, which conforms to European standards (CE).
The total time required for the operation does not exceed 7 or 8 minutes. After its use, the structure is disassembled by following an inverted order of steps.

Claims

A movable unit, including a structure formed by two side walls, each of which is formed by at least two panels (16, 17) that are horizontally hinged to one another, said panels being hinged in turn to the structure base (1) in case of the lowermost panel (16) of the structure and to the roof (11) in case of the uppermost panel, wherein, when the roof (11) is lowered or lifted, the said two side walls are apt to be folded up or respectively to extend or unfold, so as to become two vertical side walls and to give rise to a structure which in combination with closure head walls (23, 24) realises a bellows-like movable unit; said two head walls (23, 24) being easily inserted into, and separated from, the ends of said structure; four supports (2) being also provided, each having the function of a lifting hook used to load onto, or to unload from, the transport vehicles a plurality of said structures, and support feet being also included for stacking one structure on top of the other during transportation and storing; the unit comprising also a side member and a gutter, appropriate sealing means or gaskets located at the connection points between the walls in order to insure a water seal and a seal against the wind, adjustable feet which act as supports on the floor and as levelling means, brackets for the support and anchoring of the head walls when the structure is disassembled, fittings used to facilitate the opening or closing of the structure and the loading/unloading on/from the transport vehicles, and for enabling the transportation itself; wherein said four supports (2) which are appropriately positioned and sized and are integrally connected with the base structure (1), are configured and dimensioned in such a way as to carry out the following functions and are characterised in the following manner:
- their support portion, or support structure (2/a), is maintained at a slight distance from the frame (1) forming the base of the structure;

- they have respective pins (4) which will be hooked by the crane used to lift each movable unit in its closed condition, when said movable units need to be loaded and stacked on top of each other, on a transportation vehicle, or simply piled on each other in a warehouse;

- said pins (4) are also used to hook a band/strip or a rope in order to maintain the movable units in their closed condition, preventing the head walls (23, 24), which are laid on the roof, from moving, during loading, unloading, or transportation;

- the supports (2) have an upper end (2/b) which will contact the following movable unit;

- the supports (2) have a base (2/c) to be laid on the upper end (2/b) of an underlying movable unit; characterised in that:

- the supports (2) have fins or projections (2/d) which in use facilitate the centring/alignment of a movable unit on an underlying movable unit during the loading on a transport vehicle or in a warehouse; and in that:

- the movable unit includes a complete electric equipment and lighting system;
A movable unit according to claim 1, wherein said at least two panels (16, 17) that form a side wall is monolithic or realised in two parts in the longitudinal direction, which parts are separated from each other so that when several units are placed side by side, a passageway is obtained which interconnects the inner space of said units.
A movable unit according to claim 1, wherein the base is formed of a metallic support frame covered by a trampling floor having anti-slip surface finishing or analogous customised finish.
A movable unit according to claim 1, wherein the roof forms a frame similar to that of the base, the frame being covered by panels suited for the intended final use.
A movable unit according to claim 1, wherein said two head walls (23, 24) are:
- monolithic;

- interchangeable one with the other;

- realised and sized so as to be easily inserted between the side walls, the base, and the roof,

- they may be provided with windows and/or doors in accordance with the requirements;

- each of them may have two or more handles in order to facilitate its manipulation;

- at least on the edges corresponding to two sides of these head walls there are provided slots which are aligned with stud bolts, which stud bolts are in turn integral both with the panels forming the side walls and with the base, and if necessary, also with the roof, on which stud bolts it is possible to screw wing nuts (27) in order to integrally assemble said head walls with the remaining parts of the structure.
A movable unit according to claim 5, wherein said two head walls (23, 24) can be inserted at the structure ends by means of joints or couplings, or can be permanently connected to the structure by mechanical means such as fasteners which enable a quick hooking connection, or by means of usual screws.
A movable unit according to claim 1, wherein said side member and gutter are realised in such a way as to prevent that the hinged connection between the roof and side walls be subject to infiltration of water, for instance during thunderstorms, and so as to guide the rainwater to predetermined points where downpipes, if required, may be mounted to collect this rainwater.
A movable unit according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means or gaskets, are provided in those places where water infiltration and draughts may occur, in order to prevent the aforementioned drawbacks.
A movable unit according to claim 1, wherein the number of said adjustable feet (6) supporting and carrying out the levelling of the structure may vary according to specific requirements and these adjustable feet are applied on the structure base (1).
A movable unit according to claim 1, wherein the electric equipment and lighting system is inserted inside the roof of the structure, and in order to render this equipment ready for operation it is sufficient to supply electric energy to a specific electric outlet.
A movable unit according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the dimensions of the movable unit vary according to the intended use, the transportation requirements and a possible packaging formed with them.
A movable unit according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein containers (28) of the furnishings are provided as supplementary fittings or for completing the unit, and these are provided with supports (2) identical to those already present on the movable units, for allowing a superposition of these units on the containers and for preventing the units from resting with their weight on the cover of the containers and at the same time for allowing the stacking on the transport vehicles.
A movable unit according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at appropriate points on the roof there are applied four eyebolts (15) used for opening or closing the structure in a bellows-like fashion at the place where the movable unit is supposed to be used.
A movable unit according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein in order to render the transportation safe and to reduce the space required by the movable units in their closed condition, the following is provided:
- brackets on the roof, for anchoring the head walls (16, 17) in precise positions;

- a "pack" is prepared with the structure itself and with the head walls laid on the roof, this being achieved using two bands/strips or two ropes that may be hooked to the pins (4) of said supports (2).