FR2530778A1 - CONTAINER, VEHICLE OR TRANSPORTABLE BUILDING IN THE FORM OF ELEMENTARY VOLUMES NESTABLE INTO OTHERS AND DEPLOYABLE BY ROTATING AROUND EDGES TO FORM AN EXPANDABLE USEFUL SPACE - Google Patents

Abstract

Device used as a transportable container, vehicle or building and comprised of rigid plane elements forming nestable elementary volumes to form a reduced transport volume, which elements may be spread out to expand the useful space, said device being characterized in that certain of said rigid plane elements are hinged between each other and dimensioned and arranged so that said elementary volumes (V1, V2, V3...), comprising at least one floor and one side surface, may be interconnected by rotation about ridges (A1, A2...).

Description

 Container, vehicle or transportable building formed of elementary volumes nestable one inside the other and deployable by rotation around edges to form an expandable useful space.

 The object of the invention is a device intended to constitute containers; trailers, useful volumes integrated into a truck, mobile homes or buildings for residential, industrial or commercial use with a footprint reduced to the road gauge and offering the possibility of constituting useful spaces of expandable volume. It has already been proposed to constitute extensible volumes from a reduced volume of road gauge by fitting elementary volumes into each other, by sliding. Such a device poses production problems in terms of sliding and floor offsets generally have to be carried out. In addition, the space inside the reduced volume is difficult to use. Finally the possibilities of extension are very limited.

According to the invention, these difficulties are overcome thanks to the fact that the rigid planar elements which constitute the device are articulated with one another and dimensioned and arranged to form nesting volumes comprising at least one floor and one lateral face and fitting one into the other. the others by rotation around edges in order to constitute the reduced transport volume.

According to a first embodiment, allowing a particularly simple deployment, by unrolling in the manner of a carpet, from the initial volume, the nesting volumes comprise a floor and two end faces and are articulated together according to the common edges of their floors which correspond to their length, volumes of width and height substantially equal to the height and respectively to the width of the reduced volume, alternating with volumes of height and width substantially equal to the width of the reduced volume.

According to a second embodiment, on two opposite edges of the floor of an initial volume are articulated by a are you two volumes arranged symmetrically on either side of the initial volume.

Other embodiments include the deployment of a volume laterally relative to the initial volume and another volume above the initial volume, or the stacking of several designed modules each of several nesting volumes deployable by rotation around d 'edges.

The invention also includes various features relating to the production of openings, roofs, awnings, ramps, stairs and other accessories, allowing the constitution of complete buildings from nesting volumes deployable by rotation around edges.

It will be better understood with the aid of the description below.

In the attached drawing
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building
industrial transportable, conforming to the first mode
of the invention, including,
FIG. 2 schematically represents the volumes, in
intermediate position between the transport position
and the deployed position; Figures 3 to 8 show reinforcing beams of the articulated walls that includes such a building Figure 9 schematically shows a ramp with transformable profile usable in the building above Figure 10 shows, seen from the end, a vehicle with expandable volume conforming to the second mode of execution referred to above; FIG. 11 represents a bungalow produced according to a third embodiment, with a nesting volume deployed laterally and another deployed above the initial volume FIG. 12 represents a module of a building composed of two nesting volumes tilting relative to a volume central stationary FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the stacking of two modules in accordance with FIG. 12 FIG. 14 represents a level of the building composed of a module of the same type as that of FIG. 12, and partially fitted out.

FIG. 15 represents a building each level of which is composed of four modules of the same kind as that of FIG. 12., juxtaposed between them FIGS. 16 and 17 represent the central part of a level conforming to that of FIG. 15 and show the arrangement of the internal staircases FIGS. 18 to 20 represent the different modes of crossing of the side walls of the nesting volumes nested one inside the other; and
Figure 21 shows the interlocking walls of two
juxtaposed modules.

Same reference letters designate items
counterparts to the various figures.

In FIG. 1, we see a deployed industrial mobile building whose FIG. 2 schematically represents the initial volume V1 and the three nesting volumes V2 to V4. In this embodiment, the terminal faces V10 - V11 of V1 are here constituted by fixed volumes V5 - V6 mounted on a running gear R; these fixed volumes are used to house the heaviest or most cumbersome loads (such as: installation of air conditioning, generator sets and others); V1 further comprises a front face V12, a floor V13 and a roof V14; V2 has two end faces V20 - V21 and a floor V22; V3 has two end faces V30 - V31 and a floor; and V4 has two end faces, one of which, V40, is visible in FIG. 2, a floor, an upper face V41 and a front face
V42 fitted with a tilting awning door V420.

Joints, symbolized in A1, A2 and A3, allow the volume to be folded down by successive 900 rotations
V4 inside V3, then the assembly inside V2 and finally, V2 inside V1. For this purpose, the lengths of V1, V2, V3 and V4 are slightly decreasing (by quantities corresponding to two wall thicknesses) and the height of V3 is substantially equal to the width of V4, while the widths of V4 and V2 are identical to the height of V1. As an example, V1 has a road gauge, with a length of 12 m, a width of 2.50 m and a height of 3.50 m.

The roof V14 is itself formed of several elements hinged together in A4, A5, and with the face V12 in A6, at a height of approximately 1 m below the top of the faces V1O V11. The roof is folded down so that V142 covers volume V2 and V143 covers volume V3, by connecting with the upper face V41 of V4.

It will be noted that the floor of the initial volume V1, once the volumes V2 to V4 folded for transport, practically retains its payload capacity. The volume V1 is not, in the folded state of the assembly, isolated from its floor by any side wall, since the nesting volumes V2 to V4 do not include any, with the exception of V420, which will be folded down internally against the ceiling V41. In the collapsed state,
V143 is folded up against 142, which then constitutes the side wall of the initial container volume V1
There is shown, in V301 a tilting ramp for access to a loading opening of the volume V3. Such ramps will be described below. it may be advantageous to have, on the floors, rails making it possible to move the heavy loads inside the deployed assembly.

As the axes of rotation are few, it is possible to achieve a balance of the masses, such that the deployment can be executed in the manner of a mat which is unrolled smoothly, very simply and very quickly, by means of jacks, gears, winches, cables or any other hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic, electric or other organs.

No further assembly is necessary. The horizontality of the floors is obtained by means of jacks, such as C1, C2O, preferably situated for each volume near the axis of articulation with the volume already deployed.

Some roof elements may be made of transparent or translucent material, to provide overhead lighting.

In the assembly of Figure 1 are advantageously provided beams, not shown in Figures and 2, but illustrated by Figures 3 to 8. A represents an articulation between two floors of adjoining volumes Vn and Vn 1, which, in the position Figures 3, 5 and 7 are orthogonal, while in the deployed position of Figures 4, 6 and 8, they are in the same plane.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a flat beam consisting of strips prevailing over the entire length of the floors and articulated in P1, P2, P3, with P1 P2 = P2 P3 = AP1 3
In the non-deployed position, the angle formed by the two floors is protected, as well as the joint A.

In the deployed position, the beam constitutes a double reinforcement of the floor from below, which compensates for the weakening due to the elimination of the right angle between the two floors.

In the variant of Figures 5 and 6, the beam P3 P4 P5 is triangulated; the distance P3 P4 = P4 P5 is greater than the thickness of the floors. Such beaming can accommodate the cables and conduits of the building.

Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a beam P6 formed of a profile preferably hollow core, articulated in K by a face along the outer edge of one of the floors
Vn + 1. In the non-deployed position, this profile partially fits into the angle formed by the two orthogonal floors, for which it provides protection.

FIG. 9 schematically represents a ramp which can for example be that shown in V301, FIG. 1, the stringers of which comprise fixed parts L1 and sliding parts L2
The steps M pivot on one side around axes 1 carried by the fixed parts and, on their opposite side, are provided, on one side, with links B articulated in 0 'on the step and in O2 on the moving parts of the stringers. The sliding of L2 relative to L1 causes the rotation of the rods B, therefore the tilting of the steps around the joints 01.The steps can switch between the position of the figure, where they are in line with one another to form a ramp smooth, up to one of the two positions shown in dotted lines; for one of these positions, the steps form a staircase, for the other, a notched non-slip ramp.

We could realize, according to the same design, the awning
V410 of figure 1: the steps would then play the role of adjustable fencing or protective flap.

Instead of the monolateral deployment of the nesting volumes, illustrated by FIGS. I and 2, it is possible to carry out a symmetrical deployment, which has the advantage of simplifying the construction and the positioning of the building, and obtaining a perfect balance.

FIG. 10 illustrates such a device, in which the two mobile volumes V2 and Vs fit into one another and the removable roof T1 T2 T3 is provided with two articulations A1 A2, so as to fall back on the two sides of volume V1 when the assembly is folded
FIG. 11 represents an original deployment mode, in which the volumes V2 and V3 substantially equal to the initial volume V1, are deployed horizontally respectively on the ground and above V1. V1 advantageously contains the kitchen and the sanitary facilities, V2 constitutes a living room and V3 bedrooms. Once V2 is deployed, its roof constitutes a terrace.

The multiplicity of possible arrangements obtained by juxtaposing the volumes by one of their initial faces or by development, or even by stacking, makes it possible to constitute a large variety of premises, even very large dimensions.

FIG. 12 represents a module with bilateral deployment and FIG. 13 illustrates two modules of this type stacked one on the other. The basic volume V1, plays the role of container of the volumes V2 and V3, V3 folding in V1, then V2, in
V1. The central volume V1 has end walls constituted by blocks V10 in the thickness of which are formed conduits V100 for smoke, ventilation and the like. The Vlo block forms an upper shoulder V101 and a lower shoulder V102. When stacking the modules, the lower shoulder of the upper module is embedded in the upper shoulder of the lower module and the V100 conduits are connected together.

For its part, volume V3 is provided with a projecting part-
V30 which fits into the upper shoulder V101 during folding.

V301 conduits, formed in the projecting parts of the volumes V3 also connect to each other when the modules are stacked. Volume V1 is initially equipped. Figure 14 shows the set deployed. We see that V1 is provided, at the opposite end to the block V10, with a staircase section forming an external accessory volume V103.

When the modules are stacked, the staircase portions, each provided with a landing, will be connected.

In such a stack of modules, each module can be provided with a floor, which then serves as a ceiling for the lower module: only the last upper module will then be provided with a roof. It is also possible to provide each module with a ceiling, which serves as a floor for the upper module. The first lower module then uses the ground as a floor. Various combinations of these two solutions are also possible and two modules, one with a floor, the other with a ceiling, can be combined to form a single space with double height.

FIG. 15 shows a building made up of several stacked levels each comprising four symmetrical triple modules two by two A1 A2 and B1 B2.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate, respectively in perspective and in plan, the central volume C formed by the four modules of a level, truncated at the angles by which they are juxtaposed. It can be seen that each module delimits the central volume by a portion of lateral partition provided with a door and, at mid-height, with a median half-landing. The floor of each element is also provided with a lower (for A1 and A2) or upper (for B1 and B2) half-landing inside volume C. A staircase portion connects the lower half and half median landing of each of the modules A1 and A>, while for B1 and B2, a portion of stairs connects the median half-landing to the upper half-landing.

For A2 and B1, Figure 16 thus shows that starting from the lower landing constituted by the juxtaposition of the lower half-bearing of A2 and an upper half-bearing of a module located below, one reaches by a portion of stairs to a median landing formed by the juxtaposition of the median half-bearings of A2 and B1, X then, by another portion of staircase, to an upper landing: rhymed by the juxtaposition of a lower half-landing belonging to the upper module and the half B1 upper level, then continue to climb inside the upper module. On the other hand, starting from the lower half-level of A1, you access the middle half-bearing of A1, juxtaposed with the middle half-level of
B2 and, from there, the upper module is accessed; the two paths which have just been described do not meet.

We finally made a staircase and bearings inscribed in the volume of the modules, not interfering with their folding, and made up of portions which are automatically put in place and assemble together when the modules are put in place.

In the above embodiments, the end walls of the volumes V1, V2p V3 which must fit into each other, may have different sealed crossing modes, as illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 20. In FIG. 18, the walls side of V2 and V3 are located on the same side of the wall of V1 (here, inside) g in Figure 19, they are located on either side of the wall of V1 U in Figure 20, V1 has two parallel walls and the walls of
V2 and V3 are housed in the interval between these two parallel walls These different solutions are suitable depending on the case: that of FIG. 20 makes it possible to make the two sides of the side walls of the volume V1 usable, which is advantageous for example in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The solution of FIG. 19 makes it possible, as shown in FIG. 21, to juxtapose foldable modules, as is necessary in the embodiment of FIG. 15. In all cases, the orthogonal returns, whose edges are supported on the opposite wall, even during the deployment operation, come into abutment at the end of this operation. Thus, sealing is ensured even during deployment and blocking is ensured in the final phase.

 It should be clearly understood that the embodiments described and illustrated in the drawings, although having advantages which are their own and which confer on them a remarkable interest, are not limiting.

Claims (11)

Patent claims  1. Device serving as a transportable container, vehicle or building composed of rigid planar elements forming elementary volumes nestable one inside the other to constitute a reduced transport volume and deployable for the extension of the useful space, characterized in that some of said rigid planar elements are hinged together and dimensioned and arranged so that said elementary volumes (V1, V2, V3 ...), comprising at least one floor and one lateral surface, interlock by rotation around edges (A1 , A2 ...)  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said elementary volumes, comprising a floor and two terminal laces, are hinged together according to the common edges of their floors which correspond to their length, elementary volumes of width and height substantially equal to the height and respectively to the width of the reduced volume, alternating with volumes of height and width substantially equal to the width of the reduced volume, so that the assembly can be rolled out like a carpet (Fig 2).  3. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the articulation, on two opposite edges of the floor of an initial volume, of two nestable volumes arranged symmetrically on either side of the initial volume (Fig. 10).  4. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a volume articulated on an edge of the floor of an initial volume and deploying laterally and by a volume articulated on an upper edge of the initial volume and deploying above the latter (Fig 11).  5. Device according to claim 3, c-acterized in that the initial volume comprises at least one end wall shaped to stack, with embedding, on the corresponding end wall of an identical device; (Fig. 13).  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized by a side wall whose angle is truncated, a door being formed in the truncated portion of said wall, and two half-bearings being fixed respectively on the outer face of said truncated portion, the one at floor level, the other halfway up the device and the stair sections, fixed on the external face of said truncated portion of each device, connecting together the bearings formed by juxtaposition of the half-bearings of such a device to those other similar devices.  7. Device according to claim 2 ', characterized by a roof composed of articulated elements and itself articulated on one of the lateral faces of the initial volume and arranged so as to form in the folded state the roof and one of the walls side and part of the other side wall of the initial container volume.  8. Device according to claim 2, characterized by a canopy hinged to the free upper edge of the last nesting volume and foldable under the ceiling of the latter.  9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a corner protection beam formed by two articulated walls and Jiarticulationx reinforcement  10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a canopy or an access ramp to a wall of one of the nesting volumes, comprising silt portions in relative longitudinal sliding, blades, pivoting around 'axes carried by one of the stringer portions and provided with tilting control rods articulated on the other stringer portion.  11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the end walls of the nesting volumes intended to slide in the same plane comprising orthogonal returns in opposition (Figures 18 to 20).