WO2004056648A1

WO2004056648A1 - Method for modifying a room unit and a modifiable room unit

Info

Publication number: WO2004056648A1
Application number: PCT/FI2003/000960
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sauli Eloranta; Jarmo Wacker; Janne Andersson
Original assignee: Piikkio Works Oy
Priority date: 2002-12-20
Filing date: 2003-12-16
Publication date: 2004-07-08
Also published as: FI20022243A0; KR20050111312A; CN1747870A; AU2003288294A1; JP2006510531A; CN100383018C; JP4394006B2; EP1572528A1; EP1572528B1; KR101061693B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for modifying a room unit for a marine vessel or other corresponding structure, which room unit (1) is provided with wall portions (8), a roof portion and a floor portion in order to form a first space (2), and which room unit is provided with an arrangement for a second space (3). In order to be able to convert the room unit for different types of use in view of the prevailing circumstances, the room unit (1) is provided with a partition element arrangement (4), which when placed in a first position (A) separates the first space (2) and at least a part of the second space (3) to form a cabin unit (5) and a thereto attached balcony unit (6), and, which when placed in a second position (B) joins the first space (2) and the and at least a part of the second space (3) to form an integral cabin unit (7).

Description

METHOD FOR MODIFYING A ROOM UNIT AND A MODIFIABLE ROOM UNIT

The present invention relates to a method for modifying a room unit for a marine vessel or other corresponding structure according to the preamble of claim 1 . The present invention also relates to a modifiable room unit for a marine vessel or other corresponding structure according to the preamble of claim 6.

In the following the present invention will be discussed mainly in relation to a ship, whereby the different structures and means involved will be denominated using general ship terminology.

It is previously known to arrange balconies on a ship so that the balcony is provided between a cabin and an outer board of a ship, whereby the balcony is separated from the cabin by a wall partition with a fixedly in- stalled door and for example a window or the like. The outer board of the ship is provided with an opening and the floor of the balcony is formed by the ship's deck. It is also known to arrange balconies so that they extend outside the outer board of the ship, whereby the door and e.g. the window to the balcony are arranged in the outer board of the ship. In such cases, typically the balcony arrangement comprises projections or beams extending out from ship's hull, whereby the floor of the balcony comprises a separate element supported on the projections or beams and the balcony is provided with rails or the like.

In the known solutions the respective areas of the actual cabin space and the actual balcony space are effectively fixed and provide no flexibility with respect to use, whereby e.g. unfavourable weather conditions may render the use of the balcony area undesirable, and thus a wasted space.

An objective of the present invention is to achieve a method for modifying a room unit, which avoids the above mentioned disadvantages and which provides an advantageous and simple way to make the most of a given available area or space. This objective is attained by a method the main characterising features of which are given in claim 1 . The basic idea of the invention is to provide a solution for adapting or converting a room unit for different types of use in view of the prevailing circumstances basically by way of a single element as a minimum. This may be done so that the room unit is provided with a partition element arrangement, which in a first position separates a first space of the room unit and at least part of a second space of the room unit to form a cabin unit and a thereto attached balcony unit, and, which in a second position joins the first space and at least a part of the second space to form an integral cabin unit. In practice this means that the normal fixed separation of the cabin unit, being an inside space, and the balcony unit, being an outside space, may be modified so that at least a part of the outside balcony space may be converted into an inside cabin space by a simple arrangement when so desired. The partition element arrangement is advantageously provided by a sliding curved element, a sliding straight element, an angled element and/or a foldable element or a combination of these elements.

In order to provide for an appropriate modification of the room unit, the room unit is provided with a corresponding first fire insulation means and a corresponding second fire insulation means for the separate cabin unit and balcony unit in order to allow conversion of the room unit into an integral cabin unit.

The room unit is further provided with a heating system and/or an air-conditioning system with at least a first operational mode dimensioned for the separate cabin unit and at least a second operational mode dimensioned for the integral cabin unit, whereby the partition element arrangement and/or a related wall portion is provided with a switch means. The first operational mode is set by the switch means when the partition element arrangement is in the first position and the second operational mode is set by the switch means when the partition element arrangement is in the second position. This provides for an automatic setting of the room unit climate and temperature depending on the chosen modification. For safety reasons the room unit is also provided with a fire- extinguishing system dimensioned and positioned so that it is effective over the separate cabin unit, when the partition element is in the first position, and so that it is effective over the integral cabin unit, when the partition element arrangement is in the second position.

The invention also relates to a room unit according to claims 6- 10.

In the following the invention shall be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a series of room units provided with a partition element,

Figs. 2a-7b show different types of partition element arrange- ments,

Figs. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of a room unit in section from the side and from above respectively, and

Figs. 10 and 1 1 show another embodiment of a room unit in section from the side and from above respectively.

Fig. 1 shows a series of room units 1 , e.g. cabins on a ship, which comprise a first space 2 and an arrangement for a second space 3. The room unit is provided with one partition element 4, which in a first position A separates the first space 2 and the second space 3 to form a separate cabin unit 5 and a thereto attached separate balcony unit 6. In a second position B, the partition element 4 joins the first space 2 and a part of the second space 3 to form an integral cabin unit 7. The room units 1 are also provided with wall portions 8 which form boundaries in and of the room unit.

The room units 1 may extend outside the outer board of the ship, whereby the outer board is indicated by arrows E. On the other hand, one end of the room unit 1 may be formed by the outer board of the ship, as indicated by arrows O. In correspondence with the outer board of the ship, line W indicates a passageway and broken line M the centre line of the ship.

A typical layout of such a room unit 1 would further comprise a sanitary unit 9 and a service niche 10. The room unit 1 is further provided with a fire-extinguishing system P, a heating system H and an air-conditioning system AC. The partition element arrangement 4 and/or a related wall portion 8 is provided with a switch means C for controlling the operation of the heating system H and/or the air-conditioning system AC.

The above described modification arrangements have also be taken into account in dimensioning the fire extinguishing system, the air- conditioning system and the heating system of the room unit.

In the present invention the fire-extinguishing system P is dimen- sioned according to the dimensions of the integral cabin unit 7. The fire extinguishing system P has to be positioned so that it covers the separate cabin unit 5, when the partition element arrangement 4 is in the first position A, and so that it covers the entire integral cabin unit 7, when the partition element arrangement 4 is in the second position B, and additionally so that the operation of the system is not hindered by the partition element arrangement 4. In Fig. 1 this is schematically shown by placing the fire- extinguishing system P within the cabin unit 5 space, in the area which provides the opening between the cabin unit 5 and the balcony unit 6, whereby the sprays S schematically show how the fire-extinguishing sys- tem P covers the integral cabin unit 7 when the partition element arrangement 4 is in the second position B.

The heating system H and air-conditioning system AC are correspondingly dimensioned to be sufficient for the integral cabin unit 7.

An advantageous arrangement for controlling the heating system H and the air-conditioning system AC is to control the effect of these systems according to the position of the partition element arrangement (first position A or second position B as described above). This can effectively be done by providing a switch means C in connection with the partition element arrangement 4 and/or the related wall portion 8, so that a lower effect is achieved in the first position A, with the separate cabin unit 5 and balcony unit 6, and a higher effect in the second position B, with the modification of the room unit into an integral cabin unit 7. The connection between the switch means C and the heating system H and the air-conditioning sys- tem AC respectively are shown with dotted lines on the right hand side and the left hand side of Fig. 1 .

Figs. 2a-7b show different embodiments of the present invention with respect to various partition element arrangements. In these figures the same reference numerals have been used for the same components as in connection with Fig. 1 and are not therefore separately discussed in detail in relation to these embodiments.

Figs. 2a and 2b show an embodiment where the partition element arrangement is in the form of a first curved sliding element 41 . Figure 2b shows the first position A, in which the separate cabin unit 5 and balcony unit 6 are formed, and figure 2a the second position B, in which the integral cabin unit 7 is formed. The first curved sliding element 41 is movable with respect to a wall portion 8 at the end of the room unit 1 and a wall portion 8 within the room unit 1 . In Figs. 3a and 3b a corresponding partition element arrangement is achieved by using a combination of a first straight sliding element 421 within the room unit 1 and a second straight sliding element 422 at the end of the room unit 1 and a first curved sliding element 41 movable with respect to the two firstly mentioned sliding elements, which in turn are ar- ranged slidable in relation to a wall portion 8 within the room unit 1 and a wall portion 8 at the end of the room unit 1 respectively.

Figs. 4a and 4b shows a partition element arrangement with a first curved sliding element 41 , which however is installed to move with respect to three wall portions 8, of which two are arranged within the room unit 1 and one at the end of the room unit 1 . In order to form the integral cabin unit 7, the first curved sliding element 41 may be positioned between the wall portion 8 at the end of the room unit 1 and the adjacent wall portion 8 within the room unit (figure 4a, position B). The separate cabin unit 5 and balcony unit 6 are formed when the first curved sliding element 41 is positioned between said adjacent wall portion 8 and the innermost wall portion 8 (figure 4b, position A).

In Figs. 5a and 5b the partition element arrangement comprises a second curved sliding element 431 and a third curved sliding element 432, which in the first position A (figure 5b) provide the separated cabin unit 5 and balcony unit 6, and which in the second position B (figure 5a) provide the integral cabin unit 7 with a rounded outer wall section formed by the curved sliding elements. Figs. 6a and 6b show a partition element arrangement with a set of four sliding elements, a third straight sliding element 441 and a fourth straight sliding element 442, which are arranged at the end of the room unit 1 , and a fifth straight sliding element 443 and a sixth sliding element 444, which are arranged to be moved with respect to two opposite wall portions 8 arranged within the room unit 1 . The integral cabin unit 7 is formed according to the second position B (figure 6a), when the third straight sliding element 441 and the fourth straight sliding element 442 are drawn against each other and the fifth straight sliding element 443 and the sixth sliding element 444 are drawn apart from each other. Correspondingly, when the sliding elements are moved in opposite directions into position A (figure 6b), the separate cabin unit 5 and balcony unit 6 are formed.

Further, Figs. 7a and 7b show an embodiment, in which the partition element arrangement combines a seventh straight sliding element 451 , an eight straight sliding element 452 and an angled and/or a foldable ele- ment 453 articulated or hinged at a first point 454 to the wall portion 8. The foldable element could further e.g. be articulated or hinged at a second point 455 in order to provide further flexibility in view of utilising the room unit 1 area or space, e.g. by flexing or turning the parts of the element e.g. in the directions of arrows F and G. The modification of the room unit 1 is carried out in a corresponding manner as described above.

The partition elements may for example be in the form of doors, walls, windows, or the like.

A person skilled in the art is able to provide an appropriate sliding, articulated or hinged function in view of the prevailing circumstances. Figs. 8 and 9 show an embodiment room unit 1 , comprising the first space 2 and the second space 3, in section from the side and from above respectively. This would be an example of a room unit that is prefabricated as a complete module before installation on a ship. The outer board of the ship is indicated by arrows E, whereby the balcony unit 6 of the room unit 1 extends outside of the outer board of the ship as discussed above in connection with Figs. 1 a and 1 b.

The room unit 1 is provided with a schematically indicated parti- tion element arrangement 4 at the outer end (arrow X) of the room unit 1 , i.e. the outer end of the balcony unit 6 (right hand end of the figures), and within the room unit 1 (arrow Y) in order to provide the separate cabin unit 5 and balcony unit 6. The partition element arrangement 4 would typically comprise any of the slidable or foldable elements discussed above. By moving the partition element arrangement 4 in the first position A and the second position B as described above, the room unit may be modified from a separate cabin unit and balcony unit to an integral cabin unit (not shown). Particularly on marine vessels, e.g. a ship, room units have to fulfil certain standards, e.g. with regard to fire safety. This means that also the balcony unit 6 part has to be provided with fire insulation means corresponding to the cabin unit 5 part fire insulation means so that the room unit as a whole may be converted into an integral cabin unit. A first fire insulation means for the roof area of the room unit is indicated by A-15 and a second fire insulation means for the wall portions of the room unit by B-O. Consequently, the partition element arrangement also has to be designed to match the corresponding standards. This would be a typical arrangement for a ship, but basically one single type of insulation element could be used for all border surfaces, depending on the prevailing standards.

Figs. 10 and 1 1 show another embodiment of a room unit 1 , comprising the first space 2 and the second space 3, in section from the side and from above respectively. The corresponding reference numerals indicate the corresponding components as in connection with Figs. 8 and 9, wherefore they are not separately discussed in detail in relation to this embodiment. The modification of the room unit may also be done in the same manner as in connection with Figs. 8 and 9.

The main difference of this embodiment in comparison to the embodiment discussed in connection with Figs. 8 and 9 is that the room unit 1 has the balcony unit 6 provided as a separate module from the cabin unit 5. The first fire insulation means A-1 5 and the second fire insulation means B- 0 are correspondingly also separately installed as indicated in these figures.

The fire safety arrangements discussed above in relation to Figs. 8, 9, 1 0 and 1 1 may also be adopted for the other embodiments discussed above in relation to Figs. 1 -7b.

The fire-extinguishing system, the heating system and the air- conditioning system may also be adopted for the other embodiments discussed above.

Particularly in large cruise liners an open area, a so-called prome- nade deck, may be provide e.g. in the centreline area of a ship. The cabins facing this open area may also be provided with room units according to the invention as discussed above.

It is understood that the present invention, although discussed in relation to a ship above, may be applied to other corresponding structures as well, comprising by way of example oil rigs, off-shore structures, etc.

The drawings and the thereto related description are only intended for clarifying the idea of the present invention. The present invention may vary in detail, for example with regard to the installation of the different components such as the partition element arrangement, within the scope of the ensuing claims.

Claims

1 . A method for modifying a room unit for a marine vessel or other corresponding structure, which room unit (1 ) is provided with wall portions (8), a roof portion and a floor portion in order to form a first space (2), and which room unit is provided with an arrangement for a second space (3), characterised in that the room unit (1 ) is provided with a partition element arrangement (4), which when placed in a first position (A) separates the first space (2) and at least a part of the second space (3) to form a cabin unit (5) and a thereto attached balcony unit (6), and, which when placed in a second position (B) joins the first space (2) and the and at least a part of the second space (3) to form an integral cabin unit (7).

2. A method according to claim 1 , characterised in that the partition element arrangement (4) is provided by a sliding curved element, a sliding straight element, an angled element and/or a foldable element or a combination of these elements.

3. A method according to claim 1 , characterised in that the room unit (1 ) is provided with a corresponding first fire insulation means (A-1 5) and a corresponding second fire insulation means (B-0) for the cabin unit (5) and balcony unit (6) in order to allow conversion of the room unit (1 ) into an integral cabin unit (7).

4. A method according to claim 1 , characterised in that the room unit (1 ) is provided with a heating system (H) and/or an air-conditioning system (AC) with at least a first operational mode dimensioned for the cabin unit (5) and at least a second operational mode dimensioned for the integral cabin unit (7), the partition element arrangement (4) and/or a related wall portion (8) is provided with a switch means (C), and that the first operational mode is set by the switch means (C) when the partition element arrangement (4) is placed in the first position (A) and that the second operational mode is set by the switch means (C) when the partition element arrangement (4) is placed in the second position (B).

5. A method according to claim 1 , characterised in that room unit (1 ) is provided with a fire-extinguishing system (P) and in the fire-extinguishing system (P) is dimensioned and positioned so that it is effective over the cabin unit (5), when the partition element (4) is in the first position (A), and effective over the integral cabin unit (7), when the partition element arrangement is in the second position (B).

6. A modifiable room unit for a marine vessel or other corresponding structure, which room unit (1 ) comprises wall portions (8), a roof portion and a floor portion in order to form a first space (2), and an arrangement for a second space (3), characterised in that the room unit (1 ) comprises a partition element arrangement (4), which in a first position (A) is ar- ranged to separate the first space (2) and at least a part of the second space (3) to form a cabin unit (5) and a thereto attached balcony unit (6), and, which in a second position (B) is arranged to join the first space (2) and the and at least a part of the second space (3) to form an integral cabin unit (7).

7. A modifiable room unit according to claim 6, characterised in that the partition element arrangement (4) comprises a sliding curved element, a sliding straight element, an angled element and/or a foldable element or a combination of these elements.

8. A modifiable room unit according to claim 6, characterised in that the room unit (1 ) comprises a corresponding first fire insulation means (A-

1 5) and a corresponding second fire insulation means (B-0) for the cabin unit (5) and balcony unit (6).

9. A modifiable room unit according to claim 6, characterised in that the room unit (1 ) comprises a heating system (H) and/or an air-conditioning system (AC) with at least a first operational mode dimensioned for the cabin unit (5) and at least a second operational mode dimensioned for the integral cabin unit (7) and in that the partition element arrangement (4) and/or a related wall portion (8) comprises a switch means (C).

10. A method according to claim 1 , characterised in that room unit (1 ) comprises a fire-extinguishing system (P) positioned in the cabin unit

(5).