WO2012110401A1

WO2012110401A1 - Convertible container

Info

Publication number: WO2012110401A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/052237
Authority: WO
Inventors: Georges-Paul Deschamps
Original assignee: Ets A. Deschamps Et Fils
Priority date: 2011-02-17
Filing date: 2012-02-09
Publication date: 2012-08-23
Also published as: EA201300921A1; IL227968A0; MX2013009491A; KR20140047584A; CN103380052A; FR2971776A1; JP2014509979A; SG192810A1; FR2971776B1; ZA201305857B; EP2675700A1; AU2012217255A1; MA34848B1; TN2013000344A1; US20140042044A1; CA2826042A1; BR112013021708A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a container comprising fittings for gripping, handling and securing same, each of said fittings (8) being placed at a corner of the container in the non-deployed position of the container. According to the invention, in the non-deployed position, the container is formed by: a central case (1) having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, and two extension blocks (2, 3) connected to the central case (1), with at least part of the structure of the central case (1) and of the extension blocks (2, 3) being sealed. In the non-deployed position, the length or width of each of the extension blocks (2, 3) is greater than half the longitudinal or transverse dimension of the central case (1) respectively. The extension blocks (2, 3) can move between the non-deployed position, in which the blocks and the central case (1) are placed at least partially on top of one another, and a deployed position in which each block forms a longitudinal or transverse extension of the central case (1), the thus deployed assembly forming a floating structure having an increased loading surface.

Description

TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a convertible container which in its undeployed position can be taken, manipulated or stowed like any transport container, and in its deployed position forms an autonomous floating structure.

Containers, or floating containers, are known which, when they are stowed together, make it possible to form a boat for combating an accidental spill of hydrocarbons at sea, in rivers or lakes. These containers advantageously allow a very rapid delivery of means for controlling oil slicks, by air or by ship. In the latter case, and when the ship causing the oil spill is a container ship, these floating sea containers may already be on board.

However, this type of boat requires to have a plurality of separate containers, each having a specific function and all necessary for the formation and proper operation of the boat.

In addition, the time required to assemble the various containers constituting the boat is particularly long, arduous and even impossible when the sea is dismounted, while the intervention of control means must be as fast as possible to circumscribe at most early the area contaminated by hydrocarbons.

There is, moreover, a need for amphibious vehicles that can be brought easily to areas of operation by sea or air.

In the case of transport of these amphibious vehicles by ship, the latter may be used for the unloading of equipment and / or goods finding on board the ship. Conversely, they can still be used to load the ship.

To carry out these operations, these amphibious vehicles can then execute shuttles between the ground and the ship.

Finally, amphibious vehicles should be able to be loaded aboard these vessels with conventional port infrastructure, and therefore without the need for dedicated facilities.

The objective of the present invention is therefore to propose a floating transport device, simple in its design and in its operating mode, having the dimensions of a container for transporting goods in an undeployed position, comprising arrangements for gripping. handling and fixing of this device with, for example, standard harbor facilities, and forming a boat in its deployed position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a floating transport device which from a longitudinal dimension and a given transverse dimension in its undeployed position, that is to say those of a container, has an increased deck area to significantly increase boat loading capacity and maximized hull volume to provide the best possible buoyancy in its deployed position.

This maximization of the hull volume and the deck area of the boat must, however, be sought with the minimum of possible kinematic connections to maintain a floating transport device that is simple and quickly deployable.

Indeed, the more the transport device has moving parts and more its weight and complexity increase.

The dimensions of this transport device in its undeployed position, that is to say of container, are thus advantageously reduced, allowing its transport by truck, ship or cargo plane.

Another requirement for such a container, as in all freight containers, is then to have all of its structural elements included in the, and therefore not salient, of the parallelepiped defined by the free walls of this container. so that a plurality of such containers can be stacked and / or juxtaposed.

More generally, the present invention aims to maximize the longitudinal and / or transverse dimensions of the boat obtained by deploying a transport container having iso standard dimensions while ensuring good buoyancy of this boat. Yet another object of the present invention is a self-propelled amphibious vehicle that can be transported by sea or air being easily loadable and unloadable.

To this end, the invention relates to a container comprising arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing of the container, each of these arrangements being placed at a corner of the container in the undeployed position of the container.

According to the invention,

in said undeployed position of said container, said container consists of a central box having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, and two extension blocks connected to said central box, at least part of the structure of the central box and expansion blocks being waterproof,

each of said extension blocks having a length, or width, in said undeployed position greater than half the longitudinal dimension, respectively transverse, of said central box,

said extension blocks being movable between said non-deployed position in which said extension blocks and said central box are placed at least partly one above the other, and an extended position in which each block of extension forms a longitudinal or transverse extension of said central box, the assembly thus deployed then forming a floating structure having an increased loading surface.

Advantageously, the maximization of the length, respectively the width, of the floating structure has the consequence of improving the degree of speed of the hull, respectively the increase of the metacentric radius (and thus of the initial stability), by intervening squared for the length (Decrease of the number of Froude), respectively cubed for the width (increase of the transverse inertia of flotation). These considerations are of course valid only for families of substantially identical hulls and equal displacement.

Arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said container are also called corner pieces for gripping, stowage and transhipment of the container.

These arrangements being placed in the corners of the container, at least these angles are full in order to have sufficient rigidity to ensure the recovery of applied forces.

At least a portion of the central box and expansion blocks is sealed so that at least a portion of the shell is sealed. In various particular embodiments of this container, each having its particular advantages and susceptible to many possible technical combinations:

said extension blocks comprise a single box or two boxes preferably placed against each other in said undeployed position,

The extension blocks can each consist of a single box. Alternatively, one of the extension blocks may comprise a single box forming an end box intended to move along the longitudinal axis of the central box while the other extension block is instead constituted by two boxes advantageously pressed against each other in the undeployed position of the container, these boxes being intended to move transversely to the longitudinal axis of the central box.

in the deployed position of the container, the shell of said floating structure has a longitudinal dimension, or transverse, greater than twice the longitudinal dimension, respectively transverse, of said central box, and, for example, in the deployed position of said container, the hull of said floating structure has a longitudinal dimension from bow to stern greater than twice the longitudinal dimension of the central box.

the extension blocks are connected in an articulated manner to the central box,

Advantageously, the extension blocks are hingedly connected to the central box by a hinge. Preferably, this hinge is a hinge with two axes.

This hinge with two axes, also called biaxial hinge, has two hinged parts which are connected to an intermediate piece carrying the two offset axes of rotation.

this container comprises actuators for moving the expansion blocks from the undeployed position to the deployed position of this container and vice versa,

Preferably, the expansion blocks being hingedly connected to the central box by hinges, these actuators are motorized hinges or hinges comprising means for opening and closing said hinges.

As a purely illustrative example, these means for opening and closing said hinges include, for example, rotary cylinders powered by a power source, hydraulic or pneumatic. Preferably this power source and its distribution circuit are placed in the central box or one of the container extension blocks.

Alternatively, the means for opening and closing the hinges can still be deported, and therefore not integrated with the hinges themselves. It may be purely illustrative, linear actuators or a cable system or an external crane.

the extension blocks have complementary profiles so as to cooperate in the undeployed position of the container to form with the central box a set whose free walls define a parallelepiped or substantially a parallelepiped, and better still a rectangular parallelepiped or a cube,

For purely illustrative purposes, the extension blocks may thus have a truncated triangular or triangular profile.

Of course, this parallelepiped may not be full when the extension blocks have for example a truncated triangular profile. It is in this sense that the free walls then substantially define a parallelepiped.

The triangular shape of the extension blocks ensures the non-determination of a preferred direction of movement of the floating structure, which is then advantageously amphidromous.

the outer surface of said container in its deployed position is flat or substantially flat so that the bridge of the floating structure is flat or substantially plane,

each of said extension blocks comprising a single extension box, a first one of said extension boxes rotates 180 ° between the undeployed position and the deployed position of said container while the other extension box rotates less than 180 °,

This first extension box is a right triangle truncated or not while the other extension box has its side forming an end of the container in its undeployed position, which is inclined towards the inside of the container.

the container comprises at least one propulsion system so that said floating structure is self-propelled,

Preferably, this propulsion system allows at least one displacement of the floating structure in a direction transverse or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the floating structure.

at least one of said extension blocks and / or said central box is hollow for receiving charges,

said arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said container being at least eight in number, said arrangements are placed at the ends of the corners of said container in its undeployed position, said arrangements being intended to cooperate with Iso standard infrastructures for gripping, handling and fixing said container, the container is connected to interconnection means allowing two or a plurality of containers to be connected edge-to-edge or end-to-end to form a unitary shipping unit at the ends of the corners of which are arranged arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said unitary assembly,

the container comprises independently inflatable elements or not, to improve the buoyancy of said floating structure,

These inflatable elements are advantageously received in housings provided for this purpose in the lateral edges of this container. Thus, it is possible, in an emergency, to move the container from its deployed position to its undeployed position without having to deflate these inflatable elements.

Alternatively or additionally, these inflatable elements can be deployed from housings placed in the bottom of the central box and / or expansion blocks, the inflatable elements then being placed under these elements when they are deployed.

These inflatable elements are preferably dimensioned to ensure the stability and buoyancy of the floating structure.

Preferably, the container comprises a supply circuit for inflating independently or not, these inflatable elements from a supply source for example pneumatic. For purely illustrative purposes, these inflatable elements are inflatable tubes. This power source can for example be placed in the central box or one of the expansion blocks.

In order to compensate for pressure losses that may result from leaks or temperature variations, the inflating pressure of the inflatable elements is controlled and adjusted by means of servo-control of the power source by probes such as pressure sensors, checking the inflation pressure of each inflatable element.

at least one of these extension blocks comprises one or more extension ramps for extending the longitudinal and / or transverse dimension of the bridge of said floating structure,

Alternatively, these ramps may not be integrated into the volume of the expansion block, but be removable to be stored inside the expansion blocks and / or the central box.

the container has retractable wheels or not, This container preferably comprises at least two retractable wheels or not by extension block. Of course, the central box may include at least one pair of retractable wheels or not to ensure the on-road movement of the container in its undeployed position.

Advantageously, at least two of the wheels of the container are directional. In addition, at least two of said wheels are preferably motor.

This container then forms in its deployed position, an amphibious vehicle,

said container comprises locking means,

These locking means may comprise locks intended to cooperate with two or more arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said container placed opposite. They thus make it possible to secure the expansion blocks and the central box in the deployed position of the container. As an illustration, these locks may be double twist locks (also called "twist-lock"), mounted opposing tips, and interposed between two arrangements for gripping placed vis-à-vis and set up before the full deployment of container.

According to another embodiment, or in addition, the locking means may comprise fasteners such as pins or bolted fastening lugs.

Alternatively, the container may be self-locking in its deployed position, the self-locking being ensured by the resulting force of the deployment actuators.

As a purely illustrative example, the self-locking can be ensured by load holding valves on the hydraulic cylinders ensuring the deployment of the container.

this container has the dimensions of an Iso transport container 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet or 45 feet, or any other dimension of a standard container defined by ISO 668 and ISO 1496-1 or any other standard , standard, or standard used in multimodal maritime, river, road, rail or air transport,

the container in its undeployed position is advantageously floating so that it can be dropped at sea and deployed for example automatically or remotely to form a ship.

When it deploys automatically, the container comprises one or more probes connected to a hydraulic supply circuit, for example, to feed the hinges and ensure their displacement from their open position to their closed position. These probes detecting the presence of the container in the water, they ensure its stability and if so, send a message to the hydraulic power source to feed the hinges for activation. The activation of these causes the passage of the container from its undeployed position to its deployed position.

When the container is remotely controlled, it comprises at least one receiver, or transceiver, connected to a control unit, the latter controlling the activation of the hydraulic source to power the hinges and activate them.

The invention also relates to a floating machine comprising at least two containers in their deployed position as described above, these containers being interconnected to form a unitary floating structure.

These containers in their deployed position can be assembled end to end and / or edge to edge.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows schematically a perspective view of a container in its undeployed position according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the container of FIG. 1;

- Figure 3 shows schematically the container of Figure 1 in its deployed position;

FIG. 4 is a partial and enlarged view of the connection between the central box and one of the end boxes of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial and enlarged view of the connection between the central box and one of the end boxes of the container of FIG. 1, the stops being in place;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view from above of a container according to a second embodiment, this container being in its deployed position, the inflatable elements making it possible to improve the buoyancy of the floating structure being also deployed;

- Figure 7 schematically shows a floating machine with six containers in their deployed position, these containers being interconnected to form a unitary floating structure;

- Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the floating structure of Figure 6 in its deployed position, the retractable wheels being apparent; FIG. 9 schematically represents a perspective view of a container in its non-deployed position according to a third embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 10 schematically shows the container of Figure 9 in its deployed position;

- Figure 1 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a container in its non-deployed position according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 12 schematically shows the container of Figure 1 1 in its deployed position;

- Figure 13 schematically shows a perspective view of a container in its non-deployed position according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 14 is another perspective view of the container of Figure 13;

- Figure 15 schematically shows the container of Figure 13 being deployed;

- Figure 16 schematically shows the container of Figure 13 in its deployed position;

Figures 1 and 2 show front and perspective views of a convertible container in its undeployed position according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

This container consists solely of a central box 1 having a longitudinal dimension and at the ends of which are placed expansion blocks 2, 3 which are connected to the central box 1 by biaxial hinges 4-7.

Each extension block 2, 3 consists of a single box, also called end box thereafter, which is hingedly connected to the central box 1 by a pair of biaxial hinges 4-7.

These hinges 4-7 here comprise hydraulic rotary cylinders. The container therefore comprises a hydraulic supply source and a distribution circuit of this hydraulic fluid (not shown) to feed the various hinges 4-7 and thus allow their opening and closing. The container is therefore perfectly autonomous.

The end caissons 2, 3 which have a truncated triangular profile, are placed partly on top of one another and superimposed on the central box 1. Each end box 2, 3 has a length greater than half the longitudinal dimension of the central box 1.

At least one of these boxes 1 -3 is advantageously hollow to receive loads and / or devices or devices necessary for the proper functioning of the container.

Each box 1 -3 which is waterproof, forms a floating box.

In the undeployed position of the container, the free outer walls of the end boxes 2, 3 and the central box 1 substantially define a rectangular parallelepiped. No structural member of the container is placed protruding from this parallelepiped so that this container can be stacked on and / or pressed against other containers for storage or transport.

This rectangular parallelepiped here has dimensions equal to those of a shipping container iso 20 feet so that it can advantageously be taken, transported, handled, transhipped or stowed as any standard ISO container without the need for infrastructure or specific material.

This container comprises, at each of its corners, an arrangement 8 for gripping, handling and fixing the container. It thus comprises eight arrangements 8 which are placed at the ends of the corners of the container in its undeployed position.

The activation of the biaxial hinges 4-7 ensures the passage from the undeployed position of the container to its deployed position. In this latter position, the end boxes 2, 3 form longitudinal extensions of the central box 1, said assembly thus deployed then forming a floating structure whose shell has a longitudinal dimension greater than twice the longitudinal dimension of this central box 1 .

While a first end box 2 rotates 180 ° between the undeployed position and the deployed position of the container, the other end box 3 rotates less than 180 °, here equal to about 167 ° , between these two positions. These two different rotations ensure the realization of a plane or substantially flat bridge for the floating structure.

The angle of rotation being less than 180 °, the end wall 9 of the central box 1 intended to be pressed against the end box 3 in the deployed position of the container, has an inclined shape complementary to the inclined face 10 of this end box 3 coming into contact, so that the angle formed between these two inclined walls 9, 10 is equal to the value of the angle of rotation.

Each box 1 -3 comprises aluminum walls forming its sealed outer envelope. Each caisson 1 -3 thus formed is structured by a longitudinal and transverse network of stiffeners designed to take over the local efforts and the overall efforts on the container, both in the unfolded position and in the deployed position.

Each of these boxes 1 -3 thus forms a load-bearing structure capable of receiving large loads such as span, vehicles (truck, ...), equipment and / or personnel. The triangular shape of the end caissons 2, 3 ensures, moreover, a good recovery of forces by the central box 1 allowing the use of the ends, or points, of these boxes 2, 3 for the carrying of loads. The loading surface of the supporting structure is thus advantageously significantly increased. Of course, the biaxial hinges 4-7 are dimensioned to withstand large loads both in the deployed position, that is to say in the floating structure configuration, in the non-deployed position, that is to say in container .

Alternatively, these boxes 1 -3 could be made of steel, stainless steel, cupronickel, polymer or more generally composite materials.

Figures 4 and 5 show a partial and enlarged view of the container in its deployed position in which it forms a floating structure. The biaxial hinges 4, 7 are received in housings 1 1 provided for this purpose in the structure of the boxes 1 -3 so that their upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the boxes 1 -3 defining the bridge of the floating structure. Thus in this deployed position, the bridge of the floating structure is flat which guarantees the stability of goods, equipment and / or vehicles received on the deck of the floating structure.

Each hinge with two axes 4-7, also called biaxial hinge, has two fixed parts 12, 13, each secured to a box 1, 3, or in full part, and supporting one of the two axes 14, 15 of this hinge. These two axes are connected by one or more rods 16, 17 ensuring the offset of the axes of rotation 14, 15.

Stops 18 limit the movement of each hinge when it arrives in one of its two extreme positions (open or closed). In these two positions, no element of said hinge protrudes from the sides of the container, respectively of the boat, left visible.

Preferably, the dormant elements comprise an actuator coaxial with the axes of rotation 14, 15 such as a rotary cylinder, geared motor or other, to allow the opening and closing of the container without other external actions. It can also be a drive such as a chain or belt, in order to be able to deport the actuator. The container here comprises a propulsion system (not shown) so that this floating structure is self-propelled. This propulsion system preferably comprises at least one jet propellant such as a jet pump ("Pump Jet"), the jet of water expelled by the nozzle is steerable to provide propulsion and the direction of the floating structure in various directions. Alternatively, this propulsion system may be propeller or paddle wheel.

This propulsion system is preferably placed in the central box 1 of the container and / or in the end boxes 2, 3. The appendages of this propulsion system are advantageously foldable by rotation, translation or disassembly to allow not only to comply with the ISO container template but also ensure the folding of the floating structure in case of emergency.

The floating structure is here provided to move both in one direction and the other longitudinally (amphidrome), and also transversely to the longitudinal axis of the floating structure in both directions.

Figures 6 and 8 show perspective views of a container according to a second embodiment, this container being in its deployed position and forming a boat. The elements of Figures 6 and 8 with the same references as the elements of Figures 1 to 5 represent the same objects which will not be described again below.

This boat includes inflatable tubes 19, here shown deployed, to improve its flotation and stability. These inflatable tubes 19 are made of a waterproof and resistant plastic material such as rubber.

Alternatively, and advantageously, these inflatable elements 19 may have half-cone shapes, are made in one piece so as to increase their mechanical strength. Each inflatable element 19 is then a woven structure made from a single material which is then coated with a sealing material such as a material based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane and even better a material. based on flame retarded plasticized PVC.

This woven structure of one piece can be obtained from a weaving process developed by the present applicant. It will be useful to refer to patent applications WO2009 / 095404 and WO2009 / 095415 for further technical details.

For the record, this woven structure comprises at least two woven walls connected to one another by at least one non-attached binding thread. The variation in the length between two consecutive leashes of said at least one binding yarn, each of said leash corresponding to one taken by a weft yarn of a different wall, is continuous on at least a part of said structure in the direction of the warp and / or in the weft direction.

The end boxes of this container each comprise retractable wheels 20, 21 which are shown in FIG. 8.

Advantageously, the pair of wheels 20 of the end box 2 placed in the undeployed position of the container, between the central box 1 and the other end box 3, are positioned so as to allow the folding of the container in case of failure. urgency even when these wheels 20 are non-retractable. Indeed, the truncated triangular shape of the end boxes 2, 3 leaves a space allowing the passage of non-retractable wheels 20 while allowing compliance with the ISO container template.

These wheels 20, 21 are here directional and equipped with a braking system.

Alternatively, the container may have only two wheels, retractable or not, non-motorized. By the addition of a tractor or pusher vehicle, the container is thus used as a single axle trailer. This type of configuration can in particular be implemented to achieve the launch (or water outlet) of the machine, or its handling on the ground-or storage area.

FIG. 7 schematically represents a floating machine comprising six containers in their deployed position, these containers being connected together to form a unitary floating structure. Large floating structures are thus obtained simply by adding along the length and / or the width of other floating structures. Of course, locking elements (not shown) make it possible to secure all these floating structures together to form such a unitary floating structure.

These locking elements are for example locks intended to cooperate with arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing different containers placed opposite. Alternatively, these locking elements may include bolted fasteners, fasteners such as pins or pins. It can also be envisaged to use flexible links, such as straps, rubber collars, brellages ...

Figures 9 and 10 show perspective views of a container according to a third embodiment of the invention. The elements of Figures 9 and 10 bearing the same references as the elements of Figures 1 to 5 represent the same objects which will not be described again below. The container of Figures 9 and 10 differs from that of Figures 1 to 5 in that the end boxes 2, 3 have a width, or transverse dimension, greater than half the width, or transverse dimension, of the central box 1 . In the deployed position of the container, the floating structure has an increased bridge area in the width direction of the central box 1.

The deployment of the end caissons 2, 3 of the container being lateral to the central box 1, the biaxial hinges 4-7 are arranged on the lateral edges of the central box 1. These biaxial hinges 4-7 are received in housings 1 1 provided for this purpose in the lateral edges 22, 23 of the central box 1.

In order to ensure a flat bridge to the floating structure in the deployed position of the container, one of the lateral edges 22 of the central box 1 is inclined towards the inside of this central box 1 while the wall 24 of the end box 3 intended to to be pressed against this lateral edge 22 has a complementary inclined shape of this inclined lateral edge 22 of the central box 1 so that the angle formed between these two inclined walls 22, 24 is equal to the value of the angle of rotation of the end box 3 relative to the central box 1, here of the order of 167 °.

Figures 11 and 12 show perspective views of a container according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The elements of Figures 1 1 and 12 bearing the same references as the elements of Figures 1 to 5 represent the same objects which will not be described again below.

The container of Figures 1 1 and 12 differs from that of Figures 1 to 5 in that one of the end boxes 2, 3 comprises ramps 25, 26 which are integrated in the volume of this box. These ramps 25, 26 are here received in the undeployed position of the container in a housing 27 of the corresponding end box 3 so that the outer surface of these ramps 25, 26 is flush with the surface of the free wall 28 of this end box 3 to respect the jig of the container.

These ramps 25, 26 are rotatably mounted about an axis 29 so as to be able to be deployed in rotation in the deployed position of the container to increase the dimensions of the bridge of the floating structure.

Figures 13 to 16 show a convertible container according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Each extension block 30, 31 consists of a single end box whose dimensions are equal to those of the central box 32, these boxes 30-32 being superimposed on each other in the undeployed position of the container forming a stack of boxes.

These boxes 30-32 being hinged to each other, two consecutive boxes are interconnected by at least two connecting arms 33-38 mounted on the same side edge of these boxes, one of these connecting arms 34, 37 being common to the three boxes 30-32.

Two consecutive link arms form with the two consecutive boxes that they connect a deformable regular parallelogram so that the displacement of one of these boxes relative to an immediately lower box in the stack of said non-deployed position of said container, causes a circular translation of this box with respect to the immediately lower box of the stack.

The connecting arms 34, 37 connecting the three boxes 30-32 advantageously provide a simultaneous and uniform movement of all the boxes of the container between the undeployed position and the deployed position and vice versa.

These connecting arms 33-38 are advantageously received in lateral housings 39 provided for this purpose so that no structural element of the container is placed in projection of the parallelepiped 40 defined by the free walls of the caissons 30-32 so that container may be stacked on and / or plated against other containers for storage or transport. These lateral housings 39 correspond here to recesses in the lateral edges of the caissons 30-32.

The connecting arms 33-38 are rotatably mounted on the boxes 30-32 to allow the relative movement of each of these boxes. These link arms 33-38 comprise, for example, connecting rods.

The face or faces 41-43 of the boxes 30-32 intended to come into contact with one face of another box when these boxes are placed end to end in the deployed position of the container, each comprise a shape complementary to the face with which it is intended to cooperate in the deployed position of the container. In this way, the faces of two consecutive boxes thus coupled are locked in position.

Claims

1. Container comprising arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said container, each of said arrangements (8) being placed at a corner of said container in an unexpanded position of said container, characterized in that

in said undeployed position of said container, said container consists of a central box (1) having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, and two extension blocks (2, 3) connected to said central box (1), at least part of the structure of the central box (1) and the expansion blocks (2, 3) being tight,

each of said extension blocks (2, 3) having a length, or width, in said undeployed position greater than half the longitudinal dimension, respectively transverse, of said central box (1),

said extension blocks (2, 3) being movable between said non-deployed position in which said extension blocks (2, 3) and said central box (1) are placed at least partly above one another; another, and an extended position in which each extension block (2, 3) forms a longitudinal or transverse extension of said central box (1), the assembly thus deployed then forming a floating structure having an increased loading surface.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that said extension blocks (2, 3) comprise a single box or two boxes preferably placed against each other in said undeployed position.

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in said extended position, the shell of said floating structure has a longitudinal dimension, or transverse, greater than twice the longitudinal dimension, respectively transverse, of said central box (1). .

4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said extension blocks (2, 3) are hingedly connected to said central box (1).

5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises actuators for moving the expansion blocks (2, 3) from the undeployed position to the deployed position of said container and vice versa.

6. Container according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said extension blocks (2, 3) are connected to said central box (1) by hinges (4-7), and even better hinges with two axes.

Container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said extension blocks (2, 3) have complementary profiles of in order to cooperate in said unexpanded position to form with the central box (1) an assembly whose free walls define a parallelepiped or substantially a parallelepiped.

8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that each of said extension blocks (2, 3) has a truncated triangular or triangular profile.

9. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the bridge of the floating structure is flat or substantially plane.

10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that each of said extension blocks (2, 3) comprising a single box, a first of said boxes performs a rotation of 180 ° between the undeployed position and the deployed position of said container while that the other box rotates less than 180 °.

1 1. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each extension block (2, 3) consists of a single extension box whose longitudinal dimension is equal to that of said central box (1) said boxes (1-3) being superimposed on each other in the undeployed position of said container forming a stack of boxes.

12. Container according to claim 1 1, characterized in that said boxes (1 -3) being hinged to each other, two consecutive boxes are interconnected by at least two connecting arms mounted on the same side edge of said boxes, one of said link arms being common to the three boxes, and in that

two consecutive link arms form with the two consecutive caissons that they connect a deformable regular parallelogram so that the displacement of one of said caissons with respect to an immediately lower caisson in the stack of said non-deployed position of said container, causes a circular translation of said box with respect to the immediately lower box of the stack.

13. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one of said extension blocks comprises one or more extension ramps (25, 26) for extending the longitudinal dimension and / or transverse bridge of said floating structure.

14. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a propulsion system so that said floating structure is self-propelled.

15. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said extension blocks (2, 3) and said central box (1) are hollow for receiving charges.

16. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that said arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing (8) said container being at least eight in number, said arrangements (8) are placed at ends of the corners of said container in its undeployed position, said arrangements (8) being intended to cooperate with standard infrastructure Iso for gripping, handling and fixing said container.

Container according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said container is connected to interconnection means allowing two or more containers to be connected edge to edge or end to end to form a unitary assembly. at the ends of the corners of which are placed arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said unitary assembly.

18. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it comprises inflatable elements (19) independently or not, to improve the buoyancy of said floating structure.

19. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that said container comprises wheels (20, 21) retractable or not.

20. A floating machine comprising at least two containers in their deployed position according to any one of claims 1 to 19, said containers being interconnected to form a unitary floating structure.