Mobile container

Abstract

A mobile container has a functional space and a technical module for power supply and/or air conditioning of the functional space. The technical module can be extended from and retracted into the container and is provided with a closing plate facing the container exterior. The technical module has a second closing plate facing the container interior. Devices are provided to firmly connect the inner closing plate with the container when the technical module is in its extended position and to firmly connect both closing plates with the container when it is in its retracted position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a mobile container having a functional space and a technical module for power supply and / or air conditioning of the functional space, wherein the technical module is extendable from and retractable into the container and has a first closing plate facing a container exterior. [0002] Today, containers are used in a wide variety of applications as mobile workspaces or living quarters. For independent use in areas without adequate infrastructure, or for operational independence, these containers have not only a functional space, i.e., the actual workroom or living space, but also a technical space housing units and systems for air conditioning, power supply and control of the functional space (e.g., DE 299 18 368 U1). Such a container is depicted in FIG. 1A. A fixed internal wall W separates the functional space FR from the technical space TR. [0003] This separation into functional space and technical space is also used...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The container according to the present invention has a technical module which can be retracted into and extended from the container and which houses power supply and / or air conditioning units and systems and possibly other technical supply and control units. The interior of the container, in its operational configuration, can thus be expanded to its full volume (e.g., the standard interior volume of a 20′ ISO container). The technical module can be extended while the container is in its operational state. A further advantage is that the container according to the present invention remains operational even in its transport configuration when the technical module is retracted. External cabling, hoses, etc. are also not necessary.

[0009] According to the present invention, the technical module has two closing plates facing the container interior and exterior. These closing plates can be firmly connected with the container in both the retracted and extended position of the technical module. In the transport position (technical module retracted) both the inner plate and outer plate are connected, e.g., bolted, to the container. The outer plate then forms an outside wall of the container. The firm connection of the two plates with the container substantially increases the torsional rigidity of the container. In the operational configuration, only the inner plate is firmly connected to the container. In this configuration, the inner plate also serves as the boundary between the functional space and the outside.

[0010] In one advantageous embodiment, the container is configured in such a way that in the retracted position of the technical module the outer closing plate is firmly connected, e.g., bolted, to the container. In addition, a firm connection between the inner closing plate and the container is ensured by one or more guide pins which engage with a receiving bore in the container for a positive-locking connection. An additional, e.g., bolted, connection between the inner closing plate and the container is not necessary in this case. The described configuration using guide pins thus makes it possible to rapidly move the technical module from its extended position to its retracted position.

Problems solved by technology

A drawback in building the technical space within the container is that it reduces the interior volume.

Furthermore, the presence of the internal partition requires an external access to the technical space, which reduces the torsional rigidity of the entire container during transport and thereby limits standard transports (e.g., multiple stacking for sea transport).

This, however, solves only the problem of the reduced interior volume of the container.

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