Method for manufacturing a container configured to attenuate disturbances of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic fields

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a container configured to attenuate disturbances of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic fields, comprising: - removing the wooden floor (2) from an existing ISO shipping container (1); - stripping locations of the container for welds; - welding a metal floor (9) into place using a continuous welding process; - welding an internal metal partition (11) into place around its periphery, using a continuous welding process, thus forming an internal attenuation part (12); - making at least one first cutout (13) in a wall of the container so as to receive a door assembly (14); - making at least one second cutout (15) in the internal metal partition so as to receive a first frame (16) for a communication interface (17); - making at least one third cutout (18) in a wall of the container so as to receive a second frame (19) for a communication interface (20); - fitting the at least one door assembly; - fitting at least one first frame in the second cutout; - fitting at least one second frame in the third cutout.

Description

[0001] Method for manufacturing a container configured to mitigate incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances

[0002] The present invention relates to the transformation of a maritime container, suitable for international trade and transport by road, rail and sea, and allowing transshipments between these different modes of transport.

[0003] A shipping container is intended for the transport of goods. It is made of steel, watertight, but with a wooden floor and rubber seals for the doors it offers no EMC attenuation (EMC stands for Electromagnetic Compatibility).

[0004] There is no shipping container that allows for the attenuation of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances, the integration of command systems, electronic warfare, satellite links, radar systems, for which a sufficiently strong EMC attenuation is required.

[0005] It is known to use aluminium / insulation / aluminium sandwich panels, but such a solution has a high cost, is mastered by few manufacturers capable of mastering continuous assembly and welding on aluminium to guarantee EMC performance, and is impossible to stack for maritime transport by handling by the upper ISO corners which is discouraged.

[0006] One aim of the invention is to provide a container enabling the attenuation of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances, the integration of command systems, electronic warfare, satellite links, radar systems, for which it is necessary to have a fairly strong EMC attenuation.

[0007] More specifically, one aim of the invention is to provide a shipping container having a minimum EMC performance of value in dB guaranteed up to a certain frequency, for example 40 dB up to 1 GHz.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a container configured to mitigate disturbances from incoming and outgoing electromagnetic fields, comprising the following steps:

[0009] - remove the wooden floor from a departing ISO shipping container;

[0010] - stripping areas of the container for welding;

[0011] - continuously weld a metal floor around its perimeter, and spot weld it to the lower beams of the container, replacing the removed wooden floor; - continuously weld an internal metal partition around its perimeter, forming an internal part of the container to attenuate incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances;

[0012] - make at least one initial cut in a wall of the container intended to receive a door assembly;

[0013] - make at least one second cut in the internal metal partition intended to receive a frame configured to receive a communication interface through the internal metal partition;

[0014] - to make at least one third cut in a wall of the container intended to receive a frame configured to receive a communication interface through the metal wall; and

[0015] - install at least one door assembly, in the first cutout, the door assembly including a door frame and a door, so that the door is as flush as possible with the rest of the wall, without protruding from the wall;

[0016] - install at least one initial frame configured to receive a communication interface in the second cutout in the internal metal partition; and

[0017] - install at least a second frame configured to receive a communication interface in the third cutout in the container wall.

[0018] According to one implementation method, the step of welding the metal floor includes a step of welding several metal plates together continuously and by spot welding onto lower beams of the container.

[0019] In one implementation mode, the step of welding the internal metal partition includes a step of welding several metal plates together continuously.

[0020] According to one implementation method, the steps involved in continuous welding include a substep of spot welding.

[0021] In one implementation mode, the process includes a step of screwing plates with connections into the first and second frames.

[0022] According to one implementation method, the step of stripping the container locations for welds is carried out by a mechanical process.

[0023] In one implementation method, the step of mechanically cleaning the container locations for welding is carried out by sandblasting or grinding.

[0024] According to one implementation, the step of welding the internal metal bulkhead is carried out flush with the wall containing the original door of the original ISO shipping container. In one implementation, the original container used is an ISO 668 or ISO 1496 container.

[0025] According to one embodiment, a conductive seal for the OEM is interposed between the first frame and the first communication interface; said seal preferably also being watertight.

[0026] According to one embodiment, a conductive seal for the OEM is interposed between the second frame and the second communication interface; said seal preferably also being watertight.

[0027] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0028] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates an ISO shipping container starting from the manufacturing process of a container for attenuating disturbances of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic fields, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0029] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the step of removing the wooden floor from the original ISO shipping container, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0030] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the step of continuously welding a metal floor around its perimeter, and spot welding onto lower beams of the container, in replacement of the removed wooden floor, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0031] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the step of continuously welding around its perimeter an internal metal partition forming an internal part of the container for attenuating disturbances of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic fields, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0032] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates the step of making a first cut in a wall of the container intended to receive a door assembly, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0033] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates the step of making a second cut in the internal metal partition intended to receive a frame configured to receive a communication interface through the internal metal partition, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0034] [Fig.7] schematically illustrates the step of making a third cut in a wall of the container intended to receive a frame configured to receive a communication interface through the wall of the container, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0035] [Fig.8] schematically illustrates the step of installing a door assembly, in the first cutout, the door assembly comprising a door frame and a door, so that the door is as close as possible to the rest of the wall, without protruding from the wall, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0036] [Fig.9] and [Fig.10] schematically illustrate the step of placing a first frame configured to receive a communication interface in the second cutout in the internal metal partition, and placing a second frame configured to receive a communication interface in the third cutout in the container wall, according to one aspect of the invention; and

[0037] [Fig.11] schematically illustrates a maritime container for attenuating incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances, obtained by the process according to one aspect of the invention.

[0038] Across all figures, elements with identical references are similar.

[0039] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a starting ISO 1 maritime container for the manufacturing process of a maritime container for attenuating disturbances of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic fields, according to one aspect of the invention.

[0040] Container 1 includes a wooden floor 2, two longitudinal side faces 3, 4, a longitudinal top face 5, and two transverse faces 6, 7, one of which 6 includes a door assembly 8, in this case a double door.

[0041] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the step of removing the wooden floor 2 from the original ISO shipping container.

[0042] Areas of container 1 are being stripped for welding.

[0043] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the step of continuously welding a metal floor 9 around its perimeter, and spot welding it onto lower beams 10 of container 1, replacing the removed wooden floor 2.

[0044] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the step of continuously welding around its perimeter an internal metal partition 11 forming an internal part 12 of the container for attenuating disturbances of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic fields.

[0045] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates the step of making a first cut 13 in a wall of the container intended to receive a door assembly 14 allowing access to the attenuation part 12 of the electromagnetic field disturbances entering and leaving the container.

[0046] [Fig. 6] schematically illustrates the step of making a second cut 15 in the internal metal partition 11 intended to receive a first frame 16 configured to receive a first communication interface 17 through the internal metal partition 11. [Fig. 7] schematically illustrates the step of making a third cut

[0047] 18 in a wall of the container intended to receive a second frame 19 configured to receive a second interface 20 for communication through the wall of the container.

[0048] [Fig. 8] schematically illustrates the step of installing a door assembly 14 in the first cutout 13. The door assembly 14 comprises a door frame 22 and a door 23, such that the door 23 is as flush as possible with the rest of the container wall, without protruding from the wall. The door and / or its frame are equipped with a watertight seal and an EMC-conductive seal.

[0049] [Fig.9] and [Fig.10] schematically illustrate the step of placing a first frame 16 configured to receive a first communication interface 17 in the second cutout 15 in the internal metal partition 11, and placing a second frame

[0050] 19 configured to receive a second communication interface 20 in the third cutout 18 in the container wall. A watertight and EMC-conductive seal is interposed between the first frame 16 and the first communication interface 17, and a watertight and EMC-conductive seal is interposed between the second frame 19 and the second communication interface 20.

[0051] The step of welding the metal floor 9 may include a step of welding several metal plates together continuously and by spot welding onto lower beams 10 of the container.

[0052] The step of welding the internal metal partition 11 may include a step of welding several metal plates together continuously.

[0053] The steps involved in continuous welding may include a substep of spot welding.

[0054] The process may include a step of screwing plates 17, 20 equipped with connections into the first and second frames 16, 19, as communication interfaces 17, 20.

[0055] The step of preparing the container areas for welding is carried out by mechanical process, in particular by sandblasting or grinding.

[0056] The step of welding the internal metal partition is carried out flush with the wall comprising the initial door of the original ISO shipping container.

[0057] The starting container used can be an ISO 668 or ISO 1496 container.

[0058] [Fig.11] schematically illustrates a maritime container for attenuating incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances 25, obtained by the process according to one aspect of the invention.

[0059] The container 25 includes a part 12 for attenuating incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances and another part which is not, accessible through the initial door 8. In a particular embodiment, the metal partition 11 can be flush with the partition 6 equipped with the initial door 8, to maximize part 12.

[0060] The present invention makes it possible to provide a maritime container enabling the attenuation of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances, the integration of command systems, electronic warfare, satellite links, radar systems, for which it is necessary to have a fairly strong EMC attenuation.

Claims

7 DEMANDS 1. A method for manufacturing a container configured to mitigate incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field disturbances, comprising the following steps: - remove the wooden floor (2) from a departing ISO shipping container (1); - stripping areas of the container for welding; - continuously weld a metal floor (9) around its perimeter, and spot weld it to the lower beams (10) of the container (1), replacing the removed wooden floor; - continuously weld around its perimeter an internal metal partition (11) forming an internal part (12) of the container for attenuating disturbances of incoming and outgoing electromagnetic fields; - make at least one first cut (13) in a wall of the container intended to receive a door assembly (14); - make at least one second cut (15) in the internal metal partition (11) intended to receive a first frame (16) configured to receive a first communication interface (17) through the internal metal partition (11); - make at least one third cut (18) in a wall of the container intended to receive a second frame (19) configured to receive a second communication interface (20) through the wall of the container; - install at least one door assembly (14), in the first cutout, the door assembly (14) comprising a door frame (22) and a door (23), so that the door (23) is as close as possible to the rest of the wall, without protruding from the wall, the door (23) and / or the frame (22) comprising a watertight seal and conductive for EMC; - to install at least one first frame (16) configured to receive a first communication interface (17) in the second cutout (15) in the internal metal partition (11); a conductive gasket for EMC being interposed between the first frame (16) and the first communication interface (17); and - to place at least one second frame (19) configured to receive a second communication interface (20) in the third cutout (18) in the wall of the container; a conductive seal for EMC being interposed between the second frame (19) and the second communication interface (20).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of welding the metal floor (9) comprises a step of welding several plates 8 metal beams welded together continuously and by spot welding on lower beams (10) of the container.

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of welding the metal partition (11) includes a step of welding several metal plates together continuously.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steps of continuous welding include a substep of spot welding.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of screwing plates (17, 20) provided with connections.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of cleaning the container locations for welds is carried out by a mechanical process.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of mechanically cleaning the container locations for welding is carried out by sandblasting or grinding.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of welding the internal metal partition (11) is carried out flush with the wall comprising the initial door of the departing ISO shipping container.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the starting container used is an ISO 668 or ISO 1496 container.

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each conductive seal for the OEM interposed between a second frame (16; 19) and a respective communication interface (17; 20) is further sealed against water.

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