Removable panel roof for modular, self-contained, mobile clean room
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern, transportable cleanrooms face challenges in accessibility and maintenance due to their enclosed modular structures, where utilities like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems are difficult to service and inspect because of space constraints and component proximity.
Innovation Solution
A modular building apparatus with a walkable, removable panel roof and joists that create an interstitial volume above the ceiling, allowing for easy access to utility service components like dampers, valves, and junction boxes, and a deployable stand for electrical panelboards that can be pre-connected and reconfigured for upright access, ensuring compliance with electrical codes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If utilities are routed through enclosed modular structure, then cleanroom can be transported, but access to utility components becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The roof structure is segmented into removable panels that can be detached to provide access to utility components in the interstitial volume, while the remaining panels maintain the enclosed modular structure for transportability
Solution Approach 2:
An interstitial volume is created between the ceiling and the roof panels, serving as an intermediary space that houses utility components and allows access without compromising the enclosed modular structure
2Volume of moving object
If space is reduced to fit modular building envelope, then transportability is improved, but inspection of components becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The interstitial volume utilizes the vertical dimension between the ceiling and roof panels, creating an additional spatial dimension for housing and inspecting utility components without increasing the horizontal footprint
3Volume of moving object
If components are placed close together to save space, then transportability is improved, but maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Utility components are extracted from the confined cleanroom interior and placed in the interstitial volume above the ceiling, where they can be maintained without contaminating the cleanroom environment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Modular building cleanrooms having integrated mechanical rooms with removable, walkable floor panels above their ceilings are disclosed. The attic area above the sealed cleanroom ceiling and below joists of the modular building's frame provides an interstitial volume through which ducts, piping, electrical conduit, etc. run from the mechanical room to dampers, valves, and junctions boxes. The walkable floor panels can be bar grating through which maintenance people can see components below. The floor panels can have individual sections that may be removed for access to the components. Along with walkable floor panels, the modular building roofs can have foldable electrical panelboards that are pre-wired at the factory and then rotated upright once delivered to their destination.