SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING HABITABLE INSTALLATIONS FOR FLOATING STRUCTURES

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for constructing habitable installations for floating structures, comprising the following steps: lowering a first adapted standard container (3) through at least one vertical prismatic cavity (25) of a carrying structure (2) until it is supported on support brackets (4) of the floor below; securing the first container (3) to said support brackets (4) of the floor below; and, for each subsequent floor, securing a number of subsequent support brackets (4) to the carrying structure (2) on each container (3) already in position; lowering a subsequent container (3) until it is supported on said subsequent support brackets (4); and securing said subsequent container (3) to subsequent support brackets (4) on which it is resting. The invention also includes a habitable installation (1) constructed according to said method, and a container (3) adapted for carrying out said method.

Claims

1. Construction procedure of living quarter for floating artefacts, which involves the following steps: building a supporting structure (2) over the floating artefact, aimed for supporting several levels of standardized containers (3); and fixing several adapted standardized containers (3) to the supporting structure (2), so that they form a living quarters facility (1) of several levels, characterized by the manner to arrange the standardized containers (3), which involves the following steps: unloading a first adapted standardized container (3) through, at least, one vertical prismatic hole (25) of the supporting structure (2) until it is leaned on point supports (4) of the lowest level. fixing the first adapted standardized container (3) to the aforementioned supports (4) of the lowest level. for each subsequent level, fixate some point supports (4) over the already adapted standardized container (3) to the supporting structure (2), unload a subsequent adapted standardized container (3) until it leans on the aforementioned supports (4) and fixate the aforementioned subsequent adapted standardized container to the subsequent aforementioned supports on which it leans.

2. Procedure in compliance with claim 1, which involves for each adapted standardized container (3) to be supported, at least, by four point supports (4) which are fixated to the columns of the supporting structure (2), near the intersections between the beams and the columns, in which the supports position essentially matches the location of the adapted standardized containers' (3) corners.

3. Procedure in compliance with claim 2, in which the fixation of each adapted standardized container (3) to the point supports (4) on which it leans is executed by using twist-lock devices (8).

4. Procedure in compliance with claim 3, in which the fixation by using twist-lock devices involves, for each corner of the adapted standardized containers (3), inserting one double twist-lock device (8) in a reinforced edge protector of the point support (4) and in a reinforced edge protector of the adapted standardized container's (3) corner.

5. Procedure in compliance with claim 4, in which the subsequent supports (4) are fixated at approximately one meter over the ceiling of the adapted standardized container (3) right below.

6. Living quarters facility (1) for floating artefacts, built by the construction procedure within any of the aforementioned claims, which includes: one supporting structure (2) which includes, at least, one vertical prismatic hole, arranged for allowing the unloading of standardized containers (3) through it; and a variety of adapted standardized containers (3), fixated to the supporting structure (2), at least, a vertical hole, in such a manner that several levels are created, in which each adapted standardized container (3) over certain supports (4) fixated to the supporting structure (2) during the procedure of adapted standardized containers installation (3).

7. Living quarters facility (1), in compliance with claim 6, in which each adapted standardized container (3) is supported by, at least, four point supports (4), fixated to the supporting structure columns (2), near to the intersections between the beams and the columns, and in which the supports (4) location essentially matches the adapted standardized containers' (3) corners.

8. Living quarters facility (1), in compliance with claim 7, in which each adapted standardized container (3) is fixated to the point supports by which it is supported, through twist-lock devices (8).

9. Living quarters facility (1), in compliance with claim 8, in which each point support (4) includes one reinforced edge protector for the fixation of a container's (3) corner through a double twist-lock device (8).

10. Living quarters facility (1), in compliance with any of the claims 9, in which the subsequent supports (4) are fixated approximately at one meter over the adapted standardized container (3) right below.

11. Standardized container (3), adapted for executing the construction procedure of the living quarters facilities, in compliance with any of the claims 1, which is characterized by: It lacks one or both sideways walls (31) or part of one or both of the sideways walls (31) in order to enable the creation of spaces with a bigger surface than the one of a standardized container (3); It includes, at least, one vertical reinforcement pillar (32) between the lower longitudinal edge (33) and the upper longitudinal edge (34) in the sides which are lacking, at least, part of the sideways wall (31), in order to limit the deflection of the upper longitudinal edges (34); It includes, at least, one reinforcement (35) alongside the lower longitudinal edges (33) in the sides which are lacking at least part of the sideways wall (31) to limit the deflection of the lower longitudinal edges (33).

12. Standardized container (3), in compliance with claim 11, in which the reinforcement (35) alongside the lower longitudinal edges (33), in sides which are lacking sideways walls, includes an additional flat steel platen (35), welded to that lower longitudinal edge (33) in such a manner that its U profile is closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0045] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of the first stage of the invention procedure, in which the supporting structure with the point support, which correspond to the lowest level, may be observed.

[0046] FIG. 1b shows a perspective view of an ulterior stage of the invention procedure, in which an adapted standardized container has been placed on the point supports of the lowest level.

[0047] FIG. 1c shows a perspective view of an ulterior stage of the invention procedure, in which the adapted standardized containers' arrangement for the lowest level has been completed and the point supports of the second level have been fixated to the supporting structure.

[0048] FIG. 1d shows a perspective view of an ulterior stage of the invention procedure, in which an adapted standardized container, which corresponds to the second level, has been placed on the point supports of the second level.

[0049] FIG. 1e shows a perspective view of an ulterior stage of the invention procedure, in which all the adapted standardized containers, which correspond to the second level, have already been placed on the point supports of the second level.

[0050] FIG. 2a-2b show the corresponding perspective views of a point support, in compliance with this invention.

[0051] FIGS. 3a-3b show the corresponding perspective views of a container, which has been fixated to a point support, in compliance with this invention.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows the corresponding perspective views of a container, which has been adapted, in compliance with this invention.

[0053] FIGS. 5a-5b respectively show a perspective view of the profile, which corresponds to the adapted standardized container shown in FIG. 4, and a perspective view in detail of the cross section of the same container, in which the reinforcement flat steel platen which is arranged in the lower longitudinal edge, corresponding to the side in which the sideways wall has been suppressed.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0054] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in more detail hereunder, referring to the hereby attached figures.

[0055] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of one supporting structure (2), in compliance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. As it may be observed, the supporting structure (2) is made of one base frame (21), composed of a horizontal beams' ensemble, which are perpendicularly arranged among them, and which are solidly fixated to the floating artefact surface. This base frame (21) forms a base for vertical columns (22) which are joint with cross beams (23) among them. The supporting structure (2) is also provided with some diagonal reinforcements (24), as necessary, based on the loads that it shall have to bear.

[0056] The supporting structure (2) is designed in such a manner that it has vertical prismatic holes (25) of rectangular shape, for which the dimensions are slightly bigger than those of one standardized container (3). As it may be seen on FIG. 1, the holes (25) are rectangularly shaped and they are limited by a columns' (22) ensemble, made of appropriately arranged columns. This allows to unload the standardized containers (3), which are adapted in the manner previously herein described, by using a crane from the upper part of the supporting structure (2), until they are supported by the point supports (4) of the lowest level. These point supports (4) of the lowest level are fixated to the base of the columns (22) and they are also supported by the base frame (21). The locations of these support points (4) of the lowest level match the location of the corners of the standardized containers. This location is shown in FIG. 1b in which a standardized container (3) has already been installed at its location in the lowest level of the supporting structure (2). Once supported, the fixation of the container (3) to the aforementioned point supports (4) may be started, by using a fixation system based on twist-lock devices (8).

[0057] In fact, as it has been previously described herein, the fixation of the container (3) to the point supports (4) may be performed in several manners, even though in this embodiment in particular the fixation is executed by using twist-lock devices. FIGS. 2a and 2b show two perspective views of an example for point support (4), like those used for this invention. It is a structure made of flat steel platens, solidly fixated to one column (22) of the supporting structure (2), with the aim of providing support for one corresponding standardized container (3). As it may be observed, the point support (4) shows a mainly rectangular reinforced edge protector (41), setup for the insertion of a twist-lock device (8). Due to the fact that the standardized container (3) also shows a reinforced edge protector at its corners, a twist-lock device with double male components in order to perform the fixation. In this manner, the junction between each standardized container (3) and the four corresponding point supports (4) may be performed in an extremely fast manner, which barely takes some seconds. When compared, this is totally the opposite to what happens in the modular construction procedures which were known until now, in which the junction usually occupies all the edges of each container (3) and, moreover, it is performed through welding.

[0058] FIGS. 3a-3b show the corner of one container (3), which is already fixated to a point support (4), corresponding to a double twist-lock device (8). As it has been previously described, a double twist-lock device (8) essentially consists of a component provided with two rectangular protruding projections, arranged in opposite extremes of the component and which may rotate around the same rotation axis, with a small lever manual actuation. For fixating the corner of one container (3) to a point support, it suffices with placing the double twist-lock device (8) on the point support (4) first, in such a manner that one of the rectangular protruding projections is inserted inside the reinforced edge protector (41) of that support (4). Afterwards, the container (3) is unloaded, until it leans on the point support (4), so that the other protruding projection of the twist-lock device (8) is inserted within the reinforced edge protector at the aforementioned container's (3) corner. Last, it suffices with activating the lever in order for both rectangular protruding projections to rotate 90, when compared to the initial position, so that the container's (3) corner is solidly fixated to the support (4), as shown on FIGS. 3a and 3b.

[0059] Once the first container (3) of the lowest level is placed, the next container of the lowest level (3) is unloaded, and so forth, until the containers (3) of the lowest level are all placed and fixated, in compliance with FIG. 1c. In this figure, it may also be observed how the container (3) in the forefront has been modified for including an entry door. If it is aimed for one room to be created of three-times the size of one container (3), the central container is alleged to have no sideways walls. The modification process of the containers (3) shall be further described in detail herein.

[0060] In FIG. 1c the point supports (4) of the subsequent level, which have been fixated to the corresponding columns (22) of the structure, once the container (3) right below has been placed, have also been shown. Therefore, the structure (2) is ready for the inclusion of a subsequent containers' (3) level. FIG. 1d shows a subsequent container (3), already fixated to the corresponding point supports (4), and FIG. 1e shows a perspective view of the already finished installation (1), in which the whole upper level of the containers (3), which already fixated to the corresponding point supports (4). As it may be observed, point supports (4) of the upper level are arranged at a certain height over the ceiling of the support container (3) right below them. In this manner, a space between each level of containers (3) is generated, which may have a height of approximately one meter for the layout of several auxiliary installations, such as ducts or electricity wiring. Apart from that, those spaces have dimensions big enough for it to be practicable to walk, what facilitates the execution or maintenance or repair tasks.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows one example of a standardized container (3) which is already adapted for its use at the living quarters facility (1) as the one described. This container (3) has been modified in such a manner that it preserves both the dimensions and structural resistance of a standardized container (3) without modifications. This allows for its certification to be kept, which enables for it to be handled in a standard manner, both during its transport and installation. On the contrary, other modified containers (3), which are known until now, lose their certification, so they can no longer be handled as standard containers (3) and, therefore, they lose a great part of the advantages they offer.

[0062] The adapted standardized container (3) on FIG. 4 fully lacks one of the sideways walls (31), what allows to combine it with one or more containers (3) to create bigger spaces. In order to preserve the structural resistance of the adapted standardized container (3), despite its sideways wall (31) suppression, which, as it had already been indicated, has supporting capacity, this adapted standardized container (3) includes a pair of vertical reinforcement pillars (32) and an additional flat steel platen (35) for reinforcement.

[0063] The vertical reinforcement pillars (32) are located at the central sideways area of the container (3), which lacks sideways wall (31) between the corresponding upper edge (34), and the lower edge (32). The fixation of those pillars (32) to the corresponding edges (34, 35) may be executed, for example, with welding. The layout of these reinforcement pillars (32) provides the container (3) with a similar structural resistance than the one provided by the original sideways wall (31) which has been suppressed.

[0064] The additional reinforcement flat steel platen (35) is shown on FIGS. 5a and 5b. FIG. 5a shows a side view of the container on FIG. 4, and FIG. 5b shows in detail the lower longitudinal edge (33). This edge (33) has section in U, open towards the left side. In order to reinforce it, the additional flat steel platen (35) is welded at a location which closes the wings section in U, what provides the lower longitudinal edge (33) with more stiffness.

[0065] The combination of the vertical reinforcement pillars (32) and the additional reinforcement flat steel platen allows to prevent deflection at the lower (33) and upper (35) longitudinal edges of the adapted container (3).