Transportable sanitary unit

Abstract

Transportable unit for forming a straight parallelepiped-shaped residential space, provided with a bottom and a covering, and upright walls extending in between them, which walls can be converted between aparticularly retracted-transport position and aparticularly extended-operational position, in which the unit has a larger height, wherein the unit is equipped as a sanitary unit having a series of toilet bowls, urinals and/or showers.

Claims

1. A transportable unit for forming a straight parallelepiped-shaped residential space, comprising: a bottom; a covering; outer walls; and upright inner walls, the upright inner walls extending in between the bottom and the covering, the upright inner walls being adapted to be converted between a retracted transport position and an extended operational position, in which the unit has a larger height, wherein the unit is equipped as a sanitary unit having a series of at least one of toilet bowls, urinals or showers, the bottom is part of a lower section of the unit and the covering is part of an upper section of the unit, which lower and upper sections can be moved in a vertical direction with respect to each other, said lower and upper sections having frames comprising longitudinal girders, transverse girders and columns meeting each other at corners of the unit, said columns having an upper column part attached to the upper section of the unit and a lower column part attached to the lower section of the unit, wherein the upper column part and the lower column part are slidable vertically into and out of each other or along each other by moving the upper and lower sections with respect to each other in said vertical direction and can be locked to each other in the extended operational position, the upright inner walls having an upper wall attached to the upper section of the unit and a lower wall attached to the lower section of the unit, wherein the upper wall and the lower wall of said upright inner walls are slidable vertically along each other by moving the upper and lower sections with respect to each other in said vertical direction, the upright inner walls shielding off sub-spaces in which the respective toilet bowls, urinals or showers are accommodated, the sub-spaces being directly accessible via entry sides of the sub-spaces, the entry sides of the sub-spaces being provided with respective individual doors for closing and opening the entry sides of the sub-spaces, said doors being provided in the outer walls of the unit, and in movement of the upper walls along the lower walls, the upper walls of the upright inner walls slide along the side of the lower walls facing away from the sub space concerned.

2. The transportable unit according to claim 1, wherein a common drain pipe for the toilet bowls, urinals or showers is incorporated in the bottom, wherein the drain pipe is adapted to be connected to a vacuum drainage system.

3. The transportable unit according to claim 1, wherein the sub-spaces in an operational position are formed by bays or niches, divided into an upper niche section and a lower niche section, that are attached to an upper section of the unit comprising the covering and a lower section of the unit comprising the bottom, respectively, the lower niche section and the upper niche section having upright wall sections that at conversion between the transport position and the operational position can be moved along or into each other.

4. The transportable unit according to claim 3, wherein the niches have been formed by pairs of boxes, namely an upper box and a lower box, each having an upright separation wall, which bounds the sub-space to two or three horizontal sides, namely to one or both sides of the sub-space and/or to the rear, away from the entrance of the sub-space in question, wherein both boxes are open on the entry side and on the upper and lower side, respectively, facing each other, and wherein the upper box is part of an upper section of the unit comprising the covering and the lower box is part of a lower section of the unit comprising the bottom, wherein the upper section and the lower section can be vertically moved with respect to each other.

5. The transportable unit according to claim 4, wherein the lower box comprises a bottom wall forming a surface for a user to stand on and/or the upper box comprises an upper wall in which a light fixture is disposed.

6. The transportable unit according to claim 4, wherein the upper boxes and the lower boxes are detachably attached to the frames of the upper section and the lower section of the unit, respectively.

7. The transportable unit according to claim 1, wherein the toilet bowls, urinals or shower heads are arranged in the lower section of the unit comprising the bottom.

8. The transportable unit according to claim 1, wherein the unit has half a standard height of a standard freight container, and an extended operational position, in which the unit has a larger height, wherein in the operational position the unit has a full standard height of a standard container, the standard height is the height of a 20 ft. TEU container, a 40 ft. TEU container or a 45 ft. High Cube container, and the length and width of the unit equal the length and width, respectively, of a 20 ft. TEU container, a 40 ft. TEU container or a 45 ft. High Cube container.

9. The transportable unit according to claim 1, provided with ISO corner fittings on the corners.

10. An assembly of a number of transportable units according to claim 1, wherein one unit has a length L corresponding with the standard length of a standard freight container and n units have a length L corresponding with 1/nL, wherein n is an integer.

11. The assembly according to claim 10 and a truck or trailer on which the transportable units have been placed.

12. The transportable unit according to claim 1, wherein the sub-spaces each have a urinal.

13. The transportable unit according to claim 1, wherein the sub-spaces each have a toilet bowl.

14. The transportable unit according to claim 1, wherein the sub-spaces each have a shower.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments shown in the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B show an isometric view of a first exemplary embodiment of a sanitary unit according to the invention, in the transport position and the operational position, respectively;

(3) FIGS. 2A,B and 2C,D show a vertical cross-section and a vertical longitudinal section, respectively, of two units of FIG. 1A stacked onto each other and a vertical cross-section and vertical longitudinal section, respectively, of one unit of FIGS. 2A,B in the operational position of FIG. 1B;

(4) FIGS. 2E and 2F show schematic depictions of a cylinder accommodated in the bottom of the sanitary unit of FIGS. 2A-D, in the transport position and the operational position, respectively;

(5) FIGS. 3A,B and 3C,D show a vertical cross-section and a vertical longitudinal section, respectively, of two other sanitary units according to the invention stacked onto each other, in the transport position, and a vertical cross-section and a vertical longitudinal section, respectively, of one unit of FIGS. 3A,B in the operational position;

(6) FIGS. 4A,B and 4C,D show a vertical cross-section and a vertical longitudinal section, respectively, of yet two other sanitary units according to the invention stacked onto each other, in the transport position, and a vertical cross-section and a vertical longitudinal section, respectively, of one unit of FIGS. 4A,B in the operational position;

(7) FIGS. 5A,B and 5C,D show a vertical cross-section and a vertical longitudinal section, respectively, of yet two other sanitary units according to the invention stacked onto each other, in the transport position, and a vertical cross-section and a vertical longitudinal section, respectively, of one unit of FIGS. 5A,B in the operational position;

(8) FIGS. 6A and 6B show views of a two-part door for a unit according to the invention, in the transport position and the operational position, respectively;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a side view of an assembly of units according to the invention, during transportation;

(10) FIGS. 8A and 8B show a view of a smaller unit according to the invention, in the transport position and the operational position, respectively;

(11) FIGS. 9A-I show two views of a smaller unit according to FIGS. 8A,B in the transport position, intermediate position and operational position and of a part thereof in those three positions; and

(12) FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of an arrangement of use with the assembly of units of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) The container-shaped sanitary unit 1 of FIGS. 1A and 1B comprises a lower section 1a and an upper section 1b. The lower section 1a comprises a bottom 2a, upright longitudinal side walls 3a, upright end sidewalls 4a and in a usual manner longitudinal girders 6a, cross girders 7a and columns 8a. The upper section 1b comprises a covering 2b, longitudinal side walls 3b, end sidewalls 4b and in a usual manner longitudinal girders 6b, cross girders 7b and columns 8b, also see FIGS. 2A,B. The girders 6a,b and 7a,b and columns 8a,b meet each other in the corners, where standard (ISO) corner fittings 5 are situated. The columns 8a,b are locked with respect to each other, such that they are capable of absorbing vertical weight forces and also in case of lifting forces exerted on the corner fittings 5 on the covering 2b they do not move relative to each other in order to facilitate loading onto a truck, train, ship, etc.

(14) In FIG. 1A the container-shaped unit 1 is shown in the retracted transport position in which it has a length L of 20 ft., a width B of 8 ft. and a height H1 of 4 ft. and 9 inches. As a result the unit 1 has the length and width of a 20 TEU container indeed, but half the standard height of 0.5 Hs of ain this case differentstandard container, in this case a High Cube container (9 ft., 6 inches).

(15) When for transportation two container-like units 1 in the condition of FIG. 1A are stacked onto one another, then the joint height, also see FIGS. 2A and 2B, equals the standard height Hs of a High Cube container, namely 9 ft. and 6 inches. The 20 ft. length is advantageous for transportation by a truck adapted to TEU container transport, with or without ditto trailer, also see FIG. 7.

(16) In FIG. 1B the unit 1 has been converted from the transport position into the operational position, in which the height is H2 that may equal 2H1 (=Hs). The upper section 1b is extended upwards and in that position the columns 8a,b are locked with respect to each other, wherein the longitudinal girders 6a,b, cross girders 7a,b and columns 8a,b form a frame. The longitudinal sidewalls 3a,b and the end sidewalls 4a,b now form longitudinal sidewalls 3 and end sidewalls 4. They can be designed in various ways, a longitudinal sidewall 3 with doors 20 (also see FIGS. 6A,B) and an end sidewall 4 with washbasins 37 is shown. A mirror wall behind the washbasins slides down behind the washbasins 37 when telescopically retracting the unit.

(17) This can be seen in FIGS. 2A,B. The mutual locking of the columns 8a,b takes place by means of a locking pin 40, that can be inserted and secured in a suitable hole of a vertical series of holes in the columns 8a,b, both in the transport position of FIGS. 2A,B and in the operational position of FIGS. 2C,D. By choosing H1 to be half the standard height (0.5 Hs) of a High Cube container (L=45 ft., B=8 ft., H=9 ft. 6 inches) instead of half the standard height (0.58 ft., 6 inches) of a 20 TEU container, the overlap of the columns 8a and 8b in the operational position may have a larger length. The larger overlap may be advantageous to the design of the connection (as well as its stability) between both columns 8a,b in the operational position.

(18) In the stacked position of FIGS. 2A,B all outer dimensions of the units 1, also the appendages, remain within the standard dimensions in question, in this case that means the 20 ft. length, the 8 ft. width and the 9 ft. 6 inches height.

(19) For extending the unit 1 into the operational position, a central cylinder 10 has been disposed in the bottom 2a, within the profile of the bottom 2a, wherein at the end of the piston rod 11 an attachment plate 12 is arranged. Onto the plate 12 cables 13 (also see FIGS. 2E and 2F) are attached that circulate around pulleys 14c,d in the bottom 2a to the four corners, where they are guided around pulleys 14a into a vertical direction, to pulleys 14b in the upper end of columns 8a, see FIGS. 2B and 2D. The outer ends of the cables 13 are attached to the lower end of the columns 8b. Thus nearly the entire conversion device is accommodated in lower section 1a.

(20) When retracting the piston rod, from the position of FIG. 2E to the one of FIG. 2F, the cables 13 are pulled in and their outer ends pulled up, while taking along the lower end of the columns 8b upwards, until the position of FIG. 2C,D is achieved. In extended position the extended part of the unit with columns 8b still largely remains in the unextended columns 8a in order to form a stable unity. The locking takes place in the part where the columns overlap each other.

(21) The locking of the extended position therefore takes place both in the fully retracted position and the fully extended position. In the retracted position said locking offers the telescopically retracted unit an undetachable character and provides a high degree of rigidity of the unity in order to comply with the demands transportation of the unit makes. In the extended position the locking provides safety and relieves the hoisting cables and the cylinders. Locking can be carried out automatically, mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically or manually.

(22) The sidewalls 3a,b, 4a,b and columns 8a,b can slide into/out of or along each other depending on the manner of construction and specifications of the extended unit and the technical demands made to it. The extension system can also be incorporated in one or several columns that can be located elsewhere in the unit than the corner columns. If the functionality of the unit does not permit placing the hoisting system in the bottom it can also be incorporated elsewhere in order to provide the same functionality.

(23) In FIGS. 2A-D the inner space of the unit is divided by longitudinal partition wall 60 into two series of sub-spaces, namely sub-spaces 30 for urinals 32 and sub-spaces 31 for toilet bowls 33, wherein the adjacent sub-spaces are separated from each other by inner walls 29a,b wherein inner wall part 29a is part of the lower section 1a and inner wall part 29b is part of the upper section 1b. The wall parts 29a, 29b can slide along each other when retracting/extending the unit 1. On the longitudinal sides both series of sub-spaces are accessible via individual doors 20 (FIGS. 1A,B and 6A,B). All the pipework for slops and for drainage (34, 35) is housed in the lower section 1a. In case of urinals, doors and making sub-spaces can be dispensed with, instead thereof partitions can be mounted to the centre wall, which if necessary can also be divided into a part attached to the upper section and a part attached to the lower section of the unit, for during conversion being telescopically extended to have the desired height in the operational position.

(24) The device can also be designed differently. For instance in FIGS. 3A-D an example is given of a combination of sub-spaces 30 for urinals 32 and sub-spaces 31 for toiles bowls 33 in combination with sub-spaces for showers 39. In FIGS. 4A-D a set-up is shown having only sub-spaces 38 for showers 39. In FIGS. 5A-D a set-up is shown having only sub-spaces 31 for toilet bowls 33.

(25) FIGS. 2C and 3C illustrate that the partition wall 60, forming a main separation between two series of toilet bowls and/or urinals, is divided into a two-part lower partition wall 61a and an upper partition wall 61b. For each toilet bowl or urinal, each lower partition wall part 61a houses a drain/branch 62 for discharging water/urine/faeces to a central drain pipe 63 arranged in the bottom which drain pipe can be connected to a vacuum system. Both lower partition wall parts 61a define an accommodation space 64 for the upper partition wall 61b in the transport position of the unit 1.

(26) In the example of FIGS. 1A,B the doors 20 are built up from a lower door part 20a, that is part of the lower section 1a, and an upper door part 20b that is part of the upper section 1b. The lower door part 20a is provided with a lock with handle 21. Particular is that each of the door parts 20a,b is not attached to a post by a hinge but to the bottom 2a and the covering 2b, by hinges 22a,b. Their hinge centre lines S1 and S2 are in line with each other, so that the extended door 20 is able to hinge and function as one unity. The (entrance) doors 20 can be equipped with individual locks with which the door can be locked both in the extended position and in the retracted position. Hinge positions along the vertical edges of the door parts 20a,b do not have to be taken into consideration. By means of locking pins 23 both door parts 20a,b are connected to each other so that they are swung together during use. Suitable hinges for that purpose are known from shower walls and walls of refrigeration spaces, for instance see the hinges from the Prisma series by CR Laurence of Europe GmbH. The door parts 20a,b can slide both into or along each other. Optionally the doors can also be designed so as to fold up.

(27) FIGS. 9A-I elucidate a small unit 1, of which the transport position is shown in FIGS. 9A,B, the operational position in FIGS. 9G,H and an intermediate position in FIGS. 9D,E. The unit 1 comprises three bay-shaped or niche-shaped sub-spaces 28 that have each been provided with a toilet bowl and with a paper dispenser 35.

(28) On the entry side each sub space can be shielded/closed off by means of a door that is not shown here, which doors can be assembled, for instance according to FIGS. 6A,B. In the transport position of the unit the doors or door parts can, if necessary, be stored in the space 34 formed on the rear side of the sub-spaces.

(29) The sub-spaces 28 are positioned adjacent to each other, with the entrance on the same side. The niche-shaped sub-spaces 28 are formed by two boxes that can be slid into and out of each other, namely lower box 28a and upper box 28b. The lower box 28a each time comprises three upright wall sections, namely two wall sections 29a and 29a on the sides and a rear wall section 35a situated in between them. The upper box 28b each time comprises three upright wall sections namely two wall sections 29b, and 29b on the sides and a rear wall section 35b in between them. The upright wall sections 29a,b thus each time form a common wall 29 and the wall sections 35a,b each time a common wall 35. Said wall sections can each time be formed as one unity with each other such as from polyester.

(30) The lower box 28a is provided with a bottom 36a and the upper box is provided with a covering 36b. They can be formed as one unity in the box 28a, 28b as well.

(31) The boxes 28a and 28b thus are open towards the entrance, as well as in vertical direction facing each other. The upper box therefore is inverted with respect to the lower box.

(32) The lower boxes 28a and the upper boxes 28b preferably are detachably attached to the frame, such as transverse beams, of the lower section 1a and the upper section 1b, respectively. This can be done by means of bolts, or for the upper box, by means of a suspension, for which purpose holes 39 (FIG. 91) can be provided, into which hooks attached to the upper section can engage.

(33) The boxes 28a, 28b can be replaced individually, without hampering or having to engage the adjacent boxes.

(34) The lower box 28a supports the toilet bowl 33 and the dispenser 37. The upper box 28b can be provided with a light, see 41 in FIG. 9C.

(35) The space 34 cannot only provide room to doors, but also to a combined drain pipe system 42, that is connected to the drains 40 and can be connected to a further drainage, particularly working on vacuum.

(36) When converting the unit from the transport position of FIGS. 9A,B to the operational position of FIGS. 9G,H the upright box walls are able to slide closely along each other (direction A, FIG. 9F). For closing off to a certain extent, the upper edge of the wall sections 29a, 35a is provided with a flange edge 38a that is offset to the outside, which flange edge in the operational position of FIG. 91 at least almost abuts the upper edge 38b that is offset to the inside. As can be seen the walls 29a, 35a just fit within the walls 29b, 35b.

(37) The boxes 28a, 28b are easy to clean.

(38) A comparable set-up having such niche-shaped spaces 28 is also possible in larger units, such as unit 1, discussed above.

(39) An assembly 100 of four units 1 can be transported by means of a truck with trailer, see FIG. 7, with units 1 according to the invention, wherein two stacked units each having height H1 together take up height Hs that equals a standard height of a standard container in this case 9 ft., 6 inches of a High Cube container.

(40) It is also possible to transport a complete sanitary village with the truck combination of FIG. 7. Such a village is shown in FIG. 10, and comprises three sanitary units 1 and five smaller units 1 that can be converted from a transport position into an operational position in a manner comparable to units 1, see FIGS. 8A, 8B and FIGS. 9A-I, wherein in the transport position they have a height corresponding to H1 of units 1. In FIG. 7 said smaller units 1 are indicated with hatched lines. Just like the units 1, the units 1 are provided with the standard corner fittings 5 and they have an 8 ft. length L, equalling the width of the unit 1 and a width B of an entire fraction of the length L of unit 1, in this case thereof, 4 ft. The units 1 can be furnished as shower rooms, toilet rooms and/or urinal rooms, particularly with the said boxes, and in the shown set-up form a closure of the area 101 at the ends of the units 1. By means of the gate 102 an enclosed and controllable sanitary area 101 is thus provided, accessible through one closable entrance 103. The units 1, 1 can be connected to a vacuum drainage system by means of lines that are not shown.

(41) Instead of doors window panels can also be used in both the upper section 1b and the lower section 1a. Entrance doors and inspection doors can be used in both the upper section and the lower section. Entrance doors that utilise the fully extended height are constructed so as to be retractable such that a proper operation in the extended position is guaranteed.

(42) The frame of the unit can be made of steel or stainless material having sufficient strength to guarantee the functionality in the retracted and in the extended position. In the future new materials may be used if strength, price and weight provide a suitable balance for the purpose described herein.

(43) If necessary special cross-connections in the construction can be used to strengthen the frame so that this construction complies with specific demands as regards the specific furnishing and function of the unit.

(44) Retractable vertical (intermediate) columns that are not a part of the bearing structure can also be made of steel or stainless material. The part into which the other part slides will be designed stronger and larger than the part that slides in.

(45) The walls and doors can be made of several materials, depending on the furnishing of the unit. The part sliding in can be made of lightweight, thin and strong material.

(46) Providing intermediate walls of insulated sandwich panels is one of the options to protect the technical components against weather influences. In the resultative sub-space, protection against frost or air-conditioning can be applied.

(47) In case the unit is furnished as a shower, urinal and/or toilet unit the floors can be mounted sloping inwardly inclined. Against a partition wall or rear wall, in the floor, drains can be mounted through which cleaning water and or rain water can drain away. This contributes to water not running out of the unit on the front side in front of the doors and thus affecting the condition of the soil, so that formation of mud in front of the entrance doors is limited.

(48) The unit may among others be provided with a boiler system, water storage tanks, waste water tanks, generator sets, vacuum pumps etc.

(49) Coupling all toilets, urinals, showers, washbasins and all other devices that produce waste water, can be effected by means of a waste water pipe system. This system passes the waste water to a vacuum pump that processes it and discharges it. As a result a high degree of hygiene is realised and this sanitary system also reduces the use of water to a high degree in comparison with a conventional toilet flushing system. However, placing standard sanitary fittings with drainage under the influence of gravity/head is also possible, or a combination thereof with a vacuum system.

(50) On the inside the unit can be provided with lighting, particularly at the upper section 1b. If a battery or generator is present it will preferably be accommodated in lower section 1a. The connection with the fixtures can then take place through flexible lines that are capable of following the converting motion of the unit. Fixtures and lamps that are constructed so as to be lightweight are considered as much as possible in order to keep the overall weight of the unit as light as possible.

(51) On the bottom corners the unit can be provided with one or more jack systems in order to set the unit horizontally or in any position.

(52) The covering itself may me substantially shape-retaining, plate-shaped or flexible, such as cloth-shaped, if the covering itself will not be loaded with additional external weight. During transportation the covering cloth will be protected by the longitudinal girders 6b and the cross girders 7b.

(53) The bottom and/or the covering can be provided with an extendable panel that may serve as step for the door panels or as shelter/sunscreen. These panels that can be slid out of the covering may be provided with lighting and or publication panels for information or advertising.

(54) The examples given relate to the application of the residential space as a sanitary facility.

(55) The unit according to the invention can be transported with standard transportation, by truck, train, barge, sea ship and is particularly transportation cost-effective and can be used worldwide. After transportation the unit is folded down and ready to be used within a few minutes.

(56) It is not the object of the unit to transport commodities, such as piece goods. Only permanent furnishings that can be designed in many ways will inextricably be transported with the unit.

(57) The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert.