AU2017201285B2

AU2017201285B2 - Shipping of modular building units

Info

Publication number: AU2017201285B2
Application number: AU2017201285A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Susan Unger
Original assignee: 1 Space Pty Ltd
Current assignee: 1 Space Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-04-14
Filing date: 2017-02-24
Publication date: 2019-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-14
Also published as: AU2013205215B2; AU2013205215A1; AU2017201285A1

Abstract

-7 Abstract An assemblage of a plurality of containers is arranged for shipping. Each container is an oversized shipping container that in substance forms a part of a building. Each container 5 is arranged to be in a side by side arrangement that takes up a combined length substantially that of a multiple of a standard intermodal shipping container width, and having connections along the combined length at spacings of the width of the standard intermodal shipping container, such that the assemblage may be connected on top of a series of side by side standard intermodal shipping containers and/or such that a series of 10 side by side standard intermodal shipping container may be connected on top of the assemblage. x10'4 FIG. 2 FIG. 1 (Prior Art) A T A 'A ' A

Description

SHIPPING OF MODULAR BUILDING UNITS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shipping of modular building units.

Background

Typically transportation of goods across sea is in a standard intermodal shipping container, sometimes called a sea container. These containers can be loaded on a ship, truck or rail car for transport from one location to another. The typical dimensions of a standard intermodal shipping container are: 8 feet wide (2.44m), 20 feet (6.06m) or 40 feet long, and 8 feet 6 inches (2.59m) high. High-cube (HQ) containers are 9 feet 6 inches (2.9m) high. When shipped these containers have sufficient structural strength so that they can be stacked one on top of another.

However when a container or product needs to be transported across sea that does not fit within one of these standard shipping containers they must be transported individually on the top most layer of the containers being shipped, or not in containers at all. This is not as efficient manner of transport. This is the case for transportable buildings and building components. For example, so-called dongas (transportable single room/bathroom accommodation) are transported individually and cannot normally be stacked.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

Reference to prior art documents is not an admission that they form part of the common general knowledge of a skilled person in any jurisdiction.

Summary of the Present Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an assemblage of a plurality of containers arranged for shipping, wherein each container is an oversized shipping container that in substance forms a part of a building, each container is arranged to be in a side by side arrangement that takes up a combined length substantially that of a multiple of a standard intermodal shipping container width, and having connections (and

2017201285 24 Feb 2017

- 2 in a preferred for with vertical supports) along the combined length at spacings of the width of the standard intermodal shipping container (which is typically 2.4m (8ft)), such that the assemblage may be connected on top of a series of side by side standard intermodal shipping containers and/or such that a series of side by side standard intermodal shipping container may be connected on top of the assemblage.

In an embodiment each container has a vertical support extending between the connections.

In an embodiment the connections are in the form of standard intermodal shipping container corner “castings”.

In an embodiment each container is of a height of a HQ shipping container.

In an embodiment each container is of a width between 2.6m and 3.6m.

In an embodiment each container is of a width of about 3.4m (11 ’3”). In this embodiment there are 5 containers for 7 standard intermodal shipping containers.

In a preferred embodiment each container is of a width of about 3.3m (11 ’). In this embodiment there are 11 containers for 15 standard intermodal shipping containers.

In an embodiment each container is of a length of 6m (20’).

In an embodiment each container is of a height of 2.9m (9’6”). In an embodiment each container is of a height of about 3.6m.

In an embodiment each container is a modular unit used in construction of a building and the structural elements of the container are used as structural elements of the building.

In an embodiment the containers may be stacked.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of loading containers for shipping, wherein each container is an oversized shipping container, said method comprising placing the containers such that they are arranged into a side by side

-32017201285 24 Feb 2017 arrangement that takes up a combined length substantially that of a multiple of a standard intermodal shipping container width;

connecting the arrangement to a side by side row of the standard intermodal shipping containers either above or below the arrangement by way of connections spaced along the arrangement at spacings of the width of a standard intermodal shipping container.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of shipping containers, wherein each container is an oversized shipping container, said method comprising loading the containers onto a ship according to the above method transporting 10 the containers across sea.

In this specification the terms “comprising” or “comprises” are used inclusively and not exclusively or exhaustively.

Description of Drawings

In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of a prior art container;

Figure 2 is an end view of a container to be shipped;

Figure 3 is a schematic elevation of an assemblage of containers to be shipping according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is schematic plan view of an assemblage of containers to be shipped according 25 to the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the assemblage of containers of Figure 4.

Description of Embodiments of the Invention

Figure 6B being a standard intermodal shipping container 2.44m wide x 2.6m tall, and 6m long.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a modular building unit in the form of a container 10.

In this embodiment the container is a HQ height container, although it may be higher. In 35 this embodiment it is 3.414m wide, although in another embodiment is may be 3.3m wide,

-42017201285 24 Feb 2017 or another width. The container 10 is a rectangular prism shaped box oriented to be longitudinally horizontal. It has a length the same as a standard intermodal shipping container, which is typically 6m (20ft), although other standard lengths are possible.

Referring to Figure 3. containers are arranged to be side by side. Together they take up a combined length substantially that of a multiple of a standard intermodal shipping container width. In the case of each container have a width of about 3.414m, five of these containers will take up a combine length of seven standard intermodal shipping containers.

In the case of each container have a width of about 3.3m, eleven of these containers will take up a combine length of fifteen standard intermodal shipping containers.

Thus the five (in the case of the width being 3.414m) containers take up the same space 15 of the seven normal containers, not accounting for height. However if the height is HQ, then the height is the same as for standard HQ height containers. The important factor is the floor area, or foot print, as this is the same, which means standard intermodal shipping container may be stacked on top of the arrangement or the arrangement may be stack on the seven standard intermodal shipping containers.

Additionally to allow the containers in the assemblage to be secured to each other they have standard corner connectors 102. However due to the size difference with standard containers, the connection cannot be used between the layers of different types of containers. Thus the assemblage of containers has connections 104 along the combined 25 length at spacings of the width of the standard intermodal shipping container. These allow the assemblage to be connected to the corner connectors 14 of the standard containers on top of the assemblage or allow the assemblage to be connected on top of a series of side by side standard intermodal shipping containers.

The containers in the assemblage may also be formed into a even number of layers.

In an embodiment each container has a vertical support 106 extending between the connections 104. These supports aid in weight transference along the lines 108 which correspond with the corners of the standard shipping containers..

-52017201285 24 Feb 2017 ln an embodiment the connections are in the form of standard intermodal shipping container corner “castings”.

The containers may be provided into a number of types according to the spacing of the connections. In the case of the width being 3.414m only three types “A”, “B” and “C” are required if the outer two types are mirrored (“A’ ” and “B’ “) as shown in Figure 4. Figure 2 is a type C container.

Modifications may be made to the present invention with the context of that described and shown in the drawings. Such modifications are intended to form part of the invention described in this specification.

Claims

1. An assemblage of a plurality of containers arranged for shipping, wherein each container is an oversized shipping container that in substance forms a part of a building,

5 each container is arranged to be in a side by side arrangement that takes up a combined length substantially that of a multiple of a standard intermodal shipping container width, wherein each oversized container has first connections at each corner of each oversized container and which are substantially flush with a horizontal top surface and/or lengthways vertical wall surface of the oversized container, such that the oversized

10 containers are connected to each other above or below at their corners via the first connections; and each oversized container has second connections substantially flush with the horizontal top and/or bottom surface along the combined length at spacings of the width of the standard intermodal shipping container, such that the assemblage may be connected on top of a series of side by side standard intermodal shipping containers via

15 the second connections and/or such that a series of side by side standard intermodal shipping container may be connected on top of the assemblage via the second connections; and wherein the first connections are horizontally aligned with the second connections that are substantially on the same face of each oversized container.

2. An assemblage according to claim 1, wherein each container has a vertical support extending between and in line with the second connections.

3. An assemblage according to claim 1, wherein each container is a modular unit

25 used in construction of a building and the structural elements of the container are used as structural elements ofthe building.

4. A method of loading containers for shipping, wherein each container is an oversized shipping container, wherein each oversized container has first connections at

30 each corner of each oversized container and which are substantially flush with a horizontal top surface and/or lengthways vertical wall surface of the oversized container, said method comprising placing the oversized containers such that they are arranged into a side by side substantially flush arrangement that takes up a combined length substantially that of a multiple of a standard intermodal shipping container width and

2017201285 07 Jan 2019 connecting the oversized containers to each other above or below at their corners via the first connections;

connecting the arrangement to a side by side row of the standard intermodal shipping containers either above or below the arrangement by way of second connections spaced

5 along the arrangement at spacings of the width of a standard intermodal shipping container, wherein the row of the standard intermodal shipping containers substantially abut the arrangement of oversized containers due to the second connections being substantially horizontally aligned with first connections that are substantially on the same face of each oversized container.

5. A method of shipping containers, wherein each container is an oversized shipping container, said method comprising loading the containers onto a ship according to the above method transporting the containers across sea.

2017201285 24 Feb 2017