EP0199392B1 - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container to be used notably as building element, comprising assembled wall elements, which are provided with first assembly arrangement which oppose disengaging of the wall elements inwardly of the container. The container further comprises second assembly arrangement for the wall elements which have a resilient force and are so arranged as to connect together the wall elements, the resilient force direction thereof being so designed as to prevent disengaging of the wall elements outwardly of the container.

Description

The present invention relates to a container, to be used in particular as a building element, having the features described in the preamble of claim 1.

Such containers are known which comprise a support frame formed from one-piece beams, connecting the corners of the container. The wall elements, in the form of panels, are fixed to this frame, so as to fill the gaps left between the beams (see for example British patents no. 647,965, 347,177 and 1,603,613 and FR-A 2 455 135). The great disadvantage of such container-shaped construction elements is that the chassis must take up all the stresses acting on the container on its own and that, consequently, it must be designed in a very resistant and therefore very heavy form. In addition, when the panels are made of a material different from that of the chassis, problems of differences in expansion coefficient arise. Because of the above-mentioned difference in expansion coefficient, under critical environmental conditions, for example during rapid and strong temperature variations, clearances may form between the wall elements and the frame with the sealing defects which result therefrom. result. Furthermore, permanent ruptures or deformations in the wall elements can quickly be caused as a result of this difference in expansion coefficient.

Containers without chassis are also known in which the stresses to which the container is subjected are absorbed directly in all of the panels. They have the advantage of a lower weight and an absence of the disadvantages due to the difference in expansion coefficient between different materials. These containers are formed only of wall elements assembled by gluing. Associated with this method of assembly is the drawback of aging adhesives. In addition, the container, which is intended in particular to form a building element, must have strong and rigid walls because they will be subjected to many stresses, in particular the attachment of heavy equipment on the internal faces of the container. Under these conditions, it becomes very difficult to produce a container which meets both these requirements and those of transport. Indeed, the lifting of containers formed of heavy wall elements, assembled only by gluing, becomes very problematic in terms of the resistance of the materials used for the panels and for the fixing of the hooking elements.

There is also a building without a frame, with hinged panels and kept under tension by tensioning cables (see AU-B 458 996).

The present invention aims to provide a container, which does not have the drawbacks mentioned and is easily transportable.

These problems are solved, according to the invention, by a container as described at the start and having the features indicated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Other advantageous embodiments of container according to the invention appear from claims 2 to 11.

It has been found that with the aid of the embodiments according to the invention it is possible to produce containers which not only are leaktight under the most critical environmental conditions and after a prolonged aging period, but also have surprisingly an extremely low weight compared to known containers for improved mechanical strength. Indeed, the framing elements can, in certain embodiments, only serve to prevent disassembly of the wall elements towards the outside and they do not undergo the external stressing forces, necessary for example for lifting or container transport. These forces are transmitted directly into the wall elements, enclosed in the frame formed by the framing elements. It is therefore possible to provide relatively light framing elements in the form of angles and these may not even be glued to the wall elements. This embodiment therefore makes it possible to develop perfectly sealed containers under critical conditions and to serve as construction elements, the wall elements of which are relatively rigid and heavy in themselves, without adding to this weight a massive and extremely heavy as in the prior art, which allows them to be transported easily.

• La figure 1 représente une vue en perspective schématique d'une forme de réalisation de conteneur suivant l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente une vue partielle, en élévation et de profil, d'une forme de réalisation d'élément d'encadrement suivant l'invention.
• La figure 3 représente, à l'échelle agrandie, une vue en coupe suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 2.
• La figure 4 représente une vue en coupe suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3, dans laquelle la vis de tension et le ressort ont été enlevés.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below without implied limitation and with reference to the attached drawings.

• Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of container according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 represents a partial view, in elevation and in profile, of an embodiment of a framing element according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2.
• 4 shows a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 3, in which the tension screw and the spring have been removed.

In the various drawings, identical or analogous elements are designated by the same references.

In Figure 1 is shown in perspective a container 1 of parallelepiped shape, therefore having six faces which show schematically the wall elements forming the container body. These wall elements are assembled to one another using first known assembly means which oppose disassembly of the wall elements towards the interior of the container. These means generally consist of profiling the edges of the wall elements in steps which allows mutual interlocking of the wall elements (see for example the reference 49 in FIG. 4). These means do not, however, prevent disassembly of the wall elements towards the outside. It is therefore expected generally, according to the prior art, bonding of the wall elements together, which is insufficient due to the aging of the adhesives, this effect being accentuated in particular when the container is to serve as a building element and the wall elements are heavy in itself. As described above, according to the prior art, a support frame is also provided which is very heavy per se, which not only supports the wall elements but serves to prevent disassembly of the wall elements. As we have seen, however, it fulfills this second role very unsatisfactorily, in particular in critical environmental conditions, and in addition it even causes degradation of the assembly formed given the difference in coefficient of expansion existing between it. and the elements of the wall, when made of different materials.

The elements 2 to 13 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 are second means of assembling the wall elements which, in the illustrated embodiment, each connect two corners of the container and exert an elastic force, rendered diagrammatically by the spiral element 14, which has the effect of pulling towards one of the abovementioned corners, (for example the corner 15 in FIG. 1) a rigid element (for example 16 in FIG. 1) connected to the other of the said corners (for example 17 in Figure 1). This elastic force on the rigid element 16 is represented by the arrow. As can be seen, there is provided on each edge of the parallelepiped container such a second assembly means. It should be noted that it is not absolutely necessary, that there are on each edge of the container. One can also provide on one or more edges of the container several second means of assembly, such as those designated by the references 60 and 61 in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, one can see a concrete embodiment of the second assembly means, in which the latter is formed of a framing element 18 which is arranged between the two corners of the container, which, in this example of embodiment, are provided with corner elements 19 known per se. These elements are used to apply an external force to the container, for example when the latter has to be lifted or transported on a platform of a boat or trailer.

In this exemplary embodiment, the corner element 19 is provided with plates 20 (FIG. 2) and respectively 20 ′ (FIG. 3) welded to the latter, and arranged so as to cover the corner of the side wall element 21 (FIG. 2) and respectively of the bottom wall element of the container, not shown in FIG. 3. These plates are fixed to the wall element for example by means of anchoring means known per se 22. The corner element 19 is therefore, in this embodiment, anchored directly in the wall element 21 and when it is subjected to an external force, this is transmitted directly to the wall element 21. The latter is provided in a resistant and rigid form to be able to respond to these external stresses as well as to be able to undergo stresses coming from inside the container, for example when heavy equipment is attached to this wall element.

The framing element 18 is formed, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, of an L-shaped angle iron, the wings 23 and 24 of which surround the edge of the container and which consists of two parts 25 and 26 mutually separated by an axial distance 27, in the assembled state of the container, under normal environmental conditions.

These two angle sections 25 and 26 are each fixedly connected to a corner element, for example by welding. Only the fixing 28 between the angle part 26 and the corner element 19 is shown in FIG. 3.

Between these two parts of the angle iron is arranged a prestressed elastic element which comprises a cylinder made of rigid material 29 also formed of two parts 30 and 31, one of which 30 is integrally connected to the angle part 25, for example by welding. at 32, (see FIG. 3) or at 32 '(see FIG. 4), and the other 31 of which is integrally connected to the angle section 26, directly or via the corner element 19, for example by welding the latter at 33, and a prestressed coil spring 34. These two cylinder parts 30 and 31 are separated by an axial distance 44 at least equal to the distance 27.

In the cavity of the cylinder part 30 is arranged an annular element 35 having a threaded bore 36, coaxial with the cylinder 29. This annular element 35 is arranged inside the cylinder part 30 so that a reciprocal sliding between them be possible. The threaded bore 36 cooperates with the threaded end 37 of a tension screw 38. This passes through a perforation 39 provided in one side of the corner element 19, opposite the cylinder 29 and it passes axially through the cavity of the latter, being threaded only at its end 37 opposite the head 40 of the tensioning screw 38. The head 40 is wider than the perforation 39 and consequently retains the annular element 35 at an adjustable distance from the part angle 26, if a force tending to separate the parts of angles 25 and 26 were to be applied.

At the end of the cylinder part 30 is fixedly connected, for example by welding at 41, an annular sleeve 42 whose axial bore 43 allows the passage of the unthreaded part of the tensioning screw 38. The end of this sleeve projects axially out of the cylinder part 30 and its outside diameter is provided to allow it to penetrate into the cylinder part 31 in a manner ensuring the possibility of a reciprocal sliding between these two parts. The protruding part of the sleeve 42 has a length greater than the axial distance 44 which separates the two cylinder parts 30 and 31 and a length sufficient to be located at an axial distance 45 from the corner element 19, which is equal at the axial distance 27.

The spring 34 is arranged in the cylinder part 30 so as to bear, on the one hand, on the annular element 35 retained by the tensioning screw 38 at an adjustable distance from the cylinder part 31 and, on the other hand part, on the annular sleeve 42 fixed on the cylinder part 30. This annular element 35 and this annular bush 42 therefore serve as stops for the spring 34.

In FIG. 3, in the upper half of the cylinder, the spring 34 is shown, in the container assembly position and under normal environmental conditions, but before a prestress is imposed on it. It is therefore in a state of rest. Advantageously, the tension screw 38 is then screwed so as to bring the stop 35 closer to the corner element 19, which has the effect of compressing the turns of the spring 34 one against the other, as it comes out from the bottom half of Figure 3.

In this last position of the spring, the latter subjects the angle sections 25 and 26 to a prestress in tension. In normal medium condition, the spring is not able to bring the angle parts together, despite the prestressing, because these are retained by their respective corner element at a distance imposed by the dimensions of the wall elements. However, in this position, the wall elements are subjected to the tension of the angle parts which therefore tend to bring them together and thus prevent disassembly towards the outside of the wall elements. It should be noted that, to exert this effect, the angles no longer necessarily need to be connected to the wall elements by gluing. We could even consider no longer connecting the wall elements by gluing together. The assembly holds under the effect of the elastic system imposed by the light framing elements of the container according to the invention.

In addition, in the case of a critical environment condition, for example when strong variations in heat take place between day and night, the metal angle expands more than the wall element. This difference in expansion is absorbed by the elastic element described above. Indeed, the long part 25 of the angle iron 18 approaches the short part 26, driving towards the corner element 19 the cylinder part 30 and the stop 42. The spacing between the stop 35 and the stop 42 s enlarging, the spring 34 relaxes; it thus absorbs the above-mentioned difference in expansion, while avoiding any risk of buckling of the angle iron, and it allows the framing elements to continue to enclose the wall elements, the expansion of which has been less.

The cylinder part 30 is advantageously closed at its end opposite to the corner element 19 by a cover 46 in order to avoid fouling of the mechanism and an orifice 47 may possibly be provided in this cover 46 to allow decompression when the volume between the cover 46 and the stop 35 changes.

The tensioning screw 38 can be screwed in by a screwing tool inserted for example through a passage 48, provided in the axial extension of the tensioning screw, in one of the sides of the corner element 19.

As mentioned above, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the corner elements are anchored directly in the wall elements which are subjected to external stresses. However, it could also be envisaged that the corner elements are simply glued or even only applied against the wall elements. In this case, they are integrally connected to the framing elements which are glued to them or even only applied to the wall elements and enclose the box formed by the wall elements thanks to the prestressed elastic elements with which they are provided.

However, in this case, when an external stress is applied to the corner elements, this is transmitted, no longer to the wall elements, but to the framing elements. It is therefore necessary that then the elastic force of the elastic element is calculated not only as a function of the difference in coefficient of expansion existing between the frame and the container body, but also as a function of any tensile force which could be transmitted to the framing element via the corner element, of which it is integral.

It should be understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that many modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of this patent, protection being determined by the content of the claims.

One can for example provide as elastic element not only a coil spring or elastic fiber, but also other types of spring, such as a Belleville spring, or even possibly an arrangement of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

If, in the description and the examples given, particular consideration has been given to thermal variations towards temperatures higher than normal, it is also possible to envisage a container according to the invention suitable for thermal variations towards lower temperatures.

In addition, it should of course be provided that, when the spring has reached its maximum elastic resistance, one or more stops must be provided in an appropriate manner to then transmit the stressing force directly to the structure. The resistance of these stops is then calculated according to the stresses to which the container risks being subjected.

Claims (11)

1. Container (1) for use, in particular, as a construction element, having a parallelepipedic shape with six faces, twelve edges and eight corners, and comprising assembled wall elements (21), the external surfaces of which form the faces of the container, first assembly means (49) which resist disassembly of the wall elements (21) of the container towards the inside of the container, second assembly means (2 to 14) which resist disassembly of the wall elements (21) towards the outside of the container, these second assembly means (2 to 14) comprising framing elements (18) which are arranged between the corners of the container, along the edges of the container, and means for rigidly connecting the framing elements converging at each corner to each other, characterized in that at least some of the said framing elements (18) comprise at least two parts (25, 26) which, in the assembled condition of the container, are displaceable with respect to one another in a direction parallel to the associated edge and which, in the assembled condition and at a predetermined temperature, are separated from each other by a predetermined axial distance (27), and at least one elastic element (34) connecting these two parts (25, 26) and acting on them with a tendency to bring them closer together in the above- mentioned direction.

2. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that each framing element (18) is an angle which surrounds an edge connecting to corners of the container.

3. Container according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the said means for rigidly connecting the framing elements (18) converging at each corner to each other are corner elements (19), known per se, permitting application of an external force to the container.

4. Container according to Claim 3, characterized in that the corner elements (19) are anchored in the wall elements (21), while the framing elements (18) are connected to the wall elements (21) solely or partially via the corner elements (19).

5. Container according to Claim 4, characterized in that each framing element (18), formed from two parts (25, 26) each associated with such a corner element (19), comprises an elastic element (34), the elastic force of which is sufficient to absorb any difference in the coefficient of expansion between different wall elements (21) and between wall elements (21) and framing elements (18).

6. Container according to Claim 3, characterized in that the corner elements (19) are connected solely to the framing elements (18).

7. Container according to Claim 6, characterized in that each framing element (18), formed from two parts (25, 26), each associated with such a corner element (19), comprises an elastic element (34), the elastic force of which is calculated to absorb any difference in the coefficient of expansion between different wall elements (21) and between wall elements (21) and framing elements (18) and any tensile force liable to be transmitted to the framing element (18) via the corner element (19).

8. Container according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the elastic element (34) comprises a prestressed spring which subjects the framing element parts (25, 26) with which it is associated to a tensile prestress.

9. Container according to one of Claims 3 to 8, characterized in that each of the two parts (25, 26) of the framing elements (18) provided with an elastic element (34) have the shape of an angle and are each connected in a fixed manner to a corner element (19), and in that the elastic element comprises a hollow cylinder (29) formed from two parts (30, 31), one of which (30) is connected integrally to the first angle part (25) and the other to the second angle part (26), these two cylinder parts (30, 31) being separated from each other by a distance (44) at least equal to that (27) which separates the two angle parts (25, 26), a stop (35) arranged inside the first cylinder part (30) in such a way as to permit reciprocal sliding between them and situated at a distance adjustable with respect to the second angle part (26), a stop (42) arranged inside the second cylinder part (3t) in such a way as to permit reciprocal sliding between them and connected in a fixed manner to the first cylinder part (25), and a prestressed spring (34) which is arranged between the two stops (35, 42) in such a way as to act on them with a tendency to space them apart, i.e. to bring two angle parts (25, 26) closer together.

10. Container according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the elastic element comprises a cord of elastic synthetic fibre.

11. Container according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the elastic element comprises a pressure cylinder.

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