EP1898012A2

EP1898012A2 - Operating variable-volume and extensible-wall construction to be transported and used as a field hospital, transmission center, observation post, control room and the like

Info

Publication number: EP1898012A2
Application number: EP07017731A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matteo Oldani
Original assignee: Omar Technology Srl
Current assignee: Omar Technology Srl
Priority date: 2006-09-11
Filing date: 2007-09-11
Publication date: 2008-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-11
Also published as: ITMI20061730A1; EP1898012A3; EP1898012B1

Abstract

An operating variable-volume and extensible-wall construction to be transported and used as a field hospital, transmission center, observation post, control room and the like, characterized in that said construction comprises a central body, having a size corresponding to that of a standard container, and two withdrawable side bodies, adapted to define a withdrawn position, where said lateral bodies are substantially included in the central body, and an extended or projecting position where said side bodies are withdrawn from said central body, thereby defining a single extended body, said construction further comprises swinging and telescopic raising means, for raising the construction from the ground.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an operating variable-volume and extensible-wall construction to be transported and used as a field hospital, transmission center, observation post, control room and the like.
Transportable constructions, to be installed at remote places, to build an operating center, typically a field or clearing hospital, are already known.
In general, with respect to the above mentioned field or clearing hospitals, prior constructions usually comprise a plurality of components which must be assembled "in situ", to provide an operating unit.
It should be apparent that the transportation and assembling of the components involves a high time consume as well as a large power use, with a great delay in starting the operation of the assembled unit.
For a field of hospital, this is a great drawback.
Another drawback of prior transportable constructions is that, upon installing said constructions, they do not provide an insulation adapted to assure the required aseptic characteristics which are indispensable for a hospital construction.
Yet another important requirement of the above mentioned constructions is that they may be easily transported on wheeled transporting means and airplanes, to be used in remote regions where, for obvious reasons, conventional communication vias or routes are frequently interrupted.
Yet another problem which must be frequently adverted affected for installing movable operating centers, is that related to an uneven or rough ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a transportable operating construction, typically designed for military and civil applications, in particular for a field or clearing hospital, operatory rooms, intensive therapy rooms, transmission centers, observation posts, control rooms and so on, adapted to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks affecting like prior constructions.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such an operating construction which, in a transport condition thereof, has the same size as that a standard shipment container.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a construction which, in an operating condition thereof, provides a large inner useful surface and a minimum height of 2 m.
Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide such an operating construction meeting the main rules related to constructions to be used for hospital applications.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an operating variable-volume and extensible-wall construction to be transported and used as a field hospital, transmission center, observation post, control room and the like, characterized in that said construction comprises a central body, having a size corresponding to that of a standard shipment container, and two withdrawable side bodies, adapted to define a withdrawn position, where said side bodies are substantially included in the central body, and an extended or projecting position where said side bodies are withdrawn from said central body, thereby defining a single extended body, said construction further comprising swinging and telescopic raising means, for raising the construction from the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the transportable operating construction according to the present invention, being shown in a transport or shipment condition thereof;
Figure 2 is a further front elevation view, similar to figure 1, but showing the subject construction in an extended operating condition thereof;
Figure 3 is yet another front elevation view, similar to the preceding figures, but showing the subject construction with its swinging or tilting and telescopic means at a raising withdrawn position thereof;
Figure 4 is yet another front elevation view, similar to figures 1 and 2, but showing the subject construction with its tilting and telescopic means at a withdrawn and raising position, where said construction is raised from the ground:
Figure 5 is a three quarter perspective view showing the construction according to the present invention in the raised condition thereof;
and
Figure 6 is yet another three quarter perspective view of the subject construction in a raised position, like that of the preceding figure, but showing a loading operation for loading said construction on an ACP.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the transportable operating construction, to be used as an operating variable-volume and extensible-wall construction to be transported and used as a field hospital, transmission center, observation post, control room and the like, according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a central body 2, having a size like that of a standard shipment container, for example of an ISO 1 C type, including two withdrawable side bodies 3 and 4, adapted to define a inner space insulated from the outside environment.
Said inner space may have, with the side bodies in a fully extended condition, a walking on surface of 31 m², and a minimum height of 2 meters.
The access to the inner space of the construction is assured by at least two access doors 5.
According to the present invention, the subject construction comprises moreover tilting and telescopic raising means generally indicated by the reference number 6, designed for raising said construction.
Said tilting and telescopic raising means 6 comprises four units, one for each corner of the construction, and each including a raising piston 7, having a piston rod 8 comprising a support foot element 9.
The raising piston 7 is associated with the central body 2 by an articulated parallelogram frame, driven by a hydraulic jack 10, thereby each raising unit 6 is adapted to have a withdrawn position, as is shown in figures 1 and 2, where said raising unit is included in the container shape, and an extended position, where the raising piston is spaced by the container and bears on the ground, as is shown figure 3.
In this extended position, it is possible to drive the raising piston for extending the piston rod 8, thereby causing the other overall construction to be raised, as shown in figures 4 to 6.
In such a raised position, it is possible to load the container on a truck 11, as is shown in figure 6.
A main feature of the construction according to the present invention is that the construction provides a large operating inner space, while allowing, as the construction is transported, to meet the measurements or size established by the highway code.
Moreover, the inner configuration of the subject construction allows to house therein fittings and equipments, suitable for the intended use, and which may be of a commercially available type.
The construction according to the present invention, moreover, can be transported by trucks having transport platforms, or container bearing trucks, with APS, on trains or C130 aircrafts and the like.
In making the structure according to the present invention, all requirements and rules related to hospital rooms have been met.
Moreover, the used materials are the same as those used for making shelters, which have been already extensively tested and approved, thereby providing a high quality and reliable product meeting all the law requirements.
Moreover, the construction according to the present invention can be installed on any desired ground and, in its operation condition, does not require bottom additional supporting elements.
During the transport operation, all the medical and bearing apparatus included in the construction, as well as auxiliary apparatus therefor remain housed and clamped inside the construction.
Moreover, the construction further comprises an oil-pressure or hydraulic system, as well as hydraulic jacks allowing a single operator to perform, from a remote telecontrol panel, the withdrawing and closing of the side bodies, loading and unloading of the container from transport trucks, even on uneven and unprepared grounds, without the need of auxiliary means such as cranes, elevator carriages, loading bridges, and so on.
The oleodynamic system, in particular comprises a hydraulic center which is power supplied by a 24 volt battery, or from a 220 volts main.
The construction according to the present invention can be specifically made and used in several applications, in particular as a two-bed operating room, an intensive therapy 3/5 bedroom or an infective patient 3/6 bedroom.
Thus, the construction can be made and specifically designed upon a specific demand, depending on the use to which it can be designed.
It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

Claims

An operating variable-volume and extensible-wall construction to be transported and used as a field hospital, transmission center, observation post, control room and the like, characterized in that said construction comprises a central body, having a size corresponding to that of a standard shipment container, and two withdrawable side bodies, adapted to define a withdrawn position, where said side bodies are substantially included in the central body, and an extended or projecting position where said side bodies are withdrawn from said central body, thereby defining a single extended body, said construction further comprising swinging and telescopic raising means, for raising the construction from the ground.
An operating transportable construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said central body has a size of a standard shipment container of an ISO 1 C type.
An operating transportable construction, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, with the two side bodies in are withdrawn position said construction define an inner walking-on surface of 31 m² and a minimum height of 2 meters.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said construction comprises at least two access doors for allowing the inner space of said construction to be accessed.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tilting and telescopic means comprise four units, one for each corner of said construction, said four units including each a rising piston having a piston rod provided with a piston rod supporting foot.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said raising piston rod is coupled to said central body through an articulated parallelogram coupling frame driven by a hydraulic jack, thereby each said raising unit comprises a withdrawn position, where said rising unit is included in said container, and an extended position, where said rising piston rod is spaced from said container and bears on the ground.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in said extended position, said rising piston rod can be operated to be extended, thereby rising said construction.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in a raised position of said construction, said shipment container can be loaded on a transport truck.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in a closed transport or shipment condition of said construction, said construction meets the size requirements as established by the highway code.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said construction has an inner configuration adapted to allow said construction to receive therein furniture pieces and equipments, specifically designed for the intended use, and even of a conventionally commercially available type.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said construction can be transported on transport trucks having a supporting platform, with a container bearing structure, with APS, on trains and on C130 aircrafts.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said construction is designed for meeting all the enforcing rules related to hospital rooms.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said construction can be arranged on any ground, and, in an operating condition, with the construction walls being extended, said construction does not require bottom supporting elements.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, as said construction is transported, all the medical apparatus included therein and the auxiliary apparatus therefor, remain housed and clamped inside said construction.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said construction further comprises a hydraulic system and hydraulic jacks, allowing a single operator to perform, through a telecontrol panel, the withdrawing and closing of said side bodies, loading and unloading of said container from the bearing vehicles, even on uneven and unprepared ground, without the need of using auxiliary means such as cranes, elevator carriages, loading bridges, and so on.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hydraulic system of said construction comprises an electrohydraulic central unit which is power supplied from 24 volt batteries or from a mains 220v current.
An operating transportable construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said construction is designed and fitted to several uses in particular as a two-bed operating room, an intensive therapy 3/5 bedroom, an infective patient 3/6 rooms.