GB2344317A - Mobile Accommodation - Google Patents

Abstract

Mobile accommodation is provided by a vehicle 1 having a plurality of accommodation sections 3 mounted in two groups 4a, 4b. An access door 5 is at the rear of the vehicle with washing facilities 7 provided at the front. The two groups 4a, 4b of accommodation sections 3 can be moved between a travelling position where they are in contact and a deployed position where they are separated to define a corridor 9 allowing movement between the accommodation sections 3, door 5 and washing facilities 7.

Description

Mobile Accommodation This invention relates to mobile accommodation and particularly to mobile accommodation mounted on a semi-trailer.

There is a general requirement for mobile accommodation. Such accommodation is required, for example, at short term sporting and cultural events such as Grand Prix races or pop concerts and by groups of workers operating in remote areas or itinerantly, such as film crews working on location. In general mobile accommodation is required in circumstances where the amount of accommodation available locally is insufficient to deal with the number of people temporary resident in the area and where the temporary inflow of population does not occur sufficiently often for the provision of fixed temporary accommodation to be economically viable.

It has been suggested that this requirement for mobile accommodation can be met by providing accommodation suitable for temporary occupation mounted on vehicles such as trailers.

A problem with mounting temporary accommodation on vehicles including trailers is that sleeping accommodation requires a relatively large volume for each person and as a result accommodation for only a small number of people can be provided in each vehicle or trailer. The maximum external dimensions of vehicles for normal road use are tightly set by the requirement for the vehicle to pass along the roads safely without collision with roadside structures and other vehicles and in most countries the maximum permitted dimensions, often referred to as the loading gauge, are strictly legally defined.

One proposed method of providing temporary accommodation on a trailer is disclosed in US Patent No. 4 759 582 in which it is proposed that a trailer should mount a number of accommodation units each comprising a moveable sleeping section just large enough to contain a bed arranged to be extendable telescopically sideways from the trailer. This telescoping movement clears an empty space which can then be used to provide a small amount of living space for changing etc. associated with a respective sleeping section to form an accommodation unit. Access to each accommodation unit is provided through a respective external door.

There are a number of disadvantages to such an arrangement. Firstly, the provision of separate external doors for every sleeping unit means that the degree of security against unauthorised access to the sleeping units is relatively low. Further, although washing facilities are provided on board the trailer it is necessary to leave the trailer to move between the accommodation units and the washing facilities. This is very inconvenient for users due to discomfort and lack of privacy, particularly in bad weather, and in practice makes it impossible to maintain an acceptable level of cleanliness and hygiene in the washing facilities or the accommodation units because of the continual foot traffic in and out of the trailer.

Another proposed method is disclosed in German Patent Publication No.

3315700 in which multiple banks of accommodation units, each formed by a cell containing a bed, are mounted on a trailer. The accommodation units are arranged in four separate banks disposed laterally across the trailer, each bank being several accommodation units high and several accommodation units long. When the accommodation units are to be set up for use the entire structure telescopically extends axially to place the accommodation units in a staggered arrangement and open out space to provide access corridors.

There are a number of problems with this system. The very large amount of telescopic movement required to move the banks of accommodation units into the staggered positions allowing access is very difficult to provide without unacceptably weakening the vehicle structure. Further, despite the very large amount of telescopic movement, in order to provide access to all of the accommodation units some space within the trailer must be used to provide access passages even when the trailer is in the closed up travelling state. As a result the trailer cannot devote the maximum possible amount of its internal space to accommodation units, reducing the number of persons who can be accommodated.

This invention was made in attempt to overcome these problems, at least in part.

In one aspect, this invention provides a vehicle mounted accommodation unit comprising a plurality of accommodation sections arranged in at least a first group and a second group, an access door allowing entry to and exit from the unit, and a facilities section, the first and second groups of accommodation sections being moveable between a first position in which an access corridor allowing access between the accommodation sections and the access door and facilities section is defined between the first and second groups and a second position in which the groups are closer together than in the first position.

The provision of an access corridor allowing access between the accommodation sections and the access door and facilities section allows the comfort, privacy, cleanliness and hygiene problems of the prior art to be eliminated because it is not necessary to leave the accommodation unit to move between the facilities and the accommodation sections. Further, the provision of an access corridor running between the two groups of accommodation sections allows the access corridor to be completely closed up when the vehicle is in travelling configuration. That is, no space needs to be allocated to the access corridor when the vehicle is in its travelling configuration.

A first embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a semi-trailer unit according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a cut away top plan view of the unit of Figure 1 with the roof removed with the unit it its deployed position and a tractor unit attached; Figure 3 shows a cross-section along the line A-A in Figure 1 with the unit in its deployed position; and Figure 4 shows a sectional view along the line A-A in Figure 1 when the unit is in its transit position, identical parts having the same reference numerals throughout.

Referring to the figures, a vehicle mounted mobile accommodation unit 1 mounted on a semi-trailer to form part of an articulated vehicle is shown. The tractor unit 2 making up the articulated vehicle together with the sem-trailer is shown in Figure 2.

The unit contains twelve accommodation sections 3, each comprising a small enclosed cell like structure containing a bed, a television and a small amount of storage space. The accommodation sections 3 are arranged into first and second groups 4a and 4b, each group being formed as a rigid structure containing six accommodation sections 3 arranged three long and two high with extemal walls on the exposed surfaces.

At the rear of the unit 1 an access door 5 allowing movement in and out of the unit 1 is provided. To allow easy movement in and out of unit 1 a fold down set of steps 6 is provided adjacent the door 5.

Towards the front of the unit 1 the overall depth of the forward section of the semi-trailer must be reduced because of the increased ground clearance required to allow the front of the semi-trailer to pass over and engage with the rear of the tractor unit 2.

As a result, the depth of the accommodation unit 1 in the forward section is insufficient to allow the first and second groups 4a and 4b to continue into this region.

Instead, this reduced depth forward region is used to provide a facilities section 7. In this example, the facilities section 7 includes two shower, toilet and washbasin units 7a each with an associated dry changing area 7b, a drinks and snacks preparation area 7c and a storage area 7d.

Each accommodation section 3 has an external window 8 and a lockable access door formed by a vertical roller shutter 10 comprising a number of linked slats and arranged to be rolled onto a roller 11 when operated allowing access to and from the interior of the accommodation unit 1.

The first and second groups 4a and 4b are mounted for sliding movement relative to one another and the chassis and main structure of the semi-trailer laterally towards and away from the centre line of the semi-trailer. This movement is controlled and driven by a system of hydraulic rams and linkages, which is not illustrated. The first and second groups 4a and 4b can move between a first deployed position shown in Figures 2 and 3 and a second travelling position shown in Figure 4.

When the first and second groups 4a and 4b are in the first, deployed position they are spaced apart to define an access corridor 9 between them running along the centre line of the semi-trailer. The access corridor 9 allows access between all of the accommodation cells 3 and the facilities section 7 and access door 5. When the first and second groups 4a and 4b are in this first position they project outwards beyond the sides of the semi-trailer and beyond the maximum acceptable vehicle width for road travel.

When the first and second groups 4a and 4b are in the second position the first and second groups 4a and 4b are in contact along the centre line of the unit 1 and the outer surfaces of the first and second groups 4a and 4b are flush with the sides of the semi-trailer.

The unit 1 is provided with a pair of hydraulically operated landing legs 12 near the front of the unit 1. Such landing legs are routinely provided on semi-trailers to allow them to free stand when disconnected from a tractor unit. A second pair of hydraulically operated landing legs 13 are provided at the rear corners of the unit 1. The use of two pairs of landing legs 12 and 13 allows firm contact with the ground to be made at four positions spaced around the unit 1 to securely hold the unit 1 in place and prevent the unit 1 rocking on its suspension when deployed. Such rocking can be uncomfortable and disconcerting for users.

The steps 6 can be hydraulically moved between a first deployed position in which they contact the ground and a second travel position where they are located vertically in front of the access door 5. A exterior door 14 is also provided at the rear of unit 1 hydraulically moveable between a first open position and a second closed position. In the open position the outer door 14 allows the stair 6 to deploy and allows entry and exit from the unit 1 through the access door 5. In the closed position the outer door 14 closes over the stairs 6 preventing dirt and water gathering on or around the stairs 6 and access door 5 when the vehicle is travelling. The outer door 14 is considerably wider than the access door 5 and is arranged to lie substantially horizontally in its open position so that the outer door 14 can form a porch or awning over the access door 5 and stairs 6 to shade and/or shelter them from the elements.

Each of the accommodation sections 3 forming the upper layers in groups 4a and 4b is provided with a respective ladder (not shown) for access.

The precise size, number and arrangement of accommodation sections 3 in each group can be varied depending upon the available vehicle size and the size desired for each accommodation unit 3. In general there is a trade off between the size of the individual accommodation units 3, which generally increases the comfort and acceptability of the accommodation and the amount which can be charged if the accommodation is rented out, and the number of persons which can be accommodated within the unit 1. The arrangement is shown in the preferred embodiment is believed to be the best compromise between accommodation section size and number of accommodation sections where the accommodation unit is formed on a semi-trailer and must fit within the legal loading gauges for EC countries. Other arrangements may be more appropriate for different vehicle types or where a different loading gauge applies, for example in the United States of America where the loading gauge is larger.

The illustrated embodiment is aimed at providing a relatively high degree of comfort for the user and so has a significant proportion of the accommodation unit 1 devoted to the facilities section 7. It would of course be possible to extend each of the first and second groups 4a and 4b to include a further accommodation section 3 extending forward from the existing pairs of stacked accommodation sections 3 if the size and facilities provided by the facilities section 7 were reduced.

In the described embodiment stairs are provided between the facilities section 7 and the access corridor 9 to allow for the change in height of the semi-trailer 4 and steps 6 are provided for access to the unit 1. It would of course be possible to provide ramps or lifts to allow easier access if desired.

The use of hydraulics to move the accommodation section groups 4a and 4b, landing legs 12 and 13, steps 6 and outer door 14 is preferred because once the various elements are in position the valves of the hydraulic system can be closed and the hydraulic system de-pressurised so that the hydraulic system itself will lock the various elements in place. However for safety reasons it is preferred to also provide further mechanical latching mechanisms where practical. The accommodation 1 includes battery packs (not illustrated) to operate the facilities in the facilities section 7 and lighting, heating, air-conditioning and television within the accommodation unit 1 when no tractor unit 2 is attached. Another reason why the use of hydraulic actuation is preferred is that this provides the additional safety feature that the various elements of the accommodation unit cannot be moved between their different positions when the tractor unit 2 is detached from the semi-trailer.

Access between the facilities section 7 including washing facilities and the accommodation section 3 can be carried out entirely within the accommodation unit 1 so the comfort, privacy, cleanliness and hygiene problems of the prior art are eliminated.

Further, the accommodation unit 1 has a single main external lockable access door 5 as well as internal lockable doors on the individual accommodation sections 3 allowing a relatively high degree of security and insulation against draughts, noise etc to be provided. Further, where users are travelling from place to place with the accommodation unit or to meet the accommodation unit valuables can be safely left within the accommodation unit 1 during travel because the accommodation sections 3 are completely inaccessible when the groups 4a and 4b are in their second, travelling, positions.

Preferably, skylights are provided along the centre line of the semi-trailer roof to allow natural light into the corridor section 9 when the groups 4a and 4b are in their second, deployed, position.

In the described embodiment the accommodation sections are divided into two groups and each group is a single rigid structure moved as a unit between its deployed and travelling positions. This is preferred as being the simplest arrangement. However, it would be possible to have the accommodation sections arranged into a larger number of groups so that several groups are arranged on each side of the unit or it would even be possible for each separate accommodation section to be moved individually. Although this would be possible it would normally be more complex and expensive than the described embodiment having only two groups.

It is not essential that the two groups move symmetrically to provide the access corridor, that the accommodation sections all be of the same size or that the access corridor run along the vehicle centre line although all of these features are convenient.

In particular it is envisaged that an accommodation unit could be formed having a group of single occupancy accommodation sections on one side and a group of larger double occupancy accommodation sections on the other side, the two groups being moved by an equal amount between the travel and deployed positions but the access corridor in the deployed position not running along the centre line of the vehicle because of the different sizes of the accommodation units in the two groups.

In the described embodiment the accommodation unit is mounted on a semitrailer. It will be realised by the person skilled in the art that similar accommodation units can be mounted on any convenient type of vehicle including trailers and rigid bodied trucks.

It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the above description is only exemplary and numerus changes could be made to the embodiment described.

Claims (10)

1. Claims: 1. A vehicle mounted accommodation unit comprising a plurality of accommodation sections arranged in at least a first group and a second group, an access door allowing entry to and exit from the unit, and a facilities section, the first and second groups of accommodation sections being moveable between a first position in which an access corridor allowing access between the accommodation sections and the access door and facilities section is defined between the first and second groups and a second position in which the groups are closer together than in the first position.
2. 2. A unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the groups are in contact in the second position.
3. 3. A unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the unit is mounted on a semitrailer.
4. 4. A unit as claimed in claim 3, in which the unit has at least four extendable landing legs to secure the unit when the groups are in their first positions.
5. 5. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each accommodation section has a lockable door controlling entry to the accommodation section from the access corridor.
6. 6. A unit as claimed in claim 5, in which said lockable doors are rollers shutters each formed by a plurality of linked slats.
7. 7. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the facilities section includes a lavatory and a shower.
8. 8. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the groups are moved between their first and second positions by hydraulic actuators.
9. 9. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the access corridor runs along a centre line of the vehicle.
10. 10. A vehicle mounted mobile accommodation unit substantially as shown in or as described with reference to the accompanying figures.