U.S. patent application number 12/544909 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for mobile container module for military and/or humanitarian field operations.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kaercher Futuretech GmbH. Invention is credited to Markus Kostron, Hans-Joachim Toepfer.
Application Number | 20100044369 12/544909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39372672 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100044369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Toepfer; Hans-Joachim ; et
al. |
February 25, 2010 |
MOBILE CONTAINER MODULE FOR MILITARY AND/OR HUMANITARIAN FIELD
OPERATIONS
Abstract
A container module for military and/or humanitarian field
operations has a floor, a roof cover and side walls which, at least
in the transport state, form a substantially closed, preferably
cuboid container housing. A number of technical devices are
permanently installed in the container housing and determine the
functional scope of the container module. The container housing is
permanently mounted on a load-bearing transport plate.
Inventors: |
Toepfer; Hans-Joachim;
(Backnang, DE) ; Kostron; Markus; (Remseck,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLARQUIST SPARKMAN, LLP
121 SW SALMON STREET, SUITE 1600
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Assignee: |
Kaercher Futuretech GmbH
|
Family ID: |
39372672 |
Appl. No.: |
12/544909 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2008/001027 |
Feb 11, 2008 |
|
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|
12544909 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/1.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 3/14 20130101; E04H
2001/1283 20130101; E04H 1/1277 20130101; B60P 3/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/1.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 88/00 20060101
B65D088/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 21, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 009 393.6 |
Claims
1. A mobile container module for decontamination of people or items
of personal equipment in field conditions, the container module
having a predefined functional scope, a deployed state for
decontamination and a transport state for transport, the container
module comprising a floor, a roof cover and side walls defining a
substantially closed container housing in the transport state, a
number of technical devices configured to allow the decontamination
of people or items of personal equipment, the technical devices
determining the functional scope, and a load-bearing transport
plate on which the container housing is permanently installed, the
load-bearing transport plate being configured to be secured in
helicopters or other transport aircraft, wherein the majority of
the technical devices is spatially grouped together and permanently
installed in the container housing.
2. The mobile container module of claim 1, wherein the transport
plate is a standard pallet designed for loading and securing loose
items of equipment in helicopters or other transport aircraft.
3. The mobile container module of claim 1, wherein the container
housing is moveably mounted on the transport plate in a manner to
allow a longitudinal movement along at least one longitudinal
direction.
4. The mobile container module of claim 1, wherein the transport
plate has an upper face designed to support the container housing,
and at least two guide rails arranged on the upper face and running
parallel to one another, with the floor being attached to the guide
rails.
5. The mobile container module of claim 4, wherein the floor
comprises sliding blocks arranged to engage in the guide rails.
6. The mobile container module of claim 1, wherein the transport
plate is longer than the floor in at least one longitudinal
direction.
7. The mobile container module of claim 1, further comprising at
least one intermediate wall, which subdivides the container housing
into a first subarea and a separate second subarea, with the
majority of the technical devices being installed in the separate
second subarea.
8. The mobile container module of claim 7, wherein the at least one
intermediate wall includes a vertical wall section, such that the
first and the second subareas are arranged at least partially
alongside one another on the transport plate.
9. The mobile container module according to claim 7, further
comprising at least two shower trays, at least one of which forms
the roof cover in the transport state.
10. The mobile container module of claim 9, further comprising at
least one lamellar curtain, by means of which the at least two
shower trays can be selectively separated.
11. The mobile container module of claim 7, further comprising a
tent which, in the transport state, is accommodated in the first
subarea.
12. The mobile container module of claim 7, further comprising a
first water tank which is arranged largely over the entire
floor.
13. The mobile container module of claim 7, further comprising at
least one second, foldable water tank, which is arranged in the
first subarea.
14. The mobile container module of claim 13, further comprising
insulation walls configured to be detachably plugged together in
order to form a tank housing surrounding the second water tank, and
comprising an air heater designed to heat the internal area with
warm air.
15. The mobile container module of claim 1, wherein the technical
devices comprise at least one of the following devices: heater for
heating fresh water, heater for heating air, air-conditioning unit,
generator for electricity generation and/or electrical power
conversion.
16. A mobile container module for military and/or humanitarian
field operations, the container module having a predefined
functional scope, a deployed state for carrying out the field
operations, and a transport state for transport, the container
module comprising a floor, a roof cover and side walls defining a
substantially closed container housing in the transport state, a
number of technical devices configured to enable the field
operations, the technical devices determining the functional scope,
and a load-bearing transport plate on which the container housing
is permanently installed, the load-bearing transport plate being a
pallet designed for loading and securing loose items of equipment
in helicopters or other transport aircraft, wherein the majority of
the technical devices is grouped together and permanently installed
in the container housing, and wherein the container housing is
moveably mounted on the transport plate in a manner to allow a
longitudinal movement along at least one longitudinal
direction.
17. A mobile container system for military and/or humanitarian
field operations, comprising a first and a second container module,
with each container module having a floor, a roof cover and side
walls, which, at least in a transport state, form a substantially
closed container housing, with each container module having a
number of technical devices required for carrying out the field
operations, with the majority of the technical devices being
grouped together and permanently installed in the container
housing, and with each container module having a load-bearing
transport plate on which the container housing is permanently
mounted.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of international patent
application PCT/EP2008/001027 filed on Feb. 11, 2008, designating
the U.S., which international patent application has been published
in German language and claims priority from German patent
application DE 10 2007 009 393.6 filed on Feb. 21, 2007. The entire
contents of these prior applications are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This application relates to a mobile container module for
military and/or humanitarian field operations, and more
particularly to a mobile container module for decontamination of
people or items of personal equipment in field conditions. This
application also relates to a mobile container system for military
and/or humanitarian field operations comprising a first and a
second container module.
[0003] DE 103 45 351 A1 discloses a container module and a
container system for decontamination of people and objects. The
system comprises three containers which each form a decontamination
module. By way of example, installations and devices allowing
personnel decontamination are accommodated in a first container.
Installations and devices allowing decontamination of clothing and
items of personal equipment are accommodated in a second container.
One particular aspect of this container-based decontamination
system is that the individual decontamination modules in the
corresponding containers each are equipped such that they can be
operated independently such that, for example, personnel
decontamination can be carried out at a different location than the
decontamination of clothing and items of personal equipment, or the
decontamination of large items of equipment. A further feature of
the known decontamination system is that the individual containers
can be detachably coupled to form one overall container.
[0004] The known decontamination system has been developed with the
goal of allowing full range operation for decontamination of people
and any kind of objects in military and/or humanitarian
applications. For this reason, although the known decontamination
system can in principle be loaded and transported, it is not
suitable for rapid-reaction and highly mobile operational forces,
who in general are deployed to their operational site by
helicopters.
[0005] DE 34 32 282 A1 discloses a mobile decontamination system
which, in the transport state, includes two large containers, one
of which is transported on a transport vehicle, and the second is
transported on a trailer. The transport vehicle also has an
integrated folding tank in order to allow water transport once the
first large container has been deployed. Overall, this known
decontamination system is also designed for extensive
decontamination tasks. Its air transportability and its suitability
for rapid-reaction, highly mobile operational forces are
limited.
[0006] DE 198 21 042 A1 discloses a decontamination system for
decontamination of people and objects, wherein a first module
contains the major technical devices for fresh-water supply,
waste-water disposal, fuel supply and electrical power supply.
Further container modules can be connected to this first module via
supply and disposal lines, with the further container modules
having separate installations for personnel and device
decontamination. Once again, this is a system which is designed for
extensive decontamination tasks. Its suitability for
rapid-reaction, highly mobile operational forces is likewise
limited.
[0007] The company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG, 80997
Munich, Germany offers a transport vehicle for highly mobile
operations under the brand name MUNGO. This vehicle can be
transported in CH53 type helicopters and can thus be transported
rapidly and flexibly. A so-called Variant 2 of the MUNGO transport
vehicle has an integrated lifting system, in order to allow it to
lift loads by itself. These loads may either be containers in which
mobile command stations are accommodated, or material and equipment
items which are arranged on a special transport platform and are
lashed with the aid of baggage nets, holding straps or the like.
The MUNGO transport vehicle with the integrated lifting system and
the transport platform is described in more detail in the 2006
pamphlet of the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Company.
[0008] The container-based decontamination systems which have been
known until now are too large and too heavy for transport using the
MUNGO or similar transport vehicles. They are also not suitable for
air transport using CH53 type helicopters.
SUMMARY
[0009] It is therefore advantageous to provide a container module
having technical devices, in particular for decontamination of
people or items of personal equipment, which container module is
sufficiently light in weight and compact so that it is suitable for
air transport in CH53 type helicopters and for land transport on
MUNGO type transport vehicles. Furthermore, the new container
module is intended to allow flexible and largely autonomous use in
field conditions, as well as rapid deployment and rapid setting up
of the technical devices at the operational site.
[0010] According to one aspect, there is provided a mobile
container module for decontamination of people or items of personal
equipment in field conditions, the container module having a
predefined functional scope, a deployed state for decontamination
and a transport state for transport, the container module
comprising a floor, a roof cover and side walls defining a
substantially closed container housing in the transport state, a
number of technical devices configured to allow the decontamination
of people or items of personal equipment, the technical devices
determining the functional scope, and a load-bearing transport
plate on which the container housing is permanently installed, the
load-bearing transport plate being configured to be secured in
helicopters or other transport aircraft, wherein the majority of
the technical devices is spatially grouped together and permanently
installed in the container housing.
[0011] According to another aspect, there is provided a mobile
container module for military and/or humanitarian field operations,
the container module having a predefined functional scope, a
deployed state for carrying out the field operations, and a
transport state for transport, the container module comprising a
floor, a roof cover and side walls defining a substantially closed
container housing in the transport state, a number of technical
devices configured to enable the field operations, the technical
devices determining the functional scope, and a load-bearing
transport plate on which the container housing is permanently
installed, the load-bearing transport plate being a pallet designed
for loading and securing loose items of equipment in helicopters or
other transport aircraft, wherein the majority of the technical
devices is grouped together and permanently installed in the
container housing, and wherein the container housing is moveably
mounted on the transport plate in a manner to allow a longitudinal
movement along at least one longitudinal direction.
[0012] According to yet another aspect, there is provided a mobile
container system for military and/or humanitarian field operations,
comprising a first and a second container module, with each
container module having a floor, a roof cover and side walls,
which, at least in a transport state, form a substantially closed
container housing, with each container module having a number of
technical devices required for carrying out the field operations,
with the majority of the technical devices being grouped together
and permanently installed in the container housing, and with each
container module having a load-bearing transport plate on which the
container housing is permanently mounted
[0013] In the new container module, the closed container housing is
permanently mounted on a separate transport plate despite having
its own floor. In this context, permanently means that the mounting
is designed such that the container housing is not intended and
does not need to be removed from the transport plate even when the
container module is being used in the field. The container module
is preferably attached permanently, but nevertheless detachably, to
the transport plate, for example by being tightly screwed. The use
of a load-bearing transport plate makes it possible to make the
housing walls of the container housing thinner and lighter in
weight than in the case of known container concepts, because the
housing walls do not need to absorb any heavy supporting loads, in
contrast to known container concepts. In other words, the transport
plate is configured to absorb the whole weight of the container
module including the technical devices, while the container housing
itself is not capable of absorbing the whole weight in preferred
embodiments. In contrast to the present invention, the housing
walls in the case of the container modules from DE 103 45 351 A1
are, for example, designed to absorb the entire supporting load of
the container module, such that the container module can be lifted
by a crane or some other lifting tool on the container housing
itself. The reduction in the overall weight of the housing walls
allows a higher payload, and accordingly a higher performance of
the technical devices.
[0014] In order to further reduce weight, one could have considered
to omit the floor of the container housing, such that the technical
devices and further items of equipment would be mounted directly on
the transport plate. However, such a solution would be more
expensive and less flexible, because the transport plate in the
preferred implementation can easily be replaced without having to
change the technical configuration of the rest of the container
module. When the transport plate is detachably attached to the
container housing, the container module can even be interchanged
depending on the operational purpose.
[0015] Overall, the new combination of a separate load-bearing
transport plate and an intrinsically closed container housing with
integrated, permanently installed devices makes it possible to
provide mobile container modules which are ideally suited for air
transportation. Furthermore, the permanently installed technical
devices allow rapid deployment and setting up of the container
module. Therefore, the above object has been completely
achieved.
[0016] In a particularly preferred refinement, the transport plate
is a pallet which is designed to load loose items of equipment
and/or luggage into helicopters or other aircraft and to secure
them.
[0017] The advantage of this refinement is that the transport plate
already forms a standardized interface for air loading and air
transport. The new container module can therefore be integrated
particularly easily in existing procedures for air transport,
without any need for additional securing measures.
[0018] In a further refinement, the container housing is mounted on
the transport plate such that it can move in at least one
longitudinal direction.
[0019] In the new container module, the permanently installed
technical devices form an at least largely cohesive engineering
area within the container housing. The engineering area is, so to
speak, the "heart" of the container module and determines its
functional scope. The technical devices make up a considerable
proportion of the overall weight of the container module. Since the
container module is mounted on the transport plate such that it can
move in at least one longitudinal direction, the center of gravity
position can be easily changed, thereby considerably simplifying
handling and transport of the container module. This is
particularly true when the container module contains tanks for
holding liquid substances, because, in these situations, the center
of gravity may vary depending on how full the tanks are. The
capability to change the center of gravity position by movement of
the housing is particularly advantageous with regard to the desired
air transportability, but also when lifting the container module on
the ground.
[0020] In a further refinement, the transport plate has at least
two guide rails on its upper face, which guide rails run parallel
to one another, with the floor being attached to the guide
rails.
[0021] As an alternative to this, such guide rails could also be
arranged on the floor of the container housing, or the container
housing could in principle be attached to the transport plate
without any guide rails at all, for example by means of local
plug-in or screw connections. In contrast, the use of guide rails
on the transport plate provides a highly cost-effective and a
flexible implementation. During fitting, the container housing can
easily be attached to and aligned with the transport plate.
[0022] In a further refinement, sliding blocks are arranged on the
lower face of the floor and engage in the guide rails.
[0023] As an alternative to this, clamps or other gripping means
could be arranged on the lower face of the floor, clasping the
guide rails of the transport plate from the outside. In contrast,
the preferred refinement has the advantage that cavities on the
guide rails of the transport plate can be cleaned more easily than
cavities on the lower face of the container module. The preferred
refinement therefore simplifies fitting and variation of the
longitudinal position of the container housing on the transport
plate.
[0024] In a further refinement, the transport plate is longer than
the floor of the container housing in at least one longitudinal
direction. The transport plate is preferably longer than the
housing floor in the longitudinal direction, in which the container
housing can be moved on the transport plate. It is also preferable
for the transport plate to have approximately the same length as
the housing floor in the other longitudinal direction.
[0025] This refinement ensures stable mounting of the container
housing on the transport plate, even when the container housing has
been moved in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the housing
floor is better protected against becoming dirty in the area of the
attachment points. Dirt such as this can occur in particular when
the new container module is being used in the field.
[0026] In a further refinement, the container module has at least
one intermediate wall, which subdivides the container housing into
a first and a separate second subarea, with the majority of the
technical devices being installed in the separate second
subarea.
[0027] In this refinement, the container module has, so to speak, a
lower housing for the technical area. The technical devices are
therefore better protected against influences and damage. This
refinement therefore contributes to ensuring robust operation in
operational conditions.
[0028] In a further refinement, the at least one intermediate wall
includes a vertical wall section, such that the first and the
second subarea are arranged at least partially alongside one
another on the transport plate.
[0029] In this refinement, the separate engineering area is
arranged only over a part of the overall area of the transport
plate. This is, prima facie, not a good idea when the goal is to
achieve a center of gravity position which is as central as
possible. This refinement, however, simplifies rapid deployment and
setting up of the container module at the operational site.
[0030] In a further refinement, the container module has at least
two shower trays, at least one of which forms the roof cover in the
transport state.
[0031] In this refinement, the container module is preferably
designed for decontamination of people and/or as a sanitary module.
In contrast to known container modules of this type, the shower
trays, however, are not arranged, or at least are not all arranged,
on the floor of the container housing in this case. In fact, at
least one of the shower trays forms the roof cover or at least a
part of it. This refinement has the advantage that a relatively
large shower area can be made available even when the base area of
the container module is very small. This refinement of the
container module therefore allows a high personnel throughput rate,
even if the module has only a small base area.
[0032] In a further refinement, the container module has at least
one lamellar curtain, by means of which the at least two shower
trays can be selectively separated.
[0033] This refinement is particularly advantageous in order to
provide a plurality of intimate hygiene areas on the one hand and
to allow a large shower area on the other hand in order, for
example, to make it possible to shower casualties while lying
down.
[0034] In a further refinement, the container module comprises a
tent, which, in the transport state, is accommodated in the first
subarea. The tent is preferably at least partially inflatable, with
the tent unfolding automatically as it inflates. Furthermore, in
preferred refinements relating to its size and subdivision, the
tent is designed to surround the shower tray and additional drying
and dressing areas.
[0035] The combination of containers and attached tents has also
already been used for decontamination and sanitary modules
according to the prior art. However, typically, the tent has been
used only as a type of entrance tent, that is to say the actual
shower process took place in the container module itself. In the
present case, the shower process takes place in the tent, which has
the advantage that a large and convenient shower area can be
accommodated on a small transport area. An inflatable tent
furthermore contributes to minimizing the times required to set up
the container module. The accommodation of the tent within the
first subarea has the advantage that the technical devices are well
protected against damage during packing and transportation of the
tent.
[0036] In a further refinement, the container module has a (first)
water tank, which is arranged largely over the entire area on the
floor.
[0037] In preferred exemplary embodiments, the tank is arranged
under both subareas of the container housing. The advantage of this
refinement is that the center of gravity of the container module is
largely constant, and is relatively low, irrespective of the
filling in the water tank.
[0038] In a further refinement, the container module has a (second)
foldable water tank, which is arranged only in the first
subarea.
[0039] This refinement is advantageous when the water tank is
intended to be designed to hold very large amounts of liquids, for
example when the container module is intended to be used, inter
alia, for water transport.
[0040] In a further refinement, the container module has insulation
walls configured to be detachably plugged together in order to form
an internal area in which the second water tank is arranged, and
the container module further comprises an air heater designed to
heat the internal area with warm air.
[0041] This refinement is particularly preferable for a container
module which, inter alia, is intended to be used for transporting
large amounts of water. The insulation walls which can be plugged
together make it possible to provide thermally insulated storage
volumes, which can be disassembled for transport purposes. Air
heating in combination with the insulation walls plugged together
is a highly efficient way to prevent water from freezing during
transportation or storage.
[0042] In a further refinement, the technical devices include at
least one of the following devices: heater for heating fresh water,
heater for heating air, air-conditioning unit, generator for
electricity generation and/or electrical power conversion. The
technical devices preferably also include pumps, valves, filters,
batteries and/or a fuel tank.
[0043] Technical devices such as these make it possible to provide
demanding supply and support services. However, they result in
stringent requirements with regard to the desired air
transportability of the new container module. Conversely, the
advantages of the new container module described above have a
particularly advantageous effect when one or more of the
abovementioned technical devices is permanently installed in the
container module.
[0044] It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and
those to be explained below can be used not only in the
respectively stated combination but also in other combinations or
on their own without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] Exemplary embodiments will be explained in more detail in
the following description, and are illustrated in the drawing, in
which:
[0046] FIG. 1 shows a mobile container system having two container
modules and a transport vehicle with a trailer, according to a
preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention,
[0047] FIG. 2 shows the container system of FIG. 1 in an
operational state,
[0048] FIG. 3 shows the container system of FIG. 2 in another
operational state,
[0049] FIG. 4 shows a simplified illustration of a container
module, according to an exemplary embodiment, in the form of a
partially sectioned view from above,
[0050] FIG. 5 shows the container module of FIG. 4, in a partially
sectioned side view,
[0051] FIG. 6 shows a detail of the container module of FIG. 5,
and
[0052] FIG. 7 shows the container module of FIG. 5 in a preferred
transport state.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0053] In FIG. 1, a container system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention is designated by reference number 10 in
its entirety.
[0054] In this case, the container system 10 has two container
modules 12, 14 which, together, provide a decontamination system
for decontamination of people and decontamination of items of
personal equipment. The term "decontamination" is a specialist term
which refers to systematically removing and/or rendering safe
radioactive, biological or chemical substances which, without such
measures, represent a risk to people's health or even life.
Substances such as these may be the consequence of military uses of
radioactive, biological or chemical weapons, or else the
consequence of corresponding terror attacks. Furthermore,
substances such as these may also lead to contamination of people
or objects as a consequence of civil accidents, for example an
accident in a chemical factory or in a nuclear power station.
Decontamination measures include nuclear decontamination
(A-decontamination), biological decontamination (B-decontamination)
and detoxification (C-decontamination), with different
decontamination agents and methods being used depending on the
nature of the decontamination.
[0055] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the container
module 12 is a module which allows autonomous decontamination of
people in operational conditions. The container module 14 allows
autonomous decontamination of items of personal equipment.
Together, the container modules 12, 14 form an air-transportable
decontamination system for high mobility operational forces.
However, the invention is not just restricted to an exemplary
embodiment such as this. In principle, the new container modules
can also be used as modules for drinking-water preparation and/or
waste-water treatment, as kitchen modules, as sanitary modules
(with toilets and/or washbasins), as decontamination modules for
temperature-sensitive special equipment, or as power supply modules
for encampments.
[0056] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the container
module 14 is arranged on a transport vehicle 16, and the container
module 12 is arranged on a trailer 18 which is towed by the
transport vehicle 16. In one preferred embodiment, the transport
vehicle 16 is a MUNGO 2 type vehicle from the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
Company.
[0057] The container module 14 has two submodules 20, 22. Submodule
20 is used for water transport (as will be explained further
below). Submodule 22 is used for decontamination of items of
personal equipment.
[0058] In case shown, the transport vehicle 16 has an integrated
lifting system 24, by means of which container modules 12, 14 can
be loaded onto and unloaded from the transport vehicle 16 and the
trailer 18. In preferred exemplary embodiments, this is achieved by
the lifting system 24 picking up the container modules 12, 14 on a
transport plate 26, on which the container modules 12, 14 are
mounted.
[0059] Each container module 12, 14 has a floor 28 (FIG. 6), a roof
cover 30 and side walls 32 which together form a container housing.
In the preferred exemplary embodiments, the container housing is
cuboid and is substantially closed. Within the container housing,
the container modules 12, 14 may have intermediate walls 34 which
are used in particular to separate an engineering area 36, 38 from
a further subarea 40 within the container module 12, 14 (FIG.
2).
[0060] For example, FIG. 2 shows that the submodule 20 in the
second subarea 40 has a folding tank 42 which is used to transport
water. For this reason, after deployment of the overall system,
submodule 20 can optionally be arranged on the trailer 18 or on the
transport vehicle 16, as is illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0061] In the container module 12, an intermediate wall 34 is used
to separate the engineering area 36 from a material area in which,
in particular, a tent 44 and material for a total of three shower
stations can be accommodated.
[0062] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the container module 12 has a
total of three shower trays 46, 48, 50. Shower trays 46, 48, 50 are
designed such that they form the roof cover 30 when the container
module 12 is being transported. They can be plugged together and
then partially project beyond the transport plate. Furthermore, the
container module 12 includes a supporting frame which can be
constructed above the shower trays 46, 48, 50 in order to form
individual shower cabins and individual associated areas for
drying. Lamellar curtains 54, by means of which the individual
shower cabins can be separated from one another, are arranged (FIG.
3) on the supporting frame 52. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the
lamellar curtains can be pulled up and/or detached in order to form
one combined, large shower area which, in particular, can be used
for showering casualties who are lying down.
[0063] In order to allow autonomous operation, the container module
12 has an integrated water tank 56, which is arranged on the floor
of the container module 12 and extends over virtually the entire
base area of the container module 12.
[0064] All the essentially technical devices required for showering
people in field conditions are accommodated in the engineering area
36. This includes a thermoelectrical energy module with a generator
for electricity generation, a pump and a heater for heating the
shower water, a space heater for heating air which is blown into
the area 44, and an air-conditioning unit in order, if required, to
also blow cool air into the tent 44. In one preferred exemplary
embodiment, water tank 56 has a capacity of 500 liters, and the
pump feed rate is 15 liters per minute.
[0065] In the preferred exemplary embodiment, the tent 44 has two
round arcs 58, 60, which can each be inflated by means of a fan
from the engineering area 36, in order to unfold the tent.
[0066] Submodule 22 contains a chamber 64 for decontamination of
items of personal equipment by means of hot gas and/or hot vapor.
The walls of chamber 64 can at least partially be removed in order
to stow the chamber 64 in a small volume in the submodule 22. A
burner to produce the hot gas and/or hot vapor as well as a fan for
circulation of the gas/vapor mixture are accommodated in a manner
known per se in submodule 22.
[0067] It is particularly advantageous that submodule 22 can be
placed on submodule 20 in the transport state, when the folding
tank 42 is empty and has been folded up. Submodule 22 then
surrounds the engineering area 38 of submodule 20, as is
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0068] FIG. 4 shows submodule 20 for water transport in the form of
a partially sectioned plan view from above. Same reference symbols
denote the same elements as before.
[0069] A waste-water pump 68, a combination valve 70 for waste
water and venting, an air heater 72, an electrical heat assembly 74
and a fresh-water pump 76, inter alia, are arranged in the
engineering area 38 of submodule 20. The fresh-water pump 76 is
connected to tank 42 and is designed to pump fresh water out from
tank 42 via the combination valve 82. The combination valve 82 is
designed to simultaneously open and close the fresh-water outlet
and a vent opening, respectively.
[0070] A second, separate folding tank 84 is arranged (FIG. 5)
underneath tank 42, and is used as a waste-water tank. Folding tank
84 is connected to waste-water pump 68 and to combination valve 70.
The two tanks 42, 84 can be used at the same time in order to
collect waste water from the shower, when this is desired.
[0071] In the preferred exemplary embodiment, submodule 20 has
insulation walls 86 which can be detachably plugged together to
form an internal area 88 in which the two tanks 42, 84 are
arranged. Air ducts 90 are also integrated in submodule 20, with
the air ducts having outlet openings by means of which warm air can
be pumped into the internal area 88. This makes it possible to
prevent water in the folding tanks 42, 84 from freezing. The warm
airflow is indicated by the reference number 92 in FIG. 4.
[0072] FIGS. 5 and 6 show how submodule 20 is mounted on the
transport plate 26. The transport plate 26 has side plug-in pockets
94, which are designed such that the transport plate 26 can be
lifted using a fork-lift truck or a similar lifting tool. Guide
rails 96 are attached to the upper face of transport plate 26 and
have a cross section with a C-shaped hollow profile (FIG. 6).
Sliding blocks or feet 98 are arranged on the floor 28 of the
container module 20, and engage in the hollow profile of the guide
rails 96. The sliding blocks 98 can be fixed in a desired movement
position by means of screws (not shown here), or with the aid of a
clamping mechanism (not shown).
[0073] FIG. 7 shows submodule 20, with the engineering area 38
having been moved on the guide rails 96 in the direction of arrow
100 in order to place the center of gravity of the module 20
substantially centrally above transport plate 26. This movement
position is particularly advantageous when the folding tanks 42, 84
are empty and folded up. The insulation walls 86 can advantageously
be attached to the intermediate wall 34 of the engineering area
38.
[0074] In principle, submodule 20 can also be pushed out of the
guide rails 96, in order for example to replace the transport plate
26.
[0075] Furthermore, as can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 7, transport
plate 26 is longer in the direction of the guide rails 96 than the
container housing arranged on it, in order to make it easier to
move the container housing. In principle, however, the container
housing could also project beyond the transport plate 26.
[0076] The external dimensions and overall weight of the new
container module are designed such that it complies with the limits
for air transportation in a CH53 type helicopter. In preferred
exemplary embodiments, the container module has a base area of
about 2 m.times.1.8 m, and a height of about 1.5 m, and the overall
weight of the container module does not exceed 1800 kg.
* * * * *