U.S. patent application number 12/796056 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-03 for frames for supporting service cells.
This patent application is currently assigned to TURNER LOGISTICS. Invention is credited to Corey Ketchum, Michael J. Sweeney.
Application Number | 20110023387 12/796056 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43332960 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110023387 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sweeney; Michael J. ; et
al. |
February 3, 2011 |
FRAMES FOR SUPPORTING SERVICE CELLS
Abstract
A frame for supporting one or more cells that provide one or
more services to a site. The frame includes a plurality of footings
disposed on the site and a frame assembly disposed on the footings.
The frame assembly includes a plurality of support rails, a
plurality of connecting rails extending between and joined to the
support rails, and a plurality of locking mechanisms disposed on
the frame assembly. Each of the locking mechanisms selectively
retains a portion of at least one of the cells to the frame
assembly. The footings and the frame assembly contribute to define
a service area between a lower surface of the cells and grade of
the site. In one embodiment, one or more of the support rails
includes one or more through-holes. The through-holes are
configured to receive conduits for providing one or more services
to and between the one or more cells.
Inventors: |
Sweeney; Michael J.;
(Austin, TX) ; Ketchum; Corey; (Auburn,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAUD-Kinney Group LLP
306 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD, SUITE 206
MIDDLETOWN
CT
06457
US
|
Assignee: |
TURNER LOGISTICS
Hawthorne
NY
|
Family ID: |
43332960 |
Appl. No.: |
12/796056 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61185240 |
Jun 9, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/167.4 ;
52/299; 52/656.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 1/1205 20130101;
E04H 9/021 20130101; E04H 5/02 20130101; E04H 2001/1283 20130101;
E04B 1/34352 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/167.4 ;
52/656.9; 52/299 |
International
Class: |
E04H 9/02 20060101
E04H009/02; E04C 3/04 20060101 E04C003/04; E02D 27/34 20060101
E02D027/34 |
Claims
1. A frame for supporting one or more cells, the frame comprising:
a plurality of footings disposed on a site; and a frame assembly
disposed on the footings, the frame assembly including: a plurality
of support rails; a plurality of connecting rails extending between
and joined to the support rails; and a plurality of locking
mechanisms disposed about the frame assembly, each of the locking
mechanisms selectively retaining a portion of at least one of one
or more cells to the frame assembly.
2. The frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support rails
includes at least one support rail having one or more
through-holes, the through-holes being configured to receive
conduits for providing one or more services to and between the one
or more cells.
3. The frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support rails
includes a support rail having an I-beam configuration.
4. The frame of claim 1, wherein the one or more cells include an
ISO standard shipping container.
5. The frame of claim 4, wherein the shipping container further
includes a plurality of corner fittings, each corner fitting of the
plurality of corner fittings to receive one of the plurality of
locking mechanisms.
6. The frame of claim 5, wherein each corner fitting comprises an
ISO 1161 corner fittings and each of the plurality of locking
mechanisms comprises a twistlock mechanism.
7. The frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of footings and the
frame assembly define a service area between a lower surface of the
cells and at least one of grade and a floor of the site.
8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly is removably
coupled to the plurality of footings.
9. The frame of claim 1, wherein the one or more cells are disposed
on the frame assembly in at least one of a side-by-side
configuration, an end-to-end configuration, a stacked multi-level
configuration or combinations thereof.
10. The frame of claim 1, wherein the site is comprised of an
existing building site and wherein the plurality of footings is
installed within grade of the building site.
11. The frame of claim 1, wherein the site is comprised of an
existing building site and wherein the plurality of footings rest
on a floor of an existing building structure.
12. The frame of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the frame
assembly is associated with a first number of the plurality of
footings and a second portion of the frame assembly is associated
with a second number of the plurality of footings, and wherein the
first number of the plurality of footings is greater than the
second number of the plurality of footings.
13. The frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of footings
comprise springs.
14. The frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of footings
comprises hydraulic shock absorbers.
15. The frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of footings
comprises an elastic or plastically deformable material to absorb
seismic shocks.
16. A frame for supporting one or more cells, the frame comprising:
a plurality of footings disposed on a site; a plurality of rails
coupled to the plurality of footings via a plurality of rail
clamps; and a plurality of twistlock modules coupled to the
plurality of rails based on a position of one or more cells
relative to the plurality of rails.
17. The frame of claim 16, wherein each cell of the one or more
cells comprises a plurality of corner fittings, each of the
plurality of corner fittings to be coupled to a respective one of
the plurality of twistlock modules.
18. The frame of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of corner
fittings comprises an ISO 1161 corner fitting.
19. The frame of claim 16, wherein the plurality of footings is
disposed based on a position of each of the one or more cells.
20. The frame of claim 16, wherein the plurality of footings and
plurality of rails define a service area between a lower surface of
the cells and the site.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of copending, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 61/185,240, filed Jun. 9, 2009, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
United States Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but
otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates generally to structures used to
support components arranged in a building site plan and, more
particularly, to a frame structure for supporting modular
components providing one or more services to the building site.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Traditional building sites often include ancillary
structures for housing equipment to provide various services to the
site such as, for example, utilities (e.g., power, water, and the
like). The ancillary structures are typically configured as a
central point to, for example, provide the service from utility
company distribution lines to the site. From the ancillary
structures, the utilities may be distributed where needed on site
through or along a distribution network including conduits such as
pipes, cables and the like, run above or below grade. Generally
speaking, concrete is poured to form foundations or slabs
supporting the ancillary structures. Once poured and constructed,
it can be difficult, time consuming and/or expensive to reconfigure
the slab support for a change in site design or needs such as, for
example, to increase capacity and/or provide new services.
[0005] Recently, there has been a growth in the use of modular
building techniques wherein a number of pre-manufactured, modular
cells are configured to provide one or more services to a building
site. That is, the modular cells are individual building blocks
that are housed in an individual building structure or, are
arranged in the open air of a building site on, for example, a
single or multiple concrete slabs. Each modular cell may provide
one or more services or, two or more cells may cooperate to provide
one or more services to the site. At least one modular building
technique includes the use of standardized shipping containers to
house equipment providing services to a site. For example,
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) containers,
also known as Intermodal Transport Units (ITUs) may house equipment
such as power generators, heating and cooling equipment, and the
like. At least some perceived benefits seen from the use of such
ISO containers are a reduction in cost and time of constructing a
housing structure for equipment to service the site. For example,
Turner Logistics, LLC of Hawthorne, N.Y. (USA), the assignee of the
present application, has a copending, U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/090,057, that teaches the use of one or
more ISO containers to configure a data center. The disclosure of
the above-identified U.S. patent document is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
[0006] Even with the use of modular building techniques employing
modular cells as building blocks, changes in site design or the
needs of the site may exceed the existing capacity of the building
housing the modular cells or the open air configuration of the one
or more slabs supporting the cells. As a result, time consuming
and/or expensive reconfiguration of the support structures may be
needed before additional cells or a modification to cell
configuration may be possible.
[0007] The inventors have recognized that a need existing for a
scalable support structure that can efficiently accommodate a
reconfiguration, e.g., addition or modification, of modular cells
of a building site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention resides in one aspect in a frame for
supporting one or more modular cells that provide one or more
services to a site. The frame includes a plurality of footings and
a frame assembly disposed on the footings. The frame assembly
includes a plurality of support rails and a plurality of connecting
rails extending between and joined to the support rails. In one
embodiment, a plurality of locking mechanisms is selectively
disposed about the frame assembly to receive and retain a portion
of one or more of the modular cells. As needed, the locking
mechanisms are released to permit a modification of a configuration
of the modular cells disposed on the frame.
[0009] In one embodiment, the footings and the frame assembly
contribute to define a service area between a lower surface of the
cells and grade of the site. In one embodiment, one or more of the
support rails includes one or more through-holes. The through-holes
are configured to receive conduits for providing one or more
services to and between the one or more cells. The conduits are
accessible and serviceable in place by means of the service
area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The features and advantages of the present invention will be
better understood when the Detailed Description of the Preferred
Embodiments given below is considered in conjunction with the
figures provided.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of
a frame for supporting modular cells providing services to a
building site.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the frame and cells of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial, detailed view of a portion of the frame
and cells of FIG. 1 labeled "Detail 3".
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the frame and cell take
along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the frame of FIG. 1
illustrating exemplary placement of conduits therein.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a partial elevational view of the frame and cells
of FIG. 1 including the conduits of FIG. 5.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of
a frame for supporting modular cells arranged in a stacked
configuration for providing services to a building site.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a prior art twist lock that
may be used in a particular embodiment of the invention.
[0019] In these figures like structures are assigned like reference
numerals, but may not be referenced in the description of all
figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a frame, shown
generally at 10, for supporting one or more modular cells such as,
for example, two modular cells 12, 14, that provide one or more
services to a building site. In one embodiment, the frame 10
includes a frame assembly 16 comprising a plurality of support
rails, for example, three support rails 18, 20, and 22. In one
embodiment, the frame assembly 16 also comprises a first plurality
of connecting rails 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, and 24f which extend
between, and which are joined to, the support rails 18 and 20, and
a second plurality of connecting rails 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, and
26f, which extend between, and which are joined to, the support
rails 20 and 22. In the embodiment shown, the frame assembly 16
rests on a plurality of footings that each support a portion of the
support rails 18, 20 and 22. For example, in one embodiment,
footings 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, and 28f support the support rail
18; footings 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, and 30f support the support
rail 20; and footings 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, and 32f support the
support rail 22. In one embodiment, the footings 28a through 32f
are installed within grade of a building site. In another
embodiment, the footings 28a through 32f may be piers and rest on a
floor of an existing building structure.
[0021] Various dimensions of the frame assembly 16 are indicated in
FIG. 2. For example, the support rails 18, 20 and 22 are
illustrated as being substantially parallel to each other and
adjacent support rails are spaced from each other by equal support
rail separation distances Dsr1 and Dsr2. However, the invention is
not limited in this regard, and in other embodiments, some or all
of the separation distances between adjacent support rails 18, 20
and 22 may differ from each other. For example, the distance Dsr1
may be the same or differ from the distance Dsr2. Similarly, in
embodiments utilizing more than three support rails, distances
between two or more support rails may differ. Moreover, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the support rails 18, 20 and 22 are all of a
substantially same length Lsr, however, the invention is not
limited in this regard, and in other embodiments, one or more of
the support rails 18, 20 and 22 may have different lengths from
others, as is described further below.
[0022] In one embodiment, the connecting rails 24a-24f and 26a-26f
are affixed to the respective support rails in a substantially
parallel manner and are separated from adjacent rails by connecting
rail spacing distances, three exemplary ones of which are indicated
as C1a, C1b, C1c in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, lengths of the
connecting rail spacing distances between adjacent connecting rails
(e.g., C1a from rail 24a to rail 24b, C1b from rail 24b to rail
24c, etc.) are equal, however, the invention is not limited in this
regard, and in other embodiments, some or all of the connecting
rail spacing distances may differ from each other. For example, it
may be desirable to have more connecting rails (and therefore, less
space between connecting rails) in a region of the frame assembly
16 that is intended to support, for example, heavier loads than
other regions. Additionally, connecting rail spacing distances may
accommodate widths of one or more cells to be supported by the
frame assembly 16, as described below.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the footings 28a-28f, 30a-30f, and
32a-32f, are each spaced from adjacent footings along a length of
respective support rails 18, 20 and 22 by footing space distances,
two exemplary ones of which are indicated as FS1a, FS1b in FIG. 2.
In one embodiment, the footing space distances FS1a, FS1b, etc. of
the frame assembly 16 are all equal to each other, however, the
invention is not limited in this regard, and in other embodiments,
some or all of the footing space distances may differ from each
other. For example, it may be desirable to employ more footings in
a region of the frame assembly 16 that is intended to support
heavier loads than other regions, or in a region of the frame 10
that rests on grade or flooring that is less stable than under
other regions of the frame 10. In such regions, a greater number of
footings may be used to support a heavier load and the disposition
of the footings may be based on a position that permits supporting
of the heavier load by distribution of the load among the footings.
For example, a first portion of a frame assembly may be associated
with a first number of a plurality of footings and a second portion
of the frame assembly may be associated with a second number of the
plurality of footings. In some embodiments, the first number of the
plurality of footings is greater than the second number of the
plurality of footings such that the first number of footings
support the heavier load.
[0024] As seen in FIG. 2, the support rail separation distances
Dsrl and Dsr2 are sized such that corners or ends of containers 12
and 14 rest upon support rails, e.g., ends 12a and 12b of container
12 rest on support rails 18 and 22, respectively, and the ends 14a
and 14b of container 14 rest on support rails 20 and 22,
respectively. In a particular embodiment, containers 12 and 14 each
conform to a standard ISO container configuration, for example,
container 12 has a length L12 of about forty feet (40 ft, 12.19
meters) and a width W12 of about eight feet (8 ft, 2.44 meters) and
container 14 has a length L14 of about twenty feet (20 ft, 6.09
meters). Thus, in one embodiment, the spacing between adjacent
support rails 18, 20 and 22 corresponds to a standard ISO container
length of about twenty feet (20 ft, 6.09 meters) and the spacing
between support rails 18 and 22 corresponds to a standard ISO
container length of about forty feet (40 ft, 12.19 meters).
Therefore, the frame assembly 16 can support a plurality of twenty
and forty-foot long ISO containers in side-by-side relation to each
other with the ends of the containers on respective support rails.
However, the invention is not limited in this regard, and in other
embodiments, the frame 10 may support containers of other lengths
and widths in this manner, such as, for example, other standard ISO
container lengths of forty-five feet (45 ft, 13.7 meters),
forty-eight feet (48 ft, 14.6 meters), or fifty-three feet (53 ft,
16.2 meters). As should be appreciated, support rails separation
distances (e.g., Dsr1, Dsr2, and the like) as well as connecting
rail spacing distances (e.g., C1a, C1b, C1c, and the like) may vary
from that described above to accommodate the use of other standard
ISO container lengths and widths outlined herein.
[0025] As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, in one embodiment, the footing 28a
comprises a pre-cast base 32 in which an embed plate 34 is secured.
The footing 28a further comprises a clamp 36 affixed (e.g., welded)
onto the embed plate, for engaging the support rail 18. The footing
28a may be placed on a pre-existing concrete pad, but also may be
placed on compressed soil or stone, thus providing cost-effective
alternatives to the pouring of a concrete pad. However, the
invention is not limited in this regard, and in other embodiments,
the pre-cast base 32 may be partly or completely embedded in the
ground.
[0026] The footing 28a and the other footings of the frame 10 are
configured to securely engage the support rails 18, 20 and 22,
respectively, so that the frame assembly 16 resists displacement
due to environmental conditions such as, for example, ground
vibrations, high wind conditions, or the like. As shown in FIG. 3,
in one embodiment, the support rails 18, 20 and 22 each have a
generally I-beam configuration. For example, support rail 18
includes a horizontal foot flange 18a, a vertical web 18b and a
horizontal head flange 18c. The rail clamp 36 securely engages the
foot flange 18a to couple the support rail 18 to the footing 28a.
In one embodiment, the rail clamp 36 engages the foot flange 18a in
a similar manner as conventional railway rail clamps engage rail
tracks The materials of the footing 28a are selected so that the
support rail 18 will not be dislodged from the footing 28a by
ground vibrations as may be caused by, for example, environmental
conditions such as earthquakes, high velocity wind from storms, and
the like, as well as inadvertent contact by, for example, a vehicle
or moving equipment. In addition, by virtue of rail clamp 36, which
bears down on the foot flange 18a by means of a threaded bolt,
footing 28a engages the support rail 18 in a releasable manner in
contrast to permanent engagement between the footing 28a and
support rail 18 as would result from, for example, welding or by
casting the pre-cast base 32 around the foot flange 18a.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the footing 28a provides for the support
rail 18 a clearance distance Df28 above grade. The clearance
distance provided by other footings 28b-28f, 30a-30f, and 32a-32f,
may be the same as, or different from clearance distance Df28 as
needed to accommodate variations in the floor or grade on which the
footings are mounted so that the frame assembly 16 has the desired
orientation, e.g., maintaining the containers 12 and 14
substantially level on the frame assembly 16. In one embodiment,
shims, blocks or the like, may be used between the footing and the
foot flange to obtain the desired orientation. The support rail 18
has a height Ds, and provides a minimum ground clearance defined as
Ds plus Df28a above grade.
[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, corners of the
containers 12 and 14 are equipped with corner fittings 12c and 14c,
respectively, which provide anchor holes for locking mechanisms.
The frame assembly 16 includes a plurality of locking mechanisms,
shown generally at 35, that are mounted on the support rails 18, 20
and 22, and that are configured to engage the anchor holes in the
corner fittings 12c and 14c. In one illustrative embodiment, the
corner fittings 12c and 14c are ISO 1161 corner fittings, and the
locking mechanisms 35 comprise commercially available twistlock
mechanisms including a twistlock base 35a and a twistlock module
35b. The locking mechanisms 35 secure the containers in place on
the frame 10. Preferably, the locking mechanisms 35 may be
selectively enabled and disabled to permit realignment of the
containers 12 and 14 on the frame 10. Moreover, the locking
mechanisms 35 add an additional height DL to the clearance of the
containers 12 and 14 above grade. However, the invention is not
limited in this regard, and in other embodiments, other types of
corner fittings and locking mechanisms may be used, and in still
other embodiments, the end 12a of the container 12 be secured
directly on the top flange 18c. In one embodiment, a plurality of
locking mechanisms 35 are selectively installed on the frame
assembly 16 to support interchangeability of modular cells such as,
for example, when one or more cells are added or replaced to
increase capacity of a service provided to the site. In some
embodiments, the twistlock modules may be coupled to the frame
based on lengths and widths of one or more cells to be supported by
the frame assembly 16.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the connecting rail
24a is joined to the support rail 18 by a bracket 38, which is
secured to the connecting rail 24a at points 40 and 42 by, for
example, welding or with fasteners.
[0030] It should be appreciated that since frame assembly 16 is
rigid and the containers 12 and 14 are secured or locked thereon,
the effective base of each of the containers is increased, thus
increasing the moment of inertia about their respective central
axes that would be needed to overturn the containers. Therefore,
when the containers 12 and 14 are locked onto the frame 10, they
are more resistant to being over-turned as a result of seismic
shock or other physical disturbances (e.g., an accidental collision
with another container during deployment, inadvertent contact with
vehicular or equipment traffic on the site, severe wind conditions,
and the like) than if they containers were simply placed on a floor
or grade at a building site. As shown in FIG. 7, in one embodiment,
a plurality of containers are arranged on the frame 10 in
side-by-side and/or stacked configurations, as is needed or desired
to provide services to the building site. For example, a container
80 is disposed on top of the container 12 and containers 84 and 86
are arrange in a stacked configuration on the frame 10. As noted
above, the frame 10 increases the effective base of the containers
12, 14, 80, 84 and 86 to increase the moment of inertia
thereof.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, in one embodiment, the
support rails 18, 20 and 22 include one or more through-holes such
as holes 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, and 44e, located along a length of
support rail 18 and holes 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, and 46e, located
along a length of support rail 20. In one embodiment, the
through-holes, e.g., holes 44a-44e and 46a-46e, permit passage of
conduits 50 (e.g., pipes, tubing, duct work, cables, and the like)
individually, or as a group or rack 52, that may provide service to
or distribute service from and between containers disposed on the
frame 10. For example, the elevated positioning of containers 12
and 14 on the frame assembly 16 creates a service area W (FIG. 3),
between a bottom surface B of the containers 12 and 14 and a finish
grade G of the building site. In one embodiment, the conduits 50
and 52 running in the service area W beneath the containers 12 and
14 may carry wiring for distributing power or electronic data to
and between containers, distribute air provided from a HVAC system
70 (FIG. 6) to control the internal atmosphere within the
containers 12 and 14, such as to provide heat, air conditioning or
to control humidity, and the like. It should be appreciated that in
some embodiments, fewer than all of the support rails 18, 20 and 22
in the frame assembly 16 may include the through holes, and/or one
or more of the support rails may have only one through-hole, or no
holes at all. As shown in FIG. 5, the conduits 50 and conduit racks
52 may be connected via one or more conduit pull and/or service
boxes 60. In one embodiment, the pull and/or service boxes 60
assist deployment, maintenance or upgrade of the conduits 50 and 52
and/or components running therethrough (e.g., wiring, connectors,
and the like). As should be appreciated, access to the conduits 50,
conduit racks 52 and boxes 60 is provided to personnel via the
service area W.
[0032] As seen in FIG. 3, the connecting rail 24a has a height Hcr
which is less than the height Ds of the support rails 18, 20 and
22. In addition, the connecting rail 24a is mounted at the foot of
the support rail 18, i.e., close to the footing 28a, to leave a
clearance space C between the top of the connecting rail 24a and
the top of the support rail 18. The clearance space C contributes
to and provides access by, for example, maintenance personnel, to
the service area W between the connecting rail 24a and the bottom
of the container 12 without having to lift the container 12 off
from the frame assembly 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the height DL
provided by the locking mechanism 35 also contributes to the
service area W.
[0033] It should be noted that in one embodiment, the footings
28a-28f, 30a-30f, and 32a-32f, releasably engage the support rails
18, 20 and 22 of the frame assembly 16. For example, in the
illustrated embodiments, the rail clamps 36 can be loosened to
release the support rails 18, 20 and 22 so that the frame assembly
16 may be lifted off the footings 28a-28f, 30a-30f, and 32a-32f.
This allows for maintenance and repair of the footings 28a-28f,
30a-30f, and 32a-32f, and the flooring or grade on which the
footings rest, and for the re-installation of the frame assembly 16
on the footings 28a-28f, 30a-30f, and 32a-32f once maintenance
and/or repairs are complete. Optionally, maintenance and/or upgrade
may include re-positioning one or more footings or adding footings
so that the frame 10 can support additional containers and/or
container loads. Conversely, a damaged frame assembly 16 can be
removed and replaced to allow the facility to resume operation when
the damaged frame is replaced. Moreover, the releasable engagement
of the containers 12 and 14 via the locking mechanisms 35 permit
selective removal of the containers 12 and 14 so that maintenance
or upgrade may be done with the frame assembly 16 in place on the
footings.
[0034] As mentioned above, the broad base effectively provided by
the frame 10 to containers 12 and 14 on the frame 10 decreases the
likelihood that the containers might by overturned as a result of
seismic, wind and other environmental disturbances. To further
insulate the containers 12, 14 on the frame 10 from such
disturbances, the frame 10 may include shock-absorbing components,
for example, resilient elastic components or components that will
undergo deformation to absorb and/or dissipate seismic shock energy
or energy transferred to a container as a result of a collision
between containers. For example, in one embodiment, in place of
locking mechanism 35, the frame assembly 16 may comprise a
twistlock mechanism that includes one or more steel cable coil
springs, as shown in a known twistlock mechanism 90 illustrated in
FIG. 8. The twistlock mechanism 90 has a base 92 that engages one
of the support rail (such as support rail 18), a rotatable flange
94 for engaging a corner fitting of a container (e.g., corner
fitting 12c), and between the base 92 and the rotatable flange 94,
two rows of steel cable coils 96a and 96b secured between a first
plate 97 on the base 92 and a second plate 98 on which the
rotatable flange 94 is mounted. Alternatively, the footings may
comprise springs, or hydraulic shock absorbers, or elastic or
plastically deformable materials that absorb seismic shocks of a
magnitude that might overturn one or more of the containers on the
frame 10.
[0035] In one embodiment, the frame 10 is constructed to support
one or more modular cells comprised of ISO containers having
dimensions of about eight feet (8 ft, 2.4 meters) in
width.times.about twenty feet or forty feet (20 ft, 6.09 meters or
40 ft, 12.19 meters) in length.times.about eight and one half feet
(8.5 ft, 2.59 meters) in height, and having a standard maximum
weight of about seventy-five thousand pounds (75,000 lbs). It
should be appreciated that the frame 10 can support other ISO
container sizes disposed in, for example, side-by-side, end-to-end,
stacked multi-level configurations and combinations thereof.
[0036] It should be appreciated that the frame 10, as described
herein, provides a highly flexible storage facility, in that the
frame 10 is easily installed, maintained and repaired, allows for
easy access to the flooring or grade for maintenance and repair,
allows easy access for running services (e.g., electrical, water,
HVAC services, and the like) to and between modular cells on the
frame, and is adaptable to support changing site needs such as, for
example, additions or re-configurations of modular cells on the
frame. In addition, multiple frames 10 may be used one beside
another on a site, and may be rearranged relative to each other to
expand the storage capacity of modular cells providing services to
the site, as well as to conform to changes in the configuration of
the site.
[0037] The terms "first," "second," and the like, herein do not
denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to
distinguish one element from another. The terms "a" and "an" herein
do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the
presence of at least one of the referenced item.
[0038] Although the invention has been described with reference to
particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art, upon a reading and understanding of the
foregoing disclosure, that numerous variations and alterations to
the disclosed embodiments will fall within the scope of this
invention and of the appended claims.
* * * * *