JP7806741B2 - Container Building - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to container buildings, and more particularly to container buildings in which a container-style structure is connected to a foundation by a connecting structure.

An example of such a container building is described in Patent Document 1 below. This container building is constructed as a portable coin laundry, utilizing existing shipping containers and installing the necessary equipment for a coin laundry inside the container. This container-style structure is fixed to the ground via a base. Twist-lock mechanism fastening devices are provided on the top surface of the base at positions opposite each of the four corners of the bottom surface of the container-style structure. This twist-lock mechanism fastening device is commonly used, for example, to fasten shipping containers to trailers. After inserting this fastening device into the connecting hole, rotating the upper rotating body prevents it from coming out of the connecting hole. The rotating body is rotated by turning the handle located at the bottom of the fastening device. The base is fixed to the ground before the container-style structure is connected. If the ground is concrete, anchors are driven into mounting holes in the base to secure the base to the ground.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-138042

The container building described in Patent Document 1 uses a base to secure the container to the ground, but because the fastening device that secures the container and the member that secures the base to the ground are not the same, it does not meet the requirements for firm fastening to the foundation set forth in the Building Standards Act, raising concerns about structural strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a container building in which a container-style structure is firmly fixed to a foundation.

To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the present invention provides a container building in which a container-style structure is connected to a foundation by a connecting structure. The connecting structure comprises an anchor pre-embedded in the foundation, and a twist-lock mechanism fastening device that is integrally fixed to the upper end of the anchor and inserted into each of the connecting holes provided at the four corners of the underside of the structure, and then the upper rotor is rotated to prevent it from coming out of the connecting holes.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the upper surface of the foundation around the fastening device is inclined so as to become lower as it goes away from the fastening device.
A further aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the fastening device is fixed to the upper end of the anchor via a base plate.
A further aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a pedestal of a predetermined height is provided on the foundation at a position opposite the connecting hole, and the anchor is pre-embedded in the upper end of the pedestal.
A further aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an auxiliary pedestal of a predetermined height is provided on the foundation at a position other than the position facing the connecting hole and facing the underside of the structure, and a leveling block that supports the underside of the structure and has an adjustable height for the support surface is arranged on the upper end surface of the auxiliary pedestal.

In the container building of the present invention, a twist-lock mechanism tightening device is integrally fixed to the upper end of an anchor buried in the foundation as a connecting structure for connecting the container-style structure to the foundation, allowing the structure to be firmly fixed to the foundation.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the container building of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connection structure applied to the container building of FIG. 1. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling structure of FIG. 2 installed on the foundation of FIG. 1; 3 is an explanatory diagram of a fastening device used in the connecting structure of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the construction process of the container building of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the container building of the present invention. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling structure of FIG. 2 installed on the foundation (base) of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the construction process of the container building of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the connecting structure installed on the column base of FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the connecting structure of FIG. 9 before the fastening device is fixed. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the column base (foundation) of FIG. 9 . FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 12. An explanatory diagram of the construction process showing the third embodiment of the container building of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a leveling block disposed on the auxiliary pedestal of FIG. 14 .

Embodiments of the container building of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are intended to exemplify devices and methods that embody the technical concepts of the present invention, and the technical concepts of the present invention do not limit the materials, shapes, structures, arrangements, etc. of the components to the embodiments described below. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic. Therefore, it should be noted that the relationships and ratios between thickness and planar dimensions may differ from those in reality, and the drawings may also contain portions where the relationships and ratios of dimensions differ from one another.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a container building, constructed, for example, as an electrical room in a steelworks. The container-style structure 1 in this container building uses, for example, a shipping container, and the shipping container can be either new or used. It is also possible to use a container-style structure 1 that imitates a shipping container. The necessary equipment and functions for an electrical room, the structure and modifications of the container-style structure 1 itself, and ancillary equipment are not relevant to the present invention, so detailed explanations of these are omitted. Furthermore, the use of the container-style structure 1 is not limited to electrical rooms.

This structure 1 uses a shipping container, and its dimensions are approximately 6 m (or 12 m) in length, 2.4 m in width, and 2.9 m in height. Furthermore, the materials and building conformity of this shipping container structure 1 must comply with the Building Standards Act and the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). The four corners of the underside of this structure 1 are provided with connection holes 4 for securing the shipping container to, for example, a trailer or to a ship's hull during sea transport (see Figure 5, etc.). These connection holes 4 are sized to allow the upper part of a twist lock mechanism, described below, to pass through, and a hollow portion is formed above them. These connection holes 4 generally comply with ISO 1161.

This structure 1 is fixed to a rectangular, thick plate-shaped foundation 2 that is approximately the same size as the underside of the structure 1. The structure of the foundation 2 itself and the structure for fastening it to the ground are unrelated to the present invention, and therefore will not be described in detail here. Connection structures 6 are fixed to the four corners of the foundation 2 at positions that correspond to connection holes 4 provided on the underside of the structure 1. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connection structure 6 of Figure 1 before installation. This connection structure 6 before installation comprises anchors 7 provided at the bottom and embedded in the concrete of the foundation 2, and fastening devices 8 integrally secured to the upper ends of the anchors 7. The fastening devices 8 are welded and secured to the upper ends of the anchors 7. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure 6 of Figure 2 installed on the foundation 2 of Figure 1. In this example, the upper ends of the anchors 7, i.e., the lower surfaces of the fastening devices 8, are positioned so that they are flush with the upper surface of the foundation 2. Note that while the anchors 7 shown in the figure are U-shaped, straight deformed steel bars of a predetermined length can also be used as anchors 7.

Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the fastening device 8 used in the connecting structure 6 of Figure 2. This fastening device 8 is a general-purpose item commonly used to secure transport containers to trailers or to the hull of a ship during marine transport. This fastening device 8 is equipped with a mechanism commonly known as a twist lock. This fastening device 8 is equipped with an upper insertion portion 10 that is inserted into a connecting hole 4 provided on the underside of the container-style structure 1, and a lower base portion 11 that supports this insertion portion 10.

As is clear from Figures 4a and 4b, the insertion section 10 further comprises an upper rotating body 12 and a lower mating section 13. The cross-sectional shape of the mating section 13 has two flat plane sections formed in opposing positions and a curved section consisting of an arc-shaped surface connecting both ends of the two flat surfaces. The cross-sectional shape of this mating section 13 is approximately the same shape as the connecting hole 4 of the structure 1, and therefore the outer surface of the mating section 13 fits into the inner surface of the connecting hole 4. The cross-sectional shape of the mating section 13 of the rotating body 12 gradually tapers upward. In addition, a shaft (not shown) extends downward from the rotating body 12 and is rotatably inserted into the base section 11.

The base 11 is generally cylindrical, with its upper surface extending radially outward beyond the mating portion 13. Therefore, when the insertion portion 10 of the fastening device 8 is inserted into the connecting hole 4 of the structure 1, the upper surface of the base 11 supports the underside of the structure 1. A hollow portion is provided inside the base 11, and a shaft extending downward from the rotating body 12 protrudes into this hollow portion. The hollow portion opens onto the outer periphery of the base 11, and the handle 14 is inserted into the hollow portion from the outside of the side of the base 11 through this opening, with the tip of the handle 14 inside the hollow portion connected to the shaft portion of the rotating body 12.

Therefore, when the handle 14 is rotated horizontally from the state shown in Figure 4a to the state shown in Figure 4b, or vice versa, the rotating body 12 is rotated. As can be inferred from the figures, Figure 4a shows the state in which the insertion part 10 is inserted into the connecting hole 4 on the underside of the structure 1, and Figure 4b shows the state in which the insertion part 10 is inserted into the connecting hole 4 and then the rotating body 12 is rotated so that it cannot be removed from the connecting hole 4. Therefore, after inserting the insertion part 10 of the fastening device 8 into the connecting hole 4 of the structure 1 in the state shown in Figure 4a, rotating the handle 14 to the state shown in Figure 4b connects the structure 1 and the fastening device 8 (= connecting structure 6).

Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the construction process for the container building of Figure 1, showing the container-style structure 1 being lowered onto the foundation 2. Prior to this, the foundation 2 is constructed at the construction location for the container building, and the anchors 7 of the connecting structure 6 are embedded in the concrete at positions corresponding to the connecting holes 4 of the structure 1, and the connecting structure 6 is fixed so that the fastening devices 8 are located on the top surface of the foundation 2. Note that if there is a risk that the anchors 7, i.e., the connecting structure 6, may move due to the flow energy of the concrete when the concrete is poured, it is advisable to position the fastening devices 8 using a separate positioning means, such as a wire.

Once the foundation 2 is completed, the container-style structure 1 is lifted using a crane or similar device, and then lowered so that the connecting holes 4 on the underside face the connecting structure 6. Once the insertion portions 10 of the fastening devices 8 are inserted into each connecting hole 4 of the structure 1, the handles 14 of each fastening device 8 are rotated to rotate the rotating bodies 12. This prevents the rotating bodies 12 from coming out of the connecting holes 4, and the structure 1 is connected and fixed to the foundation 2. At this time, the fastening devices 8 are fixed integrally to the upper ends of the anchors 7 embedded in the foundation 2, so the structure 1 is firmly fixed to the foundation 2.

In this embodiment, the connecting structure 6 for connecting the container-style structure 1 to the foundation 2 includes a fastening device 8 with a twist lock mechanism integrally fixed to the upper end of an anchor 7 buried in the foundation 2, allowing the structure 1 to be firmly secured to the foundation 2. Furthermore, after inserting the insertion portion 10 of the fastening device 8 into the connecting hole 4 of the structure 1, simply rotate the handle 14 to rotate the rotating body 12, and the structure 1 is connected to the foundation 2. Therefore, the container-style structure 1 can be easily secured to the foundation 2 to construct a container building, and the effort and time required to release the connection and move the structure 1 can be reduced.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of a second embodiment of a container building, which, like the first embodiment, is constructed as an electrical room within a steelworks. In this embodiment, the column base 3 is fixed integrally with the foundation 2 at the position where the connecting structure 6 was fixed in the first embodiment, i.e., the position where the connecting hole 4 is provided on the underside of the container-style structure 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the connecting structure 6 is fixed to the upper end of the column base 3 constructed as the foundation 2. Note that the structure and method for fixing the column base 3 integrally with the foundation 2 are unrelated to the present invention, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The connecting structure 6 of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting structure 6 of Figure 2 installed on the column base 3 (foundation 2) of Figure 6. In this example, the upper end of the anchor 7, i.e., the underside of the fastening device 8, is positioned so that it coincides with the upper surface of the column base 3. Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of the construction process for the container building of Figure 6, showing the container-style structure 1 being lowered onto the column base 3. Prior to this, the column base 3 and foundation 2 are constructed at the construction location of the container building. The anchors 7 of the connecting structure 6 are embedded in the concrete of the column base 3 at positions corresponding to the connecting holes 4 of the structure 1, and the connecting structure 6 is fixed so that the fastening device 8 is positioned on the upper surface of the column base 3. Note that by setting the height (inner height) of the column base 3 to 1.4 m or less, the concrete building will not be considered a two-story structure.

Once the foundation 2 is completed along with the column pedestals 3, the container-style structure 1 is lifted using a crane or similar device and lowered so that the connecting holes 4 on the underside face the connecting structures 6 on the column pedestals 3. Once the insertion portions 10 of the fastening devices 8 are inserted into each connecting hole 4 of the structure 1, the handles 14 of each fastening device 8 are rotated to rotate the rotating bodies 12. This prevents the rotating bodies 12 from slipping out of the connecting holes 4, thereby connecting and securing the structure 1 to the column pedestals 3 of the foundation 2. At this time, the fastening devices 8 are integrally secured to the upper ends of the anchors 7 embedded in the upper ends of the column pedestals 3, so the structure 1 is firmly secured to the column pedestals 3. Furthermore, because a space is formed below the structure 1, power lines can be routed from the underside of the container building to the interior through this space, making it particularly useful in electrical rooms, substations, and communication equipment rooms.

In this embodiment, a column pedestal 3 of a predetermined height is provided on the foundation 2 at a position opposite the connecting hole 4 of the container-style structure 1, and the anchor 7 of the connecting structure 6 is embedded in the upper end of the column pedestal 3. Therefore, power lines and the like can be brought inside from the underside of the structure 1 connected and fixed to the column pedestal 3, increasing the usefulness of the container building.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the connecting structure 6 installed on the column base 3 of Figure 7 according to the second embodiment, and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 9. In this embodiment, a base plate (base board) 9 is interposed between the anchor 7 and the fastening device 8. That is, the base plate 9 is welded to the upper end of the anchor 7, and the fastening device 8 is welded to the upper surface of the base plate 9. The upper surface of the base plate 9 is positioned so that it protrudes at least from the upper surface of the column base 3. The base plate 9 and fastening device 8 may be welded to each other before the anchor 7 is embedded. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11, the base plate 9 and fastening device 8 may be separate entities, and the fastening device 8 may be welded to the base plate 9 after the anchor 7 is embedded. As mentioned above, there is a risk that the anchor 7 may move due to the flow energy of the concrete when concrete is poured. Therefore, by welding the fastening device 8 to the base plate 9 in the correct position after the concrete is poured and the anchor 7 is embedded, movement of the anchor 7 during concrete pouring can be compensated for.

In this way, in this embodiment, by interposing a base plate 9 between the anchor 7 and the fastening device 8, movement of the anchor 7 during concrete pouring can be compensated for and the fastening device 8 can be positioned in the correct position.

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the column base 3 (foundation 2) of Figure 9, and Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 12. In this embodiment, the connecting structure 6 of the container-style structure 1 is that shown in Figure 11. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the column base 3 is a truncated pyramidal cone surface that is sloped downward as it moves away from the fastening device 8. Generally, the base plate 9 and fastening device 8 are made of steel, and corrosion may occur if water (rainwater, etc.) accumulates around them. Therefore, by sloped so that the upper surface of the column base 3 slopes downward as it moves away from the fastening device 8, water can be prevented from accumulating around the base plate 9 and fastening device 8, thereby preventing corrosion. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the column base 3 slopes downward as it moves away from the fastening device 8, but the same applies when the fastening device 8 is provided on the upper surface of the foundation 2. In this case, the upper surface of the foundation 2 around the fastening device 8 can be sloped downward as it moves away from the fastening device 8. The inclined surface can be a pyramidal surface such as a truncated square pyramid, a circular truncated cone, or a polygonal truncated cone.

In this way, in this embodiment, the upper surface of the foundation 2 (column base 3) around the fastening device 8 is sloped downward as it moves away from the fastening device 8, thereby preventing corrosion of the fastening device 8, base plate 9, etc.

Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram of the construction process for a third embodiment of a container building. In this embodiment, a container-style structure 1 approximately 12 m long (same width and height as the first embodiment) is used. In this embodiment, the connection structures 6 between the pedestals 3 (foundation 2) at the four corners of the underside of the container-style structure 1 are the same as those in the second embodiment shown in Figure 6 or Figure 8. In this embodiment, auxiliary pedestals 5 are erected on the foundation 2 to support the underside of the structure 1 at positions different from the four corners of the underside where the connection holes 4 of the structure 1 are provided. Specifically, the auxiliary pedestals 5 are erected in the longitudinal center at the widthwise ends of the container-style structure 1. Furthermore, leveling blocks 15 are arranged on the upper end surfaces of the auxiliary pedestals 5, which support the underside of the structure 1 and allow the height of the support surface 16 to be adjusted.

Figure 15 shows an example of a leveling block 15. This leveling block 15 is a general-purpose block. The vertically stacked wedges 17, 18 are moved with a screw 19 to adjust the height of the support surface 16, which is the upper surface of the upper wedge 17. Specifically, the lower surface of the lower wedge 18 and the upper surface of the upper wedge 17 are both horizontal, and the joint surface between them is smoothly inclined. In this example, the lower wedge 18 is moved in the inclined direction of the inclined surface by the thrust of the screw 19, thereby changing the position of the inclined surface of the upper wedge 17 in the vertical direction, thereby changing the height of the support surface 16, which is the upper surface of the upper wedge 17. Because the container-style structure 1 in this embodiment is long, simply supporting the four corners of the underside would cause the longitudinal center to bend downward. Because the structure 1 in this embodiment is used as an electrical room, it is undesirable for the longitudinal center of the building to be low. Therefore, the structure 1 is supported by a leveling block 15 on an auxiliary column pedestal 5 located in the longitudinal center of the underside of the structure 1, keeping the height of the center equal to that of the rest of the structure.

In this way, in this embodiment, auxiliary pedestals 5 of a predetermined height are provided on the foundation 2 at a position facing the underside of the structure 1, other than a position facing the connecting holes 4 on the underside of the structure 1. Leveling blocks 15 that support the underside of the structure 1 and have an adjustable support surface 16 are then disposed on the upper end surfaces of the auxiliary pedestals 5. This makes it possible to support the longitudinal center of a long, container-style structure 1, for example, and to compensate for deflection to maintain a constant height.

The container building according to the embodiment has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the auxiliary column bases 5 and leveling blocks 15 that support the underside of the container-style structure 1 are provided only in the longitudinal center of the structure 1, but they may be provided anywhere on the foundation 2 as long as they are capable of supporting the underside of the structure 1.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 structure 2 foundation 3 column base 4 connection hole 5 auxiliary column base 6 connection structure 7 anchor 8 fastening device 9 base plate 12 rotating body 15 leveling block 16 support surface

Claims (4)

A container building in which a container-style structure is connected to a foundation by a connecting structure,
The connecting structure comprises an anchor pre-embedded in the foundation, and a twist lock mechanism tightening device that is fixed integrally with the anchor to the upper end of the anchor and is inserted into each connecting hole provided at the four corners of the underside of the structure, and then the upper rotating body rotates so that it cannot come out of the connecting hole , and a column base of a predetermined height is provided on the foundation at a position opposite the connecting hole, and the anchor is pre-embedded in the upper end of the column base, a container building. 2. The container building according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the pedestal around the fastening device is inclined so as to become lower as it goes away from the fastening device. The container building described in claim 1, wherein the fastening device is fixed to the upper end of the anchor via a base plate. A container building as described in claim 1, wherein an auxiliary pedestal of a predetermined height is provided on the foundation at a position other than the position facing the connecting hole and facing the underside of the structure, and a leveling block that supports the underside of the structure and has an adjustable height of the support surface is arranged on the upper end surface of the auxiliary pedestal.