(19) United States

(12) Patent Application                                    (10) Pub. No.:

Seibert                                                                       (43)  Pub. Date:       Oct. 6, 2015

(54)     MODIFICATION OF ISO CONTAINERS TO OBTAIN ADDED WIDTH

(75) Inventor: Brian Howard Seibert, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada (CA)

(73)       Assignee:         None                    

(21)       Appl. No.:         _________________

(22)       Filed:                __________________

Publication Classification

(51)       Int. Cl.           ………………………

(52)       U.S. Cl.             ………………………

(57)       ABSTRACT

An improved process is described for the modification of ISO Containers in order to provide additional width to enable container conversions to garages, houses, emergency shelters, field offices or labs, oilfield equipment packages, compressor packages, generator sets, boilers, electrical equipment packages, other such conversions as would be benefitted by additional container width and for general local and overseas shipping. The process of the invention, in its most basic and economical form, consists of cutting top and bottom slits in the corrugated longitudinal sides of a 20’ or 40’ ISO Container, jacking the corrugated sides outward 2’ to 4’ per side and inserting top and bottom filler sections in the resulting gaps to reseal the container.

Figure 1 

 

Figure 2

 

Figure 3

MODIFICATION OF ISO CONTAINERS TO OBTAIN ADDED WIDTH

Field of the Invention

[0001] An improved process is envisioned for the modification of ISO Containers in order to provide additional width to enable container conversions to garages, houses, emergency shelters, field offices or labs, oilfield equipment packages, compressor packages, generator sets, boilers, electrical equipment packages, other such conversions as would be benefitted by additional container width and for general local and overseas shipping.  The process of the invention, in its most basic and economical form, consists of cutting top and bottom slits in the corrugated longitudinal sides of a 20’ or 40’ ISO Container, taking advantage of the expandable nature of the corrugated metal by jacking the corrugated sides outward 2’ to 4’ per side and inserting top and bottom filler sections in the resulting gaps to reseal the container. The top and bottom filler pieces could be constructed of plywood, checker plate or Corten steel and can be screwed, bolted, pop-riveted or welded in place.  The ends of the bump-out sections can be curved, mitered or square and the bump-outs can be of full or partial length, however, the bump-outs should typically fall short of the end posts and forged lift corners of the container to facilitate the container being handled and shipped as an ISO Container.  It is understood that in shipping an over-width container of this type, one may have to pay for the additional container berths on either side of the unit, but, by shipping multiple over-width containers as a group, the costs can be reduced to a half-berth on either side.

 

BACKGROUND of the Invention

[0002] Although there have been numerous conversions of ISO Containers into garages, garage conversions have been so labor intensive, often consisting of welding two 20’ containers together side by side, as to make one wonder if building a conventional garage from scratch might not be easier.  By slitting a 20’ container and jacking out the sides, a garage conversion can be accomplished with as little as four sheets of ¾” thick plywood, a circular saw, power drill and hydraulic jacks.  This produces a 12’ wide x 20’ long garage, plenty of room for an average size automobile.  And a double car garage can be provided by constructing two half-wider garages side by side.  By lowering the top longitudinal cuts of the corrugated sides by a foot, enough beam strength can be left in the upper portion of the long wall to support the roof.  But this one conceptualization opens up a plethora of possibilities to be presented.

[0003] Although there have been numerous conversions of ISO Containers into houses, the conversions have typically resulted in rooms that were recognizably narrow or consisting of containers side by side and opened up between them, resulting in doubling of cost and excess of labor.  By slitting a 40’ container and jacking out the sides by up to 4’ a side, a double wide container can be economically fabricated, allowing for very generous room sizes at very little cost.  Again, by lowering the top longitudinal cuts of the corrugated sides by a foot, enough beam strength can be left in the upper portion of the long wall to support the roof.  And a high cube container can be used to increase the available roof height in bump-out areas.

[0004] Office, field lab and bunkhouse conversions are very compatible with this modification process as desk, counter and bunk space can be allocated to bump-out areas, leaving the central corridor free for work and movement.  Emergency shelters would benefit from the added square footage, making the temporary quarters seem less cramped and confined.  By beefing up the structural strength of the emergency housing, supplies could ship with the accommodations, providing relief such as potable water, food, blankets and clothing as well as shelter.

[0005] Using the main aspects of the invention, industrial equipment and vessels may be packaged in layouts suitable for operation and maintenance as well as shipping.  Oilfield equipment, water treating systems, compressor packages, generator sets, boilers, heaters, aerial coolers, pipeline modules, refrigeration systems and electrical packages can be installed within the half-wider or double wide containers with typically enough room provided for the safe operation and maintenance of same.  High cube containers may be utilized with the longitudinal cuts being made in the corrugated sides 1’ from the top and bottom of the container to provide additional structural strength and space for supporting beams.

[0006] The aspects of this invention can also be used to modify 8’ wide shipping containers into wider and more complex configurations to facilitate the shipping of very light and bulky products and textiles.  Half-widers can be designed to hold medium density cargo while double wides can hold very light cargo.  Bump-outs can be designed to be half-height as well, allowing heavy half-height containers to carry very dense materials in the lower berths between them.

[0007] The aspects of this invention may be applied to new container construction as well as to modifications.  This will bring a whole new era of transportation flexibility to container shipping.

[0008]

 

SUMMARY of the Invention

[0010] The invention is generally intended to provide an improved process for the modification of ISO Containers in order to provide additional width to enable container conversions to garages, houses, emergency shelters, field offices or labs, oilfield equipment packages, compressor packages, generator sets, boilers, electrical equipment packages, other such conversions as would be benefitted by additional container width and for general local and overseas shipping.  The process of the invention, in its most basic and economical form, consists of cutting top and bottom slits in the corrugated longitudinal sides of a 20’ or 40’ ISO Container, jacking the corrugated sides outward 2’ to 4’ per side and inserting top and bottom filler sections in the resulting gaps to reseal the container.

 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a 20’ ISO Container with a 2’ bump-out on each side.

[0020] Figure 2 is a plan view and side view of a single garage conversion with a potential double garage attachment.

[0021] Figure 3 is a front and side elevation view of a possible container house conversion with attached double garage.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

[0002] Although there have been numerous conversions of ISO Containers into garages, garage conversions have been so labor intensive, often consisting of welding two 20’ containers together side by side, as to make one wonder if building a conventional garage from scratch might not be easier.  By slitting a 20’ container and jacking out the sides, a garage conversion can be accomplished with as little as four sheets of ¾” thick plywood, a circular saw, power drill and hydraulic jacks.  This produces a 12’ wide x 20’ long garage, plenty of room for an average size automobile.  And a double car garage can be provided by constructing two half-wider garages side by side.  By lowering the top longitudinal cuts of the corrugated sides by a foot, enough beam strength can be left in the upper portion of the long wall to support the roof.  But this one conceptualization opens up a plethora of possibilities to be presented.

[0003] Although there have been numerous conversions of ISO Containers into houses, the conversions have typically resulted in rooms that were recognizably narrow or consisting of containers side by side and opened up between them, resulting in doubling of cost and excess of labor.  By slitting a 40’ container and jacking out the sides by up to 4’ a side, a double wide container can be economically fabricated, allowing for very generous room sizes at very little cost.  Again, by lowering the top longitudinal cuts of the corrugated sides by a foot, enough beam strength can be left in the upper portion of the long wall to support the roof.  And a high cube container can be used to increase the available roof height in bump-out areas.

[0004] Office, field lab and bunkhouse conversions are very compatible with this modification process as desk, counter and bunk space can be allocated to bump-out areas, leaving the central corridor free for work and movement.  Emergency shelters would benefit from the added square footage, making the temporary quarters seem less cramped and confined.  By beefing up the structural strength of the emergency housing, supplies could ship with the accommodations, providing relief such as potable water, food, blankets and clothing as well as shelter.

[0005] Using the main aspects of the invention, industrial equipment and vessels may be packaged in layouts suitable for operation and maintenance as well as shipping.  Oilfield equipment, water treating systems, compressor packages, generator sets, boilers, heaters, refrigeration systems and electrical packages can be installed within the half-wider or double wide containers with typically enough room provided for the safe operation and maintenance of same.  High cube containers may be utilized with the longitudinal cuts being made in the corrugated sides 1’ from the top and bottom of the container to provide additional structural strength and space for supporting beams.

[0006] The aspects of this invention can also be used to modify 8’ wide shipping containers into wider and more complex configurations to facilitate the shipping of very light and bulky products and textiles.  Half-widers can be designed to hold medium density cargo while double wides can hold very light cargo.  Bump-outs can be designed to be half-height as well, allowing heavy half-height containers to carry very dense materials in the lower berths between them.

[0007] The aspects of this invention may be applied to new container construction as well as modifications.  This will bring a whole new era of shipping flexibility to container shipping.

 

What is claimed is:

1.    A method for the modification of ISO Containers to provide additional width for facilitating container conversions to garages, houses, emergency shelters, field offices or labs, oilfield equipment packages, compressor packages, generator sets, boilers, heaters, aerial coolers, pipeline modules, electrical equipment packages, other such conversions as would be benefitted by additional container width and for more flexible general local and overseas shipping, consisting of:

(a)       cutting top and bottom slits in the corrugated longitudinal sides of a 20’ or                  40’ ISO Container;

(b)       jacking the corrugated sides outward approximately 2’ to 4’ per side;

(c)        inserting top and bottom wood or metal filler sections in the resulting gaps;

(d)       using screws, bolts, adhesives, brazing or welding to reseal the container.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the top cuts in the corrugated longitudinal sides of the ISO Container are made approximately one foot from the top of the container to provide beam strength to support the container roof.

 

3. The method of Claim 1, wherein the bottom cuts in the corrugated longitudinal sides of the ISO Container are made approximately one foot from the bottom of the container to provide beam strength to support the container floor and to provide space for the addition of further beams to support equipment installed within the container, be it standard or high cube in configuration.

 

4. The method of Claim 1, wherein jacking is found to be problematic, so the long sides are fully cut out, re-worked and re-welded in a wider configuration, ensuring that the container ends and corner fittings are not adjusted or re-located.

 

5. The method of Claim 1, wherein the side bump-outs are designed to be half-height for shipping flexibility.

 

6. The method of Claim 1, wherein all manner of doors and windows may be added to the bump-outs to facilitate re-purposing.

 

7. The method of Claim 1, wherein proper engineering calculations are performed to enable the re-certification of the half-wider and double wide containers as ISO Intermodal Containers.

 

8. The method of Claim 1, wherein proper engineering calculations are performed to enable new construction of the half-wider and double wide containers as ISO Intermodal Containers.

 

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