Modular assembly

摘要

A modular assembly capable of converting from a shipping container configuration into a building unit, and from a building unit into a shipping container configuration. From the shipping container configuration, a plurality of frame panels and unit panels moveably connected to a frame of the modular assembly are selectively positioned to form the floors, walls, and ceilings of the building unit configuration thereby forming a living and/or commercial structure complete with electrical, water and sewage connections. The assembly may include an automated erection system, which may include a system of electric motors, gears, pulleys, cables, automated mechanical arms and electronic controls, located within the container structure of the modular assembly, and which interact with a plurality of frame panels and unit panels to deploy and retract the plurality of frame panels and unit panels for constructing the shipping container configuration and building unit configuration.

主权项

1. A building assembly comprising:
a plurality of modular assemblies stacked on top of each other in a shipping container configuration, each modular assembly structured to assume either the shipping container configuration or a building unit configuration and including a central frame which defines a box-shaped shipping container; a plurality of frame panels disposable in a substantially closed, interconnected position to at least partially define the shipping container; the plurality of frame panels moveably disposed outwardly from the frame into an opened position to at least partially define the building unit configuration; a plurality of unit panels movably connected to and disposable on the frame in a closed position aligned with the frame panels being in the closed position; and the plurality of unit panels movably disposable outwardly from the frame into fan opened position to further at least partially define the building unit configuration, wherein the central frame comprises a plurality of fixed interconnected columns which form an exterior frame of the modular assembly when the modular assembly is in the shipping container configuration, the plurality of fixed interconnected columns of the central frame form a frame of a core structure of the modular assembly when the modular assembly is in the building unit configuration, wherein each modular assembly of the plurality of modular assemblies is converted between the shipping container configuration and the building unit configuration while disposed in a stacked position, wherein during conversion between the shipping container configuration and the building unit configuration, the plurality of unit panels do not cross substantially above a plane defined by an uppermost surface of the central frame, wherein each modular assembly includes an automated erection system which converts the modular assembly entirely between the shipping container configuration and the building unit configuration, and vice versa, according to an automatic, pre-programmed sequence that is initiated by a single input, wherein the automated erection system is coupled to each of the plurality of frame panels and to each of the plurality of unit panels to change the disposition thereof according to the pre-programmed sequence, wherein each of the plurality of frame panels is moveably connected along a lower most longitudinal end to the central frame and positioned to define a floor portion of the building unit configuration, and the automated erection system includes a first plurality of cables attached at one end to an upper most longitudinal end of individual ones of the plurality of frame panels and attached at another end to a pulley carriage that is displaced according to the pre-programmed sequence, wherein the each of the plurality of frame panels includes at least one panel segment movably connected to a corresponding frame panel of the plurality of frame panels and positionable outwardly therefrom to further at least partially define a sidewall portion of the building unit configuration, the at least one panel segment is moveably connected at an upper most longitudinal end of the corresponding frame panel, and the automated erection system includes a second plurality of cables which are threaded through the at least one panel segment and are displaced according to the pre-programmed sequence.