AU2008202035A1 - Flowable materials handling equipment and related processes - Google Patents

Description

00 -1-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service is: Agrinational Pty Ltd Brett Duczmal SHELSTON IP Margaret Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Telephone No: Facsimile No.

(02) 97771111 (02) 9241 4666 Invention Title: FLOWABLE MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT AND RELATED

PROCESSES

Details of Associated Provisional Application No. 2007902510 dated 11 May 2007 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 49878AUP00 501543742 1.DOC/5844 00 -2- FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to transport containers, materials transfer systems involving transport containers, and associated materials transfer processes. In particular, the invention relates to transport containers, systems, and processes suitable for the bulk transport of flowable materials by rail trains, heavy road vehicles, and container ships.

t The invention has been developed primarily for use in transporting flowable materials from interior locations to ports for export in standard shipping containers.

SHowever, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular use.

00 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Any discussion of the prior art throughout this specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

Prior methods of transporting bulk flowable materials include the use of rail trains with custom-built and dedicated wagons. These bulk wagons include those having top openings for top loading the flowable materials into the wagons. The flowable materials are then unloaded at the destination through hatches in the bottom of the wagons. The use of rail trains with these wagons, for the on-line unloading described, has the disadvantage that each wagon must be unloaded individually and sequentially at the destination. The unloading process involves unloading the flowable materials from each wagon into a pit situated in the ground under the tracks beneath the wagon. The flowable materials are then transferred from the pit to a silo, or silos, for storage. This on-line unloading, therefore, is quite inefficient in that the rail train must remain at the destination until the unloading operation is complete, and the flowable materials must be transferred from the pit to the silo in a separate step. This results in increased process time and operating costs.

This method also requires space, typically requiring a track length of double the length of the rail train. However, space can be limited in built-up areas such as busy or established ports, or cities, where major ports are often located. Furthermore, this method requires additional infrastructure, such as in-ground pits and silos, which can be costly, uneconomical and impractical to build. The method also contributes to traffic, causing delays, further inefficiency and costs.

00 -3- Further disadvantages are the environmental issues associated with the method.

For example, significant amounts of dust can be generated during loading and unloading of the flowable materials. Also, where the flowable materials are unloaded into pits or silos, further segregation is required before sale or export, in which specific commercial units of the materials are needed. This leads to the additional disadvantage of making Scost efficient, accurate and timely stock reporting difficult, since there is more opportunity for stock wastage and equipment such as registered weigh scales are Srequired at more stages. Usually, large-scale infrastructure, such as the custom-built 00 wagons used in this method, is owned by third parties. This exposes the transporter of the bulk flowable materials to third party equipment failure and maintenance downtime.

Other prior methods involve the use of standard shipping containers having a pair of complementary doors at one end. Once such method involves opening one of the doors and installing a panel in its doorway to leave an opening adjacent the top of the container. The flowable materials are then conveyed through the opening into the container by a cantilevered conveyor or auger. In doing so, either the conveyor or the container is moved to progressively position the cantilevered end of the conveyor inside the container in order to fill the container. A variation of this method utilises a thrower or blower that spits the flowable materials through the opening into the container.

Another variation involves tilting the container and dropping the flowable materials via a conveyor or auger through the opening into the container.

These methods, however, have proven inefficient since additional equipment and set-up time is required, with the associated increases in costs. This is especially the case where the flowable material is grain, since very few grain supply locations have the appropriate infirastructure. Furthermore, usually the standard shipping container must also be removed from the rail train before it can be loaded using such methods.

However, once again, most loading sites do not have the required infrastructure. For example, although many loading sites have equipment to top load the containers while they are on the trains, they do not have the necessary equipment to remove the containers from the trains. This equipment includes a 30 tonne rated container forklift and a suitable hardstand on which the forklift can operate. As well as requiring additional infrastructure, removing containers from the trains is also inefficient in that additional set-up time and costs are required.

00 -4- Instead, suppliers from remote or interior loading sites typically transport the flowable materials, using the bulk rail wagons described above, or heavy road vehicles, to intermediate loading sites that have the required infrastructure for loading into Sstandard shipping containers. Using intermediate loading sites adds more handling steps, and further increases process time and cost. Also, these intermediate loading sites Sare often owned and operated by separate transport operators. Further, they are few in number, sparsely located, and serve a limited area. Thus, not all remote or interior initial Sloading sites have access to one of these intermediate loading sites.

00 Further prior methods involve the use of specialised transport containers having top openings so that the flowable materials can be top loaded into the containers.

However, since these containers are specialised, they are not suited to other applications and to transporting other materials. Also, these specialised containers were only designed for the domestic relocation of materials, and were not intended for containerisation, where material is placed in containers for sale or export. Thus, their use is limited and not cost efficient. Furthermore, since the top hatches of these specialised containers only hinge open to about 110 degrees, they obstruct silo loading facilities, particularly transfer chutes that need to be positioned close to the top hatch openings in order to drop materials into the containers.

These specialised containers also pose problems when unloading, since the flowable materials cannot be removed from the containers easily. The containers usually have hatches in the bottom for unloading. However, these require specialised wagons, such as skel wagons, which have openings in their bases, instead of the more common flat deck wagons. As above, where the specialised wagons are provided by third parties, the transporter is exposed to third party equipment failure and maintenance downtime.

The prior methods utilising custom-built or specialised equipment, such as the custom-built wagons and specialised containers described above, also have the disadvantage in that their utilisation is prone to environmental and market supply factors, especially when transporting agricultural goods. For example, in the case where grain is being transported, the equipment cannot be utilised to maintain an income during drought conditions, or when there is a downturn in grain supply, since their use is limited to grain.

00 0 Further prior methods include the use of heavy road vehicles, such as container trucks. However, this method of transport, whether used solely or in an intermediate transporting step, is costly and is usually more time consuming. Also, particularly in the grain supply industry, not all loading sites are easily accessible by container trucks.

Furthermore, if the types of containers described above were used, the same problems t discussed above would be encountered.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the Cdisadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

00 lo SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a transport container for a flowable material, the transport container including: a container bottom; a container top; a container wall interconnecting the container bottom and container top; a closeable top opening in the container top for receiving the flowable material; and a closeable wall opening in the container wall for discharging the flowable material.

Preferably, the wall opening is adjacent the container bottom. Preferably, the container wall has a door and the wall opening is in the door.

Preferably, the wall opening has a re-closeable wall hatch having a closed position to contain the flowable material and an open position to allow discharge of the flowable material. More preferably, the wall hatch is selectively positionable between the closed and open positions to adjustably vary the discharge rate of the flowable material through the wall opening.

Preferably, the wall hatch is slidably mounted to the container wall and is slidable between the closed and open positions. More preferably, the wall hatch is selectively slidably positionable between the closed and open positions to adjustably vary the discharge rate of the flowable material through the wall opening. Preferably, the wall hatch includes a gate slidably mounted in a pair of spaced parallel guide channels on the container wall.

00 -6- Preferably, the transport container has a lever mechanism to move the wall hatch between the closed and open positions.

In one embodiment, the lever mechanism includes: an actuating lever arm hingedly connected to the container wall; and a linkage hingedly connected at one end to the actuating lever arm, and hingedly Sconnected at the other end to the wall hatch; such that rotation of the actuating lever arm moves the wall hatch between the Sclosed and open positions.

00 In another embodiment, the lever mechanism includes: a shaft rotatably mounted to the container wall; a first linkage fixedly connected to the shaft and projecting radially from the shaft; and a second linkage hingedly connected at one end to the first linkage and hingedly connected at the other end to the wall hatch; such that rotation of the shaft moves the wall hatch between the closed and open positions.

More preferably, a handle projects radially from the shaft for rotating the shaft.

Preferably, the top opening has a re-closeable top hatch having a closed position to contain the flowable material and an open position to receive the flowable material.

Preferably, the top hatch is hingedly connected to the container top, such that the top hatch rotates between the closed position and the open position about a hinge axis.

More preferably, the top hatch is rotatable by more than 90 degrees between the closed position and the open position. Even more preferably, the top hatch is rotatable by between 150 degrees and 180 degrees between the closed position and the open position.

Preferably, the vertical height of the top hatch relative to the container top is substantially the same in the closed and open positions. More preferably, the container top is generally planar and the top hatch lies substantially flush with the container top in both the closed and open positions.

Preferably, the transport container is configured for carriage by a rail train.

Preferably, the transport container is configured for carriage by a road vehicle.

Preferably, the transport container is configured for carriage by a container ship. More preferably, the transport container is configured in accordance with international shipping standards. Preferably, the transport container is a rectangular prism wherein 00 -7the container wall includes a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls. Preferably, the transport container is a 20-foot international standard shipping container. In one embodiment, the transport container is about 6.058 m long, about 2.500 m wide, and about 2.590 m high. In another embodiment, the transport container is about 6.058 m long, about 2.500 m wide, and about 2.896 m high.

t In one embodiment, one of the end walls has a door. In another embodiment, two Scomplementary doors define one of the end walls. Preferably, the wall opening is Slocated in one of the doors. In another embodiment, the transport container includes two 00 of the wall openings, each located in a respective door.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a flowable materials transfer system including: a primary transport container as described above for containing a flowable material; and a primary container tilting mechanism for tilting the primary transport container to allow the flowable material to discharge through the wall opening.

Preferably, the system includes a transfer conveyor for receiving the flowable material from the primary transport container.

Preferably, the system includes a secondary transport container positionable to receive the flowable material from the primary transport container, the secondary transport container being openable to form a loading opening for receiving the flowable material. Preferably, the secondary transport container is a rectangular prism including a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls.

Preferably, the transfer conveyor conveys the flowable material to the secondary transport container for receipt by the secondary transport container.

Preferably, the system includes a secondary container tilting mechanism for tilting the secondary transport container to receive the flowable material through the loading opening in the secondary transport container. In one embodiment, one of the end walls of the secondary transport container has a door. In another embodiment, two complementary doors define one of the end walls of the secondary transport container.

Preferably, at least a portion of the doorway defined when one of the doors is open forms the loading opening in the secondary transport container. Preferably, the secondary transport container includes a panel that partially covers the doorway to form 00 -8the loading opening. Preferably, the loading opening is adjacent the top of the secondary transport container.

Preferably, the transfer conveyer conveys the flowable material to a discharge position above the loading opening in the secondary transport container whereby the flowable material drops through the loading opening into the secondary transport Scontainer. Preferably, the transfer conveyor has a discharge chute at the discharge position to direct the flowable material through the loading opening into the secondary transport container.

00 In one embodiment, the system includes two of the secondary transport containers, and the transfer conveyor includes two branches, the flowable material being conveyable by each branch to a respective secondary transport container, the transfer conveyor further including a diverter selectively switchable between two positions, the flowable material being diverted to one branch in one position, and diverted to the other branch in the other position.

Preferably, the transfer conveyor includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor.

Preferably, the system includes a surge bin to receive the flowable material from the first conveyor and to selectively discharge flowable material from the surge bin to the second conveyor, the discharge from the surge bin being interruptable without interrupting the receipt of the flowable material into the surge bin.

Preferably, the primary and secondary container tilting mechanisms each include: a base; a frame for supporting a transport container, the frame being hingedly connected to the base; and an extendable ram interconnecting the base and the frame such that extension of the ram rotates the frame with respect to the base thereby tilting the transport container.

Preferably, the extendable ram is hydraulically actuated.

Preferably, at least the secondary tilting mechanism includes a registered weigh cell to measure the mass of the secondary transport container including any flowable material in the secondary transport container. More preferably, the primary tilting mechanism includes a registered weigh cell to measure the mass of the primary transport container including any flowable material in the primary transport container.

Preferably, the system includes a safety mechanism to lock the doors of the primary transport container in a closed position. Preferably, the safety mechanism 00 -9automatically locks the doors in the closed position when the primary transport container is tilted. Preferably, the safety mechanism automatically unlocks the doors when a predetermined mass of the primary transport container is measured by a registered weigh cell. More preferably, the safety mechanism includes a bar movable into: a locking position wherein the bar extends across the width of the doors to lock the t doors of the primary transport container in the closed position; and an unlocking position wherein the doors of the primary transport container are openable.

00 In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of transferring a flowable material from a first location to a second location, the method including the steps of providing a primary transport container as described above at the first location; top loading the flowable material into the primary transport container through the top opening at the first location; transporting the primary transport container from the first location to the second location; and tilting the primary transport container at the second location to allow the flowable material to discharge through the wall opening.

Preferably, the method includes the steps of providing a primary container tilting mechanism and placing the primary transport container onto the primary container tilting mechanism at the second location to tilt the primary transport container.

Preferably, the flowable material is discharged from the primary transport container onto a transfer conveyor.

Preferably, the method includes the step of positioning a secondary transport container such that the flowable material is discharged from the primary transport container into the secondary transport container. This includes the steps of providing and positioning the secondary transport container to receive the flowable material from the primary transport container, and opening the secondary transport container to form a loading opening for receiving the flowable material. Preferably, the secondary transport container is a rectangular prism including a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls.

00 Preferably, the method includes the step of conveying the flowable material on the transport conveyor to the secondary transport container for receipt by the secondary transport container.

Preferably, the method includes the step of tilting the second transport container to receive the flowable material through the loading opening in the secondary transport t container. In one embodiment, one of the end walls of the secondary transport container has a door. In another embodiment, two complementary doors define one of the end Swalls of the secondary transport container. Preferably, the method includes the step of 00 opening one of the doors to define a doorway, wherein at least a portion of the doorway forms the loading opening in the secondary transport container. Preferably, the method includes the step of installing a panel that partially covers the doorway to form the loading opening. Preferably, the loading opening is formed adjacent the top of the secondary transport container.

Preferably, the method includes the steps of providing a secondary container tilting mechanism and placing the secondary transport container onto the secondary container tilting mechanism at the second location to tilt the secondary transport container.

Preferably, the flowable material is conveyed on the transport conveyor to a discharge position above the loading opening in the secondary transport container whereby the flowable material drops through the loading opening into the secondary transport container. Preferably, the transfer conveyor has a discharge chute at the discharge position, and the method includes the step of directing the flowable material from the discharge position through the loading opening into the secondary transport container by means of the discharge chute.

In one embodiment, two of the secondary transport containers are provided, the transfer conveyor includes two branches, the flowable material is conveyable by each branch to a respective secondary transport container, the transfer conveyor further includes a diverter selectively switchable between two positions, and the method further includes the step of selectively switching the diverter between one position to divert the flowable material to one branch, and the other position to divert the flowable material to the other branch.

Preferably, the transfer conveyor includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor.

Preferably, the method includes the steps of providing a surge bin to receive the flowable material from the first conveyor, selectively discharging flowable material 00 -11- 0 0 from the surge bin to the second conveyor, the discharge from the surge bin being interruptable without interrupting the receipt of the flowable material into the surge bin.

Preferably, the primary and secondary container tilting mechanisms each include: a base; s a frame for supporting a transport container, the frame being hingedly connected to Sthe base; and an extendable ram interconnecting the base and the frame such that extension of 0 the ram rotates the frame with respect to the base thereby tilting the transport container.

00 Preferably, the method includes the step of hydraulically actuating the extendable ram.

Preferably, at least the secondary tilting mechanism includes a registered weigh cell and the method includes the step of measuring the mass of the secondary transport container including any flowable material in the secondary transport container. More preferably, the primary tilting mechanism includes a registered weigh cell and the method includes the step of measuring the mass of the primary transport container including any flowable material in the primary transport container.

Preferably, the method includes the step of automatically locking the doors of the primary transport container in the closed position when the primary transport container is tilted. Preferably, the method includes the step of automatically unlocking the doors when a predetermined mass of the primary transport container is measured by a registered weigh cell. Preferably, the method includes the step of providing a safety mechanism to lock the doors of the primary transport container in a closed position.

More preferably, the safety mechanism includes a bar, and the method includes the steps of: moving the bar into a locking position wherein the bar extends across the width of the doors to lock the doors of the primary transport container in the closed position; and moving the bar into an unlocking position wherein the doors of the primary transport container are openable.

The following preferred features apply to the secondary transport containers respectively mentioned in the system and method described above. Preferably, each secondary transport container is configured for carriage by a rail train. Preferably, each secondary transport container is configured for carriage by a road vehicle. Preferably, each secondary transport container is configured for carriage by a container ship. More 00 -12preferably, each secondary transport container is configured in accordance with international shipping standards. Preferably, the transport container is a international standard shipping container. In one embodiment, each secondary transport container is about 6.058 m long, about 2.500 m wide, and about 2.590 m high. In another embodiment, the transport container is about 6.058 m long, about 2.500 m wide, Sand about 2.896 m high.

SEmbodiments of the system and method described above that feature a primary Sand secondary transport container advantageously allow the two transport containers to 00 be located on substantially the same level during transfer of the flowable material. In particular, the primary transport container is tilted to discharge the flowable material onto a lower end of the transfer conveyor, which then conveys the flowable material to the discharge position adjacent an elevated end of the transfer conveyor. The secondary transport container is tilted and positioned on the same general level as the primary transport container so that the loading opening in the secondary transport container is under the discharge position to allow the flowable material to drop through the loading opening. Thus, these embodiments of the invention can be located in single storey buildings. These embodiments also require relatively small footprints, and are therefore suited to built-up areas such as cities, or busy or established ports.

The invention advantageously allows for the off-line unloading of flowable materials from transport containers carried by transport means such as rail trains and heavy road vehicles. This refers to the unloading of flowable materials by removing the transport containers from the transport means before unloading, thereby allowing the transport means to continue further operations without having to wait for the unloading to complete. This greatly improves the efficiency of transferring bulk flowable materials from one location to another. By freeing up space without undue delay and alleviating traffic, off-line unloading is especially suited to transferring bulk flowable materials from remote locations to export ports in built-up areas, such as major cities, or busy or established ports, where space is limited and traffic is heavy.

In particular, it provides a more desirable alternative to the on-line unloading of rail trains described above, which is often carried out with custom-built and dedicated transport containers and rail wagons, such as those containers that are top loaded and then unloaded through a hatch in the bottom of the container. Off-line unloading does not feature the disadvantages of on-line unloading, such as requiring the individual and 00 -13-

O

sequential unloading of each transport container or rail wagon, the provision of a track length of double the length of the rail train, uncontained dust generation into the environment, unloading into an intermediate storage location, and additional segregation and weighing of the flowable material into commercial units.

O

The invention also provides particular advantages over the prior methods idescribed above that involve the use of standard shipping containers. The transport Scontainers of the present invention do not necessitate having additional equipment to Oremove the containers from the rail wagons before loading, such as a forklift, and 00 additional equipment to load the flowable material into the containers, such as augers, conveyors, and blowers. Thus, intermediate loading sites, and transport from initial loading sites to intermediate loading sites, are unnecessary. Further, since most remote or interior sites have rail train access, the invention can serve many more loading sites than prior methods.

The transport containers of the present invention result in more efficient unloading of the flowable material from the containers when compared with standard shipping containers and other prior containers, including specialised top-loading containers. The containers of the present invention can be unloaded directly into containers that are to be sold or exported, instead of being unloaded into an intermediate storage location, as is the case with prior containers, methods and systems.

The present invention also reduces the reliance on third party equipment, such as that featured in prior systems employing large-scale infrastructure, including custombuilt rail wagons and in-ground pits. Therefore, the present invention ameliorates the exposure to third-party equipment failure and maintenance downtime.

Furthermore, since there is less reliance on custom-built equipment, such as the custom-built wagons and specialised containers described above, the present invention is less prone to environmental and market supply factors, especially when transporting agricultural goods. This advantage is further enhanced since the present invention also advantageously provides transport containers that can be used like standard portable stand-alone transport containers. For example, the containers of the invention can be used to carry other materials, can be used in other processes, and are suited to rail trains and road vehicles that carry standard transport containers.

00 -14- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a transport container according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the transport container, showing a top opening with a top t hatch.

Figure 3 is a front end elevation of the transport container, showing a pair of wall openings with wall hatches.

00 Figure 4 is a back end elevation of the transport container.

Figures 5, 7, and 9 are enlarged side elevations of one of the wall hatches in a closed position, an intermediate position, and an open position, respectively.

Figures 6, 8, and 10 are cross-sections of the wall hatch as shown in Figures 5, 7, and 9, respectively.

Figures 11 and 12 are side elevations of the top hatch in a closed position and an open position respectively.

Figure 13 is a schematic plan view of a flowable materials transfer system according to the invention.

Figure 14 is a schematic side elevation of the flowable materials transfer system.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to the figures, the transport container 1 for a flowable material includes a container bottom 2, a container top 3, and a container wall, in the form of two end walls 4 and 5 and two side walls 6 and 7, interconnecting the container bottom 2 and the container top 3. A closeable top opening 8 is in the container top 3 for receiving the flowable material, and two closeable wall openings 9 and 10 are in one of the end walls 4 for discharging the flowable material. Preferably, the transport container is for handling grain. Other embodiments include only one wall opening and handle other materials.

In the present embodiment, the container is a 20-foot international standard shipping container configured for carriage by rail train, road vehicle, and container ship.

In particular, the transport container is a rectangular prism including a pair of mutually opposed end walls 4 and 5 and a pair of mutually opposed side walls 6 and 7, and is 00 00 In C-q

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about 6.058 m long, about 2.500 m wide, and about 2.896 m high. Two complementary doors 11 and 12 define one of the end walls 4.

The two wall openings 9 and 10 are each located in a respective door 11 and 12, adjacent the container bottom 2. In embodiments with only one wall opening, the wall opening can be in either door. Having the wall openings in doors advantageously facilitates the complete unloading of the flowable material and the cleaning of the transport container. In preferred embodiments, the doors include retaining means for retaining vermin poison, such that vermin is substantially eradicated from inside the transport container 1. In one embodiment, the retaining means is a pocket formation located on the inside face of one of the doors. When the transport container is not in use, vermin poison is placed in the retaining means before the doors are closed. Thus, the container is substantially free of vermin, such as the grain weevil, by next use.

Each wall opening 9 and 10 of the present embodiment has a respective recloseable wall hatch 13 and 14. In the present embodiment, the wall hatches 13 and 14 are identical, with identical features, and accordingly, only the wall hatch 13 is shown in further detail in the figures. Each wall hatch has a closed position to contain the flowable material and an open position to allow discharge of the flowable material, as best shown in Figures 5, 6, 9, 10, which show these positions in relation to the wall hatch 13. Each wall hatch 13 and 14 is slidably mounted to the end wall 4 and is slidable between the closed and open positions. More particularly, each wall hatch 13 and 14 includes a respective gate 15 slidably mounted in a respective pair of spaced parallel guide channels 16 and 17 on the end wall 4. Each gate 15 is selectively slidably positionable between the closed and open positions to adjustably vary the discharge rate of the flowable material through a respective wall opening 9 and 10. This advantageously allows for complete control of the discharge rate of the flowable material.

The transport container 1 has lever mechanisms 18 and 19 to respectively move the wall hatches 13 and 14 between the closed and open positions. In the present embodiment, the lever mechanisms 18 and 19 are identical, with identical features, and accordingly, only the lever mechanism 18 is shown in further detail in the figures.

Referring in particular to Figures 5 to 10, which show the lever mechanism 18 in further detail, the lever mechanisms 18 and 19 each include an actuating lever arm 20 hingedly connected to the end wall 4. A linkage 21 is hingedly connected at one end to the 00 -16actuating lever arm 20, and hingedly connected at the other end to the respective wall hatch 13 and 14. Thus, rotation of the actuating lever arm 20 moves the respective wall hatch 13 and 14 between the closed and open positions.

In another embodiment (not shown), the lever mechanism includes a shaft rotatably mounted to the end wall 4, and a first linkage fixedly connected to the shaft Sand projecting radially from the shaft. A second linkage is hingedly connected at one end to the first linkage and hingedly connected at the other end to the wall hatch, such Sthat rotation of the shaft moves the wall hatch between the closed and open positions. A 00 handle projects radially from the shaft for rotating the shaft. In other embodiments, the lever mechanism includes two first linkages and two second linkages.

The top opening 8 has a re-closeable top hatch 22 having a closed position, as best shown in Figure 11, to contain the flowable material and an open position, as best shown in Figure 12, to receive the flowable material. The top hatch 22 is hingedly connected to the container top 3, such that the top hatch 22 rotates by about 160 degrees between the closed position and the open position about a hinge axis 23. In preferred embodiments, the vertical height of the top hatch 22 relative to the container top 3 is substantially the same in the closed and open positions. It is also preferred that the container top 3 is generally planar and the top hatch 22 lies substantially flush with the container top 3 in both the closed and open positions. These embodiments advantageously maintain the same total clearance required to avoid fouling the top hatch in the closed and open positions. Thus, it is not necessary to adjust the height of objects passing over the transport container, such as equipment for loading the flowable material, in order to accommodate the overall height of the transport container when the top hatch is in either the closed or open positions.

Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, and in accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the flowable materials transfer system includes two primary transport containers for containing a flowable material, each primary transport container being the transport container 1 described above. The system further includes two primary container tilting mechanisms 24 for tilting a respective primary transport container 1 to allow the flowable material to discharge through either or both wall openings 9 and 10 in each primary transport container 1. A transfer conveyor 25 receives the flowable material from the primary transport containers 1. Preferably, the system is for transferring grain. However, the system is not limited to grain.

00 -17- Two secondary transport containers 26 are positioned to receive the flowable material from the primary transport containers 1, the flowable material being conveyed to the secondary transport containers 26 by the transfer conveyor 25. The system further includes two secondary container tilting mechanisms 27 for tilting a respective secondary transport container 26 to receive the flowable material through a loading In opening 28 in one of the walls of each secondary transport container 26.

Each secondary transport container 26 is a 20-foot international standard shipping Scontainer configured for carriage by rail train, road vehicle, and container ship. In 00 particular, each secondary transport container 26 is a rectangular prism including a pair of mutually opposed end walls 29 and 30 and a pair of mutually opposed side walls 31 and 32, and is 6.058 m long, 2.500 m wide, and 2.896 m high. Two complementary doors 33 and 34 define one of the end walls 29 in each secondary transport container 26.

Each secondary transport container 26 includes a panel 35 that partially covers the doorway 36 of one of the doors 33 of each secondary transport container to form a respective loading opening 28, which is adjacent the top of the respective secondary transport container. In other embodiments, the loading opening is at least a portion of one of the doorways defined when the doors are open in each container. Each secondary transport container is therefore openable to form respective loading openings 28 for receiving the flowable material.

Returning to the present embodiment, the transfer conveyer 25 conveys the flowable material to a respective discharge position 37 above the loading opening 28 in each secondary transport container 26 whereby the flowable material drops through each loading opening 28 into the respective secondary transport container 26. The transfer conveyor 25 has a respective discharge chute 38 at each discharge position 37 to direct the flowable material through each loading opening 28. The transfer conveyor includes two branches 39 and 40, the flowable material being conveyable by each branch to the respective secondary transport container 26, the transfer conveyor further including a diverter 41 selectively switchable between two positions, the flowable material being diverted to one branch in one position, and diverted to the other branch in the other position. This allows the flow of flowable material along the conveyor 25 to be continuous, since flowable material can be diverted from one branch to the other as soon as one secondary transport container 26 is full.

00 -18- Although the present embodiment includes two primary transport containers 1, two secondary transport containers 26, and a respective container tilting mechanism for each transport container, other embodiments include different numbers of transport containers and tilting mechanisms. In these other embodiments, it will be appreciated that the number of discharge positions 37, branches and discharge chutes 38 in the transfer Sconveyor, preferably match the number of secondary transport containers in the particular embodiment of the system.

SReturning to the present embodiment, the transfer conveyor 25 includes a first 00 conveyor 42 and a second conveyor 43. The first conveyor 42 is positioned adjacent the wall openings 9 and 10 of each primary transport container I, such that each primary transport container 1 can discharge the flowable material onto sequential positions along the first conveyor 42. The system further includes a surge bin 44 to receive the flowable material from the first conveyor 42 and to selectively discharge flowable material from the surge bin 44 to the second conveyor 43. The discharge from the surge bin 44 is interruptable without interrupting the receipt of the flowable material into the surge bin 44. Advantageously, the primary transport containers 1 can continue to discharge while the secondary transport containers 26 stop receiving the flowable material, thereby allowing the replacement of full secondary transport containers 26 with empty secondary transport containers 26.

Each primary and secondary container tilting mechanism includes a base 45 and a frame 46 for supporting a respective transport container 1 and 26, the frame 46 being hingedly connected to the base 45. An extendable ram 47 interconnects the base 45 and the frame 46 such that extension of the ram 47 rotates the frame 46 with respect to the base 45 thereby tilting the respective transport container 1 and 26. The extendable ram 47 is preferably hydraulically actuated. Each tilting mechanism 24 and 27 includes a registered weigh cell to measure the masses of the respective transport container 1 and 26 including any flowable material in the respective transport container 1 and 26. In other embodiments, only the secondary tilting mechanisms 24 include registered weigh cells.

The system further includes a safety mechanism to lock the doors 11 and 12 of each primary transport container 1 in a closed position. The safety mechanism automatically locks the doors 11 and 12 in the closed position when each primary transport container 1 is tilted. The safety mechanism automatically unlocks the doors 11 00 -19and 12 when a predetermined mass of each primary transport container 1 is measured by the respective registered weigh cell. The safety mechanism includes a bar movable into a locking position wherein the bar extends across the width of the doors 11 and 12 to t lock the doors 11 and 12 of each primary transport container I in the closed position.

The bar is also movable into an unlocking position wherein the doors of each transport t container are openable. In some embodiments, a plurality of bars are provided, each extending across the width of respective pairs of doors I1I and 12, and independently Smovable into respective locking and unlocking positions. This allows the independent 00 locking and unlocking of respective primary transport containers 1.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of transferring a flowable material from a first location to a second location. In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a method of transferring a flowable product, preferably grain, from a location in the interior of a country, remote from coastal port facilities, to a city-based port for export. The method includes the steps of providing two primary transport containers, being the transport containers 1 described above, at the interior location, and top loading the flowable product into the primary transport containers 1 through the respective top opening 8 whilst at the interior location. The next step is transporting, preferably by rail train, the primary transport containers 1 from the interior location to the city-based port.

At the city-based port, the primary transport containers 1 are each tilted to allow the flowable product to discharge through either or both wall openings 9 and 10 of each primary transport container 1.

In the present preferred embodiment, the method utilises the flowable materials transfer system described above. In particular, the method includes the step of providing the respective primary container tilting mechanism 24 for each primary transport container 1. The method further includes the step of placing each primary transport container onto the respective primary container tilting mechanism 24 at the city-based port in order to tilt each primary transport container 1 to discharge the flowable product onto the transfer conveyor Two secondary transport containers, being the secondary transport containers 26 described above, are provided and each positioned such that the flowable product is discharged from the primary transport containers 1 into the secondary transport containers 26, the flowable product being conveyed to each secondary transport container 26 by the transfer conveyor 25. In particular, the method includes the step of 00 providing the respective secondary container tilting mechanism 27 for each secondary transport container 26. The method further includes the step of placing each secondary transport container 26 onto the respective secondary container tilting mechanism 27 at the city-based port to tilt each secondary transport container 26 in order to receive the flowable product through the loading opening 28 that is in one of the walls of each t secondary transport container 26. The method preferably includes the step of hydraulically actuating the extendable ram 47 to tilt the respective transport containers 1 and 26.

00 In further detail, the method includes the steps of opening one of the doors 33 of each secondary transport container 26 to define the doorway 36, and installing the panel that partially covers the doorway 36 to form the loading opening 28 for receiving the flowable product. The loading opening 28 is formed adjacent the top of the secondary transport container 26. In other embodiments of the method, only one door is provided in one of the walls. In further embodiments, and depending on the number of doors, one or both doors are opened and at least a portion of the doorway or doorways forms the loading opening.

Returning to the present embodiment, the method includes the step of conveying the flowable product on the transfer conveyor 25 to the respective discharge position 37 above the loading opening 28 in each secondary transport container 26 whereby the flowable product drops through each loading opening 28 into the respective secondary transport container 26. The method includes the further step of directing the flowable product from each discharge position 37 through the respective loading opening 28 into the respective secondary transport container 26 by means of the respective discharge chute 38. The method also includes the step of selectively switching the diverter 41 between one position to divert the flowable material to one of the branches 39 and and the other position to divert the flowable material to the other of the branches.

The present embodiment of the method further includes the step of positioning the first conveyor 42 adjacent the wall openings 9 and 10 of each primary transport container 1, such that each primary transport container 1 can discharge the flowable material onto sequential positions along the first conveyor 42. The method also includes the steps of providing the surge bin 44 to receive the flowable material from the first conveyor 42, and selectively discharging the flowable material from the surge bin 44 to the second conveyor 43. Selectively discharging the flowable material includes the step 00 -21of interrupting the discharge of the flowable material without interrupting the receipt of the flowable material into the surge bin 44.

The method includes measuring the mass of each secondary transport container 26 S including any flowable material in the respective secondary transport container, and preferably, the mass of each primary transport container I including any flowable t material in the respective primary transport container, by means of the registered weigh cells included in each tilting mechanism 24 and 27.

O Furthermore, the method includes the steps of providing the safety mechanism 00 described above and using the safety mechanism to automatically lock the doors 11 and 12 of each primary transport container 1 in the closed position when each primary transport container is tilted. The method also includes the step of automatically unlocking the doors 11 and 12 when a predetermined mass of each primary transport container 1 is measured by the respective registered weigh cell. In particular, the steps include moving the bar of the safety mechanism into the locking position where the bar extends across the width of the doors 11 and 12 to lock the doors 11 and 12 of each primary transport container 1 in the closed position, and moving the bar into the unlocking position wherein the doors of each primary transport container 1 are openable.

In some embodiments, where a plurality of bars are provided, each extending across the width of respective pairs of doors 11 and 12, the steps include moving each bar independently into respective locking and unlocking positions. This allows the independent locking and unlocking of respective primary transport containers 1.

The embodiment of the method and the embodiment of the flowable materials transfer system described above, each advantageously allows the transport containers 1 and 26 to be located on substantially the same level during transfer of the flowable material. In particular, each primary transport container 1 is tilted to discharge the flowable material onto a lower end 48 of the transfer conveyor 25, which then conveys the flowable material to each discharge position 37 adjacent an elevated end 49 of the transfer conveyor. Each secondary transport container 26 is tilted and positioned on the same general level as the primary transport containers 1 so that the loading opening 28 in each secondary transport container is under the discharge positions 37 to allow the flowable material to drop through the loading openings 28. The embodiments also require a relatively small footprint, and are therefore suited to built-up areas such as cities, or busy or established ports.

00 -22- The preferred embodiments are described in relation to the handling of grain.

However, the invention is not limited to grain, and other flowable materials can be handled. Furthermore, the present invention advantageously provides transport Scontainers that can be used like standard portable stand-alone transport containers.

Therefore, the transport containers of the described embodiments can be redeployed to Shandle other materials, whether the materials are flowable or non-flowable, with the Scontainers being carried on a variety of modes of transport, including rail trains, road Svehicles, and ships. Redeployment may become desirable, such as during a downturn in 00 the demand for grain transport, or during a prolonged drop in the supply of grain, resulting from, for example, drought conditions.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (69)

1. A transport container for a flowable material, the transport container including: a container bottom; a container top; a container wall interconnecting the container bottom and container top; t a closeable top opening in the container top for receiving the flowable material; and Sa closeable wall opening in the container wall for discharging the flowable 00 material.

2. A transport container according to claim 1, wherein the wall opening is adjacent the container bottom.

3. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container wall has a door and the wall opening is in the door.

4. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall opening has a re-closeable wall hatch having a closed position to contain the flowable material and an open position to allow discharge of the flowable material. A transport container according to claim 4, wherein the wall hatch is selectively positionable between the closed and open positions to adjustably vary the discharge rate of the flowable material through the wall opening.

6. A transport container according to any one of claims 4 to 5, wherein the wall hatch is slidably mounted to the container wall and is slidable between the closed and open positions.

7. A transport container according to claim 6, wherein the wall hatch is selectively slidably positionable between the closed and open positions to adjustably vary the discharge rate of the flowable material through the wall opening.

8. A transport container according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the wall hatch includes a gate slidably mounted in a pair of spaced parallel guide channels on the container wall.

9. A transport container according to any one of claims 4 to 8, including a lever mechanism to move the wall hatch between the closed and open positions. A transport container according to claim 9, wherein the lever mechanism includes: an actuating lever arm hingedly connected to the container wall; and 00 -24- a linkage hingedly connected at one end to the actuating lever arm, and hingedly connected at the other end to the wall hatch; such that rotation of the actuating lever arm moves the wall hatch between the closed and open positions.

11. A transport container according to claim 9, wherein the lever mechanism includes: Sa shaft rotatably mounted to the container wall; a first linkage fixedly connected to the shaft and projecting radially from the shaft; and 00 a second linkage hingedly connected at one end to the first linkage and hingedly connected at the other end to the wall hatch; such that rotation of the shaft moves the wall hatch between the closed and open positions.

12. A transport container according to claim 11, wherein a handle projects radially from the shaft for rotating the shaft.

13. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top opening has a re-closeable top hatch having a closed position to contain the flowable material and an open position to receive the flowable material.

14. A transport container according to claim 13, wherein the top hatch is hingedly connected to the container top, such that the top hatch rotates between the closed position and the open position about a hinge axis. A transport container according to claim 14, wherein the top hatch is rotatable by more than 90 degrees between the closed position and the open position.

16. A transport container according to claim 14, wherein the top hatch is rotatable by between 150 degrees and 180 degrees between the closed position and the open position.

17. A transport container according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the vertical height of the top hatch relative to the container top is substantially the same in the closed and open positions.

18. A transport container according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the container top is generally planar and the top hatch lies substantially flush with the container top in both the closed and open positions.

19. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, configured for carriage by a rail train. 00

20. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, configured for carriage by a road vehicle.

21. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, configured for carriage by a container ship.

22. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, configured in t accordance with international shipping standards.

23. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Stransport container is a rectangular prism wherein the container wall includes a pair of oO mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls.

24. A transport container according to claim 23, wherein one of the end walls has a door. A transport container according to claim 23, wherein two complementary doors define one of the end walls.

26. A transport container according to any one of claims 24 to 25, wherein the wall opening is located in one of the doors.

27. A transport container according to claim 25, including two of the wall openings, each located in a respective door.

28. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport container is a 20-foot international standard shipping container.

29. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport container is about 6.058 m long, about 2.500 m wide, and about 2.590 m high. A transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the transport container is about 6.058 m long, about 2.500 m wide, and about 2.896 m high.

31. A flowable materials transfer system including: a primary transport container according to any one of the preceding claims for containing a flowable material; and a primary container tilting mechanism for tilting the primary transport container to allow the flowable material to discharge through the wall opening.

32. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 31, including a transfer conveyor for receiving the flowable material from the primary transport container.

33. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 31 to 32, including a secondary transport container positionable to receive the flowable material 00 -26- from the primary transport container, the secondary transport container being openable to form a loading opening for receiving the flowable material.

34. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 33, wherein the secondary Stransport container is a rectangular prism including a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls. t 35. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 34, wherein one of the end walls of the secondary transport container has a door.

36. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 34, wherein two 00 complementary doors define one of the end walls of the secondary transport container.

37. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 35 to 36, wherein at least a portion of the doorway defined when one of the doors is open forms the loading opening in the secondary transport container.

38. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 37, wherein the secondary transport container includes a panel that partially covers the doorway to form the loading opening.

39. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 33 to 38, wherein the loading opening is adjacent the top of the secondary transport container. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 33 to 39, including a secondary container tilting mechanism for tilting the secondary transport container to receive the flowable material through the loading opening in the secondary transport container.

41. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 40, wherein the secondary tilting mechanism includes a registered weigh cell to measure the mass of the secondary transport container including any flowable material in the secondary transport container.

42. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 40 to 41, wherein the primary and secondary container tilting mechanisms each include: a base; a frame for supporting a transport container, the frame being hingedly connected to the base; and an extendable ram interconnecting the base and the frame such that extension of the ram rotates the frame with respect to the base thereby tilting the transport container.

43. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 42, wherein the extendable ram is hydraulically actuated. 00 -27-

44. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 33 to 43, including a transfer conveyor for receiving the flowable material from the primary transport container, and conveying the flowable material to the secondary transport container for receipt by the secondary transport container.

45. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 44, including two of the Ssecondary transport containers, the transfer conveyor including two branches, the Sflowable material being conveyable by each branch to a respective secondary transport Scontainer, the transfer conveyor further including a diverter selectively switchable 00 between two positions, the flowable material being diverted to one branch in one position, and diverted to the other branch in the other position.

46. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 44 to wherein the transfer conveyer conveys the flowable material to a respective discharge position above the loading opening in each secondary transport container whereby the flowable material drops through each loading opening into the respective secondary transport container.

47. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 46, wherein the transfer conveyor has a discharge chute at each discharge position to direct the flowable material through the respective loading opening into the respective secondary transport container.

48. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 32, 44 to 47, wherein the transfer conveyor includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor.

49. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 48, including a surge bin to receive the flowable material from the first conveyor and to selectively discharge flowable material from the surge bin to the second conveyor, the discharge from the surge bin being interruptable without interrupting the receipt of the flowable material into the surge bin. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 31 to 49, wherein the primary tilting mechanism includes a registered weigh cell to measure the mass of the primary transport container including any flowable material in the primary transport container.

51. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 31 to including a safety mechanism to lock the doors of the primary transport container in a closed position. 00 -28-

52. A flowable materials transfer system according to claim 51, wherein the safety mechanism automatically locks the doors in the closed position when the primary transport container is tilted.

53. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 51 to 52, wherein the safety mechanism automatically unlocks the doors when a predetermined tt mass of the primary transport container is measured by a registered weigh cell.

54. A flowable materials transfer system according to any one of claims 51 to 53, wherein the safety mechanism includes a bar movable into: 00 a locking position wherein the bar extends across the width of the doors to lock the doors of the primary transport container in the closed position; and an unlocking position wherein the doors of the primary transport container are openable. A method of transferring a flowable material from a first location to a second location, the method including the steps of: providing a primary transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 30 at the first location; top loading the flowable material into the primary transport container through the top opening at the first location; transporting the primary transport container from the first location to the second location; and tilting the primary transport container at the second location to allow the flowable material to discharge through the wall opening.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the flowable material is discharged from the primary transport container onto a transfer conveyor.

57. A method according to any one of claims 55 to 56, including the steps of providing and positioning a secondary transport container to receive the flowable material from the primary transport container, and opening the secondary transport container to form a loading opening for receiving the flowable material.

58. A method according to claim 57, wherein the secondary transport container is a rectangular prism including a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls.

59. A method according to claim 58, wherein one of the end walls of the secondary transport container has a door. 00 -29- A method according to claim 58, wherein two complementary doors define one of the end walls of the secondary transport container.

61. A method according to any one of claims 59 to 60, including the step of opening S one of the doors to define a doorway, wherein at least a portion of the doorway forms the loading opening in the secondary transport container. V) 62. A method according to claim 61, including the step of installing a panel that Spartially covers the doorway to form the loading opening.

63. A method according to any one of claims 57 to 62, wherein the loading opening is 00 formed adjacent the top of the secondary transport container.

64. A method according to any one of claims 57 to 63, including the step of tilting the secondary transport container to receive the flowable material through the loading opening in the secondary transport container. A method according to claim 64, including the steps of providing a secondary container tilting mechanism and placing the secondary transport container onto the secondary container tilting mechanism at the second location to tilt the secondary transport container.

66. A method according to any one of claims 65, wherein the secondary tilting mechanism includes a registered weigh cell and the method includes the step of measuring the mass of the secondary transport container including any flowable material in the secondary transport container.

67. A method according to any one claims 65 to 66, wherein the secondary container tilting mechanism includes: a base; a frame for supporting the transport container, the frame being hingedly connected to the base; and an extendable ram interconnecting the base and the frame such that extension of the ram rotates the frame with respect to the base thereby tilting the transport container.

68. A method according to claim 67, including the step of hydraulically actuating the extendable ram.

69. A method according to any one of claims 57 to 68, wherein the flowable material is discharged from the primary transport container onto a transfer conveyor, and the method includes the step of conveying the flowable material on the transport conveyor to the secondary transport container for receipt by the secondary transport container. 00

70. A method according to claim 69, wherein two of the secondary transport containers are provided, the transfer conveyor includes two branches, the flowable material is conveyable by each branch to a respective secondary transport container, the transfer conveyor further includes a diverter selectively switchable between two positions, and the method further includes the step of selectively switching the diverter t between one position to divert the flowable material to one branch, and the other position to divert the flowable material to the other branch.

71. A method according to any one of claims 69 to 70, wherein the flowable material 00 is conveyed on the transport conveyor to a respective discharge position above the loading opening in each secondary transport container whereby the flowable material drops through each loading opening into the respective secondary transport container.

72. A method according to claim 71, wherein the transfer conveyor has a respective discharge chute at each discharge position, and the method includes the step of directing the flowable material from each discharge position through the respective loading opening into the respective secondary transport container by means of the respective discharge chute.

73. A method according to any one of claims 56, 69 to 72, wherein the transfer conveyor includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor.

74. A method according to claim 73, including the steps of providing a surge bin to receive the flowable material from the first conveyor, selectively discharging flowable material from the surge bin to the second conveyor, the discharge from the surge bin being interruptable without interrupting the receipt of the flowable material into the surge bin. A method according to any one of claims 55 to 74, including the steps of providing a primary container tilting mechanism and placing the primary transport container onto the primary container tilting mechanism at the second location to tilt the primary transport container.

76. A method according to claim 75, wherein the primary tilting mechanism includes a registered weigh cell and the method includes the step of measuring the mass of the primary transport container including any flowable material in the primary transport container.

77. A method according to any one claims 75 to 76, wherein the primary container tilting mechanism includes: 00 -31- a base; a frame for supporting the transport container, the frame being hingedly connected to the base; and an extendable ram interconnecting the base and the frame such that extension of the ram rotates the frame with respect to the base thereby tilting the transport container. t 78. A method according to claim 77, including the step of hydraulically actuating the extendable ram.

79. A method according to any one of claims 55 to 78, including the step of 00 automatically locking the doors of the primary transport container in the closed position when the primary transport container is tilted. A method according to claim 79, including the step of automatically unlocking the doors when a predetermined mass of the primary transport container is measured by a registered weigh cell.

81. A method according to any one claims 79 to 80, including the step of providing a safety mechanism to lock the doors of the primary transport container in a closed position.

82. A method according to claim 81, wherein the safety mechanism includes a bar, and the method includes the steps of moving the bar into a locking position wherein the bar extends across the width of the doors to lock the doors of the primary transport container in the closed position; and moving the bar into an unlocking position wherein the doors of the primary transport container are openable.

83. A transport container substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples.

84. A flowable materials transfer system substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. A method of transferring a flowable material from a first location to a second location, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples.