AU2009230770A1 - Means for Cleaning a Freight Container - Google Patents

Description

1 TITLE Means for cleaning a freight container. 5 FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a means for cleaning a freight container, for example by way of plant capable of spraying the container with fluid. 10 BACKGROUND It is known to clean the external surfaces of freight containers to remove dirt and other unwanted contaminants. It is an object of a preferred form of the present invention to go at least some way towards providing an alternative to known methods of cleaning containers. 15 The term "comprising" and derivatives thereof, eg "comprises", if and when used herein in relation to a combination of features should not be taken as excluding the possibility that the combination may have further unspecified features. 20 SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided means for cleaning a freight container comprising a support structure adapted to receive and support an ISO freight container, cleaning fluid applicator means, transport means to move the applicator means with respect to the container, or to move the container with respect 25 to the applicator means, such that during said movement cleaning fluid from the applicator means is able to be directed to the roof, walls and underside of the container. Preferably the applicator means directs cleaning fluid up into locking pin holes in the 30 underside of the container. Preferably the support structure comprises sensor means adapted to sense the length of the container.

2 Preferably the support structure has sensor means adapted to sense when the container is positioned correctly, or the previously mentioned sensor means also performs this function. 5 Preferably the support structure is of sufficient height to enable access to a human beneath the structure when it is supporting the container. Preferably the applicator means comprises a plurality of fluid outlets. 10 Preferably at least some of the fluid outlets comprise a bar capable of spinning such that fluid sprays from either end of the bar. Preferably the transport means comprises wheels adapted to move along the support structure while powered by a motor. 15 Preferably a computerised controller controls movement of the applicator means and the transport means. Preferably fluid used during cleaning is recycled. 20 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which 25 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a freight container cleaning plant; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing detail of part of the cleaning plant; and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing further detail of the cleaning plant. 30 DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in figure 1, the cleaning plant 1 has a support structure 2 adapted to receive and support a standard 20 foot ISO freight container 3. The support structure 35 2 is substantially rectangular in shape. Each side of the structure 2 comprises a row of vertical steel columns 4. An upper pair of beams 5 is connected horizontally to 3 each row of columns 4, one beam on each side of the columns 4. Diagonal 6 and horizontal 7 cross beams are used to brace the structure 2. As shown in figure 1, each of the four corners of the container 3 sits on a respective 5 one of the columns 4. The cleaning plant 1 shown in figure 1 may also accommodate a 40 foot container. In other embodiments of the invention the columns 4 may be spaced to accommodate ISO containers of different dimensions, for example 45 foot containers. To enable this, there may be further fixed columns or the columns 4 may be moveable to match the dimensions of the container at hand. 10 Each vertical column 4 that receives one of the four corners of the container 3 has a location plate 8 at its top on which the corner of the container 3 sits. An electronic sensor (not shown) fitted to the support structure 2 is used to determine that the container is correctly positioned on the location plates 8. Another electronic sensor is 15 used to determine the length of the container. The vertical columns 4 are of sufficient height to enable a person to access the underside of the container 3 for inspection purposes when the container 3 is supported by the structure 2. The cleaning plant 1 has a fluid applicator 9. The fluid applicator 9 comprises a 20 number of outlets or units from which water, sanitizer, bacteria killer, rust protector or a combination of these can be sprayed to clean and/or protect the container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the fluid applicator 9 has at least a container base wash outlet 10, a side wash outlet 11, a top wash outlet 12, and a locking pin hole wash outlet 13. 25 As can be seen in figure 2, the side 11 and top 12 wash outlets are located on a vertical bar 15 or bars to clean the left hand side and the roof of the container. Another vertical bar 15 or bars is located on the other side for wash outlets to clean the right hand side and the roof of the container 3. Each vertical bar 15 extends 30 approximately to the height of the container 3. Base wash outlets 10 are located on a lower horizontal support 15a that extends beneath the container 3 to clean the underside. The vertical bars 15 and the lower horizontal support 15a are adapted to move along the length of the container 3 when the cleaning plant 1 is in use. 35 With further reference to figure 2, the base and side wash outlets comprise spray bars 15b with a spray head at each end of the bar. Optionally the top wash outlet may also comprise a spray bar, as shown in figure 1, although in other embodiments 4 it may simply be an opening to emit fluid. Each spray bar spins around a central pin. The spinning motion combined with the angle of the spray heads helps to effectively clean the differently shaped sections of the container 3. The spray heads deliver a number of types of fluid jets to provide high impact at the surface to be cleaned. The 5 spinning motion and the angle of the spray heads also minimises the amount of water required for cleaning the container 3. The side wash outlet 11 is located at a medial position and the top wash unit 12 near the top of the vertical bar 15 to provide good coverage of the sides and top of the 10 container 3 during cleaning. The base outlets 10 may comprise four spray bars 15b set on the lower horizontal support 15a to provide good spray coverage of the underside of the container 3. The movement of the vertical bars 15 and lower horizontal support 15a ensure that the ends of the container 3 are also cleaned during the wash cycle as the bars 15 and support 15a move to slightly past each end 15 of the container during the wash cycle exposing each end to spray. Figure 3 shows the cleaning plant 1 with the container 3 faded out to show the wash outlets dispensing spray when in use. Spray from the side 11, top 12 and base 10 wash outlets is directed to the exterior of the container 3. Hollow sections at each 20 corner of the container, referred to above as locking pin holes are used when containers are stacked on top of one another. The stacked containers are secured to one another by locking pins. It is difficult to effectively clean inside locking pin holes and they are prone to contamination, for example when dirt and parasites are forced up into the holes when the container has been stored on the ground. The locking pin 25 hole wash outlets 13 are adapted to clean out the holes. Each pin hole outlet 13 comprises an individual spray head, one in each of the vertical columns 4 supporting the container 3. The spray heads are built into the location plates 8 at the top of each column 4. When each pin hole outlet 13 is in use, high pressure spray enters the locking pin holes to flush out dirt and other contaminants. As each pin hole outlet 30 13 is built into a vertical column 4, it is fixed and does not move with respect to the container 3 when the cleaning plant 1 is in use. Referring to figure 1, the fluid applicator 9 receives fluid by way of high pressure hoses (not shown) connected to pumping equipment 16 run by an electric motor. 35 The hoses are high pressure wire braided hoses run in guide tracks and attached with swivel connections to the vertical bars 15 and lower horizontal support 15a to allow them to move when the cleaning plant 1 is in use. The pumping equipment 16 5 comprises a set of high pressure ceramic plunger pumps coupled to an electric motor and housed within a galvanised steel frame 17. A safety and overload valve is fitted to the pumps in case of blockages or any other system failure. Due to the size of the motor drives they are adapted to start sequentially to reduce the load on mains 5 power. A variety of ancillary pumps and valves are used to assist efficient operation of the cleaning plant 1. When the cleaning plant 1 is in use, the vertical bars 15 and lower horizontal support 15a move along the length of the container 3 by way of a transporter 18 which runs 10 along the structure 2. The transporter 18 comprises individual drives and tracks so that each vertical bar 15 and the lower horizontal support 15a may operate independently if desired. More specifically, and referring to figure 2, the transporter has a pair of wheels 22 which sit on and run along the upper pair of beams 5 when the cleaning plant 1 is in use. 15 The pumping equipment 16 and its electric motor is operated from a control centre 19 comprising a cabinet which contains the electronic components necessary to operate the cleaning plant 1 or shut it down if a problem occurs. The control centre 19 has indicator lights to show if the cleaning plant 1 is operational and has a facility to 20 monitor the number of containers 3 washed over a given period of time. The pumping equipment 16 and the control centre 19 are housed in a plant room 20 adjacent to the structure 2. The pumping equipment 16 and the control centre 19 are divided by a separation wall 21. The plant room 20 also houses water reticulation apparatus (not shown). 25 In a preferred embodiment of the invention the structure is adapted to operate automatically. A program logic controller ("PLC") in the control centre 19 is programmed to start and stop the various stages of the cleaning process. First a freight container 3 is placed on the structure 2 by a crane or a container lift truck. 30 The electronic sensors identify the length of the container 3 and detect when it has been correctly positioned on the structure 2, and optionally when the crane or container lift truck is clear of the unit. A number of other ultrasonic sensors may also assist in this process. For example, a series of sensors are placed on the control centre 19 to ensure that no one is under the support structure 2 when the cleaning 35 plant is in use. Readings from the electronic sensors can be used to communicate to the control centre how far the moving parts of the fluid applicator need to travel to give good coverage of cleaning fluid with respect to the container.

6 High visibility lights (not shown) linked to the control centre 19 are mounted to the top of the container 3 to indicate readiness to wash, correct positioning of the container 3, the status of safety valves, etc. When the container 3 is ready to be washed the 5 lights show green and the PLC applies the correct settings and initiates movement of the bars and pumping of water to the fluid applicator 9. The fluid applicator 9 sprays liquid onto the container roof, walls and base and into the locking pin holes to clean the container 3 as the vertical bars 15 and lower 10 horizontal support 15a move. Alternatively the outlets may be programmed to release spray in a particular sequence rather than all at the same time. When the bars reach the left hand side of the structure 2 they move back in the other direction toward the plant room 20. When they reach the start position the wash cycle is complete. The wash cycle takes approximately two minutes for a 20 foot ISO freight 15 container, approximately three and a half minutes for a 40 foot container, and slightly more than three and a half minutes for a 45 foot container. The container 3 can then be inspected and removed by the crane or truck. Water used during the wash operation is recycled. The cleaning plant 1 has a fence 20 around it both to contain water and to ensure personnel are kept clear. Water is captured by a drain (not shown) which runs the length of the structure 2 along the ground. This water is held in storage tanks and treated in the plant room to remove contaminants and the recycled water is used again in subsequent washes. Contaminants are removed from the site and disposed of appropriately. 25 In an alternative embodiment of the invention the fluid applicator means 9 remains stationary and the container 3 itself is moved by transportation means, for example a conveyor type roller system. 30 In another embodiment of the invention the cleaning plant is portable. In this embodiment the cleaning plant is transported by a large curtain side truck trailer and has hydraulic jacking legs and a sump built into the base of the plant to collect water used in the cleaning process. The associated plant room is either attached to the support structure or is transported as a separate unit capable of being connected to 35 the support structure on site.

7 While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. Means for cleaning a freight container comprising a support structure adapted to receive and support an ISO freight container, cleaning fluid applicator means, 5 transport means to move the applicator means with respect to the container, or to move the container with respect to the applicator means, such that during said movement cleaning fluid from the applicator means is able to be directed to the roof, walls and underside of the container. 10

2. Means for cleaning a freight container according to claim 1, wherein the applicator means directs cleaning fluid up into locking pin holes in the underside of the container.

3. Means for cleaning a freight container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the 15 support structure comprises sensor means adapted to sense the length of the container.

4. Means for cleaning a freight container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the support structure has sensor means adapted to sense when the container is 20 positioned correctly, or the previously mentioned sensor means also performs this function.

5. Means for cleaning a freight container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure is of sufficient height to enable access to a 25 human beneath the structure when it is supporting the container.

6. Means for cleaning a freight container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator means comprises a plurality of fluid outlets. 30

7. Means for cleaning a freight container according to claim 6, wherein at least some of the fluid outlets comprise a bar capable of spinning such that fluid sprays from either end of the bar.

8. Means for cleaning a freight container according to any one of the preceding 35 claims, wherein the transport means comprises wheels adapted to move along the support structure while powered by a motor. 9

9. Means for cleaning a freight container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a computerised controller controls movement of the applicator means and the transport means. 5

10. Means for cleaning a freight container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein fluid used during cleaning is recycled.

11. Means for cleaning a freight container according to claim 1 substantially as herein described. 10

12. Means for cleaning a freight container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying images.

13. A method of cleaning a freight container comprising the steps of: 15 a) obtaining a means for cleaning according to any one of the preceding claims; b) positioning the freight container on the means for cleaning; and c) activating the means for cleaning such that cleaning fluid proceeds from the applicator means to substantially sanitise at least the roof, 20 walls and underside of the container. 25