CA2193458A1 - Self-unloading grain shipping container - Google Patents
Self-unloading grain shipping containerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2193458A1 CA2193458A1 CA 2193458 CA2193458A CA2193458A1 CA 2193458 A1 CA2193458 A1 CA 2193458A1 CA 2193458 CA2193458 CA 2193458 CA 2193458 A CA2193458 A CA 2193458A CA 2193458 A1 CA2193458 A1 CA 2193458A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- grain
- prism
- unloading
- bottom edges
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Storage Of Harvested Produce (AREA)
- Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
Abstract
A self-unloading container for grain and other free-flowing bulk materials which conforms to ISO standards such as 668:1988 for external dimensions and corner fittings, and hence which can be handled and shipped using the existing very efficient international container infrastructure. The container consists of flush-mounted loading hatches and associated hatch combings on the top surface, unloading doors on the bottom of the side walls, and an internal prism whose bottom edges are adjacent to the bottom edges of the unloading door and whose two upper surfaces slope upward and inward from the bottom edges. The internal prism can be easily dismantled and stored against a side or end of the container so that the container may be used for transporting packaged goods and non-bulk commodities during the return trip if this is desired.
Description
-SELF-U~O~nING GRAIN SHIPPING CONTAINER
This invention relates to a container, for storing and shipping grain and other free-flowing bulk commodities, which is self-unloading and which accommodates existing railroad-based infrastructure for handling these commodities. The container can be easily converted to a conventional ISO-standardized shipping container so that other goods may be transported during the backhaul. These features will improve the flexibility and the efficiency of both the railways and of the companies which handle these bulk commodities, and will thereby reduce costs to the consumers.
Conventional grain-harvesting and shipping is inefficient in the use of resources. During grain harvesting the grain which accumulates in the bin of the harvesting machine is periodically discharged into the box of a truck which then transports the grain to farm silos for storage. The grain is then transported by truck to a railway grain elevator for further storage and/or treatment prior to being loaded into special grain cars. These special grain cars are loaded via a loading spout through hatches in the top of the cars, and have hopper bottoms for discharging the grain down into a receiving bin at a grain terminal. At the grain terminal the grain may be again treated and stored prior to being loaded onto a ship for transportation to another country.
At the receiving terminal of the foreign country the ship may be unloaded into large terminal silos prior to being trucked or rail transported to mills for processing.
It can be seen that this method of handling grain is inefficient in that the grain must be handled many times and in many different containers from harvesting to milling. The special hopper-bottomed rail cars that are used for grain transportation are in short supply during the brief grain harvesting season but are under-utilized the majority of the time.
In order to overcome some of these problems standard shipping containers (e.g. ISO 668:1988) are being modified to store and transport grain. Grain is loaded into these containers using a slinger a thrower mechanism or conveyor/slinger which projects through the existing door on the end of the container. A bulk-head is installed immediately interior to the end door to prevent the grain from escaping from the container. At the receiving terminal the end door is opened, the bulk-head panels are removed, and the opposite end of the container is elevated with a special tipping chassis to cause all of the grain to flow by gravity out of the open door and into a receiving bin.
The well-known shipping company, Bell Lines, who operate container services between the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe, introduced this type of container during the 1970's. It was claimed to have significant benefits for exporters and importers concerned with direct shipments of cereal grains into inland depots or processing plants. It enabled them for the first time to utilize a modern streamlined door-to-door container transportation system, which has several important advantages over traditional methods of shipping cereals.
First, the commodity is loaded into the container once only at each end and travels in the same box direct from supplier to importer. This reduces the number of handlings from a minimum of six down to two and reduces the losses associated with grain transportation.
Secondly, containers maintain the quality of the commodity. They are easily cleaned after each movement, thus avoiding cross contamination. The risk of infestation is nil as there are no nooks or crannies for rats to hide inside a clean steel box. Furthermore, a -properly integrated container service is fast and efficient so transit times are well within the maximum time limits for maintaining quality. Other advantages accrue from the cost-effectiveness of a container system in that shippers are no longer obliged to tie up capital chartering a vessel and striving to fill it in order to achieve maximum revenue against freight costs. Instead, commodity flow can be calculated in multiples of container measures and can use existing container vessels for shipment.
While the Bell-type bulk containers offer certain advantages over conventional grain handling systems when relatively small lots of grain are being transported and shipped, they are difficult to load and unload and do not easily integrate into the existing grain transportation systems. There is a market need for a container with the following features which promote flexibility of operation and efficiency of handling:
1. - The container must be able to be loaded through open hatches in the top of the container directly from a grain harvesting machine and then either be used for storage of the grain on the farm or be trucked directly to a railway and loaded onto a rail-car for rail transportation. The container should contain ISO standard corner fittings such as those specified in ISO 668:1988 so that it can readily be secured to a truck or railcar which is routinely used for container transport. The container must be weather-proof so that its contents are preserved during storage and transport.
This invention relates to a container, for storing and shipping grain and other free-flowing bulk commodities, which is self-unloading and which accommodates existing railroad-based infrastructure for handling these commodities. The container can be easily converted to a conventional ISO-standardized shipping container so that other goods may be transported during the backhaul. These features will improve the flexibility and the efficiency of both the railways and of the companies which handle these bulk commodities, and will thereby reduce costs to the consumers.
Conventional grain-harvesting and shipping is inefficient in the use of resources. During grain harvesting the grain which accumulates in the bin of the harvesting machine is periodically discharged into the box of a truck which then transports the grain to farm silos for storage. The grain is then transported by truck to a railway grain elevator for further storage and/or treatment prior to being loaded into special grain cars. These special grain cars are loaded via a loading spout through hatches in the top of the cars, and have hopper bottoms for discharging the grain down into a receiving bin at a grain terminal. At the grain terminal the grain may be again treated and stored prior to being loaded onto a ship for transportation to another country.
At the receiving terminal of the foreign country the ship may be unloaded into large terminal silos prior to being trucked or rail transported to mills for processing.
It can be seen that this method of handling grain is inefficient in that the grain must be handled many times and in many different containers from harvesting to milling. The special hopper-bottomed rail cars that are used for grain transportation are in short supply during the brief grain harvesting season but are under-utilized the majority of the time.
In order to overcome some of these problems standard shipping containers (e.g. ISO 668:1988) are being modified to store and transport grain. Grain is loaded into these containers using a slinger a thrower mechanism or conveyor/slinger which projects through the existing door on the end of the container. A bulk-head is installed immediately interior to the end door to prevent the grain from escaping from the container. At the receiving terminal the end door is opened, the bulk-head panels are removed, and the opposite end of the container is elevated with a special tipping chassis to cause all of the grain to flow by gravity out of the open door and into a receiving bin.
The well-known shipping company, Bell Lines, who operate container services between the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe, introduced this type of container during the 1970's. It was claimed to have significant benefits for exporters and importers concerned with direct shipments of cereal grains into inland depots or processing plants. It enabled them for the first time to utilize a modern streamlined door-to-door container transportation system, which has several important advantages over traditional methods of shipping cereals.
First, the commodity is loaded into the container once only at each end and travels in the same box direct from supplier to importer. This reduces the number of handlings from a minimum of six down to two and reduces the losses associated with grain transportation.
Secondly, containers maintain the quality of the commodity. They are easily cleaned after each movement, thus avoiding cross contamination. The risk of infestation is nil as there are no nooks or crannies for rats to hide inside a clean steel box. Furthermore, a -properly integrated container service is fast and efficient so transit times are well within the maximum time limits for maintaining quality. Other advantages accrue from the cost-effectiveness of a container system in that shippers are no longer obliged to tie up capital chartering a vessel and striving to fill it in order to achieve maximum revenue against freight costs. Instead, commodity flow can be calculated in multiples of container measures and can use existing container vessels for shipment.
While the Bell-type bulk containers offer certain advantages over conventional grain handling systems when relatively small lots of grain are being transported and shipped, they are difficult to load and unload and do not easily integrate into the existing grain transportation systems. There is a market need for a container with the following features which promote flexibility of operation and efficiency of handling:
1. - The container must be able to be loaded through open hatches in the top of the container directly from a grain harvesting machine and then either be used for storage of the grain on the farm or be trucked directly to a railway and loaded onto a rail-car for rail transportation. The container should contain ISO standard corner fittings such as those specified in ISO 668:1988 so that it can readily be secured to a truck or railcar which is routinely used for container transport. The container must be weather-proof so that its contents are preserved during storage and transport.
2. Alternatively, containers may already be attached onto conventional container rail-cars (e.g. as a unit-train) and be loaded through open hatches in the top of the container at a grain elevator which is centrally located to a number of grain farms and to which the 21g3~58 -harvested grain is transported in conventional farm trucks.
3. At the railway terminal (e.g. shipping-port) the grain in the containers must be able to be emptied easily 5 into the existing receiving bins, designed for hopper-bottomed rail-cars, and then cleaned and graded prior to shipping to a foreign port.
4. Alternatively, at a shipping-port the containers must be able to be loaded directly into a conventional container vessel for shipment directly to the processing mill of the customer, where they can be easily unloaded without the customer requiring an expensive tipping chassls.
5. The containers must be designed to that they can be 15 easily cleaned and can be used for transporting other cargo (e.g. cars, appliances, electronics, textiles, furniture, etc.).
No existing container technology meets the above requirements which are aimed at greatly increasing the 20 efficiency of grain movement and of thereby reducing costs to farmers, shippers and consumers.
Canadian Patent 1,023,312 (1975) teaches the design of stackable containers for storing and shipping grain.
The containers are vented to remove excess moisture from 25 the grain. No easy method of unloading the containers is claimed.
European Patent 356,290 (1990) describes a bulk container with bottom shutters operated with a two-way power cylinder. Similarly, French Patent 2,678,589 30 (1993) teaches a bulk container with inwardly sloping bottom panels which will automatically swing open due to -their weight when they are unlatched. Either of these containers would require a special, non-standard rail-car that could accommodate their bottom-unloading feature.
These containers also do not conform to ISO standards.
European Patent 177,602 (1985, Published as WO85/04637-A) teaches the use of a double-walled, inflatable bladder which could be installed within a container against one side of the container and which, when inflated, would force the grain out of an opening located along the opposite side of the container. This invention would allow a container to be emptied while the container is still located upon a conventional rail-car, and without raising one end of the container as is commonly done. However, filling the necessarily large bladder would significantly slow down the operation of unloading the rail-car.
British Patent Application GB 2138408 A (1983) describes a container for grains and like materials which can be loaded through a top opening. It has sides hinged at their tops which can be unlatched at their bottom edges to allow grain to flow out both of the sides of the container. The container has a prism-shaped bottom to facilitate all of the grain flowing out of the bottom sides of the container. This invention is intended for discharging wet grain (e.g. wet mash) by gravity from a container which is normally transported with a fork-lift.
Hence the entire sidewall is designed to swing open to allow the free discharge of the wet material. This container is not intended to conform to ISO standards.
The present invention seeks to solve the problems of the prior art and, in a first aspect, provides a container for grains and other free-flowing bulk materials comprising endwalls, sidewalls, a top and a floor, an inlet in the top and closable outlets in the 219~4S8 sides, a prism mounted on the floor with each side of the prism sloping downwardly towards an outlet.
Preferably the prism is made of separate parts, each hingedly attached to the container. The hinge attachment is preferably adjacent an outlet and there are distal supports on each prism side that contact the floor of the container.
The inlet will typically have a conventional loading hatch with hatch combings. The outlets will have associated hinges and latches, again as well known in the art.
The container is preferably made to conform to ISO
standards such as 688:1988 International specification for shipping containers and has standard corner fittings and loading hatches, hatch combings and fittings, unloading doors and loading door fittings that are flush or somewhat inward of the sides and the top of the container.
The container of the present invention can be readily modified to transport or store machinery or other non-bulk goods by folding the prism against the end or the inner sides of the container. Alternatively the prism may be folded against the floor of the container.
Figures 1 to 6 are pictorial representations of an end-view of the container being used for grain storage and transport, and then being converted for use to transport other cargo.
Figures 7 to 9 show schematically the hardware details of the new container design; and 21~3q58 -Figure 10 shows schematically the new container loaded onto a rail-car to be used as an alternative to conventional, hopper-bottomed rail-cars.
Fig. 1 shows the container 1 being filled with grain through an open hatch 2 using a loading spout 3. Also shown is the bottom prism 4.
Fig. 2 shows the full container 1 with a hatch cover 2 closed.
Fig. 3 shows the container 1 being emptied through unloading doors 5. The bottom prism 4 ensures that all of the grain flows out of the container 1.
Fig.4 and Fig. 5 show the bottom prism 4 being folded-up for storage on the sides of the container 1.
Fig. 6 shows the container 1 being used for hauling conventional cargo 6.
Fig. 7 shows a top view of the container 1 illustrating the loading hatches 2 and their associated combing 7. It is important that the hatches 2 and associated combings 7 do not extend above the upper surface of the container 1 so that the containers may be stacked for storage and transportation. Also shown are the standard ISO 668:1988 corner fittings 8 that allow the container 1 to be handled and transported with internationally standardized facilities.
Fig. 8 shows an end view of the container 1 illustrating the recessed hatch 2 and combing 7, as well as the unloading doors 5 and the internal bottom prism 4.
The hatches and hatch combings are similar to those used in conventional hopper-bottomed grain cars, as this 2I934$8 technology is mature and reliable. The hatch combings are drained via tubing 9 to the outside.
Fig. 9 shows a side view of the container 1 illustrating the unloading doors 5. Hinges and latching mechanisms are those that would normally be used by one skilled in the art.
Fig. 10 shows schematically the container 1 loaded onto a rail-car 10 to be used as an alternative to conventional, hopper-bottomed rail-cars.
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.
No existing container technology meets the above requirements which are aimed at greatly increasing the 20 efficiency of grain movement and of thereby reducing costs to farmers, shippers and consumers.
Canadian Patent 1,023,312 (1975) teaches the design of stackable containers for storing and shipping grain.
The containers are vented to remove excess moisture from 25 the grain. No easy method of unloading the containers is claimed.
European Patent 356,290 (1990) describes a bulk container with bottom shutters operated with a two-way power cylinder. Similarly, French Patent 2,678,589 30 (1993) teaches a bulk container with inwardly sloping bottom panels which will automatically swing open due to -their weight when they are unlatched. Either of these containers would require a special, non-standard rail-car that could accommodate their bottom-unloading feature.
These containers also do not conform to ISO standards.
European Patent 177,602 (1985, Published as WO85/04637-A) teaches the use of a double-walled, inflatable bladder which could be installed within a container against one side of the container and which, when inflated, would force the grain out of an opening located along the opposite side of the container. This invention would allow a container to be emptied while the container is still located upon a conventional rail-car, and without raising one end of the container as is commonly done. However, filling the necessarily large bladder would significantly slow down the operation of unloading the rail-car.
British Patent Application GB 2138408 A (1983) describes a container for grains and like materials which can be loaded through a top opening. It has sides hinged at their tops which can be unlatched at their bottom edges to allow grain to flow out both of the sides of the container. The container has a prism-shaped bottom to facilitate all of the grain flowing out of the bottom sides of the container. This invention is intended for discharging wet grain (e.g. wet mash) by gravity from a container which is normally transported with a fork-lift.
Hence the entire sidewall is designed to swing open to allow the free discharge of the wet material. This container is not intended to conform to ISO standards.
The present invention seeks to solve the problems of the prior art and, in a first aspect, provides a container for grains and other free-flowing bulk materials comprising endwalls, sidewalls, a top and a floor, an inlet in the top and closable outlets in the 219~4S8 sides, a prism mounted on the floor with each side of the prism sloping downwardly towards an outlet.
Preferably the prism is made of separate parts, each hingedly attached to the container. The hinge attachment is preferably adjacent an outlet and there are distal supports on each prism side that contact the floor of the container.
The inlet will typically have a conventional loading hatch with hatch combings. The outlets will have associated hinges and latches, again as well known in the art.
The container is preferably made to conform to ISO
standards such as 688:1988 International specification for shipping containers and has standard corner fittings and loading hatches, hatch combings and fittings, unloading doors and loading door fittings that are flush or somewhat inward of the sides and the top of the container.
The container of the present invention can be readily modified to transport or store machinery or other non-bulk goods by folding the prism against the end or the inner sides of the container. Alternatively the prism may be folded against the floor of the container.
Figures 1 to 6 are pictorial representations of an end-view of the container being used for grain storage and transport, and then being converted for use to transport other cargo.
Figures 7 to 9 show schematically the hardware details of the new container design; and 21~3q58 -Figure 10 shows schematically the new container loaded onto a rail-car to be used as an alternative to conventional, hopper-bottomed rail-cars.
Fig. 1 shows the container 1 being filled with grain through an open hatch 2 using a loading spout 3. Also shown is the bottom prism 4.
Fig. 2 shows the full container 1 with a hatch cover 2 closed.
Fig. 3 shows the container 1 being emptied through unloading doors 5. The bottom prism 4 ensures that all of the grain flows out of the container 1.
Fig.4 and Fig. 5 show the bottom prism 4 being folded-up for storage on the sides of the container 1.
Fig. 6 shows the container 1 being used for hauling conventional cargo 6.
Fig. 7 shows a top view of the container 1 illustrating the loading hatches 2 and their associated combing 7. It is important that the hatches 2 and associated combings 7 do not extend above the upper surface of the container 1 so that the containers may be stacked for storage and transportation. Also shown are the standard ISO 668:1988 corner fittings 8 that allow the container 1 to be handled and transported with internationally standardized facilities.
Fig. 8 shows an end view of the container 1 illustrating the recessed hatch 2 and combing 7, as well as the unloading doors 5 and the internal bottom prism 4.
The hatches and hatch combings are similar to those used in conventional hopper-bottomed grain cars, as this 2I934$8 technology is mature and reliable. The hatch combings are drained via tubing 9 to the outside.
Fig. 9 shows a side view of the container 1 illustrating the unloading doors 5. Hinges and latching mechanisms are those that would normally be used by one skilled in the art.
Fig. 10 shows schematically the container 1 loaded onto a rail-car 10 to be used as an alternative to conventional, hopper-bottomed rail-cars.
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (5)
1. A container for grains and other free-flowing bulk materials comprising endwalls, sidewalls, a top and a floor;
an inlet in the top;
closable outlets in the sides; and a prism mounted on the floor with each side of the prism sloped downwardly towards an outlet.
an inlet in the top;
closable outlets in the sides; and a prism mounted on the floor with each side of the prism sloped downwardly towards an outlet.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the prism is made of separate parts, each hingedly attached to the container.
3. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which the hinged attachment is adjacent an outlet;
distal supports on each prism side that contact the floor of the container.
distal supports on each prism side that contact the floor of the container.
4. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the prism is made of separate parts, each of which may be stacked together against an end wall for storage.
5. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the prism is made of separate parts, each of which may be lifted to the roof of the container and secured there for storage.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US926295P | 1995-12-26 | 1995-12-26 | |
| US60/009,262 | 1995-12-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2193458A1 true CA2193458A1 (en) | 1997-06-27 |
Family
ID=21736583
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2193458 Abandoned CA2193458A1 (en) | 1995-12-26 | 1996-12-19 | Self-unloading grain shipping container |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2193458A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108382286A (en) * | 2018-04-23 | 2018-08-10 | 内蒙古易融租汽车销售服务有限公司 | A kind of oscillatory type semitrailer wagon box for exempting to lift discharging |
-
1996
- 1996-12-19 CA CA 2193458 patent/CA2193458A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108382286A (en) * | 2018-04-23 | 2018-08-10 | 内蒙古易融租汽车销售服务有限公司 | A kind of oscillatory type semitrailer wagon box for exempting to lift discharging |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |