CA2445557A1

CA2445557A1 - Bulk box transport container

Info

Publication number: CA2445557A1
Application number: CA 2445557
Authority: CA
Inventors: Morris P. Bertrand
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-17
Filing date: 2003-10-17
Publication date: 2005-04-17

Abstract

A bulk box transport container is able to be transported by ship, train and truck.
Because of the design of the bulk box transport container, mined material can be transported in one container from its source to a processing facility. The transport container is constructed to be loaded, unloaded and transported while resting on a side, top, bottom or ends, and multiple transport containers can be stacked on one another without causing deformation of the underlying transport containers. Preferably, the transport container has enclosed sides, top and bottom and is provided with end doors hinged so that each end door swings out along one edge surface of the container. Most preferably, the doors are provided to each swing parallel to a respective edge along the top surface of the transport container so as to pivot about an axis parallel with the top edge of the end of the transport container.
According to this design, tipping the transport container towards either end will cause the lower end door to swing out, opening towards the top of the transport container and allowing the contents to fall out.

Description

BULK BOX TRANSPORT CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bulk box transport containers able to be transported by various transportation vehicles, such as boats, trains and trucks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional methods used to transport mined materials, such as ore, from a mining source to a preparation building, for processing and refining, can require loading and unloading of mined materials into different cargo containers suited to different transportation vehicles. This results in added time and cost especially when the mined materials must be transported over water by boat and over land by both train and truck. Also, the process of loading and unloading mined materials into different cargo containers used in conventional methods can result in loss of mined material and an increase in exposure to air causing oxidation of the mined minerals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a bulk box transport container that is able to be transported by ship, train and truck. Because of the design of the bulk box transport container, mined material can be transported in one container from its source to a processing facility. The present invention results in a more efficient and cost effective manner of transporting mined material that has numerous advantages which are described below.
It is an object of this invention to provide a transport container to transport mined material across water and land on various forms of transportation vehicles such as ships, trains and trucks. Using one transport container that is loaded with ore or other mined material at a mining site, and then used to transport the mined material on various transportation vehicles to a processing facility, minimizes the loss of mined material and also minimizes the potential for oxidation of the mined material since it restricts contact of the mined material with the air. The transport container also reduces the number of rail cars required to move the mined material inland and reduces the requirement for storage tracks.
Another object of the invention is to provide a transport container that has sufficient stability to be loaded, unloaded and transported while resting on any one of a side, top, bottom or end of the container, and which permits multiple transport containers to be stacked on one another in either a full or empty condition without causing substantial deformation of the transport container.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a transport container that has enclosed sides, top and bottom and is provided with end doors hinged so that both end doors swing out towards the top surface of the transport container along an axis parallel with the top edge of the end of the transport container. According to this design, tipping the transport container towards either end will cause the end door to swing out towards the top of the transport container and all the contents to fall out.
In one aspect the invention resides in a bulk box transport container that is able to be transported by ship, train and truck. Because of the design of the bulk box transport container, mined material can be transported in one container from its source to a processing facility. The transport container is constructed to be loaded, unloaded and transported while resting on a side, top, bottom or ends, and multiple transport containers can be stacked on one another without causing deformation of the underlying transport containers.
Preferably, the transport container has enclosed sides, top and bottom and is provided with end doors hinged so that each end door swings out along one edge surface of the container. Most preferably, the doors are provided to each swing parallel to a respective edge along the top surface of the transport container so as to pivot about an axis parallel with the top edge of the end of the transport container. According to this design, tipping the transport container towards either end will cause the lower end door to swing out, opening towards the top of the transport container and allowing the contents to fall out.
An advantage to using the transport container is faster loading and unloading of transport vehicles and a consequent reduction in the potential for rail car demurrage charges, which are levied when a ship, rail car, or other transportation vehicle is delayed beyond the scheduled time of departure.
Another advantage of using the transport container is the allowance for the use of compact high efficiency thaw sheds since only stacked boxes will be thawed.
This also eliminates the need for a complex handling facility for the mined material.
Another advantage of using the transport container is the ability to divert the transport containers from rail cars to trucks during times of interrupted rail service, which may be due to derailment of rail cars or other causes.
Another advantage of the use of the transport containers is a reduction in the process inventory because it reduces car queuing and generally improves transportation cycles. This is because the transport container is constructed to be used with conventional rail cars and trucks and can be loaded, handled and unloaded using a variety of conventional equipment.
Another advantage of using the transport containers is that it will provide catch-up ability since empty boxes can be returned at double the rate of loaded boxes moving inland.
Another advantage of using the transport containers is that it will simplify and streamline the preparation buildings required to screen and blend the mined materials in advance. It will also reduce the complexity of the equipment required to handle the concentrate in the preparation buildings and will permit alternate handling for unplanned equipment down time.
In another aspect the container is provided with a top and bottom supported by two sides to make a sealed structure with open ends, whereby two end doors are sized to cover the open ends of the sealed structure, and each end door is attached to the sealed structure by at least one hinge.
In a more preferred aspect, the transport container has inside dimensions selected at between about 0.75 to 2.0 meters high, 2.S to 4.0 meters wide and 3.0 to S.0 meters in length.
In an alternate embodiment, the transport container is manufactured to have a larger volume holding capacity for transporting lower density materials.
Further and other features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of a transport container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a top view of the transport container shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a front view of a first end door used in the container of Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a side view of the transport container of Figure 1 with both hinged end doors moved to an open position;
Figure S shows a side view of the transport container of Figure 1 in a position standing on end for loading; and Figure 6 is shows a side view of the transport container of Figure 1 in a position tipped for unloading.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a side view of a transport container 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment. 'The container 10 has an overall generally rectangular construction and includes parallel top and bottom panels 18 and 19, respectively, a pair of parallel side panels 12 and 13, and two end doors 16 and 17 which, as will be described, are selectively opened or closed to permit loading and unloading of bulk mined material such as iron ore, nickel ore or the like into and from the container 10. Preferably the side panels 12 and 13 are selected to provide the container 10 with an overall height of about 1 meter, the top and bottom panels 18 and 19, respectively, have a lateral width of about 3 meters with each of the top and bottom panels 18 and 19, respectively, and side panels 12 and 13 extending longitudinally to a preferred distance of between about 5 to 7 meters. In a simplified construction, each of the top, bottom and side panels 18, 19, and 12 and 13, respectively, are formed from a generally planar sheet of 0.2 to 5.0 centimeters thick and, more preferably metal, such as steel, about 1.0 centimeters thick providing the container 10 with a substantially smooth walled interior. It is to be appreciated however that, in a more economical alternate construction, conventional corrugated metal panels may be used in the construction of the panels 12, I 3, I 8 and 19, with or without a smooth walled lining for the container interior 100. The pair of end doors 16 and 17 are provided which may be selectively opened or closed to enable access into the container interior 100.
The side panel 12, shown in Figure I, is supported by side supports 14 which are spaced across the side panel 12. In a simplified construction, the side supports 14 consist of tubular metal sections which are welded or boned to the side panel 12 perpendicular to the top and bottom panels 18 and 19, respectively, at selected intervals depending on the amount of support required. In the preferred embodiment, four side supports 14 are provided along the side panels 12 and 13 and two side supports 14 are spaced evenly along the length of the container 10 between two side supports 14 positioned at either end of the container 10. In other embodiments, more or fewer supports may be provided at even or irregular intervals.
Also shown on Figure 1 are the end doors 16 and 17 in a closed position. The end doors 16 and 17 are each attached to the transport container by at least one hinge 15 as shown on Figure 4. Figure 4 shows the end doors 16 and 17 each in an open position.
End doors 16 and 17 each open towards top panel 18 as indicated by the arrows 50 and 52, respectively, as shown on Figure 4.
Figure 2 shows a top view of the transport container 10. The top panel 18 has transverse supports 20 and longitudinal supports 22, both of which are positioned across the area of the top panel 18 of the transport container 10 and fastened by welding or bolts. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom panel I 9 is of the same construction as the top panel and also has transverse supports 20 parallel to end edges 30 and 31, and longitudinal supports 22 perpendicular to end edges 30 and 31. The side panels 12 and 13 are fixed to the top and bottom panels I 8 and 19, respectively, such that the top and bottom edges of the side panels 12 and 13 form a seal with the side edges of the top and bottom panels 18 and 19, respectively. By this construction, a sealed rectangular box is formed with open ends which are can be covered by the end doors 16.
The side supports 14 and top and bottom supports 20 and 22, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, provide stability and support to the transport container 10. To provide further stability, the transverse supports 20 of both the top and bottom panels 18 and 19, respectively, are welded to the side supports 14 of both side panels 12 and 13. In the preferred embodiment, the transverse supports overhang the top and bottom panels 18 and 19, respectively, to abut the ends of the side supports 14, and the transverse supports 20 are welded to the side supports 14. By this construction the transport container is sufficiently sturdy such that it can be loaded, unloaded and transported while resting on a side, top, bottom or ends, and multiple transport containers can be stacked on one another without causing deformation of the transport container.
As previously mentioned, the end doors 16 and 17 are attached to each lateral end edge 30 and 31 of the top panel 18 by a respective hinge I Sa and 15b, as shown in Figure 4.
The hinged connection enables the end door 16 to pivot about an axis A,-A,, substantially parallel to end edge 30, and the end door 17 to pivot about an axis AZ-A2, substantially parallel to end edge 31. Both the end doors 16 and 17 pivot outwardly away from the bottom panel 19 as indicated by the arrows 50 and 52 on Figure 4. The hinges 1 Sa and 15b may be provided for each respective end door 16 and 17 and are attached eithex on the inside or, more preferably, the outside surface of the top panel 18, so as not to interfere with the loading and/or unloading of the container, and also on the top or back surface of the end doors 16 and 17.
In one embodiment, the hinge is a conventional hinge constructed with two plates, each capable of being mounted, and each having at least one socket capable of receiving a pin to hold the plates in a pivotal relationship. This represents one embodiment and the invention is not intended to be so limited.
Figure 3 shows a front view of the end door 16. In a preferred embodiment, end door 17 is identical to end door 16. End door 16 has end supports 24, and a border support 25 to provide stability to the end door 16.
Also, the end doors 16 and 17 are preferably provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) to prevent the end doors 16 and 17 from unintentionally opening. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises an eyehole and a hook, whereby the eyehole is attached to an end door 16 or 17 and the hook is attached to the transport container 10 or vice versa. The end doors 16 and 17 are prevented from opening by positioning the hook through the eyehole. Again, this is one embodiment and the invention is not intended to be so limited.
Although the preferred embodiment discloses the transport container 10 having preferred interior dimensions with a height of approximately 1 meter, a width of approximately 3 meters and a length of approximately 5 to 7 meters, the invention is not so limited. A container 10 having larger or smaller dimensions could be used, depending on the density of the mined material. For example, larger dimensions could be used for transport containers manufactured to carry less dense mined material such as halites, gypsum or other anhydrates.
Figures 5 and 6 show the transport container in side view for loading and unloading whereby like reference numerals reference like elements.
Figure 5 shows a side view of the transport container 10 standing on one end door 16 and the opposite end door 17 is open for loading. Mined material can be loaded into the storage container 10 through the open end door 17 and, once loaded, the open end door 17 can be closed for transport.
Figure 6 shows a side view of the transport container 10 which is tipped for unloading wherein the end door 16 swings under gravity and force of the shipped material to an open position to allow the ore contained in the transport container 10 to fall out of the transport container 10. Also, though not shown on Figure 6, the closed end door 17 can be opened to facilitate the cleaning out of the transport container 10 from its upper end.
Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is also to be understood that the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are functional, or mechanical equivalents of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated herein and specifically, the manual shaver head l, and electric shaver head 5 can be attached to conventional non-telescopic handles.
It will be understood that, although various features of the invention have been described with respect to one or another of the embodiments of the invention, the various features and embodiments of the invention may be combined or used in conjunction with other features and embodiments of the invention as described and illustrated herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. A container with a top and bottom supported by two sides to make a sealed structure with open ends, whereby two end doors are sized to cover the open ends of the sealed structure, and are attached to the sealed structure by at least one hinge.