EP0191737B1 - Dispensable intermodular package with a large capacity - Google Patents

Description

The common technique used when it comes to transporting packed and at greater or lesser distance large objects, such as machines, vehicles, etc., is the wooden crate or plywood when conditions do not do not allow the use of metal containers standardized to ISO standards, in particular in the following cases: transport to distant destinations and it is not certain that the containers will be returned to the sender, need for relatively long storage before unloading of goods on arrival (the daily container immobilization fee is high), the fact that in these cases the containers would be immobilized for too long or even cannot be recovered (the cost of a container is high).

Shippers are therefore forced, at present, to avoid the high costs of long-term immobilization of standardized metal containers and even the loss of money due to their non-return, to use shipping crates built most often on the premises factory loading and the cost price per cubic meter is high. In addition, for large companies, this leads to having an additional workshop and labor, especially for the manufacture of these shipping crates, which represents a significant and permanent increase in overhead costs.

The present invention aims to eliminate these drawbacks and relates to a non-reusable and large-capacity intermodal packaging, which is characterized in that it comprises a rigid, load-bearing metal frame, formed of elements assembled by mechanical fixing means and designed to withstand alone all mechanical stresses due to load, handling and transport, this structure comprising a rectangular floor chassis, vertical corner uprights, a roof chassis and stiffening elements for the distribution of forces and uniting these two chassis, the side walls and the roof being closed by panels fixed to the structure metallic, to ensure a pure sealing function of the packaging.

The document FR-A-2,098,676 (MIC Luchaire Containerization) describes a container formed by a metal carcass and panels fixed thereto and each consisting of a sheet metal plate having deep reinforcing ribs and obviously intended for participate in the mechanical strength of the assembly, as in the known containers provided for making many round trips.

The document FR-A-1.206.039 (Turner) describes a packing box with pads provided, because of its high cost, to be returned (after disassembly) to the factory from which it comes, in order to be reused.

The packaging according to the invention therefore differs from known containers in that, to reduce its cost to a minimum and thus allow it to be used only once, it is made up of two parts whose functions are clearly separated: a load-bearing metal frame and simple panels fixed to this frame and having a pure function of sealing the packaging, excluding any mechanical function. The packaging thus designed is of a very low price, which makes it possible to use it only once, for the delivery of the goods and to abandon it to the recipient.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, an embodiment of the packaging according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this embodiment, ready for transport with a load (not visible) inside it.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the metal structure only of this embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal vertical section of the packaging.

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of one end of the package.

Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal sectional view of one end of the package.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view along 6-6 of FIG. 6b, showing means for assembling the vertical corner uprights on the frame of the roof of the package.

Fig. 6a is an external view of the detail according to FIG. 6.

Fig. 6b is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6.

Fig. 7 is an external detail view, showing the attachment to the floor of a stiffener belonging to the metal structure of the package.

Fig. 7a is a sectional view along 7a-7a of FIG. 7.

Fig. 8 is a side view of several compacted packages, superimposed and fixed together to form a transportable block.

Fig. 9 is a detail view, in longitudinal section and on a larger scale, of the means for fixing them to the floor chassis and the roof chassis in the compacted position.

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the means for fixing together two compacted packages.

Fig. 11 shows, in longitudinal section and on a larger scale, a package whose constituent elements are compacted as seen from the outside in FIG. 8.

The assembled and closed packaging shown in fig. 1 comprises a metal frame (which will be described in detail below) formed of elements assembled by mechanical fixing means, this frame being designed to support alone all the mechanical stresses due to the load located in the packaging, handling and transport of the packaging thus loaded.

This packaging according to fig. 1 further comprises panels of wood, plywood, agglomerated wood or plastic, or even sheet metal, which are fixed, as will be seen below, to the metal frame, to ensure the watertight closure of the packaging and the inviolability of its contents. These panels are therefore not subjected to the mechanical stresses which have just been mentioned, it is the metal framework exclusively which supports them.

Fig. 2 shows the assembled metal framework, without the panels forming its walls. This framework comprises the following parts: a floor chassis 1, a roof chassis 2, two vertical uprights of angle 3 connecting the chassis 1 and 2 at one of their ends where a door will be formed, two vertical uprights of angle 4 connecting the chassis 1 and 2 to the opposite end of the framework, two median vertical stiffeners 5, connecting the chassis 1 and 2, oblique stiffeners 6 to ensure the distribution of the forces and connecting the chassis 1 and 2.

The front end (in the drawing) of the packaging is provided with a door, the wooden frame of which can be seen, which is fixed (after loading) to the uprights 3 by lugs 9 pivoting on the uprights 3. A seal ( not shown) of the door thus closed ensures inviolability.

The opposite end of the packaging does not include any particular means, except for two diagonal stiffeners 10 which are seen in phantom in FIG. 2.

The side panels, the rear panel, the door and the chassis-roof are fitted with watertight closing panels, as already indicated. These panels are visible in fig. 1 and 3 to 5, at 11 (side walls), 12 (roof) and 13 (door), 14 (opposite end to the door). These panels are preferably fixed to the metal parts of the frame by nailing by means of a special tool such as, for example, that which is commercially available under the brand "Hilti", or by riveting. A seal 15 is interposed between the door frame 8 and the uprights 3 and the short sides of the frames 1 and 2. A similar seal, not shown, is disposed between the panels 11, 12 and 14 and the metal parts on which they are fixed.

The roof frame 2 comprises parallel cross members 16 fixed at their ends to the longitudinal sides of this frame. They support the panel 12, as seen in FIG. 3. They have the approximate shape of an inverted omega and the panel 12 rests on the legs of the omega.

The chassis floor 1 has at its four corners corner pieces 17 with a standardized face. The roof frame 2 also includes a corner piece 17 at each of its angles. These corner pieces are made of steel and have standardized openings on their lower face 18 (normalized) for the chassis-floor 1, and upper (standardized) for the chassis-roof 2. These openings are visible at 19 and serve the following functions : gripping the packaging by handling equipment, for example by means of twist locks, stowage on a carrying frame or on a vehicle, or on the deck of a cargo ship, by means of such twist locks.

These holes 19 allow access to the screws 21 for fixing the corner pieces 17 to the uprights 3 or 4. For this purpose, the upper and lower parts of these uprights have two threaded holes for receiving screws 21 securing the corner piece 17 with the end of an upright. There are provided on the ends of these uprights two pegs (permanently fixed) 22 for locating, provided to cooperate with corresponding holes in the corner piece, to ensure the exact relative positioning of each corner piece and the corresponding amount, before the installation of the fixing screws 21.

It is on the upper corner pieces 17 that the upper ends of the stiffeners 6 are fixed (fig. 2 and 6a, 6b) and 10. The lower end of these stiffeners is fixed on the longitudinal sides of the base frame 1 (fig . 1 and 7.7a). The fixing of the diagonal stiffeners 10 is made on the corner pieces. These different fasteners, which are easily removable, are made using pins 20 welded to the frames 1,2 and on which a hole is introduced which the stiffeners 6, 10 have at each of their ends. A pin 28 retains the stiffeners in place on the pins 20.

The base comprises a series of parallel cross members 29 fixed by welding at their ends to the long sides of the base frame 1. These cross sections have an approximately omega-shaped section (fig. 3). The floor of the base is formed by pallets each formed by a wooden tray 23 integral with several support planks 24, which rest on the lateral legs of the crosspieces 29.

The metal framework formed by the parts 1,2,3,4,5,6,10 and the crosspieces 16,29, forms a set rigid supporting alone all the mechanical stresses due to the load, the handling of the packaging and its transport. The walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 do not withstand stresses. Of course, to maneuver such packaging by means of a crane for example, it is necessary to use a rigid intermediate frame, made of steel, which ensures the verticality of the forces exerted on the uprights 3 and 4, to the exclusion of all horizontal component.

It will be noted that the corner uprights 3,4, the stiffeners 6,10 are easy to assemble with the frames 1 and 2 and that the walls 11,12,13 are easy to fix on the frame. All these elements are available to the user in compacted form forming a kit. Figs. 8 to 11 show the components of packaging such as that which has just been described, in the compacted form before assembly.

We see in fig. 11 compacted packaging. On the base frame 1 rest, on the left, the four uprights 3,4 and, on them, a pallet 23,24. A bottom wall 25 (not shown in the previous figs) is permanently fixed against the underside of the chassis 1. It is on these that these parts rest. On the right, we see the other pallets 23,24 forming the floor, which rest, as in fig. 3, on the crosspieces 29. On the different pallets, the panels 11, 12, 14, the door 13, the stiffeners 5, 6, 10 have been placed, as well as a bag 26 containing the screws, pins and seal materials. sealing.

Above all, the roof chassis 2 has been placed, so that the spare parts to be assembled are enclosed between these chassis. The chassis 1 and 2 are fixed in the compacted position using the same screws 21 (fig. 9). The connection of the kits to each other is done by means of 4 angle bolts 30 (fig. 10) which are threaded through the holes 31 (fig. 6b) of the standard plates 18. The tabs 27 (fig. 8) are stiffeners. The assembly shown in fig 11 forms a kit which is a compacted package. In fig. 8, several compacts or compacts have been shown superimposed and joined together to form a block of eight kits whose volume is equal to that of an assembled package. Thus the delivery to users of the packaging takes place in a simple way by trucks or railways and dispenses them from having a special workshop for the manufacture of shipping crates. The assembly of the packaging is simple and can be done by the user.

The kits are joined together (fig. 8) by fixing between them the four corner pieces 17 of the base frame 1 of one kit to the four corner pieces 17 of the roof frame of another kit by means of screws 21 , as seen in fig. 9 and 10. These are the same screws which are used to secure the corner pieces 17 to the uprights 3,4, during assembly of the packaging.

Load mooring parts of known type, for example in the form of rings, can advantageously be fixed to the chassis-floor, as is customary in containers.

The packaging described has standard external dimensions, that is to say in accordance with ISO standards (International Standard Organization), which brings the same advantages in transport as ISO containerization, while being non-reusable, therefore inexpensive. and at the complete disposal of the traffic and the recipient, without limitation of time.

The packaging described therefore offers the advantage of a large loading volume, vertical handling, transfers without load break (i.e. without unloading and reloading of the goods during transport), l '' on deck and in the holds of the holds of container ships, the reduced transport price thanks to the container tariff, mooring on twist locks of wagons, container trucks and cargo decks.

Claims (8)

1. A large-capacity disposable intermodal packing case, characterized in that it has a load-bearing rigid metal structure formed of elements assembled by mechanical fixing means, and designed for withstanding, by itself, all the mechanical stresses due to loading, handling and transportation, this structure comprising a rectangular bottom frame (1), vertical corner supports (3, 4), a top frame (2) and stiffeners (5, 6, 10) for distributing the forces and joining these two frames (1, 2) together, the side walls and the top being closed off by panels (11, 12, 13, 14) fixed to the metal structure, which serve purely to ensure that the packing case closes tightly.
2. A packing case according to Claim 1, characterized in that the bottom frame (1) and the top frame (2) are formed of a frame and welded crosspieces (16, 29), the corner supports (3, 4) being screwed to corner pieces (17) belonging to the bottom frame (1) and to the top frame (2).
3. A packing case according to Claim 2, characterized in that the corner pieces (17) each have a plate (18) possessing a standard orifice (19) which, as regards the corner pieces of the top frame (2), permits vertical handling with a container spreader and, as regards the corner pieces of the bottom frame (1), permits anchoring of the packing case either to an identical packing case for stacking purposes, or to twistlocks on a vehicle.
4. A packing case according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall panels (11-14) are nailed by their edges to the frames (1, 2) and to the supports (3, 4).
5. A packing case according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom frame (1) has metal crosspieces (29) welded to its longitudinal sides, and pallets (23, 24) resting on parts of these crosspieces (29).
6. A packing case according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has pieces for anchoring the load, which are fixed to the bottom frame.
7. A packing case according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its constituent elements are grouped together, before assembly, with the corner supports (3, 4), the stiffeners (6, 10), the mechanical assembly elements and the wall panels (11-14) accommodated in a closed space formed between the bottom frame (1), on which they rest, and the top frame (2), means (21, Figure 9) being provided for joining these two frames together to form a collapsed packing case, the corner pieces (17) being provided (31, Figure 6b) for joining several superposed collapsed packing cases together (Figure 8) by means of assembly members (30, Figure 10).
8. A packing case according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its external dimensions conform to ISO standards.

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