EP1080022B1 - Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le cote - Google Patents

Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le cote Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1080022B1
EP1080022B1 EP99922359A EP99922359A EP1080022B1 EP 1080022 B1 EP1080022 B1 EP 1080022B1 EP 99922359 A EP99922359 A EP 99922359A EP 99922359 A EP99922359 A EP 99922359A EP 1080022 B1 EP1080022 B1 EP 1080022B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
stay
bottom side
side rail
open
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP99922359A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1080022A1 (fr
Inventor
David Colebrook
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sea Containers Services Ltd
Original Assignee
Sea Containers Services Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sea Containers Services Ltd filed Critical Sea Containers Services Ltd
Publication of EP1080022A1 publication Critical patent/EP1080022A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1080022B1 publication Critical patent/EP1080022B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/02—Large containers rigid
    • B65D88/12—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport
    • B65D88/127—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport open-sided container, i.e. having substantially the whole side free to provide access, with or without closures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/02—Large containers rigid
    • B65D88/12—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport
    • B65D88/121—ISO containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/52—Large containers collapsible, i.e. with walls hinged together or detachably connected

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an open-sided cargo freight container, particularly but not specifically, of the type which is an independent container and which can be transferred from one carrying vehicle (e.g. road, rail or Maffi-type truck/cassette vehicle) to another, or may be stored individually or as part of a limited stack of such open-sided cargo freight containers, two or more containers high.
  • one carrying vehicle e.g. road, rail or Maffi-type truck/cassette vehicle
  • container is to be taken as reference to an open-sided cargo freight container of the above described type.
  • Open-sided containers are themselves well known, being provided with an elongate rectangular base on which is mounted a floor with two opposed fixed upstanding end walls having standard ISO fittings either at each corner thereof for containers of 40 ft (12.19 m) or when the length of the container is approximately 44 ft (13.6 m), at locations along the side rail intermediate the end walls for connecting the container to a vehicle or to other containers when stacked one upon the other.
  • a roof member extends between and is supported on uppermost free ends of the end walls, respectively.
  • Top and bottom side rails extend along the length of each elongate side edge of the roof and of the base, respectively, and form an integral part of the roof and base.
  • Side curtains are provided being slidably mounted on the elongate top side rail.
  • the curtains are horizontally tensioned by being wound around an elongate bar which is located adjacent one end wall and which lies parallel to the end wall.
  • the elongate bar is rotatably fixed between the roof and the base for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the bar.
  • the curtain When the curtain is in an extended position, the curtain is attachable along a free, vertically extending edge to the end wall at an opposed end of the container.
  • a lower elongate edge of the curtain is provided with a plurality of straps with tensioning buckles which are arranged to hook onto the bottom side rail, respectively, of the container.
  • the particular problems sought to be overcome with such containers are to reduce the weight and structural depth of the base so as to provide more loading space within the container.
  • reduction of the weight and structural depth results in the base being made weaker and thereby more susceptible to distortion when being grapple lifted or sling lifted, or when placed on excessively uneven ground.
  • the top side rail can buckle under compressive forces transmitted through the end walls caused by bending and twisting about longitudinal and transverse axes of the container both as a result of the inherent weight of the container and the weight of goods which are loaded into the container.
  • GB-A-1286832 describes a container of the type wherein the base comprises a generally rectangular frame having posts upstanding from each corner thereof, each post having on an upper end thereof a stacking boss and the frame having recesses, in its underside, located directly below the posts for receiving stacking bosses of a similar container in its collapsed condition; a pair of end walls having respective end columns pivotally connected to a respective end pair of the posts so that the end walls can each pivot about an axis generally parallel to the plane of the base; and a respective strut which can extend between each end column of each end wall and a longitudinal member of the frame.
  • the preamble of claim 1 is based on this prior art.
  • an open-sided cargo freight container comprising an angled stay arranged to be interconnected between a bottom side rail of the container and a portion of an end wall remote from the bottom side rail, wherein the angled stay is detachably mounted at one end thereof for detachment from the container and at an opposite end is pivotally mounted so that one end may be detached from the container and the stay pivoted about the opposite end to provide side access into the inside of the container for loading and unloading thereof, the interconnected angled stay in cooperation with the roof structure limiting flexing of a flexible base of the container.
  • the angled stay is pivotally mounted to the portion of an end wall and detachably mounted to the bottom side rail of the container.
  • an end of the angled stay is attachable to a bottom side rail of the container such that a predetermined freedom of movement is permitted between the end of the angled stay and the bottom side rail when the stay is connected to the rail.
  • the bottom side rail of the container comprises a clevis and pin means for co-operating with an elongate aperture provided towards that end of the angled stay which is attachable to the bottom side rail.
  • This embodiment has the advantage that when the container is in an unloaded state the pin takes up an intermediate position within the length of the elongated aperture in the angled stay.
  • the base of the container When the container is in a loaded state and supported on a road trailer or other vehicle, the base of the container will acquire a small curvature when viewed from the side, and the clevis pin will move along the elongate aperture, so that the pin is not subject to any significant load.
  • the pin may therefore be easily withdrawn or inserted to allow disconnection and re-connection of the angled stay to the bottom rail, to provide unobstructed access to the inside of the container.
  • the base of the container may acquire a small curvature but the elongate aperture will allow easy disconnection and re-connection of the angled stay.
  • the elongate aperture will allow the base to acquire some degree of elastic curvature, until the clevis pin comes under load so that the angled stay acts as a lattice girder to give the container the rigidity to withstand the loads imposed on the container during handling.
  • the end of the stay closest to the top rail is attached to a universal swivel joint to enable the stay to be pivoted in any direction of the stay outwardly and upwardly relative to the bottom side rail upon release of a pin of the clevis and pin means from the bottom side rail.
  • the pin has an attached handle to facilitate insertion and removal of the pin.
  • the pin is captive within the clevis.
  • intermediate posts are located to extend between the top and bottom side rails so as to prevent buckling of the top rail when it is under compression forces and also serve to support the roof members against downward tension from the taut liner curtain tensioned (in a vertical direction in use) by lever buckles so as to be effective as a load restraining side wall.
  • the base of the container may begin to flex beyond the allowed limits whereupon the angled stays become effective and provide the necessary strength so that the container can be safely lifted or placed on very uneven ground without damage.
  • the "slotted hole” or elongated aperture and clevis connection with the bottom side rail enables the base to flex within acceptable limits.
  • slotted hole An alternative to the slotted hole would be a screw length adjuster (turn buckle) or other length adjuster, but this would involve considerable operational difficulties in adjusting the length when the adjuster is under substantial load.
  • an open-sided container in which the function of the angled stays is to strengthen the corner posts against longitudinal racking loads caused by the weight of the container or of goods located within the container in use.
  • the angled stays used in connection with the present invention rely on the roof structure extending between the end walls to give a deep lattice girder effect, allowing a structural lightening of the base of the container without substantially affecting the strength of the container, thereby enabling substantial cost savings in manufacture, reduction in weight of the container, and strengthening of the container.
  • Fig. 1 shows a side elevational view of part of an elongate open-sided cargo freight container 1 having an elongate rectangular base 2 and an end wall 3 at each elongate end of the base. Each end wall is fixed to the base 2 and extends upwardly in Fig. 1 to support at its free end 5 a roof structure 6 extending between the end walls 3 and overlying the base 2.
  • a movable intermediate post 7 is arranged to extend between the roof and base to provide support for the roof and to prevent buckling of the roof when the roof structure is placed under compressive forces during lifting or placing the open-sided container on uneven ground. Further support is given to the structure via an angled stay 8 arranged to extend at an acute angle to the elongate base 2 towards the junction of the end wall 3 and roof 6. A similar such angled stay is located on the opposite side of the container and is identical in structure to the angled stay 8. A similar such stay to the angled stay 8 is also located on each side of the opposite end of the container not shown in Fig. 1.
  • the stay 8 is of an elongate rectangular box section (120 mm x 35 mm) for maximum efficiency of weight and strength. As shown in Fig. 1 the box section angled stay is connected at one uppermost end to a universal joint 10 located at a junction of the end wall 3 and the roof 6. Fig.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates detail of a vertically extending swivel 11 and a horizontally extending pivot 12 which together allow the stay 8 to be detached from the lower side rail 2, to be pivoted upwardly in the direction of arrow 13 about pivot 12 and then to be swung about swivel 11 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet of paper containing the drawing and then in an arc about the pivot 12 until the stay extends outwardly and is rested on the ground, for example on which the container is standing, with the stay 8 projecting downwardly from the universal joint 10 and resting on the ground on an outer side of the end wall 3 (Fig. 1.), thereby to allow easy access to the inside of the container to load or unload the container.
  • An opposed end 14 of the angled stay 8 is tapered inwardly and has a curved outermost end 20.
  • a locating pin and locking arrangement 23, 24 is mounted on the base side rail 2 so that a pin 23 projects inwardly of the container successively through a clevis plate 24A, through an elongate aperture 21 in the stay 8 and through the side rail 2 to provide a clevis-type connection.
  • FIG. 3 A more detailed illustration of the connection and fixing of the pin 23 is shown in each of Figs. 3 to 5.
  • Fig. 3 there is shown an end 14 of angled stay 8 connected to a portion of the bottom side rail 2.
  • Aperture 21 lies at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the side rail 2 to allow the base to bend to a predetermined extent before pin 23 engages one or the other of the opposite ends of the elongate aperture 21 and limits the amount of any subsequent relative movement between the angled stay 8 and the base.
  • Pin 23 has a handle 24 attached to the pin 23 at its outermost end as shown in the cross-sectional views of Figs. 4 and 5.
  • the handle 24 has a guide shaft part 23A which guides and captivates the pin 23.
  • the guide shaft 23A projects through and outwardly of a guide 25 fixed to an inner surface of a centre web of the bottom side rail which has an I-shaped cross-section.
  • Fig. 5 there is illustrated the withdrawal of the pin 23 and the handle 24 from the clevis plate 24A of the side rail 2 and it can be seen from Figs. 3 and 5 that upon releasing a latch part 31 the pin 23 can be withdrawn while the guide shaft 23A remains held captive within the guide 25 by a split pin 30.
  • the angled stay 8 is of a rectangular box section structure being longer in the longitudinal direction of the container than in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, that is from side to side of the container.
  • a tapered end 20 of the stay which is for connection to the side rail 2 is either an integral part of the stay, or alternatively may be a pre-formed part for insertion into a hollow space within the stay 8 and welding to the stay.
  • grapples attached to a hoist may grip a grapple plate 43 welded to the side rail at grapple lifting points.
  • Grapple protection plates 40 are provided adjacent the grapple lifting points on the container base.
  • the plate 40 is hooked onto the top of the bottom side rail and serves to protect a side curtain 41 of the container from the grapples when the container is moved.
  • a portion of the side curtain 41 is shown in Fig. 1 to illustrate the relationship between the grapple protection plate and curtain when the curtain is extended along the side of the container.
  • the curtain lies behind the grapple protection plate but at least one strap is connectable to a top edge 47 of the grapple protection plate.
  • a further welded plate 45 Adjacent each grapple lifting point is provided a further welded plate 45 having an aperture 46 therein and alternatively the container may be sling lifted and plate 45 provides a convenient point for attaching the sling lifting apparatus.
  • the curtain is provided with a strap and buckle arrangement to secure the lower end of the curtain adjacent the side rail 2.
  • the buckles and straps of the side curtains are interconnected with the bottom side rail resulting in tension in the top rail of the container which then has a tendency to buckle under bending forces and to distort the shape of the container.
  • the provision of the side post 7 is substantially to avoid undue buckling of the top rail relative to the bottom side rail where the top rail is insufficiently strong to resist buckling itself.
  • the arrangement of the "slotted hole” connection at the bottom of the angled stay is of particular value in that it allows the base to flex within acceptable limits. For example, when supported on a chassis the chassis will flex to some extent and this is quite normal, or alternatively when the container is supported on reasonably even ground. However, when the container base would otherwise flex beyond predetermined limits, that is, when being grapple lifted or being sling lifted or when placed on excessively uneven ground, then the angled stays come into play and provide the necessary strength so that the container can be safely lifted or also be placed on very uneven ground without being damaged.
  • a screw (turn buckle) length adjuster can be utilized instead of the slotted hole. However, this involves considerable operational time and expense and therefore the slotted holes as described above with reference to the drawings provide an advantageous means of achieving a variable length connection of the angled stay with the lower side rail.
  • the intermediate movable posts 7 extending between the top and bottom side rails in use conveniently have a dual function.
  • the posts stabilize the roof side rail against buckling (in a vertical direction) under compression forces experienced during lifting of the container by grapple, and support the roof side rail against downward tension from the taut liner curtain.
  • This curtain is normally tensioned by powerful lower buckles in order to be effective as a load restraining side wall.
  • the elongate aperture has been described as being located at the bottom end of the angled stay to engage with a clevis pin in the base side, it will be understood that alternatively the elongate aperture can be in the base side, angled as appropriate, with the pin as part of the diagonal stay.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le côté (1) comprenant un étai oblique (8) agencé de manière à être interconnecté entre une barre latérale inférieure (2) du conteneur et une partie d'une paroi arrière (3) éloignée de la barre latérale inférieure, l'étai oblique (8) étant monté de manière détachable à une extrémité (14) de celui-ci pour pouvoir être détaché du conteneur et étant monté de manière pivotante à une extrémité opposée (10) afin qu'une extrémité (14) puisse être détachée du conteneur et que l'étai (8) puisse être pivoté vers l'extérieur autour de l'extrémité opposée (10) pour apporter un accès latéral à l'intérieur du conteneur, pour le chargement et le déchargement de celui-ci, caractérisé en ce que le conteneur de transport comprend en outre une structure de toit fixe (6) et en ce que l'étai oblique interconnecté (8), en coopération avec la structure de toit (6), limite le fléchissement d'une base flexible du conteneur.
  2. Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le côté (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'étai oblique (8) est monté de manière pivotante à la partie d'une paroi arrière (3) et est monté de manière détachable à la barre latérale inférieure (2) du conteneur.
  3. Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le côté selon les revendications 1 ou 2, dans lequel une extrémité (14) de l'étai oblique (18) peut être attachée à une barre latérale inférieure (2) du conteneur de manière à permettre une liberté de mouvement prédéterminée entre l'extrémité de l'étai oblique et la barre latérale inférieure lorsque l'étai est relié à la barre.
  4. Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le côté selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la barre latérale inférieure (2) du conteneur comprend des moyens constitués d'une manille d'assemblage (24A) et d'une broche (23) pour coopérer avec une ouverture allongée (21) prévue vers cette extrémité (14) de l'étai oblique (8) qui peut être attachée à la barre latérale inférieure.
  5. Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le côté selon l'une des revendications 3 ou 4, dans lequel l'extrémité (10) de l'étai (8) la plus proche d'une barre supérieure est attachée à un adaptateur cardan à pivotement (11, 12) pour permettre à l'étai d'être pivoté dans toute direction de l'étai vers l'extérieur et vers le haut par rapport à la barre latérale inférieure (2) sur dégagement d'une broche (23) des moyens constitués d'une manille d'assemblage et d'une broche à partir de la barre latérale inférieure.
  6. Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le côté selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la broche (23) a une poignée attachée (24) pour faciliter l'insertion et le retrait de la broche.
  7. Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le côté selon l'une des revendications 5 ou 6, dans lequel la broche (23) est prise à l'intérieur de la manille d'assemblage (24A).
  8. Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le côté selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel des montants intermédiaires (7) sont placés de sorte à s'étendre entre les barres latérales supérieures et inférieures afin d'empêcher le flambage de la barre supérieure quand elle est soumise à des forces de compression et aussi afin de servir de support des éléments de toit contre une tension vers le bas provenant d'une bâche Tautliner (41) tendue dans un sens vertical pendant l'utilisation par des boucles à levier afin d'être efficace en tant que paroi latérale de retenue de charges.
EP99922359A 1998-05-20 1999-05-19 Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le cote Expired - Lifetime EP1080022B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9810891 1998-05-20
GB9810891A GB2337509B (en) 1998-05-20 1998-05-20 Open-sided cargo freight container
PCT/GB1999/001587 WO1999059899A1 (fr) 1998-05-20 1999-05-19 Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le cote

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1080022A1 EP1080022A1 (fr) 2001-03-07
EP1080022B1 true EP1080022B1 (fr) 2004-03-31

Family

ID=10832431

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99922359A Expired - Lifetime EP1080022B1 (fr) 1998-05-20 1999-05-19 Conteneur de transport ouvert sur le cote

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1080022B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU3945899A (fr)
DE (1) DE69916048T2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2337509B (fr)
WO (1) WO1999059899A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2353277B (en) * 1999-08-16 2003-09-17 Sea Containers Services Ltd Freight container
GB0425374D0 (en) * 2004-11-17 2004-12-22 Clive Smith Martin Improvements in open sided containers
WO2014089664A1 (fr) 2012-12-12 2014-06-19 Oceanex Inc. Râtelier plat
PL242197B1 (pl) * 2020-11-24 2023-01-30 Laude Smart Intermodal Spolka Akcyjna Kontener

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1050109A (fr) *
GB1286832A (en) * 1969-10-16 1972-08-23 Mini Verkehrswesen Improved folding containers
DE2030480A1 (de) * 1970-06-20 1972-01-05 Rheinstahl Ag, Transporttechnik, 3500 Kassel Gütertransportpalette
GB8416713D0 (en) * 1984-06-30 1984-08-01 Forsyth I Fold away container
US4637763A (en) * 1984-11-13 1987-01-20 Sea-Land Corporation Hanging multi-deck system for storing and shipping articles in containers
FR2577534A1 (fr) * 1985-02-14 1986-08-22 Weidmann Pittet Sa Emballage intermodal non reutilisable et de grande capacite
DE4017918A1 (de) * 1990-06-02 1991-12-05 Bernd Gottmann Wechselbruecke fuer den schiffs-, waggon- und lkw-transport von stueckguetern, insbesondere coils
GB9117420D0 (en) * 1991-08-12 1991-09-25 Lam David C S Transporting goods
US5577760A (en) * 1995-08-28 1996-11-26 Pressler; Hallis R. Farm wagon stabilizing bar system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2337509B (en) 2002-07-31
AU3945899A (en) 1999-12-06
GB2337509A (en) 1999-11-24
GB9810891D0 (en) 1998-07-22
DE69916048T2 (de) 2004-12-09
WO1999059899A1 (fr) 1999-11-25
DE69916048D1 (de) 2004-05-06
EP1080022A1 (fr) 2001-03-07

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