EP1343705B1 - Freight container for air transport and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a freight container (1) for air transport containing a floor element (8) and a container structure, which is arranged on said floor element and which has lateral walls (2, 3, 4, 6), a roof wall (7) and a loading opening (5). The lateral walls and roof wall contain or are comprised of wall linings (21, 22, 23, 24), which are composed of surface parts, in particular, of sheet metal elements. The loading opening (5) is delimited up to the adjacent wall faces by terminating longitudinal edges. Two wall faces that abut against one another at an angle form a longitudinal edge. One or more longitudinal edges and/or terminating longitudinal edges of the container structure contain a reinforcing structure (25), whereby the reinforcing structure contains or is comprised of one or more surface parts (30, 41), which can be reshaped once or a number of times and which are joined via joining zones in order to form the reinforcing structure. The reinforcing structure (25) comprises at least one closed, channel-like hollow chamber extending in the direction of the longitudinal edge and is joined to the wall reinforcement (21, 22, 23, 24) via joining zones.

Description

The invention relates to a freight container for air transport according to the preamble of Claim 1. In the context of the invention is also a process for its preparation.

Cargo containers for air transport, hereinafter referred to as air freight containers, are used for Storage and transportation of goods by plane. Such goods can For example, be fragile or perishable goods or baggage.

Air freight containers are usually due to space limitations of the interior wall structures of the Cargo hold adapted and can therefore assume different spatial forms. Next Cuboid forms, the air freight container one or two-sided so-called balcony structures form, which is the adaptation of the container shape to the curved wall serve the fuselage for the purpose of optimized use of the cargo hold.

Known airfreight containers are, for example, a support framework made of profile struts built, which is covered or sheeted with sheets. Take over the profile struts the supporting and stiffening function of the airfreight container. The profile struts are usually open or closed press profiles. The metal covers are in usually riveted to the support frame attached.

A common type of air cargo containers of the type mentioned is, for example, in EP 0 313,601. The described air cargo container is a degree surface limited Body. It consists of a base plate and a supporting framework placed thereon, which vertical side profiles and horizontal roof profiles, where on one side the floor Side profiles are inclined against the container interior and a sloping bottom Limit wall area. In this generally known embodiment, one speaks also from a container balcony molded onto the air cargo container. The profiles are closed Press profiles. The profiles also webs are formed, on which means Riveting the Blechfachfachungen the wall surfaces are attached.

The production of such air cargo containers is very expensive and costly but various parts such as individual profiles, sheet metal infills or gusset plates made, machined and assembled into a complete air freight container. For this must first assembled the profile struts to a support frame and Subsequently, the metal cladding be attached to the support frame.

The production of pressed profiles, in particular of pressed profiles with closed hollow chambers, is also expensive and expensive.

Further, US 5,645,184 describes a freight container for air transport, the stretchable Contains areas that contain the explosion energy of an explosion triggered in the freight container can absorb. The stretchable structures refer to waves or accordion-shaped Layers in the wall areas that stretched under explosion pressure become. The elastic structures can be bent in the corner areas over angled, flat Corner elements to be interconnected.

US 6,112,931 describes a freight container for air transport, which also to Absorption of explosive energy is designed. The wall areas also contain corrugated, stretchable reinforcing layers. The wall elements are over in the corner areas Corner joints made of a fiber-reinforced plastic interconnected.

Object of the present invention is a self-supporting cargo container for air transport to propose with low weight and high stability, its individual components prefabricated in a simple manner and cost and with the least possible effort and can be mounted.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1 solved.

The container structure is expediently a surface area limited body and consists of planar wall surfaces, wherein each two adjacent wall surfaces to form a Long edge at an angle against each other. The container structure contains a Roof wall, a rear and front side wall, wherein in the front side wall preferably the loading opening is provided, and an inner and outer side wall. The mentioned walls form the mentioned wall surfaces. The longitudinal edges on which the side walls abut each other are except for the longitudinal edges on the obliquely inwardly inclined wall surface of a Balkonanformung practical vertical Longitudinal edges. The longitudinal edges, at which the roof wall abuts the side wall expedient horizontal longitudinal edges.

The container structure may also include two or more lateral loading openings. The container structure may in particular contain two loading openings, wherein the first Loading openings in the front and the second is arranged in the rear side wall. The front and rear side wall can be designed mirror-symmetrically in this embodiment be.

The container structure can be cuboid or on the outside, or on the outside and inner sidewall form a so-called container balcony. The container balcony Characterized by a two-part side wall with a top wall surface and a to the upper wall surface adjacent lower wall surface, wherein the upper wall surface has a vertical orientation and the lower wall surface obliquely to the bottom element and inclined against the container interior. The lower side wall closes with the bottom element and the upper wall surface in each case an obtuse angle.

For container superstructures with one-sided container balcony, the outer side wall the cargo space or aircraft inner wall facing and balcony-like trained Container side, while the inner side wall facing the cargo compartment interior Container side without balcony annex is.

Under surface parts are particularly flat, panel or Bänderförnüge parts to understand. The surface parts of the wall cladding and / or the reinforcing structure are Sheet metal elements or sheet metal parts. The surface parts of the wall cladding and / or the reinforcement structure are suitably made of metal and preferably made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Furthermore, the surface parts of the wall paneling and / or the reinforcing structure of a ferrous metal, such as iron, galvanized iron, steel, a Non-ferrous metal or magnesium or a magnesium alloy. Among the The term sheet, sheet metal element or sheet metal part in particular fall from metal products Shape of flat, flat boards or ribbons. The thickness of the sheet metal elements is preferably between 0 mm and 10 mm, advantageously between 0.4 mm and 5 mm and in particular between 0.6 mm and 1.5 mm.

The roof wall and the side walls are expedient with the exception of the loading opening lined with wall panels of surface parts, in particular of sheet metal elements or consist thereof, wherein the surface parts preferably at least in the wall surface have surface area limited surface sections. The wall coverings are preferred made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

On the front side wall of the container body, and possibly on the front and rear side wall, a lateral loading opening is expediently arranged, which by two vertical and one horizontal, roofward end longitudinal edges of the adjacent Wall surfaces is delimited.

The reinforcing structures according to the invention can be applied to individual or all longitudinal and / or Be provided end longitudinal edges. The reinforcing structures according to the invention are preferably at least at one, several or all vertically aligned Longitudinal edges provided. Furthermore, the reinforcing structures according to the invention are preferably at least at the vertical end longitudinal edges and in particular at the both vertical and horizontal, Dachwärtigen end longitudinal edges of the loading opening intended.

The one or more surface parts of the reinforcing structure are expedient mutually by joining zones and connected to the wall cladding. The joining zones are preferably flat Joining zones in which surface portions of the reinforcing structure form Surface parts with their large-scale sides to form a kind of overlap area against each other and / or against the large-area sides of surface portions of poke adjacent wall cladding.

The surface parts of the reinforcing structure are preferably in the joining zones by means of rivets, as Scherzugnieten, screws, clinching, gluing and / or welding to the reinforcing structure joined and / or connected to the adjacent wall coverings.

To make the connection between the individual surface parts can be general Connecting elements, i. Auxiliary for joining two components, such as adhesives, rivets, In particular Scherzugnieten, screws, clinching or welding, are used.

The reinforcing structure preferably consists entirely of deformed surface parts, in particular from formed sheet metal elements, as well as connecting elements. In preferred Embodiment form one or more and in particular two reshaped surface parts a reinforcing structure with at least one closed, channel-like hollow chamber out. Preferably, at least one of these closed channel-like hollow chambers the reinforcing structure extends over the entire longitudinal edge and runs in the essentially parallel to the longitudinal edge direction. The channel-like hollow chambers of the reinforcing structure can also have one or more subsections of the longitudinal edge and in the extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal edge direction.

The reinforcing structure forms with respect to the wall panel expediently a bead-shaped Broadening and preferably has an orthogonal to the adjacent wall surface plane measured total width, which at least a factor of 2, preferably Factor 5 and in particular factor 10 is greater than the thickness of the wall cladding.

The reinforcing structure can also be two or more closed, channel-like hollow chambers exhibit. Furthermore, two or more of said hollow chambers can be extend over the entire longitudinal edge and substantially parallel to the longitudinal edge direction run.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one surface part of the reinforcing structure forms a open, channel-like cavity or a closed, channel-like hollow chamber. Of the said cavity or hollow chamber preferably extends over the entire longitudinal edge and runs substantially parallel to the longitudinal edge direction. The mentioned surface part with open cavity forms with one or more other surface parts of the Reinforcement structure expedient a closed hollow chamber. The open, gutter-like Cavity of said surface part can e.g. a U, V, C or Z cross section exhibit. The open, groove-like cavity may in particular have undercuts. Furthermore, a plurality of parallel or at an angle to each other open, groove-like cavities may be formed in a surface part.

The surface part may in particular bead, i. groove-like depressions, having, the depth of the gutter is small compared to its length. The beads can be semi-circular, Boxholes, trapezoidal, triangular, multiple beading. Furthermore, closed or open beads may be provided. The beads can lie parallel to each other as Multiple beads or at an angle to each other formed as a bead groups be. By crimping, the resistance of a sheet to elastic and plastic deformation changes in the case of bending and torsional stress due to the enlargement of the inertia or resistance moment increased. The stiffening effect of a bead hangs for a given sheet material and for a given cross-sectional shape and sheet thickness mostly from the bead depth. Said surface part with beads preferably forms with one or more other surface parts of the reinforcing structure more closed hollow chambers.

The reinforcement structure, in particular the vertical longitudinal edges and the end longitudinal edges, is suitably one or more external, i. from Facing away from the container interior, forming an outer structure wall and one or a plurality of internal, facing the container contents, an inner structure wall forming surface parts.

The surface part of the reinforcing structure forming the outer wall or the outer structural wall is preferably a profile formed from a sheet metal strip sheet metal element.

The or the outer surface part of the reinforcing structure, which expediently is not part of the wall cladding, preferably has a greater thickness than the or the inner surface part, which may be part of the wall covering, wherein all Surface parts consist of sheet metal elements. The or the outer surface part can for example, by 5 to 100%, preferably 10 to 50%, greater thickness than the or the inner surface part.

Preferably, at least one of the surface parts forms part of the reinforcing structure at the same time the wall paneling. The aforementioned surface part is for this purpose at its edge, deformed the longitudinal edge facing end portion surface and forms with this one Part of the reinforcement structure. At the same time the wall panel forming surface part preferably forms the or an inner surface part or the inner Structure wall of the reinforcing structure.

In a first embodiment of the invention are two deformed surface parts, in particular Sheet metal elements, forming at least one closed hollow chamber to a stiffening structure joined, wherein one of the surface parts at the same time the wall cladding forms and at a lateral Endabschnittsfläche to a part of the stiffening Structure is reshaped. At the same time the wall panel forming surface part of the reinforcing structure preferably forms the inner structure wall. The individual surface parts the reinforcing structure are mutually and / or with the Wall coverings, connected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the surface part of a first wall covering with an end portion surface formed on the longitudinal edge to the adjacent second wall surface out and joined to the wall cladding of the second wall surface. The wall paneling can also with both Endabschnittsflächen at the corresponding longitudinal edge to the adjacent Wall formed out and joined to the adjacent wall paneling. On the outside at the longitudinal edge is under training at least one in the longitudinal edge direction extending closed, channel-like hollow chamber an outside reshaped Surface part attached. The outer surface part is at the Endabschnittsfläche the first or end portion surfaces of the first and second wall panels together.

In a further embodiment of the invention, two deformed surface parts, in particular Sheet metal elements, forming at least one closed, channel-like hollow chamber joined to a profile-like reinforcement structure. The two surface parts preferably form towards the two wall surfaces towards a flat joining zone in the form of a longitudinal web in which the two surface parts with their Endabschnittsflächen gegeinander bump. At the web-shaped joining zones, the wall cladding is by means of riveted joints appropriate. The wall cladding consists of metal sheets.

The surface parts of the reinforcing structure according to the invention, in particular the surface parts as sheet metal elements, are preferably by means of a bending process, such as free bending, Die bending, press bending, swivel bending or roll bending, or by means of roll forming reshaped. Furthermore, the surface parts can also by means of a deep-drawing process, Ironing process, extrusion or be converted by rolling rounds. Combinations of the aforementioned forming methods are conceivable.

The reinforcing structures may further include ridges, ribs or flanges and recesses or recesses, for example, for receiving functional elements included.

The reinforcing structures essentially assume the function of the previously used extruded hollow chamber profiles. The reinforcement structures as part of the container structure preferably have a hollow profile-like structure.

To reinforce the container structure additional node or connecting elements, preferably as sheet metal elements, on the longitudinal edges and in particular in the corner areas the longitudinal edges are used. In particular, the container structure can inter alia by means of node and connecting plates connected to the bottom element be. The gusset plates are suitably made of ferrous metals, such as iron, galvanized iron, Steel, non-ferrous metals, such as brass, copper, magnesium and its alloys and preferably of aluminum or its alloys. The gusset plates are preferably by means of rivets, in particular by means of Scherzugnieten, built into the structure. The Nodes or connecting elements may also be made of plastics, suitably reinforced, in particular of fiber-reinforced plastics, preferably of carbon or glass fiber reinforced Plastics or composites, in particular of metal-plastic composites, consist.

The container structure without door and locking systems consists in a preferred embodiment the invention entirely of sheet metal elements and connecting elements, i. the container construction contains in particular no pressing profiles. However, it can be punctual and for local reinforcement also press profiles in which constructed essentially of sheet metal elements Container construction can be used.

The container structure can be different at the longitudinal and / or end longitudinal edges contain configured reinforcing structures.

The loading opening of the container structure expediently contains a container door. The Container door can e.g. a flexible, rollable or swiveling in the vertical direction Door or tarpaulin, as described in EP 0 533 626. The roll-up door can e.g. at its dachwärtigen end over Kederprofile on the reinforcing structure of horizontal, roof-sided outer longitudinal edge and at its Bodenwärtigen end laterally via locking devices or horizontally arranged straps on the side attached abutting, vertical reinforcing structure of the outer longitudinal edges.

In another variant, the container door with a so-called barless closure equipped, as described for example in EP 1061009, in particular in Fig. 5a-c and the associated figure description is described. To a tarpaulin are horizontally extending Lock straps attached. The straps can, for example, to the Sewn door. The straps will go through with their extended ends Pulled loops on the lateral reinforcing structures of the vertical outer longitudinal edges. By tightening the straps, the tarpaulin is tensioned, with the through the loops guided belt sections of the extended belt ends and after the Velcro or Velcro® closure principle on the underlying belt section on the door tarpaulin be fixed. At the bottom end of the tarpaulin is a Bodenwärtiger closure strap attached, which with its extended ends also by loops on the lateral Reinforcement structures of the vertical outer longitudinal edges is performed and as above described pulled tight and fixed. The Bodenwärtige lock strap can also hooked at its ends by hook elements attached there to the loop and then pulled tight by means of a belt tensioner, whereby the tarpaulin is stretched. In this embodiment of a barless closure will not enter the reinforcing structure recessed or attached to this closure devices, such as snaps or latch devices needed. The loops can, for example, at the Reinforcement structure by riveting, screwing or gluing attached U-shaped elements with lateral connecting surfaces or webs of metal or plastic. The tarpaulins is at its Duchide conclusion appropriate in a Kedernut a means Rivet connection attached to the reinforcing structure of the dachwärtigen outer longitudinal edge Recessed hinge profile.

The wall cladding, in particular the wall cladding, which does not form part of Reinforcing structure is, can also from textile fabrics, in particular from textile Woven fabrics or plastic elements, in particular of fiber-reinforced plastic elements or of composite materials, in particular of metal-plastic composite materials, consist.

In the joining zones of the reinforcing structure sealing elements may e.g. in the form of weatherstrip be provided. The sealing elements are advantageously made of plastic, preferably made of an elastomer or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and are used e.g. by sticking in introduced the joining zone.

The floor element may be a conventional floor element according to the prior art be either as a floor element for transport with trolley or designed as a floor element for transport by fork-lift truck. In the latter case contains the bottom element so-called pockets or channels, which for receiving the forks or Tines of the forklift are provided.

The invention also relates to a method for producing an air freight container, which characterized in that the wall coverings and the surface parts of the reinforcing structure cut from sheet metal to sheet metal elements and in bending machines be bent to dedicated structures and the preformed sheet metal elements as wall cladding and surface parts of the reinforcement structures by means of connecting elements, like rivets or glue, to a container construction with reinforcement structures be joined.

The inventive air cargo container can be the usual for air cargo containers and ) have common dimensions and dimensions and is in relation to the shape, the size, the conditions for the aeronautical certification and the handling with comparable to conventional standard airfreight containers. The inventive air cargo container particular in terms of strength, stability, quality, durability, Maintenance susceptibility and repairability of the well-known standard air cargo container par. The inventive air cargo container requires no or essential less of the most intensive pressing profiles to achieve the necessary stability than conventional ones Air cargo containers. By making the air cargo container out of the Substantially formed, in particular bent, sheet metal elements become the process sequences considerably simplified and saved costs. The inventive air cargo container Compared with comparable prior art air cargo containers up to 20% lighter.

Fig. 1:

eine schematische Darstellung eines Luftfracht-Containers mit Balkon;

Fig. 2a:

eine Querschnittsansicht der vertikalen Längskanten eines Luftfracht-Containers entlang der Schnittlinien A-A, B-B, C-C und E-E;

Fig. 2b:

eine Querschnittsansicht durch die Dachwand eines Luftfracht-Containers entlang der Schnittlinie D-D;

Fig. 3:

eine Querschnittsansicht der vertikalen Längskanten eines weiteren Luftfracht-Containers;

Fig. 4-9:

Querschnitte durch weitere Verstärkungsstrukturen.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by means of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a schematic representation of an air cargo container with balcony;

Fig. 2a:

a cross-sectional view of the vertical longitudinal edges of an air cargo container along the section lines AA, BB, CC and EE;

Fig. 2b:

a cross-sectional view through the roof wall of an air cargo container along the section line DD;

3:

a cross-sectional view of the vertical longitudinal edges of another air cargo container;

Fig. 4-9:

Cross sections through further reinforcement structures.

On a floor element 8 is a container structure 1 with a rear side wall 3, a front side wall 2, an inner side wall 4, an outer side wall 6 and a roof wall 7 arranged (Fig. 1). On the outer side wall 6 is a balcony structure with an upper wall surface 11 and a lower obliquely to the container interior and against the bottom element 8 inclined bottom wall surface 9 is formed. The front side wall 2 further includes a loading opening 5, which closed with a rollable container door 10 can be.

Fig. 2a shows a horizontal surface section through the container structure 1 according to FIG. 1. The container structure 1 contains a total of five vertically oriented reinforcing structures 25a, b, c, d, e, of which four reinforcing structures 25a, b, c, d respectively at the longitudinal edges are arranged between the individual side walls 2,3,4,6. Two reinforcing structures 25c, e form the two vertical outer longitudinal edges of the loading opening 5. The reinforcing structures 25a, b, c, d, e each consist of an outer one outer structural wall 20a, b, c, d, e forming and an inner, an inner Structure wall forming surface part. For the naming of the structure wall and the surface parts the same reference numbers are used in each case. The structure walls are made Formed sheet metal elements, which by prior bending and mutual joining to said reinforcing structure 25a, b, c, d, e are brought together. The outer and inner Structural wall close together a running in the longitudinal edge direction closed, channel-like hollow chamber. The outer, high-stress exposed structural wall 20a, b, c, d, e is formed from a sheet metal strip and facing the inner Structure wall 27a, b, c, d, e has a greater thickness, whereby the reinforcing structure a higher stability is mediated. The two structural walls form each side wall 2,3,4,6 or to the loading opening 5 out flat joining zones, to which the wall coverings 24,22,23,21 the side walls 2,3,4,6 are joined. Furthermore, the sheet metal elements of the Reinforcement structure 25a, b, c, d, e joined to each other at the flat joining zones. The connections take place by means of riveted joints 52. The wall panels 24,22,23,21 exist from sheet metal elements. Both the sheet metal elements of the structure walls and the Wall coverings are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

The section line A-A shows the horizontal section through the upper wall surface 11 of the outer Side wall 6 according to FIG. 1. At the longitudinal edges between the outer side wall 6 and the rear side wall 3 and the front side wall 2 is respectively a reinforcing structure 25a, d arranged. The inner structure walls 27a, d of the two reinforcing structures 25a, d are of the extended end portion surfaces of the rear and front Wall cladding 22, 24 formed and over the longitudinal edge in the adjacent wall surface bent. The two outer sheet metal elements of the outer structure walls 20a, d are also bent over the longitudinal edge in the adjacent wall surfaces. The wall paneling 21 of the outer side wall 6 is in the region of the joining zones between each the outer and inner structural wall of the two reinforcing structures 25a, d inserted and joined by riveting 52 to the reinforcing structure 25a, d.

The section line B-B shows the horizontal section through the inner side wall 4. To the Longitudinal edges between the inner side wall 4 and the rear side wall 3 and der front side wall 2, a further reinforcing structure 25b, c is arranged in each case. The inner structure wall 27b of the reinforcing structure 20b to the rear side wall 3 is made of an elongated and bent over the longitudinal edge in the adjacent wall surface end portion surface the inner wall panel 23 is formed. The back wall paneling 22 is at the joining zone to the reinforcing structure 25b between the inner and outer Structural wall 27b, 20b pushed and riveted by means 52 to the reinforcing structure Tied 25b. The reinforcing structure disposed on the front side wall 2 25 c forms a first vertical outer longitudinal edge of the loading opening 5. The inner structure wall 27c is made of a bent sheet metal strip. The two structural walls 20c, 27c form to the inner side wall and the loading opening 5 through a flat joining zones, at which the sheet metal elements 20c, 27c are joined by means of riveted joints 52. The inner one Wall cladding 23 is at the door-side reinforcing structure 25c in the joining zone between the outer and inner Strukiurwand 20 c, 27 c pushed and by means of Rivet connections 52 bonded to the reinforcing structure 25c. About the door-side joining zone In addition, an edge protection 51 is attached, which together with the sheet metal elements 20c, 27c is joined by means of riveted joints 52. The sheet metal element of the outer Structure wall 20b, c of the two reinforcing structures 25b, c is in each case over the longitudinal edge bent into the adjacent wall surfaces.

On the other side of the loading opening 5, a second reinforcing structure 25e is arranged, which forms a further vertical outer longitudinal edge of the loading opening 5 (Section line C-C). The front wall panel 24 forms with its two extended End portion surfaces, the inner structure wall 27e, d of the two reinforcing structures 20e, d, wherein those directed to the outer side wall 6 Endabschnittsfläche over the Longitudinal edge is bent into the outer side wall 6. The inner and outer structure walls Form to the adjacent wall surfaces or to the loading out flat joining zones from, on which the sheet metal elements of the structure walls by means of rivet 52 mutually are joined. Beyond the door-side joining zone of the second reinforcing structure 25e also an edge protection 51 attached, which together with the two structural walls 20e, 27e is joined by means of riveted joints 52.

The section line E-E shows the horizontal section through the rear side wall 3. To the Longitudinal edges between the rear side wall 3 and the outer side wall 6 and der inner side wall 4, a reinforcing structure 25 a, b is arranged in each case with a going ahead described construction.

The section line D-D shows the horizontal section through the roof wall 7 according to FIG. 1 (see Fig. 2b). Towards the front side wall 2, there is a horizontal reinforcing structure 25f arranged, which in the region of the loading opening 5, the upper horizontal outer longitudinal edge formed.

The horizontal reinforcing structure 25f consists of an outer and inner structural wall 20f, 27f, wherein the outer structural wall 20f has a greater thickness than the inner Structure wall 27f. The inner structure wall 27f is the extended end portion surface the roof wall cladding 28 formed and over the outer longitudinal edge in the front Sidewall 2 bent. The outer structural wall 20f is also bent over the longitudinal edge. The two structural walls 20f, 27f form the front side wall 2 and the Roof wall 7 out flat joining zones, on which the sheet metal elements of the structure walls are joined by riveting 52 each other. The roof wall panel 28 is on the joining zone between the outer and inner structure wall 20 f, 20 f pushed and by means of Rivet connections 52 bonded to the reinforcing structure 25c. At the to the loading opening 5 facing joining zone, an edge protection 51 is attached, which by means of riveted joints 52, in particular by means of Scherzugnieten, is joined to the reinforcing structure.

The roof panel 28 has the rear, the outer, and the inner side wall 3, 6, 4 each have an extended end section area which extends beyond the horizontal Longitudinal edges in the corresponding side wall 3,6,4 is angled. The angled end portion surfaces have horizontally extending reinforcing grooves in the form of beads 26 on. The angled end portion surfaces form with the corresponding side wall panels 21, 22, 23 joining zones in the form of overlapping areas which the roof paneling over rivet 53 to the corresponding side wall panels 21,22,23 is added.

Fig. 3 shows a horizontal surface section through a container structure of another Embodiment variant according to FIG. 1. The container structure contains a total of five vertically aligned reinforcing structures 45a, b, c, d, e, of which four reinforcing structures 45a, b, c, d respectively at the longitudinal edges between the individual side walls 32,33,34,36 are arranged. Two reinforcing structures 45c, e form the two vertical outer longitudinal edges the loading opening 35 from. The reinforcing structures 45a, b, c, d, e exist each out of an outer, an outer structure wall 30 a, b, c, d, e forming and an inner surface forming an inner structure wall 41a, b, c, d, e. For the designation of the structural wall and the surface parts will each be given the same reference numerals used. The structure walls are formed of sheet metal elements, which by previous Bending and mutual joining to said reinforcing structure 45a, b, c, d, e formed are. The outer and inner structure wall together form a Longitudinal edge direction extending channel-like hollow chamber. Both the outer and the the inner structure wall is formed in each case from a sheet metal strip, which over the Longitudinal edge is bent into the adjacent wall surfaces. The two structural walls form to each side wall 32, 33, 34, 36 or to the loading opening 35, a two-dimensional joining zone, at which the structural walls by means of rivet 52 mutually and to the adjacent Wall coverings are joined. The outer, exposed to high stress The structural wall 30a, b, c, d, e has a larger size than the inner structural wall 41a, b, c, d, e Thickness, whereby the reinforcing structure is given a higher stability. The Wall coverings of the side walls 2,3,4,6 consist of sheet metal elements. Both the sheet metal elements the structural walls as well as the wall coverings are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy

The section line A-A shows the horizontal section through the upper wall surface 11 of the outer Side wall 6 according to FIG. 1. At the longitudinal edges between the outer side wall 36 and the rear side wall 33 and the front side wall 32 are two reinforcing structures 45a, d arranged. The inner structure wall 41a, d and the outer structure wall 30a, d of the two reinforcing structures 45a, d are over the longitudinal edge in the adjacent Curved wall surfaces. The wall panel 46 of the outer side wall 36 is in the region of the joining zones between the outer and inner structural wall of the two Reinforcement structures 45a, d inserted and riveted by means 52, in particular by Scherzugnieten, bound to the reinforcing structure 45a, d.

The section line B-B shows the horizontal section through the inner side wall 4 according Fig. 1. At the longitudinal edges between the inner side wall 34 and the rear side wall 33 and the front side wall 32, a reinforcing structure 45 b, c is arranged in each case. The inner structure wall 41b, c and the outer structure wall 30b, c of the two Reinforcement structures 45b, c are around the longitudinal edge in the adjacent wall surfaces bent. The rear wall panel 37 is at the joining zone to the rear reinforcing structure 45a, b pushed between the inner and outer structural wall and by means of riveted joint 52 bonded to the reinforcing structure 45a, b. The wall panel 38 of the inner Side wall 34 is in the region of the joining zones between the outer and inner Structural wall of the two reinforcing structures 45b, c inserted and by means of riveted joints 52 bonded to the reinforcing structures 45b, c.

The reinforcing structure 45c arranged toward the front side wall 32 forms a first one vertical outer longitudinal edge of the loading opening 35. The two outer and inner Structure walls 30c, 41c form towards the inner side wall 34 and the loading opening 35 a flat joining zone, on which the sheet metal elements of the structure walls 30c, 41c means Rivet connections 52 are joined. About the door-side joining zone is by means of riveted joints 52 an edge protection 51 attached.

On the other side of the loading opening 35, a further reinforcing structure 45e is arranged, which forms the second vertical outer longitudinal edge of the loading opening 35 (Section line C-C). The inner and outer structure walls form to the adjacent ones Wall surfaces or the loading opening out flat joining zones, on which the sheet metal elements the structural walls by means of rivet 52 each other and with the adjacent Wall coverings are joined. Via the door-side joining zone of the second reinforcing structure 45e is also an edge protection 51 attached, which together with the two structural walls 30e, 41e is joined by means of riveted joints 52.

The section line E-E shows the horizontal section through the rear side wall 33. To the Longitudinal edges between the rear side wall 33 and the outer side wall 36 and the inner side wall 34 is in each case a reinforcing structure 45 a, b arranged, with a going ahead described construction.

Of course, the individual reinforcement structures according to FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be used be used in any other combinations.

The reinforcing structure 60 of a further embodiment according to FIG. 4 consists of a formed by multiple bending into a hollow profile sheet metal element 61, which both the outer and the inner structure wall 65,66 forms. The - Sheet metal element 61 forms a flat joining zone, at which by means of rivet 52nd the two end portion surfaces of the sheet metal element 61 and the adjacent first wall cladding 64, which is pushed between the outer and inner structure wall 65,66, are joined. The reinforcing structure 60 remotely forms a web 67, by means of which Rivet 52 of the second wall panel 63 attached to the reinforcing structure is. The wall panels 63, 64 are made of sheet metal elements. Both the sheet metal elements the structural walls as well as the wall coverings are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

The reinforcing structure 70 of a further embodiment according to FIG. 5 consists of an inner and outer structural wall 71, 72, which together form a closed channel-like Include hollow chamber. The outer structure wall 72 consists of a through Bending multiple shaped metal strips. The inner structure wall 72 is made of Wall covering 71 formed. The two structural walls 71, 72 are via joining zones means Rivet connections 52 mutually joined. The wall panel 71 consists of a Sheet metal element. Both the sheet metal elements of the structural walls and the wall cladding are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

The thickness of the individual sheet metal elements, in particular the thickness of the outer and inner Structural wall in the aforementioned embodiments of Fig. 2-5 can also be uniform be. Furthermore, the container structures shown in FIG. 2 and 3, two opposite have loading openings in the front and rear side walls, such a container structure would contain six vertical reinforcement structures.

Fig. 6 shows a reinforcing structure 100 formed by an outer structural wall forming first wall cladding 101 and a surface element forming the inner structure wall 103 is formed. The two structural walls are to form a hollow profile-like Reinforcement structure formed accordingly, wherein the first wall covering 101 is bent with its Endabschnittsfläche in the adjacent wall surface. A second wall cladding 102 closes over a planar joining zone to the reinforcing structure 100 on.

Fig. 7 shows a reinforcing structure formed by an outer structural wall forming Roof wall cladding 111 and a surface element forming the inner structure wall 113 is formed. The two structural walls are to form a hollow profile-like Reinforcement structure formed accordingly, wherein the roof wall paneling 111 is bent with its Endabschnittsfläche in the adjacent wall surface.

Figs. 8 and 9 show reinforcing structures in a side wall surface. The reinforcing structure 120 according to FIG. 8 shows a continuous outer structural wall forming Wall cladding 121 and a surface element 122 forming the inner structure wall. The two structural walls are to form a hollow profile-like reinforcing structure transformed accordingly. Fig. 9 shows one in the region of a reinforcing structure 130 side wall composed of a first and second wall cladding 131, 133 side wall. The reinforcing structure is formed by a first structural wall forming the outer Wall cladding 131 and a surface element 132 forming the inner structure wall educated. The two structural walls are to form a hollow profile-like reinforcing structure transformed accordingly. The second wall covering 133 closes over a planar joining zone to the reinforcing structure 130 at.

The reinforcing structures according to FIGS. 8 and 9 can furthermore also be found in the roof wall surface be used.

Claims (18)

1. Freight container (1) for air transport comprising a base element (8) and a container structure having side walls (2, 3, 4, 6), a top wall (7) and one, two or more loading openings (5) arranged on the base element, wherein the side walls and top wall comprise panelling (21, 22, 23, 24) consisting of flat parts, in particular sheet metal elements, two respective wall surfaces abutting against one another at an angle form a longitudinal edge, the loading opening (5) is delimited towards the adjoining wall surfaces by end longitudinal edges and one or more longitudinal edges and/or end longitudinal edges in the container structure comprise a reinforcing structure (25a), the reinforcing structure consisting of one or more flat parts (20a, 27a) in the form of sheet metal parts shaped once or several times and joined together to form the reinforcing structure via joining. zones by means of connecting elements (52) and the reinforcing structure (25a) being connected to the panelling (21, 22) via joining zones, characterised in that the reinforcing structure has at least one closed, channel-like hollow chamber extending in the direction of the longitudinal edge and forming a bulge with respect to the panelling, the reinforcing structure (25) having a hollow section-like structure which causes an increase in the moment of inertia or resistance and stiffening reinforcement of the edges to prevent elastic and plastic deformation in the event of bending and torsional stress.
2. Freight container for air transport according to claim 1, characterised in that the flat parts (30, 41) of the reinforcing structure are sheet metal elements made of aluminium, an aluminium alloy or steel.
3. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the flat parts of the panelling (21, 22, 23, 24) are sheet metal elements, preferably sheet metal elements made of aluminium, an aluminium alloy or steel.
4. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least one flat part (20) of the reinforcing structure (25) forms at least one open, groove-like hollow space or a closed, channel-like hollow chamber.
5. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at least one closed, channel-like hollow chamber of the reinforcing structure (25) extends over the entire longitudinal edge substantially parallel to the direction of the longitudinal edge.
6. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the flat part or parts (20, 27) of the reinforcing structure (25) are connected to one another and/or to the panelling (21, 22, 23, 24) via joining zones and the joining zones are preferably flat joining zones in which flat portions, in particular end portion surfaces, of the flat parts (20, 27) forming the reinforcing structure (25) abut by means of their large-area sides against one another and/or against the large-area sides of end portion surfaces of the adjoining panelling (21, 22, 23, 24), with the formation of a type of overlapping region.
7. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that first and second flat parts (30a, 41 a) of the reinforcing structure (45a) form one or two flat joining zones and the respective panelling (46, 37) directed towards the joining zones is inserted in a sandwich-like manner between the joining zones and is connected to the two flat parts (30a, 41a) of the reinforcing structure (45a) by means of connecting elements (52).
8. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the flat parts (20, 27) are joined together to form a reinforcing structure (25) and/or to the panelling (21, 22, 23, 24) in the joining zones by means of riveting (52), such as tensile-shear riveting, screwing, clinching, gluing and/or welding.
9. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at least one of the flat parts forming panelling (22) is part of the reinforcing structure (25a) by means of its edge end portion surface directed towards the longitudinal or end edge and forms an inner and/or outer structural wall (27a) of the reinforcing structure (25a).
10. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the reinforcing structure (25a) comprises or consists of an external flat part (20a) forming an outer structural wall and an internal flat part (27a) forming an inner structural wall and the external flat part (20a) has a greater thickness than the internal flat part (27a).
11. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the reinforcing structure (25a) comprises or consists of an external flat part (20a) forming an outer structural wall and an internal flat part (27a) forming an inner structural wall and the outer and/or inner, preferably only the inner structural wall is formed by the end portion surface of adjoining panelling.
12. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the flat part (27a) of a first panelling element (22) is shaped towards the adjacent second wall surface (21) by means of its end portion surface at the longitudinal edge and joined to the second panelling element (21), an external, shaped flat part (20a) is placed on the outside of the longitudinal edge, with the formation of at least one closed, channel-like hollow chamber extending in the direction of the longitudinal edge, and the external flat part (20a) is joined to the end portion surface of the first and/or second panelling element (22, 21).
13. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the reinforcing structure (45a) comprises or consists of an external flat part (30a) forming an outer structural wall and an internal flat part (41a) forming an inner structural wall and the external flat part (30a) is a sheet metal element shaped in a section-like manner.
14. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the reinforcing structure (45a) consists of two flat parts (30a, 41 a), the two flat parts (30a, 41 a) forming a flat joining zone in the form of a longitudinal web towards the two wall surfaces (33, 36), in which the two flat parts (30a, 41a) abut against one another by means of their end portion surfaces and are joined to one another and to the adjoining panelling (37, 46) by means of riveted joints (52).
15. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the container structure (1) comprises a lateral loading opening (5) delimited towards the adjoining wall surfaces by two vertical and one horizontal top end longitudinal edges and a reinforcing structure (25c, e, f) is arranged at least at one end longitudinal edge, preferably at the two vertical and the horizontal top end longitudinal edges.
16. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that reinforcing structures (25) are arranged at the vertically aligned longitudinal edges delimiting the respective side walls (2, 3, 4, 6).
17. Freight container for air transport according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the container structure comprises reinforcing structures of different designs at the longitudinal edges and/or end longitudinal edges.
18. Method of producing a freight container (1) for air transport according to claim 1, wherein the panelling (21, 22, 23, 24) and the flat parts of the reinforcing structure are cut to size into sheet metal elements from rolled sheets and bent into appropriate structures in bending machines and the pre-formed sheet metal elements serving as panelling and flat parts of the reinforcing structure are joined together to form a container structure (1) having hollow section-like reinforcing structures (25) by means of connecting elements (52).

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