FI129523B

FI129523B - Transport container

Info

Publication number: FI129523B
Application number: FI20195473A
Authority: FI
Inventors: Assendelft Dirk Van; Timo Jäppinen; Lauri Raja
Original assignee: Contik Group Oy
Priority date: 2019-06-04
Filing date: 2019-06-04
Publication date: 2022-03-31
Also published as: FI20195473A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport container (1) having a container frame (2). The transport container (1) comprises a tank (10) provided within the transport container (1) and connected to the container frame (2). The tank (10) comprises a front wall (13), a rear wall (14) and two side walls (12) extending between the front wall (13) and the rear wall (14) and forming a tank space (11) within the walls (12, 13, 14), an open bottom (15) within the perimeter defined by the walls (12, 13, 14), and a one or more doors (16) for closing and opening the open bottom (15). Each door (16) are pivotally mounted to the transport container (1) such that the one or more doors (16) are movable between a closed position and an open position.

Description

TRANSPORT CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a transport container and more particularly to a transport container according to the preamble of the independent claim 1. The present invention particularly relates to transport containers that are freight containers sized according to ISO standard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An intermodal container is a large standardized shipping container, which is intended for intermodal freight transport to be used in different modes of transport without unloading and reloading cargo from one container to another. The entire intermodal container is lifted off from one chassis and lifted on to another chassis for further transport and are used to transport cargo by ship with multiple container stacked on top of each other. The terms intermodal container, cargo container, freight container, ISO container and shipping container mean all the same and they are named in this application with the term transport container.

Standard ISO sized shipping containers are rectilinear boxlike structures which come typically in two standard lengths which are twenty or forty feet (6,06 or 12,2 m), also ten feet and thirty feet are possible, and the width is typically eight feet (2,43 m)and height 8.5 feet (2,59 m). Typical container is made using steel plate and comprise reinforcing and framing parts.

Intermodal containers have connector fitting at standard spacings which enable them to be affixed to mountings placed at the same standard spacings on movable chassis configurations appropriate for road, rail, sea or other transport, for stacking and they can be manipulated using lifts and spreader frames N 25 having grappling devices at the standard spacings.

N Documents US 2015368052 Al, US 2008226434 Al and US O 2012128442 Alshow prior art solutions of transport containers.

8 One of the problems associated with the prior art is that unloading the I transport container is time consuming and loadable objects need to be properly N 30 packed in order to be loaded to the transport container.

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D BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION > An object of the present invention is to provide a transport container providing an efficient way of unloading the cargo within the container while maintaining the advantages of ISO sized container such as operation by lifts, cranes and spreader frames.

The objects of the invention are achieved by a transport container which is characterized by what is stated in the independent claim. The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of providing a transport container which is an ISO standard sized transport container, which the transport container having a container frame and comprising a tank provided within the transport container and connected to the container frame. The container frame comprising a front frame and a rear frame, each of the front frame and rear frame comprising — two vertical corner posts interconnected by a lower crossmember and an upper crossmember. The front frame and the rear frame are connected together through lower rails and upper rails extending between opposite vertical corner posts of the front frame and the rear frame for defining a lower and an upper longitudinal corner edge of the transport container. The tank comprising a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls extending between the front wall and the rear wall and forming a tank space within the walls. The tank further comprising an open bottom within the perimeter defined by the walls and one or more doors for closing and opening the open bottom. Each door are mounted to the transport container such that the one or more doors are movable between a closed position, in which the open bottom is closed by the one or more doors and an open position, in which the one or more doors are moved aside for providing the open bottom.

In other words, the container frame is formed of a front frame, a rear frame and two side frames extending between the front frame and the rear frame on opposite sides of the transport container, and further a top frame and a bottom frame formed as a result of combining the front, rear and side frames together. The N frames forming a container space within the transport container. Each of the side S frames are formed from the lower rails and the upper rails and two vertical corner = posts. The front frame and the rear frame are formed from the lower crossmember = and the upper crossmember and two vertical corner posts. Therefrom the top O 30 frame is formed from the upper crossmembers and the upper rails, and the bottom E frame is formed from the lower crossmembers and the lower rails. The tank © provided within the container frame may be provided in connection with the upper > crossmembers and the upper rails and extending therefrom inwards to the 2 container frame such that the open bottom of the tank is arranged within the N 35 container frame. Alternatively or in addition the tank may be supported by a supporting structure in connection with the container frame such that the supporting structure is provided or arranged to extend within the container frame.

Furthermore, the one or more doors are also provided within the container frame or in connection with the bottom frame.

In other words, the tank within the transport container is provided within the lower and an upper longitudinal corner edges of the transport container.

The tank may further comprise additional parts such as inserts which are arranged at least partly outside the container frame but which are removable from the tank.

The tank space is formed of the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls which define the tank space and form the outer edges of the tank.

The lower edges of the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls form the open bottom of the tank.

On the opposite side to the open bottom of the tank is an opening for the tank which in the most preferable embodiment of the invention is an open top.

However, the tank may comprise an openable cover for closing the open top of the tank.

The openable cover may be attached to the tank or to the container frame or the — openable cover may be a separate cover which is removable from the tank.

The tank according to the invention may comprise only one door, but in preferable embodiments of the invention the tank comprises more than one door.

In a case that the tank comprises more than one door, each door of the one or more doors is mounted to the transport container such that the open bottom of the tank is closed by the one or more doors co-operating with each other and opened by moving the doors away from each other or away from the open bottom of the tank.

According to the invention the one or more doors are pivotally mounted to the transport container such that the one or more doors are arranged to pivot relative to the open bottom of the tank for closing and opening the open bottom.

Alternatively the one or more doors are mounted to the transport container such N that the one or more doors are arranged to slide relative to the open bottom of the S tank for closing and opening the open bottom.

In that case, the one or more doors = are arranged to slide aside from the open bottom and then possibly pivot to the = side of the tank in a space between the tank and the container frame.

O 30 According to the invention the one or more doors are preferably = pivotally mounted to the container frame, or alternatively or in addition to the tank. © In a case that the one or more doors are pivotally mounted to the container frame > the most preferable mounting location is on the front frame and the rear frame of 2 the container frame.

In a case that the one or more doors are pivotally mounted to N 35 — the tank the most preferable mounting location is on the front wall and the rear wall of the tank.

Alternatively, the one or more doors co-operate with each other such that when moving the one or more doors from the closed position into the open position, the one or more doors are moved together in the same direction from underneath the open bottom. In this embodiment of the invention the one or more doors are provided in a row underneath the open bottom such that the mounting of the doors are provided on the side frame of the container frame or on the side wall of the tank or both. Alternatively or in addition the mounting of the doors is arranged on the side frame and the front or rear frame of the container frame or on the side wall and the front or rear wall of the tank or both. In an embodiment of the invention the one or more doors are suspended on the container frame or on the front frame and the rear frame. Alternatively or in addition the one or more doors are suspended on the tank or on the front wall and the rear wall of the tank. Alternatively the one or more doors are suspended on the container frame and on the tank frame. The one or more doors are connected to the container frame via one or more axles mounted on the container frame. In an embodiment the one or more doors are connected to the container frame via one or more axles mounted on the front frame and the rear frame or only on the front frame or only on the rear frame. Alternatively the one or more doors are connected to the tank via one or more axles mounted on the tank. In an embodiment the one or more doors are connected to the tank via one or more axles mounted on the front wall and the rear wall of the tank or only on the front wall or only on the rear wall. In an embodiment of the invention the one or more doors are connected to the container frame and to the tank via one or more axles.

According to the invention each door comprises a door surface and a N leading edge. The door surface forms part of a bottom surface of the tank within S the tank space when the door is arranged underneath the open bottom. = "Underneath the open bottom” means that the door is arranged against the = lowermost edges of the walls of the tank or in close a proximity of the lowermost O 30 edges of the walls of the tank and such that the door closes the open bottom by = forming the bottom surface of the tank. The door surface is arranged to be lying © across an underside of the open bottom when the one or more doors are provided D in the closed position for preventing material against discharge through the open 5 bottom. The leading edge is the edge of the door which in the closed position of the N 35 one or more doors is arranged in contact with a leading edge of the other door of the one or more doors. Alternatively or in addition the leading edge is the edge of the door which enters to the region of open bottom first when the door is moved from the open position into the closed position. Alternatively in the closed position of the one or more doors the leading edge is arranged outside an area of the open bottom on the opposite side of the open bottom than a rear edge of the door on the 5 opposite edge of the door. In other words, the leading edge and the rear edge are on opposite sides of the open bottom and the door surface covers the open bottom on that area. According to the invention each door comprises a leading edge, a rear edge and end edges extending between the leading edge and the rear edge such — that the door surface is defined by said edges. In an embodiment of the invention the leading edge and the rear edge are arranged to extend along the length of the open bottom and in a preferable embodiment of the invention the leading edge and the rear edge are arranged to extend at least the length of the open bottom.

In an embodiment of the invention each door further comprises end — plates at opposite ends of the door extending from the end edges away from the door surface. The end plates are arranged outside the open bottom extending along the front and rear walls of the tank and comprising a connecting point between the door and the tank. The one or more doors are mounted via the end plates to the container frame or to the tank or to both the container frame and to the tank.

In an embodiment of the invention the one or more doors are arranged to be pivotally moved from the closed position to the open position such that the rear edge isarranged to move in a space between the tank and the container frame. Alternatively, the one or more doors are arranged to be pivotally moved from the closed position to the open position such that the rear edge is arranged to move along the side wall of the tank. Alternatively, the one or more doors are arranged N to slide from the closed position to the open position such that the leading edge is S arranged to move parallel to the open bottom. = In an embodiment of the invention when the open bottom of the tank is = closed by the doors, in other words the one or more doors are arranged in the O 30 closed position, the one or more doors are provided in a space between the open = bottom of the tank and a bottom side of the transport container defined by the © opposite lower crossmembers and the opposite lower rails, in other words by the > bottom frame. This means that the one or more doors are provided within the

O 5 transport container and within the container frame although outside the tank N 35 space.

In an embodiment of the invention when the open bottom of the tanks is in an open state, in other words the one or more doors are arranged in the open position, each door is provided at least partly in a space between the side wall of the tank and a side frame of the transport container defined by the lower and upper rails and the vertical corner posts. In the open position, the one or more doors can be atleast partly in the region of the open bottom of the tank but such that there is an opening from the tank space through the one or more doors to outside of the tank.

According to an embodiment of the invention the tank is arranged within the container frame such that the tank is supported by the container frame.

Alternatively the side walls of the tank are supported by the container frame, or alternatively or in addition the side walls, the front wall and the rear wall of the tank are supported by the container frame. This means that the side walls of the tank or alternatively the side walls, the front wall and the rear wall have a connection to the container frame in such a way that the container frame carries the load of the tank.

According to the invention the container frame further comprises a supporting structure for the tank provided within the container frame. The supporting structure comprises supporting bars extending from the container frame inwards toward the tank and forming the supporting structure.

Alternatively, the supporting structure comprises outer supporting bars extending between the lower rails and the upper rails of the container frame and inner supporting bars extending from the outer supporting bars toward the side walls of the tank. Alternatively or in addition, the supporting structure comprises the outer supporting bars extending between the lower rails and the upper rails of the container frame and inner supporting bars extend along the side walls of the tank N and have connection to the outer supporting bars. The outer supporting bars are S preferably arranged parallel to the vertical corner posts and are placed along the = side frame of the transport container in at even intervals or substantially even = intervals. O 30 According to the invention the open bottom is arranged in a horizontal = plane within the container frame and is bounded by the lower edges of each of the © side walls, the front wall and the rear wall. > According to the invention the side walls of the tank are arranged to 2 converge at least partly inwards toward the open bottom, or alternatively the front N 35 wall and/or the rear wall are arranged to converge at least partly inwards toward the open bottom of the tank, or alternatively the side walls and the front wall and/or the rear wall of the tank are arranged to converge at least partly inwards toward the open bottom. Converging of the walls may not be even, which means that converging may occur only at specific parts of the walls. According to the invention the container frame comprises surface plates connected to the container frame and forming at least part of the outer surface of the transport container. The surface plates are preferably provided only on the front frame, the rear frame and the side frames , but also the top frame and/or the bottom frame may comprise surface plates, which are removably arranged to the top frame and/or the bottom frame. According to the invention the transport container further comprises a control unit for operating the one or more doors between the closed position and the open position. The one or more doors are preferably operated through a remote control such that the remote control comprises a transmitter and the control unit comprises a receiver such that the remote control and the transport container are in communication connection through the transmitter of the remote control and the receiver of the control unit. The communication connection between the remote control and the control unit is wireless and preferably through radio frequency or Bluetooth. According to the invention the one or more doors are operated through a remote control which the remote control is arranged to provide an operating signal to the control unit to move the one or more doors between the closed position and the open position. According to the invention the transport container further comprises drive means for moving each door of the one or more doors from the closed position on the underside of the open bottom to an open position on opposite sides N or on the same side of the tank between the side wall of the tank and the container O frame. < According to the invention the transport container further comprises = an opening mechanism such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or electrical or O 30 hydraulic gear motor or other suitable actuator for moving the doors from the = closed position to the open position and from the open position to the closed © position. The opening mechanism can be provided together with a control linkage > which operates to move the doors simultaneously outwardly from the closed

O 5 position so that the doors pivot outwardly and upwardly around a bottom edge of N 35 — the tank to define an opening between the doors through which the material can be discharged from the tank. The bottom edge of the tank is defined by the lowermost edges of the walls of the tank. The opening mechanism is arranged within the transport container and preferably in a space between the container frame and the tank. According to the invention the transport container further comprising afirstelectrical connection component for activating the transport container when the transport container is connected to a crane for lifting or moving the transport container, the crane comprising a second electrical connection component communicating with the first electrical connection component such that the connection between the crane and the transport container is arranged to provide — power to the transport container. The crane can be a hoist, a lift, a spreader frame or any other machine that is used for lifting and moving transport containers. The first electrical connection component is connected or operatively connected to the control unit in the transport container. The second electrical connection component is configured to switch on the operating state of the control unit or the transport container and to switch off the operating state or the transport container through the first electrical connection component when the first and second connection components are in communication connection with each other. In other words the first and second connection components are arranged to power on the transport container when the transport container and the crane are connected together and power off the transport container when the transport container and the crane are not connected together. The first electrical connection component is preferably provided in a corner fitting of the transport container and the second electrical connection component is preferably provided in a gripper of a crane. According to the invention the transport container is powered by a — battery, which said battery is arranged within the container frame, preferably in a N space between the tank and the container frame. The battery is preferably a nickel O cadmium battery. < In an embodiment of the invention the transport container further = comprises a sensor component for providing an opening signal for the one or more O 30 doors of the tank to move the doors from the closed position into the open position = in response to a signal coming from a reflector component of a target location when © the tank is positioned correctly relative to the target location. Alternatively the > transport container further comprises a reflector component for providing an

O 5 opening signal for the one or more doors of the tank to move the doors from the N 35 closed position into the open position in response to a signal coming from a sensor component of a target location when the tank is positioned correctly relative to the target location.

According to the invention the tank comprises an open top formed by the upper edges of the side walls and the open bottom formed by the lower edges of the side walls. The side walls of the tank converge from the open top toward the openbottomsuch that a space between the tank and the container frame increases from the upper part of the transport container toward the bottom of the transport container. The convergence is not necessarily even, but the side walls may converge at intervals.

According to the invention the tank comprises an open top formed by — the upper edges of the side walls and the open bottom formed by the lower edges of the side walls. The front wall and the rear wall of the tank converge from the open top toward the open bottom such that a space between the tank and the container frame increases from the upper part of the transport container toward the bottom of the transport container. The convergence is not necessarily even, but — the side walls may converge at intervals.

According to the invention the transport container is an ISO standard sized container which is operable with container lifting equipment for lifting and lowering the transport container to a target place.

An advantage of the invention is that the cargo can be discharged from the tank in a smooth and easy manner and at the same time the cargo can be transported through different transportation manners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described in detail by means of specific embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a transport container according to the invention as a 3 side view; i Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a transport container according O to the invention as a side view; 3 Figure 3 shows a transport container according to the invention as a top E 30 view; 0 Figure 4 shows a transport container according to the invention as a s bottom view; > Figure 5 shows a transport container according to the invention as a shown from front side; Figure 6 shows a transport container according to the invention as shown from front side; Figure 7 shows a transport container according to the invention as shown from front side; Figure 8 shows a transport container according to the invention as a 3D view from top side; and Figure 9 shows a transport container according to the invention as a 3D view from bottom side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention as a — side view showing the tank 10 provided within and inside the container frame 2. The container frame 2 comprises vertical corner posts 5 on each corners of the container frame 2 and upper rails 9 and lower rails 8 extending between the vertical corner posts 5 on the side frame. The vertical corner posts 5 form edges of the transport container 1 and divide the frames into the front frame 3, the rear frame 4 and two side frames. The tank 10 provided within the container frame 2 comprises side walls 12, a front wall 13 and a rear wall 14 which define a tank space within the tank 10. The bottom of the tank 10 comprises an open bottom which is closed by a one or more doors 16. The one or more doors are mounted in this embodiment shown in figure 1 to the front wall 13 of the tank 10 and to the rear wall 14 of the tank 10. In this embodiment the front and rear walls 13, 14 as well as the side walls 12 are inwards converging such that the convergence is even, in other words the walls are straight from top to bottom. Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a transport container 1 according to the invention as a side view. In this embodiment of the invention the N features of the transport container 1 are the same as shown in figure 1 and are a therefore not repeated except that the side walls 12, the front wall 13 and the rear > wall 14 converge inwards such that the convergence begins from the mid-part of 3 the tank 10. In other words, the top part of the tank 10 has straight vertical or E 30 substantially vertical walls 12, 13, 14 whereas in the mid-part of the tank 10 the n walls 12, 13, 14 converge toward the open bottom. s Figure 3 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention as a > top view. The side walls 12, the front wall 13 and the rear wall 14 converge toward N the open bottom 15 and the tank 10 is supported by the container frame 2 as earlier described. The walls 12, 13, 14 of the tank 10 may be connected to the upper rails

9 and to the upper crossmembers 7 or to the vertical corner posts 5 or both. The tank space 11 is defined by the side walls 12, the front wall 13 and the rear wall 14 of the tank 10. The open bottom 15 is closed by the one or more doors 16 which comprise a door surface 17 toward the tank space. The door surface 17 forms the bottom of the tank 10 for preventing material against discharge through the open bottom 15.

Figure 4 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention as a bottom view. This view shows the pair doors 16 that are arranged to close the open bottom of the tank 10. The one or more doors 16 are provided also within the container frame 2 such that when the doors 16 are opened they move within the container frame 2 to the space between the side wall 12 of the tank 10 and the side frame of the container frame 2. The container frame 2 is defined by the front frame 3 and the rear frame and two side frames. The bottom side of the transport container 1 is formed by the bottom frame which is defined through the lower rails 8 and lower crossmembers 6. The front wall 13 of the tank 10 and the front frame 3 of the container frame 2 are arranged such that a space is formed between the front wall 13 and the front frame 3. The rear wall 14 of the tank 10 and the rear frame 4 of the container frame 2 are arranged also such that a space is formed between the rear wall 14 and the rear frame 4. The space is preferably formed in — the lower part of the transport container 1 for allowing connections of the one or more doors 16 to be adapted within the transport container 1 and also cylinders or gear motors and other actuator fit inside of the container.

Figure 5 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention as shown from front side showing the front frame 3 of the container frame 2 and the front wall 13 of the tank 10. However, this also applies to the rear side of the N transport container 1. As already described earlier the front frame 3 is formed of O the vertical corner posts 5 and the upper crossmember 6 and the lower < crossmember 7. The front frame 3 as well as the rear frame preferably comprises = outer supporting bars 30 which are arranged parallel to the vertical corner posts 5 O 30 or parallel to the upper and lower crossmembers 6, 7. The container frame 2 also = comprises inner supporting bars 40 which support the tank 10 provided within the © container frame 2. The one or more doors 16 are in this figure in the closed position > closing the open bottom of the tank 10. The one or more doors 16 are arranged 2 such that when moving to the open position each door 16 fitinto the space between N 35 the container frame 2 and the side wall 12 of the tank 10.

Figure 6 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention as shown from front side. In this figure the one or more doors 16 are in a closed position and arranged in a space between the open bottom of the tank 10 and the bottom frame of the container frame 2. The bottom frame of the container frame 2 is defined by the lower rails and the lower crossmembers 7. In this embodiment of the invention the one or more doors 16 are arranged such that the leading edges 18 of the doors 16 are against each other in the centre area of the open bottom of the tank 10. The rear edges 19 of the doors 16 are facing toward the side frames of the container frame 2. The one or more doors 16 are mounted to the tank 10 for example through axles provided on the front wall 13 of the tank 10 and on the rear — wall 14 of the tank 10. The doors 16 comprise end plates 21 which are arranged to extend from the end edges 20 of the doors 16. The end plates 21 are arranged such that the end plate 21 extends from the end edge 20 of the door 16 in the space between the tank 10 and the container frame 2 toward the top frame of the container frame 2 and the end plate 21 is connected to the front and rear walls of the tank 10 by means of a mechanism allowing the door 16 to pivot.

Figure 7 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention as shown from front side in which the one or more doors 16 are provided in the open position. The leading edges 18 of the doors 16 are facing toward the bottom of the transport container 1 while the rear edges 19 are facing toward the top of the transport container 1. The doors 16 in the open position are arranged at least partly in a space between the side frame of the container frame 2 and the tank 10 or the doors 16 in the open position are arranged at least partly in a space between the side frame of the container frame 2 and the tank 10 and at least partly in a space between the open bottom of the tank 10 and the bottom of the transport container

1. A Figure 8 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention as a O 3D view from top side. This figure shows the open top 25 of the tank formed by the < upper edges of the side walls 12, the front wall 13 and the rear wall 14. In the = embodiment shown in the figure the side walls 12, the front wall 13 and the rear O 30 wall 14 of the tank 10 are partly arranged to extend along the container frame 2, in = other words parallel to the plane formed within the side frames, the front frame © and the rear frame of the container frame 2, and partly arranged to converge > toward the open bottom 15 such that a space between the tank 10 and the 2 container frame 2 increases from the mid part of the transport container 1 toward N 35 the bottom of the transport container 1. The figure also shows that the one or more doors 16 together with the connections and means for opening and closing the doors 16 are arranged within the container frame 2.

Figure 9 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention as a 3D view from bottom side in which the one or more doors 16 are arranged in the closed position for closing the open bottom of the tank 10. At least the outer surfaces of the doors 16 are preferably curved for allowing the doors to be operated with a smooth movement in the space between the tank 10 and the container frame 2. The figure also shows the supporting structure for the tank 10 which comprises outer supporting bars extending between the lower rails 8 and the upper rails 9 of the container frame 2 and inner supporting bars extending from — the outer supporting bars toward the side walls 12 of the tank 10. As can be seen in the figure the walls of the tank 10 are partly arranged to extend vertically and partly inclined towards the open bottom, and the inner supporting bars extend in the area of the inclined parts of the walls along the side walls, the front wall and the rear wall of the tank 10. The inner supporting bars of the container frame 2 form a supporting structure for the tank 10 provided within the container frame 2.

The invention has been described above with reference to the examples shown in the figures. However, the invention is in no way restricted to the above examples but may vary within the scope of the claims.

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Claims

1. A transport container (1) having a container frame (2) comprising a front frame (3) and a rear frame (4), each of the front frame and rear frame (3, 4) comprising two vertical corner posts (5) interconnected by a lower crossmember (6) and an upper crossmember (7), and the front frame (3) and the rear frame (4) are connected together through lower rails (8) and upper rails (9) extending between opposite vertical corner posts (5) of the front frame (3) and the rear frame (4) for defining a lower and an upper longitudinal corner edge of the transport container (1),characterized inthatthetransportcontainer (1) comprising a tank (10) provided within the transport container (1) and connected to the container frame (2), said tank (10) comprising a front wall (13), a rear wall (14) and two side walls (12) extending between the front wall (13) and the rear wall (14) and forming a tank space (11) within the walls (12, 13, 14); an open bottom (15) within the perimeter defined by the walls (12, 13, 14); and one or more doors (16) for closing and opening the open bottom (15), each door (16) being mounted to the transport container (1) such that the one or more doors (16) are movable between a closed position, in which the open bottom (15) is closed by the one or more doors (16), and an open position, in which the one or more doors (16) are moved aside for providing the open bottom (15); the one or more doors (16) are suspended on the container frame (2); or the one or more doors (16) are suspended on the container frame (2) and the on the tank (10).

S N

2.A transport container (1) according to claim1l,characterized S in that the one or more doors (16) are pivotally mounted to the transport container 2 (1) such that the one or more doors (16) are arranged to pivot relative to the open E 30 bottom (15) of the tank (10) for closing and opening the open bottom (15); or N the one or more doors (16) are mounted to the transport container (1) 5 such that the one or more doors (16) are arranged to slide relative to the open 3 bottom (15) of the tank (10) for closing and opening the open bottom (15).

N

3. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that the one or more doors (16) are connected to the container frame (2) via one or more axles mounted on the container frame (2); or the one or more doors (16) are connected to the tank (10) via one or more axles mounted on the tank (10); or the one or more doors (16) are connected to the container frame (2) via one or more axles mounted on the front frame (3) and/or the rear frame (4); or the one or more doors (16) are connected to the tank (10) via one or more axles mounted on the front wall (13) and/or the rear wall (14) of the tank (10); or the one or more doors (16) are connected to the container frame (2) and to the tank (10) via one or more axles.

4. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that each door (16) comprising a door surface (17) forming part of a bottom surface of the tank (10) within the tank space (11) and lying across an underside of the open bottom (15) when the one or more doors (16) are provided in the closed position for preventing material against discharge through the open bottom (15), and that each door (16) further comprising: a leading edge (18) which in the closed position of the one or more doors (16) is arranged in contact with a leading edge (18) of the other door of the one or more doors (16); or a leading edge (18) which in the closed position of the one or more o doors (16) is arranged outside the area of the open bottom (15) on the opposite S side of the open bottom (15) than arear edge (19) of the door (16) on the opposite 5 edge of the door (16).

I © A 30 5. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, E characterized in that each door (16) comprising a leading edge (18), a rear 0 edge (19) and end edges (20) extending between theleading edge (18) and the rear s edge (19) such that the door surface (17) is defined by said edges (18, 19, 20), the 2 leading edge (18) and the rear edge (19) are arranged to extend at least the length N 35 ofthe open bottom (15), each door (16) further comprising end plates (21) at opposite ends of the door (16) extending from the end edges (20) away from the door surface (17), the one or more doors (16) are mounted via the end plates (21) to the container frame (2) and/or to the tank (10).

6. A transport container (1) according to claim5,characterized in that the one or more doors (16) are arranged to be pivotally moved from the closed position to the open position such that the rear edge (19) is arranged to move in a space between the tank (10) and the container frame (2); or the one or more doors (16) are arranged to be pivotally moved from the — closed position to the open position such that the rear edge (19) is arranged to move along the side wall (12) of the tank (10); or the one or more doors (16) are arranged to slide from the closed position to the open position such that the leading edge (18) is arranged to move parallel to the open bottom (15).

7. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that the side walls (12) of the tank (10) are supported by the container frame (2); or the side walls (12), the front wall (13) and the rear wall (14) of the tank — (10) are supported by the container frame (2); or the tank (10) is arranged within the container frame (2) such that the tank (10) is supported by the container frame (2).

8. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that the container frame (2) further comprising a o supporting structure for the tank (10) provided within the container frame (2), the S supporting structure comprising: 5 supporting bars extending from the container frame (2) inwards 2 toward the tank (10) and forming a supporting structure; or A 30 outer supporting bars extending between the lower rails (8) and the E upperrails (9) of the container frame (2) and inner supporting bars extending from 0 the outer supporting bars toward the side walls (12) of the tank (10); or s outer supporting bars extending between the lower rails (8) and the 2 upper rails (9) of the container frame (2) and inner supporting bars extending N 35 along the side walls (12) of the tank (10) and having connection to the outer supporting bars.

9. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in thatthe side walls (12) of the tank (10) are arranged to converge at least partly inwards toward the open bottom (15); or the front wall (13) and/or the rear wall (14) are arranged to converge at least partly inwards toward the open bottom of the tank (10); or the side walls (12) and the front wall (13) and/or the rear wall (14) of the tank (10) are arranged to converge at least partly inwards toward the open bottom (15).

10. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that the container frame (2) comprises surface plates connected to the container frame (2) and forming at least part of the outer surface of the transport container (1).

11. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in thatthe transport container (1) further comprising a control unit for operating the one or more doors (16) between the closed position and the open position.

12. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in thatthe one or more doors (16) are operated through a remote control which the remote control is arranged to provide an operating signal to the control unit to move the one or more doors (16) between the closed position and the open position. N 13. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim,

N + characterized inthatthe transport container (1) further comprising 2 a first electrical connection component for activating the transport A 30 container (1) when the transport container (1) is connected to a crane for lifting or E moving the transport container (1), the crane comprising a second electrical 0 connection component communicating with the first electrical connection s component such that the connection between the crane and the transport 2 container (1) is arranged to provide power to the transport container (1). N 35

14. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim,

characterized inthatinthe closed position the one or more doors (16) are provided in a space between the open bottom (15) of the tank (10) and a bottom side of the transport container (1) defined by the opposite lower crossmembers (6) and the opposite lower rails (8); and in the open position the one or more doors (16) are provided at least partly in a space between the side wall (12) of the tank (10) and a side frame of the transport container (1) defined by the lower and upper rails (8, 9) and the vertical corner posts (5).

15. A transport container (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in thatthe tank (10) comprises an open top (25) formed by the upper edges of the side walls (12) and the open bottom (15) formed by the lower edges of the side walls (12), the side walls (12) of the tank (10) converge from the open top (25) toward the open — bottom (15) such that a space between the tank (10) and the container frame (2) increase from the upper part of the transport container (1) toward the bottom of the transport container (1); or an open top (25) formed by the upper edges of the side walls (12) and the open bottom (15) formed by the lower edges of the side walls (12), the front — wall (13) and the rear wall (14) of the tank (10) converge from the open top (25) toward the open bottom (15) such that a space between the tank (10) and the container frame (2) increase from the upper part of the transport container (1) toward the bottom of the transport container (1).

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