FR2558807A1 - Tub for the storage and transport of a load - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tub for the storage and transport of a load. The latter comprises, on the one hand, an open-work support structure 1 made by means of beams and girders assembled with each other and, on the other hand, several containers 2 disposed side by side in the said support structure. The support structure comprises in the bottom section several support frames associated with mobile covering hatches; each container comprises in the bottom section an opening surrounded by a border which rests on a support frame 21. The support structure is, in particular, metallic and the containers are moulded from synthetic material.

Description

TIPPER FOR STORAGE AND
TRANSPORT OF A LOAD
The invention relates to a bucket for the storage and transport of a load, for example fertilizer, cereals, etc ...; it targets a bucket capable of being transported by a truck and of being deposited on site, at the desired height, by means of an operating device with a known type of arm with which the truck is equipped.

 Skips of this type are currently formed by metal boxes of generally parallelepiped shape, provided with stiffening ribs to give them the necessary resistance. These skips are provided, at the front, with a gripping hook which allows the truck maneuvering device to grip them, and, in the vicinity of the four angles, four swivel feet capable of being retracted during transport and then be deployed to support the bucket at the desired height.

 These skips have several faults.

In order to give them an acceptable cost price, they are made of standard type ferrous alloy and are ill-suited for transporting corrosive materials; thus their aging is extremely rapid when they are used for the bulk transport of fertilizers which generally have a certain degree of acidity. To overcome this drawback, some manufacturers have had the idea of equipping said skips with flexible axes which suppress the contact of the contents with the metal walls of the skip. However, such tarpaulins are fragile and their installation increases the cost price of the bucket and the cost of its maintenance.

 In addition, conventional all-metal skips are relatively heavy, which increases the dead weight transported. In addition, in the most frequent case where the load consists of bulk materials in divided form, the emptying of such buckets is difficult to obtain completely.

 The present invention proposes to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of known skips.

 It aims to provide a new grab, with reduced cost price, capable of receiving corrosive materials without premature aging.

 Another object of the invention is to reduce the weight of the empty skips.

 Another objective is to facilitate the emptying of these and to allow better control.

 Another objective is to reduce the repair and maintenance costs of the skips.

 The bucket according to the invention comprises, on the one hand, a support structure produced by means of beams and beams assembled together, on the other hand, several containers arranged side by side in said support structure, in particular four in number joined in the longitudinal direction; the supporting structure comprises two longitudinal lower beams capable of resting on a truck chassis, a hook before gripping in order to allow gripping and maneuvering the bucket, four folding feet adapted to be deployed and support the bucket at height or for being able to retract during transport, several support frames distributed along the lower beams and movable hatches associated with each support frame in order to make it possible to close or open the interior surface of each of said support frames; each container comprises at the bottom an opening surrounded by a border of suitable shape to rest on a support frame.

 Thus, the perforated carrying structure of the bucket can be made of standard type ferrous alloy, with the exception of hatch systems which will be made of material insensitive to corrosion, in particular stainless steel; the containers can be produced, in particular by molding, from a synthetic material insensitive to corrosion (polyvinyl chloride, etc.).

 Such a bucket can be manufactured at a reduced cost with a lower self-weight than that of traditional skips, taking into account the openwork nature of the carrying structure and the light material used for the containers. The transported materials are not in contact with any alterable part and Tt causes no abnormal corrosion of the bucket. In addition, the load distributed in the various containers can be much more easily and much more quickly emptied regardless of the type of bulk material transported; it should be noted that, in the event of deterioration of a container, it alone can be changed and its reduced cost (in particular resulting from the possibility of making it by molding) makes repairs inexpensive.

 According to other characteristics of the invention, each container comprises externally on its lateral faces, front face and rear face, projections which make it possible to guide it in the support structure and to distribute the forces exerted on said container; the supporting structure comprises longitudinal members and crosspieces, positioned appropriately to serve as support for said projections.

 Furthermore, according to another characteristic of the invention, each hatch associated with a support frame of the carrying structure consists of half-hatches made of stainless steel, extending on either side of the longitudinal axial plane of the bucket; each half-hatch is guided in the transverse direction to be able to penetrate into the support frame in order to close it or, on the contrary, to be able to retract on the side thereof. Each half-hatch is associated with a transverse operating member making it possible to maneuver it manually.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, which present by way of nonlimiting example a preferred embodiment; on these drawings which form an integral part of the present description
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a bucket according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of one of the containers of said bucket,
FIGS. 3 and 4 are sections of said container respectively by a longitudinal plane AA 'and by a transverse plane BB',
FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the support structure,
FIGS. 6 and 7 are sections of said supporting structure, respectively by a longitudinal axial plane CC ′ and by a transverse plane DD ′, (a container being shown diagrammatically in broken lines in these figures),
FIG. 8 is a top view of the support structure,
FIGS. 9 and 10 are detailed views of the bucket, respectively in longitudinal section EE 'and in cross section FF',
- Finally Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the bucket loaded on a truck.

 The bucket shown by way of example in the figures comprises an openwork carrying structure 1 which supports four containers such as 2 housed therein. The length of the supporting structure along which the containers are arranged, in positions placed against one another, is of the order of 3 times greater than its width.

 (By definition, hereinafter "longitudinal direction" means the direction extending along the largest dimension of the bucket; the term "transverse" refers to a perpendicular direction extending in the width direction of the body; the terms "front" and "rear" refer to the position of the body mounted on a truck and refer to the parts situated towards the front of the truck or the parts situated towards the rear of the latter).

 The supporting structure 1 is produced by assembling beams and beams made of standard type ferrous alloy, with the exception of hatch systems made of stainless steel as will be seen below.

 Each container 2 is entirely molded in polyvinyl chloride and widens from a rectangular lower opening 3 to an open rectangular upper face 4 (Figures 2, 3 and 4).

 In its lower portion, the container is formed of four converging inclined faces (lateral faces 5a and front and rear faces 6a); on the contrary, in its upper portion, the container is formed from two opposite substantially vertical faces (front face and rear face 6b) and from two opposite inclined faces 5b coming substantially in the extension of the faces 5a of the lower portion.

 In the upper part, the open upper face 4 is bordered by a belt 7 which externally forms a projection having at its base a peripheral shoulder 8. This belt 7 and its shoulder are formed by a fold of the material 90 "outwards , then by a 90 "fold upwards, finally by an inward fold constituting a short internal return 9.

 In the lower part, the opening 3 is surrounded by a border 10 which forms on the periphery of said opening a shoulder ll extended by a lip directed downwards 12. This border is produced by a fold of the material at 90 "towards inside and fold 90 "down.

 It should be noted that the container is molded so that at the shoulders 8 and 11, the thickness of the material is slightly greater.

 In addition, the front and rear faces 6b have locally bulges such as 13 which delimit local shoulders 14 at their base, in the vicinity of the junction between the upper 6b and lower 6a portions.

 In addition, the side faces 5b have stiffening bulges such as 15 in their upper portion.

 Furthermore, the supporting structure 1 comprises two longitudinal lower beams such as 16 which extend at the front and at the rear of said structure, and on which are cross members such as 17 and uprights such as 18; in the upper part, said structure comprises a tubular belt 34. In four years, the carrying structure is equipped with four folding feet such as 19 known in themselves and mounted in a conventional manner by means of gussets. Each leg comprises a triangulated system comprising a pivot member 19a around which it can be made to pivot so as to come either in the deployed position, supporting the bucket at the desired height, or in the retracted position against the side of the bucket; locking means make it possible to block the feet in one or other of these positions.

 In addition, the supporting structure comprises a gripping hook 20 fixed at the front between the extensions of the two beams 16.

 These beams are adapted to be able to come to bear on the truck chassis (equipped for this purpose with rollers) during the maneuvers of fitting or removing the bucket, said beams are provided with conventional guide means 16a.

 In addition, the beams 16 support four support frames such as 21, each carried by two cross-members of rectangular section such as 22, welded above the beams 16 and between them.

 Each support frame 21, shown in the detail figures 9 and 10 is rectangular in shape and comprises two transverse members such as 23 welded to each of the cross members 22 and two longitudinal members such as 24 welded by their ends to the transverse members.

 Each of the members 23 or 24 has a Z-shaped section, comprising two vertical flanges such as 23a, 24a and 23b, 24b joined by a horizontal core 23c, 24c.

 The upwardly oriented flanges 23a and 24a are adapted to the bottom edge 10 of each container, so that the lip 12 of said edge is able to penetrate into said flanges and to rest against them as shown Figures 9 and 10. In this position, the shoulder 11 of the edge 10 rests on the upper edge of the flanges 23a or 24a.

 The flanges 23b and 24b oriented downwards have a lower edge disposed above and near two plates such as 25 constituting two half-trap doors, adapted to be able to close off the inner surface of the support frame 21.

 In the example, each half-hatch rests on the upper edges of two transverse bars such as 26 formed by flat bars. These bars are arranged at the edge of each half-hatch as shown in Figure 9, below the flanges 23b of the transverse members.

 These flanges 23 (arranged in the transverse direction) are positioned towards the inside of the support frame according to the arrangement shown in FIG. 9, so that the half-doors can slide transversely between the crosspieces 22, while perfectly sealing the support frame in the closed position.

 On the contrary, the flanges 24b (arranged in the longitudinal direction) are positioned towards the outside of the support frame according to the arrangement shown in Figure 10, so as to be located outside of ~ ltouverture 3 of the container.

 It should be noted that the frames 23 and 24 of the support frames are in contact with the stored material and are preferably-like the half-doors 25, made of stainless steel.

 In the vicinity of the longitudinal axis of the structure, the half-doors 25 abut against a central spar 27 covered by a protection 28 with an inverted U-shaped section, on which the container comes to bear and which avoids loss of material at this level ; this protection 28 is preferably provided in stainless steel.

 In addition, a stop 29 welded under each half-hatch prevents them from escaping laterally at the end of the stroke during the maneuvers.

 Each half-hatch is associated with an operating member 30 in the transverse direction. In the example, the member comprises a telescopic lever 31 which is articulated in the upper part in a clevis 32 welded to a spar of the supporting structure; this lever 31 comprises a hook 33 which is adapted to be able to engage in a ring welded at the end of the half-hatch. The lever 31 can be operated by its lower extension 31a.

 Thanks to the available lever arm and the arrangement of each hatch into two half-hatches, the latter are easily maneuverable manually by an operator. I1 it should be noted that the lever 31 can be provided capable of disengaging from its internal telescopic rod 31b, so that the same lever can be used to maneuver all the half-catches: it is sufficient before each maneuver to engage it on its telescopic rod and introduce the hook 33 into the ring of the half-hatch.

 Furthermore, the supporting structure comprises a network of beams and crosspieces, welded to the above-mentioned uprights 28 or to the front and rear extensions of the beams 16, so as to form four housings, each adapted to the external shape of a container 2.

This network includes
on the one hand, upper side members such as 35 arranged to come to bear below the belt 7 of the containers against the shoulders 8 thereof,
on the other hand, intermediate beams such as 36 arranged to bear against the lateral faces of the containers below their bulges 15,
thirdly, upper crossmembers such as 37 arranged in the transverse planes of separation of the containers in order to come to bear below the belts 7 thereof against their shoulders 8,
finally, intermediate sleepers such as 38 arranged in the transverse planes of separation of the containers, to come into abutment against the local shoulders 14 of the front and rear faces of said containers.

 Figure 11 shows schematically the bucket according to the invention in place on a truck. The movement maneuvers of said bucket are identical to that of a traditional bucket and do not require any adaptation of the maneuvering system of the truck.

 Of course, the bucket according to the invention can be fitted with conventional accessories such as an upper protective cover, etc. It is particularly suitable for transporting and storing corrosive materials. In the case of a corrosive material of a special type, it suffices to adapt the nature of the synthetic material used to mold the containers, to avoid any corrosion. It should be noted that the cost price of a container thus molded is less than 10% of the price of the bucket and that an exchange can, if necessary, be made.

 The bucket is emptied by the hatches 25 and the division of the load into four separate volumes, combined with the particular shape of the containers, ensures complete and rapid emptying of the bulk materials.

Claims (12)

 1 / - Tipper for the storage and transport of a load, characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, a support structure (1) produced by means of beams and beams assembled together, on the other hand, several containers (2) arranged side by side in said supporting structure,  the supporting structure (1) comprising two longitudinal lower beams (16) capable of resting on a truck chassis, a pre-gripping hook (20) in order to allow the grab to be gripped and maneuvered, four folding feet (19) adapted to be able to be deployed and support the skip at height or to be able to retract during transport, several support frames (21) distributed along the lower beams and movable hatches (25) associated with each support frame (21) in view of closing or opening the interior surface of each of said support frames,  each container (2) comprising, in the lower part, an opening (3) surrounded by an edge (10) of suitable shape to rest on a support frame (21).  2 / - bucket according to claim 1, characterized in that each support frame (21) of the supporting structure is rectangular in shape and comprises two longitudinal members (24) and two transverse members (23), welded at their ends and fixed above the longitudinal beams (16), each container (2) being provided with a lower portion (5a, 6a) of convergent shape towards the aforementioned border (10), which has a rectangular shape suitable for fitting onto the support frame (21).  3 / - Tipper according to claim 2, characterized in that the frames (23, 24) of each framesupport (21) have a vertical flange (23a, 24a) oriented upwards and surrounding said support frame, the edge (10 ) of each container forming on the periphery of the opening (31) a shoulder (11) extended by a lip (12) directed downwards, the latter being arranged to penetrate into the abovementioned flanges (23a, 24a) and to be disposed resting against these, the shoulder (11) of the edge (10) resting on the upper edge of said flanges.  4 / - Tipper according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that each container (2) has an upper portion (5b, 6b) having, on the one hand, two opposite side faces (5b) inclined approximately in the extension of the corresponding faces (5a) of the lower portion, on the other hand, two approximately vertical front and rear faces (6b), the supporting structure (1) being constituted by a network of uprights, side members and cross members arranged so as to form housings adapted to the external shape of the containers.  5 / - Tipper according to claim 4, characterized in that each container (2) comprises externally on its lateral faces (5) and on its front and rear faces (6) projections (7, 13), the supporting structure (1 ) comprising longitudinal members (35, 36) and crosspieces (37, 38) positioned to serve as support for said projections.  6 / - Tipper according to claim 5, characterized in that each container (2) has an upper belt (7) delimiting at its base a peripheral shoulder (8) and, on its front and rear faces, bulges (13) delimiting at their base of the local shoulders (14), the supporting structure (1) comprising, on the one hand, side members (35) located in the upper part to correspond to the peripheral shoulders (8) of the lateral faces of the containers, on the other hand , sleepers (37, 38) arranged at the front, rear and in the transverse planes of separation of the containers, said sleepers being located at two different levels to correspond respectively to the peripheral shoulders (8) and to the local shoulders ( 14) of the front and rear faces of the containers.  7 / - Tipper according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that each hatch associated with a support frame (21) consists of two half-hatches (25) made of stainless steel , extending on either side of the longitudinal axial plane, each guided in the transverse direction to be able to penetrate into the support frame OR retract on the side thereof, each half-hatch being associated with a member (30) operating in the transverse direction.  8 / - grab according to claim 7, characterized in that the operating member (30) associated with each half-hatch (25) comprises a telescopic lever (31) articulated on the supporting structure (1) above the level of the hatch, a hook (33) carried by said lever for its attachment to the hatch and an extension (31a) for the operation of said lever.  9 / - Tipper according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that each half-hatch (25) rests on the upper edges of two transverse bars (26), the frames (23, 24) of the support frame being each provided with a vertical flange (23b, 24b) oriented downwards and having a lower edge disposed above and in the immediate vicinity of the half-hatch (25).  10 / - Skip according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the containers (2) are molded in synthetic material, the supporting structure (1) being metallic.  11 / - Tipper according to claims 3, 6 and 10 taken together, characterized in that  the upper belt (7) of each container is produced by a 90 "fold outwards, then a 90" fold upwards, finally a fold inwards forming a short internal return (9),  the bottom edge (10) of each container is made by a 90 "fold inwards and by a 90" fold down.  12 / - Tipper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises four containers (2) joined in the longitudinal direction in the carrying structure (1).