FR2738218A1 - Demountable modular frame for elongate cargo containerisation - Google Patents

Abstract

The frame is formed by two (1) principal rigid U-shaped sections of welded steel connected by four spacers (2) of variable length which can be adjusted to accommodate loads of different densities. The frame has centring and stacking guides (3,5). The loads can be locked together by manually actuated chains or cables. A lock can automatically hold the frames together actuated by stacking and destacking of the frames.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA
The present invention relates to the field of external logistics, it is an equipment which
facilitates the transport, handling and storage by containerization of large products
length.

It is a metal barrel structure formed mainly of two UAP irons of
175 mm braced and welded which allow for example the transport of:
-Logs in logs, logs, debarked wood, raw or sclene wood.

 -Tubes of all types.

 -Profiles, beams of all types.

This structure can be used for storage on the ground, in road and rail transport
or maritime.

Its main application envisaged relates to the transport of wood for industry
paper mill.

PRIOR ART USED
Depending on the types of products, different techniques are currently used to
transport of very long materials:
- Fardiers.

- FLAT type containers, trays with stanchions, these containers are
to international standards for so-called 20 '(feet) and 40' (feet) containers.

The main disadvantage of this type of container is its weight representing a tare
average of 2,600 to 5,000 kg depending on the model, high cost and almost
impossibility of stacking. This technique involves a container load return for
its profitability and the non-possibility of stacking prevents maritime transport for
large quantities.

-Other prefabricated structures exist: bastaings and strips for tubes;
straps and cables for bundles and other tubes.

These latter techniques come under the so-called lost packaging techniques, a
special tools are often necessary for the implementation and the cost of the product
lost brought back to the ton transported is not negligible. Storage at height is
often difficult or impossible. In the case of transporting wood with these techniques,
frequent breaking of straps and cables during transport and handling
entails risk of accident; manual recovery of bulk materials,
overflows of trucks dangerous for road safety, falling wood in
ports which is dangerous for the safety of navigation.

The strip technique also limits the weight of the burdens from 6 to 7 tonnes
therefore leads to long and dangerous handling.

ADVANTAGES OF THE SOLUTION PROVIDED BY THE INVENTION.

 -A multi-product standardization of a storage, handling and transport system.

-A space and a limited weight of the packaging because this equipment is
easily removable and nestable for return in reduced volume. A 40 'platform or truck (approximately 12.1 m of platform) can carry 50 structures in return, which corresponds to 25 trucks for loaded transport.

 - A limited investment at the start: the structure for the transport of 27 tonnes of wood is around 900Kg.

 -A versatility for transport. Different products use the same structures in the case of materials of very different density, a simple set of spacers of suitable length or spacers adjustable in length makes it possible to increase the use of this system.

For example, structures loaded with wood from exporting countries
from Africa, South America, Asia, Canada; can come back charged with
pipes for pipelines or water supply pipes. Complementarity
market generally exists.

-The use of container ships is possible.

- The safety of handling and transport is increased: solidity, mooring facilities and
hooking, impossible overflows from trucks.

- Handling times are reduced, a load of 27 tonnes is handled in one
operation without risk of rupture which divides by 5 the downtime at
port of a ship when loading and unloading.

-In addition, handling on arrival at an industrial site or at the port can be
performed quickly by crane or with general-purpose equipment generally
standardized in factories or ports; in this regard, the shape of the structure is
studied for its resumption with the small forklift with vacuum forks to constitute the
assemblies dismantled in return.

- Easy storage at ports and in reserved areas, good flat ground and
resistant is sufficient; Stacking is possible as for conventional containers.

Storage management is therefore easier. The possibility of stacking at a height limit
and optimizes storage or recovery areas.

 -The management of a wood park can even be automated.

-In the case of using spacers of different lengths, a new range
of product can be exploited according to their density without modification of the structure
main.

PLANS
HG 1 Perspective function plan of the whole
Various components:
i -Uprincipal (number 2)
2 - Spacers number 4)
3 - V-shaped socket head (number 4)
4 - Lifting eyes (number 4)
5 - Cavity for carriage fork number 4)
6 - male centering and casing studs (number 4)
7 - female socket bores (number 4)
S - Clamping cable and hanging and tensioning device (number 2)
9 - anchor or mooring points (number 48)
1W Locking device.

ZIG 2
This perspective represents a structure loaded with logs handled with the lifting beam.

FIG 3
Transport by truck type flatbed semi-trailer.

IVF 4
Transport by train
FIG 5
Container type maritime transport.

FIG 6
Overall plan front view
FIG 7
General view from the right.

FIG 8
Partial sectional view of the locking structure head, view from the right.

FIG 9
Plan in partial section head of locking structure front view.

FIG 10
Partial sectional drawing of intermediate linkage linkage.

FIG It
Partial sectional view of the base of the locking hook structure
Part A: upper structure
Part B: partial head of the lower structure.

FIG 12
Detail plan of the spacers of their centering system and of the interlockings for the return of the structures.

FIG 13
Basic plan of tightening loads, U in cross-section mounting with turnbuckles.

GENERAL TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The invented equipment consists of a set of mechanically welded parts; the main structure is manufactured with commercial UAP profiles and 8 and 10 mm thick steel plate allowing stiffening of the entire structure and the supporting or hooking elements necessary for handling.

(FIG I)
The other main constituent elements are: -The spacers, 4 in number with a length suitable for the products transported, for example for transporting wood of 9 m, the spacers may have a length of 4.80 m. (FIG 1 parts 2 and FIG 12). They can be telescopic and adjustable in length for applications to different products.

These spacers of a weight compatible with human handling are fixed on the main structure by simple interlocking, they serve to maintain constant the spacing between the two U of the main structure and guarantee a perpendicularity between the different elements. (FIG 6, 7 and 12)
The removal of these spacers before the unloading of the transported product allows the use for example of a machine with curved forks like a stationery wood yard.

For the return transport of the dismantled equipment, the spacers are placed in the U of the main structure and become the products transported.

The U's are attached to each other and bolted together for the return transport.

The main U's contain the following accessories and special features:
Each U is equipped with a clamping system (Example in FIG 13), this system being able to be of the cable turnbuckles type (15), cable puller, wheel and worm, tensioner; the clamping cables can possibly be replaced by a chain (17); the attachment points (18) and return of the cable (16) or chain are multiple and allow a reduced stroke of the clamping device (15) depending on the shape and the filling coefficient of the supporting structure.

This device can be checked and checked each time the structure is manipulated before hooking to the lifting beam by the worker in charge of this operation. (FIG 2)
The worker responsible for hooking can also check the ascent of the locking fingers located near the lifting rings.

Each structure is also equipped with an automatic locking device on the lower structure; this device acting during the installation of a new structure in the upper part (FIG 7,8,9,10,11). A spring unlocks the system as soon as the upper package is removed.

Locking system details
FIG8.9. 10 this plan represents the head in partial sections of a main U according to the right view if we consider that FIG 6 is the front view of the U forming a cradle.

LOCKING PRINCIPLE
The equipment is shown at rest; without higher load, when a structure is going to be superimposed, the bar I under the weight of the load will go down by approximately 6 cm and by an axis 4, it will actuate a double rod 3 keyed by 6 which will rotate the axis 5 and transmit this angular displacement to other double links 8 on the axis 14 which in turn will transmit a downward movement to the sleeve 9 of the bar adjustable in length 10.

The total stroke corresponds to the locking of the hook of FIG 11.

FIG 11
The bar 10 ensures the angular rotation of the link hook 11 via the axes 12 and 13 and its locking in the ring of the lower structure 15
This device guarantees attachment to the ship or can be adapted to trucks and trains.

On boats, the upper package must be locked manually (bracing cable for example).

The centering of the stacked structures is facilitated by the shape of the lifting rings and the small V-shaped interlocking of the upper part of the structures.

PRINCIPLE OF THE CASES (FIG 12)
Detail plan of the spacers of their centering system and of the interlockings for the return of the structures.

Principle of interlocking of the spacers the worker places by hand the lower and upper spacers 22 in the forms 23 welded on the main U.

The bars hold by gravity.

A heel 19 on the rib serving as a square is placed to facilitate disassembly with a hammer or with the ground in the event of jamming.

Principle of nesting of the main cradles:
The female21 and male 20 parts of the main cradles fit together regardless of the direction of the cradles after dismantling the spacers by simply bringing the structures together.

In the glued position, simply bolt them with a bolt and an intermediate washer and tighten with a flat or angled wrench between the U's forming the upright of the cradles.

Constituent materials, special features:
All painted or galvanized steel; greased moving parts.

High strength steel for the lifting eyes.

Agricultural type mechanics with large oversized shock resistant clearances.

The stacking principle corrects any deformation of the cradles.

DIMENSIONAL PRE-STUDY
This equipment is designed for a template similar to the 40 'container transport technique with a maximum load of around 28 tonnes, however the same technique can be envisaged for the 20' technique with dimensions revised accordingly.

The calculation for a transport of wood of density 0.9kG / dm
A useful section of 4.8 m2 and a length of wood of 9 m gives a load of 27.4Tons
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION - Millions of tonnes of long products are transported across France, Europe and the world each year; in the same way as conventional containers, tens of thousands of structures can be used in the case of standardization of this invention.

French ports looking for international competitiveness could be directly interested in this project.

Manufacturers exporting or receiving long products are also concerned by this mvention.

The shipping companies also, given the gain in speed of rotation of the ships which will no longer be immobilized for weeks on the quays.

Claims (6)

1) Dismountable modular equipment, stackable with reduced weight and size for the containerization of long products of dimensions compatible with the sizes of conventional carriers (road, rail, sea) allowing normal and combined storage and transport in packages of around 28 tonnes maximum of wood, metal tubes or not, profiles and materials 5 to 13 m long. 2) The main structure consists of two rigid U-shaped welded steel connected by 4 removable variable length spacers having the role of gabant on loading. and to be able to transport products of different density by adjusting the lengths 3) Characterized by a device allowing the centering and stacking of the structures one on the other (rounded rings and V of maintenance.) 4) Safety device according to claim I for clamping loads by cables or chains on each cradle which can be actuated manually. 5) Characterized by an automatic locking and unlocking device for structures between them by simple stacking operation operation or vertical unstacking in charge of mounted structures with automatic ascent by spring. 6) Devices according to claim I characterized by the presence of numerous varied points of mooring and socket-outlets by special forms allowing the  fixing and handling of loaded and empty structures by a small forklift, as well as the empty return journey of dismantled structures in reduced volume. A return trip with a 40 'platform (25 feet) for 25 outward journeys laden.