GB2073708A

GB2073708A - Container traffic container

Info

Publication number: GB2073708A
Application number: GB8022189A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-04-12
Filing date: 1980-07-07
Publication date: 1981-10-21

Abstract

A container (10) is provided having a pair of longitudinally spaced legs (16) at each side of the container, the legs being situated adjacent to the ends of the container. The legs support the container at a raised position above the ground and are extensible by piston and cylinder units (17) within housings (15) provided at each side of the container. With the legs extended a container can straddle the load carrying platform (19) of a motor road vehicle or a vehicle (23) running on rails and thereafter retraction of the legs can be effected to leave the container supported on the load carrying platform of the vehicle concerned. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of delivering material and container for use in the method The present invention relates to a container for use in delivering material and to a method of delivering material from a place at which the material is supplied (herein called the supply station) to a place at which the material is to be used (herein called the use station). The invention, hereinafter described, has application both to railway and road transport of material. It is to be understood that the terms "supply station" and "use station" are applicable equally to both these forms of transport.

The invention has been devised primarily to provide a means for delivering steel scrap to steel works more conveniently than scrap is delivered at the present time. However, the invention may be applied to the delivery of other material, such for example as grain to millers and breweries, and other bulk commodities such as flour and sugar from the place of production to a place of use.

When substantial quantities of scrap are to be moved regularly from a supply station at which the scrap is produced to a steel works at which the scrap is used in the further production of steel, the scrap is delivered in railway wagons. Empty railway wagons are parked at the supply station and scrap is placed in them. After a sufficient number of wagons have been loaded with scrap, the wagons are drawn by locomotive to the use station. At the use station, the scrap is unloaded from the wagons and is subsequently charged into a furnace.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of delivering material from a supply station to a use station wherein the material is placed in a container which has retractable legs, the container stands at the supply station on its legs, a wheeled carrier is subsequently introduced between the legs of the container, the legs are retracted to allow the container to rest on the carrier, the container is restrained against horizontal movement relative to the carrier, the carrier runs on roads or rails to the use station, fluid under pressure is supplied from the carrier to the container to extend the legs of the container and thereby raise the container from the carrier and the carrier is withdrawn from between the legs of the container.

The wheeled carrier may be a motor road vehicle or a railway train comprising a locomotive and a plurality of boggies coupled to the locomotive. In a case where the material is placed in the container intermittently over a substantial period of time, the container can stand at the supply station without the wheeled carrier.

Similarly, the container can stand at the use station without the wheeled carrier. Thus, the motor road vehicle or the railway train are used only during movement of the container from the supply station to the use station. The material can be stored in the container at the use station until the material is discharged from the container. The material may be discharged directly from the container into a furnace or other apparatus in which the material is used.

Because the container, when separated from the wheeled carrier, stands on its legs, it is not necessary to use a crane or other extraneous lifting gear to lift the container onto the wheeled carrier.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of delivering material from a supply station to a use station wherein a row of containers is moved to the supply station on a train of rail vehicles, each rail vehicle carrying one or more of the containers, legs of the containers are extended to raise the containers clear of the rail vehicles and support the containers on the ground at the supply station, the rail vehicles are withdrawn from beneath the containers, a further vehicle is introduced in a direction transverse to the length of the row between the legs of one of the containers, the legs of said one of the containers are retracted to lower the container onto the further vehicle, said one of the containers is transported away from a row to a loading position at the supply station, said material is loaded into the container at the loading position, said one of the containers is returned from the loading position to the row,.the legs of said one of the containers are extended to raise the container from the further vehicle and support the container on the ground, the further vehicle is withdrawn from between the legs of said one of the containers, a train of rail vehicles is introduced beneath the containers of the row, the legs of the containers are retracted to lower the containers onto the rail vehicles, the train of rail vehicles travels to the use station, the containers are raised from the rail vehicles at the use station and the contents are discharged from the containers.

At the use station, the containers may be raised from the rail vehicles by extending the legs of all of the containers, the train of rail vehicles may then be withdrawn from beneath the containers and one container may be withdrawn from the row of containers in a direction transverse to the length of the row for discharge of the contents of the container at a discharge position remote from the row. The container may be subsequently returned to the row.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a container having extensible legs and operating means for extending the legs.

A container according to the third aspect of the invention is especially adapted for use in methods according to the first and second aspects.

The container may comprise bottom, side and end walls and one or more of the walls of the container may comprise a door or a plurality of doors. The contents of the container may be discharged through door or doors. Usually, the container would be loaded through an open top of the container. The operating means of the container is preferably fluid-actuated.

The operating means is preferably adapted to cause concurrent equal extension of all legs of the container. Additionally, the operating means may be settable in a condition in which some legs of the container are extended or retracted relative to other legs of the container. If legs at one side of the container are extended or retracted relative to legs at the other side, whilst the container is standing on its legs without a wheeled carrier, the container will be tipped to facilitate discharge of material from the container.

The extensible legs of the container are preferably disposed adjacent to corners of the container, the container being rectangular as viewed in plan. With this arrangement, the space beneath in a mid portion of the container is unobstructed so that vehicles can be introduced into this space from different directions.

For movement from a supply station to a use station, a container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention is preferably combined with a wheeled carrier having a pump, the combination comprising ducts for conveying fluid from the pump to the operating means of the container and the container being releasably secured on the carrier.

The container may be adapted in a known manner for engagement by securing devices for securing the container releasably on a vehicle.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 shows diagramatically a perspective view of a container standing on legs and a motor road vehicle having a load platform which is partly introduced into a space between legs of the container; and FIGURE 2 illustrates a row of containers as shown in Figure 1 associated with a train of railway vehicles, one of the containers having been removed from the row by a further vehicle.

The container 10 illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is open-topped and has a bottom wall (not shown), end walls 11 and side walls 12. As viewed in plan and in each elevation, the container is rectangular. The dimensions of the container walls may be substantially equal to the dimensions of containers of standard size which are in widespread use. In at least one of the side walls 12, there are provided two doors 14 which may be hinged or sliding doors.

On the outside of each side wall 12, there are provided two housings 15, one adjacent to each end of the container. Within each housing 1 5 there is mounted an extensible leg 1 6 which is guided for movement relative to the housing along a vertical path, that is a path parallel to the surfaces of the end and side walls 11 and 12.

Operating means is provided for extending the legs 1 6. The operating means comprises a respective piston and cylinder unit 1 7 disposed within each of the housings 15 and arranged to act between the associated leg and the housing.

The piston and cylinder units may be single acting units arranged for extending the legs relative to the housings. Alternatively, the piston and cylinder units may be double acting and capable of extending and retracting the legs. Removable dowel pins or other mechanical means (not shown) may be provided for securing each leg in an extended position and in a retracted position.

The operating means further comprises pipes 1 8 defining ducts for connecting the piston and cylinder units 1 7 with a fluid coupling provided at a convenient position on the container, for example on one of the end walls 11. With the pipes 18, there may be associated valves (not shown) whereby fluid can be directed to or released from selected ones of the piston and cylinder units.

The legs 16 mounted on one side wall 12 of the container are spaced sufficiently far from the legs mounted on the other side wall to permit the load platform 19 of a motor road vehicle 20 to be introduced into the space between the legs and beneath the bottom wail of the container, as shown in the drawing. The load platform 1 9 is provided with known devices 21 for releasably securing containers on the load platform and the container 10 incorporates at the corners of its bottom wall fittings (not shown) for receiving the securing devices 21 whereby the container 10 can be releasably secured to the load platform.

When fully extended, the legs 1 6 support the container 10 with its bottom wall at a height exceeding the height of the upper surface of the load platform 1 9. The container is supported in this manner whilst it is loaded with material, usually through the open-top of the container.

After the container has been loaded, the load platform 1 9 is positioned beneath the container and a fluid coupling 26 on the vehicle 20 is coupled with the fluid coupling of the container 0 to connect the operating means of the container with an hydraulic or pneumatic circuit of the vehicle. The legs 1 6 are then retracted or permittted to retract until the container rests on the load platform 1 9. The container is then secured-to the vehicle by means of the devices 21 and the legs 1 6 are further retracted. The vehicle 20 is then driven to a station at which the contents of the container are to be used.

At the use station, the legs 1 6 are lowered and a pump 22 on the vehicle 20 is operated to feed fluid under pressure through the pipes 1 8 to the piston and cylinder units 1 7 and thereby extend the legs sufficiently to raise the container 10 from the load platform 1 9. It will be understood that the devices 21 are released in preparation for raising of the container. Once the container has been raised and the legs locked in their extended positions, the vehicle 20 can be driven away from the container. The container can remain standing on its legs until the contents of the container are used. The contents may then be discharged directly from the container into a furnace or other apparatus in which the contents are used.

To facilitate discharge of the contents of the container through the doors 14, the legs at one side of the container may be extended relative to the legs at the other side to tilt the container.

As an alternative to transporting the container 10 on a motor road vehicle 20, a number of the containers may be transported on railway vehicles 23 as shown in Figure 2. In this case, fluid under pressure is supplied to the piston and cylinder units 1 7 from a pump on a locomotive (not shown) of a railway train comprising the locomotive and the rail vehicles 23. Ducts for conveying fluid are provided on the rail vehicles and coupled releasably with the operating means of the container and with a fluid circuit of the locomotive.

The train of rail vehicles 23 is shown in Figure 2 at a supply station. Associated with the rail vehicles, there is a row of containers 10. The containers have been transported to the supply station by the rail vehicles. As shown there are two containers carried on each rail vehicle but it will be understood that any convenient number may be so carried depending upon the size of the containers relative to that of the rail vehicles, e.g.

one, two, or even more containers may be carried if appropriate on each rail vehicle. At the supply station, the legs of all of the containers may be extended to raise the containers from the rail vehicles and support the containers on the ground.

The train of rail vehicles can then be withdrawn from beneath the containers. Alternatively, the legs of a selected container may be extended to raise that container from its rail vehicle. When the pipes 1 8 of the container have been disconnected from the hydraulic circuit of the railway train, the forks 24 of a forklift vehicle can be engaged beneath the container, the container legs retracted and the container then transported by the forklift vehicle 25 away from the row of containers in a direction transverse to the length of the row.

The container is transported by the forklift vehicle to a loading position where material to be transported in the container is loaded into the container. At the loading position, the container may be lowered to the ground with its legs retracted. Alternatively, the legs may be extended once more to support the container above the ground at the loading position. The loaded container is then returned to its rail vehicle 23 by the forklift vehicle 25.

In a case where the legs of all of the containers of the row are extended and the train of rail vehicles 23 is withdrawn from beneath the containers, the road vehicle 20 or some other vehicle can be introduced between the legs of a selected container in a direction transverse to the length of the row and the legs of the selected container then retracted to lower the container onto the load platform 1 9. It will be understood that the container will then be supported on the vehicle 20 with the length of the container perpendicular to the length of the vehicle. The container can be transported in this manner to the loading position, although it could not be transported in this manner along public highways.

If the container is required to remain at the loading station without the vehicle 20, the legs of the container are extended and the vehicle is then withdrawn from beneath the container.

Subsequently, the container will be transported back to the row by the vehicle 20 and reintroduced into the row in a direction transverse to the length of the row.

To facilitate loading of the container 10, cleaning of the container and inspection of contents of the container, the container may be lowered by retraction of its legs to rest on the ground at the loading station, in the row of containers or elsewhere. Loading and unloading of the container is also facilitated by the absence of any obstruction in the opening at the upper side of the container. Whilst we prefer that the container should have a single rectangular opening at its upper side, upper edges of the side walls may be connected with each other at positions other than the ends of the container by tie bars or the like, if required.

To facilitate introduction of vehicles into the space beneath the container from different directions, I prefer to provide legs 1 6 only adjacent to the corners of the container. However, additional legs may be provided on the side walls 12 at positions between the corners of the container, if required.

When all of the containers in the row have been loaded, the train of rail vehicles is introduced once more beneath the containers and the containers are lowered onto respective rail vehicles. Means, which may be of known construction, but is not illustrated, is provided for restraining.horizontal movement of the containers relative to the rail vehicles when supported thereon. The containers are transported by the rail vehicles to a use statioh where the contents are discharged from the containers. At the use station, the containers may all be raised clear of the rail vehicles so that the train of rail vehicles can be withdrawn.

Alternatively, the rail vehicles may remain beneath the row of containers. Containers may be removed from the row, emptied and replaced in the row, being transported to and from the row in one of the ways hereinbefore described or otherwise.

Claims

1. A method of delivering material from a supply station to a use station wherein the material is placed in a container which has retractable legs, the container stands at the supply station on its legs, a wheeled carrier is subsequently introduced between the legs of the container, the legs are retracted to allow the container to rest on the carrier, the container is constrained against horizontal movement relative to the carrier, the carrier runs on roads or rails to the use station, fluid under pressure is supplied from the carrier to the container to extend the legs of the container and thereby raise the container from the carrier and the carrier is withdrawn from between the legs of the container.

2. A method of delivering material from a supply station to a use station wherein a row of containers is moved to the supply station on a train of rail vehicles, each rail vehicle carrying one or more of the containers, legs of the containers are extended to raise the containers clear of the rail vehicles and support the containers on the ground, a further vehicle is introduced in a direction transverse to the length of the row between the legs of one of the containers, the legs of said one of the containers are retracted to lower the container onto the further vehicle, said one of the containers is transported away from the row to a loading position at the supply station, said material is loaded into the container at the loading position, said one of the containers is returned to the row, the legs of said one of the containers are extended to support the container on the ground, the further vehicle is withdrawn from the between the legs of said one container, a train of rail vehicles is introduced beneath the containers of the row, the legs of the containers are retracted to lower the containers onto the rail vehicles, the rail vehicles bearing the containers travel to the use station, the containers are removed from the rail vehicles at the use station and the contents of the containers are then discharged.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the or each container stands on its legs whilst material is loaded into the container.

4. A method according to any preceding Claim wherein the or each container is releasably secured to the rail vehicle or other carrier on which the container is transported from the supply station to the use station.

5. A container having extensible legs and operating means for extending the legs.

6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the operating means is fluid-actuated.

7. A container according to Claim 5 comprising one or more ducts for carrying fluid to the operating means and a coupling component adapted for coupling said ducts of the container to a duct of-the carrier.

8. In combination, a wheeled carrier and a container according to any one of Claims 5, 6 and 7, there being on the carrier a pump and the combination comprising ducts for conveying fluid from the pump to the operating means of the container.

9. In combination, a plurality of containers according to any one of Claims 5, 6 and 7 and a train of rail vehicles, the containers being carried on respective ones of the rail vehicles, there being on the train a pump and the combination comprising ducts for conveying fluid from the pump to the operating means of the containers.

10. A container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.