GB2109346A

GB2109346A - Ventilated transport container

Info

Publication number: GB2109346A
Application number: GB08231934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernst Wellmann; Manfred Wegmann; Heinz Grunhoff
Original assignee: Thyssen Industrie AG
Current assignee: ThyssenKrupp Technologies AG
Priority date: 1981-11-14
Filing date: 1982-11-09
Publication date: 1983-06-02
Also published as: FR2516485B1; GB2109346B; DE8133389U1; IT1153025B; IT8224245A0; FR2516485A1

Abstract

A transport container has beaded or corrugated walls (3), the beads running vertically. Upper girders (1) engage over the walls (3) and define ventilation passages (9) in conjunction with perforated plates (6) and the corrugations. At the bottom, the walls (3) may stand on lower girders (6). The corrugations may again serve for ventilation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transport container The invention relates to a transport or freight container, and particularly to a container with ventilation orifices.

In a transport container known from German utility model 76 33 699.7, there are upper and lower booms designed as continuous hollow girders. These have a plurality of horizontal orifices offset vertically and located diagonally opposite one another. Between the orifices there are guide plates directed downwards in opposite directions. This form of ventilation of a transport container is expensive because of the many individual perforations and because for really satisfactory through-ventilation it requires an external airflow (i.e. a relative airflow).

Starting from this state of the art, the object of the invention is seen in the development of a ventilated transport container which, whilst allowing simple production of the ventilation orifices, can be strong but nevertheless effectively ventilated, even when the approach flow is only slight or non-existent. Embodiments of the invention achieve this by means of a generally large and well distributed ventilation surface.

According to the present invention there is provided a transport container including at least one wall with generally vertically extending beading and at least one respective upper girder which engages over the upper edge of the beaded wall so that ventilation passages are defined between them.

The term beading is intended to cover any shape or structure which serves to provide intermittent channels which can serve for ventilation as indicated.

The use of walls which are beaded vertically, and the girders which engage over part of them, can give (a) sufficient rigidity of the transport container and, (b) in the simplest possible way a very large area of ventilation orifices, namely wherever the beading of the walls is directed inwards, between downwardly extendng portions of the girders and the walls. This construction can be applied both on the side walls and on the front end. There can be uniform distribution of the ventilation orifices, to ensure good ventilation even without assistance from an external draught. Even when the approach flow is only slight, the air exchange is promoted substantially, compared with the known smooth girders with ventilation orifices, as a result of the beading of the walls and the vortex formation caused thereby.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the upper girders engage with play into the depressions of the beads by means of notched portions of the lower inwardly bent edge of the girders. Thus the girder is protected against being hooked accidentally by equipment reaching underneath. Moreover, this design offers additional protection against the penetration of spray water. In spite of the narrowing of the gap because of the engaging notched portions, the ventilation is still good, owing to the large number or orifices over all the walls.

Safety against the penetration of spray water can be further improved by means of a guard plate which extends in the upper region of the wall into the girder interior. This guard plate is advantageously inclined downwards, so that the spray water drips off from the lower edge outwards.

A perforated plate connecting the inner upper surface of the girder to the top edge of the wall can increase stability, ensure a smooth continuous inner wall, and not impede ventilation.

If the beaded wall stands on a horizontal flange of the lower girder, uniform ventilation over the entire length of the lower girders can be achieved as follows. A base, e.g. of wood, is placed on transverse girders so as to be located at least partly above the horizontal flange of the lower girder. The wooden base is arranged to extend approximately up to the side wall, and has a lower bevel which leaves a free space between the inner upper edge of the girder and the wooden base. By means of this free space, not only the container interior, but also the interspace between an inner lining, starting above the wooden base and advantageously consisting of plywood, and the beaded wall is ventilated. It is possible for condensation water to flow off. This type of design can also be applied both on the side walls and on the end wall.

A perforated plate between the top edge of the wooden base and the inner lining can give a smooth form to the inner wall, without the air exchange being impeded.

Perforations in the webs of the lower girders may improve the inflow of air from below, above all when the transport container rests in a leak-proof manner on a plane base or when several transport containers are stacked on top of one another.

In a further form of base ventilation, the beaded wall likewise stands on a horizontal flange of the base girder, and a ventilation rail adjoins a wooden base placed on transverse girders. This rail extends on the inner edge of the lower girder, and serves to allow ventilation of both the interior and the interspace between the beaded wall and the inner liming. It is also possible for condensation water to flow off from the interspace. The ventilation rail has advantageously a cross-section essentially in the form of a U open downwards, with orifices in the web.

If the ventilation rail has an inclined splash plate which covers the orifices at the bottom, and which leaves an inflow gap open, the penetration of spray water can be prevented.

The ventilation rail may have in its Ushaped profile a rectangular recess for receiving the wooden base, along the upper inner longitudinal edge.

In a further advantageous arrangement for ventilation at the lower edge, in which the beaded wall likewise stands on the horizontal flange of the girder and there is a wooden base placed on transverse girders, the wooden base is connected to a perforated plate extending downwards approximately in the plane of the inner-wall lining from the upper horizontal flange of the lower girder. There is a gap between the lower girder (which is open inwards) and the lower edge of the perforated plate. The perforated plate is L-shaped and receives the wooden base in its angle, so that a smooth edge may be obtained.

In an embodiment of this type of design with offers, at low cost, a large through-flow of air and high rigidity, the lower girder (which is open inwards) has a cross-section essentially in the form of an S with horizontal and vertical portions. The lower portion of the S is narrower than the upper portion, and is approximately flush on the outside.

Instead of an S-shape of the lower girder, to enlarge the air through-flow orifices the lower longitudinal base girder can have essentially the form of a C (open inwards), with horizontal and vertical portions.

To improve the through-flow of air in transport copntainers placed on top of one another, the lower vertical part of the base girder can be provided with holes.

Splash plates extending downwards prevent spray water from penetrating.

Ventilation of the interspace between the beaded wall and an inner lining can be achieved in a simple way by providing the horizontal flange of the base girder with inner perforations at the points of the beading of the wall which are directed outwards.

Ventilation of the interspace can be achieved (alternatively or additionally to that provided by perforations in the horizontal flange of the base girder) by the perforated plate extending at a distance from the upper flange of the lower girder.

In a further advantagous embodiment, ventilation of the transport container occurs in the region of the lower girders because the lower girders have a vertical outer web extending upwards and lying in the plane of the inner surface of the beaded walls, and the beaded walls rest against the web in such a way that a distance remains between the girders and lower edge of the beaded walls. In this case, ventilation takes place from outside through the bead orifices which are kept free.

The part of the lower girder located underneath the web is then advantageously designed in the form of a C with its web extending outwards at least into the plane of the outer surface of the beaded walls. In this way, a smooth outer contour may be pro vided, and the beaded wall is protected against being accidentally hooked by carrying equipment.

The wooden base can then be connected in a leak-proof manner by means of a seal to a perforated plate which itself rests against the inside of the web of the lower girders, so that the transport container is closed at the bot tom. The perforated plate which allows the through-flow of air and ensures a smooth inner surface is then appropriately located at the top between the inner lining and the beaded wall.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with refer ence to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the upper edge region of a ventilated transport container in a vertical sec tion; Figure 2 shows a horizontal section along the line AA in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a vertical section through the lower edge region of a ventilated transport container; and Figures 4 to 6 are sectional views like Fig.

3 but showing different forms of bottom edge regions.

The transport container with ventilation ori fices in the region of the upper girders 1 and lower girders 2 has vertically beaded walls 3.

The upper girders 1 are unperforated and open downwards to engage over part of the beaded walls 3. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the lower edge portion 4 of the upper girder 1 is bent inwards and engagees with play into a depression 5 between beads by means of notched portions. The inner upper surface of the girder 1 is connected by a perforated plate 6 to the top edge of the beaded wall 3. A guard plate 7 inclined downwards extends above the wall 3 into the girder interior. The beaded wall 3 is covered smoothly towards the inside by an inner lining 8.

The arrow 9 indicates the path of air from the interior of the transport container through the perforated plate 6, the girder interior and the lower opening to the outside. Water splashing against the guard plate 7 flows off from it as a result of the slope and is therefore prevented from entering the interior of the transport conatiner. The bend in the lower edge portion 4 prevents carrying equipment from being caught accidentally.

In the form of lower edge region shown in Fig. 3, the beaded wall 3 stands on an upper horizontal flange of a lower girder 2. A wood en base 11 placed on transverse girders 10 is located at least partly above the horizontal flange of the lower girder 2. The wooden base extends approximately up to the side wall 3 and has a lower bevel 1 3 which leaves a free space 1 2 between it and the inner upper edge of the lower girder. A perforated plate 14 is located between the top edge of the wooden base 11 and the inner lining 8 which starts at a distance above the wooden base 11. The wooden base 11 is sealed off from the perforated plate 14 by means of a seal 1 5. The lower girder has a perforation 1 6 in the web.

The double arrow 1 7 indicates the airstream which flows between the base girder 2 and the bevel 1 3 in the wooden base 11 both into the interspace between the vertical beaded wall 3 and the inner lining 8 and through the perforated plate 14 into the interior of the transport container. The arrow 1 8 indicates condensation water flowing out of the interspace between the beaded wall 3 and the inner lining 8. The perforation 1 6 improves the inflow of air when transport containers are stacked in a leak-proof manner on top of one another.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the beaded wall 3 likewise stands on a horizontal flange of the lower girder 2, and a wooden base 11 is placed on transverse girders 10.

The base 11 is connected to a ventilation rail 1 9 which extends along the inner edge of the lower girder 2. This ventilation rail is essentially a U open downwards, with an external rectangular recess 20 in its upper inner longitudinal edge for receiving the wooden base 11. The ventilation rail 1 9 has upper orifices 21 directed upwards and lateral orifices 22 directed outwards. An inclined splash plate 23 which covers the orifices at the bottom and which leaves an inflow gap 24 open is attached in the interior of the ventilation rail 19.

The wooden base is connected to the ventilation rail 1 9 in a leak-proof manner by means of a seal 25. The inner lining 8 stands on the ventilation rail 19.

Arrow 26 indicates the airflow into the interspace between the beaded wall 3 and the inner lining 8. Arrow 27 indicates the airflow into the interior of the transport container. The flow-off of condensation water is indicated by the arrow 28. In this embodiment, there is no need for a perforated plate (like plate 1 4 in Fig. 3).

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the beaded side wall 3 likewise stands on the lower girder 2. The girder 2 has a cross-section essentially in the form of an S with horizontal and vertical portions, the lower portion 29 of the S being narrower than the upper portion 30 and approximately flush on the outside. The upper portion 30 provides a channel section which opens inwardly. The upper wall of the channel section in a substantially horizontal flange of the girder 2, and supports the side wall 3. The wooden base 11 sits on transverse girders 10 and is connected to a perforated plate 31. This plate 31 extends downwardly approximately in the plane of the inner wall lining 8 from adjacent the upper horizontal flange of the lower girder. It is bent to an L-section at its lower region to provide a portion for resting on the transverse girders 10.A seal 25 ensures a leak-proof connection with the base 11. Between the upper channel section of the lower girder 2 and the vortex edge of the L-shaped perforated plate there is a gap 32. The upper horizontal flange of the lower girder 2 has apertures 33 at the locations of the outwardly directed beads of the wall 3.

The perforated plate 31 may extend from the inner edge region of the upper flange of the lower girder. It may be connected thereto.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5, there may be a gap 34 between the plate 31 and the flange, providing a flow passage into the interspace between the beaded wall 3 and the inner lining 8. There is then no need for the apertures 33.

In a further embodiment indicated by dotand-dash lines in Fig. 5, the lower girder 2 is C-shaped, providing a single channel, opening inwardly.

In the S-shaped design, there is one guard plate 7 in the girder interior, and in the Cshaped design there are two guard plates 7.

Apertures 35 in the lower part of the lower girder 2 improve the air supply when transport containers are placed on top of one another. With the C-shaped design, corresponding apertures 35 are required in the lower part of the girder 2.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 6, the lower girder 2 has a vertical web portion 36 extending upwards from a lower C-channel portion which opens inwardly. The web portion 36 extends upwardly from the inner end of the upper arm of the C-channel. Its outer surface lies in the plane of the inner surface of the beaded wall 3. The beaded wall 3 rests against this outer web and is spaced from the upper horizontal arm of the C-channel. Thus air flow as shown by the double arrow 1 7 into the container interior and the interspace between the beaded wall and the inner lining 8.

The wooden base 11 is connected to a perforated plate 37 in a leak-proof manner by means of a seal 25. This perforated plate rests against the web portion 36 so that the transport container is closed at the bottom. At the top, the perforated plate is held between the beaded wall 3 and the inner lining 8.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A transport container including at least one wall with generally vertically extending beading and at least one respective upper girder which engages over the upper edge of the beaded wall so that ventilation passages are defined between them.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said upper girder has tongue portions with engage with play into the exterior depressions of the beading.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said upper girder is connected to said wall by a perforate plate, said plate extending from adjacent the top of the wall to the inner upper surface of the girder.

4. A container according to any of the above claims, and having a guard plate extending above the beaded wall into the girder interior.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the guard plate is inclined downwards into the girder interior.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the beaded wall stands on a generally horizontally extending portion of a lower girder; and a wooden base is located at least partly above the horizontal flange of the lower girder and extends approximately up to the beaded wall, the wooden base being constructed and arranged so that there is a free space between it and the inner upper edge of the lower girder.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the wall has an inner lining starting some way above the wooden base and there is a perforate plate which extends between the top edge of the wooden base and the inner lining.

8. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the web(s) of the lower girder(s) are apertured.

9. A container according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the beaded wall stands on a generally horizontally extending portion of a lower girder, and there is a wooden base which adjoins a ventilation rail which extends along the inner edge of the lower girder.

10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the ventilation rail has a cross-section essentially in the form of a U open downwards, penetated by orifices directed upwards and laterally outwards.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the ventilation rail has an inclined splash plate which covers the orifices at the bottom and which leaves open an inflow gap.

1 2. A container according to any of the claims 9 to 11, wherein the ventilation rail has in the U-shaped profile a rectangular recess, in which a longitudinal edge portion of the wooden base is received.

1 3. A container according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the beaded wall has an inner lining and stands on a generally horizontally extending portion of a lower girder, and there is a wooden base which is connected to a perforate plate which extends downwardly approximately in the plane of the inner-wall lining from adjacent said horizontally extending portion of the lower girder, there being a passage gap between the lower girder and the lower edge of the perforate plate.

14. A container according to claim 13, wherein the lower girder has a cross-section essentially in the form of an S with horizontal and vertical portions, the lower portion of the S being narrower than the upper portion and approximately flush on the outside.

1 5. A container according to claim 13, characterised in that the lower girder has a cross-section essentially in the form of a C open inwards, with horizontal and vertical portions.

1 6. A container according to any of claims 1 3 to 15, wherein a lower vertical part of the lower girder is provided with perforations.

1 7. A container according to any of claims 1 3 to 16, having guard plates extending downwards in the interior of the lower girder.

18. Transport container according to any of claims 6 to 1 7 wherein said generally horizontally extending portion of the lower girder has apertures at locations corresponding to outward beads of the wall.

19. A container according to any of claims 6 to 1 8 having a perforate plate extending generally vertically inwardly of the lower girder, said plate being spaced from the horizontally extending portion of said girder.

20. A container according to any of claims 1 to 5, including at least one lower girder having a generally vertically extending web portion which extends upwards from a channel sectioned portion; and wherein the beaded wall rests against the web portion and is vertically spaced from the channel sectioned portion.

21. A container according to claim 20, wherein the channel sectioned portion comprises a C-channel whose web extends outwards at least into the plane of the outer surface of the beaded wall.

22. A container according to claim 20 or 21 wherein a wooden base is connected sealingly to a perforate plate, said plate having a lower portion adjacent the inside of said web portion of the lower girder, and an upper portion adjacent the inside of the beaded wall.

23. A transport container substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or in Figs. 1 and 2 together with any of Figs. 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.