GB2138408A

GB2138408A - Containers for grain and like materials

Info

Publication number: GB2138408A
Application number: GB08311078A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bryan Andrew Garscadden
Original assignee: HOLGRAN Ltd
Current assignee: HOLGRAN Ltd
Priority date: 1983-04-23
Filing date: 1983-04-23
Publication date: 1984-10-24
Also published as: GB8311078D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a container for grains and like materials comprising side walls and a base, in which at least two side walls (5) are pivotably mounted along corresponding edges (7) remote from the base and in which the base has inwardly and upwardly extending surfaces (11), (12), which are respectively opposed to the pivoted side walls so as to diverge upwardly therefrom and which meet one another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Containers for grain and like materials The present invention relates to containers such as skips for grain and like particulate materials.

Grain frequently has to be handled, transported and stored in a wet condition. Thus in the brewing industry, spent grain is wet and has a substantial water content. Such wet grain has a tendency to form a cohesive mass which adheres to the walls of the container in which it is stored and/or transported. When this happens the grain is discharged by gravity only with difficulty through the base of its container or if the container is upended and part of the grain is left inside the container and cannot be dislodged except by the application of physical force other than its own weight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container which enables grain especially wet grain contained therein to be substantially wholly discharged by gravity.

This object is achieved by the present invention by providing a container for grains and like materials comprising side walls and a base, in which at least two side walls are pivotably mounted along corresponding edges remote from the base and in which the base has inwardly and upwardly extending surfaces which are respectively opposed to the pivoted side walls so as to diverge upwardly therefrom and which meet one another.

Thus in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the container has four walls, an opposing pair of which are hinged at the top edges, the base having a triangular section with the sides of the triangle extending upwardly and inwardly so as to form an apex within the container thereby forming the surfaces which are opposed to the pivotably mounted side walls and diverge upwardly therefrom.

The container may comprise a frame to which the non-pivotable side walls and base are rigidly attached and on which the pivotable side walls are mounted. The pivotable sides preferably taper inwardly from top to bottom when in the closed position so that when released from the closed position will swing outwards by their own weight. Guides may be mounted in spaced parallel relationship on the underside of the base and adapted to receive the fork tongues of a fork lift truck for ease of transporting over short distances or loading onto transporters or stacking for storage.

Locking means may be provided on each of the pivotably mounted side walls to hold them in the closed position. Preferably release means for simultaneous release of the locking means on each of the pivotably mounted walls are also provided e.g. on the frame and/or fixed side walls.

The container may be open at the top as in a skip or may have a closure member either removably or pivotably mounted on the container.

The invention will be further described and illustrated by reference to the attached drawing in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a container of the invention; and Figure 2 is an end view of the same container.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism in more detail.

Referring to the drawings, end walls 1 and 2 are rigidly connected to a top frame 3 and bottom frame 4. Side walls 5 and 6 are pivotably connected to top frame 3 by means of pivots 7. The bottom frame 4 has a base plate 8 from which depend hollow channels 9 and 10 to recieve the fork of a fork lift truck.

Base panels 11 and 1 2 extend inwardly and upwardly from base plate 9 and meet to form an apex at 1J. Two locking bars 14 and 15 are rotatably mounted in collars 1 6 fixed to opposing edges of base frame 4. Each of bars 14 and 1 5 have lugs 1 7 extending therefrom such that in the closed locking position of bars 14 and 1 5 the lugs abut against the respective side walls 3 and 6. Locking bars 14 and 1 5 extend via L bends into bars 1 8 and 19, bar 18 having a lug 20 extending therefrom which is adapted to overlay bar 1 9 in the closed position. A lever 21 pivotably mounted at 22 has a lug 23 which is adapted to overlay lug 22 in the closed position.A locking catch 24, mounted on end wall 1 holds the lever in the closed position. Removal of catch 24 and movement of lever 21 about its pivot moves the lug 23 and allows upward movement of bars 1 8 and 1 9 thus rotating bars 14 and 1 5. Rotation of bars 14 and 1 5 moves lugs 1 7 out of contact with side walls 5 and 6 and allows the said walls to move outwardly to the position shown by the dotted line.

1. A container for grains and like materials comprising side walls and a base, in which at least two side walls are pivotably mounted along corresponding edges remote from the base and in which the base has inwardly and upwardly extending surfaces which are respectively opposed to the pivoted side walls so as to diverge upwardly therefrom and which meet one another.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container has four walls, an opposing pair of which are hinged at the top edges, the base having a triangular section with the sides of the triangle extending upwardly and inwardly so as to form an apex within the container thereby forming the surfaces which are opposed to the pivotably

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Containers for grain and like materials The present invention relates to containers such as skips for grain and like particulate materials. Grain frequently has to be handled, transported and stored in a wet condition. Thus in the brewing industry, spent grain is wet and has a substantial water content. Such wet grain has a tendency to form a cohesive mass which adheres to the walls of the container in which it is stored and/or transported. When this happens the grain is discharged by gravity only with difficulty through the base of its container or if the container is upended and part of the grain is left inside the container and cannot be dislodged except by the application of physical force other than its own weight. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container which enables grain especially wet grain contained therein to be substantially wholly discharged by gravity. This object is achieved by the present invention by providing a container for grains and like materials comprising side walls and a base, in which at least two side walls are pivotably mounted along corresponding edges remote from the base and in which the base has inwardly and upwardly extending surfaces which are respectively opposed to the pivoted side walls so as to diverge upwardly therefrom and which meet one another. Thus in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the container has four walls, an opposing pair of which are hinged at the top edges, the base having a triangular section with the sides of the triangle extending upwardly and inwardly so as to form an apex within the container thereby forming the surfaces which are opposed to the pivotably mounted side walls and diverge upwardly therefrom. The container may comprise a frame to which the non-pivotable side walls and base are rigidly attached and on which the pivotable side walls are mounted. The pivotable sides preferably taper inwardly from top to bottom when in the closed position so that when released from the closed position will swing outwards by their own weight. Guides may be mounted in spaced parallel relationship on the underside of the base and adapted to receive the fork tongues of a fork lift truck for ease of transporting over short distances or loading onto transporters or stacking for storage. Locking means may be provided on each of the pivotably mounted side walls to hold them in the closed position. Preferably release means for simultaneous release of the locking means on each of the pivotably mounted walls are also provided e.g. on the frame and/or fixed side walls. The container may be open at the top as in a skip or may have a closure member either removably or pivotably mounted on the container. The invention will be further described and illustrated by reference to the attached drawing in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a container of the invention; and Figure 2 is an end view of the same container. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism in more detail. Referring to the drawings, end walls 1 and 2 are rigidly connected to a top frame 3 and bottom frame 4. Side walls 5 and 6 are pivotably connected to top frame 3 by means of pivots 7. The bottom frame 4 has a base plate 8 from which depend hollow channels 9 and 10 to recieve the fork of a fork lift truck. Base panels 11 and 1 2 extend inwardly and upwardly from base plate 9 and meet to form an apex at 1J. Two locking bars 14 and 15 are rotatably mounted in collars 1 6 fixed to opposing edges of base frame 4. Each of bars 14 and 1 5 have lugs 1 7 extending therefrom such that in the closed locking position of bars 14 and 1 5 the lugs abut against the respective side walls 3 and 6. Locking bars 14 and 1 5 extend via L bends into bars 1 8 and 19, bar 18 having a lug 20 extending therefrom which is adapted to overlay bar 1 9 in the closed position. A lever 21 pivotably mounted at 22 has a lug 23 which is adapted to overlay lug 22 in the closed position.A locking catch 24, mounted on end wall 1 holds the lever in the closed position. Removal of catch 24 and movement of lever 21 about its pivot moves the lug 23 and allows upward movement of bars 1 8 and 1 9 thus rotating bars 14 and 1 5. Rotation of bars 14 and 1 5 moves lugs 1 7 out of contact with side walls 5 and 6 and allows the said walls to move outwardly to the position shown by the dotted line. CLAIMS

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container has four walls, an opposing pair of which are hinged at the top edges, the base having a triangular section with the sides of the triangle extending upwardly and inwardly so as to form an apex within the container thereby forming the surfaces which are opposed to the pivotably mounted side walls and diverge upwardly therefrom.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which comprises a frame to which the nonpivotable side walls and base are rigidly attached and on which the pivotable side walls are mounted.

4. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 on which the pivotable sides taper inwardly from top to bottom when in the closed position so that when released from the closed position will swing outwards by their own weight.

5. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which guides are mounted in spaced parallel relationship on the underside of the base and adapted to receive the fork tongues of a fork lift truck.

6. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which locking means are provided on each of the pivotably mounted side walls to hold them in the closed position.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6 in which release means for simultaneous release of the locking means on each of the pivotably mounted side walls are provided on the frame or non-pivotable side walls.

8. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims provided with a closure member which is either removably or pivotably mounted on the container.

9. A container as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.