GB2156315A - Ventilated transport container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (1) is ventilated by means of apertures (23,27) formed in hollow longitudinal members (7,8) of at least one side wall (6) of the container (1), provided internally with screens (20,29). Each longitudinal member (7,8) is formed by a beam (11,11a) fixed directly to the side wall (6) and the top (2) or the floor (3) of the container (1) to define a cavity (14) and a flat element (12) is fixed to each beam (11,11a) to close the said cavity (14) by connection means which are inaccessible from outside the container (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An improved ventilated container for the transport of goods The present invention relates to a ventilated container of improved type for the transport of goods of any kind.

Numerous different types of containers ventilated for the purpose of allowing a correct conservation of the goods transported thereby are known. In one of the most improved types, ventilation is obtained through diagonally opposite apertures formed in hollow supporting longitudinal members of at least one of the side walls of the container. Between the apertures, for the purpose of avoiding pollution of goods with water, moisture and dust, there are disposed a plurality of screens contained within the interior of the longitudinal members.

The described containers are not entirely free from disadvantages. In particular they are of complex and expensive construction, and the longitudinal members, which are constituted by one or two independent elements, can be dismantled from the outside inasmuch as the connection members which hold the various elements together are accessible from the exterior of the container. This can make theft of the goods easy. Finally, the transported goods can become damaged against the internal projections of the longitudinal members, and the dust screens cause a high loss of effectiveness through the ventilation apertures sometimes causing an insufficient ventilation of the goods.

The object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated container of the type described, but free from the above mentioned disadvantages.

The said object is achieved by the present invention in that it relates to a ventilated container for the transport of goods, of the type comprising a side wall formed by two hollow tubular longitudinal members, respectively an upper and a lower member, supporting a lateral closure panel of the said container and fixed respectively to a top and a floor of this latter, each said longitudinal member having a plurality of horizontallly aligned apertures offset in height and diagonally opposed to one another, there being provided, between the opposite apertures of each longitudinal member, and within the longitudinal member itself, screens orientated in an opposite sense and inclined downardly, characterised by the fact that each said longitudinal member comprises a first element disposed on the outside of the container and directly fixed to the said lateral panel and, respectively, to the said top or the said floor, and a second element disposed within the said container and fixed directly and rigidly to the first element, this latter being constituted by a beam including at least one substantially C-shape portion defining a cavity facing towards the second element and having an upper inner edge folded downwardly at a right angle, and the said second element being substantially flat and able to be coupled with the said C-shape portion to close the said cavity and fixed at the top to the said inner folded edge by connection means in such a way that these latter are inaccessible from the outside of the said container; the said second element being further provided with a plurality of aligned horizontal through holes and the said C-shape portion of the said first element being provided at the bottom with a plurality of openings opposite the said holes and able to put the said cavity into communication with the external environment around the said container, the said openings facing downwardly and outwardly of the said container.

For a better understanding of the present invention a non limitative description of an embodiment will now be given with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectioned view of a portion of the container formed according to the present invention; and Figure 2 and 3 illustrate on an enlarged scale two different details of the wall of the container of Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1, a ventilated container for the transport of goods is generally indicated with the reference numeral 1 and illustrated in transverse section; it comprises a top 2, a floor 3 fixed to a support 4 provided with a crosspiece 5 and a side wall 6 formed by two hollow tubular longitudinal members, respectively an upper member 7 and a lower member 8 having a substantially rectangular section, and by a lateral closure panel 9 of the container 1. Conveniently the other side walls of the container 1, not illustrated, are also constructed in the same way as the wall 6. The longitudinal members 7 and 8 are fixed respectively to the top 2 and to the floor 3 in any convenient manner and are provided, at the corners of the container 1, which is substantially parallelepiped, with corner blocks 10.

With reference also to Figures 2 and 3, the longitudinal members 7 comprise a first element disposed on the outside of the container 1, constituted by a beam 11 directly fixed, for example by means of welding, to the top 2 and to the panel 9, and a second element 12, disposed within the container 1, directly and rigidly fixed solely to the beam element 11. This latter includes an upper portion 13 of substantially C-shape conformation defining a channel-like cavity 14 facing the element 12 and the interior of the container 1, and a lower portion 15 fixed to the panel 9 and to an angle iron 16 in such a way as to form a supporting box structure 18 to reinforce the wall 6.The portion 13 has an inner upper edge 19 folded downwardly at a right angle and carries, rigidly connected thereto, within the cavity 14, a screen or continuous tongue 20 parallel to the beam 18 and inclined downwardly and of a length equal to that of the beam 11 itself. The element 12 is substantially flat and is able to connect with the portion 13 to close the cavity 14; in particular the element 12 is fixed at the top to the edge 19 on an inner side 21 of this latter facing the cavity 14, by means of a plurality of connection means 22, for example rivets, in such a way that these latter are inaccessible from the exterior of the container 1 when this is sealed and loaded with goods.

The element 12 is provided with a plurality of aligned horizontal through holes 23 and has, in correspondence with the holes 23, a recess 24 facing the interior of the container 1 and delimited by a bottom wall 25 in which the holes 23 are formed.

The wall 25 and the corresponding holes 23, consequently lie in a plane parallel to and offset towards the outside of the container 1 with respect to an inner surface 26 of the wall 6, in such a way that the holes 23 are not ever occluded by the goods stowed in the container 1. This, in fact, is at a maximum at the edge of the surface 26 consequently leaving an empty airspace of depth equal to that of the longitudinal member 24 in correspondence with the holes 23.

The holes 23 put the interior of the container 1 into communication with the cavity 14 which is put into communication with the exterior of the container 1 by a plurality of slit-like openings 27 diagonally opposite the holes 23 and formed beneath the portion 13 in a lower bottom wall 28 of the cavity 14 and offset in height with respect to the holes 53. The openings 27 face downwardly and outwardly of the container 1 from the opposite side of the crosspieces 5, are substantially rectangular and are disposed adjacent one another with constant pitch along a single line, wtih the major sides disposed perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the beam 11. This arrangement of the openings 27 allows a large flow cross section for the air without weakening the beam 11, which thus has a high strength and great lightness (the openings 27 also form lightening cavities).

Between the openings 27 and the holes 23 there are interposed dustproof screens of high effectiveness and low airflow obstruction, constituted by the tongue 20 and by a tongue 29 inclined downwardly and oppositely with respect to the tongue 20, fixed internally to the cavity 14 along the whole of the length of the element 12 and disposed above the tongue 20, at a predetermined distance therefrom, and in correspondence with a central portion of the openings 27. The tongue 20 is on the other hand disposed in correspondence with an upper end 30 of the openings 27 and has an edge 31 disposed edgewise of an edge 32 of the tongue 29, which is folded downwardly outside the plane in which the tongue 29 lies. Between the edges 31 and 32 there is therefore a passage 33 substantially perpendicular to the inlet opening of the cavity 14 defined by the openings 27 and the holes 23.The openings or slots 27 are of a length such that their lower edge 34 is disposed in correspondence and substantially edgewise of the bottom wall 25 in such a way as to be able to allow discharge out from the cavity 14 of any condensate which forms on the element 12; the edge 31 of the tongue 20 also serves as a drip lip in such a way that moisture cannot stagnate within the interior of the cavity 14, so as to avoid dangerous localised corrosive phenomena.

The lower longitudinal member 8 is almost entirely identical to the longitudinal member 7 and therefore is not described. In this member (Fig. 2) the similar or identical details to those of the longitudinal member 7 already described are indicated with the same reference numeral. In particular, the longitudinal member 8 differs from the member 7 solely by the fact that it includes, as well as the element 12, a beam 11a having an upper C- shape portion 13 substantially identical to that of the beam 11 and a lower L-shape portion 35, which replace the portion 15 of the beam 11, and which forms part of the base 4, being rigidly fixed to the crosspieces 5 to which the floor 3 is fixed.The element 12 of the longitudinal member 8 is fixed to an edge 19 of the portion 13 of the beam 1 lea with rivets 22 which are inaccessible from the exterior and has a recess 24 identical to that of the similar element of the longitudinal member 7 and provided with holes 23. Similarly, the wall 28 is provided with openings 27 entirely identical to those of the longitudinal member 7 of Figure 3.

From what is described it will be clear that the ventilation of the container 1 according to the invention is facilitated with respect to that of known ventilated containers because of the low flow restriction to which a current of air which traverses the longitudinal members 7 and 8 is subjected.

This is thanks to the high flow cross section of the openings 27 which, with their form and arrangement do not weaken the longitudinal members 7 and 8 whilst being of relatively large dimensions, and due to the presence of only the screens 20 and 29 which because of their form and disposition leave a large flow cross section for the air but exercise at the same time a high dust and moisture retention.

The construction of the longitudinal members 7 and 8 is moreover, simple and economical and, once the container 1 is sealed, tampering is impossible because of the internal arrangement of at least one of the junctions between the elements of the longitudinal members.

From what has been described it will also be apparent that modifications and variations can be introduced to the container of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention itself.

Claims (6)

1. Ventilated container for the transport of goods, of the type comprising a side wall formed by two hollow tubular longitudinal members, respectively an upper member and a lower member, supporting a lateral closure panel of the said container and fixed respectively to a top and a floor of this latter, each said longitudinal member having a plurality of apertures aligned horizontally, offset in height and diagonally opposite one another, there being provided between the opposite apertures of each longitudinal member, and within the interior of the longitudinal member itself, screens orientated in an opposite sense and inclined downwardly, characterised by the fact that each said longitudinal member includes a first element disposed on the outside of the container and directly fixed to the said lateral panel and, respectively, to the said top or to the said floor, and a second element disposed within the interior of the said container and fixed directly and rigidly to the first element; this latter being constituted by a beam including at least one substantially C-shape portion defining a cavity facing towards the second element and having an inner upper edge folded downwardly at a right angle, and the said second element being substantially flat, able to be coupled with the said C-shape portion to close the said cavity and fixed at the top to the said inner folded edge by connection means, in such a way that these latter are inaccessible from the outside of the said container; the said second element further being provided with a plurality of aligned horizontal through holes and the said C-shape portion of the said first element being provided at the bottom with a plurality of openings opposite the said holes and able to put the said cavity into communication with the environment around the said container the said openings facing downwardly and outwardly of the said container.

2. A ventilated container according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said second element is fixed to an inner side of the said inner upper edge facing the said cavity, and has, in correspondence with the said holes a recess facing the interior of the said container in such a way that the said holes lie in a plane parallel to and offset towards the outside with respect to an inner surface of the said side wall.

3. A ventilated container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the said openings are substantially rectangular and are formed adjacent one another at constant pitch along a single line in a lower bottom wall of the said cavity, with their major sides disposed perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the said beam so that this latter is light and has high mechanical strength.

4. A ventilated container according to Claim 3 when dependent on Claim 2, characterised by the fact that a lower end of the said openings is disposed in a position underlying and in correspondence with a bottom wall of the said recess and is able to allow discharge out from the said cavity of condensate which forms on the said second element.

5. A ventilated container according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the said screens comprise a first tongue fixed to the said first element and disposed along an upper edge of the said openings along the whole of the length of the said first element and a second tongue which is disposed above the first and at apredetermined distance therefrom in correspondence with a central portion of the said openings and is fixed to the said second element along the whole of the length of this latter; the said second tongue having an end edge further folded downwardly and disposed edgewise of a corresponding edge of the said first tongue, between the said edges there being a passage substantially perpendicular to the inlet openings of the said cavity defined by the said openings and the said holes.

6. A ventilated container for the transport of goods, substantially as described with reference to the attached drawings.