GB2197638A

GB2197638A - Ventilated transport container

Info

Publication number: GB2197638A
Application number: GB08721798A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernesto Tosetto
Original assignee: Cobra Containers SpA
Current assignee: Cobra Containers SpA
Priority date: 1986-11-21
Filing date: 1987-09-16
Publication date: 1988-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-16
Also published as: IT208384Z2; DE3731367A1; DE3731367C2; IT8654111V0; KR880006101A; ES1003190Y; ES1003190U; GB8721798D0; KR880006102A; KR960000754B1; GB2197638B

Description

1 2197638 - 1 A VENTILATED CONTAINER FOR THE TRANSPORT OF GOODS The

present invention relates to a ventilated container for the transport of goods of any nature.

An improved container of the said type is known and described in earlier Italian utility model application No 53769-B/82 filed by the same Applicant, the contents of which are incorporated here, as far as necessary, by reference; however, this container whilst being easy to construct and difficult to tamper with, still has several disadvantages consisting principally in the difficulty of painting the interior parts of the hollow longitudinal side frame members, a poor seal against water at the junctions between the component elements for the longitudinal side frame members, and in the difficulty of repair thereof.

1 The object of the invention is that of providing a ventilated container for goods, of the type described in Italian utility model No 53760-B/82 without the above indicated disadvantages, and in particular which, whilst preserving the ease of construction and a high degree of security against forcing open, permits the operations of repair and painting to be facilitated, whilst a. the same time guaranteeing a good seal against water and other external contaminants.

The said object is achieved by the invention in that it relates to a ventilated container for the transport of goods, of the type comprising a side wall formed by upper and lower hollow tubular, longitudinal side frame members, sealingly supporting a lateral closure panel of the said container and fixed respectively to a cover and to a floor of this latter, each said longitudinal side frame member having a plurality of apertures for permitting circulation of air in the interior of the said container and 2 including a channel-like supporting element disposed on the exterior of the container and delimiting, towards the interior thereof, a respective cavity, cavity closure means disposed within the container for closure of the said cavity, and respective screens orientated in opposite senses and inclined downwardly, disposed within the said cavity, characterised by the fact that the supporting element of the said lower longitudinal side frame member projects laterally with respect to the floor and is constituted by a central main part and by a pair of opposite flanges bent towards the interior of the container to form the said cavity, an upper flange being bent at a right angle and directly supporting the said panel, and a lower flange being bent at an acute angle in such a way as to be inclined with respect to the floor and being disposed facing the upper flange and provided with a plurality of adjacent slots; the said cavity closure means including, in combination, a lower cavity closure element fixed to the floor and disposed opposite the said inclined flange, and an upper cavity closure element provided with a plurality of through holes, and fixed rigidly at opposite ends to the said lower cavity closure element and to the said upper flange; the connection points with this latter being isolated from the exterior by the interposition of the said panel in such a way as to be inaccessible from the exterior of the container itself.

For a better understanding of the invention there is now given a nonlimitative description of an embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container formed according to the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates on an enlarged scale the cross section through an upper longitudinal side frame member of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the 3 longitudinal side frame member of Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates on an enlarged scale the cross section through a lower longitudinal side frame member of the container of Figure 1; and --- Figure 5 is a section takenon the line V-V of the ide wall of the container according to the invention.

Making reference to the attached drawings, a ventilated container for the transport of any type of goods, generally indicated with the reference numeral 1, is delimited by a cover 2, a floor or base 3 and respective side walls 4 and 5 of which the walls 4 are formed by a pair of tubular, internally hollow longitudinal side frame members, respectively an upper longitudinal side frame member 6 and a lower longitudinal side frame member 7 fixed, respectively, to the cover 2 and to the floor 3, and by a lateral closure panel 8 preferably formed by a sheet metal element, suitably reinforced and fixedly supported in a fluid tight manner to the longitudinal side frame mem)ers 6 and 7, for example by welding; for the purpose of obtaining reinforcement of the element or panel 8, with the minimum increase in weight, it is made in such a way as to define, towards the interior of the container 1 (Figures 3 and 5) or rather on the side facing the floor 3, a plurality of vertical spaces 10 lying between respective ribs 11 which are formed, in the illustrated example, simply by using corrugated sheet metal but could also be formed in a possible variant, not illustrated for simplicity, by reinforcement elements such as ribs and the like formed by plastic deformation or introduced by welding or with other fixing means onto a panel which is otherwise flat. Each longitudinal side frame member 6, 7 comprises a channel-shape supporting element, 16, 17 respectively, disposed on the outside of the container 1 and delimiting towards the interior thereof a respective cavity 18, cavity closure means disposed within the interior of the container 1 for closure of the cavity 18, and respective screens 19, 20 orientated in opposite directions and inclined downwardly, disposed within the interior of the cavity 18; the screens 19 are supported, preferably by welding, from the said cavity closure means, whilst the screens 20 are supported fixedly by the elements 16, 17 slightly below the screens 19, together with respective cavity compartmentalising bulkheads 18; because of the presence of these bulkheads the screens 19, 20 are preferably not formed each in one piece but are constituted by a plurality of L-shape sheet metal elements 22 fixed to the respective support elements each between two contiguous bulkheads 21; in particular the elements 22 are fixed to the elements 16, 17 by welding or, according to the invention (Figures 4 and 3) by respective brackets 24 carried internally, fixed by welding to respective elements 16, 17, and including a lower hook portion 25 able to receive one of the flanges of the L-shape element 22, and a locking portion 266 plastically deformable by bending, which can be clamped against the other flange of the profile element 22 upon assembly by bending it in the direction-of the arrow (Figure 3) to fix this mechanically to the brackets 24 as is illustrated in Figure 4.

According to the invention, the lower longitudinal side frame member 7 of each wall 4 has its supporting element 16 formed integrally, in one piece with a corresponding reinforcement 27 forming part of the floor 3 and disposed projecting laterally with respect to this latter; the element 16 is constituted by a central main part 28 and by a pair of opposite flanges 29, 30 folded towards the interior of the container 1 to form the cavity 18; the upper flange 29 is folded at a right angle with respect to the main part 28 and directly supports the corrugated sheet metal panel or element 8, and the lower flange 30 is folded with respect to the main part 28 at an acute angle in such a way as to be disposed obliquely with respect to the floor 3, and simultaneously faces the flange 29; this is moreover provided with a plurality of adjacent 1 1 - slots 31 able to allow the ingress and egress of ambient air into the cavity 18. The cavity closure means positioned to close this latter comprise, in combination with what has been described above,' a lower cavity closure element 32 made of imperforate sheet metalT- fixed to the floor 3, for example clamped between the reinforcement 27 and a removable floor panel 33 for supporting the goods, and disposed opposite the lower inclined flange 30, and an upper cavity closure element 34 made of pierced sheet metal, having a plurality of holes 35 passing therethrough to allow the circulation of air between the cavity 18 and the interior of the container 1 and, consequently, through the slots 30 between this and the exterior.

The element 34 is rigidly fixed on opposite sides to the lower element 32 and to the upper flange 29 and is substantially C-shape in transverse section; in particular, the element 34 is lodged substantially on edge within the interior of the cavity 18 with its concavity facing the interior of the container 1 and having an upper edge 36 bent at a right angle towards the interior of the container 1 and disposed in direct contact with the upper flange 29 immediately beneath it and parallel thereto, to which flange this edge is directly fixed by means of respective rivets 36 each of which is disposed within the interior of one of the corresponding vertical spaces 10 of the sheet metal element defining the panel 8 in such a way that all the connection points between the flange 29 and the element 34 are, according to the invention, isolated from the exterior by the interposition of the panel or element 8 itself and are thus inaccessible from the exterior of the container 1 and therefore this cannot be forced open; at the same time the particular disposition and form of the connected elements prevents the infiltration of water through the rivets 38 even if these are loose, as has been experimentally demonstrated by the Applicant's technicians.

Underneath the element 34 has an edge 39 bent substantially into an - 6 L-shape and fixed to the element 32 by means of further rivets 40; this arrangement, together with the formation in two separate elements of the internal cavity closure means of the longitudinal side frame members 7, facilitates the intervention for maintenance and any repair effected from the interior of the container 1, facilitates painting and above all, with respect to known structures, guarantees a better seal against water and external contaminants; in fact, close to the lower part of the slots 31 where there could possibly be stagnant moisture, there are no junctions nor any holes so that the element 32 behaves as a watertight bulkhead which must be traversed before reaching the regions where infiltrations are possible, such as the rivets 40 and the upper element 34; because these are both positioned higher than the element 32 the force of gravity acts to make such infiltrations impossible or at least very improbable; moreover, the pierced zone of the element 34 is located, according to the invention, beyond the screens 19 and 20 and these are shaped in such a way as to direct possible spray or condensation towards the lower part of the element 32 where there is the maximum seal. As a whole, therefore, the longitudinal side frame members 7 have a strongly improved seal against water and moisture.

The upper longitudinal side frame member 6 of each side part 4 is different from the longitudinal side frame member 7 in that it includes a supporting element 16 shaped in a slightly different way from the element 17, and a single internal cavity closure element 41 made, like the element 34, in pierced sheet metal provided with a plurality of holes 35; in particular the supporting element 16 includes a central main part 28, an inclined lower flange 30 provided with a plurality of adjacent slots 31 and an upper flange 29 bent at a right angle with respect to the main part 28 and fixed to the cover 22 all entirely identical to the corresponding portions of the element 17; the element 16 however also includes 1 respective opposite coupling edges 42 and 43 bent towards one another with respect to the flanges 29 and 30 in such a way as to be substantially facing and parallel to one another; these edges 42 and 43 are fixed on opposite sides of the cavity closure element----- 41, by means of respective adjacent rivets 40 (Figure 2); in a different embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, however, the element 41 can be fixed to at least one of the edges 42, 43 rather than with rivets 40, by means of respective U-shape tabs 45 formed by punching a lower peripheral portion 46 of the element 41; these are fitted into the edge 43 and then the upper part of the element 41 is fixed to the edge 42 in a conventional manner, with rivets 40.

The screens 19 and 20 can be of conventional type, simply welded to the elements 16 and 41, or else, again as illustrated in Figure 3 and already described for the longitudinal side frame members 17, formed by elements 22 fixed during assembly by means of brackets 24. Obviously this latter solution is to be preferred in that it best facilitates painting; in fact, the brackets 24 can be welded to the element 16-(or 17) before.painting, then painted together with the element itself whilst the elements 22 are painted separately and finally the fixing of the elements 22 can be effected by simple folding of the tabs 26, or else by means of an operation which, unlike welding, can be effected without inconvenience even after painting. Finally, general construction of the longitudinal side frame member 16, particularly thanks to the presence of the lower edge 43, is very much more resistant to water and moisture than known constructions in that the edge 43 performs the same functions which the lower element 32 of the longitudinal side frame member 17 performs.

Prom what has been illustrated the advantages connected with the construction of the container 1 according to the invention are evident; in particular the watertight and moisture tight seal is considerably improved with respect to known containers, and this in 8 comparison with relatively modest modifications of the structure of the longitudinal side fra-me members which therefore does not cause an increase in cost but rather directly facilitates the production and, above all, maintenance in use; moreover, longitudinal side -- frame members of the container according to the invention^are more easily paintable, especially if screens constituted by elements 22 fixed by means of brackets 24 are adopted, and this consequently guarantees an improved cover of the metal and therefore a greater resistance to corrosion of the container 1.

1

Claims

1. A ventilated container for the transport of goods, of the type comprising a side wall formed by upper and lower hollow tubular longitudinal side frame members sealingly supporting in a fluid tight manner a lateral closure panel of the said container and fixed respectively to a cover and a floor of this latter, each said longitudinal side frame member having a plurality of apertures to permit the circulation of air to the interior of the said container and including a channel-shape supporting element disposed on the exterior of the container and delimiting towards the interior thereof a respective cavity, cavity closure means disposed on the interior of the container for closure of the said cavity, and respective screens orientated in opposite senses and inclined downwardly disposed within the said cavity, characterised by the fact that the said supporting element of the said lower longitudinal side frame member is disposed laterally projecting with respect to the floor and constituted by a central main part and by a pair of opposite flanges bent towards the interior of the container to form the said cavity, an upper flange being bent at a right angle and directly supporting the said panel and a lower flange being bent at an acute angle in such a way as to be inclined with respect to the floor, and being disposed facing the upper flange and provided with a plurality of adjacent slots; the said cavity closure means including, in combination, a lower cavity closure element fixed to the floor and disposed opposite the said inclined lower flange and an upper cavity closure element provided with a plurality of through holes, and fixed rigidly on opposite sides to the said lower cavity closure element and to the said upper flange; the connection points with this latter being isolated from the exterior by the interposition of the said panel in such a way as to be inaccessible from the exterior of the container itself.

- 10

2. A container according to Claim 1; characterised by the fact that the said panel is constituted by a sheet metal element defining towards the interior of the container a plurality of vertical spaces, and by the fact that the said upper element is substantially C-shape in transverse section with its concavity facing towards the interior of the container and is fixed to the said upper flange by its upper edge bent at a right angle and disposed in contact with the said upper flange immediately beneath it and parallel thereto; the junction between the said upper edge of the upper cavity closure element and the said upper flange being effected by means of respective rivets each of which is disposed within one of the corresponding said vertical spaces of the said sheet metal element.

3. A container according to any preceding Claim, characterised by the fact that the said supporting element of the upper longitudinal side frame member comprises a central main part, an inclined lower flange provided with a plurality of adjacent slots, an upper flange bent at a right angle with respect to the main part and fixed to the said cover, and respective opposite coupling edges bent towards one another with respect to the said flanges in such a way as to be subsrantially parallel, the said cavity closure means being constituted by a single pierced sheet metal element fixed on opposite sides to the said coupling edges of the supporting element.

4. A container according to Claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said pierced sheet metal element is fixed to the said coupling edges of the supporting element by means of respective adjacent rivets.

5. A container according to Claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said pierced sheet metal element is fixed to at least one of the said coupling edges of the supporting element by means of respective U-shape tabs formed by punching a peripheral portion of the said pierced sheet metal element.

6. A container according to any preceding Claim, characterised by the fact that the said supporting elements of the said longitudinal side frame members are each provided with a respective fixed said inclined screen, at least one_of these latter being constituted by simple L- section elements of sheet metal fixed to the said supporting element by means of respective brackets fixed thereto internally by these latter and comprising a hook portion able to receive one of the flanges of the L- section element, and a locking portion plastically deformable by bending, which can be clamped against the other flange of the L-section elements upon assembly mechanically to retain these on the said brackets.

A ven'-2a-,ed. conta-ner as cla-med -n cla-m L, - - L, - - - - reference to and as here--ri-described wUh the acco-,jDany2ng -1lustrative drawings.