GB2206862A

GB2206862A - Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2206862A
Application number: GB08714969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Evan Ingham Owen; Robert Paul Wayne
Original assignee: MARSHALL OF CAMBRIDGE
Current assignee: MARSHALL OF CAMBRIDGE
Priority date: 1987-06-25
Filing date: 1987-06-25
Publication date: 1989-01-18
Also published as: GB8714969D0

Abstract

A fully-shielded container (11) is constructed of electrically-conductive panels supported at the upwardly-extending edges (10) of the container (11) by outwardly-facing channel members in which fitments (15), necessary to provide the container (11) with a desired handling capability, are securable positionably. The channel members may be essentially U- sectioned but with their free ends, on either side of the open face thereof, turned inwardly to define C-sections. The fitments may be in the form of lifting links and/or steps (15). <IMAGE>

Description

Containers This invention relates to containers, and concerns in particular containers large enough to hold both machinery/equipment and the personnel operating it especially such containers that are electrically screened.

It is now common in the Art for mobile equipment of many sorts to be containerized - that is, to be placed within a container large enough to hold not only the equipment itself but also the personnel operating the equipment. Where the equipment is electrical or electronic in nature it may well be the case that the container body is required not merely to hold the equipment (and operating personnel) but also electrically to shield that equipment - either preventing it being affected by external electrical or electromagnetic fields or preventing such fields that it generates from leaking out of the container into the ambient environment.In principle there is no particular problem in attaining this sort of desideratum, but in practice it may be difficult to meet both the requirement for full electrical shielding and the other requirements - such as the enabling of the container to be handled in the way that containerised loads are commonly handled. For example, loads carried around in containers often need to be lifted (by cranes or jacks), have other objects attached to them (by brackets and so on), or be readily accessible to operations CLjdL steps built into them). All of these may well make it difficult to ensure that the shielding of the container contents (the load) remains complete.

The present invention seeks a solution to this problem. It proposes that the container body be built, so as not to compromise its shielding effect, from suitable materials (thin electrically-conductive panels) supported at the container 5 edges not by the conventional angle members but by strong outwardlyfacing channel members that can themselves be used to support the varous fitments necessary to provide the desired handleability without breaking the electrical continuity of the container body.

In one aspect, therefore, this invention provides a fully shielded container constructed of electrically conductive panels supported at the container's upwardly extending edges by outwardly facing channel members in which can be securably positioned the fitments necessary to give the container & desired handleability.

The container may be of any shape and size (provided it has the necessary upwardly extending edges). Usually, however, it will be generally cuboidal - and, indeed, it will preferably be the oblong shape and size of an International Standards Organisation (ISO) container.

The electrically conductive panels from which the container is constructed are conveniently thin metal steel or aluminium - panels that take the form of a "skin" on an underlying container-defining framework.

The panels preferably have no joints other than at the container's edges - and where the container has a door this is most preferably constructed so as substantially to overlap the edges of the panel aperture in which it resides.

At the container's upwardly extending edges - in an ISO container these would be the four vertical edges; in a container of some other shape "upwardly" merely means generally upright (as opposed, say, to "horizontal") the panels are supported by outwardly facing channel members. These are essentially of U-section - and preferably of C-section (that is, U-shaped but with the "free" ends of the channel walls, either side of the open face, turned inwardly). Apart from this, they are of course members, preferably of metal, of sufficient strength and rigidity to allow the entire container (and its contents) to be supported therefrom.

The channel members face outwardly - that is, their open face is directed away from the container. There are obviously many "outward" directions, depending on the shape of the container body, but for a generally rectangular body it is preferred that the channels face normal to one of the body's faces. In this case while a "North, East, South, West" arrangement is possible, more conveniently the channels are in two pairs - "North, North, South, South - with the open faces most conveniently normal to the shorter sides of the container.

Most preferably each channel member runs the full distance of th relevant container body dimension - the height, in an ISO container - though part-length channels would be possible.

Securably positioned within the channel members advantageously removably so, conveniently by nuts and bolts cooperating with appropriate holes in the side walls of the channel members - there may be the various fitments necessary to give the required handleability.

Naturally, the type of fitment and its position within the channel member is chosen to suit the handleability desired. For example, if the container is to be lifted up off the ground then the fitment can be a link member attached to a base that is secured to and positioned at the top end of the channel member, there being one link per member. Alternatively, if the container is to be climbed by the operator then each fitment - there can be several of them per channel member - is a step, preferably a folding step-like platform - on a base that is secured to and suitably positioned in the channel member.

It will be clear that the fitments may be of many different kinds - and that there may be one or more fitments of one or more different kinds on each channel member. Thus, each member might have several step fitments as well as a single lifting tackle link fitment, or might have several attachment fitments Cby which something - like an aerial pole, say - could be secured to the container).

The fine detail of each variety of fitment may take any suitable form, though preferably each will have a base that is a snug fit within the channel member. This base may be a one-piece base, which is simply pushed into the open face of a U-shaped channel member, or slid into position from one end of a C-shaped channel member, or - and more commonly - it is a two-piece base that, separated, can be fitted into the channel via the open face and there combined to give an overall shape which cannot thereafter be removed along the same path.

The container's channel members can have positioned therein some suitable handling fitment. However, certain types of handling equipment require not "fitments" but "slots" into which part of the equipment fits. Typically, for instance, a jack or other lifting device will have a projecting key/spigot designed to fit into a slot or hole (a keyhole) in the article to be lifted. The channel members may have their sides projecting clear of the container body, so that the appropriately-shaped slots or keyholes may be cut or drilled therein without in any way compromising the integrity af the container itself.

Various embodiments of this invention are ow described, though by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying Drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one upright edge of an ISO container according to the invention, with fixed steps; Figure2 shows a perspective view of part of a similar edge of another container, with folding steps; Figure3 shows a perspective view of part of a similar edge of a third container, with lifting holes; Figure4 shows a perspective view of a similar edge of a fourth container, with a variety of attachment brackets; and Fiure 5 shows a perspective view of a similar edge of a fifth container, with keyhole cutouts.

Shown in Figure 1 is one of the four channel member vertical edges (10) of an ISO container (generally 11), together with part of the rest of the container framework (as 12) attached thereto - the plates that would be the actual surfaces of the container are not shown. The member is of a C-shaped section - that is, it is a rectangular U with the free edges (13) of the side walls (14) turned inwardly at right-angles.

In this embodiment the channel member has mounted therein a set of fixed steps (as 15) each of which has a base portion (as 16) from which there projects an integral step portion (as 17). The base portion (16) is mounted (via nuts and bolts and suitable holes) in the channel member. Each step's base portion 17 is in two fixed-together parts (as 17p, 17L). These can be inserted into the channel member via its open face and then assembled, whereupon they cannot be withdrawn from the member via the open face.

The channel-edged container embodiment of Figure 2 is similar to that of Figure 1, save that it has foldable steps (20) as opposed to the latter's fixed steps (15). They are shown folded up and away.

In Figure 3 the embodiment has swivel links, or eyebolts, (30) attached at the very top of the channel (10).

The embodiment of Figure 4 has three different attachment devices (41,42,43) secured within the channel (10). These devices are attachment points for the MULTI-TRANS handling system (a well known commerciallyavailable system for the handling of containers).

Finally, in Figure 5 there is shown an embodiment where there are no fitments as such, but instead handling capability has been conferred by providing keyhole apertures (as 50) in the outer wall (14) of each channel (10). Into these keyholes can be fitted, for example, the appropriate spigot of some form of lifting gear.

Claims

1. A fully-shielded container constructed of electrically-conductive panels supported at the upwardly-extending edges of the container by outwardlyfacing channel members in which fitments, necessary to provide the container with a desired handling capability, are securably positionable.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the channel members are essentially of U-section.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the free ends of the U-section channel members, on either side of the open faces thereof, are turned inwardly to provide C-sections.

4. A container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the channel members face substantially normally with respect to an associated panel.

5. A container according to claim 4 of generally rectangular shape, wherein two pairs of channel members constitute a north, north-south, south configuration, with the open faces thereof arranged normally to respective shorter sides of the container.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the channel members extends substantially the full distance of the relevant container dimension.

7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein fitments for providing the container with a desired handling capability are detachably securable within respective channel members.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the outwardly-facing channel members is arranged to receive a fitment in the form of a link member attached to a base which is positionable at and is securable to the top end of the associated channel member.

9. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the outwardly-facing channel members is arranged to receive one or more fitments in the form of a step which is preferably constituted by a folding step-like platform arranged upon a base which is positionable in and securable to the associated channel member.

10. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the outwardly-facing channel members is arranged to receive a fitment which is a snug fit therein.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the or each channel member is arranged to receive a fitment therein, in a push-fit or sliding manner.

12. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrically-conductive panels constitute a skin on an underlying container-defining framework.

13. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the panels have no joints other than at the edges of the container.

14. A container according to any preceding claim Including a door which substantially overlaps the edges of an aperture of a panel in which it is located.

15. A modified form of fully-shielded container according to claim 1, wherein slots or other suitablyshaped apertures are provided in the outwardly-facing channel members, which slots are arranged to receive a corresponding lifting projection.

16. A modified form of container according to claim 15, wherein the channel members have their sides projecting clear of the container, so that the slots or other suitably shaped apertures can be formed therein, without compromising the integrity of the container.

17. A fully-shielded container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.