GB2249540A

GB2249540A - Collapsible intermediate bulk container

Info

Publication number: GB2249540A
Application number: GB9024241A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Tomlinson; Donald Rae Sydney Owen
Original assignee: Flomotion Ltd
Current assignee: Flomotion Ltd
Priority date: 1990-11-07
Filing date: 1990-11-07
Publication date: 1992-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-07
Also published as: GB2249540B; GB9024241D0

Abstract

A heavy-duty intermediate bulk container capable of transporting hazardous materials safely has a top or lid held flush in the top of the container. The lid comprises a rectangular framework to which are attached U-shaped brackets 30 which sit over the top members of the side, front and rear frameworks making up the container. The lid is locked in position by bolts 31 mounted on plates 32, the bolts extending through the U-shaped brackets 30 and through the square tubes which form the rectangular top. The bolts then pass through plastic liners 33 of the sides, front and rear panels into and through the top members of the frameworks which make up the front, rear and sides. <IMAGE>

Description

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER PARTICULARLY FOR USE AS AN INTERMEDIATE BULK CONTAINER This invention relates to a collapsible container particularly of the kind which may be used as an intermediate bulk container and particularly adapted for the carriage of hazardous materials.

While the container of this invention may be used for hazardous materials, it is not so limited and may also be used for nonhazardous materials.

The container which is the subject of this invention is an improvement upon that which was described and claimed in our copending U.K. patent application No. 9008410.4.

When hazardous materials, such as acids in liquid form, caustic materials and dangerous chemicals in liquid form, are carried in intermediate bulk containers in plastic bags, the containers have to be capable of meeting the requirements of the test for hazardous materials set out in B.S. 6939.

One test, applied to the type of intermediate bulk container which has a liner within which is placed a plastic bag containing hazardous liquids, is that the contents have to be reduced to 0 -18 C and held at that temperature, but kept liquid if necessary by the use of anti-freeze, and then the intermediate bulk container has to be dropped from a height of 1.2 metres fully loaded with minimal spillage of the liquid within the plastic bag. The container in accordance with the present invention is designed to pass that test even when the container is dropped onto its face which normally includes the gate through which liquid is emptied from the plastic bag.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a collapsible container, particularly adapted for carriage of hazardous materials, comprises: a base, two side panels, a front panel, a rear panel, and a top panel or lid, the panels being easily attachable to and detachable from the base, each panel comprising a braced metal framework,in which the upper surface of the framework of the top panel is arranged to lie flush with the upper surfaces of the framework of the side, front and rear panels whereby the top panel or lid is located within the interior of the container, the top panel being located in position by brackets which engage the upper framework members of the side, front and rear panels and is retained in position by bolts.

Preferably the bolts pass through both the framework of the top panel and the framework of the other panels and they also preferably pass through the liner of the collapsible container if one is employed.

The bolts preferably pass through the brackets as well so as to provide additional strength to retain the lid in position if the collapsible container is dropped or falls onto its face.

The top panel or lid is preferably strengthened by a gussett plate which is attached to strengthening cross members and there may be -additional cross members to enable the lid to be lifted clear of the container.

The side and rear members are preferably strengthened by the use of additional cross members. Each side and rear member may comprise a square or rectangular framework strengthened by a vertical bar and by two cross bars or cross members spaced at uniform intervals.

Additional strengthening may be provided at the corners of the panels by diagonal struts which help to retain the plastic liner from bursting, if a liner is used.

Other features of the present invention are set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an isometric view of an intermediate bulk container constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the lid when removed from the box and stood on one side; Figure 3 is an isometric view of the base of the container; Figure 4 is an isometric view of-the front panel or gate of the container; Figure 5 is an isometric view of the rear gate or rear panel of a container; and Figure 6 is an isometric view of one of the two sides of the container.

The intermediate bulk container shown in the drawings consists generally of a base on which are detachably mounted two sides, front and rear panels, the front panel being a gate panel and having a door through which a nozzle may protrude for emptying the contents of a plastic bag within the container. The container also comprises a lid or top panel, the features of which are an important part of the present invention. The container shown in the drawings has each of its panels lined in the interior of the panels with a sheeting material.

Referring to-Figure 1, it will be seen that the intermediate bulk container comprises a base 10, front panel or gate 11, side panel 12 and top panel or lid 13.

The top panel or lid is shown in a second view in Figure 2, the base is shown in Figure 3, the rear panel or gate is shown in Figure 5, the front panel or gate in Figure 4 and one of the sides in Figure 6.

It will be appreciated that there are two sides 12 and a rear panel or gate which are not shown in Figure 1 but can be seen in the remaining figures.

The panels are attached to the base exactly as described and illustrated in our co-pending application No. 9008410.4.

The base 10 is in the form of a pallet made up of steel square tubing and at each corner of the pallet is an upstanding corner plate of which numbers 14, 15 and 16 are shown in Figure 1. Each corner plate has a slot such as 17, 18 adapted to receive tongues 19 and 20. The tongues 19 and 20 are welded to the framework of the side panel 12 and when engaged in the slots retain the side panel in position even when the other panels are removed, and prevented from falling over. This feature is not part of the present invention but is described in some detail in co-pending application No. 9008410.4.

Similarly the way in which the side and front panels are interconnected by bolts is illustrated in Figure 1 but is not part of the present invention and may be ascertained in detail from the previously filed patent application.

This invention is primarily concerned with the way in which the top panel 13 is located and held within the upper members of the side, front and rear panels. Panel 13 consists of a rectangular frame comprising side frame members 21 and 22, rear frame member 23 and front frame member 24. These frame members are braced by cross members 25 and 26. A gussett plate 27 is welded to the cross members 25 and 26 as illustrated to provide additional strength.

There are also round bars 28 and 29 which join the cross member 26 to the front and rear members 23 and 24. The round bars 29 can be used to enable the person placing the lid in position to grip and hold the lid and lower it gently onto the top of the container.

It will be seen that there are eight brackets 30 which are attached to the frame members of the lid and which are of inverted U-shape so that they engage over the adjacent upper bars of the sides, front and rear panels. Bolts 31 supported on plates 32 are arranged on the lid and adapted to pass through aligned apertures in the U-shape brackets 30, in the frame members 21 to 24 of the lid and in the adjacent frame members of the side, front and rear panels.

The bolts also pass through the + . liner where it is sandwiched between the edges of the top frame work and the adjacent upper frame members of the sides, front and rear panels.

The details of the lid or top panel can be seen perhaps more clearly in Figure 2.

It will be appreciated that the lid can be dropped onto the top of the container so that it lies flush with the top surfaces of the upper portions of the side, front and rear frames and is located by the U-shape brackets 30 and retained in position by the eight bolts passing through aligned holes in the frame members. This arrangement coupled with the extra strengthening of the top, including the gussett plate, gives the strength required to stand up to the test for containers for hazardous materials mentioned above.

Compared with the container described in our co-pending application No. 9008410.4, the side and rear panels have been strengthened by additional cross members. It will be seen, for instance in Figure 1 and in the other Figures illustrating the sides and rear panel, that in addition to the vertical strengthening bar 34, there are two horizontal strengthening bars 35 and 36 uniformly spaced throughout the height of the sides and rear panels. There are also diagonal struts 37 on each of the- side, front and rear panels which give additional strength and help to retain the liner 33 against bursting if the container is dropped.

Figure 5 which shows the front gate also illustrates in more detail the way in which the bolts are formed which hold the front gate in position and Figure 6 which shows the side panel illustrates in more detail the formation of the locations for the base and the hooks to locate the gates etc.

A further feature shown in Figures 1 and 3 is the use of three upstanding plates 38 welded to each end of the base and arranged to engage and hold the bottom bar 39 of the front panel or gate to prevent it bowing outwardly.

The liner may be of plastics material, such as polypropylene, or of GRP, or wood or metal such as steel sheet.

All of the panels are made up of all-welded steel construction of electro-zinc plated open-ended tubes blanked with plastic plugs.

The features described above, in particular those features which relate to the top or lid and to the strenthening of the sides, result in a container which is capable of heavy duty operation and of transporting hazardous materials safely.

Claims

1. A collapsible container comprising:a base, two side panels, a front panel, a rear panel, and a top panel or lid, the panels being easily attachable to and detachable from the base, each panel comprising a braced metal framework, in which the upper surface of the framework of the top panel is arranged to lie flush with the upper surfaces of the framework of the side, front and rear panels whereby the top panel or lid is located within the interior of the container, the top panel being located in position by brackets which engage the upper framework members of the side, front and rear panels and retained in position by bolts.

2. A collapsible container according to claim 1 and in which the bolts are arranged to pass through both the framework of the top panel and the frameworks of the other panels.

3. A collapsible container according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the bolts are also arranged to pass through said brackets.

4. A collapsible container according to any of claims 1 - 3 and in which each panel has an inner liner sheet and the bolts pass through the liners of the side, front and rear panels as well as passing through the frameworks.

5. A collapsible container according to any of claims 1 - 4 and in which the front panel is a gate panel with provision to receive the nozzle of a plastic bag adapted to contain liquid and to be placed within the container.

6. A collapsible container according to any preceding claim and in which the top panel comprises a square or rectangular frame braced by cross members and strengthened by a gussett plate which is attached to said cross members at or rear the point at which they intersect.

7. A collapsible container according to any preceding claim and in which the bolts are mounted on plates attached to the framework of the top panel or lid.

8. A collapsible container according to any preceding claim and in which the top panel includes additional cross bars of lesser cross section than strengthening bars, the additional cross bars being used for handling the top or lid.

9 A collapsible container according to any preceding claim and in which the sides and rear panel each comprises a square or rectangular frame braced by intersecting vertical and horizontal bars.

10. A collapsible container according to claim 9 and in which the side and rear panels comprise a central vertical bar and two evenly spaced horizontal or cross bars.

11. A collapsible container according to any preceding claim and in which the corners of the sides and rear panels are additionally braced by diagonal struts to help to retain the plastic liner against bursting.

12. A collapsible container according to any preceding claim in the form of an intermediate bulk container adapted to transport hazardous material and so constructed that it may be dropped from a height of 1. 2metres fully loaded onto its base or valve gate without spillage of the liquid contents contained in a plastic bag within the intermediate bulk container.

13. A collapsible container according to claim 12 and in which the container is sufficiently strong and is so constructed that even when the liquid contents in the plastic bag are reduced to -180C and held at that temperature, it will still be capable of being dropped from a height of 1.2metres without spillage of the contents of the plastic bag.

14. A collapsible container according to any preceding claim in which the sides, front and rear panels are adapted to be attached to the base by the means described and claimed in our co-pending patent application No. 9008410.4.

15. A collapsible container substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.