GB2293597A - Container Construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A container 1 has a length and width greater than ISO standards but has four upper ISO corner blocks (5) and four lower ones placed in ISO positions; the ISO blocks (5) have respective extensions (50, 55) projecting on one side in the direction of the length of the container and towards the outside of the container; within the container, the ISO blocks (5) are attached to respective uprights (12) of the load-bearing structure (2) and to a roof (6) by transverse reinforcing elements (19) which do not protrude into the load space in so far as they are located within the thickness of the roof (6) and of the load-bearing structure (2) of the container, to form respective nodal box structures (16) with the blocks (5), which allow the fully loaded container (1) to be lifted by connection of ISO ("spreader") devices to the four upper blocks (5) without the removal of the lateral guides ("flaps") thereof. Preferably reinforcing box corners (13, 14, Fig. 5) which do project slightly into the space (2) are provided also. <IMAGE>

Description

CONVEYABLE NON-IBO CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORTING GOODS, WHICH I8 STACKABLE ON ISO BLOCK8 The present invention concerns a conveyable container for transporting goods, being a self-supporting, substantially parallelepipedal metal structure which defines an internal load space for goods and which is easily transferrable from one means of transport to another (for example from a road vehicle to a railway wagon, from the latter to a boat etc). Such conveyable containers are commonly referred to by the term a'container.

In order to allow these frequent transfers from one means of transport to another and to allow handling, particularly lifting, by standard equipment, such containers are of dimensions rigorously standardised in accordance with standards laid down by international regulations such as ISO. They are further provided with upper and lower corner blocks, known as "ISO blocks", which are also rigorously standardised in terms of their dimensions and relative positions and which enable the containers to be handled by common lifting means, known as ISO spreders", both for the fixing of the containers onto the transport means and for the stacking of two or more containers on top of each other, both being particularly common operations in storage areas and on ships.

Ever-increasing loading demands have lead to the development over time of non-standard containers, socalled inon-ISO or iland-containers", which in particular have greater than standard lengths and widths; however, for the aforesaid reasons, such non-ISO containers retain at least four upper and four lower ISO blocks positioned at the relative distances required by ISO standards.

Consequently, in non-ISO containers, the ISO corner blocks are disposed in intermediate positions along the upper and lower longitudinal edges, being slightly set back from the edges rather than being positioned at the corners of the parallelepiped defined by the container; therefore, while in ISO containers the ISO blocks are aligned with the end uprights of the structure, in non ISO containers the ISO blocks are positioned adjacent thinner, intermediate uprights, from which the ends of the container project; the uprights are also not aligned with the ISO blocks.

The structure of the non-ISO container as described has numerous disadvantages: in the first place, the handling of the ISO blocks by any standard loading equipment, in particular by ISO lifting spreders having lateral guides (flaps), cannot easily be achieved due to the non-corner positioning of the blocks; in addition, the non-corner positioning of the ISO blocks weakens the container structure mechanically, which can lead to numerous problems when fully loaded containers are to be lifted or stacked.The proposed solutions, based on the use of reinforcing brackets, do not eliminate the problems since they generally increase the room taken up within the load space and therefore lead to a reduction in either the so-called palettable height" and/or gpalletable width", these being understood here and in the following description as the maximum height and width of a strictly parallelepipedal shaped load which can be introduced into the load space without interference.

The aim of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages described above by providing a non-ISO container which has such a structure as to allow easy handling and lifting of the fully loaded container while, at the same time, having the best possible compromise between maintaining a high load capacity and sufficient strength to allow at least three fully loaded containers to be stacked on top of one another.

On this basis, the invention provides a conveyable container for transporting goods comprising a substantially parallelepipedal load-bearing structure defining an internal load space and having a greater length and width than ISO standards, at least four upper ISO corner blocks and at least four lower ISO blocks, the blocks being placed in ISO positions such that the container can be stacked on both ISO containers and non ISO containers having analogous blocks in the same positions; characterised in that the ISO blocks are attached to respective uprights and to a roof of the load-bearing structure by means of transverse reinforcing elements which do not protrude into the load space in so far as they are inserted within the thickness of the roof and of the load-bearing structure of the container to form respective nodal box structures together with the ISO blocks, for enabling the fully loaded container to be lifted and/or several fully loaded containers to be stacked thereon by means of the said ISO blocks.

In particular the said reinforcing elements are fixed firmly to the upper ISO blocks and project into the associated uprights and respective supporting crossmember within the thickness of the roof being attached to the uprights by means of the ISO blocks, and being firmly fixed, for example by welding, to respective internal faces of respective walls of the said uprights and crossmembers on the outside of the container.

In this way the reinforcing structure is integrated in the load-bearing structure of the container, with the dual advantage of reducing the room taken up within the load space due to the presence of the reinforcing structure itself and of increasing the reinforcement.

At least the upper ISO blocks have a first extension projecting from one side, in the lengthwise direction of the container, and a second projection projecting toward the outside of the container for facilitating the gripping of the container from the outside; the second extension is constituted by a step which projects both from the ISO block and from the parallelepipedal block defining the first extension along a base substantially common to both and which is delimited at its side opposite the said base by a surface which is inclined so that the step tapers towards its free edge.

In addition the nodal box structures extend so as also to include at least the first extensions of the ISO blocks.

In this way the problems associated with ISO blocks in non-corner positions, of picking up by means of spreaders with guide flaps, are resolved and, at the same time, a larger surface is obtained for attachment of reinforcing elements with a resulting improvement in stress distribution.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one non-limitative embodiment, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a non-ISO container according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of an upper corner block of the container of Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 illustrate, in perspective and partially in section, two different constructional details of the container of Figure 1, the first being a view from the inside and the second from the outside of the load space; and Figure 5 is part of a front elevational view, in transverse section, of the container of Figure 1.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 indicates generally a conveyable container for transporting goods, which comprises a substantially parallelepipedal, load-bearing metal structure 2 defining an internal load space 3 and having at least eight corner blocks 5 made according to ISO standards (referred to for simplicity as "ISO blocks"), four positioned at the top (Figure 3) at the level of a roof 6 of the container 1 defining the top of the load space 3, and four positioned at the bottom, below a loading surface or floor 7 (Figure 4) defining the base of the load space 3.

The container 1 is a non-ISO container in that its length and width are greater than ISO standards, but the blocks 5 are positioned, with respect to one another, according to relative positions demanded by ISO requirements; consequently, the container 1 has the shape and dimensions of an ISO container to which there have been attached two additional opposite end portions 8 and 9 (Figure 1) which project longitudinally from the blocks 5 (Figure 1) and two additional opposite side portions 8a and 9a which project laterally from the blocks 5, but the container can still be engaged by standard handling apparatus for ISO containers so that it can be lifted and is stackable on ISO containers as well as on non-ISO containers having analogous blocks 5 in the same positions.The blocks 5 (Figures 2 and 4), therefore, instead of being positioned at the corners, that is at the vertices of the parallelepiped defined by the container 1 (as in ISO containers), are "incorporated" in intermediate positions along upper and lower longitudinal edges l0a and lOb respectively of the parallelepiped defined by the container 1, and slightly set-back transversely from the edges lOa and lOb.

The upper ISO-blocks 5 are attached to the roof 6 and to the opposite side walls of the container 1, in particular to respective cross-members or ribs 11 of the roof 6, which are of such dimensions as to remain within its thickness, and to respective uprights 12 of the loadbearing structure 2 by means of respective sheet-metal box corners 13, 14 (Figure 5) shaped and positioned so as to form respective nodal box structures, generally indicated 16, with the ISO-blocks 5 for transmitting stresses from the roof 6 to the uprights 12 through the upper blocks 5 which are aligned as closely as possible with the uprights 12 themselves. In their turn, the lower blocks 5 are also attached to the uprights 12 by means of box corners 15 (Figures 4 and 5).

The box corners 13, 14 and 15 comprise respective sheetmetal, lateral reinforcing elements 18 and reinforcing elements 19 (Figures 3 and 4) fixed directly to the ISOblocks 5 and to each other, for example by welding; in this case, the elements 18 are fixed to opposite sides in the longitudinal sense of each block 5 while the elements 19 extend perpendicular to the elements 18 and are inclined to the uprights 12 so as not to protrude into the load space 3, being located within the thickness of the roof 6 and of the load-bearing structure 2 of the container 1, while at the same time ensuring that the nodal structures 16 are sufficiently robust to allow the fully loaded container 1 to be lifted by means of the blocks 5.

In particular, the elements 19 of the upper blocks 5 face into the load space 3 and extend into the uprights 12 and into the cross-members 11, which therefore come to form an integral part of the corner box structures 13 and 14, rather than simply being attached to them; this allows an integrated global structure to be obtained as regards the transfer of mechanical stresses, whether to the uprights 12 or to the roof 6.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, the uprights 12 and the cross-members 11 are formed as sheet-metal box elements, each comprising at least two elements joined by welding and/or bevelling or riveting; the sheet-metal elements 19 have respective end portions 20 which pass completely through the respective uprights 12 and the cross-members 11, passing through their respective internal walls 21 and coming to rest against their internal faces 22 to which they are firmly fixed, for example by welding; the internal faces 22 of the uprights 12 and of the cross-members 11 are defined by respective walls 23 of the uprights and of the cross-members on the exterior of the container 1; preferably, the end portions 20 are also welded to the walls 21 where they penetrate the uprights 12 and the cross-members 11.In this way the elements 19 constitute transverse reinforcing elements which do not protrude into the load space 3, since they are located within the thickness of the roof 6 or of the load-bearing structure 2 and, together with the respective upper blocks 5 form the load-bearing parts of the nodal structures 16.

On the contrary, the elements 19 of the lower blocks 5 face outwardly of the container 1 and are oriented so that the box corners 15, by widening upwardly, connect the entire upper parts of the lower ISO blocks 5 peripherally to base portions 25 (Figures 4 and 5) of the uprights 12, being peripherally in line therewith, so as to form, together with these latter and with the lower blocks 5, respective nodal structures 26 analogous to the nodal structures 16 for transmitting mechanical stresses from the lower blocks 5 to the uprights 12 with which they are aligned as closely as possible; according to the non-limitative example illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the box corners 15 are positioned below the loading surface 7 of the container 1 and do not, therefore, occupy any additional space within the load space 3.

With reference to Figures 3 and 5, the box corners 13 and 14 extend at least partly into the internal load space 3 of the container 1; in particular, each box corner 13 extends from the roof 6 to a face 30 of the upper block 5 which faces into the loading space 3 so that it substantially covers this face to a line flush with a lower face 31 of this same upper block 5 which also faces into the load space 3; the box corners 14, conversely, extend into the load space 3 from the walls 21 of the uprights 12 up to the lower face 31 but so as to cover only part of it.In this way, a usable load space, shown in broken lines and indicated 35, is created within the load space 3 (Figure 5), which is sufficiently wide to allow two standard ISO pallets to be loaded side by side, with a total width of at least 2,400 mm, and to leave an extremely small distance, in any case not exceeding 170 mm, between the top of the useful load space 35 and the upper outer face of the upper blocks 5.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, at least the upper blocks 5 have, on one side in the direction of the length of the container 1, an extension 50 (Figure 2) which projects towards the adjacent 'projecting" part 8 or 9 of the container. The upper blocks 5 also have a second extension 55 extending in the direction of the width of the container 1, toward the outside of the container 1 (Figure 2); the extensions 50 and 55 facilitate the engagement of the container 1 from the outside, particularly by means of lifting ISO spreders with guide flaps.

More particularly, the extension 50 is constituted by a parallelepipedal block of smaller dimensions than those of the ISO block 5 from which it projects laterally and terminates at its free end, that is at its end opposite the associated block 5, in a raised collar 51 having peripheral dimensions substantially identical to those of the block 5. The extension 55, on the other hand, is constituted by a step which projects both from the associated block 5, and from the associated parallelepipedal block defining the associated extension 50, along a substantially common base 56 thereof; the step 55 is delimited at its side opposite the base 56, by a surface 57 which is inclined so that the step 55 tapers toward its free edge.

In this way, even if the blocks 5 are "incorporated" along the edges 10 and set back from them in a transverse sense, a space is created close to each of them which is located, in the longitudinal direction between the collar 51 and the opposing end of the block 5, and, in the transverse direction between the external face of the block 5 and the free edge of the step 55, so as to provide a "clearance" sufficient to allow the known standard gripper members of the aforesaid ispreders to approach the blocks 5 and to be centred thereon by means of the movable or fixed centering 'flaps" with which such equipment is normally provided. Thus, the inclined surfaces 57 cooperate with the flaps during the final phase of the approach manoeuvre of the spreder and act as further centering guides for the spreder.

Finally, at least one pair of the lower blocks 5 (Figure 4) which, in the embodiment illustrated have the extension 50 and the collar 51, although these are not visible in Figure 4 due to the perspective of the drawing, also have known gripper seats 52. According to the invention, the box corners 13, 14 and 15 extend so as also to include the extensions 50 of the ISO blocks 5 (see Figure 3), so that it is possible to use larger uprights 12 and, in any case, to distribute the stresses more effectively to the stronger regions.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

In the appended claims, the reference numerals have been included to assist the reader in identifying the component parts of the container claimed, and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Claims (10)

1. A conveyable container (1) for transporting goods comprising a substantially parallelepipedal load-bearing structure (2) defining an internal load space (3) and having a length and width greater than ISO standards, at least four upper ISO corner blocks (5) and at least four lower ISO blocks (5), the blocks (5) being placed in ISO positions such that the container can be stacked on both ISO containers and non-ISO containers having analogous blocks in the same positions; characterised in that the ISO blocks (5) are attached to respective uprights (12) and to a roof (6) of the load-bearing structure (2) by means of transverse reinforcing elements (19) which do not protrude into the load space (3) in so far as they are inserted within the thickness of the roof (6) and of the load-bearing structure (2) of the container to form respective nodal box structures (16) together with the ISO blocks (5), for enabling the fully loaded container (1) to be lifted and/or several fully loaded containers to be stacked thereon by means of the said ISO blocks (5).

2. A container (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that the reinforcing elements (19) are fixed firmly to the upper ISO blocks (5) and project into the associated uprights (12) and respective supporting cross-members (11) within the thickness of the roof (6) being attached to the uprights (12) by means of the ISO blocks (5), and being firmly fixed, for example by welding, to respective internal faces (22) of respective walls (23) of the said uprights (12) and cross-members (11) on the outside of the container (1).

3. A container (1) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that at least the upper ISO blocks (5) have a first extension (50) projecting from one side, in the lengthwise direction of the container, and a second extension (55), projecting toward the outside of the container for facilitating the gripping of the container from the outside.

4. A container (1) according to Claim 3, characterised in that the first extension (50) is constituted by a parallelepipedal block having smaller dimensions than the associated ISO block (5) from which it projects laterally and which terminates at its free end in a raised collar (51) having peripheral dimensions substantially identical to those of the ISO block (5).

5. A container (1) according to Claim 4, characterised in that the second extension (55) is constituted by a step which projects both from the ISO block (5) and from the parallelepipedal block (50) defining the first extension, along a base (56) substantially common to both and which is delimited at its side opposite the said base (56) by a surface (57) which is inclined so that the step (55) tapers toward its free edge.

6. A container according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterised in that nodal box structures (16) extend so as also to include at least the first extensions (50) of the ISO blocks (5).

7. A container (1) according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that it further includes respective reinforcing box corners (13, 14) each of which project at least partly into the internal load space (3) of the container from the roof (6) to a face (30) of a respective upper ISO block (5) facing into the load space (3) so as substantially to cover it to a line flush with a lower face (31) of the said upper ISO block (5) which also faces into the load space (3) and, from the respective upright (12) to the lower face (31) of the upper ISO block (5) so as only partially to cover it.

8. A container (1) according to Claim 7, characterised in that the box corners (13, 14) are shaped and dimensioned so as to leave a palletable width of not less than 2,400 mm in the load space (3) and to leave a distance (d) not greater than 170 mm between the top of a useful load space portion (35) of the load space (3) and an upper outer face of the associated ISO block (5).

9. A container (1) according to Claims 7 or Claim 8, characterised in that the lower ISO blocks (5) have reinforcing elements (19) inclined to the uprights (12) and facing the exterior of the container (1), to form respective additional box corners (15) which connect the upper peripheries of the lower ISO blocks (5) to respective base portions (25) of the uprights (12) to form with these latter and the said lower ISO blocks (5) second nodal structures (26) for transmitting stresses from the lower blocks (5) to the uprights (12) being aligned as closely as possible with the uprights (12); the said box corners (15) attached to the lower blocks (5) being positioned below the loading surface (7) of the container.

10. A conveyable container (1) for the transport of goods substantially as described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.