GB2332178A

GB2332178A - Freight transport container bodies

Info

Publication number: GB2332178A
Application number: GB9825440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: B Harrington; Stuart Timms
Original assignee: Dawbarn & Sons Ltd
Current assignee: Dawbarn & Sons Ltd
Priority date: 1997-12-11
Filing date: 1998-11-23
Publication date: 1999-06-16
Also published as: GB9825440D0

Abstract

A freight transport container body for transporting bulk material is fitted with a liner 2 of stowable flexible material which, in use, (i.e. when storing, transporting or dispensing bulk material) prevents contact between the bulk material and the container. The liner is connected to the container body by a fitting or fittings, which, when the liner is not in use, allow it to be moved from its stowed position into and out of its ready-for-use position whilst remaining connected to the body.

Description

2332178 IMPROVEMENTS IN FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONTAINER BODIES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improvements in freight transport container bodies, in particular, but not exclusively, to open-topped freight transport container bodies and in particular, to how these freight transport container bodies are lined.

Background Art Known to the Applicant

The cross-contamination of materials transported by freight has always been a problem to those in the freight haulage business For example, one trip for a freight transport container body (FTC13) may involve the transportation of sand within the FTC13 whilst the return or second trip could involve the transportation of foodstuff such as flour. To avoid the possibility of cross-contami nation of the first item of freight with the second item of freight, thorough cleansinu of the FTC13 must take place to the standard of national health and safety guidelines prior to the loading of the second item of freight within the FTC13 Alternatively, the use of liners to overcome this problem hooked to the internal walls of FTC13's have been known for many years, especially for the transportation of fluids. Many of these hooked liners are designed to be disposable.

Furthermore, other freight hauliers buy so-called "dedicated" FTCB's that only carry one particular type of payload. This may involve the doubling or even trebling of the number of FTC13's held by any one company, but there are those in the freight haulage business that deem this to be a more cost effective alternative than the cleaning costs associated with the cleansing of the or each FTC13.

Obviously, the cost involved in doubling or even trebling one's freight transport container bodies and the costs associated with cleaning the FTCB's, each time there is a change of freight are, as options, a tremendous financial burden to the owner of the freight haulage company Similarly, the use of disposable liners may also be cost prohibitive and may, not be an option for some haulage companies The present invention is an attempt to alleviate the financial problems associated with the options/problems stated above and the invention is more fully described in the proceeding paragraphs.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention in its broadest aspect. there is provided a freight transport container body for transporting bulk material fitted with a liner of stowable flexible material which, in use, (i e. when storing, transporting or dispensing bulk material) prevents contact between the bulk material and the container, charactp.rised in that the liner is connected to the container body by a fitting or fittings which. when the liner is not in use, allow it to be moved from its stowed position into and out of its ready-for-use position \,,.hilst remaining connected to the body Preferably, the liner comprises a plurality of flexible sheets, a number of which are independently stowable Where the container body is an open-topped body, then preferably, the liner moves from its stowed position to its in use position by sliding along a track fitted to the container body along or adjacent its open periphery The invention includes within its scope a freight transport container body substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate selection or combination of the accompanying drawings Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyl ings ng sheets of drawi wherein r, Odd Figure numbers refer to views towards the front end of the container body whilst even Figure numbers refer to views towards the tailgate end of the containers.

Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of the freight container body with the liner in its stowed position and the freight transport container body devoid of bulk material.

Figures 33 and 4 show the same views as Figures 1 and 2 but this time the freight container body is full of bulk material.

Figures 5 and 6 show the freight transport container body in the next stage of the "history" or "life-cycle" of this invention i.e once the bulk material has been removed and shows the unfurling of the liner from its stowed position as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 7 and 8 show the deployment process of the liner Figures 8 and 9 show the liner fully deployed, ready to receive a second load of bulk material Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figures 1 and 22 illustrate perspective views of an open-topped freight transport container body (FTC1B) seen from the rear of the FTC13 - Fi,-, 1 and from the front of the FTC13 - Fig. 2 and the FTC13 is generally referenced 1.

The IRTC13 1 is provided with two plastics. material liners 2 (both shown in their stowed positions in Figures 1 and 2) at respective ends of the FTC13 1 The means of stowing each respective liner 2 being known in itself and will present no problem to the intended skilled addressee of this specification.

Integral with the FTC13 1, is a track 3 running along the interior of the longest sides of the FTC13 1 along its open periphery The track 3, i's also fitted with a pelmet 4 which enshrouds a portion of the liner 2 durln,-, , and whilst it is being/been deployed Each of the pairs of illustrations i.e Figures I and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6 etc show front and rear perspective views of the FTCB I during various stages of the -lifecycle" of the invention.

As can therefore be seen, Figures 33 and 4 essentially show the same illustrations as Figures 1 and 2, but in Figures -3) and 4, bulk material 5 has been placed into the interior of the FTC13 1. It is clear that some of the bulk material 5 will come into intimate contact with the exterior surfaces of the stowed liner Fortunately, these surfaces do not form part of the fresh interior surface (infra) for the FTCB 1 Once the bulk material 5 has been unloaded, (see Figures 5 and 6) the interior surface of the FTC13 1 will inevitably retain residual amounts of the bulk material 4, The liner 2 of the FTC13 1 is unfurled and Figures 5 and 6 show the initial stages of deployment of the liner 2.

Figures 7 and 8 show respect ive I y, the liner 22 progressing along the track 3) which is a simple wheel 6 and channel 7 track 33 Figure 8 shows the continuing movement of the liner -1 towards the tailgate portion of the FTCB 1, the tailgate portion of the liner 2 having been ftilly deployed and secured to the tailgate via conventional means Figures 9 and 10 show the liner 2 fully deployed and in the case of Flizure 10, secured and fitted to the tailgate section of the liner 2 in an overlapping manner Such an arranuement provides a totally clean, fresh interior surface for the FTC13 1, despite the intimate contact of bulk material 5 with the liner 2, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 Of course, the embodiment just described has been by way of example only and other alternative embodiments are envisag I ed within the scope of the invent on and although not illustrated, will now be described.

For example, the invention is not intended to be restricted to simple open-topped FTCB's. Furthermore, the liner 2 need not necessarily be formed from a number of sheets designed to be interlinked to form a nonbulk material permeable barrier but could comprise a single sheet. essentially comprisine one extremely larlle "pockeC, the end of the socalled "pockeC, once having travelled alonu the track J ' in use, being fitted to the tailgate of the FTCB 1 in a conventional manner Such a design could allow the transportation of fluid materials as well as bulk materials.

Claims

1 A freight transport container body for transporting bulk material fitted wIth a liner of stowable flexible material which, in use, (i.e. when storing, transporting or dispensing bulk material) prevents contact between the bulk material and the container, ebaracteried ic.-that the liner is connected to the container body by a fitting or fittings, which, when the liner is not in use, allow it to be moved from its stowed position into and out of its readyfor-use position whilst remaining connected to the body A freight transport container body as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the liner comprises a plurality, of flexible sheets, a number of which are independently stowable 3 A freight transport container body. as claimed in clairn 1 or clairn

2. characterised in that the container body is an open-topped bod', A freight transport container bodv as claimed in claim 33, characterised in that the liner moves from its stowed position to its in-use position by sliding along a track fitted to the container bodv along or adjacent its open periphery A freight transport container body substantialiv as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate selection or combination of the accompanying, drawings