GB2402123A

GB2402123A - Transport container for cars

Info

Publication number: GB2402123A
Application number: GB0326327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donge Arie Van; Jonathan Clark
Original assignee: ADAPTAINER Ltd
Current assignee: ADAPTAINER Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-28
Filing date: 2003-11-12
Publication date: 2004-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-12
Also published as: GB0312183D0; GB0326327D0; GB2402123B

Abstract

A container within which a plurality of cars may be transported has a floor, a roof and corrugated side walls (4). The side walls (4) include reinforced regions (22) having mounting means (30) therein. The container also comprises lifting means (48,50) and removable lifting trays (34) for supporting two wheels of a car thereon. Each tray (34) further includes locating means (40) on opposite sides thereof. The lifting means (48,50), reinforced regions (22) and trays (34) are arranged such that the lifting means (48,50) may be used to raise a tray (34) off the floor and the locating means (40) may be engaged with the mounting means (30) of the reinforced regions (22) to secure the tray (34) relative to the container while the tray (34) is in a raised position, such that cars supported on said trays (34) may be suspended off the floor during transport of said container.

Description

2402 1 23 i' - 1 Transport Apparatus The present invention relates to

transport apparatus, particularly to containers adapted to transport cars and other goods long distances, especially by cargo ship.

Goods for import or export are often loaded into containers or trailers for long distance transport.

Containers are typically enclosed boxes that may be transported by road on the back of a lorry, stacked for storage or transport in the hold of a cargo ship, barge or train. A container may be a side load container, typically having a curtain along one side of the container that may be opened to load the container from the side. A container may alternatively be an end load container with doors at an end of the container that may be opened. Typically end load containers have solid side walls and provide greater security than a side load container. Trailers are similar in that they transport goods, but a trailer includes a chassis and wheels and is typically towed on land behind a powerful tractor cab. Containers provide an advantage over trailers due to their lower weight and more compact size and are therefore most cost effective for transport by cargo ship, barge, rail and all forms of intermodal transport.

Since containers must be transported to and from a country, for instance the UK, it is useful if they can be collapsed for the return journey so that they take up less room in the ship. However, it is better if the containers

A

can be used to transport goods back into the country.

Containers are often specialized to the extent that they cannot be easily used to transport goods other than those for which the container is adapted and this limits the nature of the cargo that can be carried on a return journey. Typically, a country exporting lots of one type of product does not need to import an equal quantity of said product so it is desirable for a container to be able to transport other goods. It should also be noted that cars are rarely transported in containers as car transporters are preferred for this task except for specialized systems of dedicated ramps which are cumbersome, time consuming to erect and dismantle and are generally unsatisfactory.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container that addresses some of the above issues.

According to the invention there is provided transport apparatus for transporting cars, said apparatus comprising a container within which a plurality of cars may be transported, said container having a floor, a roof and corrugated side walls, the side walls including a plurality of reinforced regions, the reinforced regions including a plurality of mounting means therein, the container also comprising lifting means, the apparatus further comprising a plurality of removable lifting trays for supporting at least two wheels of a car thereon, each tray further including locating means on opposite sides thereof, the lifting means, reinforced regions and trays - 3 being arranged such that the lifting means may be used to raise a tray off the floor and the locating means may be engaged with the mounting means of the reinforced regions to secure the tray relative to the container while the tray is in a raised position such that cars supported on said trays may be suspended off the floor during transport of said container.

By providing a container that is adapted to securely carry cars suspended above the floor, the container can carry cars in a stacked formation with one car suspended above another as this increases the number of cars that may be transported in the container. Such a container can be used to transport standard cargo in one direction and cars in the other so that it is loaded on both journeys and is more cost effective for the container owner.

The walls of the container are corrugated having inwardly and outwardly projecting portions. The corrugations preferably comprise substantially planar corrugation sections such that the container wall comprises a plurality of inner and outer corrugation sections separated from one another by side corrugation sections.

Preferably the container walls are box corrugated such that the angles between the side corrugation sections and the inner and outer corrugation sections are substantially 90 , although other angles may be used. A corrugated profile increases the strength of the walls and their resistance to outward bowing. It should be understood that the corrugations need not be regular, or comprise substantially planar sections.

The reinforced regions preferably comprise additional metal sections attached to the wall of the container to increase the resistance of the wall to outward bowing and to provide a suitably strong location for the mounting means. The reinforced regions may comprise a section welded between adjacent inner corrugation sections to enclose one of the corrugations. This section is preferably metal and may be a substantially planar section attached between the inner corrugation sections.

Preferably, the reinforced regions comprise a 'U' shaped metal section adapted to fit between the side corrugation sections, but may be of other cross-sections. Each leg of the 'U' being located adjacent a side corrugation section and the back of the 'U' being substantially in the same plane as the inner corrugation sections as this provides additional resistance to outward bowing of the container walls. It is preferred that each leg of the 'U' is substantially the same length as the side corrugation section, but it may have other lengths so the 'U' shaped reinforcement does not reach the outer corrugation section, or the back of the 'U' is not in substantially the same plane as the inner corrugation sections. The reinforced regions are preferably located along the container where it is anticipated the wheels of each car will be during transit. This enables the container to be strong where the strength is required and to avoid adding the extra weight of the reinforced regions where the additional strength is not required. - 5

The lifting trays are preferably substantially the same width as the distance between the inner corrugation sections of the two walls of the container. In this way the tray may be more easily secured within the container.

Preferably the tray is shaped such that there is a depression in which the wheels of a car may be located such that the wheels may not roll. The tray preferably includes lashing points to which straps may secured to secure the car in relation to the tray. It is currently preferred that one tray is used to support two wheels of a car, either both the front wheels, or both the rear wheels as this allows easier adjustment of the angle of the car within the container, but the tray may support all four wheels or support both the wheels on one side of the car or diagonally across the car. It should be understood that although the term lifting tray is used to describe this component of the apparatus the tray may comprise any means of supporting at least two wheels of a car such as bars, frameworks or other structures. For example, the lifting tray may comprise two bars secured a predetermined distance apart such that the wheels of a car may not fit between the bars, but the gap between the bars forms the depression in which the wheels of a car may be located such that the wheels may not roll as described above. The tray may comprise a frame slidably mounted on side bars that may be attached to the wall. This allows the relative distance between two trays to be adjusted to suit the wheelbase of a vehicle supported by the trays. The trays may also comprise means for allowing a wheel to be rolled - 6 into the frame without having to rise up and over a part of the tray, for example a portion of the wall of the trays could be temporarily moved or removed to allow a vehicle to drive into position above the trays before the wall was repositioned and the vehicle lifted on the tray.

Such a feature also allows the trays to be positioned correctly relative to a stationary car without the need to raise the wheels of the car.

The mounting means within the reinforcing region preferably comprise apertures within the reinforced region. This is simple and low cost and helps to reduce the weight of the container. Apertures also provide a secure mount into which the locating means can be engaged.

The locating means on the trays preferably comprise sprung bolts attached to opposite sides of the tray. Sprung bolts are biased by spring means so that an engaging portion protrudes from the side of the tray and may be engaged with the mounting means. A user must retract the bolt into the tray until the tray has reached the desired position, at which time the user can release the bolt so it engages with the mounting means. The locating means may further include releasable retaining means to retain the bolt in a retracted position until the user releases the bolt so that a user need not retain the bolt manually.

The lifting means preferably comprise a plurality of heavy duty lifting rings located at or adjacent the roof of the container. It is preferred that the lifting rings are located above reinforced regions due to the increased container wall strength. Cables may be passed through the lifting rings and an end of the cable attached to a tray.

The opposite end of the cable may be secured to a winder mechanism that enables the cable to be wound in or out. To raise the tray, the cable is wound in by the winder such that cable is drawn through the lifting rings and the tray raised. The power source for the winder may be integral with the container, or may be external, for instance the power may be taken from the engine or compressed air system of a lorry on which the container may be mounted.

The power source could be electric, hydraulic, compressed air, or even manual.

The container may include recessed channels set into the floor. Such channels can allow moving apparatus to be positioned under pallets, paper reels, one shot loading apparatus or other items located on the floor of the container. The container preferably includes at least four channels in the floor.

The transport apparatus may also include moving apparatus adapted for use with a container including such channels.

The moving apparatus may be located substantially within the channels with a top surface below the floor of the container. This allows the moving apparatus to be positioned below a pallet resting on the floor. The moving apparatus is preferably adapted such that a top surface may be raised above the floor to raise the pallet off the floor as this facilitates moving the pallet.

The container preferably also includes a plurality of tie down points within the container. The tie down points may be rings attached to the wall to which a strap or other securing means may be attached to secure goods within the container relative to the container.

The transport apparatus may also include one or more false floor panels. The or each false floor panels preferably comprise floor locating means on opposite sides thereof.

The reinforced regions may further comprise floor mounting means with which floor locating means may be engaged to secure the false floor panels relative to the container such that a false floor, above the container floor may be created. It is preferred that the mounting means and the floor mounting means are the same and that the floor locating means and the tray locating means are the same as this means that the false floor panels can be mounted in the mounting means for the trays and the trays in the mounting means for the floor panels. 9

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container; Figure 2 shows a view of an inside of a container wall including a reinforced region; Figure 3 shows a tray for supporting two wheels of a car; Figure 4 shows a schematic view within a container; Figure 5 shows a perspective end view of a container having a preferred embodiment of the floor of a container and a false floor within the container; Figure 6 shows a different embodiment of a tray for supporting two wheels of a car; Figure 7 shows a detailed view of one end of the tray of Figure 6; and Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the spring loaded bolts of Figure 6.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container 1. The container includes side walls 2,4 a floor 6 and a roof 8.

At an end 10 of the container there are doors 12 which may - 10 be opened to allow end loading of the container 1.

The container 1 includes handling points 14 to allow the container 1 to be lifted by standard lifting machinery that may be used on docks or loading areas.

Figure 2 show a portion of the inside of the wall 4. The wall comprises corrugations having a plurality of inner corrugation sections 16 and outer corrugation sections 18 connected by side corrugation sections 20. In this case the angles between the side corrugation sections 20 and the inner 16 and outer 18 corrugation sections is substantially 90 . Tie down rings 42 are provided at a lower portion of the wall to allow goods to be secured relative to the container 1.

The wall includes a reinforced region 22. The reinforced section 22 comprises a 'U' shaped metal section 24 adapted to fit between the side corrugation sections 20. Each leg 26 of the 'U' being located adjacent a side corrugation section 20 and the back 28 of the 'U' being substantially in the same plane as the inner corrugation sections 16.

The reinforced section includes a plurality of mounting apertures 30 located along its length. A heavy duty lifting ring 32 is located near a top of the reinforced section 22. The lifting ring is secured to both the container wall 4 and the reinforced region 22. A cable 48 passes through the lifting ring 32 and passes to a winder mechanism 50 allowing the cable 48 to be extended or - 11 retracted. Although the winder 50 is shown as offset in this figure, it should be understood that the winder amy be located directly below the heavy duty lifting ring 32 to achieve a vertical pull.

Figure 3 shows a lifting tray 34 suitable for lifting two wheels of a car (not shown in this figure). The tray 34 comprises a depression 36 into which the wheels of the car may be located. The tray includes lifting points 38 which may also be used as tie down points to secure the car relative to the tray 34. Spring loaded bolts 40 are provided on opposing sides of the tray 34 to allow the tray to be secured to the mounting apertures in the reinforced region 22.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view within a container 1 which is loaded with cars 44,46. There are three cars 44 located on the floor 6 of the container 1 and there are three cars 46 suspended above those. Each of the suspended cars 46 is supported by two trays 34, one tray 34 supporting front wheels and another tray 34 supporting rear wheels.

The trays are supported by cables 48 that pass through the heavy duty lifting rings 32 and then pass to a winder mechanism 50. It should be noted that longer cars may be transported in such a container, but only four at a time, two on the floor and two suspended. There may be additional heavy duty rings and reinforced regions along the walls in location likely to correspond to the positions of the wheels of cars being transported. - 12

Figure 5 shows a perspective end view of a container 1.

The floor 6 of the container 1 includes recessed channels 52 that run the length of the container 1. The channels 52 are recessed below a level 58 of the floor 6. Moving means 56 are located in the channels 52. The moving means have a movable top surface 56 that may be positioned below the level 58 of the floor 6 such that the moving means may slide along the channel 52 under a pallet on the floor 6.

The movable top surface 56 is then raised above the level 58 of the floor so that the pallet is raised of the floor 6 and may be moved more easily. Although Figure 5 shows only 3 tracks, it should be understood that there are preferably four track or more.

Figure 5 also shows a false floor 60 mounted within the container 1. The false floor 60 comprises false floor panels 62, each having spring loaded locating bolts 64 that can engage with the mounting apertures 30 in the reinforced regions 22. The false floor can be extended for the entire length of the container, or for only part of the length as required.

Figure 6 shows a different embodiment of a tray 134. The tray 134 comprises a frame 70 which is slidably mounted on side arms 72. The side arms include spring loaded bolts 40 for attaching the tray 134 to the reinforced regions 22.

Lashing rings 38 are located on the frame 70 to secure a car supported on the tray 134 to the tray 134.

The frame 70 includes movable sections 74 which can be moved to allow a wheel of a car to be positioned in the frame 70 without the car having to drive over any portion of the frame 70. These movable sections will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 7.

Figure 7 shows a detailed view of an end of the tray 134 in Figure 6. The frame 70 is slidably mounted on side arms 72 by brackets 78 that allow the frame to slide along the side arm 72. The movable section 74 is arranged to form part of the frame 70, but is sized so that it can slide into the frame 70 so as to leave a gap 76 in the frame 70 through which a wheel (not shown) may pass. The movable section would be slid into the frame so that a wheel can be located over the frame and the movable section 74 then returned to its original position so as to form part of the frame 70 upon which the wheel will rest. The tray 134 can then raised and the side arms 72 secured to the reinforced portions 22 to support a car on the tray 134.

The side arms 72 can be secured and the frame can then slide along the side arms 72 so that vehicles with different wheelbases can be transported.

Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the spring loaded bolt 40. The spring loaded bolt comprises a body member 80, a handle 82 at one end of the body member 80 and engaging means 84 at the opposite end for engaging the reinforced region 22. The body member 80 passes through guiding means 86 within the side arm 72 and a spring 88 biases the locking bolt 40 to a first position. - 14

The invention has been described above by way of example only and it should be understood that modifications in detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Transport apparatus for transporting cars, said apparatus

comprising a container within which a plurality of cars may be transported, said container having a floor, a roof and corrugated side walls, the side walls including a plurality of reinforced regions, the reinforced regions including a plurality of mounting means therein, the container also comprising lifting means, the apparatus further comprising a plurality of removable lifting trays for supporting at least two wheels of a car thereon, each tray further including locating means on opposite sides thereof, the lifting means, reinforced regions and trays being arranged such that the lifting means may be used to raise a tray off the floor and the locating means may be engaged with the mounting means of the reinforced regions to secure the tray relative to the container while the tray is in a raised position such that cars supported on said trays may be suspended off the floor during transport of said container.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each lifting tray supports two wheels of a car only.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the mounting means comprise apertures in the reinforced regions.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the locating means comprise spring loaded bolts. À 16
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the apparatus further comprises false floor panels comprising floor locating means on opposite sides thereof, the reinforced regions further comprising floor mounting means with which floor locating means may be engaged to secure the false floor panels relative to the container such that a false floor, above the container floor may be created.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the floor of the container includes recessed channels substantially parallel with the walls of the container such that portions of the underside of a flat base of a pallet on said floor are accessible for moving apparatus.
7. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, the apparatus further including moving apparatus, said moving apparatus being adapted such that tines of the moving apparatus may be located substantially within the channels with a top surface of the tines below the floor of the container such that the tines may be positioned below a pallet resting on the floor, the tines being adapted such that top surface may be raised above the floor to raise the pallet off the floor.

8. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. Transport apparatus for transporting cars, said apparatus comprising a container within which a plurality of cars may be transported, said container having a floor, a roof and corrugated side walls, the side walls including a plurality of reinforced regions, the reinforced regions including a plurality of mounting means therein, the container also comprising lifting means, the apparatus further comprising a plurality of removable lifting trays for supporting two wheels of a car thereon, each tray further including locating means on opposite sides thereof, the lifting means, reinforced regions and trays being arranged such that the lifting means may be used to raise a tray off the floor and the locating means may be engaged with the mounting means of the reinforced regions to secure the tray relative to the container while the tray is in a raised position such that cars supported on said trays may be suspended off the floor during transport of said container, each lifting tray supporting two wheels of a car only.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the mounting means comprise apertures in the reinforced regions.

3. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the locating means comprise spring loaded bolts.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which - lg the apparatus further comprises one or more false floor panels comprising floor locating means on opposite sides thereof, the reinforced regions further comprising floor mounting means with which floor locating means may be engaged to secure the or each false floor panel relative to the container such that a false floor, above the container floor may be created.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the floor of the container includes recessed channels substantially parallel with the walls of the container such that portions of the underside of a flat base of a pallet on said floor are accessible for moving apparatus.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, the apparatus further including moving apparatus, said moving apparatus being adapted such that tines of the moving apparatus may be located substantially within the channels with a top surface of the tines below the floor of the container such that the tines may be positioned below a pallet resting on the floor, the tines being adapted such that top surface may be raised above the floor to raise the pallet off the floor.