IE980503A1

IE980503A1 - A tank container

Info

Publication number: IE980503A1
Application number: IE19980503A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Patrick Francis Joy; Martyn Stewart Gill
Original assignee: Brideland Services Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-17
Filing date: 1998-06-23
Publication date: 2000-10-04
Also published as: GB9913933D0; ZA994002B; IE990493A1; GB2339592A; GB2339592B; IES990494A2; GB9812980D0

Abstract

A tank container comprises a vessel (1) secured to end frames (5) by collars (3). Each collar (3) is supported by a flat plate (4) as an intermediate bearer between the collar (3) and the frame (5). Each collar (3) is welded to the outside diameter of the vessel (1) at one end and is butt-jointed to the support plate (4) at the other end. The support plate (4) provides a universal support to accommodate a range of tank vessel diameters.

Description

The invention relates to intermodal tank containers which are pressure vessels fitted within a frame and are used to transport liquids and gases. They are subject to the stresses of intermodal transport on road, rail, and by ship. The handling of the container onto and off and between the above modes of transport can impose shock loads through being dropped and through contact with solid objects including other containers. The frame must therefore be strong enough and sufficiently flexible to resist these loads and at the same time be light enough to allow an economic payload, be cheap to manufacture.

The tank container vessel is designed within the constraints of International Codes and the end frame is usually confined within a format set out in International Standards (ISO) or is built to a non-ISO or free format. The connection structure between the vessel and the intermodal handling or securing interface of the end frame must withstand the loads of intermodal handling. However, because of strictly regulated weight limits the container must be light in weight to maximise the payload.

The connection structure generally includes bearers which are attached to the end frame which supports the comer castings used to secure the container to the mode of transport.

There are considerable problems in manufacturing a wide range of capacities for such container tanks as not only must the size of the vessel be varied but also a support structure unique to that vessel size must be produced, for each range.

Thus, the manufacturing process required to produce such a range of container tanks is time consuming and does not optimise manufacturing procedures. -2There is therefore a need for an improved construction of intermodal tank container which will overcome these problems.

Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided an intermodal tank container comprising:a vessel; a pair of end frames; and a support means attached to the end frame to accommodate a range of vessel sizes.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the support means is a support plate attached to the end frame.

Preferably a collar extends between the vessel and the support plate.

In a preferred aspect the collar is of substantially the same diameter as that of the vessel to which it is mounted.

Ideally the collar is butt jointed to the support plate. Usually the collar is welded to the support plate.

The diameter of the collar must be at or near enough to the vessel diameter to be effectively the same diameter as the vessel. This closeness in diameters is necessary to prevent stresses imposed by torsion, damaging the frame or the vessel head. The supporting plate is of a size and shape to allow the collar to bear onto -3the plate, therefore the support plate is importantly of a size to support a wide range of tank vessel diameters without a change to any major dimension.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only, in which;Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tank container according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the container tank of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side, partially cross sectional view of the container tank; Fig. 4 is an end view of another container tank; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of portion of the container tank; and Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the container tank.

Detailed Description Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a tank container comprising a vessel 1 secured to a pair of I.S.O. transportation end frames 5 by collars 3. The collars 3 are nominally the same diameter as the vessel 1 and the collar 3 is supported by a support means provided by a flat plate 4 as an intermediate bearer between the collar 3 and the I.S.O. transportation frame 5. The flat plate 4 of one size simplifies the manufacturing process by accommodating a variety of tank -4diameters and acts, in use, as a sprung suspension unit for the loaded tank, and assists in supporting the required I.S.O. standard loadings. The plate 4 has a central hole 6 which may accommodate the domed end of the vessel 1. The hole 6 also facilitates inspection and insulation as well as reducing the weight of the plate 4.

Each collar 3 is welded to the outside diameter of the vessel 1 at one end and is butt-jointed to the support plate 4 at the other end. In this case portion of the domed end of the vessel 1 is accommodated within the hole 6 in the plate 4. The collar 3 is welded to the plate 4 at the joint. To accommodate larger diameter vessels the collar 3 may also be welded directly to the frame members over part of their circumference. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2.

The support plate 4 provides a universal support of such a size ±at it can accommodate a range of tank vessel diameters which may be butted-up to the plate 4 to obtain a welded connected. The assembly operation is considerably simplified and less expensive because a single end plate 4 may be used on universal end frames to accommodate a range of different vessel sizes. The arrangement is considerably cheaper and simpler that the use of conventional strut-type bearers which are specific to a single vessel.

The support plate 4 is of such a size and thickness that it will deflect under loads generated in transportation and thus protects the vessel and associated structure from high stresses. In addition, the plate 4 assists the end frame 6 in supporting the vertical stacking load and the lateral racking load and allows lighter section frame members with consequent weight and cost savings.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

1. An intermodal tank container comprising: a vessel; a pair of end frames; and a support means attached to the end frame to accommodate a range of vessel sizes.

2. A tank container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support means is a support plate attached to the end frame.

3. A tank container as claimed in claim 2 wherein a collar extends between the vessel and the support plate.

4. A tank container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the collar is of substantially the same diameter as that of the vessel to which it is mounted.

5. A tank container as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the collar is butt jointed to the support plate.

6. A tank container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the collar is welded to the support plate.

7. A tank container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.