SE2051160A1

SE2051160A1 - Freight container cargo strap arrangement, freight container and method for loading a freight container

Info

Publication number: SE2051160A1
Application number: SE2051160A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Lars Jellnor
Original assignee: Envirotainer Eng Ab
Priority date: 2020-10-02
Filing date: 2020-10-02
Publication date: 2022-04-03
Also published as: WO2022071854A1; SE544359C2

Abstract

A method for loading a freight container, comprises anchoring (S2) of a first end of a cargo belt in a vicinity of a corner between an inner wall and a floor. A part of the cargo belt is releasably fastened (S4) in a vicinity of a corner between the inner wall and a ceiling. The cargo belt is positioned (S6) in an upper part of the container from the vicinity of a corner between the inner wall and the ceiling to the door. Cargo is loaded (S8) into the cargo compartment. The cargo belt is released (S10) from the releasable fastening. The second end of the cargo belt is anchored (S12) in a vicinity of a corner between the outer wall and the floor and the cargo belt is tightened around the loaded cargo. A freight container and a cargo belt are also disclosed.

Description

lO FREIGHT CONTAINER CARGO STRAP ARRANGEMENT TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates in general to freight containers and in particular to methods and devices for securing goods in a freight container.

BACKGROUND Many transports today are performed using different kinds of freightcontainer. Typically, individual pallets of goods are loaded into a cargocompartment of the container, f1lling the container partly or fully. Since thereis a risk for the goods Within the cargo compartment to be displaced byacceleration forces or vibrations during the transport, the goods is typicallysecured by different kinds of securing equipment, such a nets or cargo straps.The cargo straps are fastened by one end to the interior of the cargocompartment, positioned around the loaded goods, fastened by the other endto the interior of the cargo compartment and tightened to keep the cargo in position during the transport.

A problem With using cargo straps is that they interfere With the actualloading. Two basic approaches exist. In one approach, the first end of the cargostrap is fastened to the container before the goods is loaded. The cargo strapsthen have to be kept away When the goods are loaded. In the other approach,the loading is performed before the cargo strap is fastened by its first end. Ina tightly loaded container, it is then often very difficult to perform such a fastening.

SUMMARY A general object of the present invention is to provide methods and devices for facilitating loading and securing of goods in a freight container. lO The above object is achieved by methods and devices according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims.

In general words, in a first aspect, a method for loading a freight container,comprises anchoring of a first end of a cargo belt at one of a ﬂoor and an innerwall of a cargo compartment of the freight container in a vicinity of a cornerbetween the inner wall and the ﬂoor. The cargo compartment is defined by theﬂoor, a ceiling, the inner wall, two side walls and an outer wall. The outer wallcomprises a door. The inner wall is positioned opposite to the outer wall. Apart of the cargo belt is releasably fastening at one of the inner wall and theceiling, in a vicinity of a corner between the inner wall and the ceiling. Thecargo belt is positioned in an upper part of the container from the vicinity of acorner between the inner wall and the ceiling to the door by moving a secondend of the cargo belt, opposite to the first end, towards the doors. Cargo isloaded into the cargo compartment. The cargo belt is released from thereleasable fastening. The second end of the cargo belt is anchored to one ofthe ﬂoor and the outer wall in a vicinity of a corner between the outer wall and the ﬂoor. The cargo belt is tightened around the loaded cargo.

In a second aspect, a freight container comprises a cargo compartment that isdefined by a ﬂoor, a ceiling, an inner wall, two side walls and an outer wall.The outer wall comprises a door. The inner wall is positioned opposite to theouter wall. The freight container further comprises a releasable cargo-beltholder arranged at one of the inner wall and the ceiling, and in a vicinity of acorner between the inner wall and the ceiling. The releasable cargo-belt holderpresents a retaining opening. The releasable cargo-belt holder is further arranged to open the retaining opening as a response to an opening action.

In a third aspect, a cargo belt comprises a belt and anchoring devices at eachend of the belt. The cargo belt further comprises a releasable holderarrangement, configured to allow attachment to a wall or ceiling of a cargo container when exposed for a pulling force lower than a first predetermined lO level. The releasable holder arrangement is further arranged to release fromthe Wall or ceiling of a cargo container when exposed for a pulling force higherthan the first predetermined level. The first predetermined level is larger than the gravitational force of the belt.

In a fourth aspect, a freight container comprises a cargo compartment definedby a ﬂoor, a ceiling, an inner wall, two side walls and an outer wall. The outerwall comprises a door. The inner wall is positioned opposite to the outer wall.The freight container further comprises a cargo belt. The freight container isa freight container according to the second aspect and/ or the cargo belt is a cargo belt according to the third aspect.

One advantage with the proposed technology is that an easily operatedprocedure to load goods into a freight container is achieved. Other advantages will be appreciated when reading the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may bestbe understood by making reference to the following description taken togetherwith the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a freight containerwith loaded and secured cargo; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a freight containerbefore cargo loading; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a freight containerafter cargo loading but before securing; FIG. 4 is a ﬂow diagram of steps of an embodiment of a method forloading a freight container; FIG. 5A is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a releasable cargo-belt holder; FIG. 5B is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a releasable cargo- belt holder with a held cargo belt; FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of a releasablecargo-belt holder; and FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a cargo belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Throughout the drawings, the same reference numbers are used for similar or corresponding elements.

In the following, embodiments of air-freight containers are described.However, even though the present ideas are of most benefit for air freight, thesame approaches are also operational for other types of freight containers.Thus, in one preferred embodiment, the freight container is an air-freight container.

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a freight container 10 in a cross-sectional view. A cargo compartment 30 is defined by a ﬂoor12, a ceiling 14,an inner wall 20, two side walls 16 (of which one is seen) and an outer wall18. The outer wall 18 comprises a door 22. The inner wall 20 is positionedopposite to the outer wall 18. The terms “inner” and “outer” are used tocharacterize the positions within the cargo compartment 30 as seen from the door 22.

This embodiment also comprises a control compartment 32 in whichadditional equipment, such as climate-control systems, surveillance systems and communication systems may be housed.

In Figure 1, the freight container 10 is illustrated when being loaded withgoods. In this example, three cargo units 34 are loaded into the cargocompartment 30. In this example, the cargo units 34 are provided on pallets36, however, cargo may also be placed directly onto the container ﬂoor 12. Acargo belt 40 is strapped around the cargo units 34 to keep them in position during transport of the container 10. A first end 42 of the cargo belt 40 is anchored to the container 10 in a vicinity of a corner 11 between the innerWall 20 and the ﬂoor 12. A second end 44 of the cargo belt 40 is likewiseanchored to the container 10 in a vicinity of a corner 15 between the outerwall 18 and the ﬂoor 12. A locking and tightening arrangement 46 is providedat the cargo belt 40 in order to enable tightening of the cargo belt 40 around the cargo units 34.

It is from this figure easy to understand that any fastening of the first end 42of the cargo belt 40 to the container 10 in a vicinity of a corner 11 between theinner wall 20 and the ﬂoor 12 is difficult to perform after the loading of thecargo units 34. However, if the first end 42 of the cargo belt 40 is fastened tothe container 10 in a vicinity of a corner 11 between the inner wall 20 and the ﬂoor 12 before loading, the cargo belt 40 will interfere with the loading.

Figure 2 illustrates how these problems may be avoided. Here, theembodiment of the freight container 10 is illustrated without loaded cargo andwith the door opened. The first end 42 of the cargo belt 40 is anchored to thecontainer 10 in a vicinity of a corner 11 between the inner wall 20 and theﬂoor 12, which is easily performed before any loading starts. A releasablecargo-belt holder 50 is arranged at the inner wall 20 in a vicinity of a corner13 between the inner wall 20 and the ceiling 14. Alternatively, a releasablecargo-belt holder 50' can be arranged at the ceiling 14 instead, but still in avicinity of a corner 13 between the inner wall 20 and the ceiling 14. This isillustrated by dotted lines in the figure. The releasable cargo-belt holder 50presents a retaining opening 52, which will be illustrated more in detail furtherbelow. The cargo belt 40 is held by the releasable cargo-belt holder 50.Thereby, a part of the cargo belt is provided in the vicinity of the corner 13.The remaining part of the cargo belt 40 can now be positioned in the veryupper part of the cargo compartment 30, out of the way from any loadingactivities. Preferably, the cargo belt is placed as illustrated in the figure, with the second end 44 placed on top of the freight container 10.

From this illustration it is easily understood that loading can now beperformed without any significant disturbances from any interfering cargobelt. Figure 3 illustrates the same embodiment, but with loaded cargo units34. The cargo belt 50 is easily reachable and with its main parts situated abovethe cargo units 34. The releasable cargo-belt holder 50 is further arranged toopen the retaining opening 55 as a response to an opening action. This willalso be described in more detail further below. The cargo belt 40 is then freeto be moved and may be anchored by its second end 44 to the container 10 ina vicinity of a corner 15 between the outer wall 18 and the ﬂoor 12, and maybe tightened around the cargo units 34. The result becomes the situation illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates a ﬂow diagram of steps of an embodiment on a method forloading a freight container. In step S2, a first end of a cargo belt is anchoredat one of a ﬂoor and an inner wall of a cargo compartment of the freightcontainer in a vicinity of a corner between the inner wall and the ﬂoor. Thecargo compartment is defined by the ﬂoor, a ceiling, the inner wall, two sidewalls and an outer wall. The outer wall comprises a door and the inner wall ispositioned opposite to the outer wall. In step S4, a part of the cargo belt isreleasably fastened at one of the inner wall and the ceiling in a vicinity of acorner between the inner wall and the ceiling. In step S6, the cargo belt ispositioned in an upper part of the container from the vicinity of a cornerbetween the inner wall and the ceiling to the door by moving a second end of the cargo belt, opposite to the first end, towards the doors.

In one embodiment, the step S6 of positioning the cargo belt in an upper part of the container comprises pulling the second end out through the door.

In step S8, cargo is loaded into the cargo compartment. In step S10, the cargobelt is released from the releasable fastening. In step S12, the second end ofthe cargo belt is anchored to one of the ﬂoor and the outer wall in a vicinity ofa corner between the outer wall and the ﬂoor and the cargo belt is tightened around the loaded cargo. lO Figure 5A illustrates an embodiment of a releasable cargo-belt holder 50. Inthis embodiment, the releasable cargo-belt holder 50 comprises a band 52,preferably a polymer band. The band 52 is f1rmly attached to the inner wall20 by rivets 54. In the lower end of the band 52, the band is bent into a loop56, that can be used as a grip portion. In the level of the loop 56, at the sideof the band 52 that faces the inner wall 20, there is a permanent magnet 58attached. This permanent magnet 58 is attracted to a magnet part 23 of theinner wall 20 by magnetic forces, causing the band 52 to be held against theinner wall 20. A retaining opening 55 is thereby formed between the band 52 and the inner wall 20.

The retaining opening 55 can be opened by pulling the loop 56 out from theinner wall 20. A cargo belt can then be positioned at the location of theretaining opening 55 and the permanent magnet 58 is again contacted withthe inner wall 20. The situation then looks as in Figure 5B. The magneticforces between the permanent magnet 58 and the inner wall is strong enough to carry the load of the cargo belt 40.

When the cargo belt 40 is to be released, after loading of goods into the cargocompartment, one may simply pull the outer part of the cargo strap 40outwards, i.e. towards the doors. The cargo strap 40 will then exert a pullingforce on the band 52 and the retaining opening 55 will open and therebyreleasing the cargo strap 40. After the release, the gravity will restore the band into the original position again.

This embodiment is a simple embodiment based on mechanical/magneticcomponents. The releasable fastening is caused by a magnetic interaction, andthe releasing is based on an application of a pulling force. In other words, thereleasable cargo-belt holder 50 presents a retaining opening 55 when exposedfor a pulling force lower than a first predetermined level. That is the situation when the cargo belt is held by the releasable cargo-belt holder. The opening lO action comprises eXposing of the releasable cargo-belt holder 50 for a pulling force that is higher than the first predetermined level.

In the present embodiment, the retaining opening 55 is defined by the cargo-belt holder 50 and the inner Wall 20. In case the cargo-belt holder 50 ismounted in the ceiling, the retaining opening 55 is defined by the cargo-beltholder 50 and the ceiling. The retaining opening 55 may, as in the illustratedembodiment be formed by a soft or resilient component. This is often preferred,since the releasable cargo-belt holder 50 can be designed to occupy a verysmall volume When not being in use. HoWever, in other embodiments rigid structures presenting a space for a retaining opening 55 can also be used.

In alternative embodiments, the retaining opening can be fully defined Withinthe cargo-belt holder 50 itself. Also here, the retaining opening 55 can be constituted by soft and/ or rigid portions.

In the embodiment above, the releasable cargo-belt holder 50 operates With aretaining mechanism comprising an interaction between a permanent magnet58 and a magnetic material volume, in this case the inner Wall 20. Inalternative embodiments, a magnetic component may be provided in the innerWall 20 and the releasable cargo-belt holder 50 may instead comprise amagnetic material volume. In embodiments Where the retaining opening isfully defined Within the releasable cargo-belt holder, the releasable cargo-beltholder Will preferably comprise both a permanent magnet and a magnetic material volume.

The retaining mechanism may in alternative embodiments be of other types.Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a releasable cargo-belt holder 50operating With a retaining mechanism comprising two mechanicallyinteracting parts. Two bands 52 are arranged With a respective first end at theinner Wall 20 (or alternatively in the ceiling 14). At the second end of one ofthe bands 52, a holloW, rigid, receiving frame 60 is provided. The receiving frame has a hole 68 in one side, as illustrated by the dotted lines in the lO illustration. At the second end of the other band 52, a resilient claw 62 isprovided, presenting two protruding legs 64. The legs 64 have curved outersurfaces and are pushed away from each other by a spring arrangement 66.The legs 64 can be pushed into the hole 68, which causes the legs to bendslightly inwards in order to pass the hole 68 by their curved outer surfaces.When the curved portions have passed the hole 68, the spring arrangement66 will again separate the legs 64. A retaining opening 55 is created betweenthe bands 52.

The resilient claw 62 can again be pulled out from the hole 68 of the frame 60,but it requires a certain pulling force to overcome the spring action of thespring arrangement 66 and the inherent resilience of the legs 64. The designcan easily be adapted such that the weight of a cargo belt in not enough toremove the resilient claw 62 from the hole 68 of the frame 60, but that amoderate additional pulling force may remove the resilient claw 62 from the hole 68 of the frame 60.

The above presented embodiment is just one example of how two mechanicallyinteracting parts can be used for the releasing mechanism. Any person skilledin the art of releasing mechanisms will have knowledge of numerous of alternatives.

Seen in a procedural point of view, in one embodiment, the releasing of thecargo belt from the releasable fastening is performed by pulling the cargo belt out towards the doors.

Using a pulling force mediated by the cargo belt itself is a simple and robustsolution for causing the release. However, there are also alternatives. Thereleasable cargo-belt holder may be provided with a releasing means that isable to be controlled remotely. If the releasable cargo-belt holder e.g. is basedon a permanent magnet interaction with a magnetic material volume, a coilcan be provided in connection with the interaction area. By sending a current through the coil, a magnetic field can be produced that counteracts the lO magnetic field of the permanent magnet. The retaining opening 55 will openand release any held cargo belt. Such a current can easily be controlledremotely. Alternatively, a current can be used for creating a magnetic field bymeans of an electromagnet, by which a retaining opening 55 can be created.Such a current can be maintained during a loading period and when the loading is finished, the current can be stopped, and the cargo belt is released.

In even more elaborate solutions, the releasing means may be communicationunit, which may communicate via wires or wirelessly with a control unit. Whenrelease of the cargo belt is requested, a message can be transferred to the releasing means, which performs the actual necessary operations.

In other words, in one embodiment, the releasable cargo-belt holder comprisesa releasing means, being responsive to a signal received by wire or wirelessly, and arranged to release the cargo belt.

In a procedure view, the step of releasing the cargo belt from the releasablefastening is performed by transmitting, by wire or wireless, a signal to a releasing means, being responsive to the signal for releasing the cargo belt.

In one embodiment of a freight container, the freight container comprises the features described above and a cargo belt.

When temporarily holding two items together, the arrangements formaintaining the holding action may be provided in either of the items, or in both. This is the situation also within this field of technology.

One possibility for providing a releasable cargo belt is thus to incorporate thenecessary arrangements within the cargo belt itself. Figure 7 illustrates anembodiment of a cargo belt 40. The cargo belt 40 comprises a belt, havinganchoring devices (no shown) at each end. The cargo belt 40 further comprisesa releasable holder arrangement 50. The releasable holder arrangement 50 is configured to allow attachment to a wall or ceiling of a cargo container, e.g. 11 the inner Wall 20. The attachment is maintained When the releasable holderarrangement 50 is exposed for a pulling force lower than a first predeterminedlevel. The releasable holder arrangement 50 is further arranged to release fromthe wall or ceiling of a cargo container when exposed for a pulling force higherthan the first predetermined level. The first predetermined level is larger than the gravitational force of the belt.

In the present embodiment, the releasable holder arrangement 50 is apermanent magnet 51. The size and strength of the permanent magnet 51 isselected so that the magnetic force between the permanent magnet and amagnetic material volume 23 of the inner wall 20 exceeds the gravitationalforce on the cargo belt 40. However, the strength of the permanent magnet 51should preferably be selected so that a moderate pulling force in the cargo belt 40 easily exceeds the attractive forces.

Other alternatives can easily be though of by consulting the alternatives presented further above.

In one embodiment, a freight container a cargo compartment being defined bya ﬂoor, a ceiling, an inner wall, two side walls and an outer wall. The outerwall comprises a door. The inner wall is positioned opposite to the outer wall.The freight container further comprises a cargo belt. The cargo belt is a cargo belt according to embodiment described here above.

The embodiments described above are to be understood as a few illustrativeexamples of the present invention. It will be understood by those skilled in theart that various modifications, combinations and changes may be made to theembodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Inparticular, different part solutions in the different embodiments can becombined in other configurations, where technically possible. The scope of the present invention is, however, defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for loading a freight container (10), comprising the steps of: - anchoring (S2) a first end (42) of a cargo belt (40) at one of a ﬂoor (12)and an inner wall (20) of a cargo compartment (30) of said freight container(10) in a vicinity of a corner (11) between said inner wall (20) and said ﬂoor(12), whereby said cargo compartment (30) is defined by said ﬂoor (12), aceiling (14), said inner wall (20), two side walls (16) and an outer wall (18),wherein said outer wall (18) comprises a door (22) and wherein said inner wall(20) is positioned opposite to said outer wall (18); - releasably fastening (S4) a part of said cargo belt (40) at one of saidinner wall (20) and said ceiling (14) in a vicinity of a corner (13) between saidinner wall (20) and said ceiling (14); - positioning (S6) said cargo belt (40) in an upper part of said freightcontainer (10) from said vicinity of a corner (13) between said inner wall (20)and said ceiling (14) to said door (22) by moving a second end (44) of said cargobelt (40), opposite to said first end (42), towards the doors (22) ; - loading (S8) cargo into said cargo compartment (30) ; - releasing (S10) said cargo belt (40) from said releasable fastening; and - anchoring (S12) said second end (44) of said cargo belt (40) to one ofsaid ﬂoor (12) and said outer wall (18) in a vicinity of a corner (15) betweensaid outer wall (18) and said ﬂoor (12) and tightening said cargo belt (40) around said loaded cargo.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step ofreleasing (S10) said cargo belt (40) from said releasable fastening is performed by pulling the cargo belt (40) out towards said doors (22).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said stepof positioning (S6) said cargo belt (40) in an upper part of said freight container (10) comprises pulling said second end (44) out through said door (22). 13

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said stepof releasing (S10) said cargo belt from said releasable fastening is performedby transmitting, by wire or wireless, a signal to a releasing means, being responsive to said signal for releasing said cargo belt (40).

5. A freight container (10), comprising: - a cargo compartment (30) being defined by a ﬂoor (12), a ceiling (14),an inner wall (20), two side walls (16) and an outer wall (18) ; wherein said outer wall (18) comprises a door (22) ; wherein said inner wall (20) is positioned opposite to said outer wall(18),characterized by - a releasable cargo-belt holder (50) arranged at one of said inner wall(20) and said ceiling (14), and in a vicinity of a corner (13) between said innerwall (20) and said ceiling (14) ; said releasable cargo-belt holder (50) presenting a retainingopening(55); said releasable cargo-belt holder (50) being further arranged to open said retaining opening (55) as a response to an opening action.

6. The freight container according to claim 5, characterized in that saidreleasable cargo-belt holder (50) presents a retaining opening when exposedfor a pulling force lower than a first predetermined level, and wherein saidopening action comprises exposing said releasable cargo-belt holder (50) for a pulling force higher than said first predetermined level.

7. The freight container according to claim 5, characterized in that saidreleasable cargo-belt holder (50) comprises a releasing means, beingresponsive to a signal received by wire or wirelessly, and arranged to release said cargo belt (40). 14

8. The freight container according to any of the claims 5 to 7,characterized in that said retaining opening (55) is defined by said releasable cargo-belt holder (50) and said one of said inner Wall (20) and said ceiling (14).

9. The freight container according to any of the claims 5 to 7,characterized in that said retaining opening (55) is defined within said releasable cargo-belt holder (50).

10. The freight container according to any of the claims 5 to 9,characterized in that said releasable cargo-belt holder (50 operates with aretaining mechanism comprising an interaction between a permanent magnet (58) and a magnetic material volume (23).

11. The freight container according to any of the claims 5 to 9,characterized in that said releasable cargo-belt holder (50) operates with a retaining mechanism comprising two mechanically interacting parts.

12. A cargo belt (40), comprising: - a belt; and - anchoring devices at each end (42, 44) of said belt,characterized by - a releasable holder arrangement (50), configured to allow attachmentto a wall (20) or ceiling (14) of a freight container (10) when exposed for apulling force lower than a first predetermined level; said releasable holder arrangement (50) being further arranged torelease from said wall (20) or ceiling (14) of said freight container when exposedfor a pulling force higher than said first predetermined level; said first predetermined level being larger than the gravitational force of said belt.

13. A freight container (10), comprising:- a cargo compartment (30) being defined by a ﬂoor (12), a ceiling (14), an inner wall (22), two side walls (16) and an outer wall (18) ; lO Wherein said outer Wall (18) comprises a door (22) ; Wherein said inner Wall (20) is positioned opposite to said outer Wall(18); and- a cargo belt (40),characterized in that at least one of: said freight container (10) is a freight container according to any of the claims 5 to 11; and said cargo belt (40) is a cargo belt according to claim 12.