US3500996A

US3500996A - Shipping container

Info

Publication number: US3500996A
Application number: US771100A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis T Gorman
Original assignee: US Air Force
Current assignee: US Air Force
Priority date: 1968-10-28
Filing date: 1968-10-28
Publication date: 1970-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-17

Description

.March 17, 1970 F. T, GORMAN l i 3,500,995

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 28, 1968 United States Patent O 3,500,996 SHIPPING CONTAINER Francis T. Gorman, Lomita, Calif., assigner to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force l Filed Oct. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 771,100 Int. Cl. B65d 81 /06 U.S. Cl. 206-46 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container assembly for shipping, particularly by aircraft, a fragile or hazardous item, such as a chemical or a biological weapon. The container assembly includes: a pad of polyurethane material, having an outer lining of ablative material, in which is wrapped the item to be shipped; mating upper and lower cradle sections of balsa wood to hold and support the wrapped item; a stainless steel right circular cylinder open at one end to house the cradle sections and the wrapped item; a round stainless steel plate afxable to, removable from, and abutting with the periphery of the open end of the cylinder; mating upper and lower overpack sections of high energy-absorbing properties and low thermal conductivity, such as balsa wood, to house the cylinder; an energy-absorbing section, forward of the overpack sections and abutting the closed end of the cylinder, having an aluminum honeycomb core between a forward plate of steel and a back plate of aluminum; and a plywood case to house all of the foregoing.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a container assembly for shipping or transporting, particularly by aircraft, fragile or hazardous items or materials, such as munitions or contaminants, particularly chemical or biological weapons.

It is obvious that the aerial transportation of munitions or contaminants constitutes a hazard to public safety in the event of a crash. Indeed, if the shipment is that of chemical or biological weapons, the crash of the aircraft carrying such a load could result in a disaster of catastrophic proportions. However, in the interest of national security, and particularly when time is of the essence, the Federal Government has no alternative but to transport hazardous items, such as those mentioned, by aircraft. As a result, there is a critical need to eliminate, or at least to minimize, the danger inherent in such transportation.

My invention advances the stateof-the-art by providing a solution to this serious problem.

In essence, I have invented a leak-proof shipping container capable of withstanding the crash of the aircraft carrying it.

Although reference has been made to the use of my invention in the weapon-transporting art, it is to be noted that such reference is by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Obviously, my invention may be used in any art where the shipping or transporting of any fragile or hazardous items or materials is involved; and, my invention may be used irrespective of whether the shipment is by air, on land, or on the seas. Further, obviously, the item to be shipped need not be either fragile or hazardous. Additionally, of course, the item, whether fragile, hazardous, both or nei-ther, need not be shipped, i.e., it may be stored in the container.

Summary of the invention My invention relates to a shipping container assembly which is particularly well-suited for the transporting of munitions and contaminants by aircraft.

Thus, an object of this invention is to provide a shockresistant, lealcproof container for shipping munitions, contaminants, and the like.

3,500,996 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 ICC Obviously, another object of this invention is to prevent the activation of explosives, the leakage of contaminating materials, and similar reactions, as the result of the crash of the aircraft carrying the explosive, the contaminant, or the like.

Still another object is to provide the desired degree of shipping protection, e.g., shock-resistance and leak-resistance, easily and at low cost.

These, and still other, objects of my invention will become readily apparent after a consideration of the description of my invention and reference to the drawings.

Description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, in schematic form, of a preferred embodiment of my invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side elevation view, schematic in form and partly in perspective of some of the major components of the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG- URE 1, showing their relative position.

Description of lthe preferred embodiment With reference to FIGURES l and 2, wherein the same components are similarly numbered, shipping container assembly 10, FIGURES 1 and 2, includes a mat or pad of protective material 11, FIGURE 1, such as polyurethane, having an outer lining 12, FIGURE 1, of ablative material. The hazardous or fragile item 30, FIGURE 1, is wrapped within pad 11.

An upper cradle 13A, FIGURE 1, and a lower cradle 13B, FIGURE 1, which hold and support the item to be shipped 30, FIGURE l, and its wrapping 11 and 12, FIG- URE 1, are made preferably of balsa wood, because of its high energy-absorbing properties, low thermal conductivity, lightweight, relative ease of working, and ready availability.

Cylinder 14, FIGURES 1 and 2, is preferably in the form of a right circular one which is closed, Hat-ended, at the forward end, i.e., to fthe readers left. As a pertinent and related matter, it is here noted that the directional designations, such as forward or front and the like are intended to mean to the readers left, and backward or back and the like are intended to mean to the readers right, as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2.

Cylinder 14, FIGURES 1 and 2, is closeable, at the open back end, by afxing end plate 15, FIGURES 1 and 2, by suitable means, to the periphery of said open back end of cylinder 14. End plate 1-5 is removably affixed. A suitable means of accomplishing this removable aflixability is by Hanging the open back end of cylinder 14 and connecting end plate 15 to the ange (not shown) with a plurality of bolts.

Both cylinder 14 and end plate 15 are of stainless steel, preferably of the 321 type, i.e., American Iron and Steel Institute numerical designation 321, comprising .08% carbon, l7-l9% chromium, and 9-12% nickel.

Mating upper overpack 16A, FIGURE 1, and lower overpack 16B, FIGURES 1 and 2, are, preferably, of balsa wood and house cylinder 14 and its contents, except for the forward closed end of cylinder 15. That end of cylinder 15 abuts the back of an energy-absorbing secrtion, forward of overpacks 16A and 16B, having an aluminum honeycomb core 17, FIGURES 1 and 2, disposed between a forward plate 18, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably of steel, and a back plate 19, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably of aluminum.

A container, preferably a plywood case 20, FIGURES 1 and 2, is used to house all of the other components of the container assembly 10, and the item to be shipped 30. By plywood case applicant means a box, i.e., a rectangular receptacle having a at bottom and four upright tides, with a cover, both box and cover being made of ilywood.

Mode of operation of the preferred embodiment When a fragile or hazardous item, such as 30, FIGURE l, is to be shipped by aircraft, the item 30 is wrapped in nat or pad 11, FIGURE 1, having an outer lining 12, FIGURE 1, of an ablative material. Mat or pad 11, prefrably of polyurethane, provides a uniform bearing surface for item 30 to rest upon, helping to eliminate areas )f high stress concentration, in addition to its primary isc as a protective wrap.

The Wrapped item 30 is then placed or installed in balsa wood lower cradle 13B, FIGURE 1; and balsa wood ipper cradle 13A, FIGURE 1, is placed on top of item S and lower cradle 13B, mating with said lower cradle l3B. In an oversimpliied sense,

cradles

13A and 13B may Je considered a longitudinally cut balsa wood log hollowed out to accept the item 30 to be shipped. These :

radles

13A and 13B provide transverse support and positioning for item 30; and, should there be a crash, these :

radles

13A and 13B absorb much of the energy of fragnents, if any, which are torn loose from item 30. As a related matter, it is noted that mat or pad 11 with outer lining 12 obviates close tolerance requirements of the :

radles

13A and 13B, further simplifying cradle fabrica- ;ion techniques.

Cradles

13A and 13B containing item 30 and padding l1 are placed into cylinder 14 through the open back end )f said cylinder 14. End plate 15, FIGURES 1 and 2, is 'emovably affixed to the periphery of said open back end )f cylinder 14 with bolts; and, by suitable sealing means, ;he mating periphery of the cylinder 14 and end plate 15 s made leak-proof.

With regard to said suitable sealing means, one Such preferred means comprises, in actuality, a double seal, i.e., 1 primary seal of an O-ring in a narrow groove between the end plate 15 and annular periphery of the open back and of cylinder 14, and a second seal of injected plastic sealing compound in a narrow groove around the bolt line.

Cylinder 14 with afxed end plate 15, now forming as a. unit a closed cylinder, is placed on the lower overpack l6B, FIGURES l and 2; and upper overpack 16A, FIG- URE 1, is placed thereon, mating with cylinder 14 and lower overpack 16B. In effect, overpacks 16A and 16B are nating portions of a balsa wood 4box hollowed out to it :he cylinder. As can be seen from viewing FIGURES 1 and 2, the forward end of cylinder 14 is not within overnacks 16A and 16B. That end of cylinder 14 abuts the back of an energy-absorbing section, forward of overpacks 16A and 16B, having an aluminum honeycomb core 17, FIGURES 1 and 2, disposed between a forward plate l8, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably of steel and a back plate 19, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably of aluminum. In summary, the forward end of cylinder 14 abuts the rear 3f aluminum back plate 19.

Upon longitudinal impact of the container assembly 10, such as in an aircraft crash, steel cylinder 14 moves forward, crushes aluminum back plate 19 and in turn, back plate 19 crushes into honeycomb core 17, thus reducing the acceleration loads on the hazardous item being shipped. Additionally, the forward energy-absorbing section as a whole provides great integrity in the event of a :rash and resultant impingement of high-speed or massive fragments on the interior surface of the container assembly. Further, aluminum back plate 19 insures that the aluminum honeycomb core 17 is not affected by local eccentric external loads, and its inertia insures a translatory application of the impact load to cylinder 14.

A container 20, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably a plywood case, houses all of the other components of the container assembly 10, and the hazardous item 30 to be shipped.

While there has been shown and described the fundamental features of my invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that various substitutions and omissions may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example: (a) Although reference has been made, in describing the preferred embodiment, to a right circular cylinder 14 which is closed flat-end at the forward end, other alternative end configurations can be used, including hemispherical and conical shapes; (b) There are a number of .suitable means, other than the means mentioned, of affixing and sealing end plate 15 to cylinder 14 to render said cylinder 14 leak-proof, such as welding said end plate 15 to said cylinder 14; and (c) To insure transport flexibility the base of external container can be modified to include the features of a pallet for use with cargo-handling systems.

What I claim is:

1. A container assembly for enclosing an item, comprising:

(a) a polyurethane pad for wrapping the item to be enclosed in the container assembly, with the item being wrapped in said pad, with said pad having an outer lining of ablative material;

(b) means for holding and supporting the wrapped item, wherein said means includes mating upper and lower cradles of balsa wood;

(c) means for housing the wrapped item and for housing said means for holding and supporting the wrapped item, wherein said means includes:

(l) a stainless steel right circular cylinder closed at one end and open at the other end;

(2) and, a stainless steel end plate removably affixed to said stainless steel right circular cylinder;

(d) means for housing said means for housing the wrapped item and for housing said means for holding and supporting the wrapped item, wherein said means includes mating upper and lower overpacks of balsa wood;

(e) means for absorbing energy, forward of said means for housing said means for housing the wrapped item and for housing said means for holding and supporting the wrapped item, wherein said means includes:

(l) a forward plate of steel;

(2) a back plate of aluminum;

(3) and, an aluminum honeycomb core, disposed Vbetween said steel plate and said aluminum plate; and

(f) a completely closeable container for housing all said means, the said polyurethane pad wrapping pad with outer lining of ablative material, and the wrapped item, wherein said container is a plywood box with a plywood cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,767 1/1960 Simon et al 206-46 1,791,367 2/1931 McVay et al. 229-14 2,460,797 2/ 1949 Allington 206-46 2,516,124 7/1950 Kishibay 206-46 2,523,145 9/1950 Robinson 229--14 2,761,553 9/1956 Wheeler 206-46 2,971,640 2/1961 Snelling 206-46 3,112,043 ll/ 1963 Tucker 220-15 3,286,825 11/1966 Laas 206-46 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, J R., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.