WO2008011147A1

WO2008011147A1 - Engine shipping container

Info

Publication number: WO2008011147A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/016458
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric John Oberliesen
Original assignee: International Paper Company
Priority date: 2006-07-21
Filing date: 2007-07-20
Publication date: 2008-01-24

Abstract

An engine shipping container (15) comprises an essentially one-piece base block (20,21,22) with one or more shaped openings (23,24) for receiving portions of at least one engine supported on the block, and one or more supports (25,26) extending upwardly therefrom to engage parts of the engine to support the engine on the base block. The base block is supported in a tray (16) that preferably is secured on a pallet for ease of handling. An open-ended tubular member (17,18,19) extends over and around the base block and engine, and a hold-down pad (27,28,29) is positioned in the upper end of the tubular member and against the engine to hold the engine against the base block. A cover (30) is secured over the top of this assembly. The base block is formed of laminated sheets that are die-cut to form a predetermined number, shape, size and placement of the shaped openings, depending upon the particular engine that is to be supported.

Description

ENGINE SHIPPING CONTAINER

Technical Field:

This invention relates to shipping containers for shipping large heavy objects such as, for example, automotive engines.

Background Art:

Large heavy objects are commonly shipped in containers made of corrugated cardboard. One such container is used for shipping automotive engines. This engine shipping container has multiple interconnected parts that are assembled and glued together to form a base defining supports on which an engine is supported, and recesses providing clearance for engine components to enable the engine to sit or nest on the base. The base has a flat bottom surface that is secured with glue to the inside bottom surface of the container. The use of many separate components that have to be assembled and glued together to form the base in this prior art engine shipping container is costly and labor-intensive.

It would be desirable to have a shipping container for large heavy objects, such as automotive engines, which securely holds the engine in a desired position, and which has fewer components, is easier to assemble, and is less costly than conventional containers for this purpose.

Disclosure of the Invention:

The present invention comprises a shipping container for large heavy objects, such as automotive engines, which securely holds the engine in a desired position, and which has fewer components, is easier to assemble, and is less costly than conventional containers for this purpose.

The engine shipping container of the invention comprises an essentially one-piece base block or member with one or more shaped openings therein that provide clearance for components of at least one engine supported on the block, and one or more supports of wood or other suitable material secured to the base block and extending upwardly therefrom to engage suitable parts of the engine to stably support the engine on the base block. The base block is supported in a tray, and is preferably glued in place in the tray. The tray preferably is secured on a pallet for ease of handling. An open-ended tubular member is positioned over and around the base block and engine or engines supported thereon, and a top hold-down pad is positioned in the upper end of the tubular member and against the engine to hold the engine against the base block. A cover is secured over the top of this assembly. In one form of the invention the top hold-down pad is positioned over the top of the engine between the engine and the cover, and in another form the hold-down pad is positioned between a side or end of the engine and the tubular member and extends between a suitable engine component and the cover.

The container may be adapted to hold and support only one engine, or a plurality of engines. In one embodiment, each base block is adapted to support more than one engine, and one or more base blocks and associated engines and tubular members may be positioned side- by-side in a single tray that is secured on a pallet, for supporting multiple engines in a single container.

In a preferred embodiment, the base block is adapted to support two engines, and three base blocks and associated tubular members are supported in a tray, forming a container for supporting six engines.

The base block is formed of glued-together laminated sheets of corrugated cardboard that are die cut to form a predetermined number, shape and placement of die-cut openings that form recesses in the block to provide clearance for components of an engine supported on the block. The number, shape and positioning of the openings depends upon the particular engine that is to be supported. The supports of wood or other suitable material are secured in additional die-cut openings in the sheets that form the base block. In a preferred embodiment, the supports include relatively short supports that engage and support suitable engine components near the bottom of the engine, and relatively taller supports that engage suitable engine components near the top of the engine to prevent rocking of the engine.

By die-cutting openings of a desired shape, size, number and position in sheets of cardboard and then laminating the sheets together to form a block of the desired thickness and having openings or recesses therein to provide clearance for engine components, and by having other die-cut openings that hold support members in position to engage and support suitable engine components, fewer parts and assembly are required than with prior art containers.

Brief Description of the Drawings: The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of a portion of a prior art engine shipping container, showing the multi-component base member in a tray assembled to a pallet, and with an engine being placed on the base member.

Fig. 2 is an exploded top perspective view of an embodiment of engine shipping container according to the invention, wherein the container is adapted for holding six engines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the container adapted for holding six engines, shown partially assembled. Fig. 4 is an exploded top perspective view of the assembly pad and die-cut sheets of cardboard that are laminated together to form one of the base blocks of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of one of the tubular members for placement in surrounding relationship to a base block and engine or engines supported thereon, with a portion of the tubular member cut away to show the open-ended structure of the tubular member.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top perspective view of another embodiment of an engine shipping container according to the invention, wherein some of the supports are formed of cardboard.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a base block as used in the invention, shown removed from a container for the purpose of illustrating how the recesses in the block provide clearance for engine components and how the supports engage other engine components to support the engine.

Fig. 8 is an exploded top perspective view of another embodiment of engine shipping container according to the invention, wherein the container is adapted for holding a single engine, and hold-down pads are inserted between the engine and the sides of the tubular member.

Fig. 9 is an exploded top perspective view of a container of the invention adapted for holding two engines, and showing an alternate form of top hold-down pad that may be used to hold the engine against the base block. Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention:

A portion of a prior art engine shipping container is indicated generally at 10 in figure 1. The prior art engine shipping container has a base member 11 that comprises a plurality of intersecting shaped pieces 12 that are assembled and glued together to form recessed areas 13 on the top surface for nesting an engine E on the base. The underside of the base is generally flat so that it can be glued to the container base or tray 14.

One embodiment of a container 15 according to the invention, configured to hold six engines, is shown in figures 2-5. The container IS comprises a tray 16 secured to a pallet P, with three open-ended tubular members 17, 18 and 19 inserted side-by-side into the tray. Three base blocks 20, 21 and 22 are adapted to be inserted into a respective tubular member and adhesively secured to the tray, and each has shaped recesses 23 and 24 in the top surface for closely receiving the lower end of an engine and providing clearance for relatively fragile protruding engine components. First and second supports 25 and 26, respectively, extend upwardly from the top surface of the base blocks in spaced relation around the recesses in positions to engage suitable engine components to support the engine, and hold-down pads 27, 28 and 29 are adapted to be engaged between the top of the engines and a cover 30 to hold the engines on the base blocks. The hold-down pads may have blocks 31 and 32 on their underside (shown in dashed lines in figure 2) to contact a suitable surface on the respective engines.

In the embodiment shown the supports comprise blocks of wood, and the first supports 25 are relatively short in height and engage engine components near the bottom of the engine to substantially support the weight of the engine, and the second supports 26 are relatively greater in height and engage engine components near the top of the engine to prevent the engine from rocking, thus providing very stable support to the engine.

As seen in figure 4, the base blocks are each formed of a plurality of cardboard sheets 35 with die-cut openings 36 and 37 therethrough, adhesively laminated together on top of an assembly pad 38. The number of sheets laminated together determines the thickness of the base block, and the number, size, shape and location of the die-cut openings depends upon the particular engine to be supported. In this regard, the die-cut openings 36 are sized and shaped to closely conform to the shape of the lower end of a particular engine, including accessories projecting therefrom, and the openings 37 form pockets into which the ends of the supports 25 and 26 are inserted and glued. To assemble the container, the tray 16 is erected and fastened to the top of a pallet P. Tubular members 17, 18 and 19 are then placed in the tray, as seen in figure 2, and the base blocks 20, 21 and 22, with the supports 25 and 26 glued in their respective pockets, are dropped into the tubular members and preferably adhesively secured to the top surface of the tray. The engines are then lowered into the tubular members and onto the base blocks, with the shaped recesses 36 serving to guide the engines into proper position for resting on their respective supports 25 and 26. The top hold-down pads 27, 28 and 29 are placed in the open upper ends of the tubular members, on top of the engines, and the cover 30 is placed over the tops of the tubular members and hold-down pads. For some engine configurations, the hold- down pads may have the blocks 31 and 32 on their underside for engaging a selected part of the engine. The dimensions of the container are selected so that when the cover is in place, it firmly holds the hold-down pads against the engines to hold them down on the base blocks. The containers are usually strapped or wrapped, whereby the engines are securely held in position. An alternate container is shown at 15' in figure 6. This form of the invention is essentially the same as the container 15 described above, and differs therefrom essentially only in that the taller supports 26' are made of cardboard folded into a V-shaped transverse cross- section.

Figure 7 is for the purpose of showing how, when an engine E is supported on a base block 20, an engine accessory 40 is received in a portion of the opening 36 with ample clearance to avoid damage to the accessory, and other, sturdier engine components 41 and 42 are supported on top of the supports 25.

Figure 8 depicts a further embodiment of a container according to the invention, wherein the container 50 is sized and shaped to hold a single engine E, and instead of the hold- down pads being located on top of the engine as they are in the previous embodiments, the hold-down pads 51 in this form of the invention are inserted between the sides of the engine and the sidewalls of the tubular member 52. The base blocks (not shown) are constructed of laminated sheets of die-cut cardboard as in the previous embodiments, but a recess or cut-out 36 (not shown) is provided for only one engine. In all other respects, this form of the invention is the same as that previously described.

Figure 9 depicts a still further embodiment, wherein the container 60 is sized and shaped for holding two engines El and E2, and the hold-down pad 61, which is inserted between the sides of the engine and the sidewall of the tubular member 52', has a pair of hold- down blocks 62 and 63 thereon for engagement between a component of a respective engine El and E2 and the cover of the container to hold the engines down onto the base block. A pad 64, e.g., of fiber, of relatively harder material than the cardboard material of the hold-down block, may be affixed by gluing or other suitable fastening means on the lower ends of the blocks 62 and 63, and the lower ends of the blocks 62 and 63 may be angled or shaped to conform to the shape of the. engine component engaged thereby. It will be noted that the pad 61 has a length spanning both engines, with the blocks 62 and 63 spaced to engage a respective engine. In all other respects, this form of the invention is the same as those previously described.

It should be apparent that the size, shape, number and positions of the die-cuts can be varied to suit different engines and engine configurations, and that any number of engines, i.e., one or more, can be accommodated in a single container. Moreover, the supports can be made of wood, cardboard, or other suitable material. Although particular embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described in detail herein, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An engine shipping container, comprising: a tray; at least one essentially one-piece base block with one or more shaped openings therein adapted to receive a lower end of an engine to be supported on the block, said at least one base block being supported in said tray; one or more supports extending upwardly from the base block and adapted to engage suitable parts of an engine to stably support the engine on the base block; and an open-ended tubular member adapted to be positioned over and around said at least one base block and an engine or engines supported thereon.

2. An engine shipping container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a top hold-down pad is adapted to be positioned in an upper end of the tubular member and against an engine to hold the engine against the base block.

3. An engine shipping container as claimed in claim 2, wherein: a cover is secured over the top of the hold-down pad.

4. An engine shipping container as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the top hold-down pad is adapted to be positioned over the top of an engine, between the engine and the cover.

5. An engine shipping container as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the hold-down pad is adapted to be positioned between a side or end of an engine and the tubular member and to extend between an engine component and the cover.

6. An engine shipping container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the base block comprises a plurality of sheets of cardboard laminated together, said sheets being die-cut to form said one or more shaped openings.

7. An engine shipping container as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said one or more supports are adhesively secured in die-cut openings in said at least one base block.