WO2010106367A2 - 20-20 seacell - Google Patents

20-20 seacell Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010106367A2
WO2010106367A2 PCT/GB2010/050462 GB2010050462W WO2010106367A2 WO 2010106367 A2 WO2010106367 A2 WO 2010106367A2 GB 2010050462 W GB2010050462 W GB 2010050462W WO 2010106367 A2 WO2010106367 A2 WO 2010106367A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
container
span
corner
containers
standard
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2010/050462
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2010106367A3 (fr
Inventor
Martin Clive-Smith
John Evans
Original Assignee
Martin Clive-Smith
John Evans
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Martin Clive-Smith, John Evans filed Critical Martin Clive-Smith
Priority to CN201080021981.8A priority Critical patent/CN102639411B/zh
Priority to GB1117314.3A priority patent/GB2481165B/en
Publication of WO2010106367A2 publication Critical patent/WO2010106367A2/fr
Publication of WO2010106367A3 publication Critical patent/WO2010106367A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/02—Large containers rigid
    • B65D88/12—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport
    • B65D88/121—ISO containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D90/0006—Coupling devices between containers, e.g. ISO-containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D90/0026—Corner fittings characterised by shape, configuration or number of openings

Definitions

  • the geometry of an ISO container is partly defi ned by its bounding, some eight, opposite corners or corner outer extremities.
  • a capture, handling and support fi tting configured as a rectangular box, typically a hollow steel casting, some 180 x 165 x 120mm, having in its three mutually orthogonal outward faces female handling apertures of defi ned standardised size, strength and location, for reception of complementary male insertion and rotatable capture and locking fi ttings, such as so- called twistlocks.
  • a massive international handling, storage and transport infrastructure has grown up over the past 40 years to take advantage of this standard.
  • fitting span standardisation embraces such diverse facilities and scenarios as cranes fi tted with lifting frames and twistlocks; loading of containers on to vehicles or structures with twistlocks; stacking containers one with or upon another; handling fi ttings, twistlocks and all manner of devices and systems for ready location, dock, lock captive, nest, lift, transported or storage.
  • many different types of containers have been devised, such as dry freight boxes, tanks, refrigerated units, as well as open-framed, platform deck or so-called fl at rack containers.
  • the mobile handling and static docking facilities generally feature male locking elements, such as twist locks, at an indexed spacing reflecting the ISO standard.
  • the containerised load environment itself carried carries complementary female elements, such as box fi ttings, expressed as corner castings, with face apertures to receive male twistlock elements. These are normally also indexed to the ISO standard to allow capture and handling through locking by the male elements, but in the present invention, the Applicant envisages a departure from convention; one preserving conformity with the ISO standard, but allowing for greater container internal load capacity, albeit an apparently non-intuitive outcome.
  • ISO Series 1 containers are some 8ft wide and either of two common nominal lengths - specifically, some 40ft (40') and 20ft (20').
  • the 40ft containers are indeed (externally) some 40ft long.
  • the nominally 20ft ISO containers are somewhat shorter at (externally) some 19ft 10V-in, to enable them to be carried in tandem end-to-end juxtaposition, using both nominal 20' and 40' standard span fi ttings, in diverse storage environments, such as within ship holds and upon road or rail vehicle chassis or platform decks, with a some 3 inch (3") working clearance between them.
  • Tantlinger who invented the freight container much as known today.
  • Tantlinger envisaged containers being linked together with coupling devices. Variants of these have subsequently been developed for wider roles, such as per US 4,993,125 Capron, with adjustable locking coupling interlinkage between containers.
  • the ISO 20ft container external overall length is nominally some 6058mm, but that is reduced by an intruding door thickness or depth (some 110mm) and front end walls thickness or depth (some 45mm) - leaving a net internal length of less than circa 5903mm.
  • Only 4 rows of pallets of 1200mm length can be fitted in - sacrificing or wasting from the palletised load capacity potential some 1100mm of length - for the want or lack of a mere some 100mm plus working clearance.
  • an end access door might be devised which was slim enough to allow the internal length requirement of say 6025mm.
  • this is a tough environment with containers colliding into each other and surrounding structures during handling, so it would be a challenge to contrive a slim door able to withstand the heaving impacts and then still retain water-tightness and operating geometry throughout their working life.
  • such a longer container would need to have the internal length needed by 1200mm pallets, along with a reasonable working (end) clearance, strong doors and front walls, and at the same time meet the geometric requirements of established capture, handling and support facilities and infrastructure, such as crane spreaders, train wagons, road trailers and chassis, cell guides within ships, locate on ship decks, and do all this whilst being (backwards) compatible with existing sizes of ISO containers to sit along side, on top and below them.
  • capture, handling and support facilities and infrastructure such as crane spreaders, train wagons, road trailers and chassis, cell guides within ships, locate on ship decks, and do all this whilst being (backwards) compatible with existing sizes of ISO containers to sit along side, on top and below them.
  • Example spreader frames for crane lifts include US 5,183,305 Nordstrom and US 2006/0243724 Shan.
  • Earlier so-called 'Sea Cell' proposals include GB 2,288,791.
  • Diverse variant corner connector links for tandem container interlocation have been proposed, such as US 3,365,229 Hitch, US 3,578,374 Glassmeyer, US 3,599,824 Pneuman, US 3,972, 439 DiMartino, US 4,942,975 Capron, US 5,454,673 DiMartino.
  • Interlinking of different container spans has also been proposed, such as per US 4,993,125 Capron, which also allows adjustment of end gaps between containers mutually intercoupled in tandem.
  • One aspect of the present invention provides a container with an extended cargo capacity, such as through footprint or planform, bounded by extended corner extremities of extended capture, handling and support fittings, with inset or inboard portions in conformity with a standard span, such as ISO series 1 , but outboard portions extending to the container margins.
  • a freight container conforming to or compatible with an ISO standard is fi tted with capture, handling and support fittings, such as corner castings, as female reception part of twistlocks assemblies, with longitudinally elongated, extended and/or displaced access apertures juxtaposed with container body extension to bolster internal load capacity. This allows the fi ttings to extend to the container body margins as bounding corner edges, but with portions still at a consistent disposition to fi t ISO standards.
  • Container body extensions of the invention whether as part of an original equipment build or a retro-fi t, aftermarket conversion, can be at either one or both ends, so the containers can be orientated either way around for flexibility in (un)loading.
  • the relative displacement or offset of container end body and end fi ttings allows additional container loading capacity by extending the load space footprint somewhat.
  • the fi ttings, or rather female fitting apertures to receive male capture and locking elements, such as twistlocks, remain consistent with the ISO standard, in particular as regards longitudinal span, but can extend to the bounding opposite corner extremities of the end extended container body. This mean that such extended containers according to the invention can be placed in tandem abutment, with no or minimal intervening gap, which becomes newly available load capacity, whilst the underpinning and overlying corner fi ttings, or rather their respective apertures remain consistent with the ISO handling standard span.
  • the outer boundary of containers in tandem remains a principal span constraint, typically some 40' or more latterly with longer containers, some 45' or even 48', within or between which extended capacity containers of the invention must fit, whilst complying with intermediate handling span standards.
  • a primary subdivision of the full span is one half; hence a pair of 20' containers in tandem for a collective 40' span; and so on for other overall span bounds.
  • other pairings or grouping are tenable in principle, such as, say, one quarter or one third and integer multiples thereof, the half and half split is a predominant target consideration.
  • Such 50-50 or half-and-half pairs may be symmetrical, but asymmetric pairings are tenable, provided still consistent with both outer and intermediate fi tting span standards.
  • the span standard also defi nes or prescribes the upright or vertical loading axis alignment for lifting or stacking of mutually overlying containers.
  • corner end posts can transfer tension or compression loads between upper and lower level corner fi ttings. So relative fitting alignment is important.
  • Broken reference lines are used in the drawings to depict male fi tting centre-line axes.
  • the Applicant has devised slender profi Ie corner post configurations, such as post upright panels of offset or dog-leg 'L' section, at least at one side, to greater end access width at an (un)loading end; so standard pallets can be introduced or removed longitudinally, ie a direct in-and-out translation, without laborious transverse or sideways interim shuffl ing.
  • slender profi Ie corner post configurations such as post upright panels of offset or dog-leg 'L' section, at least at one side, to greater end access width at an (un)loading end; so standard pallets can be introduced or removed longitudinally, ie a direct in-and-out translation, without laborious transverse or sideways interim shuffl ing.
  • two lines or rows of palets can occupy the internal loadspace footprint side-by-side, with corresponding pallets in line.
  • Tandem extended capacity containers of the invention can sit upon an intermediate ISO standard indexed matrix footprint of male fittings, such as those set at half full span, whether locating studs or twistlocks, whilst the overall span remains consistent with the outboard standard handling span, whether 40', or latterly longer 45' or 48'.
  • the upper fittings are similarly presented at the intermediate ISO standard index dispositions and so available for overhead handling or stacking.
  • handling at full-span such as by using a crane lift spreader frame arms with a 40' capacity span, is convenient and sufficient, provided the intermediate lesser, in particular half-span, containers are securely tied or bound together, and so can be treated as a unitary load.
  • the Applicant envisages special tie-in provision for this, whilst preserving face aperture access for conventional fittings, whether merely inserted for indexed location or locked in situ.
  • container intercoupling could be through or alongside the body of an extended corner fi tting. This allows a compact non-intrusive installation.
  • An example is a longitudinal-throw elongate bolt, such as with a sliding drive wedge retainer head at a driving end opposite to a location end.
  • a sliding or combination slide and rotation bolt action could be used.
  • An orthogonal screw drive could also be employed for translational driving or retraction movement of the wedge itself, with a standard bolt head termination, accessible at the container bottom or top edge margins.
  • Such interlocking provision could be at upper and/or lower levels, in order to distribute the mutual load transfer and sharing between end-paired, interlocked containers.
  • the parting or separation loads between container suspended together in tandem would be at the upper level, placing the intercouple links in tension as the containers tend to tip about their abutting inboard end lower edges.
  • a visual indication of positive container interlock would be desirable as an affi rmation that tied containers can be safely lifted as a single entity; similarly with unlocking for separation and independent handling.
  • mis-loading or mis-stacking specifi cally mutually offset loading of intermediate, say 20', span containers.
  • the principle applies to other overall spans such as 45' and 48', and their equivalent lesser, intermediate, and in particular half spans.
  • Relative offset in stacking can lead to imbalance and eventual toppling or indeed local crushing or collapse of underlying container walls, if the stacking loads do not at least marginally overly, if not sit squarely upon corner fi ttings and so spread through the container peripheral bounding frame, in particular upright corner posts between upper and lower corner fittings.
  • an extreme lateral offset could allow loading of one an underlying container by both a more directly overlying container end and one from a laterally adjacent container one end of which has shifted sideways in the over-generous, mis-used or mis-appropriated clearances.
  • Some variants of the invention allow for a modest elongation of corner fi tting location or reception aperture giving some greater leeway or tolerance for insertion of male index portions.
  • the extended capacity containers of the invention may themselves be loaded in snug fi tting abutment, consuming the former some 3' intervening clearance, but leaving either a snug fi t between outermost end bounds or a modest clearance, say of some 1" at each end.
  • local container body extensions could be allowed marginally to overlay snug fitting base end stops, such as fitted to a platform loading deck.
  • the longitudinal end extensions take up what was formerly 3" of free space between juxtaposed container ends, so reducing the lateral clearance or side-play which might lead to mis-stacking.
  • container bodies or a crane spreader had can be set against initially against a cell guide bounding wall as a starting reference location.
  • the extended corner fitting profiles provide a generous bearing overlap area for stacking. This along with the ISO disposed index portions of the corner fi ttings, inset from the container body outer margins, in substantial and sufficient load bearing overlap, even if not precisely in alignment.
  • Special aperture profi les, profile stretch or elongation and/or dispositions of corner fi ttings allow flexibility in tandem container mutual disposition and intercoupling, with a somewhat greater, in particular longer, internal load capacity, consistent with the container external fi tting span, footprint or planform, yet for capture, handling and support purposes to remain disposed at or compatible with ISO standard spans, whilst the container external footprint and/or internal load space is not constrained by, but can extend longitudinally beyond, the ISO limit.
  • a container is bounded at is opposite corners or corner extremities, by 8 corresponding corner fittings, each configured as a twistlock female part corner box casting with outer face apertures; in an overall rectangular or elongate cuboid disposition, and having in their respective horizontal outer faces handling apertures with at least an accessible or engageable portion compatible in location and/or size with the ISO series 1 infrastructure standards, but allowing an overall container internal length capacity greater than that which would arise with the ISO 19ft10V-in length limit, such as by local container body extension, overhang or intrusion between and/or over fi ttings.
  • container ends or rather end capacity for loading, can protrudes beyond and between both underpinning and overlying end fitting portions at standard span, and into what was formerly unutilised, and so wasted, space between standard containers.
  • a fi tting extension can also follow this.
  • a container of the invention could incorporate certain hitherto known functional or structural features, such as side walls and/or doors and/or front walls and/or base and/or front corner posts and/or rear corner posts; examples being featured in GB 2288791 and/or pallet wide containers sold under the Trade Marks of SEACELL or CPC.
  • An individual container of the invention could have a length of some 20ft, for compatibility with generic containers of that span.
  • a pair of such containers when located on or within a footprint allocated for a 40ft ISO (series 1) container, can be accommodated within that length. That said, in more 'freeform' variants of the invention discussed later, other bespoke intermediate spans could be adopted for fl exibility or specialist use.
  • Unitary Combination Module A pair of containers, when linked together, could form an integrated or unitary 40ft long 'combination' module, which can be located within boundary wall upstands, such as cell guides within a container ship cargo hold, set to accommodate a 40ft ISO (series 1) container.
  • a container of the invention When located in a space allocated for a 40ft ISO, say series 1 , container, a container of the invention can be accommodated without extending beyond the overall 40ft length and engage with male (say, twistlock) fi ttings located in a supporting structure located at the ISO defi ned or prescribed positions.
  • One example container format could have an internal length greater than 6000mm.
  • Another container format could have an internal width wider than 2400mm, over a length of 6000mm.
  • a further container format could have corner fittings with elongate slots in their outer horizontal surfaces of length more than 126mm long (say, 140mm, or 145mm).
  • Handling apertures and locating apertures could be located and sized to accept twistlock male elements or 'cones' (ie profi led projections for location and guidance into twistlocks entry and capture) situated at those standardised locations and sizes for ISO series 1 containers, such as might be found on crane spreaders, rail wagons, road trailers and chassis, ship cells, on ship decks, and other vehicle and transport devices.
  • a container of the invention could be mutually intercoupled or interlinked with another container when disposed end-tq-end in tandem, by means of integrated bespoke, say longitudinally extendible and retractable, linking devices, to conjoin the pair as a unitary combination shipping module.
  • Such linking devices could be located at diagonally opposite corner fi ttings, two each per container front and rear end.
  • a demountable or captive intercouple or interlink two or more said containers together utilises an ISO standard confi gured transport chassis as a former or guide, to position the containers next to each other prior to interlinking.
  • a sliding pin bolt interlink assembly is fitted in a container frame or edge rail, operative alongside box casting corner fittings for container capture, handling and support.
  • a container can be interlinked with linking devices, to enable two or more of the containers to be connected end-to-end to each other to form a single or unitary combined shipping module, presenting the end-most corner fi tting apertures and/or external faces located at ISO, say series 1 , container positions.
  • aspects of the invention allow a container storage footprint to extend somewhat beyond the confines of an intermediate, say 20', ISO standard, but to remain overall within a corresponding, say, 40' ISO standard. This also applies for other full span standards, such as 45' or 48', and respective intermediate, in particular half spans.
  • Such container body or cargo hold envelope or footprint extension could be through a bespoke body, or local body extensions of an otherwise conventional container. Relaxation of the former constraint of corner fittings and container body allows modest additional longitudinal footprint at either one or both ends for a symmetrical and so reversible disposition. Corner fittings could be extended from their normal disposition and span to reach alongside container cargo hold extension.
  • Fitting capture, location and locking face apertures as female coupling receptors could be elongated to preserve consistency with both with an intermediate, say 20', ISO standard span and the fitting body extension.
  • lntercouple links between corner fittings are known in the art acknowledged, but with face access obstruction and general incompatibility with dual roles of general container handling and stacking alongside mutual juxtaposed container interlink in tandem end to end disposition.
  • Use of links to join a disparate variety of intermediate container spans is known, but not at an upper and/or lower level, in conjunction with regular span twistlock mountings, say at a lower level.
  • An intermediate adjustable span or reach frame disposal between all end fittings allows a diversity of interim container mix, within the footprint of a 40' standard overall span.
  • Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pair of containers at different loading stages in tandem end-to- end upon a flat bed open ladder frame chassis road trailer;
  • Figures 2A and 2B shows local detail respectively of upper and lower capture, handling and support fittings for containers such as of Figure 1 ;
  • Figures 3A through 3H show [part-sectioned side elevations of various container fi tting configurations in end-to-end juxtaposition;
  • Figure 3A shows a pair of conventional 20' ISO containers with their respective corner fi ttings in tandem with a central intervening gap therebetween;
  • Figure 3B shows a pair of extended body containers of the invention in end-to-end juxtaposition, with respective inboard end fittings in mutual abutment upon male locating upstands and outboard ends in abutment with outermost end stops or walls and a residual gap between containers;
  • Figure 3C shows shows a conventional container and container of the invention with local end wall extension in end-to-end juxtaposition, along with an intercoupling link option depicted in broken outline;
  • Figure 3D shows an (un)loading stage of Figure 3A, for conventional containers in tandem, with a generous, typically some 3", intervening gap at mid-span, whilst outermost ends are in abutment with end stops on a loading platform; corner fittings are depicted as defining the container extremities or bounds, with a container body, and thus internal load capacity, lying within and thus somewhat less than than the full fitting footprint span; one container is shown partly elevated, but in abutment with an end stop upstand and juxtaposed with another container resting upon a base deck platform in abutment with opposite end stop upstand;
  • Figure 3E shows an (un)loading stage of Figure 3B or rather minor variant of that, for extended capacity and load footprint containers set end to end in tandem; with minimal or no intervening clearance; that is the containers or rather their upper and lower corner fi ttings could be in abutment contact at a common inboard end;
  • Figure 3F shows a stacked 'full' span, say 40', 45' or 48', container loading confi guration within the cell guides ** of a ship vessel hold; with the scope of mutual lateral offset within the end tolerances provided; thus each container ** can move to one side or the other, up to abutment with the cell guide wall end bounds; but the individual container lateral offset is not necessarily to the same side as another immediately underlying or overlying container, with a maximum relative lateral offset being with the containers set to opposite cell bounds; this is the relative disposition depicted in Figure 3F; the containers remain with their respective corner extremity fittings generally aligned and in contact abutment so situated for mutual (vertical) load transfer; in the platform base deck of the cell guide hold base male fi ttings, such as twistlocks, are generally not provided for supplementary position index; in order to adapt the full span cell guide hold to lesser, in particular two half span container spans, such as 20', it was practice at one time to fi t an divider container wall for a
  • Figure 3G shows container stacking of conventional nominal 20', actual 19' 10.5", containers with extreme lateral offset, with potential for overlying fi tting misalignment, to the extend of allowing a laterally offset upper container to rest upon an adjacent underlying container in addition to an immediately underlying container ** so imposing an excessive localised stacking load burden, which container design standards have not addressed, so possibly beyond safe working loads or safety margins, with attendant risk of container buckling and jamming the stack in the hold;
  • Figure 3H shows a resolution of such a lateral offset overload risk, with extended capacity and longitudinal footprint containers of the invention; which collectively occupy the majority or all of what was mid-span dead-space of some 3" for nominal 20' standard conventional containers; in the bottom row, two extended containers are set end-to-end in abutment with each other at their inboard ends and with the cell walls at their outboard ends; in the upper level, a conventional and an extended container are juxtaposed, leaving an end clearance of some 1.5" at one side; thus container corner edges can remain mutual abutment while at least one is in abutment with the cell hold side wall; all overlying corner fi ttings are in reasonable alignment and capable of transmitting handling and stacking loads; the worst case lateral offset is thus constrained;
  • Figures 4A through 4C show various palletised load confi gurations, with different pallet orientations, for extended container formats of the invention; More specifically ...
  • Figure 4A shows a container load space with slim walls to bolster load capacity
  • Figure 4B shows an optimised palletised loading confi guration, using extended capacity containers of the invention, to allow an overall capacity of 12 pallets, in 2 symmetrical rows, each of 6 pallets; leaving minimal residual space and allowing a snug mutually locating fi t;
  • Figure 4C shows a somewhat expanded load capacity, compared with conventional container foot print, using a slim wall configuration, to admit twin rows of pallets, with 5 pallets in each row in mutual alignment with corresponding pallet dispositions fo the opposite row; so less than achievable with extended containers of the invention;
  • Figures 5A and 5B reflect the reduced capacity constraints of conventional containers for palletised loading, with awkward relative disposition of rows for (un)loading, and wasted internal capacity;
  • Figure 5A shows a reduced or constrained capacity palletised loading confi guration through mis-match or disconformity of palletisation vs containerisation standards; an ideal pallet arrangement would extend beyond container confi nes, reflecting in part intrusive container wall thickness;
  • Figure 5B shows a conventional container load capacity footprint ,with an alternative pallet arrangement of reversed orientation between rows, for a total 9 pallet capacity, but still leaving unutilised and so wasted internal capacity;
  • Figures 6A through 6C show provision for container mutual intercouple, independent of handling fi tting capture, handling and support; More specifically ...
  • Figure 6A shows local detail of an interlink or intercouple between container corner fi ttings of juxtaposed ends of containers in tandem;
  • Figure 6B shows a juxtaposed pair of container ends with an intervening array of diagonal opposed paired interlinks mounted ready for use at corner end fi ttings
  • Figure 6C shows a box mounting for a slide bolt with end capture for mounting at container frame edges of one container and operative upon another container in mutual end-to-end abutment; more detail being shown in Figures 7A through 7G;
  • Figures 7A through 7G show detail of container top and bottom interlinking through a sliding bolt and captive head arrangement, fitted at top and bottom frames or rails; More specifically ...
  • Figures 7A through 7C show top intercouple bolt assemblies, set within respective mounting trays to fi t within container outer frame margins;
  • Figure 7A shows abutting extended container top corner edges with elongate longitudinal slide bolt on one container retracted
  • Figure 7B shows the Figure 7A scenarios with link bold extended, ready for capture of its waisted head by a sliding wedge jaw of the opposite container
  • Figure 7C shows a progression from Figure 7B with locking wedge engaged with bold head by a screw bolt drive
  • Figure 7D shows an underside view of juxtaposed containers, with lock bolt retracted
  • Figure 7E shows a progression of Figure 7D with containers in end to end abutment and lock bolt extended
  • Figure 7F shows a progression of Figure 7F with link bolt locked or held captive by a sliding wedge retainer operative at the driving end;
  • Figure 7G shows an isolated detail of a lock bolt, with oval head for locking capture in a reception aperture
  • Figures 8A and 8B show individual nominal 20' standard span containers and paired end-to-end in tandem within an ISO standard span with intervening mid-span clearance; along with internal capacity mis-match constraints for palletised loads;
  • Figure 8A shows an individual 20' span container with constrained internal capacity palletised loads, compromised by unutilised end space insuffi cient to accommodate an integer pallet span, and so wasted;
  • Figure 8B shows a pair of containers of Figure 8A disposed in tandem within a 40' overall ISO standard span with wasted intervening capacity, unavailable to resolve the palletisation constraint;
  • Figure 9 shows a 40' standard span container with internal integer palletised load capacity
  • Figures 10A through 10C show extended capacity containers and corner end fi tting adaptation and extension of the invention
  • corner fittings extend between the standard span disposition and the container extended outer margins, for compatibility with standard but without attendant capacity constraint; More specifically ...
  • Figure 1OA shows an extended 20' container with a body extension at both ends for greater internal loadspace capacity or longer footprint fit more integer pallets than a standard 20' container
  • Figure 10B shows a local enlarged detail of an extended container body and corner fi tting disposition
  • Figure 10C shows a 20' container extended at one end
  • Figures 11 A through 11 C show extended 20' container end juxtaposition or abutment, with respective end fittings and container body offset, elongation and/or re-disposition adapted of the invention
  • Figure 11 A shows a tandem pair of end extended 20' containers with;
  • Figure 11 B shows a local enlarged detail of Figure 11 A;
  • Figure 11 C shows a tandem pair of extended 20' containers;
  • Figures 12A through 12F show variant intermediate span containers set in combination within an overall standard 40' span; More specifically ...
  • Figure 12A shows a full 40' ISO standard span unitary container with uncompromised integer palletised load capacity, as a comparative reference for Figures 12B - 12F;
  • Figure 12B shows a pair of extended 20' span containers of the invention
  • Figure 12C shows a combination of standard 20' ISO span container and extended capacity 20' container of the invention, all within the footprint of a 40' ISO standard span;
  • Figure 12D shows a combination tandem pair of extended 20' containers of the invention
  • Figure 12E shows a combination tandem pair of 2 shortened 10' span containers with an extended 20' span container of the invention
  • Figure 12F shows a mixed format flexible combination of 20' standard and non-standard containers of the invention
  • Some aspects of the invention address particular joint standard spans, such as 20' and 40'. Others admit a diversity of variant infill within an overall standard span, including, but not restricted to, an ISO standard 40' span, or more recent longer 45' and 48' spans. Still others address a fi tting adaptation, conversion, extension, interlink or interconnection facility directly between otherwise separate and independent containers and their corner extremities or fi ttings.
  • a prime loading scenario is containers of intermediate span set in tandem end-to-end abutment with a double span confines; that is a 'half-and-half arrangement; designated by the Applicants in the case of a 20' intermediate span as a '20-20' format.
  • An example extended 20' container of the invention has outboard corner (box casting) fi ttings 12 capable of 60 tonne gross lift load; with an elongated corner casting profi Ie to extend to the outer margins, but with inset or inboard portions still to present reception apertures at ISO standard disposition; this with an overall external length of some 20' or 6096mm and internal load bay capacity length or longitudinal span of 6000mm.
  • box casting fi ttings 12 capable of 60 tonne gross lift load
  • an elongated corner casting profi Ie to extend to the outer margins, but with inset or inboard portions still to present reception apertures at ISO standard disposition; this with an overall external length of some 20' or 6096mm and internal load bay capacity length or longitudinal span of 6000mm.
  • certain features from the Applicants' earlier designs on slim walls, end access doors and corner post profiles to bolster loadspace capacity and give readier direct pallet access.
  • Figure 1 shows a rectangular box, elongated or oblong cube shaped freight container 11 typically 6059mm long. At each of its corners is a capture, handling and support fi tting, specifically a rectangular box fitting 12 at the top four corners and a corresponding fi tting 13 at the four bottom corners.
  • FIG. 2 is a simplified local enlargement detail of top and bottom corner fi ttings 12 and 13 respectively, showing reception apertures 19, 20 and 21 in the outward wall faces of a top fi tting 12 and apertures 19, 21 and 22 in a corresponding bottom fitting 13.
  • the top aperture 20 of fitting 12 is somewhat elongated so, by inserting a male fitting, such as a twistlock 18 of complementary profi Ie into it, and by rotating the twistlock head through 90 degrees, the fitting 12, 13 and container 11 can be mutually entrained.
  • a rotational clamping action arises through head face indexing upon a shaft 15, 16.
  • a twistlock 18 engaged with the bottom fitting 13 through aperture 22 can be rotated to bear down upon, clamp-lock and so secure the container 11 via the fittings 13 to a base platform, frame or other transport surface. Locking aside, insertion of a male locking element has an indexed location role, useful for positioning.
  • Figure 1 shows a road trailer ** with open lattice-frame chassis rails ** adapted to transport containers 11 .
  • One container 11 is already located at a rearward loading station on the trailer and secured by trailer mounted twistlocks 14, at locations precisely defi ned by international ISO standards. Still available are twistlocks 15 and 16 bounding a forward loading station. If the suspended container 11 is lowered down onto the trailer ** once positioned over the forward station twistlocks 15, 16, its bottom fi ttings 13 will move down over the twistlocks 15 and 16 and can be locked thereby to the trailer ** .
  • Container lifting and suspension for sideways positioning is typically via cranes fi tted with spreader frames 17 having four depending twistlocks 18 for alignment with apertures 21 in horizontal upper faces of top fi ttings 12.
  • a generic container category can locate upon trailers, be lifted and carried by spreader frames and interlock with each other when stacked, such as on ships, or be carried on rail wagons, simply by complying with international (ISO) standards on twistlocks and fi ttings.
  • ISO international
  • Figure 3A, 3B and 3C show enlarged local side elevation detail with the fi ttings part cut-away to reveal their horizontal face apertures sectioned, collectively seated upon a support platform complete with locating twistlocks 15, 16, serving as male docking upstands for insertion, location and optional locking.
  • Figure 3A shows a bounded load support platform, which might be a trailer chassis, rail wagon, ship's deck or other transport or support platform. Upon it are fitted a series of twistlocks 15, 16 at ISO locations. At each end are abutment stops 19, with a chamfered upstand guide faces; in this example located precisely at a distance of 40ft apart, such that if a 40ft long ISO standard container were placed between them it would just fit snugly.
  • Containers 31 and 37 represent 20ft ISO containers, which are 19ft 10 1/2in long, so that when located over the twistlock and up against the stops 19, there is an unutilised space 18 of some 3 inches span in between them. It is the utilisation or obviation of this unused space which is a feature of this invention.
  • Figure 3B shows the same platform 16, twistlocks 15, 16 and end stops 19 as Figure 3A.
  • Underlying twistlock corner end fittings 23 have been extended compared to fittings 13 and their respective apertures 10', 12' elongated as illustrated. This to enable them to locate easily over the existing geometry of the twistlocks 15, 16 and not extend beyond the stops 19.
  • the top fi ttings 12 of container 22 remain as a 20ft ISO container, but with the container 22 extending out locally alongside and beyond at one end, to intrude into the space 18 beyond the outer face of the fitting * 2.
  • containers 27, 28 have fi ttings * 2, * 3, all at the 20ft ISO container positions, and the containers are extended locally outward at one end 24 / 29, so that container 28 extends into what was hitherto free space 18 and container 27 extends as a protrusion 26 above and beyond the stops 19.
  • the container extension in this example would preferably be at one end, specifi cally the rear door end, where there is generally unused space outside the container, used to house the locking system which holds the read doors 29 secure.
  • Two coupling devices 25 shown in dotted or broken line can be accommodated, because the gap between the corner fi ttings 12 and 12', 13 and 13' are some 3 inches in conformity with the ISO standard.
  • Figure 4 shows a shortened plan view of a container 11 according to the invention, which houses pallets 32 in 3 rows. It achieves this by making use of the known 'over-width' features of so-called SeaCell and CPC patents, and which feature side walls 34 projecting out sideways somewhat beyond the confi nes of 'L'-section corner posts 35.
  • the pallets 32 nest up against a front wall 31 , nest snugly into the corner posts 35 and back to the doors 30.
  • a working clearance 37 of, say, some 6 to 10mm to allow for discrepancies in packing on the pallets.
  • Figure 5 shows a standard ISO container 38 in the same comparative view as Figure 4.
  • the side walls 39 are on these containers recessed within the corner posts 35, 36 and the overall length of the container is shorter than container 11 , reducing the internal length between doors 30 and front wall 32 by some 1 V- inches or so.
  • the same pallets 32 when loaded into the container 38 cannot all be accommodated , as depicted in broken outline for excess pallets 40, somewhat too large to fi t within the width between side walls and the length between front wall and doors.
  • FIGS 6 and 7 show an additional (optional) feature of the invention, in which the juxtaposed corner fittings 13, 13' of two adjacent containers 11 , 11 ' are linked together by locking devices 41 , which enable two or more containers 11 , 11 ' to be lifted together.
  • the locking device 41 can be built in to the containers, or as a separate device.
  • the device 41 can be located at all corners, or only at two diagonally opposite corners of just the front end walls, so that two containers 11 , 11 ' placed front end to front end will be offering their respective two devices up to (formerly) vacant corner fi ttings, thus enabling four corners to be locked together, yet with provision of only two devices per container. Fitting Disposition Constraint
  • a key requirement or constraint for conformity with established handling standards is disposition of fittings, rather than the container proper.
  • container load capacity footprint or planform can be shifted somewhat in relation to respective fitting disposition.
  • Principal constraints being the interval between opposite end stops, or equivalent cell guide boundaries, and outboard end fi ttings.
  • the challenge is to preserve conformity with established standard limitations at both full and intermediate span, rather than simply optimising space utilisation within the full standard span without regard to established standards, in particular for the intermediate span. It would be commercially futile to seek unilaterally to establish a new standard or to adopt a unique internal standard. That said, for specialist applications, such as those where containers are circulated in a closed or controllable environment, the invention allows for variant solutions to fitting disposition in relation to load space or container footprint.
  • Non-Standard Solution - Diversity of lnfi Il Between Standard Span Fittings A wider aspect of the invention embraces different ways of using the intervening space between outermost standard 40' fittings.
  • a standard intermediate span fitting provision would be useful in sharing loads, special elongated and/or offset disposition bridging frames and fittings could be contrived to span the otherwise irregular interval between intermediate containers and the standard span fi ttings. That said, with containers in direct abutment contact, a coupling mounted upon one can be operative on the other. With couplings mounted upon different containers a different corner stations, the mutual coupling mechanism complexity is evenly distributed, as is the mutual shared coupling load.
  • Manual or powered slide bolt coupling of peripheral frames as in the Figure 7 sequences illustrations (derived by 3D graphic modelling) is robust with ready access for operation and maintenance at the container outer margins.
  • a wedge action bolt head capture at either or both the driving and driven bolt ends provides a secure mechanical lock.
  • a threaded wedge transfer drive allows a standard profi Ie drive bolt head to emerge for convenient operator access.
  • a prime category of intermediate container is those meeting the 20' standard span, if not directly then through special offset or elongate fittings, as previously described.
  • the overall intention is fl exibility in utilisation, whilst still allowing cluster or grouping for unitary handling and treatment as a 40' module, with freedom from certain intermediate span fi tting constraints or limitations.
  • the 20' and 40' relationship is a prime but non-limiting example of intermediate and full span, in even half-and-half proportion.
  • the container extension measures are not contingent upon slender body panel, frame or post construction but those measures may usefully be used in conjunction.
  • An extended capacity 20' container variant offers the opportunity of using fi ttings set at 20' standard span, yet with a container internal load space fl oor plan or footprint capacity not constrained thereby. This, partly by using special extended and/or offset disposition container fi ttings, and partly by using local container (end wall) extensions or protuberances, which utilise what would have been a clearance space between juxtaposed facing ends of a pair of conventional 20' containers in tandem.
  • the 20' format is thus 'liberated' for greater capacity, particularly for integer palletised loads.
  • a chamfered or radiused corner edge and/or face profi Ie for corner fittings and/or extended container bodies could facilitate (un)loading transposition past other containers in close mutual juxtaposition. This helps their correct mutual disposition and alignment of respective corner fi ttings, for load transfer within design limits, so is useful for close confi ned stacking and packing such in vessel holds between cell guides, as in the Figure 3G example. If the containers cannot depart unduly laterally from station, local stack overload can be obviated, by limited scope for lateral movement of an extended container footprint.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
  • Loading Or Unloading Of Vehicles (AREA)
  • Pallets (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un conteneur (31) étendu en termes de capacité de transport, de forme en plan ou d'encombrement et/ou de corps, muni de parties intérieures ou encastrées de pièces de fixation d'extrémité d'angle (32, 33), les parties intérieures étant disposées selon une portée standard compatible ISO, mais étendues à l'extérieur par rapport aux extrémités les plus extérieures du conteneur ; ceci ayant pour objet d'adresser le défaut d'alignement ou discordance entre les normes de conteneurisation et de palettisation ; deux conteneurs étendus sur une portée de 20' pouvant ainsi s'ajuster parfaitement bout-à-bout en tandem dans les limites d'une portée standard de 40', comme entre les glissières cellulaires (63) de paroi limite en cale de navire ; chacun apportant cependant un espace de transport interne plus grand ou plus approprié à des fins de disposition de charges palettisées intégrales ; tout en permettant une superposition mutuelle de gerbage de conteneurs avec des pièces de fixation alignées et venant s'opposer au risque d'erreur de placement.
PCT/GB2010/050462 2009-03-18 2010-03-18 20-20 seacell WO2010106367A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201080021981.8A CN102639411B (zh) 2009-03-18 2010-03-18 具有扩展货物容量的集装箱
GB1117314.3A GB2481165B (en) 2009-03-18 2010-03-18 Sea Cell 20-20

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0904638.4 2009-03-18
GBGB0904638.4A GB0904638D0 (en) 2009-03-18 2009-03-18 An enlarged freight container for carrying pallets

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010106367A2 true WO2010106367A2 (fr) 2010-09-23
WO2010106367A3 WO2010106367A3 (fr) 2010-11-18

Family

ID=40637534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2010/050462 WO2010106367A2 (fr) 2009-03-18 2010-03-18 20-20 seacell

Country Status (3)

Country Link
CN (1) CN102639411B (fr)
GB (2) GB0904638D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2010106367A2 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2560729A (en) * 2017-03-22 2018-09-26 Daimler Ag Container system with seperate containers attached to each other by means of a base frame
CN113003021A (zh) * 2019-12-19 2021-06-22 波音公司 用于模块化集装箱的角配件
CN113767351A (zh) * 2019-04-30 2021-12-07 西门子能源全球有限两合公司 船的控制
US11299341B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2022-04-12 The Boeing Company Modular cargo containers with surface connectors
US11358787B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2022-06-14 The Boeing Company Modular cargo containers with surface connectors
US11919706B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2024-03-05 The Boeing Company Apparatus for engaging and securing container corner fittings

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102910405B (zh) * 2012-10-25 2015-12-09 深圳市华星光电技术有限公司 一种卡匣搬运叉车
CN103899605B (zh) * 2013-04-19 2016-04-20 徐州徐工随车起重机有限公司 锁扣以及集装箱组合体
CN106005780B (zh) * 2016-07-15 2018-07-10 郑州九冶三维化工机械有限公司 一种折叠集装箱快速接头装置
CN108263765B (zh) * 2016-12-30 2019-11-22 广东新会中集特种运输设备有限公司 台架式集装箱
EP3837396B1 (fr) * 2018-08-14 2024-01-10 Lamprell Energy Ltd Grillage et méthode d'utilisation et de fabrication de ce grillage
EP4028340A4 (fr) * 2019-09-10 2023-10-18 Sea Box Inc. Système d'entreposage intermodal

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1952581A1 (de) * 1969-10-18 1971-04-29 Wittmann Ag Gusstahlwerk Container mit Eckbeschlaegen
EP0206542A1 (fr) * 1985-06-25 1986-12-30 Bell Lines Limited Conteneurs pour fret
DE9110046U1 (de) * 1991-08-14 1991-12-19 Boes, Hans Christian, Dipl.-Ing., 4650 Gelsenkirchen Behälterkonzept
WO1995003237A1 (fr) * 1993-07-22 1995-02-02 Cargo Unit Containers Ltd. Ameliorations apportees a des conteneurs a marchandises
WO1998028208A1 (fr) * 1996-12-24 1998-07-02 J.S.V. Logistic, S.L. Nouveau coin d'ancrage pour conteneurs
WO2003018436A1 (fr) * 2001-08-24 2003-03-06 Minimodal Limited Dispositif porteur de charge

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102004031466B4 (de) * 2004-06-30 2015-07-30 Ulrich Malchow Vorrichtung zur Aufnahme von Gütern
US8100279B2 (en) * 2007-01-26 2012-01-24 Flex Box Limited Storage container and corner post thereof
KR20090109698A (ko) * 2008-04-16 2009-10-21 신기섭 결속부재를 구비한 컨테이너

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1952581A1 (de) * 1969-10-18 1971-04-29 Wittmann Ag Gusstahlwerk Container mit Eckbeschlaegen
EP0206542A1 (fr) * 1985-06-25 1986-12-30 Bell Lines Limited Conteneurs pour fret
DE9110046U1 (de) * 1991-08-14 1991-12-19 Boes, Hans Christian, Dipl.-Ing., 4650 Gelsenkirchen Behälterkonzept
WO1995003237A1 (fr) * 1993-07-22 1995-02-02 Cargo Unit Containers Ltd. Ameliorations apportees a des conteneurs a marchandises
WO1998028208A1 (fr) * 1996-12-24 1998-07-02 J.S.V. Logistic, S.L. Nouveau coin d'ancrage pour conteneurs
WO2003018436A1 (fr) * 2001-08-24 2003-03-06 Minimodal Limited Dispositif porteur de charge

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2560729A (en) * 2017-03-22 2018-09-26 Daimler Ag Container system with seperate containers attached to each other by means of a base frame
CN113767351A (zh) * 2019-04-30 2021-12-07 西门子能源全球有限两合公司 船的控制
CN113767351B (zh) * 2019-04-30 2023-10-20 西门子能源全球有限两合公司 船的控制
CN113003021A (zh) * 2019-12-19 2021-06-22 波音公司 用于模块化集装箱的角配件
EP3838798A1 (fr) * 2019-12-19 2021-06-23 The Boeing Company Raccords d'angle pour conteneurs modulaires
US11299341B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2022-04-12 The Boeing Company Modular cargo containers with surface connectors
US11358787B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2022-06-14 The Boeing Company Modular cargo containers with surface connectors
US11434069B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2022-09-06 The Boeing Company Corner fittings for modular containers
US11919706B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2024-03-05 The Boeing Company Apparatus for engaging and securing container corner fittings

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201117314D0 (en) 2011-11-16
WO2010106367A3 (fr) 2010-11-18
CN102639411B (zh) 2014-12-31
GB2481165B (en) 2013-03-27
GB2481165A (en) 2011-12-14
GB0904638D0 (en) 2009-04-29
CN102639411A (zh) 2012-08-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2010106367A2 (fr) 20-20 seacell
EP1311443B1 (fr) Cadres de liaison pour le transport
US4537540A (en) Transport frames for vehicles
US20120288349A1 (en) Container Handling Device, Use of Such a One, and Methods in Unloading and Loading
US7056081B2 (en) Freight container and lift casting therefore and method for lifting and transporting same
EP1204573B1 (fr) Conteneur de fret
US4360115A (en) Sectional multi-purpose cargo container
US4144984A (en) Sectional multi-purpose cargo container
US9440769B2 (en) Platform for use in a logistic system
US5115933A (en) Freight container
KR102525152B1 (ko) 컨테이너 적재 보조장치, 이를 구비한 컨테이너 운반선 및 컨테이너 하역방법
WO2002008090A2 (fr) Palette pour conteneur intermodal
EP1429977A1 (fr) Dispositif porteur de charge
EP0737144B1 (fr) Agencement pour ecoutille de cale
WO2017064449A1 (fr) Caisse d'expédition de véhicules et procédé de chargement de véhicules dans un navire
WO2008007885A1 (fr) Conteneur pour transport de voitures
CN115848559A (zh) 一种集装箱船用活动导轨搁架
EP1349747B1 (fr) Dispositif porteur de charge
AU2002334060A1 (en) Load carrier

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 201080021981.8

Country of ref document: CN

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 10714666

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 1117314

Country of ref document: GB

Kind code of ref document: A

Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20100318

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1117314.3

Country of ref document: GB

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 10714666

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2