WO2012114099A2

WO2012114099A2 - A structure

Info

Publication number: WO2012114099A2
Application number: PCT/GB2012/050390
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael John Sargeant
Original assignee: Renew Pod Limited
Priority date: 2011-02-23
Filing date: 2012-02-22
Publication date: 2012-08-30
Also published as: WO2012114099A3; GB2488347A; GB201103117D0

Abstract

A structure comprising a body having a first wall of sheet material, a second wall of sheet material, and a connecting part of sheet material is 5 disclosed. The second wall at least partially surrounds a volume, and the first wall being separated from and surrounding the second wall. The connecting part connects at least some edges of the first wall and the second wall so as to define a bath for receiving blast-absorbent gel.

Description

A Structure Field

The present invention relates to a structure and in particular but not exclusively to a bomb-resistant bin.

Background

Refuse bins are typically provided in public places in town and city centres. However, security concerns have resulted in the removal of refuse bins from some public areas causing inconvenience to the public and an increase in cost for those charged with litter clearance.

Bomb resistant bins with the ability to contain explosions are known. The design of such bins is challenging because of the usually conflicting

requirements of effectiveness of blast-resistance and cost of manufacture, ease of emptying, ease of use by the public, ease of installation and later removal.

Summary

According to the present invention, there is provided a structure comprising a body having a first wall of sheet material, a second wall of sheet material, and a connecting part of sheet material, the second wall at least partially surrounding a volume, and the first wall being separated from and surrounding the second wall, the connecting part connecting at least some edges of the first wall and the second wall so as to define a bath for receiving blast-absorbent gel.

The double wall structure combined with the gel filling the volume between the walls provides relatively good strength and blast-absorbing properties. The use of sheet material can allow easy manufacture at a relatively low cost. The blast resistant structure may be a refuse bin. The first and second walls may be u-shaped and an aperture may be defined by two side edges of the second wall, and the connecting part may include side panels that connect the side edges of the second wall to side edges of the first wall and a base that connects bottom edges of the first and second walls.

The u-shaped structure provides easy access to the volume via the aperture. The use of side panels and a base allows relatively simple and inexpensive manufacture.

The side panels and the first wall may be formed of a first sheet of material and the connecting part may be coupled to the first wall by bends in the sheet of material. This can provide a particularly simple form for the bath. The first sheet of material may include lapels that are formed adjacent the connecting part and are configured to abut and lie parallel to edge parts of the second wall. The lapels are secured to the edge parts by securing means. The securing means may be secured also directly or indirectly to a support structure. These features allow the bath easily to incorporated into and secured to the structure including the support structure whilst allowing the bath to be easily manufactured. Furthermore, manufacture is simplified since other components of the structure can be fixed in relation to the third wall.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a blast resistant container embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an inner side of a door of the container; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an inner side of the door of the container without a cover;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the container without the door; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a locking channel fitted to the inside of the container;

Figure 6 shows a first elongate part of the locking channel shown in Figure 15; Figure 7 shows a second elongate part of the locking channel shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a shock absorbing element within the container shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the inside of the container fitted with the shock absorbing element shown in Figure 8.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a blast resistant container 1 configured to absorb and upwardly direct forces of an explosion originating inside the container 1.

The container 1 comprises a door 2, a rear wall 3, a left and a right side wall 4, 5 and a base 6 (as shown in Figure 4) defining a space for holding refuse. The rear wall 3, the left and the right side walls 4, 5 are integrally formed, for example, it may be formed of a metal sheet. The door 2 is removably attachable to edges formed at the front of the two side walls 4, 5 so as to provide access to the space provided within the container 1. The door 2 is hinged so that is can be swung open and closed. The hinge axis is vertical, and there is no vertical change in the centre of gravity of the door as it hinges.

The base 6 is formed with a plurality of holes (not shown) for receiving fastening means such as bolts so that the container 1 can be secured to the ground upon which it stands. At an opposite end to the base 6, an aperture 8 is formed for directing or channelling a blast from an explosion in a direction away from the base 6 and generally vertically. The longitudinal axis of the container 1 is generally vertical in use.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the door 2 comprises a front panel 20 preferably made out of a metal sheet. The door 2 of the container is provided with a refuse aperture 9 through which a user disposes of their waste so that the waste is received and contained in the space of the container 1.

The door 2 is removably attached to the container 1 by cooperating means. The cooperating means of the door 2 includes locking hooks 28 attached to locking plates 25, 26 which are movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 1. The locking hooks 28 may also be termed locking pins. The locking plates 25, 26 may also be termed locking pin mechanisms. The locking hooks 28 engage with corresponding cooperating elements, which can be termed locking channels, which are described in more detail below. The cooperating means enable the door 2 to be secured to the left and right side walls 4, 5 of the container 1 such that it is retained in its position in the event of an explosion within the container. Additionally, the cooperating means allow for the door 2 to be opened such as to allow access to the interior of the container 1, in particular when the container is used for refuse and needs emptying or cleaning.

The locking plates 25, 26 comprise an upper 25 locking plate and a lower locking plate 26 which are shown in Figure 3. Both plates 25, 26 have a rectangular profile and are formed of a respective metal sheet. Centrally positioned apertures 27 of the plates 25, 26 have been cut out. This reduces the weight of the plates 25, 26 as well as the quantity of material required without significantly reducing strength where high strength is most needed. At approximately each corner of each of the plates 25, 26, the locking hooks 28 are formed. The locking hooks 28 each have a longitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to a line connecting opposite locking hooks. The axes of the locking hooks is vertical in use. A cover 40 is fitted to the inside of the front panel 20 so as to cover the locking plates 25, 26, as is best seen in Figure 2.

The door is also provided with hinges 37 which are received in corresponding holders 38 of the container, thereby enabling a user as they have unlocked the cooperating means to swing open the door 2 to access the space within the container 1.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 7, the cooperating means on the container 1 comprises two locking channel structures 50 which are fixedly attached to the inside of the container 1 adjacent to the free edges of the left and right side walls 4, 5. Each locking channel structure 50 is defined in part by one of first and second elongate components 51, 52 and defines respective locking channels for receiving locking pins 28. The locking pins 28 locate in gaps 67 formed between channels 66 when the door is unlocked. When the door is in a locked position the locking pins locate in the channels 66.

The first elongate component 51 as illustrated in Figure 6 is formed of a sheet of material which is bent such that it comprises four panels 53, 54, 55, 56. The first and the third panel 53, 55 extend in opposite directions away from the second panel 54. The first and the third panel 53, 55 are generally perpendicular to the second panel 54. The first and the third panel 53, 55 may alternatively extend from the second panel 54 at an angle greater or a smaller than 90⁰, as long as they extend in the general opposite direction. The fourth panel 56 extends from the third panel at approximately 90⁰ and in a plane parallel to the plane of the second panel 54. The fourth panel 56 may extend from third panel at an angle greater or a smaller than 90⁰. The first elongate component essentially comprises a generally rectangular metal sheet that includes three bends in the direction of the longest side of the rectangle. The length of the rectangular sheet defines the length of the elongate components.

Approximately half of the width of the metal sheet forms the first and second panels, that ultimately define the locking channel structures 50.

The free edge of the first panel 53 is formed with recesses 58 so as to receive limbs 61 of the second elongate component 52. The third panel 55 is formed with holes 70 that allow it to be welded to the second elongate component 52. Furthermore, the bend connecting the second and third panels 54, 55 are formed with holes 59 for receiving tabs 57d of the second elongate component 52. As best seen in Figure 6, the fourth panel 56 is formed with tabs 57a for securing the first elongate component 51 channel structure 50 to a planar component such as the outer wall 4.

The second elongate component 52 as illustrated in Figure 7 comprises a first planar part 60 provided with four limbs 61 that are spaced apart from one another and that extend perpendicularly from a longitudinal edge of the first planar part 60. The limbs 61 are bent about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first planar part 60. The limbs are bent at 90⁰. The limbs 61 are provided with tabs 57b at an edge parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first planar part 60.

The second elongate component 52 is further provided with reinforcing components 64 that are aligned with each limb 61. The reinforcing components 64 are of similar shape to the limbs 61 and they are bent about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second elongate component 52.

The first and second elongate components 51, 52 are attached to one another such that the edges of each limb 61 provided with tabs 57b and respective reinforcing component 64 locate in the recesses 58 of the first elongate component 51. The first planar part 60 locates against a surface of the third panel 55 that faces away from the second and fourth panels 54, 55. The first planar part 60 is welded to the surface of the third panel 55 where the edges of the holes 70 formed in the third panel 55 contact the first planar part. The first planar part 60 may additionally or alternatively be welded along at least part of its length.

The limbs 61 and respective reinforcing components 64 together with the first and the second panels 53, 54 form channels 66 for receiving the locking hooks 28. As the channels 66 are partially defined by structures provided by the limbs 61 and the reinforcing components 64, which structures are spaced apart from one another, gaps 67 are formed between the channels 66. When the door 2 is unlocked, the locking hooks 28 are positioned in the gaps 67 such that the door 2 can be removed from the container 1. When the door is moved into its locked position, the locking hooks 28 are moved in an upward or downward direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first and second elongate 51, 52

components such that the locking hooks 28 locate within the channels 66.

The first and second elongate components 52, 52 and the reinforcing

components 64 of the channel structures 50 are secured to the inner sides of the left and right side walls 4, 5 of the container 1 by the 'slot and tab' welding system described above. In particular, the tabs 57a formed on the fourth panel 56, the tabs 57b provided on the limbs 61 and the adjacent tab 57c on the reinforcing component 64 are all provided by arrangement in the same plane and locate in corresponding holes 68 provided on the left and right side walls 4, 5 of the container 1, as best seen in Figure 4. As the locking channel structures 50 are positioned on the inside of the left and right side walls 4, 5 the tabs extend from the inside of the container to an outer surface of each side wall 4, 5. The tabs protrude by approximately 1 millimetre past the outer surfaces of each side wall 4, 5. This enables the tabs to be welded to and levelled with the outer surfaces.

The locking channel structures 50 are located on the inside of the container 1 such that the first panel 53 of each first elongate component 51 lies against a respective inner surface of the left and right side walls 4, 5 parallel to the free longitudinal edges of said side walls 4, 5. Thereby, the gaps 67 of each locking channel structure 50 formed between the bent limbs 61 and respective reinforcing component 64 face the opposite locking channel structure 50 as well as the door 2.

It should be understood to a person skilled in the art that the number of limbs 61 forming the channels 66 and the corresponding locking hooks 28 is not restricted to the amount described above. The container of the present invention may be configured to have more or fewer channels 66 and locking hooks 28.

Within the container 1, is a shock absorbing element 10 extending from the base 6 to at least half way up the left side wall 4, rear wall 3 and the right side wall 5 as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. The shock absorbing element 10 comprises outer and inner panels 11, 12 between which a bottom panel (not shown) extends. The outer panel 11 follows the contour of the inner surface of the left side wall 4, rear wall 3 and right side wall 5, and the bottom panel contacts the base 6 of the container 1. A portion 14 adjacent to the free longitudinal edge of the outer panel 12 is bent towards the inner panel 11 about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. As the first bent portion 14 of the outer panel 12 approaches the inner panel 11 it is bent once more such that a second bent portion 15 of the outer panel 12 is parallel and contacts a corresponding section 15b of the inner panel 11. A volume is thereby defined by the panels of the shock absorbing element 10 which can be considered to be a bath. The bath is filled with a material, particularly a shock absorbing gel, and is closed by a top panel 17. It can be appreciated from Figure 9 that the shock absorbing bath element 10 does not extend along the whole width of the left and right side walls 4, 5 from the rear wall 3 towards the door 2 as there is a margin indicated by an arrow 18 for the container 1 to receive the locking channel structures 50 as described above.

The shock absorbing element 10 is positioned against the locking channel structures 50 in that the first bent portion 14 of the outer panel 12 contacts the fourth panel 56 of the first elongate component 51 and the second bent portion 15 of the outer panel 12 is sandwiched between the third panel 55 of the first elongate component 51 and the corresponding section 15b of the inner panel 11. Aligned holes are formed in the third panel 55, second bent portion 15 and the corresponding section 15b and bolts are received through the holes and secured with a nut such that the shock absorbing element 10 is fastened to the locking channel structures 50 and thereby also indirectly fastened to the container 1. The container l absorbs forces of an explosion originating inside the container l due to the shock absorbing bath element 10. The container upwardly directs forces of an explosion within the container due to the two side walls 4, 5 and the rear wall 3 being integrally formed and the door 2 being securely attached to the container 1. In the event of an explosion within the container, forces are exerted outwards on shock absorbing bath element as well as the three walls 3, 4, 5 and the door 2 of the container. The container 1 remains in its position as it is secured to the ground upon which it stands. The three walls 3, 4, 5 can withstand forces of great magnitude as they are formed out of a single sheet of metal. The door 2, being in a locked position, remains secured to the container 1 due the locking hooks 28 being located in the locking channels.

Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made to the above exemplary embodiments that lie within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A structure comprising a body having a first wall of sheet material, a second wall of sheet material, and a connecting part of sheet material, the second wall at least partially surrounding a volume, and the first wall being separated from and surrounding the second wall, the connecting part connecting at least some edges of the first wall and the second wall so as to define a bath for receiving blast-absorbent gel.

2. A structure according to claim l, wherein the first and second walls are u-shaped and an aperture is defined by two side edges of the second wall, and wherein the connecting part includes side panels that connect the side edges of the second wall to side edges of the first wall and a base that connects bottom edges of the first and second walls.

3. A structure according to claim 2, wherein the connecting part and the first wall are formed of a first sheet of material and the connecting part is coupled to the first wall by bends in the sheet of material.

4. A structure according to claim 3, wherein the first sheet of material includes lapels that are formed adjacent the connecting part and are configured to abut and lie parallel to edge parts of the second wall.

5. A structure according to claim 4, wherein the lapels are secured to the edge parts by securing means.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the securing means is secured also directly or indirectly to a support structure.

7. A structure according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the blast- resistant structure further comprises a third wall of sheet material, the first wall being secured against the third wall for substantially the whole area of the first wall.

8. A structure according to claim 7, wherein the third wall is formed out of a single sheet of material.

9. A structure according to either of claims 7 or 8, wherein side edges of the third wall extend for a distance beyond the side edges of the second wall and the first wall.

10. A structure according to claim 6, wherein the support structure comprises means defining locking channels that extend generally parallel to the side edges of the third

11. A structure according to any preceding claim, comprising a blast absorbing material in gel form or as a set gel located in the bath.