WO2012120452A1

WO2012120452A1 - Discharge hatch for bulk container

Info

Publication number: WO2012120452A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/051054
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Sutherland Hunter; Marcus FORTUNA; John Harris Steel
Original assignee: Freightquip Australia Pty Limited
Priority date: 2011-03-08
Filing date: 2012-03-07
Publication date: 2012-09-13

Abstract

A discharge hatch for a bulk container, including a hatch cover pivoted to the container wall by hinges along the upper edge of the cover; a door release bar rotatably mounted on the cover from side to side of the cover, adjacent its lower edge; the door release bar having a first locking means formed at each end thereof, being engageable with a second locking means on an adjacent portion of the container, to secure the cover; each first locking means being moveable between the locked and unlocked positions by rotation of the door release bar which is provided with a handle adjacent each said first locking means; a lockable telescopic locking bar which is slidably secured to said cover adjacent the door release bar, and which can be telescoped between a first position in which it prevents rotation of said handles and a second position in which it allows said handles to be rotated, from either end of said telescopic locking bar.

Description

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Title: Discharge Hatch for Bulk Container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an improved discharge hatch design for a bulk container. As used herein, the term "bulk container" means a shipping container suitable for transporting particulate bulk materials, (e.g. grain) by sea, rail or road.

Background

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification is not an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

In the past, bulk materials commonly have been transported in hoppers (by rail) or trailers (by road). The use of bulk containers for bulk materials has become increasingly popular, especially where the bulk materials need to be kept clean, dry, and free from any contamination. Further, bulk containers are advantageous if a particular load needs to be kept separate and identifiable for the whole of its journey:- for example, there is an increasing demand for a wholly traceable foodstuffs which can be guaranteed to be (for example) "organic" or free from genetically engineered material.

When a bulk container reaches its final destination, the container is emptied by opening a discharge hatch and tipping the container. A discharge hatch usually is provided in one of the ends of the container, and the usual procedure for emptying the container is to use a purpose-built tipping installation which holds the container securely and then tips the container to the necessary angle to completely empty the contents. One common design of discharge hatch is a door set into the end of the container; the door is pivoted to the container along its upper horizontal edge and extends across part of the width of the end of the container. Obviously, the door has to be secured to prevent accidental discharge or tampering with the contents of the container, and the usual arrangement is to provide a lock at each end of the door. However, the locks on the door of the discharge hatch cannot be unlocked before the container is placed on the tipper, for risk of accidental spillage, and many tippers are so arranged that it is difficult to access both sides of the end of the container once the container is on the tipper:- generally, there is easy access only to one side of the end of the container. It will be appreciated that it is not safe for an operator to stand directly behind a container when it is on the tipping installation:- it is very much safer for the operator to stand to one side of the container and release the locks from that position.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is the provision of a discharge hatch for a container which permits an operator to unlock the discharge hatch from either side of the container.

The present invention provides a discharge hatch for a bulk container, wherein the discharge hatch includes:

- a hatch cover which is dimensioned and arranged to cover a hatch formed in the side wall or the end wall of a bulk container;

- the hatch cover being adapted to be pivoted to the container wall so as to swing freely relative to the container, by a plurality of spaced hinges along the upper edge of the hatch cover;

- the hatch cover having secured thereto a door release bar which is rotationally mounted on the hatch cover adjacent the lower edge of the hatch cover;

- the door release bar having a first locking means formed at each end thereof, said first locking means being formed so as to co-operate with a corresponding second locking means which is adapted to be formed upon, or secured to, the adjacent portion of the container such that when the said pairs of first and second locking means are engaged, the hatch cover is secured over the hatch;

- each said first locking means being adapted to be moved between the locked and unlocked positions by rotation of the door release bar; - said door release bar being provided with a handle adjacent each said first locking means, for rotating said door release bar between the said locked and unlocked positions;

- a telescopic locking bar which is slideably secured to said hatch cover adjacent the door release bar, said telescopic locking bar being able to be telescoped between a first position in which the telescopic locking bar prevents rotation of said handles and a second position in which the telescopic locking bar allows said handles to be rotated;

- means for locking said telescopic locking bar in said first position. Preferably, each said first locking means is a cam and each said second locking means is a cam keeper. In another preferred embodiment, the first locking means includes a curved portion secured to each end of the door release bar and the second locking means includes a pin securable to the container adjacent each first locking means, said first and second locking means being dimensioned and arranged such that in the locked position, each curved portion engages the corresponding pin and locks the hatch closed.

Preferably, each end of said telescopic locking bar is provided with a telescopic portion which is adapted to telescope into the remainder of the bar; the length of each telescopic portion being such that when either one of the telescopic portions is telescoped into the remainder of the bar, the telescopic locking bar can be positioned in said second position.

Preferably, the hatch cover extends the full width of the wall of the container to which it is fitted, and the second locking means are formed in the end posts of the container.

Preferably, the hatch cover is arranged to seal to the container wall when the hatch cover is closed over the hatch. Most preferably, the hatch is formed with a rim which extends from each free edge of the hatch substantially perpendicular to the plane of the hatch, said rim being dimensioned and arranged to fit into a channel formed in the wall of the bulk container when the hatch is closed. Brief Description of Drawings By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is an end view of a container fitted with a discharge hatch in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the discharge hatch of Figure 1 on a larger scale;

Figure 2a is a detail of Figure 2, on a larger scale;

Figure 3 is an isometric view showing the discharge hatch unlocked and swinging open;

Figure 4 is an end view of the container showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged views of the details shown in the circled portions A and B respectively of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 shows a detail viewed in the direction of arrow A of Figure 6. Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention

Referring to Figures 1 -3 the drawings, a container 10 is of known type, formed from two sides 1 1 , two ends 12, a base 13 and a top 14; the sides, base and top all are formed from ribbed or otherwise reinforced sheet metal, welded together in known manner. Each corner of the container is reinforced by a corner post 15.

A discharge hatch 16 is provided in one of the ends 12. As shown in the drawings, the discharge hatch 16 extends the full width of the end wall of the container, from one corner post to the other. This is the preferred configuration, because it reduces the problems that are otherwise encountered with bulk products getting trapped on the parts of the end wall to each side of the discharge hatch, so that the container fails to empty fully. However, if preferred for a particular application, the discharge hatch could extend only part of the width of the end wall.

The discharge hatch includes a hatch cover 20, a locking bar 21 and a door release bar 22. The hatch cover 20 is a heavy reinforced sheet metal door which is hinged to a support beam 23 extending horizontally across the end wall of the container, by a series of pivots 24. The two side edges 25 and the lower edge 26 of the hatch cover 20 are formed with a projecting rim 27 (visible in Figure 3 only); the rim 27 lies perpendicular to the plane of the cover. When the cover is closed, the rim 27 projects into a channel 28 (Figure 3 only) formed on each of the corner posts 15 and along the base member 29 of the container. A compression seal (not shown) is fitted in the channel 28, so that when the hatch cover is closed, it forms a secure, leak resistant seal against the end wall.

The locking bar 21 extends across the full width of the hatch cover 20, parallel to the lower edge of the hatch cover. The locking bar 21 is secured to the outer surface of the hatch cover by a pair of spaced brackets 30, in which it is free to slide. The locking bar 21 is telescopic at each end; the telescopic portions 31 , 32 can be locked in the extended position shown in Figure 1 by removable locking means (not shown) such as a padlock inserted through holes drilled through two or more of the telescoping tubes.

The length of the telescopic portions 31 , 32 is such that when either of the telescopic portions is unlocked and is telescoped back into the main length of the locking bar 21 , the locking bar 21 can be manually pulled through the brackets 30 to the position shown in Figure 3.

The door release bar 22 is shown mounted above the locking bar 21 , but may in fact be either above or below the locking bar. The door release bar 21 consists of a heavy duty bar somewhat longer than the width of the hatch cover and secured to the hatch cover by a series of spaced brackets 35; the door release bar 22 is able to rotate relative to the brackets 35. Two spaced handles 34 for rotating the door release bar 22 are rigidly secured to the bar at positions adjacent the ends of the bar, so that one of the handles 34 can easily be reached by a person standing at that side of the container. Each end of the door release bar 22 is formed with a cam 36, the plane of which extends perpendicular to the plane of the hatch cover. Each of the corner posts 15, adjacent the ends of the door release bar 22, is formed with a cutout shaped to form a keeper 37 for the adjacent cam 36. Each keeper 37 is shaped such that when the handles 34 are lying flat against the hatch cover 20, each cam 36 is engaged with the corresponding keeper 37 as shown Figure 2a to pull the hatch cover 20 tightly against the end of the container, with the rims 27 engaged with the channels 28 and compressing the compression seals in the channels.

When either of the handles 34 is rotated to rotate the door release bar 22, each cam 36 rotates relative to the corresponding keeper 37 until each cam 36 is free to lift out of the corresponding keeper and thus allow the hatch cover 20 to open.

When the hatch cover 20 is closed and the cams 36 engaged with keepers 37 as shown in Figure 2, the hatch cover is prevented from being opened (whether accidentally or deliberately) by the locking bar 21 . When the locking bar 21 is in the position shown in Figure 1 , with the telescopic portions 31 , 32 extended so that the telescopic portions overlie the handles 34, this prevents prevent rotation of the handles, and ensures that the hatch cover 20 cannot be opened.

To open the hatch cover 20, a user needs to access only one side of the container, and can select the safest and most convenient side to approach. The user then unlocks one of the telescopic portions (as illustrated in Figure 3, the telescopic portion 31 ) and telescopes this portion back into the main length of the locking bar 21 , as shown in Figure 2. The user then pulls the locking bar 21 towards him, until the locking bar 21 is centred in the supporting brackets 30, and both of the handles 34 are clear of the locking bar, as shown in Figure 3. The user then grasps the nearest handle 34 and rotates the door release bar 22 until the cams 36 disengage from the keepers 37; this allows the hatch cover 20 to swing open when the container is tipped.

As soon as the contents of the container have been discharged, the hatch cover 20 is closed and is re-locked by pivoting the door release bar 22 until the cams 36 are fully engaged with keepers 37 and each handle 34 lies parallel to the surface of the hatch cover 20. The locking bar 21 is then repositioned and un-telescoped until the ends 31 , 32 of the locking bar 21 overlie the handles 34. The locking bar 21 is then locked in this position. Figures 4 - 7 of the drawings show a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only as specifically described below:- the general arrangement of the container, the discharge hatch and the seal for the edges of the discharge hatch, are as described with reference to Figures 1 - 3, and the same reference numerals are used.

The hatch cover 20 is a heavy reinforced sheet metal door which is hinged to a support beam 23 by a series of spaced hinges (not shown). The hatch cover 20 extends across the full width of the end wall of the container. A door release bar 40 extends across the full width of the hatch cover, and beyond the side edges of the hatch cover, a short distance above the lower edge 20a of the hatch cover.

The door release bar 40 is secured to the hatch cover 20 by a series of spaced brackets (not shown), each of which is shaped to allow the door release bar to rotate about its longitudinal axis relative to the hatch cover. The door release bar is rotated in this way by means of one or both of a pair of handles 41 ,42, one of which is located adjacent each end of the door release bar 40; the lower end 41 a,42a, of each handle is rigidly secured to the surface of the door release bar 40, e.g. by welding.

As shown in Figure 7, each end of the door release bar 40 terminates in a curved portion 43, the inner curve of which is shaped to engage a pin 44 which is rigidly secured to the adjacent corner post 15 of the container. Rotation of the door release bar 40 about its longitudinal axis in the direction of Arrow S engages each curved portion 43 with the corresponding pin 44, and thus secures the hatch cover 20 tightly to the container. Rotation of the door release bar 40 in the direction of Arrow R, disengages each curved portion 43 from the corresponding pin 44, so that the hatch cover 20 is free to pivot about the hinges securing the hatch cover to the support beam 23, opening the hatch.

The door release bar 40 is rotated in either of the above directions by manual rotation of either of the handles 41 ,42. Pivoting the upper end of either handle 41 ,42 away from the adjacent surface of the hatch cover 20 rotates the door release bar 40 in the direction of Arrow R; pivoting the upper end of either handle 41 ,42 back towards the adjacent surface of the hatch cover 20 rotates the door release bar 40 in the direction of Arrow S. As with the first embodiment, the handles 41 ,42 are located close to the sides of the container so that they can easily be reached by a person standing to the side of the container, and the hatch can be opened without anyone taking the risk of standing directly behind the hatch.

When the hatch cover 20 is closed and the curved portion 43 are engaged with the corresponding pins 44, movement of the handles 41 ,42 can be prevented by a locking bar 50 which extends across the hatch cover parallel to, but spaced above, the door release bar 40.

The locking bar 50 is secured to the hatch cover 20 by two spaced brackets 51 . Each end of the locking bar 50 terminates in a telescopic portion 52,53. The length of each telescopic portion 52,53 is such that when each of these portions is extended as shown in the drawings, the telescopic portion 52,53 extend into apertures 54,55 formed in the handles 41 ,42; in this position, the handles 41 ,42 cannot be rotated to rotate the door release bar 40 and open the hatch cover.

Each telescopic portion 52,53 has a length such that, when either one of these portions is telescoped back into the main part of the locking bar 50, and the locking bar 50 is centred in the brackets 51 , the other telescopic portion is clear of the adjacent handle 41 ,42. Thus, when the locking bar 50 is in the "hatch secured" position shown in the drawings, the hatch can be released from either side of the container simply by telescoping one of the telescopic portions 52,53 back into the main part of the locking bar 50, re-centering the locking bar 50 so that both of the handles 41 ,42 are clear of the locking bar, and then rotating either of the handles 41 ,42 to open the hatch as described above.

Each of the telescopic portions 52,53 can be locked in the extended position shown in the drawings by passing a padlock 56 or a customs seal 57 through aligned holes in the adjacent telescopic portion 52,53 respectively and a collar 58,59 formed on the adjacent part of the locking bar 50. Either a padlock 56 or a customs seal 57 can be used, depending upon the user's requirements. It should be noted that the padlock or customs seal needs to be removed from only one of the telescopic portions to allow the hatch to be opened. Thus, if access is possible, or is safe, only from one side of the container, the container can still be opened. It will be appreciated that the above described constructions are simple to use and very robust; accidental release is impossible and tampering is difficult.

Depending upon the tipping equipment to be used to tip the container, the hatch and hatch cover could of course be formed in a side wall rather than an end wall of the container.

Claims

1 . A discharge hatch for a bulk container, wherein the discharge hatch includes:

- a hatch cover which is dimensioned and arranged to cover a hatch formed in a wall of a bulk container;

- the hatch cover being adapted to be pivoted to the container wall by a plurality of spaced hinges along the upper edge of the hatch cover;

- the hatch cover having secured thereto a door release bar which is rotatably mounted on the hatch cover so as to extend from side to side of the hatch cover, adjacent the lower edge of the hatch cover;

- the door release bar having a first locking means formed at each end thereof, said first locking means being formed so as to cooperate with a corresponding second locking means which is adapted to be formed upon, or secured to, an adjacent portion of the container, such that when said pairs of first and second locking means are engaged, the hatch cover is secured over the hatch;

- each said first locking means being adapted to be moved between the locked and unlocked positions by rotation of the door release bar;

- said door release bar being provided with a handle adjacent each said first locking means, for rotating said door release bar between said locked and unlocked positions;

- a telescopic locking bar which is slidably secured to said hatch cover adjacent the door release bar, said telescopic locking bar being substantially parallel to said door release bar;

- said telescopic locking bar being able to be telescoped between a first position in which the telescopic locking bar prevents rotation of said handles and a second position in which the telescopic locking bar allows said handles to be rotated;

- said telescopic locking bar being dimensioned and arranged such that the telescopic locking bar may be telescoped between said first and second positions from either end of said telescopic locking bar;

- means for locking said telescopic locking bar in said first position.

2. The discharge hatch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handles on the door release bar are arranged such that they lie adjacent the hatch cover when the door release bar is in the locked position.

3. The discharge hatch as claimed in claim 2, wherein each end of the telescopic locking bar overlies the adjacent handle on the door release bar when said telescopic locking bar is in said first position.

4. The discharge hatch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each end of the telescopic locking bar extends into an aperture formed in the adjacent handle on the door release bar when said telescopic locking bar is in said first position.

5. The discharge hatch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each end of said telescopic locking bar is provided with a telescopic portion which is adapted to telescope into the remainder of the bar; the length of each telescopic portion being such that when either one of the telescopic portions is telescoped into the remainder of the bar, the telescopic locking bar can be positioned in said second position.

6. The discharge hatch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for locking said telescopic locking bar in said first position is selected from: padlocks, customs seals.

7. The discharge hatch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the discharge hatch is dimensioned and arranged to cover a hatch formed in the end wall of a bulk container.

8. The discharge hatch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the discharge hatch is arranged and dimensioned to cover a hatch which extends across the full width of the end wall of a bulk container.

9. The discharge hatch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the hatch is formed with a rim which extends from each free edge of the hatch substantially perpendicular to the plane of the hatch, said rim being dimensioned and arranged to fit into a channel formed in the wall of the bulk container when the hatch is closed. The discharge hatch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first locking means includes a cam surface provided at each end of the door release bar and said second locking means includes a cam keeper formed upon an adjacent portion of the container and dimensioned and arranged to lockingly engage said cam surface.

The discharge hatch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first locking means includes a curved portion secured to each end of the door release bar and the second locking means includes a pin securable to the container adjacent each first locking means, said first and second locking means being dimensioned and arranged such that in the locked position, each curved portion engages the corresponding pin and locks the hatch closed.