WO2013125997A1

WO2013125997A1 - Shipping container for batteries and method for packing batteries for transport thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2013125997A1
Application number: PCT/SE2012/050200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pontus Eding
Original assignee: Nefab Ab
Priority date: 2012-02-22
Filing date: 2012-02-22
Publication date: 2013-08-29

Abstract

A shipping container designed for transporting batteries, particularly lithium batteries, comprising a plywood box (1 ), a first outer lining (9) arranged on the inside of the six walls of the box (1 ), a layer (13-16) of absorbent material separated from the walls of the box (1 ) by the lining (9), and an internal lining (12) arranged on the inside of the absorbent material (13-16) arranged to enclose a closed space, and received therein at least one battery (1 1 ). A method for packing batteries for transport thereof is also disclosed.

Description

Shipping container for batteries and method for packing batteries for transport thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND BACKGROUND ART

The present invention relates to a shipping container designed for transport of batteries, especially lithium batteries, as well as a method for packing batteries for transport thereof.

Any types of batteries are comprised even if the invention is primarily directed to transport of batteries for motor vehicles, such as private cars, lorries, buses etc. , but in particular in the form of lithium batteries.

Used batteries which for any reason are transported for repair and maintenance or consumed/defect batteries to be transported to a place for recycling of the parts thereof may be concerned, but also transport of new unused batteries and not tested pro- totype batteries is comprised.

The shipping container in question may be designed to enable transport of a plurality of batteries therein, although the invention is primarily directed to a transport of one battery per con- tainer.

Lithium batteries and other batteries containing liquid chemicals are classified as goods hazardous to the environment, which is the reason for severe demands put on the containers to be used for transport thereof. This depends upon the chemicals hazardous to the environment inside such batteries, and there is for

RECORD COPY-TRANSLATION I

(Rule 12.4) example within one geographical region a requirement that a shipping container containing such a battery shall withstand to fall five times from the height of 1 .2 meters and by a corner of the container hit the ground in the form of metal plate without any leakage caused thereby from the container, and this is valid even if the battery or batteries within the container were broken and electrolyte or the like was leaking from the interior thereof already before said falls. The height 1 .2 meters is then applicable to tested and approved batteries, while it is in fact 1 .8 meters for prototype batteries.

At the same time as these environment requirements are to be met it is of course of great importance that a shipping container of this type may be produced to an in this context attractive cost and weight. It is with respect to the cost advantageous if at least parts of the shipping container are recyclable when a battery has been removed from the container after transport thereof.

Furthermore, it is desired to provide a method for packing bat- teries for transport thereof possible to be carried out in a simple and reliable way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a shipping container of the type mentioned above, which enables to meet the environment requirements mentioned above in a reliable and otherwise advantageous way. This object is according to the invention obtained by providing such a container, which comprises:

• a plywood box with a shape of a rectangular block, which accordingly has six delimiting walls in the form of four surrounding walls, a bottom and a lid, • a first, outer lining in the form of a plastic bag internally of the six delimiting walls of the box,

• layers of absorbing material separated from said delimiting walls by said first lining , and

· a second , inner lining in the form of a plastic bag internally of said layers of absorbing material configured to enclose a closed space and receiving at least one said battery therein . Such a design of the shipping container prevents efficiently material possibly leaking from a battery contained therein from escaping from the box. Would such material in any spot succeed to penetrate through said inner lining the absorbing material will absorb the liquid material from the battery, and for safety reason said outer lining is located externally thereof for preventing the liquid from having the slightest possibility to even influence the inner walls of the plywood box. Another function of the outer lining is that it ensures that the absorbing material is maintained between the two linings and no dust or the like therefrom may reach the plywood box or the exterior thereof.

According to an embodiment of the invention said layers of absorbing material are present in the form of sheets having substantially the same area of the large surfaces thereof as the de- limiting wall of the box they bear against with said first lining therebetween . This facilitates the preparation of a shipping container for transport of batteries and ensures efficiently that a substantially uniform density of absorbing material may be arranged to completely enclose the space in which the battery is arranged and by that make it impossible for any liquid to pass the absorbing material .

According to another embodiment of the invention the absorbing material is of the type according to the trademark Vermikulit or Micafil . Such a mineral is an absorbent extraordinarily suitable for being arranged in a shipping container of this type. It has a low specific gravity being advantageous in this context and a very good ability to absorb liquid substances.

According to another embodiment of the invention said first outer lining is made of an acid proof material. It is by this ensured that even if against the expectations some acid moisture will reach the outside of the absorbing material this may not attack the outer lining to break and influence inner walls of the plywood box.

According to another embodiment of the invention said first and/or second lining is/are made of a dissipative plastic, and a plastic suitable for the two linings is polyethene (PE). According to another embodiment of the invention said first and/or second lining is/are made of a flexible plastic material. This facilitates the packing of the container, since the two plastic bags may then easily be folded and sealed in a desired way. According to another embodiment of the invention said first lining is sealed, for example by an adhesive tape, so as to hermetically delimit the absorbing material with respect to the six delimiting walls of the box. The absorbing material is by that efficiently maintained within the outer lining and prevented to enter into contact with the inner walls of the plywood box. The adhesive tape is preferably attached in such a way that it enables an equalisation of pressure in the case of an explosion of the battery. According to another embodiment of the invention said second lining is sealed, for example by an adhesive tape, so as to hermetically delimit the content thereof with respect to said absorbing material. It is by that prevented that the absorbing material or dust therefrom reaches in into the space in which the battery is arranged and in any way have a negative influence upon the state of the battery, and it is at the same time pre- vented that leakage from the battery is leaking out to the absorbing material.

According to another embodiment of the invention the shipping container comprises plastic clips for securing said lid to the four surrounding walls of the plywood box. The use of such plastic clips, preferably with a design of the type shown in the European patent 1 073 591 of the applicant, enables both a simple and efficient sealing of the shipping container and a multiple use of the plywood box thereof with closing means (the plastic clips).

According to another embodiment of the invention the plywood box in the shape of a rectangular block has dimensions configured to enable receipt of a battery for motor vehicles, such as private cars, for example an internal dimension of 380 x 280 x 220 mm. This makes the shipping container particularly well suited for a safe transport of this type of batteries therein.

The invention also relates to a method for packing batteries, es- pecially lithium batteries, for transport thereof, which according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) inserting a first lining in the form of a plastic bag in a plywood box with the shape of a rectangular block having six delimiting walls in the form of four surrounding walls, a bottom and a lid,

putting layers of absorbing material in the bottom of the box and against the four surrounding walls with said first lining between the layers and the walls,

c) putting at least one battery in a second lining in the form of a plastic bag,

d) inserting said second lining with battery received therein into a space delimited by said layers of absorbing material, e) putting a layer of absorbing material onto said second lining so as to all-around enclose said second lining with layers of absorbing material,

f) closing said first lining around the layers of absorbing material put in place in the steps b) and e), and

g) securing the lid of the box for closing the box, in which as an alternative step c) may be carried out before step a) or b) or after step d), so that the battery is not put into the second lining before this is introduced into said space, and step b) may as far as concerning putting layers of absorbing material against surrounding walls be carried out after step d).

Carrying out this method results in a reliable packing of a lithium battery in a shipping container in a financially advantageous way.

According to an embodiment of the invention the method comprises a step of sealing said second lining between the steps c) and d) or between the steps d) and e) so as to hermetically delimit the space receiving the battery with respect to surrounding sheets of absorbing material. The advantages of this method step as well as of the methods according to the embodiments defined in the other dependent claims appear as clearly as de- sired from the discussion above of the different embodiments of a shipping container according to the invention.

Further advantages as well as advantageous features of the invention appear from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a description of an embodiment of the invention cited as an example. In the drawings: Fig 1 -6 show different steps of a method for packing a lithium battery in a shipping container and by that also the construction of a shipping container according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A construction of a shipping container designed for transport of batteries according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig 1 -6 while simultaneously illustrating how a lithium battery is in an advantageous way packed therein for transport. The shipping container comprises a plywood box 1 with a shape of a rectangular block, which typically has a wall thickness of about 6 mm and has four delimiting walls in the form of four surrounding walls 2-5, a bottom 6 and a lid 7. It is shown in Fig 1 how the bottom 6 is secured to the surrounding walls 2-5 by means of plastic clips 8 of the type described in the European patent 1 073 591 of the applicant, and the content of that patent is by this comprised in this application.

The shipping container has also a first outer lining 9 in the form of a plastic bag of acid proof and dissipative polyethene, which is designed to be inserted in the plywood box when the lid 7 is opened for bearing against the surrounding delimiting walls 2-5 and the bottom 6 of the box. When this has been done a layer in the form of a sheet 10 of absorbing material, here of the type according to the trademark Vermikulit or Micafil, is put into the lining 9 on the bottom thereof, as shown in Fig 2. When this has been done, or earlier, a lithium battery 1 1 is put in a second lining 12 in the form of a plastic bag of dissipative polyethene, and this plastic bag is sealed by an adhesive tape. The inner lining 12 with battery 1 1 enclosed therein is then brought down in the outer lining 9 as illustrated in Fig 3. Layers 13-16 in the form of layers of absorbing material according to above are then arranged around the inner lining 12 with battery enclosed therein against the four surrounding box walls with the first lining 9 between them and the walls as shown in Fig 4. The layer 17 of absorbing material is then put onto said inner lining so as to together with the other layers 13-16 enclose a space con- taining the inner lining 12 with battery 1 1 . When this has been done the outer lining 9 is folded over the upper layer 17 of absorbing material and it is sealed with an adhesive tape, such as indicated through the line 18 in Fig 5. When this has been done the lid 7 is closed and the shipping container is closed by se- curing the lid through further plastic lids 8 to said surrounding delimiting walls of the box as shown in Fig 6.

A battery has by this been packed in a shipping container fulfilling all the very strict requirements put upon the handling of goods of this type hazardous to the environment. The inner lining protects the battery against the absorbing material. Would the battery be damaged and liquid leak out therefrom and penetrate through the inner lining this liquid will efficiently be absorbed by the absorbing material. The outer lining prevents effi- ciently any moisture from such a liquid to reach the very plywood box and by that also the environment thereof.

The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiment described above, but many possibilities to modifica- tions thereof would be apparent to a person skilled in the art without for that sake departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

"Plastic bag" does also comprise a material being considerably thicker and more rigid than a conventional waist bag.

The absorbing material may be loose material, such as small pieces, balls or the like.

Claims

A shipping container designed for transport of batteries, especially lithium batteries, characterized in that it comprises:

• a plywood box (1 ) with a shape of a rectangular block, which accordingly has six delimiting walls in the form of four surrounding walls (2-5), a bottom (6) and a lid (7),

• a first, outer lining (9) in the form of a plastic bag internally of the six delimiting walls of the box,

• layers (10, 13-1 7) of absorbing material separated from said delimiting walls by said first lining , and

• a second , inner lining (12) in the form of a plastic bag internally of said layers of absorbing material configured to enclose a closed space and receiving at least one said battery therein.

A shipping container according to claim 1 , characterized in that said layers (10, 1 3-17) of absorbing material are in the form of sheets having substantially the same area of the large surfaces thereof as the delimiting wall of the box they bear against with said first lining (1 ) therebetween .

A shipping container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the absorbing material is of the type according to the trademark Vermikulit or Micafil.

A shipping container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first outer lining (9) is made of an acid proof plastic material.

A shipping container according to any of the preceding claims, said first (9) and/or second (12) lining are made of a dissipative plastic.

A shipping container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first (9) and/or second (12) lining is made of polyethene.

A shipping container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first (9) and/or second (12) lining is made of flexible plastic material .

A shipping container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first lining (9) is sealed, for instance by an adhesive tape, so as to hermetically delimit the absorbing material with respect to the six delimiting walls (2-7) of said box.

9. A shipping container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second lining (12) is sealed, for example by an adhesive tape, so as to hermetically delimit the content thereof with respect to said absorbing material.

10. A shipping container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises plastic clips (8) for securing said lid (7) to the four surrounding walls (2-5) of the plywood box.

1 1 . A shipping container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plywood box (1 ) with a shape of a rectangular block has dimensions configured to enable receiving of a battery (1 1 ) for a motor vehicle, such as a private car, for example an internal dimension of 380 x

280 x 220 mm.

A method for packing batteries, especially lithium batteries for transport thereof, characterized by the following steps: a) inserting a first lining (9) in the form of a plastic bag in a plywood box (1 ) with the shape of a rectangular block having six delimiting walls in the form of four surrounding walls (2-5), a bottom (6) and a lid (7),

b) putting layers (10, 13-16) of absorbing material in the bottom of the box and against the four surrounding walls with said first lining (9) between the layers and the walls, c) putting at least one battery (1 1 ) in a second lining (12) in the form of a plastic bag ,

d) inserting said second lining (12) with battery received therein into a space delimited by said layers (10, 13-16) of absorbing material,

e) putting a layer (17) of absorbing material onto said second lining (12) so as to all-around enclose said second lining with layers of absorbing material,

f) closing said first lining (9) around the layers of absorbing material put in place in the steps b) and e), and g) securing the lid (7) of the box for closing the box, in which as an alternative step c) may be carried out before step a) or b) or after step d), so that the battery is not put into the second lining before this is introduced into said space, and step b) may as far as concerning putting layers of absorbing material against surrounding walls be carried out after step d).

A method according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a step of closing said second lining (12) between the steps c) and d) or between the steps d) and e) so as to hermetically delimit the space receiving the battery with respect to surrounding layers (10, 13-17) of absorbing material .

A method according to claim 12 or 1 3, characterized in that in step g) the lid (7) of the box is secured to the four delimiting walls by means of plastic clips (8).

15. A method according to any of claims 12-14, characterized in that it is a used battery (11) which is put in said second lining.

16. A method according to any of claims 12-15, characterized in that it is a battery (11) for a motor vehicle, such as a private car, which is put in said second lining.