WO2014017917A2

WO2014017917A2 - Passenger car transport device and method for packaging cars for transport

Info

Publication number: WO2014017917A2
Application number: PCT/NL2013/050564
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henk Bakker
Original assignee: Van Uden Finance B.V.
Priority date: 2012-07-27
Filing date: 2013-07-26
Publication date: 2014-01-30
Also published as: WO2014017917A3

Abstract

Passenger car transport device, which device is substantially box shaped, having a bottom, top and sides, wherein the bottom comprises at least two first cross bars between the sides and at least one driving surface extending in a length direction of the bottom, which driving surface lies at least partly below an upper surface of at least one and preferably at least two of the first cross bars and/or of lower length beams of the device in sides thereof, wherein near the top at least two second cross bars are provided between the sides, wherein at least one end of the device provides an in-ride and/or exit opening for passenger cars driving over the at least one driving surface.

Description

Title: Passenger car transport device and method for packaging cars for transport

The invention relates to a passenger car transport device. The invention further relates to methods for packaging passenger cars for transport.

For transporting cars overseas, for example from a manufacturing site to retail areas, it is commonly known to use for example Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships. These have a number of decks onto which cars can be driven individually and secured in their places by suitable securing means, if desired. For each car this means that a designated driver has to collect the car from a quay side parking area, drive the car to the ship and onto the desired deck, secure the car and then walk back to the parking area to collect a next car. Disembarking the cars leads to the same method, in reverse order. Use of RoRo ships for this purpose is therefore very labour intensive, time consuming and thus costly. Moreover the risk of driving and parking accidents is substantial, potentially leading to material damage to the cars and/or personal injury to the designated drivers and further personnel.

It is known to transport passenger cars, especially luxury cars, in closed containers, dedicated for such transport. For example in

US2005/0006261 a container is disclosed in which a number of passenger cars can be transported. To this end the container is provided with support structures and guide elements to load the desired number of cars into the container. The structure and guide elements comprise support structures for suspending some of the cars at an angle relative to the floor of the container, in such a position that another car can be placed on the floor, at least partly below the suspended car. The container comprising for example six passenger cars can then be handled as one unit, for example on a truck or rail way cart. Sides of the container have to be reinforced at least partly in order to be able to carry the weight of the suspended cars.

Positioning the cars into the containers is again time consuming and has to be performed with utmost care, not to damage the cars.

Moreover, the cars have to be stacked securely and accurately, in order to prevent contact between the cars. Furthermore, for drivers getting into and/or out of the cars in the container can be very difficult, if not impossible, due to the limited with of the internal space of the container.

The present disclosure aims at providing an alternative device for transporting cars, especially passenger cars.

Another aim of the present disclosure is to provide for a device for transporting passenger cars, which allows including the devices into regular container freight systems, such as container ships and loading systems.

Another aim of the present disclosure is to provide for a device for transporting a series of passenger cars, which cars can be handled with the device as one unit.

In an aspect a set of two passenger car transportation devices can be characterised in that the devices can be stacked, that is the one placed on top of the other, the stacked devices together having outer dimensions of which at least the outer width and the outer length are corresponding with the sizes and dimensions of a standard freight container of 20 or 40 foot. A relevant norm would for example be an ISO standard, such as ISO 668 (1995) or equivalent standards. Preferably, the two stacked devices can then together be handled as one standard freight container, for instance as if it were a High Cube (HC) container having an outer height of 9 feet and 6 inches (about 2.9 m), or a higher container. Further, the height of two stacked device may be such that, when the two stacked devices are placed onto a standard container trailer, the trailer including the two stacked devices still meets maximum height requirements for road transport. For example, the height of two stacked devices may be less than 3.20 m, less than 3.15 m, less than 10 feet or about 10 feet. The total height of the trailer and the two stacked devices may be less than 4.20 m or less than 4.0 m measured from a road surface. Furthermore, the outer height of the two devices stacked on top of each other preferably corresponds with the height of a standard freight container of 20 or 40 foot, such as a High Cube (HC) container or an ISO 668 (1995) container. The devices preferably have a substantially open top side, more preferably a substantially open top side and sides. Standard corner fittings can be provided in each corner of each of the devices, for stacking and handling.

In an aspect a passenger car transport device can be characterised in that it is substantially box shaped, having a bottom, top and sides, wherein the bottom comprises at least two first cross bars between the sides and at least one driving surface extending in a length direction of the bottom. The driving surface lies at least partly below an upper surface of at least one and preferably at least two of the first cross bars. Near the top at least two second cross bars can be provided between the sides. At least one end of the device provides an in-ride and/or exit opening for passenger cars driving over the at least one driving surface. Preferably the top side, and more preferably the top side and the sides are substantially open. Preferably the top side comprises two parallel beams at either side of the device, between which a space is provided into which a part of a roof of a passenger car parked on the at least one driving surface can extend.

In embodiments the top side of the passenger car transport device can be substantially flat. Preferably four corners of the top side, e.g. corners provided with corner fittings, are provided at a uppermost level of the device. By arranging the device such that no structural portions of the container are extending substantially above the four corners of the top side, it can be facilitated that for instance a standard freight container having a substantially flat bottom side, and especially with a substantially closed bottom side, can be stacked on top of the passenger car transport device relatively easily.

In an aspect a passenger car transport device has a maximum outside height of 1.6 meter or less, preferably 1550 mm or less, such as for example 1448 mm or less, wherein a height measured between the at least one driving surface side facing inward and a side of a second cross bar facing the driving surface is less than 1.5 m, preferably less than 1450 mm, such as 1348 mm or less, wherein the device preferably has a maximum outside width of between 2.3 and 2.5 m, more preferably between 2.4 and 2.5 m, for example about 2438 mm, wherein the device preferably has a frame opening width of less than 2200 mm, more preferably between 2200 and 2000 mm, more preferably between 2100 and 2150 mm.

In an aspect a method can be provided for packaging passenger cars for transport, wherein at least one passenger car is driven onto at least one and preferably onto two adjacent driving surfaces, over part of at least one cross bar between sides of a transport device, through an in-ride opening. Before driving the car onto said at least one driving surface at least one cross bar is at least partly removed from the in-ride opening,

temporarily increasing the height of the in-ride opening, wherein said cross bar is replaced between the sides after driving the vehicle in or out of the transport device, preferably such that at least part of at least part of at least one car on the or each driving surface extends between the sides and between at least two cross bars, wherein at least two devices comprising cars are stacked on top of each other, forming a unit, the unit preferably being a unit having an outer width and an outer length corresponding with an ISO freight container and more preferably being an ISO freight container sized unit, the unit having ISO corner fittings for freight containers. The cars shall preferably not extend above the top of the device.

In further elucidation of the present invention embodiments of a transport device, method and set shall be discussed hereafter, with reference to the drawings, which are shown by way of example only and should in no way be explained as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way. These drawings show:

Fig. 1 a view of two devices stacked one on top of the other, seen from an end;

Fig. 1A schematically a first cross bar between two sides of the device;

Fig, IB an end view of a device of the present disclosure; Fig, 2 in front and side view schematically part of two devices stacked one on top of the other;

Fig. 3 is a partial side view of a device with a passenger car in the device, on the driving surfaces;

Fig. 4 a cross sectional view along the line IV - IV in fig. 2 of a device, showing driving surfaces;

Fig. 5 a cross sectional view along the line V - V in fig. 2 of a device;

Fig. 6 a front and cross sectional side view a device, in an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 7 schematically a detail view of a cross beam with connection thereof in the device;

Fig. 8 schematically a detail view of a lock beam with connection thereof in the device; and

Fig. 9 schematically a number of cars in a device of the present invention.

Fig. 10 - 12 show an alternative embodiment of a device for transporting cars; and

Fig. 13 and 14 show in side view a still further embodiment of a device for transporting cars.

In this description and drawings the same or similar elements will have the same or similar reference signs. The drawings are provided by way of examples only and should be understood as such. Passenger cars has to be understood as automobiles or luxury cars, limousines, town cars and the like, intended for transport of passengers, especially cars for one to about six occupants. Transport and shipping should be understood as including but not limited to movement of the devices with cars position therein, by ship over water such as but not limited sees or oceans, and/or by road or rail. Freight containers has to be understood as including but not limited to containers according to for example ISO 668 (1995) and/or including High Cube (HC) containers, the containers preferably having corner fittings according to ISO 1161 (1984 / Amd 1: 2007).

Fig. 1 shows an end view of an embodiment of two devices 1 of the present disclosure, stacked one on top of the other. Each of the devices can be a car transport device 1 which is substantially box shaped. Each device 1 has a bottom 2, a top 3 and sides 4. The bottom 2 comprises at least two first cross bars 5 between the sides 4 and at least one driving surface 6 extending in a length direction L of the bottom 2. The devices have a width W, measured perpendicular to the length or length direction L, and a height H measured perpendicular to the length L and width W.

In the embodiment as shown in fig. 1 two parallel driving surfaces 6 are shown, spaced apart over a distance Wl. The or each driving surface 6 preferably lies at least partly below an upper surface 7 of at least one and preferably at least two of the first cross bars 5. Advantageously, the driving surface 6 can lie completely below the upper surface 7 of said at least one and preferably completely below said at least two first cross bars 5.

Preferably the driving surface 6 can be substantially flat, at least in a longitudinal driving direction. Substantially flat should be understood as meaning that if a car 12 drives over said surface in said longitudinal direction, a roof of the car 12, or an otherwise highest point thereof, extends below an upper plane of the device 1 defining the top 3 thereof and is not moved passed said plane c.q. top 3 due to said driving surface 6. For example, the driving surface 6 is not locally elevated in order to extend over said upper surface 7, such that can be counteracted that a top or roof of the car 12 will move upwardly and/or can collide with elements located near the top 3 of the device 1 when the car is driving over said driving surface 6.

Near the top 3 of the device 1 at least two second cross bars 8 are provided between the sides 4. At least one end 9, 10 of the device 1 provides an in-ride and/or exit opening 11 for passenger cars 12 driving over the at least one driving surface 6.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2 there are three second cross bars 8 between the sides, preferably spaced substantially evenly. A second cross beam positioned near a middle of the device, seen in length direction L, can be mounted permanently to the sides, for example by welding, bolting or the like. The other two second cross beams 8 are positioned at the two opposite ends 9, 10 and at least one thereof and preferably both can be connected to at least one of the sides 4 such that it or they can at least partly be removed, for example by dismounting or by swivelling, in order to open up the full height of the respective end 9, 10 above the driving surface or driving surfaces 6, between the sides 4.

By providing at least one at least partly removable second cross bar 8 at one of the opposite ends 9, 10 of the device 1, at at least one end 9, 10 an in-ride and/or exit opening 11 having almost the full-height of the device, at least a height larger than the vertical height between an upper and a lower length beam 31, 30, can be used for driving a car 12 into or out of the device 1, whereas by providing at least one permanently mounted second cross bar at the other end 10, 9 or between said opposite ends 9, 10, it can be enabled that said at least one permanently mounted second cross bar can provide sufficiently rigidity to the device 1. For example, the at least one permanently mounted second cross bar can counteract that the device 1 collapses during loading or unloading the device 1. Permanently mounted should be understood as at least encompassing a cross bar welded, bonded or bolted to other device parts, such that such cross bar is not easily removable in use of the device 1, especially not without damage to the device 1 or without the device collapsing if the further second cross bars 8 have been removed.

Preferably the device 1 is a non-foldable device 1, such that unintentional collapsing of the device 1 can be counteracted.

Advantageously the permanently mounted second cross bar is provided substantially in the middle between two opposite ends 9, 10 such that, seen in length direction L of the device 1, at both sides of said permanently mounted second cross bar one or two cars can be placed..

Alternatively, the permanently mounted second cross bar can be placed such that at one side thereof one car and at the other side two cars can be placed, seen in length direction L of the device 1. For instance, said permanently mounted second cross bar can provided substantially at two-thirds or substantially at two-fifths of the length L of the device 1, especially when the device 1 has he length of a 40 feet (12.19 m) of a 45 feet (13,71 m) standardised freight container.

It is noted that during loading or unloading of the device 1, the permanently mounted second cross bar, or an at least partly removable second cross bar that is kept in place, can be located at one of the opposite ends 9, 10. Then a car 12 can be driven through an in-ride and/or exit opening 11 at the other end 10, 9, at which end the at least partly removable second cross bar 8 can have been removed at least partly. When a

permanently mounted second cross bar or an at least partly removable second cross bar kept in place during loading and/or unloading is located between the opposite ends 9, 10, at least one first car can be driven through a first in-ride and/or exit opening 11 to be placed in or removed from the device 1 at a first side of said cross bar seen in length direction L of the device 1, and at least one further car can be placed or removed using the other in-ride and/or exit opening 11. Hence, it can be prevented that a car needs to drive under the permanently mounted second cross bar or the at least partly removable second cross bar kept in place. Obviously, when loading cars 12 only which have a height such that they can pass under one or more second cross bars 8, these second cross bars 8 can stay in place, even if they are at least partly removable.

As can be seen in the drawings the driving surface or surfaces 6 are formed by substantially plate shaped elements 13 having a thickness T measured in the height direction of the device of a few millimetres, for example between 2 and 10 mm, such as but not limited to about 3 to 5 mm. In the embodiment shown the thickness T can be about 4 mm. The or each driving surface 6 preferably forms part of a bottom support structure, together with or as part of the first cross bars 5. The first cross bars 5 can have a significantly greater thickness Tb, measure in the height direction H of the device, for example a few centimetres or more. In an embodiment the thickness Tb can be between 1 and 20 cm, preferably between 1 and 15 cm, more preferably between 5 and 15 cm, such as but not limited to about 12 cm. The first cross bars 5 can for example be formed from tubes, which can have a square or rectangular cross section. In an embodiment there can for example be two of such cross beams 5 spaced apart from each other and from the ends 9, 10, whereas further cross beams 14 can be provided in between these two first cross bars 5, for example again regularly spaced, having a smaller dimensions, for example a lower height or thickness.

In this description a first cross bar 5 can be formed as schematically shown in fig. 1A. A first cross bar 5 can be an element 5 or series of interconnecting elements 5, 44 extending by itself or together between the sides 4 of the device 1, near or in a bottom 2 thereof, and can include a cross sectional part of a driving surface or driving surfaces 6. In the embodiment of fig. 1A a first cross bar 5 comprises from left to right in the drawing an end 15 connected to first side 4 and a second end 16 connected to the opposite side 4 of the device 1. These connections can be made in any suitable way, for example by welding, bolting or hooking. The bar 5 comprises a first end portion 17, a second end portion 18 and an intermediate portion 19, each having a thickness Tb as indicated before. The first end portion 17 comprises the first end 15 and an opposite end 20. The second end portion 18 comprises the second end 16 and an opposite end 21. The intermediate portion 19 comprises two opposite ends 22, 23.

The driving surfaces 6 are provided by substantially U shaped profiles 24, extending over substantially the length L of the device 1. The actual driving surface 6 is preferably formed by substantially horizontal portions 25 thereof, a flange 26 being provided on either side thereof. The horizontal portions can be provided with draining provisions. These portions can be made of e.g. perforated plate, tear plate, corrugated plate or the like. The flanges have a height Hf above the surface of the driving surfaces 6 which can be about comparable to the thickness Tb of the bar 5 as defined before, i.e. of the first, second and/or intermediate parts 17, 18, 19. Facing ends 20, 22 of the first end portion 17 and the intermediate portion 19 are connected to opposite flanges 26 of one of the driving surfaces 6, preferably opposite each other. Similarly the facing ends 21, 23 of the second end portion 18 and the intermediate portion 19 are connected to the opposite flanges 26 of the other driving surface 6, again preferably opposite each other. The ends 15, 20, 22, 23, 21 and 16 may be positioned on a

substantially straight line, such line preferably extending substantially perpendicular to the sides 4. The portions 17, 18, 19 and the driving surfaces 6, especially the profiles 24, more specifically the flanges 26 can be connected in any suitable way, such as but not limited to welding, forging, bolting, riveting, gluing, hooking or combinations thereof. Preferably the cross bars 5 thus form part of a bottom support structure.

Alternatively the profiles 25 can for example be connected directly to the sides 4, only the intermediate portions 19 being provided. As can be seen in the drawings, each of the cross bars 5 or portions thereof has an upper surface 27 spaced above the driving surface 6, especially above the surface thereof. The arrangement is preferably such that when a passenger car 12 is driven onto the driving surfaces 6, left wheels 12A on one and right wheels 12B in the other of the driving surface 6, there is clearance C between the bottom of the car 12 and the top surfaces of the first cross bars 5 and beams 15. Preferably the upper surface 27 is between about 110 and 140 mm above the surface 6, more preferably between about 110 and 130 mm, such as for example about 120 mm.

In advantageous embodiments a device 1 can have a maximum outside height H of 1.6 meter or less, preferably 1550 mm or less. In embodiments, the height H can for instance be about 1448 mm or less, for instance such that the combined height of two of such devices stacked on top of each other can correspond with a standard height of a High Cube (HC) container. A height Hi measured between the surface of the at least one driving surface 6 facing inward and a side 28 of a second cross bar 8 facing the driving surface 6 can be less than 1.5 m, such as less than 1450 mm, preferably between 1380 and 1450 mm. The device 1 preferably has a maximum outside width W of between 2.3 and 2.5 m, more preferably between 2.4 and 2.5 m, for example about 2438 mm. The device 1 preferably has a frame opening width Wi of less than 2200 mm, more preferably between 2200 and 2000 mm, more preferably between 2100 and 2150 mm. Frame opening width Wi has to be understood as the minimal clearance between the sides 4, at least at the ends 9, 10 and preferably over the full length L of the device 1.

It is noted that during use of the device 1, a top portion of a car 12 or its roof can extend at least partly between the parallel upper length beams 31. By making at least one of the second cross bars 8 at least partly removable and replaceable, it may be facilitated that the top portion of the car 12 or its roof can also extend at least partly between two second cross bars 8, as can be seen in fig. IB. Additionally or alternatively lower portions of wheels 12A, B of the car 12 can be located at least partly between the lower length beams 30, for instance due to the driving surface 3 lying at least partly below an upper surface of at least one first cross bar 5 and/or due to an at least partly removable first cross bar 44, 5, as can be seen e.g. in fig. 8. A passenger car transport device 1 according to an aspect of the invention may thus enable that a car 12 having a height greater than the vertical distance between the lower and upper length beams 30, 31 can be placed inside the device 1, as can for instance be seen in the partial side view of the device 1 shown in fig. 3. Surprisingly this increases the applicability of a device 1 according to the description for a far larger range of (passenger) cars 12, without increasing the overall height of the device 1, and thus without increasing the overall volume taken up by the device 1 and without compromising stackability and applicability in different transport environments, such as but not limited to ships, trains or trucks and in storage.

Devices 1 as here described are stackable on top of each other, wherein two devices stacked on top of each other may have outer

dimensions complying with ISO-668 (1995). Two devices 1 stacked, one on top 3 of the other can comply with comparable norms for freight container dimensions, especially sea freight containers, preferably standardised dimensions and strength and weight regulations, more preferably for 40 feet (12.19 m) standardised freight containers. Alternatively they can comply with standardised 20 feet (6.1 m) freight containers and/or they may correspond with other standardised freight containers, such as 45 feet (13.72 m) standardised freight containers, High Cube (HC) containers and/or so-called pallet-wide containers, such as 40 or 45 feet High Cube pallet- wide containers.

Two devices 1 stacked on top of each other may be connected to each other. For example, upper corner fittings of a lower one of the devices can be connected with lower corner fittings of an upper one of the devices, for instance by using corner fitting connectors such as "stackers" and/or twistlocks.

It is noted that both a single device as well as a unit formed by two devices stacked on top of each other may comply with ISO 668 (1995) for all specifications but the height specifications. Additionally, the single device or the unit may comply with the height specifications as well.

Further, the passenger car transport device may be arranged such that the unit formed of two stacked devices complies with ISO-668 (1995) for all specifications but the height specifications or for all specifications. For example, the device 1 can have a height of about 1.54 m and the unit of two stacked devices including connectors can have a height of about 3.11 m. The total height of a container trailer and the unit placed onto the trailer can then for instance be lower than 4.2 m, 4.1m or 4.0 m. The total height of the trailer and the unit of two stacked devices 1 can then comply with road transport specifications, such as for instance laid down in national or regional regulations. The unit of two stacked devices 1 can then be transported relatively easily by a trailer. For example, special permits may not be needed.

In embodiments, the sides 4 of the device 1 can be substantially open. The device 1 can comprise two lower length beams 30 and two upper length beams 31, one of each in each side 4 of the device 1. Support beams 32 can extend in each side 4 between the lower 30 and upper length beams 31. The lower length beams 30 can have an upper surface above a level defined by the at least one driving surface 6, especially the top side thereof. The or each driving surface 6 can be defined by a substantially plate shaped element 25 having a thickness T which is small compared to the height Hsb of at least the lower length beams 30 and is mounted near a lower side 33 of the lower length beams 30. Two substantially parallel driving surfaces 6 can be provided, one near each of the lower length beams 30, wherein each of the driving surfaces 6 can be provided, at least at a side facing away from the adjacent lower length beam 30, with a flange 26 forming a guard rail extending over at least part of the length L of the relevant driving surface 6. Between these guard rails 26 one or more connecting elements 34 can provided, preferably connecting upper sides 35 of the guard rails 26 as shown in fig. 6, such that a wheel 12A, B of a passenger car 12 can drive on one of the driving surfaces 6 between the relevant lower length beam 30 and the adjacent guard rail 26, prevented from rolling off side ways by at least the guard rail 26. The connecting elements 34 can for example be beams, such as schematically shown in fig. 4 and 5, or near the two opposite ends 9, 10 the elements 34 can be plate shaped, closing off a gap between the driving surfaces 6 near said ends, and providing space between the driving surfaces 6, open towards a lower device 1. Below said element 34 extra height for a device there below can be created.

Preferably the driving surfaces 6, as described before and as shown in fig. 1A, are positioned such that a second guard rail or flange 26 is provided at a side of the surface 6 facing outward, spaced from the adjacent side 4 over such distance that a side of a car 12 on the driving surfaces cannot touch the side 4 because the wheels will be prevented from

approaching the side 4 further than the relevant guard rail 26.

At each end 9, 10 end posts 36 can be provided between a relevant lower 30 and upper length beam 31, preferably substantially vertically when the device 1 is placed on a flat horizontal floor. At each corner of the device 1 a standardised corner fitting 37 can be provided. The corner fittings 37 can be connected to and can form the connecting between a relevant lower or upper length beam 30, 31 respectively and a post 36. The corner fittings are preferably permanently connected to the posts 36 and length beams 30, 31, for example by welding or forging. Corner fittings 37 are preferably according to international standards for such fittings for freight containers, such as for example defined in ISO 1161 (1984 / Amd 1: 2007) or similar standards. The corner fittings 37 are preferably provided such that two devices 1 can be interconnected by or through such fittings 37 and/or such that two stacked devices 1, as for example shown in fig. 1, can be picked up and handled as a standardised freight container, such as a standard

ISO 668 (1995) freight container or a High Cube container, and/or as a container of about 10 feet high and can be handled by equipment suitable for such freight containers, such as container cranes, and/or can be shipped in transport devices such as container ships adapted for such standard freight containers.

As can be seen by way of example in fig. 7 a second cross bar 8 in or at least at an end 9, 10 can be provided between sides 4, especially between ends of the upper length beams 31 or upper corner fittings 37, such that said second cross bar 8 can be removed temporarily from the said end, for example by completely removing the cross bar 8, or by releasing one end 38 of the cross bar 8 from the relevant beam 31 or fitting 37, and swivelling the bar around the opposite end 39 of said bar 8. By at least partly removing the upper second cross bar 8 from the relevant end 9, 10 from above the driving surface 6, the height Hi can be increased above the driving surface 6, to at least about the full height H of the device minus the thickness T of the driving surface or surfaces 6, or even further. By increasing the height Hi cars 12 can be driven onto the or each driving surface which have a height He larger than the height Hi between the surface of the driving surface(s) 6 and the lower side of the relevant second cross bar 8 facing the driving surface(s) 6.

In embodiments all second cross bars 8 can be provided such that they can be removed or at least displaced for increasing the passing height Hi between the sides 4. In preferred embodiments the top 3 of the device 1 is substantially open, especially between the sides 4, such as between the upper length beams 31, such that the roof 40 of a car 12 standing on the driving surface or surfaces 6 can extend between the upper length beams 31 and/or second cross bars 8, as is schematically shown in fig. IB and 3. This extra height provides for sufficient height to fit most existing passenger cars 12 in a device 1 according to the description.

A closing element 42 could be provided on the top side 3, level with or on top of the top side 53 of the upper length beams 31. The element 42 can for example be a plate, such as a metal or, preferably, plastic plate, for example a transparent or semi transparent plate such as acrylic plate, or an opaque plate, or combinations thereof. The thickness of the element 42 is preferably small, for example comparable to or smaller than the thickness T of the driving surfaces 6. This can have the advantage that debris falling from a device 1 or container above the relevant device 1 shall not fall on top of cars 12 in the lower device 1, whereas the element 42 does not prevent the devices 1 from being stacked in the desired formation and/or does not prevent a freight container, e.g. a standard container, to be stacked on top of the passenger car transport device 1. Preferably the element 42 or elements 42 do not extend above the corner fittings 37 at the top 2 of the device 1.

At least at one longitudinal end 9 or 10 and preferable at both opposite longitudinal ends 9, 10 of the device 1 a third cross bar 43 can be provided, spaced apart from the top 3 and bottom 2 of the device 1, extending between opposite sides 4 of the device 1 and at least partly detachable from the device 1, preferably removable and/or pivotally mounted to one or both sides 4 of the device 1. Such third bar 43 can prevent cars 12 from driving off the driving surface(s) 6 unintended, whereas these can also be used for locking in the cars 12 inside the device 1, for example by providing locking means locking the bar 43 in place, which can for example only be opened by using an appropriate key, code or other dedicated unlocking device. Alternatively or additionally a lock beam 44 can be provided at an end 9, 10 of at least one and preferably all of the driving surfaces, extending above the surface thereof, as schematically shown in fig. 8. These beams 44 can for example extend between guard rails or flanges 26 and can be partly and/or entirely pivotally or detachably mounted, similar to the cross bars discussed before. These lock beams 44 can again prevent cars 12 from driving on or off the driving surface(s) 6 unintentionally.

Alternatively or additionally, the lock beams 44 may form part of a series of interconnecting elements 5, 44 extending together between the sides 4 of the device 1, near or in a bottom 2 thereof, which interconnecting elements 5, 44 may together form a second cross bar 5. Similar lock beams 44 can be provided in other positions too or alternatively, above the driving surface 6 between guide rails and/or flanges 26 and/or between guide rail or flange 26 and lower length beam 30.

By providing a removable or movable, e.g. an at least partly removable and/or pivotable or slidable, lock beam 44 or other

interconnecting element of a first cross bar 5, the driving surface(s) 6 can be made at least partly free of obstacles temporarily. As a result, a car 12 can be driven into or out of the device 1 without driving over said

interconnecting element lock beams 44. Hence, it can be counteracted that a roof 40 of a car 12 collides with an upper second cross bar 8 or for example a container stacked on top of the device 1. Thus loading and unloading of cars 12 can even be possible when the device 1 is in a stacked position.

Preferably in embodiments of a device 1 two parallel drive surfaces 6 are provided, extending in length direction of the device 1, spaced apart in the width direction of the device. Between facing sides of the driving surfaces a distance can be provided of between 1500 and 900 mm, preferably between 1150 and 900 mm, especially between 1100 and 1000 mm. Each driving surface 6 can have a width Wdr, for example a width Wdr between 300 and 500 mm, preferably about 400 mm, measured between longitudinal sides or flanges or guide rails 26 thereof, or between a side, flange or guide rail and an adjacent lower length beam 30 to which the driving surface 6 is attached. Such arrangement can easily accommodate the wheels of passenger cars. For aspects of the present application it has been recognised that the majority of cars, especially passenger cars have a maximum height He of 1.5 m or less, of which a significant number has a height He between 1.4 and 1.5 m. By providing a device 1 according to aspects of the invention it may be possible to drive all of these cars 12 in such device 1 and store two layers of such cars in the space of a standard 20 or 40 foot freight container such as a High Cube or in a space that can be transported using a

conventional road trailer, by stacking two such devices 1 as described. Each device 1 can be placed on the ground first, for driving in a car or cars, and then be placed on top of another such device, a container, a track or other suitable position. Using a device 1 or stacked devices 1 it is possible to ship cars to almost any port or harbour, even smaller ports or harbours where the large Ro-Ro ships cannot or will not land, for example for reasons of limited volumes, insufficient capacity of the port or harbour or waterways leading to and from it, insufficient landing area or other such reasons. By providing devices 1 that can be handled as standard freight containers, such objections and restrictions can easily be overcome. The devices 1 can easily be handled, by standard container cranes, container loading and unloading vehicles and even by fork lift trucks and the like. The devices containing one or more cars 12 can be loaded onto a truck or rail car for further transport, similar to standard freight containers.

Fig. 9 shows three cars 12 driven onto driving surfaces 6 of a device 1, behind each other, such that these three cars 12 can be handled, stored and shipped simultaneously. Loading and unloading of the cars can therefore be done faster and possibly safer than with Ro-Ro ships.

In the embodiment of fig. 10-12 the same elements as discussed in respect to for example fig. 4-6 are provided with the same reference signs. This embodiment shall only be discussed as far as necessary to understand the difference with the embodiments discussed before, as for example shown in fig. 4-6. In fig.11 a side view is shown, in fig. 12 a cross section through a vertical mid plane. In this embodiment the vertical posts 32A and posts 32B extending at an angle a relative to the vertical posts 32A are placed such that cars 12 can be placed such that for most models of cars at least a driver side front door can be opened when in the device 1. In the embodiment shown for vertical posts 32A are provided, placed at regular intervals, wherein each angled post 32B extends at a relatively acute angle a, such that at an upper end of the vertical post 32A they are joined to the post 32A, whereas at the opposite lower ends 3211 they are spaced apart from the vertical post as well as from each other, for example spaced relative to each other over a distance Lp which is about half the distance Lv between two adjacent vertical posts 32 A. Surprisingly this will still lead to a sufficiently strong device 1 and provide for ample space for opening car doors.

In a preferred embodiment, the device 1 does not comprise any angled posts 32B or angled beams, but vertical posts 32A or vertical beams as support posts 32 or support beams only. As a result, doors of cars placed in the device 1 may be opened relatively easily. It is noted that the device 1 does thus not need to comprise any angled posts 32B or angled beams. Each of the embodiments shown in any of figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11 and/or 12 may alternatively be provided without angled posts 32B or angled beams.

Alternatively or additionally, one or more of the features described in combination with one or more of the embodiments shown in any of figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11 and/or 12 may be incorporated in an embodiment of a device 1 having no angled posts 32B or angled beams and/or in an embodiment of a device 1 as shown in any of figs. 7, 8, 9, 13 and/or 14.

In this embodiment at opposite longitudinal ends of the device 1 extensions 100 are provided, which can be removably attached to the device 1. At each end in this embodiment two extensions are provided, one at each side, for protecting a nose or rear of a car extending partly from the device. The extensions 100 may be pivotably connected, or be detachable. The overall extended length of the device 1 in this embodiment will be the length L, augmented with twice the length Lex of the extension s. The length Lex of the extensions 100 is preferably such that the overall length is

substantially equal to the length of a standard extended length container as known in the art.

Extensions 100 can be left out in the embodiment of fig. 10-12, and/or could also be sued with a device as shown in the other figures and/or as described in the description.

In fig. 13 a further embodiment of a device 1 is shown, in side view, similar to the devices described previously, wherein only vertical beams 32 are provided in the sides of the device 1. In this embodiment one vertical beam 32 is provided in the longitudinal middle of the device 1, spaced apart from both longitudinal ends of the device 1 over the same distance. At both longitudinal ends a further beam or post 36 is provided. Moreover in between the beam or post 36 at the end and the beam 32 in the middle a still further vertical beam 32A or post is provided, relatively close to the beam or post 36 at the end. Between the post or beam 36 at the end and the adjacent beam or post 32A, the top and bottom a substantially square open space 50 can be enclosed. Each corner 51 of said square space is reinforced by reinforcements 52, for example by welding or otherwise mounting a plate in said corner, connected to the relevant beam or post 36, 32A and the relevant upper or lower longitudinal beam 30, 31. The plates can for example be substantially isosceles triangular with legs along the beam or post 36, 32A and the beams 30, 31 which have a length such that the plates 52 are spaced apart over a distance which can for example be about half the length of the sides of the square space 50.

In an exemplary embodiment of a device having an outer length and an outer width as discussed before and preferably an outer height as discussed before, the sides of the square space 50 can for example be between 80 and 180 cm, for example between 80 and 160 cm, such as for example about 120 cm. The sides of the reinforcing plates can for example be between 20 and 50 cm, for example between 25 and 40 cm, such as for example 30 cm.

As can be seen in fig. 14 about three cars of standard midsize range can fit behind each other in the device 1. Of the first and last car 12 a driver side door can easily be opened either through said space 50 or at the opposite side of the beam 32A, such that a driver can easily get in and out of the car 12 through the side of the device 1.

With a device 1 or a series of devices 1 a method for packaging passenger cars for transport can be performed, wherein at least one passenger car 12 is driven onto at least one and preferably onto two adjacent driving surfaces 6, over part of at least one cross bar 5 or a portion 19 thereof, between sides 4 of a transport device 1. The cars 12 are driven through an in-ride opening at an end 9, 10 of the device. Before driving the car or cars 12 onto said at least one driving surface 6 at least one cross bar 15, 43, 44 is at least partly removed from the in-ride opening, temporarily increasing the height of the in-ride opening. Said cross bar 15, 43, 44 is replaced between the sides 4 after the car or cars are driven onto or off the transport device 1. Cars 12 can be positioned in the device 1 such that at least part of at least one car 12 on the or each driving surface 6 extends between the sides 4 and between at least two second cross bars 8. At least two devices 1 comprising cars 12 can be stacked on top of each other, forming a unit 100 having ISO corner fittings 37 for freight containers, the unit having a width and height of an ISO freight container and preferably having a height of an ISO freight container and/or a High Cube container. The unit 100 can then be handled as if it were a freight container, such as an ISO 668 (1995) freight container, such as a 20 or 40 feet container.

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments specifically shown and discussed here above. These are only shown by way of examples. Many adaptations and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, especially as defined by the appending claims.

In the present disclosure all combinations of parts of the disclosed embodiments are also considered to have been disclosed, for example combinations of different configurations of sides and cross bars, driving surfaces and flanges or guard rails. In the embodiments shown in the drawings sides 4 and bottom 2 are substantially open, as are the ends 9, 10 and the top 3. One or more of the sides 4, top 3, bottom 2 and/or ends 9, 10 can also be covered by covers such as plates or cloth, for closing them off against entry of debris. Preferably such covers are provided on an outer side of the relevant part of the device, preferably removably and sufficiently thin to keep the outer dimensions of the device 1 such that two of such devices stacked form a covered unit 100 having a standard freight container width and length and preferably a standard freight container height. Lower first cross bars 5 can be integrated in a bottom frame construction, such that they are not separate entities, as long as the bottom frame construction complies with requirements for support of the car. Preferably the

construction also complies with requirements of standards for freight containers concerning load bearing capacities of the device when stacked with other devices and/or other such freight containers. Different parts of the presently disclosed devices can also be replaced with equivalent parts.

These and similar amendments are considered also to have been disclosed in the present description and drawings.

Claims

1. Passenger car transport device, which device is substantially box shaped, having a bottom, top and sides, wherein the bottom comprises at least two first cross bars between the sides and at least one driving surface extending in a length direction of the bottom, which driving surface lies at least partly below an upper surface of at least one and preferably at least two of the first cross bars and/or of lower length beams of the device in sides thereof, wherein near the top at least two second cross bars are provided between the sides, wherein at least one end of the device provides an in-ride and/or exit opening for passenger cars driving over the at least one driving surface.

2. Passenger car transport device of claim 1, wherein the at least one driving surface forms part of a bottom support structure.

3. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the first cross bars comprise at least part of the or each driving surface, wherein preferably two substantially parallel driving surfaces are provided, space apart in a width direction of the device, wherein cross bars or portions thereof extend between the driving surfaces and have an upper surface between the driving surfaces at a level higher than the driving surfaces.

4. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the or each driving surface extends in a length direction of the device, from adjacent a first end thereof to adjacent an opposite second end and wherein the top of the device is preferably substantially open.

5. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the second cross bars is provided at or near a first or second longitudinal end of the device and is at least partly detachable, preferably removable and/or pivotally mounted to one or both sides of the device.

6. Passenger car transport device, preferably according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the device has a maximum outside height of 1.6 meter or less, preferably 1550 mm or less, wherein a height measured between the at least one driving surface side facing inward and a side of a second cross bar facing the driving surface is less than 1.5 m, preferably less than 1450 mm, wherein the device preferably has a maximum outside width of between 2.3 and 2.5 m, more preferably between 2.4 and 2.5 m, for example about 2438 mm, wherein the device preferably has a frame opening width of less than 2200 mm, more preferably between 2200 and 2000 mm, more preferably between 2100 and 2150 mm.

7. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein eight corners of the device are provided with or formed by corner fittings, especially ISO corner fittings, wherein in a height direction between corner fittings corner uprights are provided.

8. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the devices are stackable on top of each other, wherein two devices stacked on top of each other have outer dimensions of which at least the width and the length are complying with ISO-668 (1995) and/or comparable norms for freight container dimensions, especially sea freight containers, more preferably for 20 feet or 40 feet (12.19 m)

standardised freight containers.

9. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, the device complying with ISO-668 (1995) for all

specifications but the height specifications.

10. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the device is arranged such that a unit formed of two of the devices stacked on top of each other complies with ISO-668 (1995) for all specifications but the height specifications.

11. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the device comprises at least a lower and an upper length beams in each side of the device, support beams extending in each side between the lower and upper beams, wherein the lower length beams have an upper surface above a level defined by the at least one driving surface, wherein the or each driving surface is defined by a substantially plate shaped element having a thickness which is small compared to the height of at least the lower length beams and is mounted near a lower side of the lower length beams.

12. Passenger car transport device according to claim 11, wherein two substantially parallel driving surfaces are provided, one near each of the lower length beams, wherein each of the driving surfaces is provided, at a side facing away from the adjacent lower length beam, with a guard rail extending over at least part of the length of the relevant driving surface, wherein between the guard rails one or more connecting elements are provided, preferably connecting upper sides of the guard rails, such that a wheel of a passenger car can drive on one of the driving surfaces between the relevant lower length beam and the adjacent guard rail, prevented from rolling off side ways by at least the guard rail.

13. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein at least at one longitudinal end and preferable at both opposite longitudinal ends of the device a third cross bar is provided spaced apart from the top and bottom of the device, extending between opposite sides of the device and at least partly detachable from the device, preferably removable and/or pivotally mounted to one or both sides of the device.

14. Passenger car transport device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein two parallel drive surfaces are provided, extending in length direction of the device, spaced apart in the width direction of the device, wherein between facing sides of the driving surfaces a distance is provided of between 1500 and 900 mm, preferably between 1150 and 900 mm, especially between 1100 and 1000 mm, whereas said facing sides are provided over at least part of their length with a guard rail, extending above the driving surfaces over a height, which height is preferably between 100 and 140 mm, more preferably between 110 and 130 mm.

15. Passenger car transport device according to claim 14, wherein each driving surface has a width between 300 and 500 mm, preferably about 400 mm.

16. Method for packaging passenger cars for transport, wherein at least one passenger car is driven onto at least one and preferably onto two adjacent driving surfaces, over part of at least one cross bar between sides of a transport device, through an in-ride opening, wherein before driving the car onto said at least one driving surface at least one cross bar is at least partly removed from the in-ride opening, temporarily increasing the height of the in-ride opening, wherein said cross bar is replaced between the sides after driving the or each car onto or off the transport device, preferably such that at least part of at least one car on the or each driving surface extends between the sides and between at least two cross bars.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein two devices, preferably comprising cars, are stacked on top of each other.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the two stacked devices are connected to each other, preferably by connecting upper corner fittings of a lower one of the devices with lower corner fittings of an upper one of the devices, more preferably by using corner fitting connectors, preferably twistlocks.

19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein two stacked devices form a unit, preferably a unit having an outer width and an outer length corresponding with ISO 668 (1995), preferably having corner fittings according to ISO 1161 (1984 / Amd 1: 2007).

20. Method according to any of claims 17-19, wherein the two devices forming a unit are handled as one freight container.

21. Method according to any of claims 16-20, wherein the transport device and/or the unit is compliant with all specifications of ISO-668 (1995) save as to the height specifications.

22. Set of two passenger car transport devices, preferably according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein the two devices have, when stacked on top of each other, the outer length and width and preferably the outer height and configuration of a standard freight container, preferably an ISO 20 or 40 foot freight container and/or a High Cube container, and can preferably as such be handled for storage and shipping, whereas they can also be transported separately.

23. Set according to claim 22, wherein the two devices when stacked on top of each other form a unit, the unit preferably complying with ISO-668 (1995) for all specifications but the height specifications.