WO2019207521A1

WO2019207521A1 - Container for bulk material and engaging device for said container

Info

Publication number: WO2019207521A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/053416
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pedro Paulo FATORELLI CARNEIRO
Original assignee: Multilift Chile S.P.A.
Priority date: 2018-04-25
Filing date: 2019-04-25
Publication date: 2019-10-31
Also published as: CN208790354U; NL2020821B1

Abstract

The invention provides a container (100) for bulk material, comprising a bottom (5), two longitudinal walls (3, 4) and two end walls (1, 2), wherein the bottom is provided with at least one hatch (21, 22), the container furthermore comprising a first actuating device (23) for actuating the at least one hatch between a closed position and an open position, the first actuating device comprising a first stop body (142) and a second stop body (151a, 151b), which first stop body is mechanically connected to the at least one hatch via at least one pulling member (31, 32), and wherein the first stop body and the second stop body are displaceable with respect to each other between a locked position, in which the second stop body blocks downward displacement of the first stop body with the pulling member, and a free position, in which the second stop body does not block downward displacement of the first stop body with the pulling member. The invention also provides an engagement device (200) for engaging such a container.

Description

CONTAINER FOR BULK MATERIAL AND ENGAGING

Title:

DEVICE FOR SAID CONTAINER

Description:

The present invention relates to a container for bulk material and an engagement device for engaging such a container.

International patent application WO 201 1/044613 A1 describes a special gantry-like engagement device which can engage with a container, which has been filled with bulk material, such as copper ore, in a first location, via its corner castings in a second location. The container has an open top side. By means of a crane, the engagement device is lifted, together with the container, to a position above an unloading space. There, the container is tilted by 180 degrees by means of a tilting mechanism of the spreader, which causes the container to be suspended upside down. The cargo of the container is thus poured into the unloading space. By means of the tilting mechanism, the container is then straightened again and returned to the ground or placed on another container. Such a method has the drawback that the embodiment requires a relatively complicated, heavy and cumbersome engagement device.

US publication US 2013/0213988 A1 describes a bottom discharge container having two displaceable floor sections. The container comprises for each floor section a displacement arrangement including a flange which extends from an edge of a floor section, the flange including a engagement means 22 for receiving a disc-like connector forming part of the actuating mechanism of the container handling arrangement as described in international publication WO 2010/146567 A1.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bottom discharge container with which it is possible to reliably prevent the floor or hatch of the container from inadvertently opening To this end, the invention provides a container according to claim 1. A highly suitable use of the container may be obtained if the container is unloaded in unloading space embodied as the hold of a ship. Alternatively, it is also possible for the unloading space to be a fixed storage space in which optionally a hopper may be used, via which the bulk material is passed into the fixed storage space. From the fixed storage space, the bulk material may be transported onwards via a conveyor, such as typically a conveyor belt, for example, to a hold of a ship. In addition to its use for transport purposes, a container according to the invention also offers the possibility of temporary storage of bulk material, for example for a few days or weeks. The at least one hatch preferably largely covers and more preferably covers at least 70% of the surface area of the bottom in order to limit the risk of bulk material remaining behind in the container during unloading.

According to a possible embodiment, the first stop body rests on the second stop body in the locked position. This way the above mentioned reliability may be further increased.

In this case, a practical embodiment may be achieved if the first stop body and/or the second stop body is pivotable about a vertical pivot axis between the locked position and the free position. Where the present description uses relative terms, such as vertical, horizontal, below or above, it is to be understood that these refer to the situation in which the container is situated on a flat, non-sloping surface and the bottom of the container extends parallel to this surface.

The degree with which it is possible to guarantee that the at least one hatch does not inadvertently open, for example on account of vibrations, may be further increased if the first actuating device comprises a retaining body which is configured for common pivoting about the vertical pivot axis together with the first stop body, between the locked position and the free position, and for translation in a vertical direction with respect to the first stop body, between a retaining position and a release position, and the container comprises a recess in which at least a part of the retaining body extends in the retaining position in order to block pivoting of the retaining body and of the first stop body about the vertical pivot axis and wherein the retaining body is free from the aforementioned recess in the release position, in particular if the first actuating device comprises a spring member for forcing the retaining body from the release position to the retaining position.

It is possible to obtain a strong embodiment of the first actuating device if the first stop body, in plan view, has a non-round, for example rectangular, shape and the second stop body has a passage which, in plan view, has a non-round, for example rectangular, shape and via which passage, at least in the locked position, the first stop body and the pulling member are connected to each other, wherein the non-round shapes and the dimensions of the non-round shapes of the first stop body and of the passage are such that, in the locked position, the first stop body on the periphery of the non-round shape of the passage rests on the second stop body and, in the free position, can pass through the passage in a downward direction. Actuation of the first actuating device may conveniently be effected via the first stop body. To this end, the first stop body may be provided with a, preferably non-round, passage for engagement by an engagement member of a second actuating device of an engagement device, which engagement member can be displaced vertically downwards through the passage and is pivotable about a vertical axis, during engagement of the container by the engagement device.

In this case, it may be an additional advantage, when using the retaining body as described above, if the retaining body is configured and positioned to be moved in translation, in use, from the retaining position to the release position by the engagement member, during engagement of the first stop body by the engagement member.

It may be advantageous, when using two hatches, if the pulling member has two arms which are each at one end hingeably connected to a hatch and at the opposite ends are hingeably connected to a central part of the pulling member.

In one embodiment, the at least one hatch is hingeable about a hinge axis which extends parallel to a longitudinal wall. Thus, the movement in vertical direction which an end of the at least one hatch facing away from the hinge axis then has to make during the opening of the at least one hatch remains limited.

When using two mirror-symmetrical hatches, it is possible both for the two hinge axes associated with the two respective hatches to extend on two opposite longitudinal sides of the container and for the two hinge axes associated with the two respective hatches to extend near the centre of the width, such as at a maximum distance of 25 cm from the centre of the width, of the container, preferably mirror- symmetrically with respect to said centre. The choice between these embodiments will partly depend on the type of bulk material. For copper concentrate, for example, the first embodiment will be the more likely choice. For bulk materials which are more readily flowable, such as for example grain or grit, the second embodiment is the more likely choice. The use of mirror-symmetrical hatches additionally offers the advantage that it is easier to unload bulk material directly underneath the container.

The risk of bulk material sticking to the longitudinal walls, as is known, for example, from copper concentrate, can be reduced if the two longitudinal walls, viewed in cross section, slant inwards from the bottom.

Handling of the container can be made easier by means of generally available auxiliary means if, as has already been indicated above, the container is provided with coupling members on corners at the top side, in particular if coupling members which are situated on the side of a longitudinal wall have a centre-to-centre distance of between 575 cm and 595 cm or between 882 cm and 902 cm and if coupling members which are situated on the side of a transverse wall have a centre-to-centre distance of between 216 cm and 236 cm. In this way, the containers are to be considered, at least in terms of size, as 20-foot or 30-foot sea containers according to the aforementioned ISO standard 668:2013 Series 1. It is also possible, in particular for use with bulk material having a relatively low specific weight, for the container according to the invention to have the dimensions of a 40-foot sea container.

In order to prevent bulk-like material from inadvertently escaping from the container, in particular during transportation of the container, the container is, in one embodiment, provided with a roof, and with fastening means for releasably fastening the roof to the container. In this case, the roof is preferably at least substantially formed by a plate which is, for example, made from the same material as the walls and the bottom of the container.

The invention furthermore relates to an engagement device for engaging a container according to the invention as described above. By using an engagement device, it is then for example not necessary to provide the container with drive means, such as electric motors, hydraulic cylinders or actuators, nor with power supply means, such as pneumatic and/or electrical accumulators, such as batteries which are able to store electrical power. The engagement device comprises a frame, engagement members connected to the frame for engaging coupling members of the container, which coupling members are provided on corners on the top side of the container, a second actuating device which is configured for actuating of the hatches of the container by cooperating with a first actuating device of a container which is engaged on by the engagement device, and drive means for driving the engagement members and the second actuating device. The drive means, which, for example, comprise a combustion engine, an electric motor or a hydraulic engine, in this case provide the driving force for opening and closing the hatches.

In further embodiments, the advantageous properties of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art on the basis of the above description, the second actuating device comprises an engagement member, such as a twist lock, for engaging on a first stop body of a container or at least on a component which is rigidly connected to the first stop body, and/or the second actuating device comprises a first actuator for displacing the engagement member up and down in a vertical direction and/or the second actuating device comprises a second actuator for pivoting the engagement member to and fro about a vertical pivot axis.

The invention will be described below in more detail by means of the description of a possible embodiment of a container and an engagement device according to the invention with reference to the following figures, in which:

Figs. 1 to 4 show a perspective view of four successive stages while carrying out a method using a container and an engagement device according to the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a container according to the invention;

Fig. 6 shows an isometric longitudinal section of a first actuating device of the container;

Figs. 7 to 1 1 show parts of the container and the engagement device from Fig. 3, more specifically of actuating devices thereof, during successive stages when actuating hatches of the container;

Figs. 12 and 13 show, in plan view, two positions of parts of the actuating devices in a locked position and in a free position, respectively;

Figs. 14a and 14b show, in two perpendicular sections, parts of the aforementioned actuating devices in a non-engaged position according to Fig. 7;

Figs. 15a and 15b show the two sections from Figs. 14a and 14b during engagement according to Fig. 8.

Figs. 1 to 4 show a container 100 according to the present invention. Container 100 has a rectangular shape with, at least in closed position of the container, two opposite upright end walls 1 , 2, two opposite upright longitudinal walls 3, 4, bottom 5 and roof 6 which together enclose a storage volume 7. Aforementioned walls 1 to 4 are connected to four posts 1 1 which are in turn connected to each other near their ends via bottom beams 12 and via top beams 13. Posts 1 1 and beams 12, 13 together form a framework which provides container 100 with the required stiffness. At the corners of the framework, container 100 is either provided with bottom coupling members which are configured as fastening blocks 14 or with top coupling members which are configured as fastening blocks 15. Such fastening blocks are also referred to by the term corner castings and are configured to cooperate with twist locks, as is known to specialists in the field of sea containers and as form part of the engagement device 200 still to be described in more detail. The centre-to-centre distance of the top corner castings 15 on the side of one longitudinal wall 3, 4 is 585.4 cm. The centre-to- centre distance of the top corner castings 15 on the side of one end wall 1 , 2 is 226.4 cm. This sizing of container 100 is thus such that container 100, at least as regards sizing and also in the light of the above description of the corner castings 14, 15, is regarded to be a 20-foot sea container according to ISO standard 668:2013 - Series 1 freight containers. Alternatively, it is incidentally also possible to use containers having the sizes of a 30-foot, 40-foot, 45-foot and/or raised sea containers and/or so- called open-top sea containers which are designed without a roof 6 with the invention, as are also defined in the aforementioned ISO standard.

Bottom 5 is largely formed by two hatches 21 , 22 which are each connected to the bottom longitudinal beams 12 so as to be hingeable about hinge pins 71 , 72. The hatches 21 , 22 are furthermore connected so as to be hingeable about hinge pins 81 , 82, the centre lines of which constitute respective hinge axes, to respective arms 31 , 32 which form part of a first actuating device 23 which is still to be explained in more detail and which itself forms part of the container 100. Actuating device 23 is provided in duplicate in the sense that it is provided on the outer sides of both end walls 1 , 2. By means of this first actuating device 23, the hatches 21 , 22 can be kept in the closed position (Figs. 1 , 2 and 3) and be opened (Fig. 4). In the closed position, the hatches 21 , 22 form approximately 85% of the surface area of bottom 5.

At least in the closed position of container 100 (Figs. 3 and 4), roof 6 is clamped onto the top sides of the top beams 13 so as to be detachable via hooks 73. By operating the hooks 73, roof 6 becomes detached and can be removed from the container 100, resulting in the top side of container 100 being open (Fig. 1).

In addition to container 100, Figs. 3 and 4 also show an engagement device 200 which engages on container 100 at the top fastening blocks 15. To this end, engagement device 200 comprises a rectangular frame 251 on the bottom corners of which the aforementioned twist locks 210 are provided which are configured to engage on the top fastening blocks 15. On the top side, at the corners, the frame 251 is provided with fastening blocks 221 , such as fastening blocks 14, 15 of container 100. Fastening blocks 221 may also serve as lifting eyes. At its two head ends, engagement device 200 furthermore comprises a second actuating device 201 which is configured to cooperate, after engagement device 200 has engaged on container 100, with the first actuating device 23 of container 100 in order to open and close the hatches 21 , 22. The operation of the second actuating device 201 will be explained in more detail below.

Container 100 may be used as follows:

Container 100 is transported, for example by road or by rail, to a location where the bulk material 30 to be transported is situated. This may be, for example, mineral materials, such as copper concentrate, manganese ore, iron ore, limestone, zinc, nickel, lead, or petroleum coke, rubble, gravel, grain or scrap metal. At this location, the roof 6 is detached, resulting in the container 100 having an open top side. Subsequently, the container 100 is filled with bulk material 30, as is shown in Fig. 1 , for example by means of a shovel or a crane, via this open top side.

As soon as container 100 has been filled completely, or at least to the desired degree, the roof 6 is replaced onto the container 100 and clamped thereto using the hooks 73, or at least secured (Fig. 2), so that container 100 is closed again.

Then, container 100 is transported to a different location, for example a harbour, for transferring the bulk material 30 to an unloading space 61 of a ship 60. To this end, engagement device 200 engages on the top side of container 100 by engagement via twist locks 210 of top coupling members 15. Thereafter, container 100 is lifted, suspended from engagement device 200, by a hoisting device (not shown in any more detail here). The latter moves the container 100 to a position at a desired distance above the unloading space 61 of ship 60 where the hatches 21 , 22 of container 100 are opened by means of the first and second actuating device 23, 201 in a way which will be explained in more detail by means of Figs. 6 to 15b. Under the effect of the force of gravity, the bulk material 30 of container 100 drops into the unloading space 61 (Fig. 4).

Thereafter, hatches 21 , 22 are closed again by means of the first and second actuating device 23, 201. The emptied container is then placed back on the ground by means of the hoisting device, after which the engagement of container 100 by the engagement device 200 is cancelled. Engagement device 200 is thus available again to engage on a subsequent container to be emptied. Container 100 itself is available again to be transported to a location and to be filled again with bulk material there. Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a container 800. Container 800 largely corresponds to container 100, but differs with regard to the embodiment of its bottom 805. Bottom 805 is designed to have hatches 821 , 822 which are connected so as to be hingeable about respective hinge pins 871 , 872, the centre lines of which constitute respective hinge axes, to bottom strip 823 whose ends are connected to the centres of cross beams 12a and 12c. In the closed position, hatches 821 , 822 form approximately 78% of the surface area of bottom 805. Hinge pins 871 , 872 are provided so as to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the centre of the width of bottom strip 823 at a mutual distance of approximately 25 cm. Hinge pins 871 , 872 and bottom strip 823 extend parallel to each other and to longitudinal beams 12. Oblique faces (not shown in any more detail) are provided on the bottom strip in order to reduce the risk of bulk material remaining behind on the bottom strip 823 during the unloading of container 800. It is also possible to design the longitudinal walls 3, 4 to slant inwards in order to facilitate the unloading of material from container 800.

Below, the aforementioned first actuating device 23 of container 100 and second actuating device 201 of the engagement device 200 and their operation will be described in more detail.

Fig. 6 shows an actuating element 141 of the first actuating device 23, and its environment. For the sake of clarity, certain parts of the actuating device 23 in Fig. 6 are not shown. The actuating element 141 comprises a stop body 142. In plan view, stop body 142 has a rectangular outer circumference with rounded corners. In its locked position, stop body 142 rests (see also Fig. 12) on two opposite wide longitudinal walls 151a, 151 b of shaft 150. Shaft 150 furthermore has two opposite narrow longitudinal walls 151 c, 151 d. The inner sides of the four longitudinal walls 151 define a rectangular passage 153. Two locking plates 152a, 152b are welded to the inner sides of the wide longitudinal walls 150 (see also Figs. 13 to 15b).

Shaft 150 is vertically oriented and extends through rectangular passage 161 in strip 162, with the outer sides of the longitudinal walls 151 of shaft 150 bearing against the inner side of the peripheral edge of passage 161. Strip 162 is connected to top cross beam 13 via mounting plates (not shown in any more detail), on the outer side thereof. Two corner elements 163a, 163b are welded onto strip 162. Shaft 150 extends between these corner elements 163 and is welded to these corner elements 163 by the narrow longitudinal sides 151 c, 151 d. Stop body 142 is provided with a central, in plan view non-round, more specifically at least substantially rectangular, passage 171. Actuating element 141 is provided with a tube body 145 underneath the stop body 142. The diameter of tube body 145 is equal to the largest inner dimension of passage 171 (see Fig. 6). Passage 171 and tube body 145 are welded to each other so as to be concentric. On the underside of tube body 145, actuating element 141 is provided with bottom body 147 which is rigidly connected to tube body 145 and closes off the underside thereof.

In the interior of tube body 145, a retaining plate 146 is provided which can be displaced up and down inside tube body 145 between a high position (Figs. 6 and 14b) and a low position (Fig. 15b). The sizing of retaining plate 146 is such that the interior of tube body 145 serves as a guide during the aforementioned displacement. A compression spring 148 is provided between the retaining plate 146 and bottom body 147. In the upper edge of retaining plate 416, two slots 155a and 155b are provided in which the top windings of compression spring 148 are situated. The top side of bottom body 147 is provided with a cylindrical lump 156 around which the underside of compression spring 148 fits exactly.

In the wall of tube body 145 vertical guide grooves 158 are provided directly opposite each other, at a distance from stop body 142. On its underside, retaining plate 146 is provided with two ears 159, each of which extends through a guide groove 158. On the outer side of tube body 145, the ears 159, at least in the high position of retaining plate 146 according to Figs. 14a and 14b, extend in vertical grooves 181 which are provided in locking plates 152. At the bottom ends of grooves 181 , these end in wide open areas 182 which are provided in locking plates 152. Compression spring 148 is active in order to press the upper edges of ears 159 against the top ends of guide grooves 158.

Actuating element 141 is pivotable, in a way which is not shown in detail, about a vertical pivot axis which coincides with the centre axis of compression spring 148 connected to a coupling body 191 of the first actuating device 23. This connection is such that the coupling body 191 is indeed rigidly connected to the actuating element 141 in the vertical direction. If actuating element 141 moves up and down in the vertical direction, which will be explained below, the coupling body 191 will thus follow this rotating movement. If actuating element 141 pivots about the vertical pivot axis, the coupling body 191 will not follow this rotating movement. The top ends of arms 31 , 32 are hingeable about hinge pins 195, 196 which extend parallel to hinge pins 81 , 82, connected to the coupling body 191.

The second actuating device 201 of engagement device 200 comprises a vertical hydraulic cylinder 203 which is connected to the frame 251 of engagement device 200. Cylinder 203, or at least the piston rod 204 thereof, is pivotable to and fro about its centre axis over 90 degrees with respect to the frame 251 of engagement device 200. To this end, the second actuating device 201 comprises a horizontal hydraulic cylinder 21 1 with piston rod 205 which is, at its end, hingeably connected to the end of a coupling rod 206 via coupling piece 212. At the end facing away from the piston rod, the piston body 210 of cylinder 21 1 is connected to the frame 251 of engagement device 200 so as to be hingeable about a vertical hinge pin. At the opposite end, the coupling rod 205 is provided with an engagement plate 209 having a non-round, for example octagonal, recess. Piston rod 204 is rigidly connected to a coupling block 207 whose outer circumference is congruent with that of the aforementioned recess, but has slightly smaller dimensions, so that it fits exactly into the non-round recess of the engagement plate 209. The coupling block 207 can move up and down inside the recess in engagement plate 209, but can also move out of the recess, which also occurs during use, on the underside of engagement plate 209, as will become clear below.

At the end of piston rod 204 of vertical cylinder 203, a twist lock (body) 220 is provided which is of the same type as that which is used with twist locks 210 of engagement device 200 in order to engage on container 100 at the coupling members 15 on the top corners thereof and be able to lift it up. Viewed in plan view, the twist lock body 220 has a rectangular shape. The size and shape of this rectangular shape are such that the twist lock body 220, provided it is oriented to this end, fits through the passage 171 in the stop body 142 with a limited clearance. The centre axis of piston rod 204 is aligned with the centre axis of the actuating element 141.

Engagement device is furthermore provided with a power pack 281 which is connected to the frame 251 (Fig. 3). The power pack 281 contains the drive means for driving the cylinders 203 and 21 1 and for the cylinders 291 (Fig. 7) for driving the twist locks 210. Said drive means may comprise, for example, a combustion engine, an electric motor and/or a hydraulic engine. The electric motor may be provided with power via a power lead which extends as far as the quayside. Alternatively, power pack 281 may also comprise a battery for supplying power to an electric motor.

Below, the operation of the first actuating device 23 and the second actuating device 200, more specifically the cooperation between them when opening and closing the hatches 21 , 22, will be explained in more detail. In this case, the starting point is that container 100 is engaged on by the engagement device 200 by means of the twist locks 210 thereof, as is illustrated in Fig. 3.

From the situation according to Figs. 7, 12, 14a and 14b, piston rod 204 extends downwards, during which displacement twist lock body 220 passes through passage 171 in stop body 142 until the top side of the twist lock body 220 is situated at a small distance, for example 1 cm, under the underside of stop body 142. During the last part of its downward displacement, twist lock body 220 pushes retaining plate 146 down inside tube body 145, counter to the action of compression spring 148. In this case, the ears 159 move downwards inside guide grooves 158 in tube body 145 and inside grooves 181 in locking plates 152. At the end of the downward stroke of twist lock body 220, the ears 159 are situated within the height of the wide open areas 182 in locking plates 152 (Figs. 15a and 15b).

Subsequently, piston rod 205 of cylinder 21 1 extends, as a result of which, due to the coupling between cylinder 21 1 and coupling block 207 via coupling piece 212 and coupling rod 206, the twist lock body 220, together with coupling block 207, is rotated through 90°, according to arrow 231. As a result thereof, the length direction of twist lock body 220 ends up, viewed in plan view, at right angles to the length direction of passage 171 (Fig. 9). Despite the friction between twist lock body 220 and the top side of retaining plate 146, the orientation of retaining plate 146 does not change, due to the fact that the ears 159 of retaining plate 146 are retained inside the guide grooves 158.

Subsequently, cylinder 203 is retracted to a certain degree, in which case the twist lock body 220 together with the rest of actuating element 141 moves upwards and the twist lock body 220 comes to rest against the underside of stop body 142 and lifts it, to a limited extent, for example 5 mm, from the top side of shaft 150. During this vertical upward movement of twist lock body 220, retaining plate 146, due to the action of compression spring 148, also moves slightly upwards, but the ears 159 of the retaining plate 156 remain within the height of the wide open areas 182 in locking plates 152. Subsequently, cylinder 21 1 retracts again, as a result of which twist lock body 220 pivots back through 90° according to arrow 232 in Fig. 10. Due to the friction between twist lock body 220 and stop body 142, actuating element 141 in this case co-rotates. The length directions of stop body 142 and of shaft 150 (viewed in plan view) are now parallel to each other, whereas the length direction of twist lock body 220 is oriented at right angles to the aforementioned length directions, as is illustrated in Fig. 13. The ears 159 of retaining plate 146 are in this case given space to perform such a turn within the space which the wide open areas 182 offer for this purpose.

Subsequently, piston rod 204 of cylinder 203 extends again, as a result of which twist lock body 220 moves downwards. Stop body 142 which rests on the twist lock body 220, moves along through shaft 150 and, due to the coupling between actuating element 141 , of which stop body 142 forms part, and coupling piece 191 , arms 31 , 32 (Fig. 11) also come down, as a result of which hatches 21 , 22 will open, as is illustrated in Fig. 4.

In order to close the hatches 21 , 22 again after the container 100 has been emptied, the above-described steps for opening the hatches 21 , 22 are performed in reverse order.

Claims

1. Container for bulk material, comprising a bottom, two longitudinal walls and two end walls, wherein the bottom is provided with at least one hatch, the container furthermore comprising a first actuating device for actuating the at least one hatch between a closed position and an open position, the first actuating device comprising a first stop body and a second stop body, which first stop body is mechanically connected to the at least one hatch via at least one pulling member, and wherein the first stop body and the second stop body are displaceable with respect to each other between a locked position, in which the second stop body blocks downward displacement of the first stop body with the pulling member, and a free position, in which the second stop body does not block downward displacement of the first stop body with the pulling member.

2. Container according to Claim 1 , wherein the first stop body rests on the second stop body in the locked position.

3. Container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first stop body and/or the second stop body is pivotable about a vertical pivot axis between the locked position and the free position.

4. Container according to Claim 3 wherein the first actuating device comprises a retaining body which is configured for common pivoting about the vertical pivot axis together with the first stop body, between the locked position and the free position, and for translation in a vertical direction with respect to the first stop body, between a retaining position and a release position, and the container comprises a recess in which at least a part of the retaining body extends in the retaining position in order to block pivoting of the retaining body and of the first stop body about the vertical pivot axis and wherein the retaining body is free from the aforementioned recess in the release position.

5. Container according to Claim 4, wherein the first actuating device comprises a spring member for forcing the retaining body from the release position to the retaining position.

6. Container according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the first stop body, in plan view, has a non-round, for example rectangular, shape and the second stop body has a passage which, in plan view, has a non-round, for example rectangular, shape and via which passage, at least in the locked position, the first stop body and the pulling member are connected to each other, wherein the non-round shapes and the dimensions of the non-round shapes of the first stop body and of the passage are such that, in the locked position, the first stop body on the periphery of the non-round shape of the passage rests on the second stop body and, in the free position, can pass through the passage in a downward direction.

7. Container according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the first stop body is provided with a, preferably non-round, passage for engagement by an engagement member of a second actuating device of an engagement device, which engagement member can be displaced vertically downwards through the passage and is pivotable about a vertical axis, during engagement of the container by the engagement device.

8. Container according to Claim 4 or 5 and according to Claim 7, wherein the retaining body is configured and positioned to be moved in translation, in use, from the retaining position to the release position by the engagement member, during engagement of the first stop body by the engagement member.

9. Container according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the pulling member has two arms which are each at one end hingeably connected to a hatch and at the opposite ends are hingeably connected to a central part of the pulling member.

10. Container according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the bottom is provided with at least two, preferably mirror-symmetrical, hatches, each of which is hingeable about a hinge axis.

1 1. Container according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one hatch is hingeable about a hinge axis which extends parallel to a longitudinal wall.

12. Container according to Claims 10 and 1 1 , wherein the two hinge axes associated with the two respective hatches extend on two opposite longitudinal sides of the container.

13. Container according to Claims 10 and 1 1 , wherein the two hinge axes associated with the two respective hatches extend near the centre of the width of the container.

14. Container according to any of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the two longitudinal walls, viewed in cross section, slant inwards from the bottom.

15. Container according to any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the container is provided with coupling members on corners at the top side.

16. Container according to Claim 15, wherein coupling members which are situated on the side of a longitudinal wall have a centre-to-centre distance of between 575 cm and 595 cm or between 882 cm and 902 cm and coupling members which are situated on the side of a transverse wall have a centre-to-centre distance of between 216 cm and 236 cm.

17. Container according to any of Claims 1 to 16, wherein the container is provided with a roof, and with fastening means for releasably fastening the roof to the container.

18. Engagement device for engaging a container according to Claim 15 or a claim dependent thereon, comprising a frame, engagement members connected to the frame for engaging coupling members of the container, which coupling members are provided on corners on the top side of the container, a second actuating device which is configured for actuating of the hatches of the container by cooperating with a first actuating device of a container which is engaged on by the engagement device, and drive means for driving the engagement members and the second actuating device.

19. Engagement device according to Claim 18, wherein the second actuating device comprises an engagement member, such as a twist lock, for engaging on a first stop body of a container according to one of Claims 1 to 17 or at least on a component which is rigidly connected to the first stop body.

20. Engagement device according to Claim 19, wherein the second actuating device comprises a first actuator for displacing the engagement member up and down in a vertical direction.

21. Engagement device according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein the second actuating device comprises a second actuator for pivoting the engagement member to and fro about a vertical pivot axis.