AU2016204390A1

AU2016204390A1 - Freight container

Info

Publication number: AU2016204390A1
Application number: AU2016204390A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Harris Steel
Original assignee: Freightquip Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Freightquip Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-27
Filing date: 2016-06-27
Publication date: 2018-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-27
Also published as: AU2016204390B2; AU2022235542A1

Abstract

Embodiments generally relate to a container for transporting freight. The container may comprise a plurality of walls and a floor defining a container chamber for containing 5 freight; wherein the floor is coupled to a first wall of the plurality of walls via a hinging mechanism; and wherein a second wall of the plurality of walls comprises a fixed wall portion and a wall flap portion coupled to the fixed wall portion by a hinging mechanism, the wall flap portion comprising at least one connecting mechanism configured to releasably fix the floor to the wall flap. CI) 6/7 iiO C I $1 II L -X. 1

Description

"Freight container"

TECHNICAL FIELD

Described embodiments generally relate to containers. In particular, described 5 embodiments are directed to shipping containers for transporting freight.

BACKGROUND

Freight containers are often used to transport goods over long distances by sea, air, rail and road. In order to avoid shipping empty containers, containers are often used to 10 transport different kinds of goods. For example, a container may be used to transport pallets of goods to one destination, then may be used to transport scrap metal to another destination.

In order to easily dispense cargo such as scrap metal, some shipping containers are 15 designed to be able to be opened from the bottom, to allow the cargo to be tipped out easily. However, doing this can often result in damage to the container, due to the cargo becoming stuck or jammed as it is dispensed and placing lateral pressure on the walls of the container, often causing them to buckle. This can result in injury to operators of the container and damage to the container. While some containers provide a thicker 20 side wall to try to reduce this risk, this reduces the volume of the container and means that two pallets fit into the container side by side.

Furthermore, bottom discharge container require a locking mechanism and hinges to be positioned on the floor, which can take up significant space. If the floor is not clean to 25 the wall, pallets cannot be loaded into the container.

It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more shortcomings or disadvantages associated with prior freight containers. 30 Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. 35

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 5

SUMMARY

Some embodiments relate to a container for transporting freight, the container comprising: a plurality of walls and a floor defining a container chamber for containing 10 freight; wherein the floor is coupled to a first wall of the plurality of walls via a hinging mechanism; and wherein a second wall of the plurality of walls comprises a fixed wall portion and a wall flap portion coupled to the fixed wall portion by a hinging 15 mechanism, the wall flap portion comprising at least one connecting mechanism configured to releasably fix the floor to the wall flap.

According to some embodiments, the connecting mechanism comprises a locking foot, the locking foot being rotatable from a first state where the locking foot causes the floor 20 to be fixed to the wall flap, to a second state where the locking foot causes the floor to be released with respect to the wall flap.

In some embodiments, in the first state, the locking foot extends under the floor. In some embodiments, in the first state, the locking foot is received within an aperture 25 disposed in the floor. In some embodiments, in the second state, the locking foot extends away from the floor.

According to some embodiments, the fixed wall portion comprises an inner panel, a set of ribs, and an outer panel. 30

According to some embodiments, the floor is hinged to open outwards from the container.

In some embodiments, the wall flap portion is hinged to open outwards from the 35 container.

According to some embodiments, a third wall comprises at least one door connected to a proximate wall of the plurality of walls by a hinging mechanism. In some embodiments, the third wall comprises two doors. In some embodiments, a first of the two doors is connected to the first wall by a hinging mechanism and the second of the 5 two doors is connected to the second wall by a hinging mechanism.

According to some embodiments, the first wall and the second wall are positioned parallel and opposed to one another. In some embodiments, the container is a rectangular container. 10

Some embodiments further comprise a removable roof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments are described in further detail below, by way of example and with 15 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a container according to some embodiments; Figure 2 is a perspective back view of the container of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the container of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a right side view of the container of Figure 1; 20 Figure 5 is a back view of the container of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a left side view of the container of Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a top view of the container of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 25 Described embodiments generally relate to containers. In particular, described embodiments are directed to shipping containers for transporting freight.

Figures 1 and 2 show a container 100 according to some embodiments. Container 100 may a container for transporting freight, configured to allow the container to be 30 transported by truck, boat, airplane and/or train. Container 100 may be a rectangular container, and may be sized to allow one or more pallets of goods to be stacked inside container 100. Container 100 may be configured to transport both pallet and non-pallet goods, such as scrap metal, for example, and may be designed to standard 20’ corner casting dimensions in some embodiments. Container 100 may generally be formed of 35 Hardox® or a similar material. In some embodiments, container 100 may weigh in the order of 4,000 to 5,000 kg, and may be configured to carry up to around 30,000kg of cargo in some embodiments. In some embodiments, container 100 may have an internal cubic capacity of around 30 to 40 cubic meters.

Container 100 may have a plurality of walls and a floor defining a container chamber 5 for containing freight. Container 100 may include a first side wall 190, a second side wall 170, a back wall 160, supporting loading doors 110, and a floor 150. The walls and floor of container 100 may be supported by a frame 180. In some embodiments, container 100 may also have a roof 120, which may be a removable roof. 10 Container 100 may be designed as a bottom discharge type container, where floor 150 is coupled to a wall of container 100 via a hinging mechanism, so that the floor can open to allow cargo within container 100 to be dispensed, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Floor 150 may be hinged to open outwards from container 100. To lessen the chance of material jamming in the opening created between floor 150 and wall 190, which cause 15 buckling of container 100 through lateral pressure, side wall 190 may comprise a fixed wall portion 130, and a wall flap portion 140 coupled to the fixed wall portion by a hinging mechanism. Wall flap portion 140 may be hinged to open outwards from container 100. Wall flap portion 140 may be configured to swing open to provide a larger opening for material to fall out of, and prevent jamming, when container 100 is 20 emptied. Floor 150 may be configured to be lockable to wall flap portion 140 via at least one connecting mechanism configured to releasably fix floor 150 to wall flap portion 140. In some embodiments, the connecting mechanism may include one or more hatch spades 142 arranged on wall flap portion 140. This arrangement reduces the need to increase the thickness of floor 150 or wall 190 to provide for a twist lock 25 locking system, allowing the walls and floor to be straight to allow for the loading of pallets.

In the illustrated embodiment, loading doors 110 of container 100 are opposite to back wall 160, and substantially perpendicular to both first side wall 190 and second side 30 wall 170, with loading doors 110 and back wall 160 being smaller in width than first side wall 190 and second side wall 170. However, in some alternative embodiments, the walls and doors of container 100 may be in a different configuration. Furthermore, while the illustrated embodiment shows first side wall 190 being to the left of loading doors 110 when viewed from outside container 100 facing loading doors 110, in some 35 embodiments, first side wall 190 may be to the right of loading doors 110, and second side wall 170 may be to the left of loading doors 110.

Container 100 is generally illustrated such that roof 120 is positioned above loading doors 110, first side wall 190, back wall 160 and second side wall 170, and floor 150 is positioned below loading doors 110, first side wall 190, back wall 160 and second side 5 wall 170. However, it is envisaged that in use, container 100 may take on other configurations. Any relative terms such as “left”, “right”, “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under 10 discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that container 100 be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.

Figure 3 shows loading doors 110 of container 100. Doors 110 may be configured to allow pallets and other goods to be loaded into container 100. In some embodiments, 15 loading doors 110 may be installed substantially perpendicular to and extending between side wall 190 and side wall 170. In some embodiments, loading doors 110 may be regular loading doors as commonly used in freight containers. In the illustrated embodiment, loading doors 110 comprise two doors respectively hinged to side wall 190 and side wall 170 by hinges 132 and 172. However, in some embodiments, loading 20 doors 110 may be a single loading door hinged to one of side wall 190 and side wall 170.

In some embodiments, loading doors 110 may each be attached to one of side walls 190 and 170 by one or more respective hinges 132 and 172. Loading doors 110 may be 25 configured to swing outwards of container 100. Loading doors 110 comprise locking bars 112 coupled to locking handles 114, allowing the doors to be locked closed. Loading doors 110 also have a handle 118 to facilitate the opening and closing of doors 110. 30 Loading doors may have top support plates 113 and bottom support plates 115. Top and bottom support plates 113 and 115 may be anti-racking plates that serve to stabilise the doors when container 100 is tilted during transportation. Top and bottom support plates 113 and 115 may comprise an aperture on loading doors 110, and a pin on the door frame to secure the door to the frame. Loading doors may also include chain assemblies 35 111, which may be used to secure doors 110 in an open position by attaching chain assemblies 111 to tie hooks 172 and 145 (shown in Figures 4 and 6).

Loading doors 110 may be positioned within a frame 180 having top corner castings 182. Loading doors 110 may also be positioned on a floor 150 having bottom corner castings 154. A removable roof 120 may be positioned on loading doors 110. Comer 5 castings 154 and 182 may allow container 100 to be coupled or connected to other containers at any comer, which may allow the containers to be connected to form longitudinally or laterally connected formations or stacks of containers, as well as being connected to transport modes including ship, rail and road. 10 Figure 4 shows a side wall 170 of container 100. In some embodiments, side wall 170 may be provided or installed substantially perpendicular to and between loading doors 110 and back wall 160. Side wall 170 may be positioned within a frame 180 having top corner castings 182. Side wall 170 may also be positioned on a floor 150 having bottom corner castings 154. Side wall 170 may be attached to floor 150 by one or more 15 hinges 152. In some embodiments, side wall 170 may be attached to floor 150 by around one or more hinges 152. Side wall 170 may have a tie hook 172 configured to hold a chain assembly 111 to secure loading doors 110 in an open position. A removable roof 120 may be positioned on side wall 170, having forklift pockets 126. 20 Forklift pockets 126 may be configure to accept the prongs of a forklift, to allow container 100 and/or roof 120 to be tipped and moved by a forklift. Roof 120 may be removably attached to side wall 170 by one or more locking latches 124. In some embodiments, locking latches 124 may be configured to be lockable by hand and/or using a prybar. Roof 120 may be removed to allow cargo such as scrap metal to be 25 loaded into container 100, and may be locked in place on container 100 for transportation.

Figure 5 shows back wall 160 of container 100. In some embodiments, back wall 160 may be provided or installed substantially perpendicular to and extending between side 30 wall 190 and side wall 170. Back wall 160 may be positioned within frame 180 having top corner castings 182. Back wall 160 may also be positioned on a floor 150 having bottom corner castings 154. A removable roof 120 may be positioned on back wall 160. Back wall 160 may include air vents 162, to supply airflow into container 100 and reduce condensation within container 100. 35

Back wall 160 may further include an alignment plate 164, which may be configured to slot into an aperture disposed in floor 150 to align floor 150 with container 100 when floor 150 is in a closed position. Alignment plate 164 may resist against twisting of floor 150 with respect to the walls of container 100. Alignment plate 164 may be 5 tapered to allow it to be positioned easily but to provide a secure positioning of floor 150 when floor 150 is in a closed position.

Figure 6 shows a side wall 190 of container 100 having a fixed wall portion 130 and a wall flap portion 140. Wall flap portion 140 may be configured to open and swing 10 outwards of container 100 to allow cargo to be dispensed from container 100. Wall flap portion 140 may be attached to fixed wall portion 130 by one or more hinges 146. Wall flap portion 140 may be around one third the height of container 100.

Fixed wall portion 130 may be a sandwich panel wall, having an inner panel, ribs 133, 15 and an outer panel. Ribs 133 may ran laterally or longitudinally along fixed wall portion 130. The inner panel may be formed of Hardox™ or a similar material, and ribs 133 may be formed of a high tensile steel. The outer panel may be formed of a steel or other such material. In some embodiments, ribs 133 may be welded to the inner panel, then the outer panel may be plug welded to ribs 133. Such a sandwiched arrangement 20 allows for fixed wall portion 130 to be strong enough to substantially resist deformation when cargo is dispensed from container 100, while allowing fixed wall portion 130 to remain thin in order to maximise the internal volume of container 100.

Fixed wall portion 130 and wall flap portion 140 may be positioned within frame 180 25 having top comer castings 182. Fixed wall portion 130 and wall flap portion 140 may also be positioned on a floor 150 having bottom corner castings 154. In some embodiments, wall flap portion 140 may be releasably attached to floor 150 by one or more hatch spades 142. Hatch spades 142 may have a handle mechanism 143 attached to a rotating locking foot 144. Locking foot 144 may be rotatable from a first state 30 where locking foot 144 causes floor 150 to be fixed to wall flap portion 140, to a second state where locking foot 144 causes floor 144 to be released with respect to wall flap portion 140. In the first state, locking foot 144 may be rotated to be positioned under or into floor 150. In the second state, locking foot 144 may be rotated so as not to be positioned under or in floor 150. In some embodiments, apertures may be disposed 35 in floor 150 and be adapted to receive foot 144 of hatch spades 142 to effect the securement of floor 150 to wall flap portion 140. By having the locking feet 144 extend under or into floor 150 in the locked position, the locking feet do not interfere with the cargo space within container 100, allowing for more cargo to be stored. In previous bottom opening containers, twist locks were sometimes used to secure the floor, but these locks were bulky and resulted in a diminished internal volume of the container. 5

Wall flap portion 140 may include one or more lashing bars 141, to allow wall flap portion 140 to be temporarily coupled to floor 150, for example if hatch spades 142 are faulty or damaged, to allow the container 100 to be safely transported for repairs. Lashing bars 141 may be configured to allow a rope or strap to be attached to them and 10 to one or more lashing lugs 156 of floor 150 to couple fixed wall portion 130 to floor 150. Wall flap portion 140 may have a tie hook 145 configured to hold a chain assembly 111 to secure loading doors 110 in an open position. A removable roof 120 may be positioned on side wall 190, having forklift pockets 126. 15 Roof 120 may be removably attached to side wall 170 by one or more locking latches 124.

Figure 7 shows removable roof 120 of container 100 in more detail. Roof 120 may be optional, and some embodiments of container 100 may not have a roof 120. For 20 example, containers 100 that are to be transported by ship may require a roof 120, while containers 100 to be transported by train or truck may not need to be fitted with a roof 120. Roof 120 may be supported by frame 180 having comer castings 182. Roof 120 may be removably attached to walls 190 and 170 by locking latches 124. In some embodiments, roof 120 may be configured to be attached by three locking latches 124 25 on each of two sides. The two sides may be the longest sides of roof 120, and may be configured to be positioned proximate side walls 190 and 170. Roof 126 may have one or more forklift pockets 126.

In operation, when transporting pallets, the pallets may be loaded and unloaded through 30 loading doors 110. When transporting scrap metal or other non-palleted cargo, roof 120 may be removed from container 100, and the cargo may be loaded through the top of container 100. Roof 120 may be secured on container 100 for transportation. To unload the cargo, hatch spades 142 may be unlocked, and container 100 may be lifted and/or tilted to allow floor 150 and wall flap portion 140 to swing open and release the cargo, 35 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Container 10 may be lifted or tilted using top corner castings 182 or forklift pockets 126. According to some embodiments, container 100 may be tilted slightly as it is lifted to allow the cargo to be easily dispensed. According to some embodiments, container 100 may be tilted around 10 to 15 degrees from vertical as it is lifted. 5 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in ah respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container for transporting freight, the container comprising: a plurality of walls and a floor defining a container chamber for containing 5 freight; wherein the floor is coupled to a first wall of the plurality of walls via a hinging mechanism; and wherein a second wall of the plurality of walls comprises a fixed wall portion and a wall flap portion coupled to the fixed wall portion by a hinging 10 mechanism, the wall flap portion comprising at least one connecting mechanism configured to releasably fix the floor to the wall flap.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a locking foot, the locking foot being rotatable from a first state where the locking foot 15 causes the floor to be fixed to the wall flap, to a second state where the locking foot causes the floor to be released with respect to the wall flap.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein in the first state, the locking foot extends under the floor. 20
4. The container of claim 2, wherein in the first state, the locking foot is received within an aperture disposed in the floor.
5. The container of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein in the second state, the 25 locking foot extends away from the floor.
6. The container of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fixed wall portion comprises an inner panel, a set of ribs, and an outer panel.
7. The container of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the floor is hinged to open outwards from the container.
8. The container of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wall flap portion is hinged to open outwards from the container. 35
9. The container of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a third wall comprises at least one door connected to a proximate wall of the plurality of walls by a hinging mechanism.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the third wall comprises two doors.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein a first of the two doors is connected to the first wall by a hinging mechanism and the second of the two doors is connected to the second wall by a hinging mechanism. 10
12. The container of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first wall and the second wall are positioned parallel and opposed to one another.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein the container is a rectangular container. 15
14. The container of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a removable roof.