GB2339592A - A tank container - Google Patents

Description

2339592 "A Tank Conmiaerlf 1mroducion Ile invention relates to intermodal

tank containers which are pressure vessels fitted within a frame and are used to transport liquids and gases. They are suiject to the stresses of intermodal transport on Toad, rail, and by ship- The handling of the container onto and off and between the above modes of transport can impose shock loads through being dropped and through contact with solid objects 10 including other containers. The frame must therefore be strong enough and sufficiently flexible to resist these loads and at the same time be light enough to allow an economic payload and be cheap to manufacture. 7be tank container vessel is designed within the constraints of International Codes 15 and the end frame is usually confined within a format set out in International Standards (ISO) or is built to a non-ISO or free format. The connection structure between the vessel and the intermodal handling or securing interface of the end frame must withstand the loads of intermodal handling. However, because of strictly regulated weight limits the container must be light in weight to rnaxse 20 the payload.

The connection structure generally includes bearers which are attached to the end frame which supports the comer castings used to secure the container to the mode of transpom There are considerable problems in manufacturing a wide range of capacities for such container tanks as not only must the size of the vessel be varied but also an end frame and a support structure unique to that vessel size must be produced, for each range.

Thus, the manufacturing process required to produce such a range of container tanks is tirne consuming and does not op6mise manufacturing procedures. The construction of new end frames and support structure for a salvaged vessel in remanufacturing is particularly time consuming and costly.

There is therefore a need for an improved construction of intermodal tank container which will overcome these problems.

Sggments of Tny According to the invention there is provided an intermodal tank conmincr comprising:- a vessel; a collar fixed to the vessel; a pair of end frames-, and support plate for supporting the collar, the support plate being of a size to acconimodate a range of vessels and the collar being fixed to the support plate.

In a preferred aspect the collar is of substantially the same diameter as that of the vessel to which it is mounted.

Ideally the collar is butt jointed to the support plate. Usually the collar is welded to the support plate.

The diameter of the collar must be at or near enough to the vessel diameter to be effectively the same diameter as the vessel. This closeness in diameters is necessary to Prevent stresses imposed by torsion, damaging the frame or the vessel head. The supporting plate is of a size and shape to allow the collar to bear onto the plate, therefore the support plate is importantly of a size to support a wide range of tank vessel diameters without a change to any major dimension. 5 Preferably the opening in the support plate is a substantially circular hole. Portion of a domed end of the vessel is accommodated within the central hole in the support plate.

In a preferred embodiment the collar is also fixed to the end fi-ame.

Brief Description of the -Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only, in which:- Fig. I is a side elevational view of a tank container according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the container tank of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side, partially cross sectional view of. the container tank; Fig. 4 is an end view of another container tank; 25 Fi& 5 is a perspective view of portion of the container tank7, and Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the container tank.

Detailed De5gfiptio Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a tank container comprising a vessel I secured to a pair of I.S.O. transportation end frames 5 by coUars 3. The collars 3 are nominally the same diameter as the vessel 1 and the collar 3 is supported by a support means provided by a flat plate 4 as an intermediate bearer between the collar 3 and the I.S.O. transportation frame 5. The flat plate 4 of one size simplifies the manufacturing process by accommodating a variety of tank diameters and acts, in use, as a sprung suspension unit for the loaded tank, and assists in supporting the required I.S.O. standard loadings. The plate 4 has a central hole 6 which may accommodate the domed end of the vessel 1. The hole 6 also facilitates inspection and insulation as well as reducing the weight of the plate 4.

is Each collar 3 is welded to the outside diameter of the vessei i at one end and is butt-jointed to the support plate 4 at the other end. In this case portion of the domed end of the vessel I is accommodated within the hole 6 in the plate 4. The collar 3 is welded to the plate 4 at the joint To accommodate larger diameter vessels the collar 3 may also be welded directly to the frame members over part of 20 their circumference. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig- 2. The support plate 4 provides a universal support of sucb a size that it can accommodate a range of tank vessel diameters which may be butted-up to the plate 4 to obtain a welded connected. The assembly operation is considerably 25 simplified and less expensive because a singJe end plate 4 may be used on universal end frarnes to accommodate a range of different vessel sizes- The arTangement is considerably cheaper and simpler that the use of conventional struttype bearers which are specific to a single vessel. 30 The support plate 4 is of such a size and thickness that it will deflect under loads generated in transportation and thus protects the vessel and associated structure from high stresses. In addition, the plate 4 assists the end frame 6 in supporting the vertical stacking load and the lateral racking load and allows lighter section frame members with consequent weight and cost savings.

The invention is especially advantageous in re-manufacture using a salvaged tank container vessel. In this case the novel connection structure and end frarnes of the invention are especially useful in providing a relatively quick, cheap and effective way of providing a remanufactured tank containcT. 10 The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

6- C 1. An inter-modal tank contaier compnsmg:- a vessel; a collar fixed to the vessel; a pair of end frames; and 10 a support plate for supporting the collar, the support plate being of a size to accommodate a range of vessels and the collax being fixed to the support plate., 2. A tank container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collar is of substantially the same diameter as that of the vessel to which it is mounted.

3. A tank container as claimed in claun I or 2 wberein the collar is butt jointed to the support plate.

4. A tank container as claimed in claim 3 wherein die collar is welded to the support plate.

5. A tank container as clairned in any preceding claim wherein the opening in the support plate is a substantially circular hole.

6. A tank container as claimed in clairn 5 wherein portion of a domed end of the vessel is accornmodated within the central hole in the support plate.

7. A tank container as claimed in any preceding claim wberein the collar is also fixed to the end frame.

S. A tank container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.