GB2368336A

GB2368336A - A freight container

Info

Publication number: GB2368336A
Application number: GB0026394A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Clark
Original assignee: ADAPTAINER PALLETWIDE Ltd
Current assignee: ADAPTAINER PALLETWIDE Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-27
Filing date: 2000-10-27
Publication date: 2002-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-27
Also published as: GB2368336B; GB0026394D0

Abstract

A curtain-side freight container has two opposite long sides one or both of which has a curtain 26. Main lifting/support points 22 are provided at each corner and auxiliary lifting/support points 24 are provided at the top and bottom edges of both ends of a long side, the auxiliary points being spaced from the ends of the side towards the middle. To support the auxiliary lifting/support points, corner braces 30 extend diagonally from each auxiliary support point to the adjacent corner post 20 to transfer forces applied to the auxiliary support points in a vertical direction to and from the corner post. The corner braces are movable between active positions (Figure 2a) where they are connected between the auxiliary lifting/support points and the corner posts and passive positions (Figure 2b) where they do not obstruct the open side of the container.

Description

Freight Containers

Freight containers are very widely used for all forms of shipping and transportation, and for conveying a wide variety of different types of goods. These containers are of rectangular, box-like form, and of standard overall dimensions, so that they can be handled by standardised container handling equipment and can be safely stacked with other similar containers and mounted on transportation frames, such as road trailers. They are provided with lifting/support points at the corners for example for engagement with other containers or lifting equipment A number of different standard sized formats exist.

Generally the height and width of all containers are the same, but there are three main standard lengths, namely 20 foot, 40 foot and 45 foot.

Whilst containers of one standard size can readily be stacked with other containers of the same standard size, it is in some circumstances desirable to be able to stack containers of mixed sizes.

Both end-loading and side-loading containers are known.

End-loading containers have doors on one end face which can be opened to allow access to the interior. However, particularly with the longer containers, it is not always efficient to load the container through one end. Sideloading containers have therefore been developed, in which at least one of the long sides can be opened completely to allow wide access to the interior of the container. The open side or sides are conventionally closed by a socalled curtain which can be drawn across the open side to close the container and drawn back to open the respective

side to allow loading. When closed, the curtain is tensioned horizontally and vertically by means of tension straps spaced along the side and bottom edges of the curtain.

The present invention seeks to provide a curtain-sided container which can be stacked with other containers of shorter length.

According to the invention, there is provided a freight container of rectangular box shape which has two opposite long sides, at least one of the long sides being adapted to be opened to allow freight to be loaded into the container through that side, said at least one long side being provided with a curtain to close the side, the container having lifting/support points at each corner, corner posts between each pair of vertically spaced corners and auxiliary lifting/support points at the top and bottom edges of both ends of said at least one long side, the auxiliary points being spaced from the ends of the side towards the middle, and corner braces extending diagonally at at least one end of the at least one long side from the auxiliary support points to the adjacent corner post to transfer forces applied to the auxiliary support points in a vertical direction to and from the corner post, with the corner braces being movable from their force transferring positions to second positions where they do not obstruct the at least one long side of the container.

This invention allows the full length of the container open side to be accessible for loading and unloading, and this allows optimum use to be made of the container internal space.

The lifting/support points at each corner are those conventionally provided for the attachment of twist-locks which allow the container to be lifted by a lifting frame located above the container, and locked down to, for example, a road trailer positioned underneath the container. The auxiliary lifting/support points provide the same facilities, but at positions which are not at the container corners.

The container may have only one side which opens or both sides which open. If only one side opens, then the other side will be closed by a rigid wall which will incorporate auxiliary lifting/support points and a fixed vertical strut between pairs of auxiliary points. However if both sides are open, then both sides will include auxiliary lifting/support points and movable vertical support posts.

The container may have one end with doors which open, while the other end has a fixed wall and thus is permanently closed. In the latter case, the end of the long side adjacent the end doors may have a fixed support post extending vertically between the auxiliary lifting/support points whilst the other end has corner braces to support the auxiliary lifting/support points against the corner post. The end with the doors may have this fixed support as the final cargo units (pallets or the like) can be loaded into the container through the end doors after the majority of the cargo units have been loaded in through the side. In this mode, a fixed support presents no obstruction to loading.

The use of auxiliary lifting/support points in this way allows shorter containers to be stacked on top of longer containers, and longer containers to be stacked on top of shorter containers, provided that the spacing between the

auxiliary lifting/support points on the longer container is equal to the length of the shorter container. Also, longer containers can be lifted with lifting gear designed for shorter containers, again provided that the spacing between the auxiliary lifting/support points on the longer container is equal to the spacing between the lifting points on the lifting gear. These options are available, as a result of the movable posts, without obstructing the side-loading access for the container.

It is preferred for the corner braces to be hinged to the container to enable them to be moved away from their supporting position without being separated from the container. The braces may be hinged to the corner posts so that they can be swung aside, about a vertical axis, to open the side of the container. When the braces are in position between the auxiliary lifting/support points and the corner post, they can be covered by the curtain, when that side is closed. The curtain can then extend across the front of the braces, concealing the braces when the container is closed.

Alternatively the braces may support a door panel which forms a panel to close the part of the open side between the auxiliary lifting/support points and the corner post when the container is closed. The remaining part of the container can then be closed by a curtain which extends between the two door panels. In this case, the curtain can be a standard curtain designed for a shorter container. If there are corner braces at only one end, the curtain can extend between one door panel and the opposite end of the container side wall.

The corner braces can be hinged to the corner post

Preferably the auxiliary points are located equidistant from the respective ends of the container. The connections between the top and bottom of the corner braces and the auxiliary lifting/support points allow the support points to be loaded in either tension (for example when the container is being lifted by a lifting frame attached to the auxiliary points at the top of the container) or in compression (for example when a shorter container having a length equal to the distance between the auxiliary points is placed on top of the container of the invention). To transmit forces between the top and bottom of the container, the braces and the auxiliary lifting/support points preferably have laterally engaging pegs or brackets which engage with one another when the post is in position, to transfer loads between the auxiliary points and the corner post.

In addition, there may be a locking mechanism for locking the braces in their support positions between the corner post and the auxiliary lifting/support points.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to 45 foot containers, with the spacing between the auxiliary lifting/support points being 40 foot so that a 45 foot container according to the invention can be lifted and stacked with other 40 foot containers.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of container in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2a and 2b show a detail of a corner of the container of Figure 1, with corner braces in two different positions.

Figure 3 shows a detail of an engagement between a corner brace and an auxiliary lifting/support point; and Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of container in accordance with the invention.

The container of Figure 1 has a top 10, a bottom 12, two (short) end faces 14 (only one can be seen in the drawing) and two (long) side faces 16 and 18. Beams 20 run along all the edges of the container and connect corner fittings 22 in the form of hollow castings which have openings 22a for engagement with lifting, securing equipment. Twistlock fittings on the lifting or securing equipment fit into the openings, in a known manner. The strength and rigidity of the container is such that it can be lifted, when empty or when loaded, by lifting gear engaged with the upper four corner fittings. It can also be stacked on top of other containers of the same overall length, with the corners of all the containers in the stack aligning with the corners of the container below.

The container also has auxiliary lifting/support points 24 between the ends of the long sides 16 and 18. These auxiliary points 24 are integrated into the respective beams 24, probably by welding them into the beam lengths 20a of which they form part. The presence of the auxiliary points 24 should not interfere with the structural integrity of the beams 20a. The points 24 have the same openings 24a for accepting twist-locks as do the

corner fittings 22, but as can be seen, the openings are only accessible on two faces rather than three. The spacing between the corner fittings 22 will correspond to a standard container size. The spacing between the auxiliary lifting/support points 24 will correspond to another, different standard container size. Standard container sizes have a common width and height, but differ in their length. In particular, the longitudinal distance between the corner fittings 22 may be 45 foot. The longitudinal distance between the auxiliary points 24 may be 40 foot. As the points 24 will be arranged symmetrically along the length of the container, the longitudinal distance between a corner fitting 22 and the adjacent auxiliary point 24 will be 2.5 foot.

Freight container dimensions are conventionally specified in imperial units. The corresponding dimensions in metric units are: 45 foot 13.7 metres 40 foot 12.2 metres 2.5 foot 0.76 metres.

In Figure 1, the side 16 of the container is openable, to allow the container to be loaded. The side is closed by a flexible curtain 26 which is shown partly drawn back. At the right hand end in Figure 1, the curtain is shown in its closed position with the bottom edge of the curtain pulled tight by tension buckles 28 spaced along the bottom edge of the curtain and securing the curtain bottom edge to the lower beam 20. At the left hand end, the curtain is drawn back, so that the interior of the container can be seen. The curtain is suspended in a conventional manner from a horizontal rail attached to the upper beam

Either the side 16 alone or both sides 16, 18 may be openable and fitted with a curtain 26. If the side 18 is not openable, it will be constructed with a fixed, rigid wall in a conventional manner.

If the container is lifted by lifting gear engaged with the points 24, it is necessary to transfer some of the lifting forces to the lower part of the container (otherwise there would be a danger of the container roof being pulled away from the rest of the container).

Similarly, if a smaller container is stacked on top of this container, with the corners of the smaller container aligning with the points 24, it is necessary to transfer some of the compression load to the lower part of the container (otherwise there would be a danger of the container roof being crushed in to the container).

To provide the necessary connection between the top and bottom of the container, corner braces 30 are fitted between the auxiliary lifting/support points 24 and the adjacent corner post 21. The braces 30 at the right hand end of the container in Figure 1 are visible; the braces at the left hand end are hidden behind the closed curtain 26. In this position however, the braces 30 obstruct access into the container through the side 16 when the curtain 26 is open.

Figures 2a and 2b show how the braces 30 can be swung out of the way when the container is being loaded. During loading of course, the container will neither be lifted, nor stacked with other containers, so the braces do not need to be in position.

As can be seen in Figure 2a, the braces are mounted by hinges 31 on the corner post 21. The braces can be swung back to the position shown in Figure 2b to allow full access through the container side 16, for loading the container. Once loading is complete, the braces will be swung back to the positions shown in Figure 2a, and the curtain 26 can then be closed.

The arrangement of auxiliary lifting/support points 24, corner braces 30 and corner posts 21 is designed to transmit tension and compression forces between the upper and lower auxiliary lifting/support points 24 via the corner post 21. To ensure that this happens, there needs to be a connection between the ends 30a of the braces and the auxiliary lifting/support points 24. Figure 3 shows an example of how this can be achieved. In this Figure, only the top end 30a of one of the braces 30 is shown, and it is to be understood that there will be a similar arrangement at the bottom end of the other of the braces.

The brace has a rebate 40 which matches a tenon 42 on the auxiliary lifting/support point 24. The brace has a pin 44 which will engage in a hole 46 in the tenon 42 to lock the brace 30 and auxiliary lifting/support point 24 (and thus the beam 20) together when a vertical load is applied.

The pin 44 is conically tapered with a corresponding taper in the hole 46 so that as the two parts engage, they are gradually drawn closer together.

Although not shown in the drawings, there may be a separate locking mechanism to lock the braces in their active position between the auxiliary lifting/support points 24. In a simple form, these could be sliding bolts

which slide in a direction at right angles to the engagement direction shown in Figure 3, and which can be operated after the brace is engaged with the point 24, to prevent unintended disengagement.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment where the braces 30 on each corner post 21 are attached to a common panel 50. The panel 50 will be of sheet metal and will take no vertical load but (a) provides a closure to the part of the open side 16 when the braces 30 are locked in place, and (b) ensures that both braces 30 are moved together from their in use position to their out of the way position. The panel 50 is supported on the braces 30, and it is the braces which are hinged to the corner posts 21.

The right hand end of the container shown in Figure 4, shows such a door panel in dotted lines in an open position.

In this embodiment, the part of the container side between the ends and the auxiliary lifting/support points is closed by the door panel and the part between the auxiliary points is closed by the curtain 26. This allows the use of a standard curtain length designed for a shorter container; for example a standard 40 foot container curtain is used on a 45 foot container.

Hinges 31 for the braces 30 should be designed so that they do not obstruct the loading access to the container in any way. The hinges shown in the accompanying figures are by way of example only, and many other known types of hinges could be used. Alternatively, hinges may be designed specifically for use in this system.

Claims

1. A freight container of rectangular box shape which has two opposite long sides, at least one of the long sides being adapted to be opened to allow freight to be loaded into the container through that side, said at least one long side being provided with a curtain to close the side, the container having lifting/support points at each corner, corner posts between each pair of vertically spaced corners and auxiliary lifting/support points at the top and bottom edges of both ends of said at least one long side, the auxiliary points being spaced from the ends of the side towards the middle, and corner braces extending diagonally at at least one end of the at least one long side from each auxiliary support point to the adjacent corner post to transfer forces applied to the auxiliary support points in a vertical direction to and from the corner post, with the corner braces being movable between their force transferring positions and second positions where they do not obstruct the at least one long side of the container.

2. A freight container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the lifting/support points at each corner are those conventionally provided for the attachment of twist-locks which allow the container to be lifted by a lifting frame located above the container, and locked down to, for example, a road trailer positioned underneath the container, and the auxiliary lifting/support points provide the same facilities, but at positions which are

not at the container corners.

3. A freight container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the container has only one side which opens.

4. A freight container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the other side is closed by a rigid wall which incorporates auxiliary lifting/support points and a fixed vertical strut between pairs of auxiliary points.

5. A freight container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the container has two opposite opening sides.

6. A freight container as claimed in Claim 5, wherein both sides include auxiliary lifting/support points and movable vertical support posts.

7. A freight container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one end has doors which open, while the other end has a fixed wall and thus is permanently closed.

8. A freight container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein

the end of the long side adjacent the end doors has a fixed support post extending vertically between the auxiliary lifting/support points whilst the other end has corner braces to support the auxiliary lifting/support points against the adjacent corner post.

9. A freight container as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the corner braces are hinged to the container to enable

them to be moved away from their supporting position without being separated from the container.

10. A freight container as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the braces are hinged to the corner posts so that they can be swung aside, about a vertical axis, to open the side of the container.

11. A freight container as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the braces support a door panel which forms a panel to close the part of the open side between the auxiliary lifting/support points and the corner post when the container is closed.

12. A freight container as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the corner braces are hinged to the corner post.

13. A freight container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the auxiliary points are located equidistant from the respective ends of the container.

14. A freight container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connections between the top and bottom of the corner braces and the auxiliary lifting/support points allow the support points to be loaded in either tension (for example when the container is being lifted by a lifting frame attached to the auxiliary points at the top of the container) or in compression (for example when a shorter container having a length equal to the distance

between the auxiliary points is placed on top of the container of the invention).

15. A freight container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the braces and the auxiliary lifting/support points have laterally engaging pegs or brackets which engage with one another when the post is in position, to transfer loads between the auxiliary points and the corner post.

16. A freight container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a locking mechanism is provided for locking the braces in their support positions between the corner post and the auxiliary lifting/support points.

17. A freight container as claimed in any preceding claim having an overall length of 45 foot in which the spacing between the auxiliary lifting/support points is 40 foot.

18. A freight container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.