Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A CONTAl~ER AND A C.I~SU~E FOR A~ CO~I~R
This invention relates to a container and a closure for a co~taincr, particularly but ~:
not exclusivcly to a container of the type which is uscd ~r ~ransporting ~eight, sueh as
on ships, trains or trucks and meets requirements ~or freight containers as sct by the
Intcmational Standards Organisation ar~ or Australia National Rail.
In acco~dance wjth the prcsent invention, thr2 is pro~ided a cl~sure for a
containcr comprising: . :
a ~ame;
a closure porti~u couplcd to said ~ame whcrcby to, in use, pi~o~ betwe n a first- position and a second position; and :
a telescopic strut having onc end located at a fixed position relati~e ~o s~id l~ame
ar~d the other end c~uple~ to said closurc po~tioll, said StIUt exe~ g a bias ~orce to ~:
counteract the wcight ~o~ce of said closure po~tion.
Prcferabiy ~he frame compnses first and second end support members, said closureportion extending between ths suppor~ members 2nd ar~anged to pi~ ot about an a~;is
which exterlds in a direction from said first to said second end supp~rt mem~er.
Prefera~ly the cnd support mcmbers each comprisc substantially upn~ht posts : ~ ;
spaced apart in a direction trans~c~se to said axis which are oonnected at rcspcctive upper :
cnds by cross beams, and said fi~ame furth~r comprises a ccntral ~m which
interconne~ts the cross beams~ .
Preferably the closure portion comprises a side wall portion and a roof po~t1on,said roof por~ion being hingedly attachcd to the central bcam along an edge rcmote ~om
said wall portion~
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Preferably a plurality of closure portions are provided.
Preferably the closure portio~ cxte~ds th~ leDgth of ~he f~e and a strut is
provided at each cnd thereof.
P~eferably eDd walls are fixcd ~o said substantially upright posts and ~cspe~ti~e
one cnds of said struts arc mounted thereto.
Preferably the st~ut is a pressunse~ tPlescopic shock absorber.
Pre~erably a closurc portion is attachcd to either side of said oentr~l beam.
Preferably the fr~me is attached to a base to for;n a container whereby side walls
and a roof of the container are fonned by the closure portions.
Preferably the first cor,dition is a closed position and said seco~d conditiorl is an
open positiorl
.
Prcferably the contaiDer comprises a locking means ~or relcasably secusin~ thc
20 closure portions in respective first positions.
Prcferably structurc is provided adjac~nt said strut to protect the strut rom
possible damage caused by moven~cnt of ~ei~ht in said closure.
~n another aspect, thcrc is provided a container comprisin~ a conEainer base to
whjch is fixcd a container closure as .describcd abs:~ve.
Preferably the container is a ~eight co~tai~er which p.reIerably moets rcquircments
for such ccntainers as set by the Intem~tional Standards Organisation andlor ~us~ralia
30 Natio;nal Rail.
l~c invention is ~ow m~ ully descrlbed, by way of example only, with
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reference to thc accompaIIying drawiDgs in which:
Figu~e 1 is a ~erspcctivc diagrammatic;~l vicw of a closure in aecordanGc with th~
prcscnt invention;
Figure ~ is a cross-sectional vicw taken along thc line ~-A shown in Figure 1,
S Figur~ 3 is a dia~rammatical pcrspecti~c ~iew of a containcr i~ accordancc with
thc present invention;
Figure 4 is ~ diagrammatical perspec~ive vi~w of the contai~cr of Figure 3 With
hin~;ed walls in an open position;
Figure S is a diagrammatical vicw of a lockirl~ dcvice for use on thc ~ntainer of
Figures 3 and 4;
~i~,ur~ 6 is a cross-sectional YieW ~akeII along the line B-B shown ~ c 3;
~igure 6a is a diagrammatical view of an alternative l~ing de~rioe; and
Figure 7 is a dia~ammat~oal pcrspective view of a composite s~rut for use in theclosure of Figures 1 to 4.
Closure 1, shown in Figure 1, is formed of a ~ame 2, having ~nd support
members 4 and 6 interconnectcd by a central bcasn 8 extending thcreb~tween. Thc cnd
support mcmbe~s 4 and 6 comprise substantially upright posts 10 which a~c connected
at respective upper ends by cross beams 12. End walls 14 ~o~ned of, for example,cor~ugated steel arc attached to respectiYe posts 10 and beam 12.
The pos~s 10 and beams 8 and 12 are all fo~mcd of tubular stccl ha~ing a
recSangular c~oss-section and a width in the ordcr of 25 cm. ~c dimensions of the
framc a~e appsoximately 2.8 metres in beight, 2.5 mctr~s in width and 5.9 metses in
length. I~ese dimensions ~nay be altered as ~quired. If the lcng~h of the closure is such
that the cer~tral b~n 8 begins to wafp under its own weigh~ force, support posts (not
shown) may be inscrted to support the beam 8 along its length. Such supps~rt posts will
also scr~e to incrcase the st~uctural rigidity of thc closure 1. .
3~ Closure portiorls in the fo~ of hznged wallæ 16 and 18 arc coupled to the central
bcam 8 of thc f~amc 2 by mcans of hin~es 20 (described below with re~eIence to ~i~urc
2). Wall 18 is shown in a fi~s~, or clos~d position, whilc wail 16 is shown ~ a second,
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or open position rne walls 16 and 18 are cach forme~ of a right angled fra~e 22 which
is covered by, for e~ample, high tensile aluminium she~t metal 24 so as to form
rcspcctive side wall portions 26 and Toof poItions 28.
S Th~ walls 16 and 18 have identical parts alld the ~ollowing description will
tbcrefore be limitcd to a de,scription of wall 16 only.
~ramc 22 of wall 16 has rein~orcing membcrs 30 and 32. Struts 36 are couple~
to the &ame 22 by cngagement with cngagement elements 34 of respe~tive mcmb~rs 30.
Each strut 36 is coupled at an end, rcmote from the cng~gemellt element, $o thc wall 14
by mcans of, for example, a bolt 38 or welding. }~ach strut 36 should be sufficiently
prcssurised so that thc combined bias forcc exer~ed by the stmts is effec~ive to coun~eract
the weight forcc of the wall 16. This allows for easy opcning asld closing of thc walls.
In thc prcsent case, each 5tIUt is required to excrt a bias force of approximately 4800
~cwton. A reinforcing plate 40 may be securcd to the wall 14 to pIcYCnt deformation
of the wall 14 in the viGinity of bolts 38 due to the forccs exe~tÆd on thc bolts via
Iespecti~c struts 36. Altematively, the bolts 38 rnay be coupled directly to the ~espective
plates 40.
The opcration of the struts 36 is ~hown more clcarly in Figure 2. Each stn~t 36
comprises a locating member 42 a~ vnc cnd thereof for coupling the strut to bol~ 38, a
piston cylindcr 44, and a piston (not shown) ~ormed integrally with a pistoll rod 46. ~e
cylinder 44 is coupled at end 48 to the engagcment element 34.
.
~he stn~t 36 functions identically to a telescopic shock absorber in dampcnirlg
movcmcn~ of the walls 16 or 18 between an open and a closed E~sition but is additionally
p~cssu~ised, as mentioncd above, to counteract the weight ~orcc of the respecti~fe wall.
The st~ut 36 which is shown attached ~o wall 16 is in an extended ~n to correspond
with the open position of the wall 16, whilst th~ strut 36 attached to wall 18 is
co~npresscd, co~responding ~o the wall 18 bcing in a closed position.
S~n~nting elcmcnts 110 ~re also prcfcrably p~o~ided which compnse, for e~ample,
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mctal plates which extend inwar~ly from the wall 14, on either side of th~ struts 36, to
proteet the stru;s ~om possible damage whjch may Ixsult from movcmcnt of ~eighs in
thc closure. ~ny other suitable structure may instead ~e employed, such as a casing to
cnclose the struts in their entirety. Also, for safety reasons, a rod 111 ~ay be proYidcd
S to support the walls 16, 18 once rendcrcd in ~he open position, in case o~ possiblc
malfunction of the struts 36 during ar~ operation of loading ~eigh~ into the closure.
~ s arl alteTnative to thc single stluts 36, a plurality of smaller stn~ts may be
combined ~o ~onn composite struts 5~0, onc of which is shown in ~igure 7.
St~ut 90 compriscs a casing 91 which houses struts 95 a~d 95'. E~ach of the struts
95, 95' ase similar to ss~uts 36 and co~nprise ~yli~ders 97, 97' ant piston r~s 96, 96'.
The struts are secu~d in the casirlg 91 by bolts 93, 93~ which pass through the casing 91
and ;respective end poItions 94 of ~hc struts 95, 95'. End poxtions 94 are sepa~ated along
15 the extent of the bolts 93, 93' by spacers 92.
A closure 1 utilising composite struts 90 has the s~uts positioned in a similar
man~r ~o struts 36 shown in F~gures 1, 2 and 4. n~us, fo~ ~ach stmt 90, the ~od cnts
96, remotc ~om the casing 91, are ~upled to thc ~espective engagement element 34 and
20 rod cnds 96' semote from the casing gl are coupled to the respective bolt 38. 1
operation, the composite pistons gO will providc substantially identical bias charact~nsti~i
to those of the si~gle pistons 36.
The abo~e descAbcd composite plston 90 comprises four pisto~s g5, 95' of 1300
25 Newtoll each and the closule, thcrefore oomprises 16 such pistons. Howcver a greater
or ~ewer number o~ pistons may be used, dcpcnding upon ~he bias force each piston
exeIts.
:
Hinges 2~ are atso illust~a~ed ul Figure 2. Each hin~c compnses a pi71 50 which
30 extends from the ccntral beam and is housed in a collar 52. The respcctivc wall 16 or
18 is mounted to the collar 52 by a mounting brack~t 54 fo~ed integrally with the collar
52. Ihe bracket 54 may be sccured to th~ rcspective wall by conventional means such
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as welding or Aveting.
Also shown in ~igures 1 and 2 are locating pins 56 which protrude ~om bottom
cdgcs 58 of respective walls 16 and 18. Thesc locating pins 56 are adapted to beS rcccived in locl~ing devices (shown in Figures S and 6) of a base of a container ~shown
in Figures 3 and 4) to sccure the walls 16 and 18 in the clxed positioD. Altcrnatively,
thc pins may simply bc provided for abutting a basc to which the closure is fixed when
thc walls 16 and 18 arc in a closed position, in which case a separate locking meohanism
may be employed.
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Thc container 6û of ~igurcs 3 and 4 compriscs a closure 1, as abovc dcscAb~d,
secured to a base 62. The base 62 may have means for manipulatillg the containcr such
as, for exarnple, a plurality of reccsses (not shown) formed therein for reccivir,g ~orks of
a fork lift? or chains ~or use in corlju~ction with a crane. L~cking dc~icc 62, as shown
15 in Figures 5 and 6, is uscd to secure the walls 16 ad 18 in thc closed position of Figurc
3. The locking d~vic~ comprises a platc 66 having sleev~s 68 and 70 attached thcrcto.
~he slceves are generally cylindrical in shape to allow a bol~ 72 to slide therethrough.
The bolt may be lo~ted in an engaged position as shown by l~cating a handle 74 of the
bolt 72 in a locating slot 76 In such a positior~ the ~olt 72 will extend across thc
ZO locating pin 56 a~d into a loca2ing slecve 78, to thereby prevent moYemen~ of thc pin
away ~om the base 62.
To discngage the locking device 64, bolt 7~ is moved to th~ righe, as v~ewed, byapplying a cor~esponding force to handlc 74. Tbe bolE 72 is then sotat~d within thc
25 sleeves so that the bandle 72 can be slid into slot 80 of sleeve 70. In this marmer the
bolt 12 is withdrawn from the locating slcevc 7~ and across thc pins 56 to allowmovement of the pin away frsm base 62, and the walls 16 and 18 ~o be pjvoted into
~espectivc second positions as shown in Figure 4.
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30Altei~iativcly, loclcing desrice lûO, as shown in Figu~ 6a may be employcd. ~el~c}cing de~/icei 100 comprises a rod 101 which extends along the basc 6Z alld which has :
an a~n 1U2 secureid thereto. I~c rod 101 is rotatable so that the am~ 102 can be pivoted
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in a direction indicated by the arrow, so as io be rcceived by a bracket 103 whjch is fixed
i~ a reccssed poItion 104 formed in the wall 16 or 18. To secure the wall is a closcd
position a securing membcr 1~5 is 5whclled about bolt 106 to securc thc locking member
lQ2 b~ween the sccuring member 105 and the bracket 103. Cbrresporîding holes 108S may be provided in the bracket 103 and securing rnembcr 105 so that when thc ann is
locked in position a conlrentional padlock may bc passed the~ethrough to thereby preve~t
unauthorlsed opening of thc closure wall 16 or 18.
As will be apprcciated, the hinged attachnLen~ of the walls 16, 18 to the central
10 beam ~ provides for ready accPss to thc interior of thc container 60 when the walls are
in an open posi~iurl. Qb~ainin~ access fiom both sides of the container is also par~icularly
advantageous for rapid and unobstructed loading and unloading of freight which is to be
carried within the container. Also, if the closuIe or container is of a substantial leD~h
a plurality of closurc portions may be provid~d along the length thereof. Suitable
15 bulkh~ads may bc inco~porated into the ~rame StrUCttlle if addilional structural support is
rcquiIed for such a CODtainer or closure. Thc contairler as dcscribed abovc rnay also be
uscd fo~ transporting refrigeratcd goods if suitable seals and insulation ~re used.
The use of the StrutS 36, as above dcscribed, is alst) advantageous as such struts
20 provide a bias forc¢ to the walls 16, 18 which ~aries little ovcr the stroke length of the
piston rod 46 to thereby allo-v for smooth open~ng and çlosing of the walls. The closurc
1 which is tlsed in the fo~nation of container 60 therefore does not require the use of
hydraulic or spring systems to facilitate opening or closing of the walls 16, 18.
Hydraulics have the disadvantage ~hat they ~quire a powcr source to operatc, while
25 springs ha~c unsatisfactory bias ehaTactcristics.
The inve~tion has been descr~bed merely by way OI ex~nplc, an~ many
modifications and variations may bc made ~hereto, ~or example, a plurality of closure
por~ions may be provided aloDg onc wall of the closure, without d.cparting ~om the spirit
3û a~d scope of the irlvention which includes cvery novel feature iand combination of novel
fcah~res as dcfined in th~ followin~s claims and hereinbcfore disclos~d.
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