Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
ITW CASE 13585
REINFORCED BULK CONTAIN~7R LINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to bulk
containers within which fluid-like or flowable cargo mater-
ials, such as, for example, dry bulk chemicals, powdered and
pelletized resins, flour, coffee beans, grain, and the like,
are to be housed or contained while being shipped or trans-
ported, and more particularly to a new and improved rein-
inforced bulk container liner, for use in conjunction with
such bulk containers, wherein the new and improved reinforc-
ed bulk container liner exhibits substantially improved or
enhanced strength characteristics as well as structural sup-
port features which enable the bulk container liner to be
fully expanded so as to facilitate the filling of the bulk
container liner, and therefore the bulk container, with a
maximum amount of cargo material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bulk containers are conventionally used, at dif-
ferent times, to house or contain different fluid-like or
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
flowable cargo materials, such as, for example, dry bulk
chemicals, powdered and pelletized resins, flour, coffee
beans, grains, rice, sugar, and the like, while the cargo
materials are being shipped or transported from one location
to another by means of, for example, ship, truck, railroad,
and the like. Since different materials are going to be
shipped or transported within the containers at different
times, it is imperative that the containers effectively be
clean so as not to contaminate the materials Comprising a
particular cargo load with residual materials which may re-
main within the container from a previously shipped or
transported cargo load.
Accordingly, in order to eliminate the necessary
cleaning of each Cargo container hold after a particular
cargo material load has been unloaded or discharged from a
particular one of the cargo Container holds, it has become
conventional within the industry to employ removable bulk
container liners within the cargo holds of the bulk contain-
ers wherein, after a particular cargo load is delivered to
its destination and discharged or unloaded, the liner is
simply removed from the bulk container whereby the bulk con-
tainer is again useable, without a significant amount of
cleaning, for carrying another cargo load of fluid or flow-
able material. Examples of bulk container liners as used
within bulk containers for shipping or transporting fluid or
flowable materials may be found within United States Patent
5,489,037 which issued on February 6, 1996 to Stopper,
United States Patent 5,293,710 which issued on March 16,
1993 to Podd, Sr. et al., and United States Patent 4,884,722
which issued on December 5, 1989 to Podd.
2
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
While the noted removable liners have obviously
performed satisfactorily from an overall point of view in
connection with the achievement of their primary objectives
as noted hereinbefore, such removable bulk container liner
have exhibited several operational difficulties. For examp-
le, due to the various forces or loads which are normally
impressed upon the liners during, for example, both 'the car-
go material loading operation as well as the actual t rans-
portation or shipping period, PRIOR ARZ' liners have been
subjected to tearing or rupture. In addition, liners usually
require the use of a structural bulkhead between the rear
end portion of the liner and the rear end wall of the bulk
container which is conventionally formed by means of a pair
of pivotal doors such that the internal loads are not trans-
(erred to the rear doors.
While removable bulkheads have been employed with-
in conventional or PRIOR ART bulk containers, such bulkheads
have not been deemed satisfactory in view of the fact that
such bulkheads often comprise heavy, wall-like structures
which require substantial support in order to withstand the
loads inherent within the system. In addition, such bulk-
heads add a significant amount of weight to the cargo load
and do not enable the viewing of the interior of the liner
and bulk container whereby, for example, monitoring of the
inflation of the bulk container liner and the charging of
the bulk materials into the bulk container liner is not able
to be readily achieved. Still further, while the liners may
be effectively erected within the bulk containers through
means of known inflation techniques, such inflation tech-
niques per se, that is, by themselves, have not proven to be
3
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
sufficient for achieving the complete inflation or expansion
of the liners so as to permit the maximum amount of the flu-
id or flowabie materials to in fact be loaded, deposited,
and accommodated within the liners and the bulk containers.
Lastly, the conventional or PRIOR ART bulk containers, and
the bulk container liners incorporated therein, are often
required to discharge their cargo loads at their destination
points into receiver mechanisms which may vary in size, how-
ever, such conventional or PRIOR ART bulk containers, and
the bulk container liners incorporated therein, axe not
readily adaptable for use in connection with different sized
receiver mechanisms.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and
improved bulk container liner which will be capable of pro-
viding enhanced tear or rupture resistance, particularly un-
der inflation and cargo load forces, which will be capable
of facilitating the inflation, expansion, and erection of
the bulk container liner within the bulk container so as to
in turn facilitate the filling of the bulk container liner,
with a predetermined cargo load or bulk material, to its
maximum extent, which will be capable of effectively provid-
ing a substantially rigid or semi-rigid bulkhead structure
which is integrally incorporated within the existing bulk
container liner structure so as to effectively prevent ex-
tensive bulging of the bulk container liner and the impres-
sion of the inflation and cargo load forces upon the rear
doors of the bulk container, and which is capable of being
diametrically adjustable so as to be capable of being used
in conjunction with different cargo load receiver mechanisms
having different diametrical extents or dimensions whereby
4
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
the cargo loads from the particular bulk container can
nevertheless be expeditiously unloaded or discharged.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present inven-
tion to provide a new and improved bulk container liner for
use within bulk containers to be filled with bulk material
cargo loads.
Another object of the present invention is to pro-
vide a new and improved bulk container liner, for use within
bulk containers to be filled with bulk material cargo loads,
which effectively overcomes the various structural and ope-
rational drawbacks and disadvantages characteristic of PRIOR
ART bulk container liners.
An additional object of the present invention is
to provide a new and improved bulk container liner for use
within bulk containers to be filled with bulk material cargo
loads wherein the new and improved bulk container liner has
structural adjuncts operatively connected thereto so as to
facilitate and ensure the properly desired inflation, expan-
lion, and erection of the bulk container liner within the
bulk container so as to in turn facilitate and ensure the
proper and desired filling of the bulk container liner, with
a predetermined bulk material cargo load, to its maximum ex-
tent.
5
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
A further object of the present invention is to
provide a new and improved bulk container liner for use
within bulk containers to be filled with bulk material cargo
loads wherein the new and improved bulk container liner is
structurally reinforced by means of a substantially rigid or
semi-rigid bulkhead structure which is suitably attached to
or incorporated within the rear surface portion of the bulk
container liner so as to exhibit enhanced strength and tear
or rupture resistance, particularly in connection with, but
not limited to, the vicinity of, the loading, discharging,
and venting ports, and in addition, which effectively pre-
vents the cargo load and inflation forces from being unduly
transmitted to or impressed upon the rear doors of the bulk
container whereby such integrally incorporated bulkhead
structure thereby exhibits the positive attributes of remov-
able bulkheads without the aforenoted negative characterist-
ics of such removable bulheads~
A last object of the present invention is to pro-
vide a new and improved bulk container liner for use within
bulk containers to be filled with bulk material cargo loads
wherein the new and improved bulk container liner is provid-
ed with diametrically adjustable discharge port structure
which effectively enables the bulk container liner of the
present invention to be used in connection with the unload-
ing or discharge of cargo loads into, or in connection with,
receiver structures or mechanisms which may have different
diametrical extents or dimensions whereby the cargo loads
can in fact be expeditiously unloaded or discharged from the
bulk container within which the new and improved bulk con-
tamer liner of the present invention is being employed.
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
sRY of Tx~ =xv~~,~orr
The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in
accordance with the teachings and principles of the present
invention through the provision of a new and improved bulk
container liner which, in accordance with a first major or
primary unique and novel feature thereof, comprises a rein-
forcing semi-rigid bulkhead, formed from woven polypropylene
or woven polyethylene, which is secured to the rear surface
of the bulk container liner so as to effectively reinforce
the rear surface of the bulk container liner against tearing
and rupture thereof, and more particularly, to effectively
withstand the interior inflation and cargo load forces so as
to thereby, in turn, effectively prevent the over-expansion
or bulging of the bulk container liner whereby such infla
tion and cargo load forces would otherwise be transmitted to
the rear doors of the bulk container. In addition to the
provision or integral incorporation of the reinforcing bulk-
head structure upon or within the rear surface portion of
the bulk container liner, the discharge port of the bulk
container liner has structure integrally incorporated there-
in which permits the discharge port to be varied in its dia-
metrical extent. In this manner, the diametrical extent of
the discharge port can effectively be predeterminedly varied
in order to permit the discharge port to be used in conjune-
tion with different receiver structures or'mechanisms, which
may have different diametrical extents or dimensions, where-
by the bulk material cargo load can be discharged or unload-
ed without inordinate forces or pressures being placed upon
the discharge port and the bulk container liner during a
3o particular bulk material unloading or discharging operation.
7
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features, and attendant ad-
vantages of the present invention will be more fully appre-
ciated from the following detailed description when consid-
ered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which
like reference characters designate like or corresponding
parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a new and im-
proved bulk container liner which is constructed in accord-
ante with the teachings and principles of the present inven-
tion and which shows the cooperative parts thereof such that
the new and improved bulk container liner of the present in-
vention can be effectively utilized within bulk containers
for holding and transporting bulk materials; and
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a new and im-
proved discharge port which is integrally incorporated in
conjunction with the new and improved bulk container liner
illustrated within FIGURE 1 and which is also constructed in
accordance with the principles and teachings of the present
invention so as to have an adjustable or variable diametri-
cal extent or dimension whereby the variably or adjustably
sized discharge port can be readily and. easily utilized in a
substantially universal manner in conjunction with different
bulk material receivers characterized by different diametri-
cal extents or dimensions sa as to readily and easily facil-
itate the unloading or discharge of the bulk materials from
the bulk container regardless of the diametrical size of the
bulk material receiver.
8
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TAE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, and more particu-
larly to FIGURE 1 thereof, a new and improved bulk container
liner, which is constructed in accordance with the teachings
and principles of the present invention and which shows the
cooperative parts thereof such that the new and improved
bulk container liner of the present invention can be effect-
ively utilized within bulk containers for holding and trans-
porting bulk materials, is illustrated and is generally in-
dicated by the reference character 10. As can be readily ap-
preciated, the new and improved bulk cantainer liner 10 of
the present invention is fabricated from a suitable materi-
al, such as, for example, extruded polyethylene, and has a
geometrical configuration which substantially comprises that
of a rectangular parallelepiped. Accordingly, the bulk con-
tainer liner 10 is seen to include, as viewed in FIGURE ~, a
front or forward surface 12, a left side surface 14, an up-
per or top surface 16, a right side surface 18, a lower or
bottom surface 20, and a back or rear surface 22. More par-
ticularly, the bulk container liner 10 has a width dimension
W of ninety-two inches (92°') or approximately eight feet
(8.00'), a length dimension L of two hwndred thirty-two
inches or approximately nineteen and one-third feet
(19.33'), and a height dimension H of ninety-four inches
(94") or approximately eight feet (8.00'). Tn order to load
the bulk container liner 10 with bulk material, the bulk
container liner 10 is provided with a loading port or sleeve
member 24 which is located upon or along a longitudinally
extending central plane of the bulk container liner 10, and
in order to unload the bulk material from t:he bulk container
9
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
liner 10, the bulk container liner 10 is provided with a
discharge part or sleeve member 26 which is likewise located
upon or along the longitudinally extending central plane of
the bulk container liner 10 at an elevational level which is
beneath that of the loading port or sleeve member 24. As is
conventional in the art, and as has been previously disclos-
ed, for example, within the aforenoted United States Patent
5,89,037 which issued to Stopper on February 6, 1996, the
lower rear corner regions of the bulk container liner 10 are
provided with corner bag structures 28 for facilitating or
expediting the discharge of the bulk materials from such
lower rear corner regions of the bulk container liner 10
when the bulk material contained within the bulk container
liner 10 is to be unloaded from the bulk container line 10.
Each one of the corner bag structures 28 comprises an in-
flatable and deflatable structure and is therefore accord-
ingly provided with a tube member 30 by means of which the
corner bag structures 28 may be respectively inflated and
deflated when such tube members 30 are fluidically connected
to suitable inflation and deflation equipment, not shown.
When the corner bag structures 28 are inflated, it is noted
further that each one of the corner bag structures 28 will
have a substantially pyramidal geometrical configuration
such that interior, inclined surface portions of such in-
flated corner bag structures 28 will cause the bulk material
contained within the bulk container liner 10 to effectively
move toward the discharge port 26.
In order to ensure that the bulk container 10 is
fully, completely, and properly inflated and erected by a
suitable means, which is not shown but which is disclosed
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
within the aforenoted United States Patent 5,489,037 which
issued to Stopper on February 6, 1996, and in order to fur-
ther ensure that the bulk container liner 10 is maintained
in such inflated or erected condition or state in prepara-
tion for and during a bulk material cargo load loading ope-
ration, during the housing and transportation of the bulk
material cargo load which has been loaded into the bulk con-
tamer liner 10, and particularly during a bulk material
cargo load discharging or unloading operation, the bulk con-
to mer liner 10 of the present invention has been provided
with additional novel and unique structural components. More
particularly, it is noted that a first tubular sleeve member
32, which may be fabricated from a suitable fabric or other
material, is fixedly secured to the rear surface portion 22
of the bulk container liner 10 by suitable means, such as,
for example, by being stitched or sewn thereto. The first
tubular member 32 extends transversely with respect to the
longitudinal extent of the bulk container liner 10 and is
disposed at an elevational level which is immediately below
that of the loading port or sleeve member 24. The tubular
sleeve member 32 is adapted to have a steel bar or beam
member, which is not shown but which comprises a structural
member or component of the bulk container, inserted there-
through.
In addition, a second tubular sleeve member 34 is
fixedly secured within the vicinity of the lower rear edge
or corner region of the bulk container liner 10 as defined
at the intersection of the rear surface portion 22 of the
bulk container liner 10 and the lower or bottom surface
portion 20 of the bulk container liner 10. Nailing straps,
11
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
not shown, are adapted to be passed through the second tubu-
lar sleeve member 34 and fixedly secured to the floor sec-
tion of the bulk container so as to in turn fixedly secure
the lower rear portion of the bulk container liner 10 to the
floor section of the bulk container.
Still further, in order to similarly secure or
fixedly support the upper portion of the rear surface 22 of
the bulk container liner 10, which extends upwardly from the
elevational level at which the first tubular sleeve member
32 and the steel bar or beam member are disposed, so as to
thereby facilitate the proper and full erection of the bulk
container liner 10, as well as to properly dispose and sup-
port such upper portion of the rear surface 22 of the bulk
container liner 10 during a bulk material discharge or un-
loading pracedure, and still further in order to properly
dispose and support the bulk material loading port or sleeve
member 24 in conjunction with a bulk material loading opera-
tion, a pair of ropes, straps, cables, or the like 36 are
fixedly secured at first ends thereof to the bulk container
liner 10 within the vicinity of the upper rear edge or corn-
er region defined at the intersection of the rear surface
portion 22 of the bulk container liner 10 and the upper or
top surface portion 16 of the bulk container liner 10. In
this manner, when the other or second opposite ends of the
support ropes, straps, or cables 36 are fixed to appropriate
structure of the bulk container, the upper portion of the
rear surface 22 of the bulk container liner 10, which ex-
tends upwardly from the elevat.ional level at which the first
tubular sleeve member 32 and the steel bar or beam member
are disposed, can be effectively stretched tight or taut.
12
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
In accordance with another unique structural fea-
ture characteristic of the new and improved bulk container
liner 10 constructed in accordance with the principles and
teachings of the present invention, the entire rear surface
portion 22 of the bulk container liner 10 is reinforced by
means of a sheet of woven polypropylene, or woven polyethyl-
ene, 38 which is secured or affixed to the rear surface por-
tion 22 of the bulk container liner 10 by suitable means,
such as, for examples two-sided adhesive tape or the like
which is disposed upon interior surface portions of the wov-
en reinforcement sheet 38 which correspond to the peripheral
edge portions of the rear surface portion 22 of the bulk
container liner 10. The woven reinforcement sheet 38 there-
fore effectively structurally cooperates with the underlying
rear surface portion 22 of the bulk container liner 10 so as
to effectively define a substantially semi-rigid bulkhead
structure for the rear surface portion 22 of the bulk con-
tainer liner 10.
Consequently, as can readily be appreciated from
FIGURE I, when the steel bar or beam member, not shown, is
inserted through the first tubular sleeve member 32 and fix-
ed in position within the bulk container, when the nailing
strips are inserted through the second tubular sleeve member
34 and are likewise fixed to the floor section of the bulk
container, and when the second ends of the ropes or straps
36 are fixed to the bulk container, the bulkhead structure
38, comprising the reinforced rear wall surface portion 22,
is effectively secured or fixed within the bulk container.
Accordingly, such bulkhead structure 38 effectively presents
or defines a reinforced, rigidified wall structure for the
13
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
bulk container liner 10 which not only advantageously serves
or promotes several functional objecti~Ves with respect to or
for the bulk container liner 10 per se, but in addition,
serves or promotes additional functional objectives with re
sped to or in conjunction with the rear door members of the
bulk container, not shown.
More particularly, such reinforced, rigidified
rear wall surface structure 38 serves to, in part, properly
maintain the rear surface portion 22 of the bulk container
liner 10 in its inflated and erected state or condition, the
reinforced, rigidified rear wall surface structure 38 also
enables or facilitates the proper disposition of the bulk
material loading port or sleeve member 24 in connection with
a bulk material cargo loading operation or procedure, and
the reinforced, rigidified rear wall surface structure 38
also enables or facilitates the proper disposition of the
bulk material unloading or discharge port or sleeve member
26 in connection with a bulk material cargo unloading opera-
tion or procedure. xn addition, and just as or even more im-
portantly, the rigidified rear wall surface structure 38
serves to reinforce the rear end portion of the bulk con-
tainer liner 10, and in conjunction therewith, to uniformly
withstand and distribute the cargo load forces and stresses,
whereby such load forces and stresses are not conveyed to or
25. impressed upon the rear doors of the bulk container, not
shown. Still further, the rigidified rear wall surface
structure 38 serves to reinforce the rear end portion of the
bulk container liner 10, and in conjunction therewith, to
uniformly withstand and distribute the cargo load forces and
stresses, particularly those attendant a bulk material cargo
14
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
unloading or discharge operation or procedure which conven-
tionally comprises the tilting of the cargo bulk container
around the lower rear edge portion of the bulk container. As
can be appreciated from F2GURE Z, the woven reinforcement
sheet 38 is applied over the entire expanse of the rear sur-
face or wall section 22 and the first tubular sleeve member
32 is affixed upon the exterior surface of the reinforced
bulkhead structure 38 such that load forces and stresses are
properly distributed and accommodated.
It is to be further appreciated that when the wov-
en reinforcement sheet 38 is applied or adhered to the rear
surface 22 of the bulk container liner 10, it necessarily
extends beyond the peripheral edge regions of the rear sur-
face 22 of the bulk container liner 10. There are several
reasons for incorporating such structure into the the new
and improved bulk container liner 10 of the present inven-
tion in this particular integrated manner. Firstly, it is to
be appreciated that all of the wall sections of the bulk
container liner 10, other than the rear surface wall section
22, that is, the front or forward surface or wall section
12, the left side surface or wall section 14, the upper or
top surface or wall section 16, the right side surface or
wall section 18, and the lower or bottom surface or wall
section 20, are effectively continuously supported by the
respective wall sections of the bulk container when the bulk
container liner 10 is installed within the bulk container,
inflated to its erected state, and loaded with the bulk ma-
terial cargo. The rear surface wall section 22 of the bulk
container liner 10, however, is not similarly supported by a
corresponding wall section of the bulk container because the
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
rear wall section of the bulk container is provided with the
openable and closable rear access doors. Consequently, the
rear surface or wall section 22 of the bulk container liner
must effectively independently self-support, or self-re-
5 silt, the various load forces and stresses impressed there-
on. This state or condition is also true of the sealed re-
gions defined between each one of the peripheral edges of
the rear surface or wall section 22 and the corresponding
rear edge regions of the left side surface or wall section
10 14, the upper or top surface or wall section 16, the right
side surface or wall section 18, and the lower or bottom
surface or wall section 20.
Accordingly, not only does the woven sheet 38 pro-
vide reinforcement to the rear surface or wall portion 22 of
the bulk container liner 10, but in addition, and secondari-
1y, the extension of the woven reinforcement sheet 38 onto
the left side surface or wall section 14, the upper or top
surface or wall section 16, the right side surface or wall
section 18, and the lower or bottom surface or wall section
20, effectively forms reinforcement regions 40,42,44,46 upon
the left side surface or wall section 14, the upper or top
surface or wall section 16, the right side surface or wall
section 18, and the lower or bottom surface or wall section
20, respectively, so as to integrally reinforce the afore-
noted sealed peripheral edge regions defined between each
one of the peripheral edges of the rear surface or wall sec-
tion 22 and the corresponding rear edge regions of the left
side surface or wall section 14, the upper or top surface or
wall section 16, the right side surface or wall section 18,
and the lower or bottom surface or wall section 20. Thirdly,
16
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
it is also noted that the woven reinforcement region 42 se-
cured or attached to the rear portion of the upper surface
or wall section 16 of the bulk container liner 10 has an ax-
ial extent or length which is somewhat greater than those of
the other woven reinforcement regions 40,44,46, and the rea-
son for this is that when, for example,. the bulk container
liner 10 is being loaded or charged with powder-type bulk
material cargo through means of the loading port or sleeve
member 24, dust collector equipment, not shown, is fluidic-
ally connected to vent port structure 48 which is also form-
ed or integrally incorporated within the rear surface or
wall section 22 of the bulk container liner 10. A closed-
loop or recirculation flow path is thus effectively opera-
tively or fluidically created in conjunction with the inter-
for of the bulk container liner 10, particularly within the
upper rear region thereof, thereby requiring additional or
extended reinforcement in order to withstand or accommodate
the additional load forces, pressure, and stresses attendant
the powder bulk material loading and dust collection proce-
dures.
In conjunction with the free end portion of the
upper surface woven reinforcement region 42, there is pro-
vided a transversely oriented support strip 50 which is fix-
edly attached thereto by any suitable means, such as, for
example, by sewing or stitching, and opposite ends of the
support strip 50 are provided with grommets 52 through which
first end portions of suitable support ropes, straps, or
cables 54 are passed, the opposite or second end portions
thereof being connected to suitable structure comprising the
bulk container. It is to be noted that while the upper sur-
17
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
face woven reinforcement region 42 appears from the illus-
trated drawing to extend axially forwardly so as to have an
axial extent of approximately one-half the axial extent ar
length of the bulk container liner 10, the illustrated draw-
s ing is not in fact to scale and in reality 'the axial extent
of the upper surface woven reinforcement region 42 comprises
only a small fractional portion of the overall axial extent
or length of the bulk container liner 7_0. Accordingly, it is
to be appreciated and understoad further that the support
ropes, cables, or straps 54 operatively cooperate with the
support ropes, straps, or cables 36 for fixing and support-
ing the entire rear region or portion of the bulk container
liner 10 within the bulk container.
In a similar manner, it is likewise noted further
that in order to facilitate the proper inflation, erection,
and support of the bulk container liner 10 in its inflated
and erected state, particularly in connection with the axi-
ally central upper region of the bulk container liner 10,
first ends of additional support ropesd straps, or cables 56
are fixedly attached to upper, axially central portions of
each one of the left and right side surfaces 14,18 of the
bulk container line 10 by means of suitable fixtures 58, and
the second opposite ends of the support ropes, straps, or
cables 56 are adapted to be fixedly connected to the bulk
container. Still yet further, in order to facilitate the
proper inflation, erection, and support of the bulk contain-
er liner 10 in its inflated and erected state, particularly
in connection with the upper forwardmost region of the bulk
container liner 10, similar support rope, cable, or strap
means are likewise utilized. The reason for this is that it
18
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
is to be remembered that the bulk container liner 10 is in-
Elated as a result of a suitable source of pressurized or
compressed air, not shown, being fluidically connected to
the interior portion of the bulk container liner 10 through
means of, for example, the loading port or sleeve structure
24 provided within or upon the rear surface portion 22 of
the bulk container liner 10. It can therefore be appreciated
that the forwardmost region of the bulls container liner 10
is located furthest from the rear wall surface 22 of the
bulk container liner 10 and, in turn, furthest from the
source of pressurized or compressed air fluidically connect-
ed to the loading port or sleeve structure 24. The lower
forwardmost region of the bulk container liner 10 normally
does not present any problems with inflation and erection
because gravitational and bulk material Loads will serve to
erect and expand the lower forwardmost region of the bulk
container liner 10 into contact with the forward interior
wall structures of the bulk container. However, such gravi-
tational and bulk material loads are obviously unable to
similarly erect and expand the upper forwardmost region of
the bulk container liner 10.
Accordingly, it sometimes conventionally occurs
that such upper forwardmost region of the bulk container
liner is not in fact fully inflated, erected, and expanded
into contact engagement with the interior wall portions of
the bulk container whereby such region of the bulk container
liner is not adequately supported by the interior wall por-
tions of the bulk container. As a result of such a state or
condition, internal pressure forces present within the bulk
container liner can lead to tearing and rupture problems
19
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
with a consequent compromise in the integrity of the seal
located at the intersection defined between the upper edge
portion of the front or forward surface portion 12 of the
bulk container liner 10 and the rear edge portion of the
upper or top surface portion 1~ of the bulk container liner
10, as well as with respect to the seals located at the rear
corner regions of the bulk container line 10 as defined be-
tween the upper horizontally disposed rear edge portion of
each one of the left and right side surface portions 14,18
of the bulk container liner 10 and opposite axially oriented
rear side edge portions of the upper or top surface portion
16 of the bulk container liner 10, and as defined between
the upper vertically oriented rear edge portion of each one
of the left and right side surface portions 14,18 of the
bulk container liner 10 and opposite vertically oriented
side edge portions of the front or forward Surface portion
12 of the bulk container liner l0.
In accordance with the principles and teachings of
the present invention, the upper front region of the bulk
container liner 10 is reinforced with woven reinforcement
material which is similar to the woven reinforcement sheet
38 secured or adhered to the rear surface portion 22 of the
bulk container liner. More particularly, a first woven rein-
forcement strip 60 is secured at the intersection defined
between the upper edge portion of the front or forward sur-
face portion 12 of the bulk container liner 10 and the rear
edge portion of the upper or top surface portion 16 of the
bulk container liner 10 such that the woven reinforcement
strip 60 encompasses or overlaps such upper edge or corner
region of the bulk container liner 10 and extends onto and
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
n
is secured upon both the front or forward surface portion 12
of the bulk container liner 10 and the rear edge portion of
the upper or top surface portion 16 of the bulk container
liner 10. In this manner, the seal region defined between
the front or forward surface portion 12 of the bulk contain-
er liner 10 and the upper or top surface portion 16 of the
bulk container liner 10 is fully reinforced. In addition,
second and third woven reinforcement strips 62 and 64, which
may actually be integral extensions of the first woven rein-
forcement strip 60, are similarly provided at the upper rear
corner regions of the bulk container liner 10 as defined be-
tween each one of the side surface portions 14,18 of the
bulk container liner 10 and the upper yr top surface portion
16 of the bulk container liner 10, as well as between each
one of the side surface portions 14,18 of the bulk container
liner to and the front or forward surface portion 12 of the
bulk container liner 10. Each one of the second and third
woven reinforcement strips 62,64 has a substantially L-shap-
ed configuration wherein second woven .reinforcement strip 62
comprises a horizontally disposed leg member 66 and a verti-
cally disposed leg member 68, while third woven reinforce-
ment strip 64 comprises a horizontally disposed leg member
70 and a vertically disposed leg member 72.
It can therefore be appreciated that horizontally
disposed leg member 66 of second woven reinforcement strip
62 encompasses or overlaps the upper rear edge or corner re-
gion of the bulk container liner 10, as defined between the
left side surface portion 14 of the bulk container 10 and
the upper or top surface portion 16 of the bulk container
10, and extends onto and is secured upon both the left side
21
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
surface portion 14 of the bulk container 10 and the upper or
top surface portion 16 of the bulk container 10 so as to re-
inforce the sealed upper rear edge or r_orner region defined
therebetween. In a similar manner, horizontally disposed leg
member 70 of third woven reinforcement strip 64 encompasses
or overlaps the upper rear edge or corner region of the bulk
container liner 30, as defined between the right side sur-
face portion 18 of the bulk container 20 and the upper or
top surface portion 16 of the bulk container 10, and extends
onto and is secured upon both the right side surface portion
18 of the bulk container 10 and the upper or top surface
portion 16 of the bulk container ZO so as to reinforce the
sealed upper rear edge or corner region defined therebe-
tween.
In a like manner, it is appreciated that vertical-
ly disposed leg member 68 of second woven reinforcement
strip 62 encompasses or overlaps the upper rear edge or
corner region of the bulk container liner 10, as defined
between the left side surface portion 14 of the bulk con-
tamer 10 and the front or forward surface portion 12 of the
bulk container 10, and extends onto and is secured upon both
the left side surface portion 14 of the bulk container 10
and the front or forward surface portion 12 of the bulk con-
tamer 10 so as to reinforce the sealed upper rear edge or
corner region defined therebetween. Still further, vertical-
ly disposed leg member 72 of third woven reinforcement strip
64 encompasses or overlaps the upper rear edge or corner re-
gion of the bulk container liner 10, as defined between the
right side surface portion 18 of the bulk container 10 and,
the front or forward surface portion 12 of the bulk contain-
22
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
er 10, and extends onto and is secured upon both the right
side surface portion 18 of the bulk container 10 and the
front or forward surface portion 12 of the bulk container 10
so as to reinforce the sealed upper rear edge or corner re-
gion defined therebetween.
In conjunction with the second and third woven re-
enforcement strips 62,64, a pair of support ropes, straps,
or cables 74,76 are respectively provided whereupon, when
first ends of the ropes, straps, or cables 74,76 are re-
spectively fixedly secured to the reinforcement strips 62,
64, and second ends of the support ropes, straps, or cables
74,76 are fixedly secured to suitable structure integrally
incorporated upon the bulk container, the upper front or
forwardmost regions of the bulk container liner 10 will be
adequately supported so as to in fact facilitate the afore-
noted inflation, erection, and expansion of the bulk con-
tamer liner 10 in preparation for a bulk material cargo
loading operation. In addition, it is further noted that the
support ropes, straps, or cables 74,76 serve the additional-
1y important function of maintaining the upper forwardmost
region of the bulk container liner 10 suitably fixed in po-
sition during bulk material cargo unloading operations, par-
ticularly in view of the aforenoted conventional tilting o.f
the bulk container around the lower rear edge portion there-
of. In order to in fact secure the first ends of the support
ropes, straps, or cables 74,76 to the woven reinforcement
strips 62,64, it is further seen that each one of the verti-
cally oriented leg members 68,72 of the reinforcement strips
62,64 is respectively provided with a vertically extending
serial array of apertures 78,80 within which suitable grom-
23
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
wets are adapted to be disposed. Snap-hook fasteners, fixed
upon the first end portions of the support ropes, straps; or
cables 74,7&, are adapted to be engaged within the apertures
78,80, the provision of the plurality of apertures 78,80
serving to accommodate different structural connections in-
herent to or characteristic of different bulk containers.
Further in conjunction with the critically import-
ant fixation of the lower forwardmost region of the bulk ma-
terial container 10, particularly during the bulk material
cargo unloading operation whereby it is again noted that the
bulk container is conventionally tilted, tipped, inclined,
or pivoted around the lower rear edge portion thereof, it is
seen still further that the lower or bottom surface portion
of the bulk container liner 10 is provided with a third
15 tubular sleeve member 82, which is similar in structure to
the first tubular sleeve member 32, fixedly attached thereto
within the vicinity of the front or forward surface portion
12 of the bulk container liner 10 by suitable means, such
as, for example, sewing or stitching. The third tubular
20 sleeve member 82 is likewise adapted to have a steel bar or
beam member, not shown but which is integrally or fixedly
connected to or operatively associated with the floor struc-
ture of the bulk container, passed therethrough so as to
fixedly secure the lower or bottom and front regions of the
bulk container liner 10 to the floor structure of the bulk
container. In conjunction with such tubular sleeve member
82, and the steel beam or bar member adapted to be passed
therethrough in connection with securing the lower or bottom
and front regions of the bulk container liner 10 to the
floor structure of the bulk container, the rear region of
24
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
the lower or bottom surface portion or wall section 20 of
the bulk container liner 10 is adapted to be reinforced by
means of a woven reinforcement sheet 84 which has its upper
or interior surface adhesively bonded ar otherwise fixedly
secured to the lower or exterior face of the lower or bottom
surface or wall section 20 of the bulk container liner 10.
As was the case with the reinforcement sheet 38 secured upon
the rear surface or wall section 22 of the bulk container
liner 10, the woven reinforcement sheet: 84 is applied over
the entire rear region of the lower or bottom surface or
wall section 22 of the bulk container liner 10 and the third
tubular sleeve member 82 is affixed upon the exteriar sur-
face of the woven reinforcement sheet 84 such that load
forces and stresses are properly distributed and accommodat-
ed.
With reference continuing to be made to FIGURE 1,
it is seen that the loading port or sleeve member 24, the
discharge or unloading port or sleeve member 26, and the
vent port or sleeve member 48 are also respectively provided
with woven reinforcement sheets 86,88,0 which are suitably
secured or attached to the loading port or sleeve member 24,
the discharge or unloading port or sleeve member 26, and the
vent port or sleeve member 48 sa as to respectively circum-
ferentially envelop the loading port o:r sleeve member 24,
the discharge or unloading port or sleeve member 26, and the
vent port or sleeve member 48. In this manner, the woven re-
enforcement sheets 86,88,90 reinforce and support the load-
ing port or sleeve member 24, the discharge or unloading
port or sleeve member 26, and the vent port or sleeve member
48 when the loading port or sleeve member 24, the discharge
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
or unloading port or sleeve member 26, and vent port or
sleeve member 48 are moved to their axially extended posi-
tions for respective use in conjunction with a bulk material
loading operation, a bulk material unloading operation, and
a venting operation. Tn order to in fact be able to respect-
ively move each one of the loading port or sleeve member 24,
the discharge or unloading port or sleeve member 26, and the
vent port or sleeve member 48 from its axially recessed or
collapsed position to its axially extended or expanded posi-
tion, each one of the loading port or sleeve member 24, the
discharge or unloading port or sleeve member 26, and the
vent port or sleeve member 48 is respectively provided with
a rope, strap, or cable 92,94,96 which may :be suitably se-
cured to an inner peripheral wall portion of each port or
sleeve member 24,26,48. In order to view or determine the
height of or depth to which the bulk material has been load-
ed into the bulk container liner 10, a view port 98 extends
through or is effectively cut out from the reinforcement
sheet 38 and is incorporated within the rear surface portion
or wall section 22 of the bulk container liner 10.
In accordance with a last unique and novel struc-
tural feature characteristic of the present invention, and
as be best appreciated as a result of additional reference
being made to FIGURE 2, the bulk material unloading or dis-
charge port or sleeve member 26 of the bulk container liner
10 of the present invention has operatively associated
therewith structure or means for adjustably varying the dia-
metrical extent of the bulk material unloading or discharge
port or sleeve member 26 such that the bulk material unload-
ing or discharge port or sleeve member. 26 is effectively un-
26
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
iversally useable with different bulk material unloading re-
ceiver mechanisms having different diametrical extents. More
particularly, then, it is seen from FTG-'~RE ?. that in accord-
ance with the principles and teachings of the present inven-
tion, a substantially square-shaped portion 100 of the woven
reinforcement sheet 38, which is disposed within the vicini-
ty of or immediately surrounds the discharge port or sleeve
member 2&, is cut or severed along both diagonal loci 102
thereof so as to effectively define four, triangularly shap-
ed flap members 104. The axially central apex portion 106 of
each flap member 104 is folded backwardly upon and is adapt-
ed to be fixedly secured to itself, as at 108 by any suit-
able means, such as, for example, adhesive means, sewing,
stitching, and the like, such that an axially open region
110 is defined withan the woven reinforcement sheet 38
through which the discharge sleeve or port member 26 of the
bulk container liner 10 can be extended.
In additian, as a result of the aforenoted, back-
ward folding of the apex portions 106 of the flap members
104, an open loop region 112 is effectively defined intern-
ally within each one of such folded regions of the flap mem-
bers 104 such that a rope, strap, or cable member 114 can be
serially threaded through the plurality of open loop regions
112 so as to define an enveloping or encircling rope, strap,
or cable noose 116. In this manner, when the opposite free
ends 118 of the rope, strap, or cable noose 116 are both
pulled together in the direction C of the double arrowhead
O-C, the diametrical extent of the rope, strap, or cable
noose 116 will be constricted so as to effectively tend to
correspondingly adjustably or variably close or constrict
27
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
the diametrical extent of the axially open region 110, while
conversely, when the free ends 118 of the rope, strap, or
cable noose 116 are permitted to move in the direction O of
the double arrowhead O-C, the diametrical extent of the
rope, strap, or cable noose 11~ will be expanded so as to
effectively tend to correspondingly adjustably or variably
open or expand the diametrical extent of the axially open
region 110. In order to ensure that the axially open region
110 is effectively closed during those periods when the bulk
material discharge port~26 is axially retracted or collapsed
and is not being used in conjunction with the performance of
a bulk material discharge or unloading operation, it is seen
further that a woven reinforcement flap member 120 is secur-
ed along a linear locus 122 to the rear wall surface portion
22 of the bulk container liner 10 by means of, for example,
sewing, stitching, or the like.
Tn particular, the flap member 120 is illustrated
within FIGURE 2 as being in a raised position, however, this
is simply for clarity in connection with the same. Tn real-
ity, the flap member 120, after being secured along the lin-
ear locus 122 to the rear wall surface portion 22 of the
bulk container liner 10, is disposed in a vertical oriented
hanging mode so as to be interposed between the rear wall
surface portion 22 of the bulk container liner 10 and the
square-shaped portion or region 100 of the woven reinforce-
ment sheet 38. Therefore, when the bulls material discharge
port 26 is axially retracted or collapsed and is not being
used in conjunction with the performance of a bulk material
discharge or unloading operation, the flap member 120 ef-
festively covers and closes off the axially open region 110,
28
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
however, when the bulk material discharge port 26 is to be
axially extended so as to be used in conjunction with the
performance of a bulk material discharge or unloading opera-
tion, since the flap member 120 is only secured to the rear
surface wall portion 22 of the bulk container liner 10 along
the linear locus 122 so as to effectively freely hang in a
suspension mode between between the rear wall surface por-
tion 22 of the bulk container liner 10 and the square-shaped
portion or region 100 of the woven reinforcement sheet 38,
the flap member 120 can be grasped by means of an operator
and pulled axially through the axially open region 110 to as
to effectively uncover and open the axially open region 110.
Thereafter, the discharge or unloading port or sleeve member
26 can be axially extended through the axially open region
110 so as to be readily accessible for fluidic connection to
the bulk material receiver mechanism.
In conjunction with such fluidic connection, the
rope, strap, or cable noose 116 can also be diametrically
adjusted so as to variably adjust the diametrical extent of
the axially open region 110 so as to in turn variably adjust
the diametrical extent of the unloading or discharge port of
sleeve member 26 to match the diametrical extent of the par-
ticular bulk material receiver mechanism being employed in
conjunction with the discharge or unloading of the bulk ma-
terial from the bulk container liner 10. It is also to be
noted that in conjunction with the pull-through of the flap
member 120 through the axially central open region 110, the
flap member 120 can be secured to the rear surface wall por-
tion 22 of the bulk container liner 10 by removable stitch-
ing whereby the flap member 120 can actually be detached
29
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
from the rear surface wall portion 22 of the bulk container
liner 10 and then removed from the bulk container liner as-
sembly in lieu of remaining attached thereto along the lin-
ear locus 122.
Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the
principles and teachings of the present invention, there has
been provided a new and improved bulk container liner assem-
bly or structure wherein a woven reinforcement sheet is
structurally secured to the rear wall surface portion of the
l0 bulk container liner so as to effectively define a bulkhead
structure which provides enhanced strength and reinforcement
thereto within such rear surface wall portion thereof which
faces and operatively cooperates with the rear door region
of the bulk container. In addition, structure is integrally
incorporated within the bulk container liner for facilitat-
ing the inflation, erection, and support of the bulk con-
tainer liner in order to in turn facilitate the proper load-
ing and filling of the same with bulk material cargo, as
well as for fixedly securing the bulk container liner within
the bulk container, particularly during bulk material cargo
unloading operations.
Obviously, many variations and modifications of
the present invention are possible in light of the above
teachings. It is noted, for example, that the elevational
level, at which the first tubular sleeve member 32 is affix-
ed upon the exterior surface of the reinforced bulkhead
structure 38, as well as the corresponding elevational level
at which the loading port or sleeve member 24 is located,
can be varied depending upon the height or depth to which
CA 02424669 2003-04-08
the bulk material cargo is to be loaded into the bulk con-
tamer liner 10. It is therefore to be understood that with-
in the scope of the appended claims, the present invention
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described
herein.
15
25
31
