Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRANSPORTATION CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a transportation
container as defined in the preamble of claim 1 pref-
erably for storage and transportation of raw material
such as charcoal, peat, timber, woodchips, grain, bio
mass, sand or plastic pellets etc. or various products
such as bulk products by sea, land, rail and air.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Previously, raw material and bulk products
have been transported in fixed open-type cisterns and
pickups of trucks, trains and ships. Typically, raw
materials have not been transported in movable units
such as containers as the unloading of previously
known hard containers has been troublesome. Various
hard containers have been used for the transportation
of finished products and parcelled goods, as is well-
known.
The problem with the previously known manner
of transporting raw materials is the multi-phaseness
of the transportation system, including several load-
ing and unloading steps, and thus the complexity and
non-cost-effectiveness of the system. It has been pos-
sible to use the known open-type cisterns and pickups
in the transportation of raw materials only at a cer-
tain step of the transportation journey, not during
the entire transportation or in the intermediate stor-
age. Often, the raw material, such as charcoal, is
first heaped up near the production site, from which
it is transported in an open-type cistern of a waggon
to the port, where it is again intermediate stored as
a heap of charcoal. From the heap of charcoal at the
port, the charcoal is loaded into the open-type cis-
terns of a ship and is transported by ship to the des-
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2
tination, where it is re-unloaded to form a heap of
charcoal, after which it may be further transported
e.g. in a pickup of a train or truck to a power plant.
In that case the problem is the increase in the humid-
ity and dust and particle emissions of the raw mate-
rial, as well as the raw material loss.
One further problem has been the slowness of
the unloading of the raw materials and bulk products
and the long unloading time e.g. from ships and
barges. Still one further problem has been the small
number of suitable ship, barge and train unloading
sites for particular products.
Moreover, known in prior art is to use vari
ous big sacks in the transportation of a bulk product,
such as e.g. pellets, catalysts or the like. The prob
lem with the usage of big sacks is their small size
and low load-carrying capacity, wherein in the trans-
portation of a bull. product one must use a quantita-
tively big number of sacks to transport the goods.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the invention is to elimi-
nate the drawbacks referred to above.
One specific objective of the invention is to
disclose a new, more robust and better foldable trans-
portation container for the transportation and storage
of goods, raw material or a product in a more simple,
advantageous and efficient manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The transportation container in accordance
with the invention is characterised by what has been
presented in the claims.
The invention is based on a transportation
container which includes a container part, into which
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container part the goods to be transported and stored
can placed, the container part having two ends, two
flanks and a bottom and a top part. According to the
invention, the transportation container is substan-
tially foldable, and the container part consists of a
substantially shaping material. The container part in-
cludes at least one openable and closable hatch for
unloading the goods; and arranged in conjunction with
the container part, at its angles, are angle pieces;
and arranged substantially about the container part
are supporting means, at least part of them being ar-
ranged to pass through the angle pieces for arranging
the shaping material and supporting thereof into the
desired container form.
In one preferred embodiment, the transporta-
tion container is elongated having the length e.g. of
6 m and width of about 2 to 3 m. In an alternative em-
bodiment, the length of the transportation container
is about 8 to 12 m.
In one preferred embodiment, the container
part consists of a substantially continuous casing. In
an alternative embodiment, attached to the casing of
the container part are predetermined components to
farm the total casing.
In one embodiment, the casing of the con-
tainer part consists of one material layer. In an al-
ternative emlaodiment, the casing of the container part
consists of one or more material layers. The material
layers can consist of the same or different material.
In one embodiment of the invention, the sup
porting means is substantially a flexible ribbon,
strap, beam, cable wire or the like. Alternatively,
the supporting means, which preferably is flexible,
can be in the form of a tube, hose, rope, narrow plate
or the like.
In one embodiment of the invention, the con-
tainer part includes at least three types of support-
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4
ing means, In one preferred embodiment, the Container
part includes six types of supporting means, which are
arranged about the container part for supporting
thereof and for improving the load-carrying capacity
thereof .
In one embodiment of the invention, the con-
tainer includes eight angle pieces arranged at each
angle of the container. In one alternative embodiment
of the invention, the container includes twelve angle
pieces, eight of which are arranged at each angle of
the container, and four of which are arranged in the
centre of the horizontal edges of the container part's
flanks.
In one embodiment of the invention, the angle
piece preferably includes a fastening element consis-
tent with a standard, such as e.g. the ISO 1611, by
means of which the angle piece can be attached, making
the container better arrangeable into a transportation
means consistent with the standard. Furthermore, the
angle piece includes means through which the support-
ing means can be placed, preferably passed through the
angle piece.
The invention has the advantage that the an
gle piece in accordance ~rith. th.e invention is inter
changeable, whereas the previous, so-called standard
angle pieces were welded to the containers, and thus
were not interchangeable.
In one embodiment of the invention, the con
tainer part includes at least three types of support
ing means arranged through the angle pieces, the first
of them being arranged to encompass the end of the
container part, encircling the edges of the end via
four angle pieces, and the second of them being ar-
ranged to encompass the bottom or top part of the con-
tamer part, encircling the edges of the bottom or top
part via four angle pieces, and the third of them be-
ing arranged to encompass the flank of the container
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part, encircling the edges of the flank via four angle
pieces.
In one embodiment of the invention, the means
through which the supporting means can be placed to
5 pass through the angle piece are passages or channels,
and the supporting means that pass through the angle
pieces are each arranged to pass through a predeter-
mined channel or passage of their own in the angle
piece without contacting the other supporting means.
In one embodiment of the invention, part of
the supporting means are arranged in conjunction with
the container part without passage through the angle
pieces. Advantageously, these supporting means are ar-
ranged to encompass the container part.
In one embodiment of the invention, the con-
tainer part includes at least three types of support-
ing means, which are arranged in conjunction with the
container part without passage through the angle
pieces, of which supporting means the first one is ar-
ranged to encompass the entire container part in the
horizontal direction, the second one is arranged to
pass vertically at the ends and longitudinally in the
bottom, and the third one is arranged to pass in par
allel to the cross section of the container part about
the flanks and the bottom.
In one embodiment, the supporting means,
which is arranged to encircle the container in the
flank-bottom-flank direction, has at both ends thereof
a hoisting/supporting ring or the like, which prefera-
bly is visible in conjunction with the upper edge of
the container part's flank.
In one embodiment of the invention, the sup-
porting means are arranged to pass in parallel at a
distance from each other.
In one embodiment of the invention, the sup-
porting means are arranged to pass crosswise in such a
manner that the first supporting means are arranged to
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pass into a first direction and the second supporting
means are arranged to pass into a second direction in
conjunction with the container part. In one embodi-
ment, arranged at the crossing point of the supporting
means is a fasting means, preferably e.g. a bonding
lock, for attaching the supporting means to one an-
other and for strengthening the supporting structure
that consists of supporting means without breaking the
supporting structure.
Thanks to the fastening means, preferably a
bonding lock, it is easy to change an individual
strap.
In one embodiment of the invention, the con-
tainer part includes at least one channel, which is
arranged in conjunction with the casing. Advanta-
geously, the channel is arranged inside or outside the
easing in conjunction with. the casing, or between the
material layers of the casing.
In one embodiment of the invention, the con-
tamer part may contain a number of channels. In one
embodiment, the channels are arranged at a distance ,
from one another. In an alternative embodiment, the
channels are arranged substantially side by side.
Separate channels may have been formed by welding,
sewing, hot melting, etc.
In one embodiment, the channels are arranged
substantially horizontally or vertically in the cas-
ing. In one embodiment, the channels are arranged to
pass crosswise. In one embodiment, the channel that
passes into the first direction is arranged to pass
into the channel that passes into the second direc-
tion. In an alternative embodiment, the channel that
passes into the first direction is arranged to be dis-
continuous at the point at which it intersects the
continuous channel that passes into the second direc-
tion. In another alternative embodiment, the channels
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that pass into the first and second directions are ar-
ranged between different material layers.
In one embodiment of the invention, at least
one supporting means is arranged in the formed chan
nel, preferably inside it. The supporting means can
have the width of the channel or be narrower.
In one embodiment of the invention, the cas-
ing is made of polymer fibre, synthetic fibre or mix-
tures thereof . The casing may consist of a . g. polyes-
ter, polyamide, polyurethane, polyethylene teraphtha-
late or other suitable strong polymer fibres or mix-
tures thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the casing
consists of polyester which has a carefully predeter-
mined shock resistance and tensile strength. Advanta-
geously, the material of the casing is woven-type, and
its surface can be smooth or alternatively e.g. soft,
bubble-life, bellows-like, frictional or the like, de-
pending on the purpose of use of the transportation
container. A non-smooth surface may have been obtained
by treating the surface structure or by arranging on
the surface different material to obtain the desired
surface, or by arranging between the uppermost mate
rial layers a filling such as e.g. cellular plastic,
foam rubber or the like. In one preferred embodiment,
the casing has seams or joints as few as possible.
In one embodiment, the casing of the con
tainer consists of single-use material, e.g. in con
junction with a transportation application of messy
agents. In that case, the casing part can be easily
changed.
In one embodiment of the invention, the sup-
porting means consists of polymer, synthetic fibre,
plastic, aluminium, other metal, carbon fibre, steel
cable or the like. As the polymer material it is pos-
Bible to use the corresponding materials that were
mentioned above in conjunction with the materials for
casing. The material of the supporting means can be
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recycling material. Alternatively, it is possible to
use e.g. gas such as air, or silicone or polystyrene
at least as a part of the supporting means. In that
case, the channels have been filled with the material
in question, thus supporting the transportation con-
tainer structure. A combination of different materials
can also function as the supporting means.
By the selection of the supporting means and
the material of the casing as well as by arranging the
supporting means in a particular manner, e.g. at a
distance from one another or in a latticed form, it is
possible to affect the load-carrying capacity of the
transportation container. In one embodiment, the load
carrying capacity of the transportation container can
be up to about 60 tonnes.
In one embodiment of the invention, the ope-
nable and closable hatch is arranged in the bottom
part. Advantageously, the hatch of the bottom part
functions as the unloading hatch. of goods . In one em-
~0 bodiment, arranged in conjunction with the hatch is a
funnel-shaped structure for facilitating the unloading
of goods.
In one embodiment, the hatch consists of the
material of the casing. In an alternative embodiment,
the hatch is of a different material than the casing.
In one embodiment, the hatch is arranged in conjunc-
tion with the casing, either as being a part of the
continuous casing material or as being combined with.
the casing material.
In one embodiment of the invention, the top
part of the container is a lid. In one embodiment of
the invention, the upper edges of the container part's
casing flanks and ends are so shaped that they can be
folded to form a lid in the top part of the container
part, preferably on top of the hatch therein. In one
preferred embodiment, the filling of the transporta-
tion container is performed via the opening in the top
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part. In an alternative embodiment, the container part
includes a separate lid for covering the opening in
the top part, which lid can be arranged substantially
in conjunction with the casing. The lid can consist of
the same or different material than the casing of the
container part. The lid can be rigid or flexible, e.g.
fixed, tarpaulin-like, bellows-like, rollable or pad-
ded.
In one embodiment of the invention, the con-
tamer part's casing flank and/or end is arranged to
be openable and/or closable for loading and/or unload-
ing the container.
In one embodiment, arranged in the container
part are preferably opening and locking means in con-
junction with the container part for opening and clos-
ing of the hatch and/or lid, as well as for locl~ing
the fastening of the hatch and/or lid. The opening and
locking means can be any locking means known per se
and/or suitable for its purpose.
In one embodiment, arranged at the ends,
flanks, bottom and/or lid is a stiffener in conjunc-
tlon with the shap111g material, a . g . in between the
material la~r-ers. The stiffener may have been arranged
to have the form of the container part's end, lid,
flank and/or bottom. In one embodiment, the ends are
connected to one another with at least one rigid sup-
porting beam for supporting the transportation con-
tainer. The beam can be connected with the supporting
means included in the container part. In one alterna-
tive embodiment, the end, flank, bottom and/or lid may
have been formed of a substantially rigid material.
Advantageously, the transportation container
can be folded flat and/or so as to take up less space,
depending on the fact of whether the container part
includes a stiffener or not.
In one embodiment, the container part is
coated, either wholly or partially, with e.g. a suit-
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able polymer such as e.g. polyurethane, Teflon or the
like at least on one side for strengthening the mate-
rial or for improving the properties of the material,
e.g. for improving the resistance to rain. In one em-
5 bodiment, the points of the transportation container
that are subjected to a lot of stress, such as the an-
gles and the bottom, are reinforced by coating.
In one embodiment, the transportation con
tainer includes rigid or flexible partitions for di
10 viding the container part's space into smaller parts.
In one embodiment, the transportation con-
tainer includes external supporting beams arranged in
conjunction with the container part of the transporta-
tion container outside the container, e.g. in the bot-
tom of the container. Advantageously, the purpose of
the supporting beams is, for their part, to support
the transportation container, and for their part to
facilitate its loading e.g. inside a hard transporta-
tion container or waggon. Beneath the supporting beams
arranged in the bottom one may have installed e.g.
wheels to facilitate the moving of the transportation
container.
Furthermore, the transportation container in
accordance with the invention can be used in a trans
portation in which the goods to be transported are
kept in the same container during the entire transpor-
tation, but the transportation means can change.
The transportation container in accordance
with the invention preferably fulfils the transporta
tion standards, e.g. the ISO 668 and ISO 1611, and the
transportation regulations, e.g. No 1145/1998.
The invention enables one to achieve a manner
more preferable, efficient and environmentally
friendly than before for the transportation and inter-
mediate storage of e.g. raw material or bulk product,
such as charcoal, peat, timber, woodchips, grain, bio
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mass, sand or pellets or the like or finished prod-
ucts.
The invention has the advantage that one
achieves a very light but nevertheless a very robust
transportation container that is easy to handle and
transport in a confined space. Several empty folded
transportation containers in accordance with the in-
vention can be transported at the same time, e.g. in
one waggon, container or the like.
The invention enables one to achieve a fold-
able transportation container whose load-carrying ca-
pacity is considerably better than that of the previ-
ous transportation containers. Furthermore, the load-
ing capacity of the transportation container of the
invention in relation to the load-carrying capacity
and vice versa is bigger than before . The transporta-
tion container of the invention is able to carry even
up to 60 tonnes of goods, normally 35 tonnes of goods
with a capacity of 35m3, whilst in the known hard
transportation containers it is possible to carry
about 28 tonnes with a capacity of 31m3. The load-
carrying capacity of the previously l~nown big sacks
has been no more than 1 to 2 tonnes.
The transportation container of the invention
is very simple and thus advantageous to implement.
Similarly, the operating costs are low. The transpor
tation container does not rust, and the container part
is easy to patch.
The transportation container of the invention
is applicable to the transportation and intermediate
storage of various raw materials, bulk products and
parcelled goods without several loading and unloading
steps, which makes the loss of the goods being trans
ported small, and the goods maintain their original
properties. The same transportation container can be
used during the entire transportation and transfer
system. The loading of the transportation container
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and particularly the unloading thereof is fast and
cost-efficient. The unloading time preferably is no
more than about a fifth of the unloading time of known
containers. Furthermore, when using transportation
containers in accordance with the invention in the
transportation of raw material or bulk goods, the un-
loading time compared e.g. to barge transportations is
about 25 to 50% shorter. Furthermore, the transporta-
tion container can be unloaded anywhere with no need
for a separate unloading place. Thus, the unloading
place can be selected. The empty transportation con-
tainers can be returned from their destination back to
the production site in different transportation means
and packed in the minimum of space. This increases the
utilisation ratio of the transportation means them-
selves.
The transportation container of the invention
also quickens the turnover time of waggons, trucks,
ships and barges because thanks to the transportation
container of the invention, a waggon, truck, ship or
barge is needed just during the transportation jour-
ney. The transportation Container can be quickly and
easily hoisted aboard a waggon, trucl~, ship or barge
and away from them, in which case the transportation
means need not be at a standstill in terminals, rail-
way yards or unloading places. Furthermore, the trans-
portation container of the invention Can be filled in
advance and just hoisted into the transportation
means.
The transportation container can be easily
modified according to use. The transportation con-
tainer of the invention can be arranged aboard any
transportation means. Furthermore, the transportation
container can be arranged inside a hard transportation
container. Furthermore, the transportation container
can be arranged inside a hard transportation container
when necessary.
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LIST OF FIGURES
In the following, the invention will be de-
scribed by means of detailed examples of its embodi-
ments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which
Fig. 1 represents one transportation con-
tainer in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 represents an angle piece of the
transportation container as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 represents the transportation con-
tainer as shown in Fig. 1 in a situation in which the
unloading hatches are opened;
Fig. 4 represents a casing structure of the
transportation container as shown in Fig. 1, the cas-
ing structure being foldable to form a lid; and
Fig. 5 represents a bonding lock to be used
in the supporting structure of the transportation con
tamer as shown in Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The transportation container as shown in Fig.
1 is designed for the intermediate storage of charcoal
in a production site, for the transportation from the
production site to the destination, e.g. to a power
plant, and for the intermediate storage along the
transportation journey. The charcoal is loaded into
the transportation container already at the production
site of the charcoal, and is disposed in the same
transportation container all the way to the exploita-
tion object. The transportation means, e.g. a combina-
tion train-ship-train, can sometimes change but the
charcoal remains in the same transportation container
during the entire transportation journey.
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The transportation container as shown in Fig.
1 includes a container part 1, inside which the char-
coal to be transported and stored is placed. The con-
tainer part includes two ends 2, two flanks 3, a bot-
tom part 4 and a top part 5. The top part 5 is ar-
ranged to be open or openable, and the container can
be filled via it.
Furthermore, the container part 1 as shown in
Fig. 1 comprises eight angle pieces 6 (shown in Fig.
2 ) , which are arranged at each angle of the container
part 1, and six flexible supporting ribbons 7a-c and
8a-c, which are arranged to encompass the container at
different points and from different directions. The
supporting ribbons 7a-c are arranged to pass via the
angle pieces 6, and the supporting ribbons 8a-c are
arranged to encompass the container without passage
via the angle pieces 6.
The angle piece 6 contains a so-called stan
dard part 9 for standardised transportation means, as
well as three separate passages through which the sup
porting ribbons 7a-c can be passed. The passages are
arranged to cross in a predetermined manner with re
spect to one another. The angle pieces 6 are formed of
a light and durable material, preferably of aluminium
or an aluminium mixture (AlZn5Mg1).
Of the supporting ribbons 7a-7c that are ar-
ranged through the angle pieces, the first ones 7a are
arranged to encompass both ends 2 of the container
part 1, encircling the edges of the end 2 via four an-
gle pieces 6 in the transverse direction of the con-
tainer; the second ones 7b are arranged to encompass
the bottom 4 and top part 5 of the container part 1,
encircling °the edges of the bottom 4/top part 5 via
four angle pieces 6 in the longitudinal direction of
the container; and the third ones 7c are arranged to
encompass the flanks 3 of the container part 1, encir-
cling the edges of the flank 3 via four angle pieces
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6. The supporting ribbons 7a-c that pass through the
angle pieces 6 are arranged to pass through the angle
pieces 6 each along a passage of their own without
contacting each other. Arranged inside the passages in
5 the angle piece 6 are accurately dimensioned shields,
which extend a little outside the inlet and outlet
ports of the passages of the angle piece 6, to protect
the supporting ribbons 7a-c from wear and breakage in
conjunction with the angle piece 6. The shields also
10 seal up the supporting ribbons 7a-c in place in the
angle piece, preventing excessive movement of the rib-
bons, e.g. a lateral movement. The angle pieces 6 stay
in place by means of the supporting ribbons 7a-c, and
vice versa the supporting ribbons 7a-c can be firmly
15 placed to support the container structure by means of
the angle pieces 6.
The advantage associated is that the support-
ing ribbon can be passed continuously through the an-
gle pieces, with no breaks. In that case there is no
need to arrange additional joints in the supporting
ribbon.
The supporting ribbons Sa, 8b and 8c, which
do not pass through the angle pieces 6, are each ar-
ranged to pass in parallel at a distance from another
similar supporting ribbon. The supporting ribbons 8a,
i.e. the safety ribbons, are arranged to horizontally
encompass the entire container. In this application,
there are three pieces of supporting ribbons 8a. The
supporting ribbons 8b, i.e. the longitudinal support-
ing ribbons of the bottom hatches, are arranged to
pass vertically at the ends 2 and longitudinally in
the bottom 4. The supporting ribbons 8b are fastened
at their upper edges either to the supporting ribbon
7a or 7c. In this application, there are two pieces of
supporting ribbons 8b. The supporting ribbons 8c, i.e.
the so-called transverse supporting ribbons of the
container part and bottom hatches, are arranged to
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pass in parallel to the cross section of the container
part 1 about the flank 3 and bottom 4 of the con-
tainer. An extension 8d of the supporting ribbon 8c
extends over the top part 5. Arranged at the top ends
of the supporting ribbons 8c are securing hoisting
rings 11, and the top ends of the supporting ribbons
in question are attached to the supporting ribbon 7b.
There are six pieces of supporting ribbons 8c in this
application. The supporting ribbons 8a-c are arranged
to pass crosswise in such a manner that arranged to
pass at the very bottom are supporting ribbons 8b, on
top of them are disposed supporting ribbons 8a, and
topmost are disposed supporting ribbons 8c. Arranged
at the crossing points of the supporting ribbons 8a-8c
are bonding locks 10 (Fig. 5) for attaching the sup-
porting ribbons 8a-o to one another and for strength-
ening the supporting structure that consists of the
supporting ribbons. In that case, the supporting rib-
bons are not slipping with respect to one another.
Fig. 5 represents one bonding lock in accor
dance with the invention. The bonding locks can be any
bonding locks known per se in which two crossing sup
porting ribbons 8a-c pass from different directions
without contacting each other. The bonding loops are
not described more fully herein.
The advantage associated with the use of an-
gle pieces and bonding locks is that the supporting
ribbons can be fastened or tied to each other without
breaking the structure of the supporting ribbons and
preventing the supporting ribbons from rubbing against
each other. Thus, the supporting ribbons will with-
stand better without breaking in conjunction with. a
heavy load.
The container part 1 is formed mainly of a
continuous casing 12. The casing is formed mainly of a
flexible polyester, which has been heat treated to be
inelastic and which has a high breaking load. Un
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17
folded, the casing is a carpet-like article which con-
sists mainly of one material layer. Arranged in the
casing are pockets, or the places for the angle pieces
6 are otherwise marked.
Arranged in conjunction with the casing 12
are a number of channels (not shown in the figures)
inside which the supporting ribbons 7b-c and 8a-b can
be placed either wholly or partially. In that case,
the supporting ribbons can be made to more firmly bond
with the casing 12 , and vice versa, the casing 12 can
be made to bond with the supporting structure. Fur
thermore, the channels protect the supporting ribbons.
Near the channels, the casing 12 is formed of two ma
terial layers between which the channels have been
formed.
Arranged in the bottom part 4 of the casing
12 of the container part 1 are five openings 13 for
the unloading hatches 14 (Fig. 3). Attached to the
bottom part 4 of the casing are hatches 14 made of the
same material to cover the openings 13 of the hatches
in the bottom 4. The unloading hatches 13, 14 are sup-
ported with supporting ribbons 8b and 8c, and the at-
tachment of the unloading hatches 14 to the oaring 12
is arranged between the oaring 12 and the supporting
ribbons 8b-o. The hatches 14 are arranged to be ope-
nable and closable separately. Naturally, all the
hatches 14 can be opened simultaneously. Convention-
ally, the hatches 14 are opened one by one, which en-
ables one to oontrol the emptying of the container.
The shape of the unloading hatch 13, 14 can
naturally vary, e.g. from a quadrangular one to a
round one. In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the
hatch 13 of the unloading opening and the hatch part
14 thereof are quadrangular. The hatches 14 are ar-
ranged such that whilst opened, in conjunction with
the hatch 14, a downwards tapering funnel-shaped
structure 15 is formed for facilitating the unloading
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18
of the charcoal. Arranged in the lower edge of the
funnel part 15 is a separate securing ribbon for pre
venting unscheduled opening of the hatch 14. Thanks to
the funnel part, the emptying of the container part is
not performed with a terrible force.
Arranged in conjunction with the unloading
hatches 13, 14 are opening and locking means 16 (Figs.
1 and 3 ) for opening and closing each unloading hatch
14, as well as for locking the hatch independent of
each other. In this application, as the opening and
locking means 16, locking ribbons 16 are used, the
first ends 17a of them (Figs. 1 and 3) being attach-
able to the one flank 3 of the container part by means
of locks 18 included in the opening and locking means
whilst the unloading hatch is closed; and the second
ends 17b (Fig. 4) are fixedly attached to the other
flank 3 of the container part . The second ends 17b of
the locking ribbons 16 are attached to the lowermost
supporting ribbon 8a on the one flank of the container
part; and the locks 18 are attached to the lowermost
supporting ribbon 8a on the other flank of the con-
tainer part. For each unloading hatch. 14 there are two
locking ribbons 1G, which are arranged on both sides
of the unloading hatch in the cross section of the un-
loading hatch and inside two adjacent supporting rib-
bons 8c near them. Arranged at the first ends 17a of
the locking ribbons 16 are bolts 19, which can be at-
tached to the locks 18.
In the embodiment of the container as shown
in Fig. l, the unloading hatches always open from the
side, in which case the person performing the opening
does not need to go under the heavy container for
opening purposes.
Furthermore, the transportation container as
shown in Fig. 1 comprises a lid 20 (Figs. 1 and 4) for
protecting the charcoal from humidity or dust etc. The
lid 20 is formed by folding the upper edges of the
CA 02518726 2005-09-09
WO 2004/080846 PCT/FI2004/000143
19
casing 12 to form a lid on top of the top part 5 of
the container part after filling the container. The
upper edge of the casing 12 is preshaped so that by
folding it in a predetermined manner a lid structure
is achieved. The extensions 8d of the supporting rib
bons 8C are arranged on top of the formed lid struC
ture 20 for attaching and locking it. The locking
mechanism of the lid 20 by means of the supporting
ribbons 8d is arranged in the same manner as the lock
ing of the unloading hatches described above.
The transportation container as shown in Fig.
1 is elongated having a length. of about 6m and width.
of about 2m. The load-carrying capacity of the trans-
portation container is about 60 tonnes; as the fill-
ing, a load of 35 tonnes is usually used. The Con-
tainer is foldable whilst empty.
In one alternative embodiment, the container
part can be open at the end or side, in which case the
loading and unloading can be performed e.g. using a
fork-lift, truck. In that case, the structure of the
supporting structure formed of the supporting ribbons
and that of the loading/unloading hatches Changes in a
corresponding manner.
The transportation Container of the invention
is easily and advantageously suited for the transpor
tation and/or long- or short-termed storage of various
goods and raw materials in various embodiments.
The embodiments of the invention are not lim
ited to the examples presented above, instead they can
vary within the scope of the accompanying Claims.
