Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR INTERMODAL CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a modular intermodal Container which is
suitable for stacking on trucks, railcars, container ships arid the like, and
more
particularly relates to a modular intemtodal cantainer having a space frame
construction for receiving separable cargo containing cradle compartments
thereon.
BACKGROUND
There is a demand for better perfom~ance in the handling and
transportation of particulate material in bulk volumes and more so bulk
materials
where Identity Preservation, Segregation and Traceability are motivating
factors.
The vision of the grain industry in Canada was articulated a few years
ago and states: By the year 2005 Canada will have the most efl~cienf, viable
and
competitive production, marketing, transpotfation and handling structure in
the world.
The grain industry in Canada is being shaped by a number of fundamental
changes
including: elevator I rail consolidation, more diversity in what is being
shipped and
shifts in customers requirements.
During the past decade there has been a reduction in the number of
elevators from approximately 1800 in the mid 1990's to approximately 300 high
throughput elevators at present day. Closure of railway branch lines has
increased
cost to producers of the grain as a result of further trucking distances to
get their
product into the pipeline.
Current market forces necessitate the abilit~r to differentiate products to
meet the specific end use needs of the buyers. This also creates distinct
marketing
advantages and opportunities to extract price premiums in some markets.
However
there are trade offs as greater demands are placed on the existing logistics
system
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Z
which in turn adds costs to physically maintain product segregation's during
handling
and transportation.
The present system operates as follows: grain is called into the system
based on price signals. Handling and twansportation costs are a signficant
portion of
the price. Grain is marketed for delivery from one to six months into the
future. Grain
shipped via bulk spends as much as ninety days in the pipeline. Grain is
primarily sold
in bulk quantities ranging from 25,000 to 100,000 metric tonne lots. Rail
freight is the
producer's single largest logistic cost item. The current system presently
requires
multiple handling of the product before it reaches the final destination. This
handling
of product at the farm, at the elevator, at the railcar, at the port terminal,
at the bulk
ship and at the customers terminal and processors facilities factors in
shrink. Shrink
takes the form of product loss, spoilage, grade deterioration and cross
contamination
and is estimated at about 2 to 3 percent of total volume shipped.
The global agricultural system is being revolutionized as an increasing
number of cereals and Oilseeds are being differentiated to ensure their value
or
uniqueness is captured and maintained throughout the supply chain. Physically
maintaining segregation introduces operations! inefficiencies throughout the
existing
bulk handling pipeline. It is estimated this can contribute as much as seven
percent of
the handling cost at terminals. Identity preservation in the bulk system
causes
congestion at the pork which in turn holds up the reallocation of hopper cars
thereby
causing hopper car shortages preventing producers from getting their product
to
market on time.
It is estimated that three to eve percent of grain exports are shipped via
container through established trade routes primarily with Asia and Europe. The
tonnage this represents is approximately 750,0U0 tonnes annually. The
containers
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presently used are common box type ~ntainers IS4 standardized internationally
into
TEU (Twenty Equivalency Units) and FEU (Forty Equivalency Units) measure.
These common box containers are filled with grains that must be
bagged, palletized and stuffed prior to shipping. This process is labor
intensive and
time consuming as well as adding packaging costs and is usually initiated at
the port
terminals but has been done inland. I~Itemativefy, containers are also lined
with large
plastic bags, lifted at one end, filled with grain, the bag is sealed, a
bulkhead installed,
the doors closed and container lowered ready for shipment. This method has
experienced some drawbacks whereby there are a limited amount of tip chassis
trucks available at the customers end to unload the containers as well as
consistency
in container size to accommodate plastic bag sizing, the producers do not know
the
size of the container until it arrives an site in most cases.
The intermodal container industry has seen double digit growth for more
than a decade and shows no signs of slowing down. There is evidence that
several
new container ships with a TEU capacity of 95U0, will be leaving dry dock in
the next
couple of years. Conversely, there is no evidence of new capital spending in
the bulk
ship industry.
intem2~tionally, China the most populous country in the world is
predicted to become a major importer of grain since the last decade has seen
their
400 million tonne stockpile diminish into virtual non existence. This Could
mean as
much as 5 million tonnes a year will be exported from Canada of which 306 is
expected to be identity preserved to satisfy the tastes of a growing middle
doss sector
around china's major centres.
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Canada presently exports about 10 million tonnes of special crops,
oilseeds and identity preserved grains annu2~lly. Only 10% of this is shipped
via
container 2nd the balance shipped via traditional bulk processes.
Shipping of grain in the prior art in some instances involves use of
intermodal containers that include hoppers to permit easier loading and
unloading of
the containers, but the particular construction of such known containers is
limited to a
single specific use with limited flexibility. US Patents 5,90iJ,Q7~ to Kee et
al and
5,29,222 to Toth et al disclose examples of containers having hopper discharge
gates. In each instance, a single compartment is fixed mounted within a
surrounding
frame so that limited use of the container is permitted. Furthermore, only a
single
type of product can be carried,
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
modular intermodal container for stacking with conventional intermodal
containers, the
modular container comprising:
a main frame having rectangular dimensions of length, width and height
similar to conventional intermodal containers; and
a plurality of cargo cradles selectively supported on the main frame so
as to be selectively separable from the main frame, each cargo cradle being
arranged
to support a cargo item thereon for selective separation from the main frame
with the
respective cargo cradle upon which the cargo item is supported.
Use of a plurality of selectively separable cargo supporting cradles
permits a plurality of different types of cargo items to be transported and
subsequently
individually separated from one another to preserve identity of bulk materials
being
shipped.
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Preferably the main frame comprises four vertical corner posts at
respective corners of the main frame, open truss frames spanning the tap,
bottom and
sides of the main frame; and load transfer members on the truss frames upon
which
the cargo cradles are supported.
When the open truss frames include a plurality of intersecting Struts and
chords, the load transfer members are preferably each supported on the truss
frames
at an intersection of one of the starts and one of the chords.
The load transfer members may be mounted adjacent the bottom of the
main frame to support the cargo cradles thereabave.
Each cargo cradle preferably includes a rectangular support frame in
which one of the load transfer members supports each corner of each
rectangular
support frame of the cargo cradles thereon.
The cargo cradles are preferably fastened to the load transfer members
by selectively separable fasteners.
Preferably the cargo cradles are slidably removable from the main frame
through a top side of the main frame independently of one another.
When each cargo cradle is generally rectangular in Gross section and
the main frame includes four vertical comer posts in a rectangular
configuration
associated with each cargo cradle far receiving the cargo cradle between the
corner
posts, each cargo cradle preferably includes a vertically extending recessed
channel
formation along each corner thereof which receives a respective one of the
comer
posts of the main frame therein such that side walls spanning between the
comers of
the cargo cradle are offset laterally outwardly in relation to interior comers
of the
vertical comer posts of the main frame.
Each cargo cradle may comprise a rigid, metallic cradle frame
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supporting an enclosed bin formed of non-metallic walls, of less dense
material than
the frame, thereon.
Each cradle frame is preferably supported directly on the main frame
and comprises a peripheral flange supporting the enclosed bin thereon.
The cargo cradles are preferably interchangeable with one another.
Preferably, the cargo cradles substantially fill a volume defined by the
rectangular dimensions of the main frame.
Each cargo cradle may include lifting hooks formed thereon.
The bin enclosure of each cargo cradle preferably includes a lid opening
and a lid which selectively encloses the lid opening in which the lid includes
corrugated venting passages formed therein for venting the enclosure.
The enclosure may include a~ perforated plenum within a hollow interior
of the enclosure and a plenum duct communicating between the perforated plenum
and an exterior of the enclosure for aeration of particulate materials within
the
enclosure. There may be provided a nozzle attachment on the plenum duct for
dispersing substances into aeration air in the plenum duct for fumigation and
the like.
The enclosure may include moisture and temperature sensing probes
within a hollow interior of the enclosure.
There may also be provided a pressure washing system comprising a
plurality of nozzles within the enclosure and a connector on an exterior side
of the
enclosure in communication with the plurality of nozzles for supplying washing
fluid to
the nozzles.
The internal pressure washing system may comprise a main line for
carrying washing fluid and a venturi adapter coupled to the main line for
introducing
concentrated solutions into the washing fluid in the main line through the
venturi
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adapter.
As described herein, the container comprises a s~uctural frame,
whereby its members do not all lie in the same plane. It is rectangular in
nature, but is
open without cladding, roofing, flooring and the like. A plurality of posts,
chords and
struts are configured within the structural frame. The chords and struts of
the
structural frame are designed to withstand the loads placed upon them and
transmit
such loads to the four comer pits where the container frame is supported.
The container frame is capable of accepting at least one cradle bin
where the cradle bin can take the form of a tank or hopper or box. The bins
are
specifically sized to slide into the structural chambers from the top of the
container
frame. The cradle bins are spee~cally engineered to be free standing within
the space
frame container and are secured in place by bolts or pins and clips.
The use of the container including the cradle bins inserted therein
permits the storing and movement of particulate materials within ~e intermadal
container freight system. The storing of particulate materials within the
cradle bins
permits the particulate material to be sealed in bulk volumes of 20 and 40
tonne in t0
tonne increments. The cradle bins segregate the particulate materials from
other
particulate materials providing for physical identity preservation also
resulting in the
ability to send more than one variation of particulate material within the
same
container. Movement of the particulate materials stored inside the cradle bins
within
the space frame container, permits better documentation for product
traceability
purposes. The space frame cradle container also enables a significant
reduction in
the handling of particulate materials for once the particulates are loaded
within the
space frame cradle container they need not be handled again until they reach
the
customer's processing facility.
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The space frame container with the cradle bins inside can be loaded
and unloaded in much the same fashion as present railway hopper cars, from the
top
and bottom, which results in little capital investment required at the present
loading
and unloading facilities.
The nominal FEU space frame containers are designed such that two
TEU containers can be stacked an top of a FEU container this will particularly
benefit
the railways when building container train loads. The space frame containers
and the
cradle bins contained therein are stackable to facilitate efficient use of
cubic space at
container depofis, ocean container ships, railcars or wherever appropriate.
The cradle bins are interchangeable permitting the conversion of the
space frame container for other product specific handling characteristics. The
cradle
and the cradle bin are a self supporting structure and can be loaded into the
space
frame container in 10 tonne increments. This will particularly benefit
producers who
haul their own grain with their own trucks but don't have a large truck to
handle 20
tonne shipments. It also provides producers with a component pricing structure
which
would permit the producers to purchase multiple cradle bins and a limited
number of
space frame containers such that the cradle bins can be used as storage bins
until
such time as shipment is required. When shipment is required the producer
would
remove the empty cradles and insert the full cradles making the container,
shipment
2g ready without moving the particulate contents
The cradle bins have double angle comer posts pemnitting the offset of
the cradle bin wall which in tum maximizes the volume of the space with in the
cradle
bin optimizing it payload capability.
The cradle bins have top and bottom gate openings and assemblies too
permit the loading, unloading and sealing of the particulate materials stored
within.
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The openings are aligned such that the containers can be loaded and unloaded
in
stacked position.
The space frame cradle container permits the shipping of particulate
materials outside the present bulk processes and substantially reduces the
time
necessary to get the product from the producer to the processor. This
reduction in
time reduces inventory carrying costs. It also permits the buyers of the
particulate
materials to more easily obtain Letters of Credit and quicker discharge of
such Letters
of Credit.
The space frame container has a lower tare weight in comparison to
common box containers. This will benefitt shippers because ocean freight is
based on
total weight shipped.
In addition to standard intermodal connectors located at the corners far
lifting the container, two additional lifting methods have been incorporated
to permit
the loading of the container by forklift or by winch method on tip chassis.
This will
~5 benefit farmers who utilize the containers to store their particulates but
do not have
standard container lifting capabilities.
The cradle bins are designed with an air drying infrastructure for natural
or heated grain drying. The infrastructure consists of a supply duct connected
to a
perforated plenum situated in the centre of the hopper and extending upwards
through the centre of the particulate volume. This is particularly beneficial
since finer
particulates consolidate towards the centre of a hopper making the
particulates
difficult to ventilate thus promoting moisture retention and mould growth. The
plenum
forces air through the fines from inside to out. The plenum duct protrudes
outside the
cradle bin to permit the connection of standard fan or burner units. 1'he
cradle bins
are vented at the top to permit the exhaust of air farted into the cradle
bins. This
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1d
feature also permits the producers to dry particulates in small quantdies
eliminating
the need to take the particulates offsite for this operation. The external
portion of the
duct is also fitted with a nozzle capable of introducing fumigants such as
malethyon or
other airborne fumigants into the forced air duct. A delivered static pressure
of 1.5 to
2 kpa though the duct wilt migrate fumigant through the particulates killing
any
infestation encountered.
The cradle bins are fitted with an internal pressure washing system
complete with a venturi adapter to introduce sanitizing solutions during the
wash
operation, The exterlar connector is a quick connect fitting to fit standard
gas powered
pressure washing units. This feature facilitates the cleaning of the cradle
bins at
virtually any location eliminating the need to haul the container to special
cleaning
facilities.
The cradle bins are also internally fitted with strategically placed
temperature and moisture sensors to permit monitoring of the particulate
payload at
various points within the volume.
The cradle bins will be equipped with RFID techr~alogy and GPS satellite
tracking emitters if required by customer.
~RI~F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will raw be described in conjunction
2i7 with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the modular intermodal container.
Figure 2 and I=igure 3 are respective bottom plan and end elevational
views of the container according to figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cradle frame for mounting within the
container according to Figure 1.
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Figure 5 and Figure 8 are side elevational and tap plan views of the
cradle frame according to Figure 4.
Figure ~ is a perspective view of a lower corner cannecteon between the
cradle frame and the main frame of the container.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tap corner connection between the
cradle frame and the main frame of the container.
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the comer connection between the cradle
frame and the main frame of the container.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a bin enclosure for being supported in
1 Q the cradle frame according to Figure 4.
Figure 11 is a sectional side elevation view of the bin enclosure.
Figure 12 is an end etevational view of the bin enclosure.
Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of a discharge gate assembly of the bin
enclosure.
Figure 14 is a side elevatianal view and Figure 15 is a sectional
elevational view of the bottom discharge gate assembly according to Figure 13.
Figure 16 is a top plan view of ~e lid assembly of the bin enclosure.
Figure 17 is a side elevatianal view and Figure 18 is a sectional
elevationai view of the lid assembly according to Figure 16.
Figure 19 is a bottom plan view of the lid assembly according to Figure
16.
Figure 20 is a side elevational view of the modular intermodal container
having shorter dimensions than the container according to Figure 1.
Figure 21 and 22 are bottom plan and top plan views of the container
according to Figure 20 respectively.
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A top plan view of the containers according to Figure 1 is substantially
identical to the top plan view according to Figure 22 while the end views of
the
container according to Figure 20 are substantially identical to the end view
of Figure
3.
$ In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a modular
intermodal container generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The
container 10 is
particularly suited for the intermodal transport, shipping and rail industry.
The container 10 includes a main frame 11 having rectangular
dimensions in three dimensions similar to conventional intermodal containers.
The
main frame is structurally engineered to support the stacking of one container
10 an
top of another, supported at the four corners. The container frame 10
comprises of
posts 12, chords 14, shuts 16 and load transfer plates 1$.
The main frame 11 has rectangular dimensions which are similar in
length, width and height to conventional intermodal containers so as to be
suitable for
stacking therewith. The posts 12, cords 14 and struts 18 form open truss
frames
which have no enclosed panels and which span the top, bottom, sides and ends
of
the main frame to form a lightweight and rigid structure suitable for
supporting cargo
loads thereon in a stacked configuration.
The pasts 12 are provided at all four corners of the container frame and
at longitudinally spaced positioned along each side of the frame in a vertical
orientation for transferring loads between containers when stacked. The posts
12 are
provided at approximately ten foot intervals along each side so that a forty
foot long
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container is divided into four cargo containing sections in which each section
is bound
by a respective set of four of the corner posts 12 at the corners thereof.
Similarly, a
twenty foot tang container is divided into two cargo containing sections bound
by
respective sets of four corner pasts.
A cargo cradle 22 for carrying cargo is selectively supported within each
of the container sections far selective separation from the main frame as
desired. The
cargo cradles 22 are thus sequentially aligned with one another in the
longitudinal
direction or lengthwise direction of the container 10. The tap frame includes
chords
which are only supported at an intersection between adjacent cargo containing
sections sa that each individual section is fully open at the top side thereof
for slidably
receiving a respective one of the cradles 22 therethrough.
In this arrangement each cradle 22 is supported for sliding separation
from the main frame vertically through the open top and of the container, Each
cradle
22 supports a cargo item therein far selective separation from the main frame
of the
container with the respective cradle 22 upon which it is supported. The
cradles 22 are
supported independently of one another on the main frame and are identical in
dimension so as to be fully interchangeable with one another or with other
cradles of
varying configuration but having similar crass sectional dimensions.
Each cradle 22 includes a cradle frame formed of rigid metallic members
upon which a bin enclosure 28 is supported. The cradle frame comprises a set
of four
corners posts 24 and a plurality of bracing members 36 which span horizontally
between the pasts at the top and bottom ends thereof and at an intermediate
posfion
spaced slightly above the bottom end of the pasts. Vertical bracing members 3B
are
also provided spanning between the horizontal bracing members at respective
sides
of the cradle frame between the corner posts 24.
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The bin enclosure 2fi comprises a lightweight plastic or other suit8ble
non metallic material which substantially fills the volume defined by the
frame of the
cradle 22. More particularly the bin enclosure includes bin walls which span
between
the corners posts 24 in a horizontal direction and which span vertically
between the
bracing members ~8 at the top and at the intermediate location between the
corner
posts 24. The bin walls join a hopper farmed at the bottom side thereof which
spans
between the intermediate bracing members 36 and the bottom of the frame of the
cradle.
Each cargo cradle is general rectangular in cross section with the four
comers posts 24 being located at the carvers of the frame of the cargo cradle.
Each
corner post 24 is fom~ed of a double angle so as to define a vertically
extending
recessed channel formation along each comer for mating with an interior comer
of
one of the four posts 12 of the main frame associated with the section of the
container
which slidabiy receives the cargo cradle therein as shown in Figures 7 through
9.
The side walls of the bin enclosure 26 span between the comers of the
cradle frame so that each side wall of the bin enclosure is offset IateraUy
outward in
relation to the channel formation along the comers. Accordingly the walls of
the bin
2fi are offset laterally outward in relation to the interior corners of the
four vertical
tamer pasts 12 of the main frame so that the bin walls capture the maximum
volume
2p defined by the cradle frame to substantially fill the volume defined by the
main frame
of the container. The side walls of the bin enclosure are similarly formed to
include a
recess at the corners to accommodate space far the interior corners of the
corner
posts.
The intermediate bracing members 36 of the frame of each cradle 22
includes a horizontal shelf or supporting surface upon which the walls of the
bin
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enclosure are engaged for transferring the load of the bin enclosures 26 to
the bracing
members $fi which in tum transfer the load to the comer posts 24,
The load transfer plates 1$ of the main frame of the container are
supported at the bottom of the main frame at all four comers of each section
which
5 slidably receives one of the cargo cradles therein far supporting each
cradle frame at
all four comers thereof. The load transfer plates 1$ are supported on the
truss frames
spanning the sides and bottom of the main frame so that each load transfer
plate is
located at an intersection of one of the posts 12, one of the horizontal
extending
chords 14 and one of the diagonally extending struts 16.
10 By locating the transfer plates adjacent the bottom of the main frame,
the cradle frames supported thereon are accordingly supported above the load
transfer plates 1$. Each load transfer plate 18 comprises a horizontal
supporting
surtace upon which the corner posts 24 of the cargo cradles 22 are supported.
Each
post 24 includes a mating foot plate at a bottom side thereof which is
horizontal for
15 being engaged upon the horizontal supporting surface of the load transfer
plate 1$.
Suitable fasteners are provided for fastening the feet of the comer posts 24
of the
cradles to the load transfer plates 18 to secure the cargo cradles to the main
frame for
transport. When the fasteners are released, lifting hooks $0 provided at the
top
comers of the comer posts 24 of the cargo cradles can be used to lift and
vertically
and slidably remove the cargo cradles independently of one another from the
main
frame.
ISO standard container connectors 20 are fastened to the corners of the
space frame 10 at the intersections of pasts 12, chords 14, struts 16 and load
transfer
plates 18. ISO standard container connectors permit the container 10 to be
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~s
interlocked with other containers when stacked on ocean vessels or mounted on
truck
or train chassis.
The space frame container 10 has no floors, walls or roof cladding and
is virtually see through from all directions. The space frame container 10 is
sized to
meet the Equivalency Unit, nominal 20 ft. TEU and nominal 40 ft. FEU. These
nominal
measures represent a space frame which is 20 or 4g ft long and 8 ft or 10ft
wide and
a variety of heights from 7,5 ft to 9.5 ft in height.
The FEU frame according to Figure 1 has additional load transfer plates
76 located at mid point on the top chord. The plates are configured to provide
a
saddle for the ISO standard container connectors 20. The connectors are
mounted
side by side and located to accommodate placement of a TEU on top of the FEU.
The TEU frame is fitted with forklift tine receptors 100 secured to the
bottom chord 14. The receptors 100 comprise tubular channels suitably sized
and
spaced from one another for receiving forklift tines therein. The pair of
tubular
channels forming the receptors 100 is centrally located along a longitudinally
extending side of the container frame with the channels extending
perpendicularly to
the longitudinal direction for lifting the container from one side thereof.
A cable winch hook attachment plate 102 is mounted on the frame at
one end of the TEU~frame according to Figure 20. The plate 102 is sukabiy
arranged
for attachment of a cable which for certain handling operations of the
container.
The space frame or cargo cradles ~2 are inserted into the space frame
container 10 from the top and are fastened to the toad transfer plates 18 with
pinnedlbolted devices 38 at the bottom of the space frame container 10. The
space
frame cradles 22 can be stacked two high independent of the space frame
container.
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The double angle offset comer posts 24 of the space frame cradle 22
are formed to permit the maximum volume of space to be captured by the cradle
bin
or bin enclosure 26, The cradle bin 26 may be formed of plastic, steel or
other alloys.
The cradle bin 26 will be similar to a grain bin commonly found on a typical
grain farm.
The cradle bin 2fi according to Figure 1 has an oblong lid opening 28 at
the top and a pair of circular openings 30 at the bottom to pemnit the loading
and
unloading of the cradle bin 26. The bin according to Figure 20 has a single
discharge
opening 30 at the bottom end thereof.
The openings 30 at the bottom of each cradle bin 26 according to Figure
1,0 1 are provided with a double gate 34 for enclosing the openings 30
respectively and
to facilitate loading in stacked position when opened. The two gates 34 are
commonly actuated for opening and closing.
The lid opening 28 at the top is formed to accommodate the cradle bin
pivot lid assembly 32.
The cradle bin circular opening 30 is formed to accommodate the cradle
bin pivot gate assembly 34.
The pivot gate assembly 34 is mounted to the cradle bin opening 30 on
the under side of the cradle bin 26. Each pivot gate assembly 34 has an
aperture of
22 inches in diameter. The aperture is constructed of a 22 inch ID collar 40
approximately 3 inches in length. The collar 40 is fastened to the cradle bin
opening
with bolts 42 and gasket 44 to facilitate replacement.
The collar 40 will be grooved 46 for half of the circumference on the
inside face of the collar 40 and the remainder of the circumference will be
slotted 48
completely through the wall thickness of the collar 40. The slot 48 provides a
guide for
25 the pivot blade 50 to travel during the opening and closing of the pivot
gate assembly
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34. The pivot blade 50 is attached to a pivot arm 5Z which in turn is
connected to the
pivot shaft 54 protruding from the pivot gate assembly gear box 56. The groove
46
and slot 48 are lined with compressible rubber seals 58 to prevent moisture
from
entering the cradle bln 26 when in a closed position.
The pivot gate assembly gear box 56 contains a worm gear connected
to a crank rod 62 which extends from the gear box 56 to the periphery of the
container
cradle 22. Turning the crank rod g2 will permit the opening and closing of the
pivot
gate assembly 34. Inside the gear box 56 the worm gear interacts with a
sprocket 64
which is connected to the pivot arm through a shaft 54 and when operated will
open
and close the pivot gate assembly 34.
The pivot lid assembly 32 comprises of a lid 66 connected to an arm 68
and a pivot lid assembly gear box 7a. The pivot lid assembly gear box 70 has
two
gear tracts. The first gear tract lifts the lid 66 to clear the cradle bin
opening 28 and
the second gear tract pivots the lid 66 clear of the opening 28 to permit the
loading of
cradle bin 2t3 with particulate materials. Each gear tract is operated by a
crank rod 72
extending from the gear box 70 to the cradle frame 22 periphery, Turning each
crank
rod in sequence will open and close the pivot lid assembly 32. The lid 135
contains a
rabbet seal 74 around its internal circumference to seat the opening 2$
preventing the
passage of moisture into the cradle bin 26 when in a closed position. The
crank rods
are supported at the cradle frame 22 periphery by crank rod housings 76 for
stability.
Gear locks are incorporated into the assembly 32 to ensure constant force is
applied
to the lid 88 when in the closed position by means of placing pressure on the
rubber
seal 74.
The aeration system consists of a stainless steel or plastic perforated
plenum 8d mounted inside the cradle bin 2B, The plenum 80 is connected to a
supply
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19
duct 82 which extends from the plenurn 80 through the cradle bin wall 28. The
supply
duct on the exterior of the cradle bin inGOrporates a fitting $4 to permit
introduction of
fumigants. The supply duct 82 also form a Chase to permit the routing of
internal
pressure washing piping 8B. Rotating nozzles 86 located within the hollow
interior of
the bin 26 are affixed to the piping 8fi to facilitate the internal pressure
washing of
Cradle bin 26. A standard quick connect fitting 88 is attached to the piping
8fi at the
exterior supply duct 82. A hinged supply duct cap 90 provides a seal to close
the
plenurn when not in use.
The pivot lid 66 has venting chambers 92 fluted intrinsically similar to a
honey Combing effect to permit the evacuation of air used in the aeration
process.
The venting chambers or passages are corrugated with baffles so that only a
winding
flow can penetrate the lid, thereby weatherproofing the lid assembly.
Sampling portals 84 are incorporated in the bin walls to permit sampling
probes to be inserted for sample recovery. Suitable lids are provided for
closing the
portals 94 when not in use.
Temperature and moisture sensors 96 are mounted around the
perforated plenum and traced to the exterior of the cradle bin 26 via the
supply air
duct to a read out device 98 to monitor temperature and moisture content
respectively
within the hollow interior of the enclosure.
In summary, there is provided a container for use in storing, conditioning
particulate materials and transporting same, said container constructed
dimensionally
to fit standardized nominal sizing of TEU and FEU common inter modal box
containers. The container comprises a plurality of posts, chords, struts and
plates
forming a defined volume of space. The structure has no side wall, end wall,
roof or
floor cladding or enclosure, The structure is open in nature.
CA 02529625 2005-12-05
2a
The structure is designed and constructed in a manner to permit the
insertion of cradles from the top of the structure. The cradle transfers the
loads of the
cargo supported by the cradle to the laad transfer plates of the structure.
The structure has load transfer plates to accommodate the cradle loads
within the structure. 1'he cradles are securely fastened to the container at
the load
transfer plates. The cradles support cradle bins which contain the particulate
materials
for shipment. The cn3dle bins can be nianufactured of plastic, sleet or alloys
and
permit the containment of particulate materials for storage or shipment. The
container
bins are sealed from moisture when the lid and gate are in a closed position
but do
provide venting.
The space frame cradle 22 is constructed with four comer posts 24 and
a plurality) of bracing members 36 to transmit the loads imposed by the cradle
bin 26
to the corner posts 24. The spay frame cradle posts 24 are connected to the
load
transfer plates 18 with stud bolts 38 to secure the space frame cradle with in
the
space frame container 10. At the top of the corner posts 24 are lifting hooks
80 to
permit the lifting pf the cradle into and out of the space frame container 10
as
njquired. The structure of the container permits stacking one on top of
another. The
structure of the FEU model will pemnit the stacking of two TEU units on top of
a FEU
space frame cradle container.
Z0 The structure can vary in height from 7.5 ft, to 9.5 ft and the
accompanying cradle w111 be sized accordingly.
The cradle incorporates offset comer posts to maximize the capture of
volume within the container and transmits the cradle loads to the load
transfer plates
of the container.
CA 02529625 2005-12-05
21
The structure is designed to accommodate the loads of other containers
stacked upon each other. The cradle is designed to accommodate the loads
imposed
on it by the loads contained within the singular cradle bin and not the loads
imposed
by stacked containers and their respective cradles.
The cradle bins have top and bottom openings to load and unload
particulate materials. The loading operation will be by mechanical means while
the
bottom unloading will be by gravity discharge. The openings are 24" diameter
on top
and the aperture of the bottom opening is 22" diameter.
The cradle bin has a pivot lid assembly operated by a gear driven
assembly, lifts and pivots the lid to permit filling of the cradle bin. The
lid assembly
operates within the confines of the structure of the container and within the
volume
defined by the main frame,
The cradle bin has a pivot gate assembly to permit the gravity fed
unloading of the cradle bin. The pivot gate assembly is gear driven to open
and close
the pivot gate. The gate assembly similarly operates within the confines of
the
structure of the container and within the volume defined by the main frame.
The cradle bin when closed provides a moisture resistant seal ensuring
the particulate materials stored with in the bin remain dry.
As can be noted from the attached figures, the present invention
provides a means whereby the user may construct a container specifically
con5gured
to receive and retain the articles to be shipped. Since each of the containers
rrray be
essentially sealed and locked, the shipper is given 8 measure of security as
to the
articles being transported. The shipper is able to load the container and seal
the
container. The container then remains sealed until it is delivered at its
final
destination. The present container construction thereby lessens the concern as
to a
CA 02529625 2005-12-05
22
subsequent shrinkage of product and instills can~dence that identity
preservation is
physically maintained.
As described herein, an aeration system is provided in the fom~ of a
perforated plenum 80 supported within a hollow interior of the bin enclosures
26 of
each cargo cradle. The perorated plenum 80 communicates with a plenum duct 82
which extends between the pertorated plenum and an exterior of the enclosure
where
a suitable connection provides means for connecting aerations equipment or
dryers
and the like. A nozzle attachment of provided on the plenum duct far
dispersing
substances into the aeration air in the plenum duct as desired for purposes of
fumigation and the like for instance. The bin enclosure also includes moisture
and
temperature sensing probes housed within the hollow interior of the enclosure
for
monitoring various conditions of materials stored within the bin enclosure.
Also as described herein a pressure washing system is provided in the
form of a plurality of nozzles supported within hollow interior of the bin
enclosure for
connection with a suitable connector at an exterior side of the enclosure
which
communicates with the nozzles to supply a washing fluid to the nozzles when
the
connector is attached to a suitable pressurized supply fine. The pressure
washing
system incorporates a main line far carrying the washing fluid to which a
venturi
adapter which is coupied to the main line to introduce concentrated solutions
into the
washing fluid in the main line through the venturi adapter.
Those skilled in the art will recognize the embodiments here and before
discussed are illustrative of the general principles of the invention. The
embodiments
herein described are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which
themselves
recite what the applicant regards as his invention.
