Abstract:
A ventilator device for a freight container configured to prevent the ingress of water into the cargo tank interior. The ventilator device comprises a floatation-based valve configured to shuttle backwards and forwards in response to contact with water. The valve acts to open and close the air flow passageway through the device and is mounted over the air flow vents of the container. A manual override actuator may be provided to manually open and close the valves.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a ventilator for a freight container, and in particular, although not exclusively, to a ventilation system for a shipping container. 
         [0002]    Freight containers are widely used to transport goods over land, by air or sea. The freight containers are typically cuboidal steel containers with doors provided at one face to provide access to the container interior for goods storage and removal. 
         [0003]    As the containers are used to transport a variety of different cargos, it is typically required to provide adequate ventilation to the container interior. Accordingly, most containers comprise vents positioned at the upper or lower corners of the two largest side faces. Conventional vent systems may simply comprise a number of perforations through the wall of the container through which air may flow to provide ventilation of the container interior. 
         [0004]    Where such containers are transported by sea, a problem exists with conventional containers in that when the sea is rough it is possible for water to pass over the ship&#39;s hull to come in contact with the container and flow into the container interior via the open vents. This leads to both spoiled goods and possible corrosion of the container&#39;s interior. 
         [0005]    What is required is a ventilation system for a transportation or freight container that addresses the above problems. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, the inventors provide a ventilator device configured for positioning at the vent of a freight container to prevent the ingress of water into the freight container interior in the event of water coming into contact with the freight container exterior and in particular the container vent. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilator device for a transportable freight container, the device comprising: 
         [0008]    a main body for positioning over an airflow vent formed in the external surface of a freight container; 
         [0009]    a first compartment region positioned at said main body comprising an air outlet to allow air flow communication between the first compartment region and the vent of the freight container; 
         [0010]    a second compartment region positioned at the main body comprising an air inlet to allow air flow into the second compartment region; 
         [0011]    a partition means to separate the internal fluid communication between the first compartment region and the second compartment region, the partition means comprising at least one aperture to allow air flow communication between the first compartment region and the second compartment region; and 
         [0012]    a float housed within the second compartment region configured to shuttle back and forth against the aperture; 
         [0013]    wherein the float is configured to move in to engaging contact with the aperture of the partition to prevent fluid from flowing from the second compartment region to the first compartment region and in to the interior of the freight container. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the device comprises a manual actuator connected to the float to provide manual control of the position of the float within the second compartment region and to move the float in contact with the aperture to prevent fluid flow through the device. The manual actuator may comprise a lever positioned at an external region of the second chamber. The lever may be shaped and configured to be grasped by the fingers or thumb of a person to allow manual actuation. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the air inlet at the second compartment region may comprise a plurality of holes or perforations through which a fluid may flow. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the main body is formed by a unitary piece of material being shaped and configured to define a cavity or trough. The partition may extend within the cavity or trough to define the first and second compartment regions positioned adjacent to one another within the cavity. The first and second compartment regions may be closed by a backing plate formed integrally or non-integrally with the main body. Optionally, the first and second compartment regions may be open and enclosed only when the device is positioned against the external surface of the freight container. Where the device comprises a backing plate, suitable apertures or holes may be provided at the first compartment region to allow air flow communication to the underlying vent of the freight container. Where the device does not comprise a backing plate no such holes or perforations are required as the first compartment is provided in open fluid communication over the vent of the freight container. 
         [0017]    Optionally, the ventilator device is formed as a box defining an internal chamber. The internal chamber is divided into the first and second compartment regions by a baffle-like partition comprising one or a plurality of apertures. One or a plurality of floats may be positioned in the second compartment region to shuttle back and forth against the internal baffle to provide an ‘open’ or ‘closed’ valve state of the ventilator device allowing or preventing air flow through the device and into the freight container interior, respectively. Accordingly, the ventilator box may comprise perforations, holes or a mesh provided at the first and second compartment regions. The perforations or mesh at the first compartment region are configured to be positioned over the vent formed in the side wall of the freight container whilst the perforations or mesh formed in the side wall of the second compartment region allow air flow into the ventilator device. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the float comprises seal means to seat against the aperture of the internal baffle to provide a fluid tight seal between the first and second compartment regions when the float is in the closed position. Alternatively, the seal means may be provided at the aperture of the internal baffle for seating against the float when located in the closed position. 
         [0019]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a transportable freight container comprising a ventilator device as disclosed herein. 
         [0020]    According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a transportable freight container comprising: 
         [0021]    an air flow vent formed in at least one of the walls of the container; 
         [0022]    a vent mounting positioned over the air flow vent, the vent mounting comprising: 
         [0023]    a first compartment region comprising an air outlet to allow air flow communication between the first compartment region and the vent of the freight container; 
         [0024]    a second compartment region comprising an air inlet to allow air flow into the second compartment region; 
         [0025]    a partition means to separate the internal fluid communication between the first compartment region and the second compartment region, the partition means comprising at least one aperture to allow air flow communication between the first compartment region and the second compartment region; and 
         [0026]    a float housed within the second compartment region configured to shuttle back and forth against the aperture; 
         [0027]    wherein the float is configured to move in to engaging contact with the aperture of the partition to prevent fluid from flowing from the second compartment region to the first compartment region and in to the interior of the freight container. 
         [0028]    The present ventilator device comprises a fluid control valve having both automatic and manual control functionality. According to an automatic mode of operation, the valve is controllable in response to contact of the device with water and in particular the ingress of water into the internal chamber of the device. The internal valve mechanism is designed to close the air flow communication through the device and into the interior of the cargo tank automatically in the event of flooding in the region of the cargo tank and in particular its vents. 
         [0029]    According to a forth aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilator device for a transportable freight container, the device comprising: 
         [0030]    a main body defining an internal chamber; 
         [0031]    a baffle positioned within the internal chamber to define a first compartment and a second compartment in fluid communication via the baffle; 
         [0032]    a shuttle body housed within the second compartment capable of shuttling back and forth in contact with the baffle; 
         [0033]    a fluid inlet positioned at the second compartment and a fluid outlet positioned at the first compartment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]    A best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the present invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0035]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a transportable freight container comprising ventilator devices according to the present invention positioned over air flow vents formed in the side walls of the freight container according to a specific implementation; 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is an external side elevation view of the ventilator device with part cut away section according to a specific implementation of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side elevation view through plane A-A of the ventilator device of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side elevation view through plane A-A of the ventilator device of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the freight container is substantially cuboidal comprising roof  101 , floor  102 , side walls  103 ,  104 ,  105  and doors  106  positioned opposed side wall  105 . The side walls with the largest surface area  103 ,  104  comprise corrugations  110  extending vertically between roof  101  and floor  102 . An air flow vent  107  is positioned at each uppermost corner of side walls  103 ,  104  to provide air flow into the interior of the container  400 , referring to  FIG. 4 . Alternatively or in addition, a plurality of air flow vents  108  may be provided at each lowermost corner of container  100  on each of the largest faces  103 ,  104 . 
         [0040]    Container  100  comprises a ventilator device  109  positioned over the upper and/or lower air flow vents  107 ,  108 . The ventilator device effectively covers the vents  107 ,  108  such that air flowing into the freight container interior  400  must pass through the ventilator device  109  interfaced with each air flow vent  107 ,  108 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the ventilator device  109  comprises a main body  200  configured for positioning in contact with an external surface  302  of side walls  103 ,  104 . A flange  201  extends from main body  200  configured to mate with external surface  302 . Flange  201  may be welded, riveted, or bolted to side walls  103 ,  104  using conventional techniques so as to mount ventilator device  109  in position over and about each air flow vent  107 ,  108  of freight container  100 . 
         [0042]    Main body  200  is shaped to define a trough or internal cavity/chamber region  202  relative to flange  201 . Chamber region  202  is separated into a first compartment region  300  and a second compartment region  301  by a partition wall or baffle  206 . In normal use, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , region  300  is located directly above region  301 . First and second apertures  207  are formed within partition  206  to allow fluid communication between first and second compartment regions  300 ,  301 . Referring to the cut away portion  210  of  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3 and 4 , first and second floats  203  are housed within second compartment region  301 . Each float  203  comprises an end region  205  configured to mate with the apertures  207  when floats  203  are moved into engagement with partition  206 . A gasket or suitable O-ring  204  is positioned at each end region  205  of float  203  to provide a fluid tight seal when floats  203  are positioned as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0043]    The device comprises a fluid or valve actuator configured to provide manual control of the floatation based valve and in particular movement of the floats  203  back and forth within compartment  301  in engaging and disengaging position relative to partition  206  and in particular apertures  207 . The manual actuator comprises a lever  208  coupled to an abutment shoulder  209  via a rotatable spindle  210 . Shoulder  209  is positioned immediately below floats  203  and is configured, by movement of lever  208  and rotation of spindle  210 , to contact the lowermost region of floats  203  so as to raise floats  203  in a vertical direction towards partition  206  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0044]    A plurality of holes  211  are formed through the side walls of compartment region  301  to provide a fluid communication pathway into the ventilator device  109 . According to the specific implementation, the main body  201  encloses three sides of compartment regions  300 ,  301  with the remaining side being enclosed by the external facing surface  302  of container side walls  103 ,  104 . According to further specific implementations, a backing plate (not shown) extends the full length between upper and lower flanges  201  to enclose compartment regions  300 ,  301 . Where device  109  comprises a box configuration, including a backing plate, the backing plate comprises holes or other suitable means (e.g. a mesh) to allow air flow communication between first compartment region  300  and the interior  400  of container  100  via vents  107 ,  108 . 
         [0045]    In use, the ventilator device  109  positioned over each of the vents  107 ,  108  is configured to prevent liquid from passing from an external region  401  into the interior  400  of container  100 . In normal use, floats  203  are housed within second compartment region  301  in spaced apart relationship relative to apertures  207 . Accordingly, air is capable of flowing from external region  401  into interior  400  via holes  211 , second compartment region  301 , apertures  207 , first compartment region  300  and through air flow vent  108  according to the ‘open’ valve configuration of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0046]    In a valve ‘closed’ position illustrated in  FIG. 4 , air is prevented from flowing from second compartment region  300  and into first compartment region  301  as floats  203  are positioned to block apertures  207 . Movement of floats  203  into the ‘closed’ position of  FIG. 4  may be in response to liquid being introduced into the second compartment region  300 , for example in the event of water contacting the outer surface of freight container  100 . Alternatively or in addition, floats  203  may be moved into the ‘closed’ position by a user actuating lever  208  to raise floats  203  vertically to close-off apertures  207 . 
         [0047]    According to further specific implementations, the air flow inlet  211  may be formed as a mesh. Similarly, a mesh or perforated cover may extend over a part of the first compartment region  300  to sit against the air flow vents  107  of the freight container  100 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the device may comprise one or a plurality of floats  203  and corresponding partitioning baffles  106 ,  107 . Accordingly, the device may comprise a plurality of interconnected compartment regions arranged in series being separated by float closure mechanisms as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4  to define a plurality of floatation based valves provided in series to prevent the ingress of water into cargo tank interior  400 . Where the device comprises a plurality of in-series float-based valves as detailed in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , each valve in the series may be controlled independently or collectively by one or a plurality of manual actuators  208 ,  209 ,  210 . 
         [0048]    The present ventilator device is shaped and comprises dimensions suitable for mounting and positioning within the recessed regions or troughs of the vertically extending corrugations  110  of side wall  103 ,  104  of freight container  100 . Main body  200  may be formed from steel or any suitable metal material.