Modular Shipping Container

The present invention discloses a modular shipping container, which includes a box assembled by a front door, a rear plate, a top plate, a bottom plate and two side plates. In the modular shipping container, jacket and screw holes are provided at portions where the front door and the rear plate are connected to the side plates, so as to implement detachable connection and easy assembly of the box. In addition, in the modular shipping container, traction devices capable of being assembled are horizontally provided at the sides of the box, so that the loading and unloading operations of an operator are simplified. Meanwhile, in the modular shipping container, a lock having an inward opening function is adopted, thereby guaranteeing the safety of an operator and a cargo.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical content of the present invention is illustrated in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

At some places, conventional shipping containers are gradually replaced by shipping containers capable of being assembled. These shipping containers capable of assembled are usually formed of six movable plates, which are assembled and fixed through movable connection structures in loading a cargo and are detached, folded, and stored in an unloaded state, thereby saving the storage space and facilitating transportation.

In one embodiment inFIG. 1, the modular shipping container provided by the present invention is mainly formed of independent plates such as a bottom plate1, two side plates2, a front door3, a rear plate4, and a top plate5. The plates can be fabricated of metal materials such as steel plates, sheet iron, and aluminum alloy. The front door3, the side plates2, the rear plate4are vertically placed on the bottom plate1and are covered by the top plate S to form a box10.

As can be seen by combiningFIG. 2,FIG. 3and.FIG. 4, L-shaped jackets cover the outer sides of portions where the front door3and the rear plate4are connected to the two side plates2. In an embodiment of the modular shipping container, the jacket is preferably implemented by angle iron6. Two screw holes are opened on the angle iron6in the vertical direction, and screw holes or openings are opened on the front door3, the rear plate4, and the side plates2at positions corresponding to the screw holes on the angle iron6, respectively (see the schematic structural exploded view inFIG. 2). A screw bolt sequentially passes through the screw holes or openings on the angle iron6, the side plates2and the front door3or the rear plate4, and a nut is installed at the end portion of the screw bolt, so that the front door and the rear plate are detachably connected to the two side plates. To enhance the connection strength between the angle iron6and the box10and guarantee the waterproof effect of the box, the angle iron6and the box10can be bonded using waterproof glues. Specifically, the angle iron6is formed by two lateral edges perpendicular to each other, and the two lateral edges are bonded on outer walls of the side plates2and the front door3or the rear plate4, respectively.

To enhance the rigidity of the box10and guarantee the safety of the threaded connection, rib structures used to increase the rigidity are added at the end portions for connection of the side plates2, the front door3and the rear plate4. For example, as shown inFIG. 2, the end portion, used to be connected to the side plate2, of the front door3, folds inwardly to form a flange, and a screw hole (or opening) is opened on the flange.

The end portion, used to be connected to the side plate2, of the rear plate4has a connection block, and a screw hole (or opening) is opened on the connection block. Also, the end portions, used to be connected to the front door3and the rear plate4, of the side plates2also have connection blocks, and screw holes are opened on the connection blocks. Referring to the schematic view of an assembled state inFIG. 4, a screw bolt6A passes, from the outer side of the box10, through the screw holes on the connection blocks of the angle iron6and the side plates2, on the flange of the front door3or on the connection block of the rear plate4, and enters the box, and a nut is installed on the end portion of the screw bolt6A, so that the side plates2are securely connected to the front door3and the rear plate4. In an unloaded state, the screw bolt6A and the nut are removed to dismantle the box10.

The side plates2, the front door3, and the rear plate4may be connected to the bottom plate1in a pivotal connection manner also in a clamped connection manner. In an unloaded state, the side plates2, the front door3, and the rear plate4can fold inwardly to form a multi-layered integral structure for storage, or also multiple movable plates separate from each other may be stored separately, thereby saving the operating cost. The top plate5includes a plurality of sealing plates welded to each other on a keel. The contacts between the top plate5and the front door3, the rear plate4, and the side plates2are provided with flanges extending downwardly, so as to achieve the waterproof object when the top plate5closes on the box10. In the above structure, the side plates2are connected to the front door3and the rear plate4through the angle iron6and screw holes, and the number of screw holes opened on a single piece of angle iron6is not limited and can change with the height of the box10. For example, more than two screw holes are opened in the vertical direction. In the above embodiment, the two lateral edges of the angle iron6are bonded to the side plates2and the front door3or the rear plate4, respectively. A screw hole is opened on one lateral edge of the angle iron6, and the side plate2is connected to the front door3or the rear plate4through a single screw bolt. Also, a screw hole can be opened on the two lateral edges of the angle iron6, respectively, and the angle iron6is connected to the side plates2, or the angle iron6is connected to the front door3or the rear plate4, through different screw holes, respectively. In the above structure, the structure of the screw bolt can be replaced by a threaded bolt, and the like, and the step of bonding the angle iron6and the box can also be omitted.

To achieve the waterproof object, in an embodiment of the modular shipping container, the area of the top plate5is greater than the area of the bottom plate1. The bottom plate1includes a base plate1aand a bottom frame1b.The height of the base plate1ais greater than the height of the bottom frame1b(seeFIG. 5). Meanwhile, the positions where the front door3, the rear plate4and the side plates2are contacted to the bottom plate1can be welded with side covers, respectively, so as to guarantee that water is unable to enter the box10when flowing from upper layers. An adhesive strip is inserted at the inner frame of the front door3of the box. When the door is locked, the door plate tightly presses the adhesive strip and water is unable to enter the box. As shown inFIG. 5, antislip unsmooth patterns are provided on the base plate1aof the bottom plate1to prevent a loaded cargo from slipping inside the box10.

In an embodiment of the modular shipping container, a traction device used to implement tractive loading and unloading is further included. By installing the traction device capable of being assembled, in combination with a towing device (for example, an elevator and a windlass), the tractive loading and unloading of the shipping container can be implemented. During the loading and unloading, large suspension equipment is not required and the operations become easy.

As can be seen by combiningFIG. 1,FIG. 5andFIG. 11, the modular shipping container includes a box10and a traction device to be used in combination with the box10. The traction device includes a traction connector21(seeFIG. 10) and a traction wheel22(seeFIG. 11). As shown inFIG. 5, one traction connector hole7and two traction wheel holes9are horizontally opened on front and rear sides of the bottom frame1bof the box10, respectively. The two traction wheel holes9are symmetrically distributed at two sides of the traction connector hole7. As shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, during the loading and unloading of the shipping container, the traction connector21and the traction wheel22are inserted in the corresponding traction connector hole7and the traction wheel hole9. When fixed, through the towing device connected to the traction connector21, the shipping container can be dragged to move forward and backward. In addition, seeFIG. 5andFIG. 8, a plurality of forklift holes8used for the operation by a forklift truck can be further provided at the left and right sides of the bottom frame1b.

As shown inFIG. 10, the traction connector21includes a tubular connecting body and a fitting fastener thereof. The traction connector21is connected to the box10by inserting the connecting body inside the traction connector hole7and using the fastener for fixation. In the embodiment, a hollow square through pipe is used as the connecting body and a screw bolt is used as the fastener. Of course, other parts can also be used as the connecting body and the fastener. For example, flat iron is used as the connecting body. Correspondingly, the traction connector hole7opened on the bottom frame1bcan be designed into a square insertion hole or flat iron insertion hole.

As shown inFIG. 11, the traction wheel22includes an insertion stem22a,a central shaft22band rollers22c.One end of the insertion stem22ais fixed in the middle of the central shaft22b.The two rollers22care installed at the two ends of the central shaft22b,respectively. The insertion stem22acorresponds to the traction wheel hole9in shape and size. One end, away from the central shaft22b,of the insertion stem22ais inserted in the traction wheel hole9and is tightened using a screw bolt to implement the connection between the traction wheel22and the box10. During the movement of the shipping container, the rollers22crotate about the central shaft22b.

When the modular shipping container is loaded on a truck, the traction wheel22and the traction connector21are first installed on the box10, and next through the towing device connected at the other end of the traction connector21, the loading and unloading of the shipping container are implemented.

Specifically, the traction connector21is inserted in the traction connector hole7and is locked tight using the screw bolt to prevent falling. The retractable support on the truck is unfolded, the hook on the wire rope is then hung on the traction connector21, and the windlass is started to lift one end of the shipping container using the wire rope. Two pairs of traction wheel22are inserted inside the traction wheel holes9on the bottom frame1b,respectively, so that the front end of the box has two pairs of traction wheel. Two steel pipes are placed on the ground in the middle of the box, and the other end, that is not provided with traction wheels, of the box10is lifted using the level principle, and then two pairs of traction. wheel22are inserted in the traction wheel holes9of the bottom frame1bthrough the insertion stems22a.After four pairs of traction wheel22are installed, the two steel pipes are removed, and at this time the four pairs of traction wheel22are fixed through the weight of the box10. To prevent the traction wheels22from falling off, screw bolts need to be installed for fixation. Next, the carriage of the truck slides off two the ground, and the windlass is started to pull the shipping container on the carriage through the wire rope and fix the shipping container.

The process of unloading the box10is the reverse operation of the above process. Through the weight of the box10and under the pulling force of the windlass, the box10slowly slides to the ground through the traction wheels22. Through the lift of the suspension hook and the steel pipes, the four pairs of traction wheels22are dismounted using the level principle, respectively, so that the box10is stably placed on the ground.

In the whole loading and unloading process, the traction wheels22are loaded and unloaded using the level principle, and the box10is dragged through the traction connector21to move for loading and unloading of the truck, which is an labor-saving loading and unloading manner and requires to use low power towing equipment, and the work can be accomplished with small equipment. The elevator or windlass can be completely integrated on the truck, and one driver alone can complete the whole operation of loading the box and unloading the box through simple and labor-saving connection members and stepwise operations, and the process is safe, simple, and easy.

The traction connector hole7and the traction wheel hole9are horizontally provided to implement the installation of the traction connector21and the traction wheels22on the sides of the box10of the shipping container, so as to reduce the lift height during the process of installing the traction device. In the process of installing the traction wheels22, the lift height of the box10only needs to reach the height equal to the radius of the roller22c,and the loading and unloading are convenient, clear, stable and have a desirable operation space.

In the process of loading and unloading the shipping container, the traction connector21and the traction wheels22are install on the sides of the box10, and the direction in which the traction wheel hole9and the traction connector hole7are opened is parallel to the direction of the bottom plate1(horizontally provided). For the box10, the four traction wheel holes9bear the force and directly carry the weight of the box10. The traction connector21is inserted in the traction connector hole7, and the traction connector hole7directly carries the suspension force and the towing force on the box10. Meanwhile, the traction device is fixed on the box10through tight locking using screw bolts, so as to guarantee that the traction device does not fall off in the whole traction process.

In addition, to guarantee safe use of a shipping container, in an embodiment of the modular shipping container, a lock having an inward opening function is further installed. The lock includes a lock rod11, a lock case handle14connected to the lock rod11, and a lock case base15fixed on the front door3. The lock case handle14can be received inside the lock case base15. A movable bolt15cand a pushing rod mechanism are provided inside the lock case base15. The pushing rod mechanism can push the movable bolt15cto rotate to actuate the lock rod11to rotate, so as to implement the inward opening of the lock.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 12AandFIG. 12B, the lock includes a lock rod11, cylinders12, lock bases13, a lock case handle14, a lock case base15, lock rod brackets16and a lock rod fixing base17. The lock case base15is fixed on the door plate of the box of the shipping container. The lock case handle14can be received inside the lock case base15. The middle of the lock rod11passes through the lock rod fixing base17fixed on the lock case base15, and is fixedly connected to the lock case handle14. The upper and lower ends of the lock rod11pass through the lock rod brackets16provided at the positions near the sides of the door plate, respectively, and connected to the upper and lower cylinders12. One lock base13corresponding to the upper and lower cylinders12is provided at the upper end and the lower end in the middle of the outer door frame, respectively. In the lock, the lock rod11is controlled through the lock case handle14to actuate the cylinder12and the lock base13to be combined or released, so as to close or open the door of the box of the shipping container.

As shown inFIG. 15, in the embodiment, the cylinder12has a hook shape and is fixed to the lock rod11at a fixed angle. The lock base13has a rectangular box shape. A semicircular fixing pin used to be combined with the cylinder12is provided inside the lock base13. The lock rod11rotates to actuate the cylinder12to rotate, so that the cylinder12is combined with or released from the semicircular fixing pin fixed inside the lock base13. In the process of locking the door, the lock case handle14rotates to actuate the lock rod11rotate, so that the cylinder12rotates inside the lock base13and locks the door tight in combination with the semicircular fixing pin. The lock base13, the cylinder12, the lock rod11, and the lock case handle14are in a position relationship of combining with each other. The angle of swing of the cylinder12, the lock base13and the lock case handle14relative to the lock rod11is the size of fitting.

As can be seen by combiningFIG. 13andFIG. 14, in the embodiment, both the lock case base15and the lock case handle14are rectangular. The size of the lock case handle14is smaller than the size of the lock case base15and can be received inside the lock ease base15. The lock case base15includes a case15a,and a fixing bolt15b,a movable bolt15cand a pushing rod mechanism provided inside the case15a.Two rectangular holes fitting the sizes of the bolts15band15care provided on the lock case handle14. When the lock case handle14is near the lock case base15, the two bolts15band15con the lock case base15pass through the fitting rectangular holes thereof on the lock case handle14. The fixing bolt15bis used to lock the door of the box in combination with other additional door locks. When the door of the box is temporarily closed, the fixing bolt15bdoes not exert a limiting function. For the movable bolt15c,under the force of the spring15g,the hook of the bolt cam15dthereof presses the edge of the rectangular hole of the lock case handle14to prevent the opening outward. The movable bolt15ccan also completely lock, in combination with additional door locks, the door of the box.

As can be seen fromFIG. 13, the movable bolt15cis formed by a bolt cam15d,a bolt base15e,a bolt pin15fand a spring15g.The pushing rod mechanism includes a pushing rod15hused to push the bolt cam15dto rotate, and other device used to push the pushing rod15hto move and position the pushing rod15h,such as, a handle, a knob or a handwheel provided at the inner side of the door plate, a guiding shaft sleeve, and a nut at a shaft end.

In the movable bolt15c,the bolt cam15dhas a through hole in the center. Also, the bolt cam15dhas an extension leg used to be connected to the pushing rod15hand a hook used to prevent the lock case handle14from being opened. The bolt pin15fpasses through the spring15gand the through hole of the bolt cam15d,and is fixed on the bolt base15ethrough a nut. One end of the spring15gis placed at a position where the extension leg of the bolt cam15dis clamped at the spring15g,and the other end is positioned on the lock case base15, so that the bolt cam15dis subject to a force towards the fixing bolt15b(referring to the clockwise direction inFIG. 15). The bolt cam15dis connected to one end of the pushing rod15h.The rotate position of the bolt cam15dis limited by the pushing rod15hconnected thereto. The pushing rod15hcan push the bolt cam15dto rotate in the direction away from the fixing bolt15b(that is, the counterclockwise direction inFIG. 15). Under the effect of the spring15g,when the pushing force of the pushing rod15his removed, the pushing rod15hand the bolt cam15dcan return to the initial positions.

As shown inFIG. 14, the lock case handle14is formed of a tube cover14a,a central panel14band a lateral handle14c.The three parts are fixed together. The tube cover14ais provided with a round hole. The lock rod11is fixedly connected to the lock case handle14through the tube cover14a.The central panel14bis concave, on which rectangular holes fitting the sizes of the fixing bolt15band the movable bolt15care opened, and a concave structure intersecting with the rectangular holes in a cross-like manner is provided. When the lock is closed, the fixing bolt15band the movable bolt15cextend from the above two rectangular holes respectively. The concave structure on the central panel14bmakes it easy to add other locks to lock the door.

The principle of implementing the lock is illustrated below with reference toFIG. 15.

When the door of the box needs to be closed temporarily, the lock case handle14approaches the lock case base15, so that the two bolts15band15cpass through the fitting rectangular through holes thereof. The hook on the bolt cam15dcan be hooked to the edges of the fitting rectangular through hole thereof on the lock case handle14. The lock case handle14cannot be opened outward, and the lock of the shipping container is in a closed state. In such a state, to open the lock of the shipping container, the bolt cam15dcan be turned from outside to release the hook thereon, the lock case handle14is pulled outward, and the fitting between the cylinder12and the lock base13is released, so that the door of the box of the shipping container is opened. Alternatively, the pushing rod15hconnected to the bolt cam15dis pushed from inside the box of the shipping container, so that the bolt cam15drotates, the hook thereon is then released from the edge of the fitting the lock case handle14, the bolt cam15dcontinues to rotate, the extension leg thereon and the pushing rod15hpush outward the lock case handle14, and then the fitting between the cylinder12and the lock base13is released, so that the door of the box is opened. Therefore, an inward opening function can be implemented for the lock, so as to avoid the cases that a user is locked inside the shipping container. If necessary, a foldable handle18can be further provided inside the shipping container (referring toFIG. 12B), so that the door can be opened more reliably.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a handle connected to the pushing rod15his provided inside the box. By pushing the handle, the pushing rod15hpushes the bolt cam15dto rotate, so as to implement the inward opening of the lock of the shipping container. Of course, other devices used to push the bolt cam15dto rotate can also be used to implement the inward opening of the lock of the shipping container. For example, a pushing rod15hhaving an external screw thread and a handwheel or knob connected to the pushing rod15hcan be used for implementation. A shaft sleeve with an internal screw thread (or can also be directly one welded nut) is fixed on the lock case base15. The pushing rod15hpasses through the shaft sleeve and is connected to a knob or handwheel provided inside the box. By rotating the knob or handwheel, the pushing rod15his actuated to rotate along the internal screw thread of the shaft sleeve, and at the same time, the pushing rod15hmoves forward along the shaft sleeve to push the bolt cam15dto rotate, so that the hook of the bolt cam15dis released from the lock case handle14. The bolt cam15dcontinues to rotate and the bolt cam15dpushes outward the lock case handle14, and the cylinder12and the lock base13are released, so that the door is opened from inside. After the door is opened, the handwheel or knob can be rotated to restore the position of the pushing rod15hand the bolt cam.

For the above lock having an inward opening function, the lock case handle presses the lock case base, and the hook of the bolt cam in the movable bolt clamps the edges of the rectangular holes of the lock case handle, so that the door of the box can be temporarily closed. At this time, the door of the box can only be opened by turning the bolt cam from outside the box to release the hook, which is safer and more reliable. For the inward opening of the lock can be implemented simply by pushing or rotating a mechanism that is provided at the inner side of the door plate and used to push the pushing rod to move. The lock has a simple and proper structure, a reliable mechanism, a simple and convenient operation, and is suitable for use in a shipping container for which the door requires to be temporarily closed or the door need to be frequently opened and closed, thereby guaranteeing the safety of an operator and a cargo.

In conclusion, in the modular shipping container provided in the present invention, jackets and screw hole and screw holes are provided at portions where the front door and the rear plate are connected to the side plates, so as to implement detachable connection and easy assembly of the box, and simplify the assembly process of the box.

A traction device capable of being assembled is used in the modular shipping container, traction wheels are loaded and unloaded using the level principle, a shipping container with traction wheels is dragged through a slope, and a box is loaded on or unloaded from a truck, so as to accomplish the loading and unloading work. In the process of loading and unloading of the truck, as the traction wheel holes are horizontally provided, in the process of installation, the lift height of the box is small, less labor is required (one person can accomplish the operation), and the loading and unloading equipment is simple and has low power. Compared with the shipping containers in the prior art, the efficiency of loading and unloading is significantly enhanced.

At the same time, the modular shipping container further uses a lock having an inward opening function, thereby significantly guarantee the operation safety of a user of the shipping container and the cargo safety. The lock case handle presses the lock case base, and the hook of the bolt cam in the movable bolt clamps the edges of the rectangular holes of the lock case handle, so as to temporarily close the door of the box. At this time, the door of the box can only be opened by turning the bolt cam from outside the box to release the hook thereof, which is safer and more reliable. The inward opening of the lock can be implemented simply by pushing or rotating a mechanism provided at the inner side of the door plate and used to push the pushing rod to move. The lock has a simple and proper structure, a reliable mechanism, and a simple and convenient operation.

The modular shipping container provided in the present invention is illustrated in detail above. Any obvious change made by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the actual spirit of the present invention will commit an infringement on the patent right of the present invention and will be subject to corresponding legal liabilities.