DEVICE FOR VENTILATING CONTAINERS ARRANGED IN A STACK

Abstract: Device for ventilating containers arranged in a stack, which stack comprises either only containers of a first vertical size or only containers of a second vertical size, each con­ tainer (1) having one container opening (3) for inlet and one container opening (3) for outlet of a gas, the device comprising a system of pipes with pipe openings (4) for the supply of gas to and the reception of gas from said con­ tainer openings (3),each pipe opening (4) being located in a vertical position half-way between a corresponding container opening (3) in a stack of containers of the first vertical size and the corresponding container opening (3) in a stack of containers of the second vertical size. According to the invention there is arranged on each pipe opening (4) a con­ nection sleeve (8) the opening of which, facing the con­ tainer (1), is covered with a housing (6) turnable 180° in a vertical plane. A pipe coupling (7) is fitted into the hous­ ing (6) in a vertical position to fit the position of a con­ tainer opening (3) in a stack of containers of the first vertical size. By simply turning the housing (6) with the pipe coupling (7) 180° by means of easily operatable snap-on locks (9) the ventilation units can be quickly readjusted to a stack of containers of the other vertical size.

Description: The invention relates to a device for ventilating containers arranged in a stack according to the precharacterising part of Claim 1. SE-B-402 751, inter alia, shows how containers of two different sizes, which are stacked one above the other, are connected in a suitable way to a stationary ventilation plant. Normally such ventilation plants are arranged aboard container ships, but they are also useful on shore in supply stores or intermediate storage areas for easily perishable goods. For the supply of ventilating air to containers of the above-mentioned kind, heavily dimensioned pipes are often required, which in turn entails that the pipes have to be made as rigid members. For each container stack, thus, this pipe system has a number of openings arranged one above the other at specified distances from each other and above the floor of the storage space. If containers were available in one size only, it would be simple to ensure that the above-mentioned openings arrived straight in front of the openings in the containers when these are stacked on top of each other. However, there are two different types of containers in use. A first one having a height of 8 feet (2.44 m) and a second one having a height of 8 feet 6 inches (2,59 m). The two ventilating openings of these containers are positioned in the same end wall and immediately above one another. The distance between them is the same in the two different types of containers. To enable both of these types of containers to be connected to the stationary ventilation plant described above, special measures have been taken according to the above prior art embodiment. It should be noted that different types of containers must never be used together in one and the same stack. Said special measures consist in disposing the respective opening in the fixed pipes vertically half-way between the corresponding opening in one container in a stack of containers having the greater height and a corresponding opening in one container in a stack of containers having the smaller height. In each pipe opening there is arranged a stiff bend, the end openings of which have been displaced in parallel with respect to each other. The extent of the parallel displacement is different depending on the vertical level of the container in the stack. By turning the bend in the pipe opening, the bend may be adjusted so that its other opening can either be connected to an opening in a container in an imaginary stack of containers of the greater height, or to a container opening in a stack of containers of the smaller height. On its side facing the pipe opening, each bend has a flange and may be fixed by means of screws connected to clamps. To adjust the bend to a different position, all screws have to be loosened, the bend be turned to a suitable position, and the screws be tightened again. However, this readjustment is very time-consuming, and a ship whose ventilation plant has been adjusted to supply several hundred containers of one size, and is to be readjusted for a cargo of containers of a different size, often chooses to proceed to a shipyard to have the readjustment made. In certain cases it may take two men up to two hours to make the readjustment for one container. The invention aims to develop a device for ventilating containers arranged in a stack, which allows a much faster readjustment of the pipe connections to a stack of containers of a different vertical size. To achieve this aim the invention suggests a device for ventilating containers according to the introductory part of Claim 1, which is characterized by the features of the characterizing part of Claim 1. Further developments of the invention are characterized by the features of the additional claims. According to the invention the turnable bend in prior devices between the pipe opening and container openings belonging to containers of different sizes is replaced, by a connection sleeve arranged on the pipe opening. The opening of the connection sleeve facing the container is covered by a detachable, reversible housing. For adjustment into connection with a container opening belonging to a stack of containers of first vertical size, a pipe coupling has been fitted into the housing, such that, when the housing is turned 180° in a vertical plane perpendicular to the centre axis of the pipe opening, the pipe coupling arrives in a position suited for connection to a container opening belonging to a container in a stack of containers of the second vertical size. In most of the vertically spaced connecting positions in an arrangement according to the invention, the pipe coupling has to be positioned eccentrically in the housing with respect to the centre axis of the pipe opening. For this reason, the opening of the connection sleeve facing the container is larger than the pipe opening, at least in the vertical direction. The housing is suitably attached to the connection sleeve by means of a snap-on lock. This enables the housing to be rapidly detached, turned 180°, and attached again. The time for making a readjustment for one container is estimated to be reduced from the above-mentioned two hours to five minutes. In an arrangement according to the invention, it is suitable for the pipe openings to be arranged in a stack immediately one above the other and for air or gas to be supplied to the connected container through every second opening. After having passed through the container, the air or other gas is discharged through the respective every second pipe opening. This stack of piping may be brought about in various ways, but it is particularly advantageous to arrange for each container a separate ventilating and cooling unit. These units can be made identical since - as mentioned above - the distance between the ventilating openings of the containers is the same for the differently sized containers. These units or modules make it possible to provide each container, connected to such a unit, with individual cooling and ventilation. In this way, containers containing variously sensitive cargoes can be inserted into the same stack. The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing - by way of example - in Figure 1 part of a hold in a ship equipped with separate ventilating units, Figure 2 a side view of such a unit provided with a connection sleeve according to the invention, Figure 3 the unit according to Figure 2 seen from above. Figure 1 shows stacks of containers 1 each having two openings 3 for the supply and discharge of conditioning air. Each container faces a corresponding ventilating unit 2 which is provided with two pipe openings 4 and is designed to supply fresh air and electricity etc. to the container and discharge use air from the container by way of a pipe system and conduits not shown. Figure 2 shows a ventilating unit with its two openings 4 on a larger scale. On each of these openings 4 there is arranged a connection piece 5, the free opening of which is covered by a housing 6 into which a pipe coupling 7 has been inserted. The connection piece 5 comprises a connection sleeve 8 having the shape of a truncated cone or pyramid, the larger base of which is covered with the housing 6. The vertical extension of the housing is larger than the horizontal one. The housing 6 is detachable and may be turned 180° in a vertical plane perpendicular to the centre axis of the pipe opening, whereby the pipe coupling 7, which is eccentrically positioned with respect to the centre axis of the sleeve 8, has been moved from, for example, an upper position in the stack to a lower position. The upper position fits containers in a stack of containers of the first vertical size and the lower position fits containers in a stack of containers of the second vertical size. 9 is a snap-on lock for rapid readjustment of the housing 6. The pipe coupling 7 is adjusted at such a height above the floor that it exactly fits a corresponding container opening 3. Now, let it be assumed that in one stack there are only containers of the height of 8 feet 6 inches. The ventilating units 2 are then mounted such that the associated connection pieces 5 and pipe couplings 7, when the latter are in their lower position, arrive just in front of the respective container openings 3. If the ventilation plant is to be readjusted for 8 feet containers, a stand is arranged under the lowermost container 1 in the stack, the height of the stand being calculated such that, for example, the container openings 3 in the fifth container 1 arrive at the same height as the container openings 3 in the fifth container 1 in the previously mentioned stack of higher containers. This, in turn, will mean that for the containers Nos. 1-4 in the stack of higher containers, the pipe coupling 7 in its connection position will be lying in a lower position below the centre axis for the sleeve 8. For container No. 5 the pipe coupling 7 will lie on the centre axis of the sleeve 8, and for the containers thereabove the pipe couplings 7 will lie above the corresponding centre axes. For a stack of containers of the smaller height the conditions regarding the position of the pipe coupling 7 with respect to the centre axis of the pipe openings will be the opposite. Figure 2 shows the uppermost part of a stack, and the measures A and B show the distance between the centre axis for the connection piece 5 and the centre axis for the pipe coupling 7. Furthermore, if this distance is set equal to zero for the fifth container, it increases with that distance -upwards and downwards - at which the connected container in the stack is situated from the fifth container. In this case, for example, A is thus larger than B. The reference numerals used in Figure 3 correspond to those used in Figure 2.

Claims: Device for ventilating containers arranged in a stack, which stack comprises either only containers of a first vertical size or only containers of a second vertical size, each container (1) having one container opening (3) for inlet and one container opening (3) for outlet of a gas, the device comprising a system of pipes with pipe openings (4) for the supply of gas to and the reception of gas from said container openings (3),each pipe opening (4) being located in a vertical position half-way between a corresponding container opening (3) in a stack of containers of the first vertical size and the corresponding container opening (3) in a stack of containers of the second vertical size, characterized in that on each pipe opening (4) there is arranged a connection sleeve (8) the opening of which, facing the container (1), is covered with a housing (6) turnable 180° in a vertical plane, and that a pipe coupling (7) is fitted into said housing (6) in a vertical position to fit the position of a container opening (3) in a stack of containers of the first vertical size, and with the housing being turned 180° to fit the position of a container opening (3) in a stack of containers of the second vertical size. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the opening of the connection sleeve (8) facing the container (1) is larger in the vertical direction than the associated pipe opening (3). Device according to any of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the pipe system comprises separate ventilating units (2) arranged for each container (1).

Inventors: OHLSSON,SOREN
Applicants: STAL REFRIGERATION AB
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F24F13
IPC codes: B65D88, B63J2