ARRANGEMENT FOR A CLOSEABLE CARGO HOLDER OF THE CONTAINER TYPE

Abstract: Arrangement for a closeable cargo holder (2) of the container type with doors (3) located at the rear, and which is designed so as to be stacked with one cargo holder on top of another cargo holder on board ships etc., and so as to be freighted to the intended destination on land after unloading and to be transferred between shore and ship by means of lifting equipment. At the rear section (2B) of the cargo holder, between the doors (3) located at the rear of the cargo holder and a rear loading opening (11), wheels (6) are arranged. The wheels are movable between a storage position (Y) inside the outer limit (7) of the cargo holder and a driving position (X) outside the limit (7) of the cargo holder. They can be moved into a tunnel-like passage (10), formed as a wheel reception space, and are designed so as to be movable between the said positions (Y, X) in connection with the loading and unloading of the cargo holder (2) in question. On the underside (9) of the container at its front section (2A) there are coupling means (8) for connection to haulage vehicles.

Description: Arrangement for a closeable cargo holder of the container type Technical field: The present invention relates to an arrangement for a closeable cargo holder of the container type with doors located at the rear, and which is designed so as to can be stacked with one cargo holder on top of another cargo holder on board ships etc., for example during trans¬ port, and so as to be freighted to the intended destin¬ ation on land after -unloading and to be transferred be¬ tween shore and ship by means of lifting equipment. Background: Known transport systems, which are suitable for use in ships for so-called door to door transport of cargo holders, are either so-called roll-on/roll-off systems I in which haulage vehicles transport cargo holders A in question, which are in the form of so-called trailers and which comprise wheels B fixed on the container A bear¬ ing against a base, between the shore and cargo decks C located on board the sh ps, or else container systems II in which closeable cargo holders A of the container type, which are intended to be transferred between shore and ship by means of loading cranes which are located on shore or on board the ship, are designed so as to be stacked with one cargo holder on top of another cargo holder on board ships etc. in the cargo spaces and on deck, for example during transport. Technical problem: The rol l-on/rol l-off system I is preferred in the present circumstances, since it permits quicker door to door transport of the goods in the containers A because only haulage vehicles have to be coupled to the trailers assembled on board the ship, whereas the container system II requires, at the receiving port etc., special wheeled haulage trucks in order for the containers in question. - Z - to be assembled on these trucks and which are handled by crane, to be assembled on these trucks and driven to the intended destination on land after unloading. However, this trailer system I is expensive since large dead spaces are formed between the trailers. The ships in which the said system I is used are, moreover, not as quick as the larger existing container freight vessels on, for example, Atlantic crossings. Furthermore, Ro-Ro vessels have expensive and complex ventilation systems because of the exhaust fumes from the haulage vehicles, and special complex and expensive ramp systems are required for loading and unloading in these vessels. Solution: The arrangement according to the present invention is characte ized n that, at the rear section of the cargo holder, between the doors located at the rear of the cargo holder and a rear loading opening, there are wheels which are movable between a storage position held inside the outer limit in question of the cargo holder and a driving position held outside the limit of the cargo holder, which wheels can be received in a tunnel-like passage, formed as a wheel reception space, and are designed so as to be movable between the said positions in connection with the loading and unloading of the cargo holder in question, for example onto or from a ship etc., and in that the cargo holder comprises, on the underside of the. container in the area of its front section, coupling means for releasable connection to haulage vehicles. Advantages : The invention provides an arrangement for cargo holders of the container type, which enables a new trans¬ port system III to be created which includes the various said advantages of the known systems I, II and in which the cargo holders can be freighted by conventional con¬ tainer transport vessels and driven on their own wheels to the place of destination. Description of the figures: The invention is described below by way of a number of preferred embodiments, reference being made to the attached drawings in which Fig. 1 shows the principle of a known trailer transport system I, Fig. 2 shows the principle of a known container transport system. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view, obliquely from the rear, of a cargo holder which comprises an arrangement according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows the arrangement in detail at the rear end of the cargo holder. Fig. 5 shows a side view of a cargo holder accord¬ ing to the present invention with diagram at ically shown wheels moved to different positions. Fig. 6 shows the cargo holder from below. Fig. 7 shows diagrammat ically the rear section of a cargo holder seen from the side, 1 2 Figs. 7 and 7 show two further embodiments. Fig. 8 shows the cargo holder seen from below. Fig. 9 shows a further example of a cargo holder with a wheel arrangement according to the present invention. Fig. 9 shows an example of the wheel bearing arrangement according to the invention. Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a cargo holder arrangement according to the present invention, seen from the rear and with the wheels raised. Fig. 11 shows the abόve ent ioned cargo holder again in perspecti e, but w th the wheels arranged in the lowered position. Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of a cargo holder seen obliquely from below and from the front. Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a cargo holder seen obliquely from below and from behind, and Figs. 14 and 15 show, a cargo holder which com¬ prises a bogie with double wheel axles which are moved between raised and lowered positions. Preferred embodiments: An arrangement 1 for a cargo holder 2 of the con¬ tainer type,, which consists of metal with a rectangular shape, and which can essentially comprise those parts which are normally to be found arranged in containers, such as, for example, pivotably mounted doors 3 located at the rear, attachment holes 4 for receiving lifting equipment, fixing elements and locking elements, side pockets 5 for receiving the forks of fork-lift trucks, and which fs designed so as to be stacked with one cargo holder received on tap of another cargo holder, for exaπrprle on board ships etc., for example during transport of the containers 2, and which is designed to permit, inter alia, the container 2 to be freighted to the inten¬ ded destination overland on its own wheels 6 after unload¬ ing of the container from the ship in question. The said wheels 6, which can be conventional air-filled rubber wheels and which can be supported by one or more axles spring-mounted in a known manner, are designed so that they can be moved between a storage position Y held inside the outer limit 7 in question of the cargo holder and a driving position X held outside the limit 7 of the cargo holder. Moreover, the wheels 6 are designed so as to be movable between the said positions X, Y in connection with the loading and unloading of the cargo holder 2 in ques¬ tion onto or from a ship etc. In addition, coupling means 8, which permit releasable connection to a haulage vehicle, are arranged on the said cargo holder 2 on its underside 9 in the area of the front section 2A of the cargo holder. The said wheels 6 are arranged at the rear sectic 2B of the cargo holder, so that they can be received in a tunnel-like passage 10, formed as a wheel reception space, between the doors 3 located at the rear of the cargo holder and a rear loading opening 11. The wheels 6, as a common unit together with associated spring elements etc. 12 and support part 13, can be mounted pivotably about a suitable support axle 14 which, in the example shown, is located on the lower cross¬ bar 15 located at the rear end 2B of the container in question and extending across the container 2. It is thereby possible to pivot the support part 13, forming the wheel frame, and wheels 6 and spring etc. 12 between a lowered essentially horizontal position X, to form an extended floor section of the cargo space 2C of the con¬ tainer, and which is located at the same level as the floor 16 of the container by means of the support part 13, and a raised essentially vertical position Y, to form a rear wall section of the container 2, extending between the rear vertical frame members 17 of the container. The container 2 is provided with all the equipment which is required for overland transport and shipping in the respective countries in which the invention is intended to be used. Thus, on the said wheel frame 13, there may be mounted a number of lights, mud flaps, rear bumpers, registration plates etc. (not shown) and also any neces¬ sary brakes and shock absorbers. In addition, at a distance from the said wheels 6, a pivotably mounted stand support 18 is arranged in the form of a column for supporting the front end 2A of the container when the container 2 is standing on a base 19 for coupling to a haulage vehicle etc., and the said support 18 is expediently designed so as to lower automati¬ cally when the container 2 is to be set up for haulage. The wheels 6 are designed to automatically lower, for exaaple by their own weight, when the container 2 is lifted up by crane or fork-lift truck, or to lower in another way, and a locking arrangement 20 is provided for shutting the wheels 6 in the intended position Y or X, for example by being connected to the rear vertical or horiz¬ ontal beams 17, 21 respectively of the container, for the purpose of prevent ng the wheels 6 from rising when the container 2 is placed on the ground etc. 19. A knob 22 or some other limiting device can be arranged in order to limit the downward swing of the wheels past their intended driving position X at which they are intended to be locked. When the wheels 6 are to be raised, the container 2 is lifted slightly so that the locking arrangement 20 is released. Thereafter, the container 2 is lowered onto a base such as, for example, the top part of a similar container 2, in which connection, due to the weight of the container, the wheels 6 are automatically made to swing into the said space 10 in which the wheels are locked, for example by means of the said locking arrangement 20, into the storage position Y. The wheels 6 and the column 18 can be manoeuvred manually, as stated, but can also be manoeuvred electric¬ ally, hydraul ically, pneumatically, or by a combination of these. The container chassis for its haulage arrangement on land is integral with the container 2 itself and is thus st all times firmly connected to the container 2 so that, by this means, no separate detached chassis is required for overland transport of the container 2 after its unloading from the ship. Figure 9 shows a wheel bogie arrangement with double axles in which the wheels 6 are mounted in the same way as in the case of wheel undercarriages with a single axle, i.e. supported by a plate 13A which is pivotably mounted about a pivot hinge 14A located at the rear end of the container and is movable and lockable in a similar way and in corresponding positions X, Y as in the previously described construction. The only essential difference is in the size of the two different spaces 10 and 10A, i.e. the container has a smaller cargo space inside its rear doors 3 in the double-wheel bogie arrangement as shown in the drawing in Figure 9. Figure 7 shows a variant of the single-wheel axle arrangement in which the wheels 6 are supported by a plate 13 which is mounted on the lower frame members 21 of the container in the area directly behind the doors 3 , so that the wheels can pivot essentially 90° between the two end positions X, Y. Figure 7 shows a further variant of a single- wheel arrangement in which the wheels 6 are mounted on a support part 13 which is mounted in its middle area 13 A around a pivot hinge 14 , by which means the wheels 6 can be turned essentially 180° around the pivot hinge 14 between the end positions X, Y. Finally, Figures 9 , 14 and 15 show a variant which comprises a bogie with double wheel axles and in which the wheels 6 are supported by a plate 23 which is mounted pivot¬ ably about a support axle 14B which is located behind the doors 3 of the container. In the raised position Y the plate 23 and the wheels 6 are received in a space formed outside the doors 3, whereas in the lowered position X the plate 23, in the same way as in the previously described embodiments, forms an extension of the cargo floor of the container and a section 23A even projects beyond the rear vertical uprights 17 of the container. This plate etc. 23 can also be locked in the intended position X, Y by means of a suitable locking arrangement 20. The invention can be simply adapted to already existing container holders of the type mentioned by length¬ ening them slightly or can be completely constructed as new, in which connection the height of the container can be increased if it is desired to maintain unchanged the loading capacity with unchanged length and breadth of the containers. In addition, the invention means that the con¬ tainers do not have to remain standing in the ports etc., but can be driven away immediately after unloading and can easily be moved within the port area as and when required, without heavy lifting equipment having to be used. Moreover, the containers 2 are of a strength match¬ ing that of conventional containers, and there is no more risk of damage to the cargo space and the container and contents than there is in conventional containers, and for this reason the question of reliability does not pose any problems . By means of the present invention a good-perform¬ ance transport system is achieved in which the weight of the transport containers remains considerably lower than the conventional combination of cargo holder and chassis, and this results, inter alia, in improved economy as regards overland transport of the containers. The invention is particularly suitable for advan¬ tageous adaptation to refrigerated and/or freezer con¬ tainers, where it s of particularly great importance, especially for refrigerated containers, that these reach their place of destination quickly so that the cargo con¬ tents are not spoilt as a result of long freight and/or storage periods. Finally, it should be mentioned that the containers 2 are easy to identify since they carry registration plates, for which reason the risk of loosing the containers 2 is reduced. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be modified within the scope of the patent claims without departing from the inventive concept.

Claims: Patent claims 1. Arrangement for a closeable cargo holder (2) of the container type with doors (3) located at the rear, and which is designed so as to be stacked with one cargo holder on top of another cargo holder on board ships etc., and so as to be freighted to the intended destination onland after unloading and to be transferred between shore and ship by means of lifting equipment, characterized in that, at the rear section (2B) of the cargo holder, bet¬ ween the doors (3) located at the rear of the cargo holder and a rear loading opening (11), there are wheels (6) which are movable between a storage position (Y) held inside the outer limit (7) in question of the cargo holder and a driving position (X) held outside the limit (7) of the cargo holder, which wheels can be received in a tunnel-like passage (10), formed as a wheel reception space, and are designed so as to be movable between the said positions (Y, X) in connection with the loading and unload¬ ing of the cargo holder (2) in question, and in that the cargo holder (2) comprises, on the underside (9) of the container in the area of its front section (2A), coupling means (8) for releasable connection to haulage vehicles. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the said wheels (6) are accommodated on one or more wheel axles. 3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the wheels (6) are pivotably mounted as a unit with associated spring elements. 4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the wheels (6) are mounted on a crossbar (15) extending across the rear end (2B) of the container. 5. Arrangement according to one of claims 3-4, charac¬ terized in that the wheels (6) are mounted on a wheel frame (13) which is pivotable between a lowered essentially horizontal position, to form a floor section, and a raised essentially vertical position to form a wall section. 6. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that, on the said wheel frame (13), there are mounted a number of lights, mud flaps, rear bumpers, registration plates etc. 7. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheels (6) are designed to be moved between the said positions (Y, X) by suitable means, for example manually, electrically, hydraul ically, pneumatically, or by a combination of these. 8. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at a distance from the said wheels (6), a pivotably mounted cargo holder column C18) is arranged for supporting the front end (2A) of the cargo holder.

Inventors: STROEMBERG GUNNAR, STROEMBERG, GUNNAR
Applicants: STROEMBERG GUNNAR, STROEMBERG, GUNNAR
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B65D90
IPC codes: B60P3, B62D53, B62D61, B65D88, B65D90