CONTAINER WITH HINGED LOWER SECTIONS FOR EMPTYING, ADAPTED FOR OPERATION BY FORKLIFT TRUCK

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bottom-dump container (1) comprising a container portion (2) having at least two bottom doors (4, 5) situated opposite each other and which are pivotably connected to the container portion (2) and fork tubes (6, 7) supporting said container portion (2), said fork tubes, when changing their relative distance by e.g. a fork truck having adjustable fork distance in the horizontal plane, admit opening or closing of the bottom doors (4, 5). Each bottom door (4; 5) has an opening line (10) which over and above its extension along a hinge (3) connecting the container portion (2) to the bottom doors (4, 5), forms a border line between adjacent edge portions of the end walls (15, 16) of the container portion (2) and the side walls (11, 12; 13, 14) of the bottom door (4; 5), said border line from an extension mainly in parallel to the bottom plane or bottom side (8, 9) of the container portion (2) is able to take a direction which runs obliquely downwards up to the lower, free edge or corner portion (24) of the bottom door (4; 5).

Description: CONTAINER WITH HINGED LOWER SECTIONS FOR EMPTYING, ADAPTED FOR OPERATION BY FORKLIFT TRUCK. The present invention relates to a bottom-dump container comprising a container portion having at least two bottom doors located opposite to each other and hingedly connected to said container portion and fork tubes for supporting said container portion, said fork tubes during changing of their relative distance, by e.g. a fork truck which has an adjust¬ able fork distance in the horizontal plane, allow opening or closing of the bottom doors. The problems with present known containers of a similar type are i.a. that their dumping devices require a relative large space. Further the truck driver must often get out from the truck in order to release the locking device when dumping the contents out of the container. The container also often need a stand over and above the place where the material shall be dumped and the container only can be dumped from one direction. The dumping time will in this way be long and finally the locking mechanism of the container can be unin¬ tentionally be released if an obstacle is run into. Also other types of containers exist, the bottom doors of which are resting upon fork tubes, which via a link arrangament is pivotedly connected to the end walls of the containers and which during sepatating of the fork tubes by the forks of a truck achieve an opening up of the container. Thanks to the structure according to the present invention the container portion now includes fewer parts than the containers mentioned above and other which are common on the market and also a much more rigid design. Furthermore the bottom doors according the invention have been integrated with the sides of the container, which results in that during dumping the lower part of the container is separated in an opposite direction so that the content is dumped very quickly and effectively. The invention will be described below further in detail by aid of a preferred embodiment in view of the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a bottom-dump container according to the present invention where the .bottom doors are in their closed position and Fig. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the container illustrated in Fig. 1, where the bottom doors are totally open. As can be seen from the figures the container 1 according t a preferred embodiment according to the present inventio consists of a container portion 2 which at its lower par comprises two opposite bottom doors 4,5, which are hingedl connected to the container portion 2 by a hinge mounting i the form of a hinge 3 and fork tubes 6,7 supporting th container portion 2 and which are located at the lower par of the bottom doors 4,5 of the container portion 2. The for tubes 6,7 are provided to open the bottom doors 4,5 b increasing the horisontal distance of the fork tubes 6, from each other e.g.by aid of a fork truck having adjustabl fork distance in the horizontal plane. When closing th bottom doors 4,5 the horizontal distance of the fork tube 6,7 is instead decreased in a direction from each other According to the invention the fork tubes 6,7 are preferabl integrally connected to the bottom doors 4,5 e.g. by weldin against their bottom sides 8,9. In that case the fork tube 6,7 have a cross section, which does not permit turnin around the forks of a fork truck, the respective fork tub 6,7 can be hingedly connected to bottom doors 4,5 along th corner portion of the fork tubes 6,7 facing towards eac other. Each bottom door 4,-5 has an openig line 10, which over it extension along the hinge 3 from its ends 23 forms a border line between adjacent edge portions of the end walls 15,1 of the container portion 2 and the side walls 11,12,-13,14 o the bottom door 4,-5,said border line from a direction mainl preferably parallel to the bottom plane of the container or bottom sides 8,9 can take a direction which exten obliquely downwards up to the lower, free edge or corne portion 24 of the bottom door 4;5. In the last case the side walls 11,12;13,14 have a triangular design and the end walls 15,16 of the container 2 have a pointed, lower portion. The bottom doors 4,5 have the same size and extend over the whole length and width of the container portion 2. Respective bottom door 4;5 is formed by the bottom side 8;9, at the underside of which one of the fork tubes 6;7 is fixed, two opposite side walls 11,12;13,14, which are perpendicular to the bottom side 8;9, said side walls in the closed position of the bottom door 4;5 being a part of the end walls 15;16 of the container portion 2, and a connecting wall 19;20 connecting the side walls 11,12;13,14 to the bottom side 8;9 and forming lower parts of the longitudinal sides 17;18 of the container portion 2, at the upper portion of said connecting wall and at the longitudinal sides 17;18 of said conatainer portion 2 the hinge 3 is located. The connecting wall 19;20 on respective bottom door 4,5 has a height, which in the embodiment illustrated, is about 1/3 of the total height of the sides 17 ,18 of the container portion 2. In syncronizing the opening and closing of the bottom doors 4,5 there is a cross bar 21 articulately fixed to respective side wall 11,12;13,14 of the bottom doors 4;5 near the hinge 3, the one end of the cross bar 21 being directly articulated in the upper portion of one of the side walls 11,12 while the other opposite end of the cross bar 21 is indirectly articulated via a distance bar 22 extending above the opening line 10 and at its upper portion a short distance above the opening line 10, when the bottom doors are in their closed position, in the other side wall 13,14. In this way it always occurs simultaneous an opening and a closing respectively of the bottom doors 4,5 and an eventual tilting danger for the container l is eliminated. The fork tubes 6,7 can be designed with a cross section which admits that they are rotatable around the forks of a fork truck during dumping the container 1.

Claims: Cl aims 1. A bottom-dump container comprising a container portion (2) having at least two bottom doors (4,5) situated opposite to each other and hingedly connected to the container portion (2) and fork tubes (6,7) supporting the container portion (2) , which when changing their relative distance by e.g. a fork truck, which has adjustable fork distance in the horizontal plane, admits opening or closing of the bottom doors (4,5), characterized in that each bottom door (4;5) has an opening line (10) , which over and above its extension along a hinge (3) connecting the bottom doors (4,5) to the container portion (2) forms a border line between adjacent edge portions of the end walls (15,16) of the container portion (2) and the side walls 811,12;13,14) of the bottom door (4;5), said border line from an extension mainly in parallel to the bottom plane or bottom side (8;9) of the container portion (2) is able to take a direction which runs oblique downwards up to the lower, free edge or corner portion (24) of the bottom door (4;5) and in that respective bottom door (4;5) is formed by at least one bottom side (8;9) against which one of the fork tubes (6;7) is fixed and two opposite side walls (11,12;13,14) perpendicular to the the bottom side (8;9) , said side walls are a part of the end walls (15,16) of the container portion (2) in the closed position of the bottom door (4;5) . 2. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that respective bottom door (4;5) is formed by, in addition to a bottom side (8;9) and two opposite side walls (11,12;13,14) perpendicular to said bottom side, a connect¬ ing wall (19;20) connecting the side walls (11,12;13,14) to the bottom side (8;9) and forming a lower portions of the longitudinal sides (17,18) of the container portion (2), at the upper portion of said connecting wall and at the longitudinal sides (17,18) of the container portion (2) the extending hinge (3) is situated. 3. A container according to claim l, characterized in that the opening line (10) is lying with its border line in parallel to the bottom plane or bottom sides (8,9) of the container portion (2) . 4. A container according to claim l, 2 or 3, characterized in that the connecting wall (19;20) of the respective bottom door (4;5) has a height which is about 1/3 of the total height of the longitudinal sides (17,18) of the container portion (2) . 5. A container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that respective bottom door (4;5) near the hing (3) comprises a cross bar (21) pivotably provided at its side walls (11,12;13,14) for syncronizing of the opening and closing of the bottom doors (4,5). 6. A container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fork tubes (6,7) have a cross section admitting these to be rotatable around the forks of a fork truck during dumping.

Inventors: LOERGAARD BO, LOERGAARD, BO
Applicants: LOERGAARD BO, LOERGAARD, BO
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D90
IPC codes: B65D90, B65F1, B66F9