A BOTTOM-DUMP CONTAINER

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 to each other and which by aid of hinges (3) 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, admits opening or closing of the bottom doors (4, 5). Each bottom door (4; 5) comprises an extension (21, 22) having a gear formation (23, 24) on at least one end wall (15, 16) of the container portion (2) over and above said hinges (3) during closed container, said gear formation is turned towards and is able to cooperate with the extension of the neighbouring bottom door with the gear formation belonging to it for synchronizing opening and closing of said bottom doors (4, 5).

Description: A bottom-dump container The present invention relates to a bottom-dump container comprising a container portion having at least two bottom doors situated opposite to each other and hingedly connected to said container portion and fork tubes supporting said container portion, which when changing their relative dis¬ tance by e.g. a fork truck having adjustable fork distance in the horizontal plane, admits 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 example in view of the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l 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 an¬ other embodiment example of container, where the bottom doors are totally opened and where a three edged protective and guiding sheet has been removed. As can be seen from the figures the container l according to a preferred embodiment according to the present invention consists of a container portion 2 which at its lower part comprises two opposite bottom doors 4,5, which are hingedly connected to the container portion 2 by a hinge mounting in the form of a hinge 3 and fork tubes 6,7 supporting the container portion 2 and which are located at the lower part of the bottom doors 4,5 of the container portion 2. The fork tubes 6,7 are provided to open the bottom doors 4,5 by increasing the horisontal distance of the fork tubes 6,7 from each other e.g. by aid of a fork truck having adjust¬ able fork distance in the horizontal plane, when closing the bottom doors 4,5 the horizontal distance of the fork tubes 6,7 is instead decreased in a direction from each other. According to the invention the fork tubes 6,7 are preferably integrally connected to the bottom doors 4,5 e.g. by welding against their bottom sides 8,9 or recessed as can be seen according to fig. l. In that case the fork tubes 6,7 have a cross section, which does not permit turning around the forks of a fork truck, the respective fork tube 6,7 can be hingedly connected to bottom doors 4,5 along the corner portion of the fork tubes 6,7 facing towards each other. The bottom doors 4,5 has the same size and extend over the whole length and width of the container portion 2. Respec¬ tive 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, as can be seen in fig. 2, 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 container portion 2 the hinge 3 is located. Alternatively the fork tubes can be recessed in the lower section 10 of the container portion 2 as can be seen from fig. 1. 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 an extension 21, 22 of each bottom door, said extension is provided with a gear formation 23, 24 and which is turned towards and is able to cooperate with the extension of the neighbouring bottom door with the gear formation belonging to it. 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. A three edged sheet 25 is fixed to the end wall 15;16 of the container portion 2 for covering the gear formations and to create an opening gap 26 together with the end wall 15;16 for guiding of the gear formations. 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 l.

Claims: Claims 1. A bottom-dump container comprising a container portion (2) having at least two bottom doors (4,5) having bottom sides (8;9) situated opposite to each other and hingedly connected to the container portion (2) , opposite side walls (11-14) perpendicular to these and connecting walls (19,20) forming lower extensions of the longitudinal sides (17, 18) of the container portion (2) connected to these and the bot¬ tom sides, at which upper section and at the longitudinal sides (17,18) of the container portion (2) hinges (3) are provided, and fork tubes (6,7) supporting the container por¬ tion (2) , which when changing their relative distance by e.g. a fork truck having adjustable fork distance in the horizontal plane, admits opening or closing of the bottom doors (4,5), characterized in that the respective bottom door (4;5) comprises an extension (21,22) having a gear for¬ mation (23,24) on at least one end wall (15;16) of the con¬ tainer portion (2) over and above the hinges (3) during closed container, said gear formation being turned towards and is able to cooperate with the extension of neighbouring bottom door with the gear formation belonging to it for syn¬ cronizing the opening and closing of the bottom doors (4,5) . 2. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that mainly a three edged sheet (25) is fixed to the end wall (15;16) of the container portion (2) for covering the gear formations and for creating of an opening (26) together with said end wall (15;16) for guiding of the gear forma¬ tions (23,24) . 3. A container according to claim 1, 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) . 4. 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, SESAM CONTAINER AB, LOERGAARD, BO
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D88
IPC codes: B65D88, B65F1