Patent GB-1403191-A (GB)
Title: Transport system
IPC: B63B21/62
Filed: 1971-07-13
Abstract: 1403191 Container traffic TREBRON HOLDINGS Ltd 13 July 1972 [13 July 1971] 32758/71 Headings B8P and B8Q [Also in Division B7] Modular cargo containers are linked in a chain and are moved between origin and destination by propulsion units which can tow the chain on and under the surface of the water. The containers are connected in a manner which allows limited relative flexing. As illustrated in Fig. 1, containers C 1  of half ISO size are made by connecting panels to a frame 50. Bracing 62 on the end panels 60 may be integrally formed with the panels or may be separate members secured to the panels. Flexible bracing straps 64 may be secured to the container frame. The containers may be made from metal, plastics, or wood. They are completed by removable inserts whose construction depends upon the intended cargo. The insert of Fig. 1H allows carriage of pressurized dry goods, that of Fig. 1J includes a collapsible bag for liquid cargo, and that of Fig. 1K carries granular bulk cargoes. Top and bottom liquid charge and discharge valves 80 and solids charge and discharge plates 84 and 86 are provided. Flaps 88 are provided on the inserts to secure them in the containers. The containers may be divided by adjustable bulkheads and each container may simultaneously carry different cargoes. For marine transport, the containers are connected to form a chain (Fig. 8) behind a manned lead propulsion module 138 which may be nuclear powered and which has a pair of propellers 140 whose direction of action can be adjusted. Alternatively, separate lateral thrust units may be employed. Depth control is provided by fins 142 and by ballast chambers 68 located between the containers and controlled from the lead module 138. Intermediate unmanned propulsion modules 148 have power connections to the lead module. The containers of Fig. 8 are coupled by frames 66 which have locking heads 94 releasably engaging lipped recesses 98 in the containers. Each head 94 has a set of leaves 174 integrally and resiliently hinged to a supporting wall 172 so that the head 94 is self-locking in a recess 98 by engagement of the rear ends 182 of the leaves with the lip 166. The head can be released from the recess by an hydraulic ram 196 which is connected to the leaves. Opposed pairs of heads are connected by tensile strands 186 which allow relative flexing of heads in the pair and therefore of the containers which they connect. A rubber sleeve 190 surrounds the unit formed by the opposed heads to form an enclosure which may be air pressurized. The unit includes a conductor 180 connecting sockets 192 to provide electric connections between containers. The frame 66 also carries alignment cores which enter but do not lock into container recesses. The ballasting chambers 68 are located in the frames 66. The chain may be formed from larger container modules which each extend over half or all of the width of the chain. These containers may be connected by frames similar to the frames 66 but which do not extend over the full width of a module and which are supplemented by spacer and bumper strips located between modules. Alternatively, adjacent modules may have a central connector about which they can relatively flex, Fig. 27 (not shown). In this case, bearings are formed by components which project from adjacent faces of adjacent modules to control and limit flexing and twisting. Fig. 21 shows a full width module which has ballast tanks 549 and 552. The module carries trucks 540 and has support plates 544 carrying smaller container modules. Flexible bat inserts are provided for bulk liquid 547, and bulk solid is carried at 548. Liquid cargo spaces may be used for water ballast when a pay-load is not being transported. Different inserts and internal organization may be adopted to allow the modules to carry single cargoes or combinations of cargoes, Figs. 12-19 and 22 (not shown).