Patent Publication Number: US-2018037406-A1

Title: Cargo container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a freight container (a cargo container) that transports bulk cargo such as grains and powders. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Bulk cargo, such as minerals (e.g., iron ores and coals) and grains (e.g., soybeans and wheat), transported by ship, may be intermittently landed by a grab bucket, or may be continuously landed by air transport. In the latter case, a cargo handling system referred to as a pneumatic unloader, for example, mounted on a dock is used (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). 
     Meanwhile, a freight container transported by a container ship is landed by a container crane mounted in a container yard (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4). A freight transportation container landed is once placed in the container yard, for example, and is then transported by a trailer truck. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Document 
     PATENT DOCUMENT 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H09-12156 
     PATENT DOCUMENT 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-156290 PATENT DOCUMENT 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-250985 
     PATENT DOCUMENT 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-86949 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Bulk cargo and freight containers are landed using respective dedicated apparatuses mounted on a dock as described above. This makes it relatively easy to improve the efficiency of each apparatus in operation, while making it difficult for one of the apparatuses to land freight to be handled by the other apparatus (i.e., to land bulk cargo at a wharf for container ships or land a freight container at a wharf for bulk cargo ships). Thus, the availability of some of the apparatuses tends to decrease, for example, if one type of freight is significantly different in amount from another type of freight. 
     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the flexibility in landing bulk cargo and facilitate effective use of a dock. 
     Solution to the Problem 
     The present invention provides a freight container. The freight container includes an outer shell configured to contain bulk cargo. The outer shell includes an engageable portion engageable with a spreader of a container crane, an opening through which bulk cargo flows into the outer shell, and a filter configured to exhaust air in the outer shell. 
     Advantages of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, the flexibility in landing bulk cargo may be improved, and effective use of a dock may be facilitated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  A diagram showing an example in which bulk cargo is handled in a container yard where a gantry crane is mounted. 
         FIG. 2  A cross-sectional view showing a configuration for a pneumatic unloader. 
         FIG. 3  A perspective view showing a configuration for a freight container. 
         FIG. 4  A perspective view showing a configuration for a wheeled platform for freight containers. 
         FIG. 5  A partial cross-sectional side view showing a configuration for a lighter. 
         FIG. 6  A plan view showing a configuration for a lighter. 
         FIG. 7  A partial cross-sectional front view showing a configuration for a lighter. 
         FIG. 8  A partial cross-sectional front view showing another configuration for a lighter. 
         FIG. 9  A partial cross-sectional front view showing still another configuration for a lighter. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     (Summary of How Bulk Cargo is Landed) 
     First, a summary of how bulk cargo is landed will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . A gantry crane  101  is mounted on a dock where a ship  301  loaded with bulk cargo lands. A unitized pneumatic unloader  201  is suspended from a trolley  121  of the gantry crane  101 . The pneumatic unloader  201  is designed to suck up bulk cargo, such as grains, transported by the ship  301  through a suction pipe  211  and to discharge the bulk cargo from the pneumatic unloader  201  to a discharge pipe  221 . 
     The discharged bulk cargo fills a container  401  having an outer shape similar to that of a typical freight container. The container  401  is placed on a wheeled platform  501 , and is then loaded on a lighter  601 . The loaded container may be transferred to, and unloaded on, another dock together with the wheeled platform  501 . 
     The components described above will now be described. 
     (Gantry Crane  101 ) 
     The gantry crane  101  is mounted on a dock referred to as a container yard, and generally has the following structure, for example. Specifically, the gantry crane  101  includes legs  102  and  103  extending vertically. The legs  102  and  103  are connected together through a connector  104 , and are reinforced by reinforcers  105  and  106 . Wheels  107  are respectively attached to the bottoms of the legs  102  and  103  so that the gantry crane  101  may be moved along the dock. The legs  102  and  103  have an upper portion to which a boom  108  is attached. The boom  108  extends horizontally. Tension bars  109  and  110  are attached to the upper portion of the leg  102 . The tension bars  109  and  110  each obliquely connect an associated one of tip ends of the boom  108  and the top of the leg  102  together. The boom  108  is provided with the trolley  121  movable along the boom  108 . The trolley  121  is provided with a spreader  122 , which suspends the pneumatic unloader  201  described in detail below or a freight container transported by a container ship. 
     (Pneumatic Unloader  201 ) 
     The pneumatic unloader  201  includes a frame  202 , a boom  203  extending horizontally, and tension bars  204  and  205  connecting the frame  202  and the boom  203  together. The frame  202  is joined to the suction pipe  211  and the discharge pipe  221 , which are supported on the boom  203  and other members. The suction pipe  211  is joined to a suction nozzle  214  through an expansion pipe  212  and a flexible pipe  213  to suck up bulk cargo in the hold of the ship  301 . The discharge pipe  221  is joined to a discharge nozzle  224  through an expansion pipe  222  and a flexible pipe  223  to discharge the bulk cargo sucked up from the ship  301 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pneumatic unloader  201  is connectable to the spreader  122  of the gantry crane  101  through engaging portions  202   a  which are provided on an upper portion of the frame  202  and which have a structure and layout similar to those of a typical freight container in conformity with ISO standards, for example. In other words, the mounting of a typical gantry crane  101  allows the pneumatic unloader  201  to be used while being connected to the gantry crane  101 . 
     The frame  202  includes therein a separator  231  joined to the suction pipe  211  and the discharge pipe  221 . The separator  231  is joined to a blower  233  that sucks air through an air pipe  232 . The bulk cargo loaded on the ship  301  is sucked up together with the air, is separated from the air by the separator  231 , and is discharged from the discharge pipe  221 . 
     Using the pneumatic unloader  201  described above may make it easy to land bulk cargo and perform any other operations even on a container ship dock where the typical gantry crane  101  is mounted and where freight containers are handled. This may improve the flexibility in landing bulk cargo and facilitate effective use of the dock. 
     If the frame  202  of the pneumatic unloader  201  hermetically contains the separator  231  and other components, dust and other substances may be easily prevented from being produced in general. However, this is merely an example of the present invention. A structure that is not especially sealed, such as a framed structure, may be used as well. 
     The suction pipe  211  and the discharge pipe  221  do not always need to be supported on the boom  203  and other members, and may be supported by, for example, one or more trolleys  121  separately provided on the boom  108  of the gantry crane  101 . 
     For example, at least one of the suction pipe  211  or the discharge pipe  221  may include a plurality of pipes so as to obtain higher transport capacity. 
     The suction pipe  211  and the discharge pipe  221  (and the boom  203  and other members) may be designed to be extendable and retractable also in a horizontal direction and to be pivotable in a vertical direction. As a result, the position at which the bulk cargo is sucked through the suction nozzle  214  and the position at which the bulk cargo is discharged through the discharge nozzle  224  may be shifted without moving the trolley  121  and the pneumatic unloader  201 . 
     (Container  401 ) 
     The bulk cargo sucked up from the ship  301  by the pneumatic unloader  201  described above may be stored in a silo or any other space, or may be loaded on a truck. However, the bulk cargo may be handled just like a typical freight container by being charged into such a container  401  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The outer shell of the container  401  has upper and lower surfaces each provided with engageable portions  402  respectively engaged with connectors, referred to as, for example, twist locks, at four corners of the surface. The engageable portions  402  each have a size and a shape in conformity with ISO standards or other standards, for example. The top of the container  401  has an opening  403  through which bulk cargo flows into the container  401 . The opening  403  is beneficially connectable to the discharge nozzle  224  of the pneumatic unloader  201  by flange coupling or any other coupling process with the container  401  kept hermetic. However, a simple opening merely needs to be formed, depending on types and other characteristics of the bulk cargo. 
     The top of the container  401  is further provided with a filter  404 , through which air in the container  401  is exhausted when bulk cargo is charged into the container  401 , and which may reduce the amount of dust and other substances flowing out. 
     The bottom of the container  401  has an outlet  411  through which bulk cargo is discharged. The outlet  411  may be opened and closed by an outlet lid  412  that is turnable on a rotary shaft  412   a . The container  401  includes therein an inclined plate  413  extending from the periphery of the outlet  411  to a side wall of the container  401 . This allows bulk cargo in the container to be easily discharged with reliability. 
     Using the container  401  described above may make it easy to handle such bulk cargo just like a typical freight container even in a container yard where a grab bucket for handling bulk cargo, a cargo handling system such as a pneumatic unloader, a storage facility such as a silo, and any other suitable device are not provided. This may improve the flexibility in landing bulk cargo and facilitate effective use of the dock. 
     A baffle board may be provided near the inner surface of the filter  404  in the container  401  to make it less likely for bulk cargo to come into direct contact with the filter  404 . This may more easily reduce the amount of dust and other substances flowing out. 
     The filter  404  does not always need to be provided at one location, but may include a plurality of filters dispersed at multiple locations. One or more filters may be provided for the side wall, for example. In this case, a baffle board or a partition wall may be used as necessary. Further, a plurality of filters may be provided for each of side walls of the container  401  at both longitudinal ends or other portions thereof. Alternatively, one or more filters may be provided for each of an upper wall and the side walls of the container. 
     The outlet lid  412  does not always need to be configured as the single lid as described above, but may be divided into two or more pieces to form a set of double doors. Alternatively, the container  401  may have an outlet lid which entirely or mostly covers the bottom of the container  401  and fully or substantially fully opens the bottom, for example. A door may be provided in the entirety or a portion of a side wall located at one of the longitudinal ends or a side wall extending longitudinally, such that the side wall may open and close. 
     An integral or separate lid or hatch may be provided to close the opening  403 . 
     The container  401  described above may include therein an air conditioning unit that can control at least one of temperature or humidity. If the container is filled with grains or any other objects, for example, the provision of such a unit makes it easy to store the grains as they are. The grains may be landed at a wharf where no silo is provided, and may be stored on the spot, or may be stored at a destination. This may, for example, significantly enhance the flexibility in using the wharf, or may reduce the burden of providing a silo or any other facility (eliminate the need to provide a silo). Furthermore, in disaster situations or other situations, the container  401  may be used not only as a transport means for bulk cargo but also as a storage means at a destination. 
     (Wheeled Platform  501 ) 
     The wheeled platform  501  includes a pedestal  502  on which the multiple containers  401  described above may be placed, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The pedestal  502  has an upper surface having engaging portions  503  similar to those used to fix a container in a ship or a trailer and in conformity with ISO standards, for example. A further member for lashing down a container, for example, may be provided. 
     An appropriate number of wheels  504  are attached to a lower portion of the pedestal  502 . The wheels  504  may have a fixed orientation, or may be partially or totally steerable (turnable on a vertical axis by 90° or more, 180° or more, or 360°, for example). In particular, if all of the wheels  504  are designed to be turnable on a vertical axis, the direction of movement of the wheeled platform  501  may be changed without changing the orientation of the wheeled platform  501 . This allows the direction of movement to vary, for example, between when cargo is loaded on the lighter  601  and when cargo is unloaded, and allows cargo to be easily loaded from a broadside of the lighter and to be easily unloaded through the bow or stern thereof, and vice versa. A drive motor may be provided to drive some or all of the wheels such as the steerable wheels so that the wheeled platform  501  is self-propellable. 
     Using the wheeled platform  501  described above allows the multiple containers  401  to be handled together. This may easily increase the availability of a container crane or a dock. In particular, transporting a combination of such a wheeled platform  501  and such a lighter  601  as indicated below to another dock allows the wheeled platform  501  to be easily landed from the lighter, and allows the containers  401  placed on the wheeled platform  501  to be easily loaded on a trailer without using a container crane mounted in a container yard. This may facilitate further increasing the availability of the container crane or the dock. 
     The containers  401  may be placed one over another in multiple layers on the wheeled platform  501  described above. 
     The wheeled platform  501  described above does not always need to be used for the placement of the containers  401  filled with bulk cargo, but may be used for placement and transport of typical freight containers. 
     To increase the stability with which the wheeled platform  501  travels, the wheeled platform  501  may be provided with safety wheel equipment (trigger equipment), which includes a laterally slidable and extendable arm or arms, or a laterally extendable arm or arms turning on a vertical axis, and a wheel provided for the arm or each of the arms. A maximum distance between the right and left wheels (tread) may be increased as necessary. 
     (Lighter  601 ) 
     The lighter  601  suitable for loading and transporting the wheeled platform  501  described above thereon includes a deck  602  provided on the hull as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . The deck  602  is supported by a plurality of hydraulic cylinders  603 , and is controllable such that its height may be adjusted to the height of the dock. This allows the wheeled platform  501  to be easily moved between the deck and the dock. 
     Wheeled platform drivers  611  are provided on the deck  602  to drive the movement (loading and/or landing) of the wheeled platform  501  between the deck and the dock. How to drive the movement should not be specifically limited. However, a connection arm  612  attached to a chain driven by a motor, for example, may be connected to the wheeled platform  501  to drive the movement. 
     In this embodiment, the lighter described above may include an engine, and may thus be self-propellable, or may be towed by a tugboat, for example. 
     Using the lighter  601  described above allows the wheeled platform  501  on which a plurality of containers are placed to be easily loaded and unloaded without using a container crane. This may make it easy for the containers to be transported by trailer trucks in a dispersed manner using a dock where no container crane is mounted, for example. This may easily reduce traffic of trailer trucks in a container yard, and may easily increase the availability of a container crane or a dock. 
     The deck  602  may be further provided with a rail or a guide to guide the wheels  504  of the wheeled platform  501 . A manual or automatic fixing mechanism or stopper, for example, may be provided to fix the loaded wheeled platform  501 . 
     A foldable crossing plank extending across a gap between the deck  602  and the dock, for example, may be provided alongside the deck  602 . 
     To control the height of the deck  602 , the hydraulic cylinders  603  do not always need to be used as described above. A ballast tank  621  may be provided in the hull as shown in  FIG. 8 , for example, and water may be injected and discharged into and from the ballast tank. The ballast tank  621  may be divided into port- and starboard-side pieces, and different amounts of water may be injected into, and discharged from, these pieces. This may allow the deck  602  to be inclined together with the hull. This inclination may allow the wheeled platform  501  to move between the deck and the dock, may facilitate moving the wheeled platform therebetween, or may reduce the driving load in a situation where the self-propellable wheeled platform  401  described above is used and other situations. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , for example, hydraulic cylinders  604  may be provided instead of at least either the port- or starboard-side hydraulic cylinders  603 . The hydraulic cylinders  604  each have a cylinder body having an end portion axially supported by a turning pin  605  so as to be able to turn. The deck  602  may be able to be inclined by operating the hydraulic cylinders  603  and  604  separately. 
     Combining the hydraulic cylinder and ballast tank described above together may increase the range within which the height or inclination is adjustable, or may allow either the hydraulic cylinders or the ballast tank to (mainly or exclusively) adjust the height, and allow the other one to adjust the inclination. The ballast tank and the hydraulic cylinders may be used at a deepwater site and in shallow water, respectively, to adjust the height. 
     In this case, if the deck  602  is inclined as described above to move the wheeled platform  501 , the lighter  601  or the wheeled platform  501  may be provided with a braking mechanism such that the speed of the wheeled platform  501  and the location to which the wheeled platform  501  moves are manually or automatically controllable. More specifically, the wheeled platform  501  may be braked to prevent its speed from exceeding a predetermined speed, for example. Such braking may be electronically performed, or may be mechanically performed using centrifugal force. 
     The difference in height between the deck  602  and the dock may be detected, and the hydraulic cylinders  603  and other components may be automatically controlled to adjust the height of the deck  602  to the height of the dock. Such control easily allows the height and inclination of the deck  602  to be adjusted in accordance with, in particular, a shift in the center of gravity of the wheeled platform  501 . More specifically, for example, the deck  602  may be maintained in a horizontal position or adjusted to a predetermined inclination in accordance with the movement of the wheeled platform  501  over the deck  602 . If the wheels of the wheeled platform  501  extend over the deck  602  and the dock, the height and inclination of the deck  602  may be adjusted in accordance with the magnitude and location of a load applied to the deck  602 . 
     Not only in a situation where the wheeled platform  501  is transported, but also in a situation where any other wheeled platform or a load is transported, making the height of the deck  602  adjustable as described above may facilitate moving a load between the deck  602  and the dock. 
     If bulk cargo is landed using a combination of the containers  401 , wheeled platform  501 , and lighter  601  described above, any of various procedures indicated below may be used. 
     (a) After the containers  401  have been each filled with bulk cargo, the containers  401  are placed on the wheeled platform  501 , and the wheeled platform  501  is loaded on the lighter  601 . 
     (b) After the containers  401  placed on the wheeled platform  501  in advance have been each filled with bulk cargo, the wheeled platform  501  is loaded on the lighter  601 . 
     (c) After having been each filled with bulk cargo, the containers  401  are placed on the wheeled platform  501  that has been loaded on the lighter  601  in advance. 
     (d) The containers  401  placed on the wheeled platform  501  that has been loaded on the lighter  601  in advance are successively filled with bulk cargo. 
     If a combination of the wheeled platform  501  and lighter  601  described above are used, for example, to transport freight containers, which are landed from the ship  301  by the gantry crane  101 , by trailer trucks in a dispersed manner, any of procedures indicated below may be used. 
     (a) Freight containers loaded on the ship  301  are placed on the wheeled platform  501  by the gantry crane  101 , and the wheeled platform  501  is loaded on the lighter  601 . 
     (b) Freight containers loaded on the ship  301  are placed, by the gantry crane  101 , on the wheeled platform  501  that has been loaded on the lighter  601  in advance. 
     In the foregoing description, an example in which bulk cargo or freight containers transported by the ship  301  are landed has been described. However, bulk cargo or freight containers may be easily loaded on the ship  301  in a similar manner. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
     
         
           101  Gantry Crane 
           102  and  103  Leg 
           104  Connector 
           105  and  106  Reinforcer 
           107  Wheel 
           108  Boom 
           109  and  110  Tension Bar 
           121  Trolley 
           122  Spreader 
           201  Pneumatic Unloader 
           202  Frame 
           202   a  Engaging Portion 
           203  Boom 
           204  and  205  Tension Bar 
           211  Suction Pipe 
           212  Expansion Pipe 
           213  Flexible Pipe 
           214  Suction Nozzle 
           221  Discharge Pipe 
           222  Expansion Pipe 
           223  Flexible Pipe 
           224  Discharge Nozzle 
           231  Separator 
           232  Air Pipe 
           233  Blower 
           301  Ship 
           401  Container 
           402  Engageable Portion 
           403  Opening 
           404  Filter 
           411  Outlet 
           412  Outlet Lid 
           412   a  Rotary Shaft 
           413  Inclined Plate 
           501  Wheeled Platform 
           502  Pedestal 
           503  Engaging Portion 
           504  Wheel 
           601  Lighter 
           602  Deck 
           603  and  604  Hydraulic Cylinder 
           605  Turning Pin 
           611  Wheeled Platform Driver 
           612  Connection Arm 
           621  Ballast Tank