U.S. patent application number 10/585528 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-08 for buckling strengthened shipping container.
Invention is credited to Jae-Wook Park.
Application Number | 20080105676 10/585528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37396715 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080105676 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Jae-Wook |
May 8, 2008 |
Buckling Strengthened Shipping Container
Abstract
Disclosed is a buckling strength reinforced shipping container.
The container includes an upper rail frame, a lower rail frame and
a plurality of corner posts to withstand vertical load by
vertically connecting four corners of the upper rail frame to those
of the lower rail frame, thereby forming the framework of the
container; a roof panel, a floor panel, a front panel and a rear
panel formed with uneven surfaces and combined in and between the
upper and lower rail frames; and buckling strength reinforcing
frames each provided in an X-shaped arrangement on the front and
rear panels respectively, thus withstanding torsional load and
angular load. Employing this configuration, the structural ability
of the container to efficiently withstand torsional load and
angular load can be greatly increased, so that the allowable load
to be supported by the container when stacked can be increased. In
addition, deformation of and damage to the container by external
impacts can be greatly reduced.
Inventors: |
Park; Jae-Wook; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P.O. BOX 770, Church Street Station
New York
NY
10008-0770
US
|
Family ID: |
37396715 |
Appl. No.: |
10/585528 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 5, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR05/03286 |
371 Date: |
July 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/1.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B 83/02 20130101;
B65D 88/121 20130101; B65D 90/00 20130101; B65D 90/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/1.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 88/12 20060101
B65D088/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 10, 2005 |
KR |
20-2005-0013093 |
Jul 29, 2005 |
KR |
20-2005-0022034 |
Claims
1. A buckling strength reinforced shipping container, comprising:
an upper rail frame and a lower rail frame, each having a
rectangular frame shape, respectively mounted in an upper part and
a lower part of the container, and a plurality of corner posts to
withstand vertical load by vertically connecting four corners of
the upper rail frame to those of the lower rail frame, thereby
forming a framework of the container; a roof panel and a floor
panel forming a ceiling and a bottom wall of the container, side
panels forming sidewalls, and a front panel and a rear panel
forming a front wall and a rear wall of the container either of
being formed with a double door-type side opening/closing door, all
of which are formed with uneven surfaces and combined in and
between the upper rail frame and the lower rail frame; and buckling
strength reinforcing frames each provided in an X-shaped
arrangement on each of the front panel and the rear panel, and
provided on the panel formed with the door being provided with a
separated shape, so as to rotating with the door when the door is
opened and closed, each terminal end of which is positioned in the
corner portions, at which the corner posts and the upper and lower
rail frames are connected together, thereby withstanding torsional
load and angular load.
2. The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the buckling
strength reinforcing frames are mounted by welding to the corner
posts and to each of the upper and lower rail or to door panel,
with both of which the terminal ends of the buckling strength
reinforcing frames are in contact.
3. (canceled)
4. A buckling strength reinforced shipping container, comprising:
an upper rail frame and a lower rail frame having rectangular
frames shape respectively mounted in an upper part and a lower part
of the container, and corner posts to withstand vertical load by
vertically connecting four corners of the upper rail frame to those
of the lower rail frame together, thereby forming a framework of
the container, a roof panel and a floor panel forming a ceiling and
a bottom wall, side panels forming sidewalls, and a front panel and
a rear panel forming a front wall and a rear wall, all of which are
formed with uneven surfaces and combined in and between the upper
rail frame and the lower rail frame; left and right doors provided
in either of the front panel or the rear panel, one side of each of
which is coupled by a hinge to the corner posts; buckling strength
reinforcing frames each provided in an X-shaped arrangement on each
of the front panel and the rear panel, each terminal end of which
is positioned in corner portions, at which the corner posts and the
upper and lower rail frames are connected together, thereby
withstanding torsional load and angular load, wherein the buckling
strength reinforcing frame on the door is partitioned into left and
right frames provided on the left and right doors based on an
intersecting point of the left and right frames; and fastening
means provided at the intersecting point of the left and right
frames to selectively form a continuous structure using an
engagement structure.
5. The container as set forth in claim 4, wherein the fastening
means comprises: an engaging hole having a depressed triangular
shape, formed in one of the left and right frames based on the
intersecting point of the buckling strength reinforcing frame
provided on the door; and an engaging device provided in a
remaining one of the left and right frames at a position facing the
engaging hole, including an actuating bolt rotatably installed
within a housing which is open toward the engaging hole, a
manipulation lever coupled in worm and worm gear engagement with a
first end of the actuating bolt, and an engaging part coupled by a
screw with a second end of the actuating bolt and rectilinearly
moving within the housing when the actuating bolt rotates, whereby
a leading edge of the engaging part advances and comes into
engagement with the engaging hole.
6. The container as set forth in claim 4, wherein the left and the
right frames provided on the door are positioned on inner surfaces
of the left and the right doors and mounted thereto through
welding, and terminal ends thereof engage at intervals with the
corner portions, at which the corner posts and the upper and lower
rail frames are connected together.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to shipping
containers and, more particularly, to a buckling strength
reinforced shipping container, capable of reducing the risk of the
container being damaged by external impacts by adding buckling
strength reinforcing frames, which can withstand torsional and
angular loads, to each of a panel on which a door is formed and
another panel opposite it.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, the purpose of a transportation container is to
make freight unitary. To facilitate stacking up, containers usually
used for transportation of freight have a right hexahedral shape
having a standardized fixed size.
[0003] The container enables general merchandise and special
freight to be easily transported without external packing, thereby
saving time and expense, and preventing mishaps in the course of
transportation, such as damage to the freight and loss or theft of
the freight. In addition, since loading of the freight on freight
cars, automobiles, ships, etc. can be performed by a machine rather
than by human power, there is an advantage that loading and
unloading operations become easy and save time.
[0004] According to the intended use, the container is classified
into a dry container which is a closed-type for the purpose of
transporting general freight, a reefer container with a high heat
insulation capacity, used in transporting frozen food and equipped
with a freezing device, an open top container whose top wall can be
opened from the upper ends of both sidewalls and thereby is able to
be top loaded, a flat rack container having only the bottom
structure, which is provided by removing the top wall and all the
sidewalls from a dry container, thus being adaptable to long and
tall freight, a bulk container having excellent heat insulation and
airtightness, used in transportation of oxidizable substances, a
tank container equipped with a tank to be used for transporting
liquid oxidizable substances, and a pen container having windows on
the sidewalls in all directions and used for transporting
animals.
[0005] Among the above-mentioned containers, the dry container has
been the most widely used in transportation by land or by ship, and
thus, a conventional dry container will be described with reference
to FIG. 1.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional
shipping container according to the related art.
[0007] As illustrated, the conventional container 100 has a
substantially right hexahedral shape, comprising an upper rail
frame 111 and a lower rail frame 112, both of which constitute
rectangular frame structures on the upper and lower parts of the
container, respectively. At a predetermined position on the lower
rail frame 112 may be provided a pocket (not shown) according to
the type of container, into which the forks of a loading device can
be inserted so as to move the container.
[0008] At the corners of the upper rail frame 111 and the lower
rail frame 112 respectively are vertically oriented corner posts
110, which are coupled to the frame structures of the upper and
lower rail frames and form the framework of the container 100.
[0009] Each of the corner posts 110 is fabricated by processing and
welding the pieces of a shot-blasted steel plate which is a hot
rolled steel plate, 4 mm to 10 mm thickness, together to form a
rectangular column. The corner posts 110 withstand a vertical load
and allow a plurality of containers 100 to be stacked one on top of
another. The corner posts 110 may be integrally formed with a
casting, to which a hooking device of a crane is connected (not
shown).
[0010] Uneven surface panels 113, which have angled ridges and
angled channels, are respectively set in and between the upper rail
frame 111 and the lower rail frame 112, thus forming a top wall, a
bottom wall, two sidewalls, and front and rear walls of the
container 100. As illustrated in the drawing, the uneven surface
panels having the angled ridges and angled channels are formed by
bending steel plates having a predetermined thickness in a
predetermined corrugated shape, thereby increasing the structural
strength of the panels 113.
[0011] The shipping container 100, constructed as described above,
is stacked up using a loading/unloading device, such as a crane.
For one container ship, about nine containers 100 may be stacked up
inside the hold of the ship, and five or six containers may be
loaded on the deck, and then bound using a tie.
[0012] However, in view of the structure of the conventional
shipping container, the container 100 has relatively good
structural strength capable of withstanding a compressive load in a
vertical direction due to the corner posts 100, but does not
efficiently withstand a torsional load or an angular load. In other
words, as depicted in FIG. 2, a ship must have a sealed structure,
which accomplishes airtightness and watertightness against wind and
rain and efficiently resists and withstands various and complicated
loads in nature because it must move on the irregular surface of
the sea. As the ship sails on turbulent seas, the ship undergoes
complex fluctuations including rolling, in which the ship rolls to
the left and right due to waves, pitching by which the ship pitches
to the front and back, yawing by which the ship yaws to the left
and right, and heaving, by which the ship moves vertically.
[0013] The complex fluctuations applied to the ship also act on the
freight loaded on the ship. Even in the case of the freight being
loaded in containers which are stacked up and loaded in and on a
ship, a variety of loads, such as vertical loads, horizontal loads
and angular loads caused by complex fluctuations, are applied to
the freight, thereby causing damage to the freight.
[0014] Thus, to reduce damage to the freight that is loaded on the
top deck of a ship to the minimum possible, it may be necessary to
limit the weight of the freight loaded in the container or to
securely bind the container using a tie. However, this causes
inefficiencies in economy and time.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0015] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object
of the present invention is to provide a buckling strength
reinforced shipping container, capable of reducing the risk of the
container being damaged by external impacts, increasing the weight
of the loaded freight that can be stowed therein, and enhancing the
degree of freedom of binding, by adding buckling strength
reinforcing frames to each of a panel, on which a door is formed,
and to another panel opposite thereto, that can withstand torsional
load and angular load.
Technical Solution
[0016] In order to achieve the above object, according to one
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buckling
strength reinforced shipping container, comprising: an upper rail
frame and a lower rail frame, each having a rectangular frame
shape, respectively mounted in an upper part and a lower part of
the container, and a plurality of corner posts to withstand
vertical load by vertically connecting four corners of the upper
rail frame to those of the lower rail frame, thereby forming a
framework of the container; a roof panel and a floor panel forming
a ceiling and a bottom wall of the container, side panels forming
sidewalls, and a front panel and a rear panel forming a front wall
and a rear wall of the container, all of which are formed with
uneven surfaces and combined in and between the upper rail frame
and the lower rail frame; and buckling strength reinforcing frames
each provided in an X-shaped arrangement on each of the front panel
and the rear panel, each terminal end of which is positioned in the
corner portions, at which the corner posts and the upper and lower
rail frames are connected together, thereby withstanding torsional
load and angular load.
[0017] In an aspect, the buckling strength reinforcing frames may
be mounted by welding to the corner posts and the upper and lower
rail frames respectively, with both of which the terminal ends of
the buckling strength reinforcing frames are in contact.
[0018] In another aspect, either of the front panel or the rear
panel may be formed with a double door-type side opening/closing
door, and the buckling strength reinforcing frame provided on the
panel forming the door may be provided with a separated shape and
mounted by welding to the panel, so as to avoid positional
interference between the door and the reinforcing frame when the
door is opened and closed.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
buckling strength reinforced container that can be easily opened
and closed without decreasing the strength of the buckling strength
reinforcing frames provided on the door panel.
[0020] A buckling strength reinforced shipping container according
to another embodiment of the present invention, comprises: an upper
rail frame and a lower rail frame having rectangular frames shape
respectively mounted in an upper part and a lower part of the
container, and corner posts to withstand vertical load by
vertically connecting four corners of the upper rail frame to those
of the lower rail frame together, thereby forming a framework of
the container, a roof panel and a floor panel forming a ceiling and
a bottom wall, side panels forming sidewalls, and a front panel and
a rear panel forming a front wall and a rear wall, all of which are
formed with uneven surfaces and combined in and between the upper
rail frame and the lower rail frame; left and right doors provided
in either of the front panel or the rear panel, one side of each of
which is coupled by a hinge to the corner posts; buckling strength
reinforcing frames each provided in an X-shaped arrangement on each
of the front panel and the rear panel, each terminal end of which
is positioned in corner portions, at which the corner posts and the
upper and lower rail frames are connected together, thereby
withstanding torsional load and angular load, wherein the buckling
strength reinforcing frame on the door is partitioned into left and
right frames provided on the left and right doors based on an
intersecting point of the left and right frames; and fastening
means provided at the intersecting point of the left and right
frames to selectively form a continuous structure using an
engagement structure.
[0021] In an aspect, the fastening means may comprise: an engaging
hole having a depressed triangular shape, formed in one of the left
and right frames based on the intersecting point of the buckling
strength reinforcing frame provided on the door; and an engaging
device provided in a remaining one of the left and right frames at
a position facing the engaging hole, including an actuating bolt
rotatably installed within a housing which is open toward the
engaging hole, a manipulation lever coupled in worm and worm gear
engagement with a first end of the actuating bolt, and an engaging
part coupled by a screw with a second end of the actuating bolt and
rectilinearly moving within the housing when the actuating bolt
rotates, whereby a leading edge of the engaging part advances and
comes into engagement with the engaging hole.
[0022] In another aspect, the left and the right frames provided on
the door may be positioned on inner surfaces of the left and the
right doors and mounted thereto through welding, and terminal ends
thereof may engage at intervals with the corner portions, at which
the corner posts and the upper and lower rail frames are connected
together.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional
shipping container according to the related art;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a conceptual view to explain the complex
fluctuations applied to a ship;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a shipping
container according to the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view of the container viewed in "A" of FIG.
3;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view of the container viewed in "B" of FIG.
3;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the main portion of the
container viewed from the outside of a door according to the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the main portion of the
container viewed from the inside of the door according to the
present invention; and
[0030] FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views to explain the fastening
means according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS FOR IMPORTANT PARTS IN DRAWINGS
[0031] 1: Container
[0032] 10: Corner post
[0033] 11: Upper railframe
[0034] 12: Lower rail frame
[0035] 12': Pocket
[0036] 13: Top panel
[0037] 14: Side panel
[0038] 15: Front panel
[0039] 16: Rear panel
[0040] 16a, 16b: Left and right doors
[0041] 20, 30: Buckling strength reinforcing frames
[0042] 31: Left frame
[0043] 32: Right frame
[0044] 40: Fastening means
[0045] 41: Engaging hole
[0046] 45: Engaging device
[0047] 46: Housing
[0048] 47: Actuating bolt
[0049] 48: Manipulation lever
[0050] 49: Engaging part
BEST MODE
[0051] Hereafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0052] The present invention relates to a shipping container. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a buckling strength
reinforced shipping container, wherein buckling strength
reinforcing frames to withstand torsional load and angular load are
additionally provided on a front panel and a rear panel, thereby
reducing the risk of damage to the container because of complex
fluctuations applied to the ship while sailing.
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the buckling strength reinforced
shipping container according to the present invention comprises an
upper rail frame 11 having a rectangular shape and a lower rail
frame 12 formed with pockets 12'. The upper rail frame 11 and the
lower rail frame 12 are disposed and spaced apart from each other
at a predetermined interval in a vertical direction. On the four
corners of the upper rail frame 11 and the lower rail frame 12 are
disposed corner posts 10, the framework of the container being
formed by integrating the frames 11 and 12 and the four corner
posts 10 into a single structure. Each of the corner posts 10 is
formed by processing and welding the pieces of a steel plate,
having a predetermined thickness, into a single structure having a
rectangular column shape. The corner posts 10 efficiently withstand
a vertical load applied to the container in a vertical direction,
and allow a plurality of containers 1 to be stacked up. Each of the
corner posts 10 has a structure comprising a casting, to which the
hooking device of a crane can be coupled. The corner posts 10 are
integrally combined with the upper rail frame 11 and the lower rail
frame 12 through welding.
[0054] The framework of the container 1, which is fabricated in the
right hexahedral shape, is as a whole covered with a board-type
roof panel 13 and a floor panel (not shown), two side panels 14, a
front panel 15, and a rear panel 16, on which angled ridges and
angled channels are alternately formed at regular intervals by
bending the panels. The angled ridges and angled channels,
alternately formed on each of the roof panel 13, the floor panel
(not shown), the side panels 14, the front panel 15 and the rear
panel 16, are designed to increase the strength of the container 1
to resist external impact. As shown in this drawing, the side
panels 14, the front panel 15 and the rear panel 16 are formed to
increase the structural strength of the container 1 to efficiently
withstand a vertical load applied in a vertical direction. In the
same manner, the roof panel 13 and the floor panel (not shown) are
formed to increase the structural strength of the container 1 to
efficiently withstand a horizontal load applied to the container 1
in a horizontal direction.
[0055] At least one of the front panel 15 and the rear panel 16 is
integrally formed with a double door-type side opening/closing
door. In the present invention, the side opening/closing door is
preferably formed on the rear panel 16.
[0056] A main feature of the container having the above-mentioned
configuration lies in that a buckling strength reinforcing frame is
added to each of the front panel 15 and the rear panel 15, to
increase the structural strength to withstand a torsional load and
an angular load applied to the container upon complex fluctuations
of a ship, thereby reducing damage to and breakage of the
container, protecting the freight stowed in the container, and
increasing the operational reliability of the container.
[0057] For this, in the shipping container 1 of the present
invention, two buckling strength reinforcing frames 20 and 30 are
respectively added to the front panel 15 and the rear panel 16
forming the door, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The buckling
strength reinforcing frames 20 and 30 are designed to maintain high
strength to efficiently withstand torsional load and angular load
applied to the container 1. Each of the reinforcing frames 20 and
30 is fabricated in an X-shaped profile and added to each of the
front panel 15 and the rear panel 16 which are respectively
provided on the front and rear ends of the container 1.
[0058] The construction of the buckling strength reinforcing frames
20 and 30 will be described in more detail with reference to the
installation position.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 4, to fabricate the buckling strength
reinforcing frame 20 provided on the front panel 15, pipes having a
predetermined thickness may be disposed to cross each other, thus
forming an X-shaped arrangement prior to welding the intersecting
point of the pipes together to form an X-shaped frame.
Alternatively, rectangular pipes, formed by bending a metal plate
having a predetermined thickness in the form of a rectangular
column, may be disposed to cross each other and form an X-shaped
arrangement prior to welding the intersecting points of the pipes
together to form an X-shaped frame, and the terminal ends thereof
are formed with a horizontal surface and a vertical surface to be
perpendicular to each other.
[0060] The buckling strength reinforcing frame 20, provided on the
front panel 15, is in close contact with corner portions, at which
two front corner posts 10, the upper rail frame 11 and the lower
rail frame 12 are connected together. In the above state, the
terminal ends of the reinforcing frame 20 are brought into close
contact with and are welded to the corner portions. When necessary,
the reinforcing frame 20 may also be joined with the front panel 15
through welding. That is, the buckling strength reinforcing frame
20, integrally combined with the front panel 15, is disposed in the
form of a cross, and the terminal ends thereof are joined with the
corner portions of the framework of the container through welding,
to which the corner posts 10, the upper rail frame 11 and the lower
rail frame 12 are connected, thereby increasing the structural
strength of the framework of the container in the directions of
application of a torsional load and an angular load.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the buckling strength
reinforcing frame 30 provided on the rear panel 16, on which the
door is provided, pipes, each having predetermined thickness and
length, are arranged to form an X-shaped arrangement, but the
X-shaped frame 30 is divided into two parts along a vertical line
at the middle portion thereof, i.e., the middle portion is in the
form of "> <" so as to avoid positional interference which
may be caused by the relative position between the reinforcing
frame 30 and the door when the door is opened or closed. The door
provided on the rear panel 16 has the shape of a double door-type
side opening/closing door which has been typically applied to
general-type containers. As the structure of this side
opening/closing door, a variety of conventional structures
well-known to those skilled in the art may be employed without
affecting the functionality of the present invention. Thus, a
detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.
[0062] As illustrated, the buckling strength reinforcing frame 30,
provided on the panel forming the door, may be provided outside or
inside the container. The terminal ends of the buckling strength
reinforcing frame 30, provided on the panel forming the door, each
have a horizontal surface and a vertical surface which are
perpendicular to each other. These terminal ends correspond in
shape, so that the terminal ends can be positioned at regular
intervals on the corner portions, at which the corner posts 10, the
upper rail frame 11 and the lower rail frame 12 are connected, and
are joined by welding on the rear panel forming the door. That is,
the terminal ends of the buckling strength reinforcing frame 20
provided on the front panel 15 can be joined by welding, but those
of the buckling strength reinforcing frame 30 provided on the rear
panel 16 forming the door are positioned to define intervals in the
corner portions, at which the upper rail frame 11 and the lower
rail frame 12 are connected so as not to cause positional
interference between the terminal ends and the corner portions
while the door is opened or closed.
[0063] As described above, the buckling strength reinforcing frame
30, provided integrally on the rear panel 16, is disposed in a
cross form and the terminal ends thereof are provided in a form
such that they engage in the corner portions where the corner posts
10, the upper rail frame 11 and the lower rail frame 12 are
connected, thereby increasing the structural strength of the
framework of the container, so that the container efficiently
resists torsionally applied and angularly applied loads.
[0064] The buckling strength reinforcing frame 30, provided on the
rear panel 16 forming the door, is preferably provided to have a
structure such that the structural continuity of the buckling
strength reinforcing frame 30 can be maintained when the door is
closed, without causing positional interference when the door is
opened and closed.
[0065] For this, the present invention proposes preferred
embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the main portion of a
container viewed from the front side of a door according to the
present invention, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the main
portion of the container viewed from the rear side of the door
according to the present invention, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional
views to explain a fastening means according to the present
invention.
[0066] As illustrated, the rear panel 16 is provided with left and
right doors 16a and 16b, each of which is coupled by hinges to an
associated corner post 10, so that the doors 16a and 16b can be
opened and closed around the hinges. Inside the left and right
doors 16a and 16b, the X-shaped buckling strength reinforcing frame
30 is integrally coupled through welding.
[0067] The buckling strength reinforcing frame 30, provided on the
panel forming a door, is partitioned into a left frame 31 provided
on the left door 16a and a right frame 32 provided on the right
door 1 6b, based on the intersecting point of the reinforcing frame
30. The left and right frames 31 and 32 are positioned on and
welded to the respective inner surfaces of the left and right doors
16a and 16b. Each terminal end of the frames 31 and 32 engages with
a corner portion, in which a corner post 10 and the upper and lower
rail frames 11 and 12 are connected, and is spaced apart from the
corner portion by an interval.
[0068] The left frame 31 and the right frame 32 each additionally
have a fastening means 40 at the intersecting point thereof, thus
allowing the doors 16a and 16b to be opened or closed at the point
where the frames 31 and 32 intersect. Thus, the structural
continuity of the container is ensured.
[0069] The fastening means 40 is designed to selectively maintain
the left frame 31 and the right frame 32 as a continuous structure
using an engaging structure. The fastening means 40 comprises an
engaging hole 41 formed on either of the left frame 31 or the right
frame 32, and an engaging device 45 provided in the other frame at
a position opposite the engaging hole 41. In the present invention,
the engaging hole 41 and the engaging device 45 are formed in the
left frame 31 and the right frame 32 respectively, but their
positions may be changed.
[0070] The engaging hole 41 is formed in the left frame 31, at the
intersecting point of the buckling strength reinforcing frame 30,
has a depressed triangular shape which extends toward the left door
16a, and has a leading angle, based on the boundary surface, on
which the left and right doors 16a and 16b intersect, as seen in
FIG. 4.
[0071] The engaging hole 41 selectively engages with an engaging
part 49 of the engaging device 45 provided in the right frame
32.
[0072] The engaging device 45 is mounted on the right frame 32 at a
position opposite the engaging hole 41. The engaging device 45
comprises a box-shaped housing 46, the side thereof facing the
engaging hole 41 being opened. Inside the housing 46 is
horizontally disposed an actuating bolt 47 which is rotatable.
[0073] One end of the actuating bolt 47 is coupled with a
manipulation lever 48 to be rotated by a user through worm and worm
gear engagement. By rotating the manipulation lever 48 forward or
backward, the actuating bolt 47 cooperating with the lever 48 is
also rotated forward or backward. The other end of the actuating
bolt 47 is engaged by a screw with the engaging part 49 which
corresponds in shape to the engaging hole 41, so that the engaging
part 49 is brought into close engagement with the engaging hole 41.
The engaging part 49, provided inside the housing 46, rectilinearly
moves according to forward and backward rotation of the actuating
bolt 47, thereby selectively engaging with the engaging hole 41 or
disengaging from the engaging hole 41.
[0074] The fastening means 40 will be operated as follows.
[0075] When the doors 16a and 16b are closed, a user first rotates
the manipulation lever 48 in one direction, in order to release the
structural continuity of the buckling strength reinforcing frame 30
and thereby open the doors 16a and 16b. Coupled with the
manipulation lever 48 in worm and worm gear engagement, the
actuating bolt 47 is rotated in one direction and, at the same
time, the engaging part 49, coupled by a screw to the leading edge
of the actuating bolt 47, moves along the spiral screw of the
actuating bolt 47, and as a consequence, the engaging part 49 is
retracted from the engaging hole 41.
At this time, when the engaging part 49 of the fastening means 40
becomes completely disengaged from the engaging hole 41, the
manipulation force which has been applied to the manipulation lever
48 is released so that the operation of releasing the structural
continuity of the buckling strength reinforcing frame 30, which is
partitioned into left and right frames 31 and 33, is completed.
[0076] As described above, to maintain the structural continuity of
the buckling strength reinforcing frame using the fastening means
40 under the condition that the engaging part 49 is disengaged from
the engaging hole 41, the manipulation lever 48 is rotated
reversely a predetermined number of times when the left and right
doors are closed. Then, the actuating bolt 47 is reversely rotated
in conjunction with the manipulation lever 48 so that the engaging
part 49, engaging by a screw with the actuating bolt, is moved to
the engaging hole 41. At this time, when the engaging part 49
entirely contacts with and engages in the engaging hole 41, the
manipulation force which has been applied to the manipulation lever
48 is interrupted so that the operation for maintaining the
structural continuity of the buckling strength reinforcing frame is
completed.
[0077] As described above, the shipping container 1 according to
the present invention enjoys increased overall strength of the
framework thereof due to the construction thereof on which the
X-shaped buckling strength reinforcing frames 20 and 30 are
additionally mounted on the front panel 15 and the rear panel 16
which forms the door. Especially, the ability to efficiently
withstand torsional load and angular load can be reliably
ensured.
[0078] The buckling strength reinforcing frame 30 provided on the
door is partitioned into left and right frames 31 and 32, and the
fastening means 40 to selectively maintain or release the
structural continuity of the buckling reinforcing frame 30 when the
manipulation force is applied by the user is additionally mounted
on the separated left and right frames 31 and 32. Thus, the ability
to withstand torsional load and angular load applied to the door
can be reliably recovered.
[0079] The following Table 1 compares the ability to withstand a
side load of the present invention with the ability to withstand a
side load according to the conventional art, based on a 20 ft
container (ISO type-20') for international shipping transportation,
which is in wide use.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Conventional Art Present Invention 24,000 kg
24,000 kg 192,000 kg 192,000 kg 15,000 kg 45,000 kg
[0080] Referring to this figure, the conventional general-type
container can endure 24 tons.times.8 layers=192 tons, so that 8
layers can be stacked in the general-type container, but the
conventional container only endures a side load up to 15 tons.
Unlike the conventional container, the container of the present
invention, to which the buckling strength reinforcing frame is
added, is expected to increase the strength by 33 tons.
[0081] The buckling strength reinforced shipping container
according to the present invention may be employed as containers
having various uses and shapes. That is, as long as it has a
structural feature that the buckling strength reinforcing frame can
be applied to, the present invention may be adapted to a variety of
containers, including a dry container or an open top container,
without affecting the functionality of the present invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0082] Referring to the construction and operation described above,
the buckling strength reinforced shipping container according to
the present invention can imparted with greatly increased ability
to withstand torsional load and angular load by additionally
mounting buckling strength reinforcing frames on the front and rear
panels of the container, thereby greatly reducing deformation and
damage to the container caused by external impact.
[0083] Accordingly, as the allowable load increases as a result of
the shipping container being strengthened, the load limitation to
freight stowed therein is increased, thereby being capable of
loading more freight than in the past. In addition, the container
of the present invention does not require additional binding using
a tie, so that the container has a very useful effect of being
economical as a result.
[0084] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claim.
* * * * *