U.S. patent application number 12/990765 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-24 for tank container.
This patent application is currently assigned to WEW Westerwalder Eisenwerk Gmbh. Invention is credited to Dieter Pfau.
Application Number | 20110042384 12/990765 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41719209 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110042384 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pfau; Dieter |
February 24, 2011 |
Tank Container
Abstract
The present invention relates to a tank container (1) with an
essentially cylindrical tank (2), the end bottoms (11) of which are
each connected via a saddle structure (12, 14, 22) with a bottom
frame (3). The connection is done via a front flange (12) attached
on an end of the tank (11), wherein a saddle segment (14) running
transverse to the tank axis (24) is provided with a circumferential
contour (20) running at least in sections and connected with it,
which is connected with the bottom frame.
Inventors: |
Pfau; Dieter; (Elkenroth,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROST BROWN TODD, LLC
2200 PNC CENTER, 201 E. FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Assignee: |
WEW Westerwalder Eisenwerk
Gmbh
Weitefeld
DE
|
Family ID: |
41719209 |
Appl. No.: |
12/990765 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
December 23, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2009/009260 |
371 Date: |
November 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/565 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 88/128 20130101;
B65D 90/0033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/565 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/02 20060101
B65D090/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 30, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 063 321.6 |
Claims
1. Tank container with an essentially cylindrical tank, the end
bottoms of which are each connected via a saddle structure with a
bottom frame, which comprises a front flange attached on an end of
the tank, wherein a saddle segment running transverse to the tank
axis is provided with a circumferential contour running at least in
sections and connected with it, which is connected with the bottom
frame.
2. Tank container according to claim 1, in which the saddle segment
is connected via a coupling surface with a surface running parallel
thereto of a transverse spar of the bottom frame.
3. Tank container according to claim 1, in which a profile ring is
provided, which overlaps the front flange with an axial flange
running parallel to the tank axis, and is connected with it, and a
radial flange running transverse to the tank axis and directed away
from it, which overlaps a coupling surface of the saddle segment
and is connected with it.
4. Tank container according to claim 3, in which the profile ring
is connected laterally via the circumferential contour of the
saddle segment projecting out with the front flange.
5. Tank container according to claim 1, in which the saddle segment
via rib elements running in the direction of the tank axis, is
connected with the bottom frame.
6. Tank container according to claim 1, in which the bottom frame
has longitudinal spars running in the direction of the tank axis,
and transverse elements, especially stacking channels configured in
channel fashion, placed transverse to them.
7. Tank container according to claim 6, in which the transverse
elements or the stacking channels are coupled to each other in the
sole area of the tank via a coupling pan and via a support element
placed in the coupling pan with the tank.
8. Tank container according to claim 7, in which the support
element via a detachable holding and covering element placed on the
coupling pan is situated in the coupling pan so as to be
removable.
9. Tank container according to claim 7, in which the support
element is formed from an elastic or elastoplastic material,
especially a plastic foam material.
Description
[0001] A tank container with the features indicated in the preamble
of claim 1 is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,832. There a large
tank container is indicated on which front flanges attached to the
arched end bottoms are connected with a radial flange on saddle
segments, each of which is placed in the four front frame corners
of the frame structure. Here the saddle elements simultaneously
form diagonal reinforcements between the transverse spars and the
corner supports.
[0002] From DE-A-0 654 421 a saddle structure is known in which the
tank is connected via a front flange with saddle ring elements
placed exclusively at the corner supports. For tank containers that
cannot be stacked, which require no corner supports, these
solutions are disadvantageous, because the corner supports always
have additional weight.
[0003] However, tank container arrangements exist that should be
designed so as not to be stacked, but rather are capable of being
coupled only via their bottom structure, if necessary a frame in
ISO dimensions, with the loading surface of a railway-, highway- or
ocean-going vehicle, and which if necessary are transferred only by
means of a forklift stacker and not by so-called spreaders.
[0004] DE 22 01 354 A shows a tank saddle, in which the tank is
connected via reinforcement rings running in the cylindrical area
and a flat steel structure with saddles and above this with a
carrying device (floor frame). It is here that the forces are
applied to the cylindrical part of the tank.
[0005] The task that is the basis of the invention is to provide a
tank container in which the saddle between the tank and bottom
frame has sufficient rigidity for small and medium-size containers
with the least possible material and weight, as well as a favorable
loading sequence and which can be manufactured in
tolerance-friendly fashion at as low a fabrication cost as
possible.
[0006] The solution to this problem is indicated in claim 1.
According to it, the saddle segment is provided with a
circumferential contour following the front flange in sections,
along which it is connected with the front flange. At the same
time, the saddle segment has an attachment area which is connected
with the bottom frame. Thus, a simple, self-stabilizing attachment
structure is present--the circumferential contour is stabilized by
the connection with the front flange and the attachment area
through connection with the bottom frame--which permits a
weight-saving, stable connection of a tank with a bottom frame.
Additional stabilizing corner supports, requiring a lot of
material, are not necessary. The circumferential contour following
the course of the front flange, which admits the front flange in
cradle fashion, permits a simple tolerance compensation in the
axial direction (in the direction of the longitudinal tank axis)
during assembly.
[0007] The development according to claim 2 is advantageous in that
it also permits the saddle element to be attached in
tolerance-friendly fashion to a transverse spar of the bottom
frame, and includes it as a structurally stabilizing element.
[0008] The overlapping coupling of the axially running front flange
with the axial flange of a profile ring, which in turn is coupled
via a radial flange overlapping with the saddle segment, permits
three degrees of freedom in aligning the tank to the saddle
structure, namely horizontally and laterally transverse to the tank
axis between the radial flange and saddle segment and horizontally
along the tank axis between the front flange and axial flange of
the profile ring, as per claim 3.
[0009] According to claim 4, by having the profile ring connected
via the circumferential contour of the saddle element with the
front flange, it stabilizes it and prevents peak stresses at the
ends of the saddle segment, in that the relatively unstable front
flange is there reinforced by the profile ring.
[0010] The rib element according to claim 5 permit an additional
stabilizing coupling of the saddle element with the transverse spar
and make possible relatively think-walled and thus weight-saving
saddle segments.
[0011] According to claim 6, longitudinal spars are provided, which
admit transverse elements configured in channel-like fashion, via
which a simple transfer of at least the empty tank container is
possible.
[0012] The design according to claim 7 gives this structure
additional stability; for one, in that the stacking channels or
transverse elements are connected to each other via a coupling pan,
and secondly, that this coupling pan and thus the stacking channels
are coupled with the tank via a support element placed in the
coupling pan. This, a part of the transfer loads is brought into
the tank so as to be easy on the tank. At the same time, resonant
vibrations that appear under certain transport conditions which
could lead to an overload, especially of the longitudinal spars,
are avoided.
[0013] According to claim 8, the support element can be taken off
by a removable holding and covering element that is placed on the
coupling pan, and is replaced if worn.
[0014] According to claim 9, the support element is manufactured to
have elastic or elastoplastic properties, preferably from a plastic
foam material.
[0015] An embodiment example of the present invention is now
explained in greater detail using the drawings. Shown are:
[0016] FIG. 1 a perspective depiction of an invention-specific tank
container
[0017] FIG. 2 a side view of the tank container depicted in FIG.
1
[0018] FIG. 3 a longitudinal section (section I-I) of the tank
container depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2
[0019] FIG. 4 detail A from FIG. 3
[0020] FIG. 5 a cross section (section II-II in FIG. 2) of the tank
container depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3
[0021] FIG. 6 detail B from FIG. 5
[0022] FIG. 7 a perspective view of a tank container arrangement
with an invention-specific tank container.
[0023] From FIGS. 1 to 4 it is evident that in the flange area of
the arched end bottoms 11 of tank container 1, front flanges 12 are
welded on to follow the course of the flange. The end bottoms 11,
along with the jacket aprons 4 and 5, form tank 2, which is coupled
via saddle segments 14 with transverse spars 16 and 18 of bottom
frame 3.
[0024] Here the tank cross section depicted is configured to be
oval or trunk-shaped. The designs which follow are also precisely
valid for circular, cloverleaf, or other cross sections of the
tank.
[0025] Each of the saddle segments 14 is connected (welded as a
rule) by its surface facing outward to overlap with the
corresponding surfaces of transverse spars 16, 18 that point
inward, in overlapped fashion. On the upper, tank-side end of
saddle segment 14, a circumferential contour 20 is provided, which
follows the course of front flange 12 in sections. On each of the
surfaces of saddle segments 14 pointing inward, an angle ring 22 is
placed that follows the circumferential contour 20 and thus also
the course of the front flanges 12, which [angle ring] with its
radial flange 26 pointing away from the tank axis 24 is connected
in overlapping fashion with the saddle segment, for which see
especially FIG. 4. The flange 28 running in the axial direction is
connected with front flange 12, likewise in overlapping fashion.
Through the arrangement of the front flanges 12 in the longitudinal
direction on axial flange 28, length tolerances, that are caused
for example by differing archings of the floor, can be compensated
for. Heights and lateral tolerances can be compensated for by
appropriate positioning of the saddle segments 14 transverse to the
tank axis on transverse spars 16 and 18. For reinforcement of the
saddle segments 14, gusset plates 30 are provided, which are
connected with the upper side of transverse spars 16, 18 and with
the surfaces of saddle segments 14 pointing outward, and which
stabilize and reinforce them.
[0026] On one end, transverse spar 16 connects the end fittings 32,
which in turn are connected with end fittings 32 at the other end
via longitudinal spars 34 with each other. In the embodiment
example depicted, tank 2 is made to be shorter than bottom frame 3,
so that one saddle segment 14 is placed with the transverse spar 18
in the longitudinal direction between the end fittings 32. In other
versions, the tank takes up the entire length of the bottom frame 3
and then is connected with the transverse spars on the front ends
of tank container 1. In the embodiment example shown, between
transverse spar 18 and the free end with transverse spar 36,
diagonal spars 38 are provided for better load transmission, which
[diagonal spars] connect transverse spar 18 with the corresponding
end fittings 32. The forward front flange 12 is provided with a
securing eye 40 in an upper "corner area" and reinforced there with
a gusset plate 42 for better load application. The securing eye 40
lying opposite diagonally is depicted in FIG. 7.
[0027] In the center area of the bottom frame, under the
longitudinal spars 34, stacking channels 44 are attached.
Additionally, for better load transmission, gusset plates 46 are
provided there. In FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 can be seen that between the
stacking channels 44, a multiple-edged coupling pan 48 running in
the longitudinal direction is provided, which on each of its ends
is connected (welded, for example) with each of the lateral flanks
of the stacking channels pointing toward each other. Into the
coupling pan, a support element 50 is inserted, so that a
connection is made with the sole area of tank 2 of coupling pan 48
and thus the stacking channels 44. In this way, a part of the
transfer loads brought into the stacking channels is applied to
tank 2. So that no damage is done to tank jacket aprons 4, 5,
coupling pan 48 ends at a certain distance beneath jacket aprons
4,5 and in addition has an edge 52, so that if support element 50
is missing or defective, only a surface contact can appear in the
area of edge 52 between coupling pan 48 and the tank and jacket
aprons 4, 5. Coupling pan 48 is closed at one end with a detachable
holder and covering element 54, which securely fixes support
element 50 in its position. Support element 50 has elastic or
elastoplastic properties and is made, for example, of a suitable
plastic foam such as PUR or PIR. Along with assuming transfer
loads, support element 50 provides through coupling via the
coupling pan to the stacking channels 44 and thus to the
longitudinal spars 34 that especially the longitudinal spars--for
example when transported by road or train--cannot oscillate too
severely. Especially, the resonant vibrations that are particularly
dangerous are thus prevented. Additionally, the container is
acoustically deadened.
[0028] In other embodiments not depicted, the coupling pan 48 is
placed with support element 50 between the transverse spars 16, 18.
Embodiments also exist in which another tank receptacle or saddle
is provided, for example a front flange saddle with corner
supports, but at the same time also the coupling pan 48 depicted
above is implemented with support element 50. Support element 50
and coupling pan 48 are thus independent of the saddle structure
and able to be implemented without stacking channels.
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a complete tank container arrangement 100 with
an invention-specific tank container and additional attaching parts
like a running board 6, folding railing 8, cowl box 9 and an
aggregate area 7 with access flaps 71 and 72.
[0030] Further embodiments and versions of the present invention
can be gleaned by one skilled in the art from the following
claims.
* * * * *