U.S. patent application number 15/123473 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-09 for stationary shipping container oriented with longitudinal axis perpendicular to a supporting surface.
The applicant listed for this patent is H2FLOW EQUIPMENT INC.. Invention is credited to Michael Albanese, Lavishkar Bootun.
Application Number | 20170066590 15/123473 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54054291 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170066590 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Albanese; Michael ; et
al. |
March 9, 2017 |
Stationary Shipping Container Oriented with Longitudinal Axis
Perpendicular to a Supporting Surface
Abstract
Disclosed is an environmentally resistant shipping container
removable from a supporting surface, the shipping container having
a longest dimension of at least 3 meters defining a longitudinal
axis of the shipping container, wherein the shipping container is
oriented with the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to
the supporting surface. Also disclosed is a use of the shipping
container and a method for installing the shipping container.
Inventors: |
Albanese; Michael; (Toronto,
CA) ; Bootun; Lavishkar; (Brampton, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
H2FLOW EQUIPMENT INC. |
Concord |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
54054291 |
Appl. No.: |
15/123473 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
February 2, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA2015/000058 |
371 Date: |
September 2, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 90/0006 20130101;
B65D 88/121 20130101; B65D 90/12 20130101; B65D 2590/0091 20130101;
B65D 88/128 20130101; B65D 88/54 20130101; B65D 88/022
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/12 20060101
B65D090/12; B65D 88/02 20060101 B65D088/02; B65D 88/54 20060101
B65D088/54; B65D 88/12 20060101 B65D088/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 7, 2014 |
CA |
2,845,235 |
Claims
1. An environmentally resistant shipping container removable from a
supporting surface, the shipping container having a longest
dimension of at least 3 meters defining a longitudinal axis of the
shipping container, wherein the shipping container is oriented with
the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting
surface.
2. The shipping container of claim 1 configured substantially as a
rectangular cuboid.
3. The shipping container of claim 2 secured to the supporting
surface with one or more anchors.
4. The shipping container of claim 3 wherein the one or more
anchors are coupled to the shipping container at one or more of the
corners of the rectangular cuboid abutting the supporting
surface.
5. The shipping container of claim 3 wherein two anchors are
secured to each longitudinal face of the rectangular cuboid, and
wherein each anchor is positioned at a corner of the rectangular
cuboid abutting the supporting surface.
6. The shipping container of claim 1 wherein the supporting surface
comprises concrete or cement.
7-32. (canceled)
33. The shipping container of claim 1 comprising an inlet port or
outlet port for the flow of a liquid.
34. (canceled)
35. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the shipping
container is configured as a metal frame.
36. The shipping container of claim 35 enclosing a tank
container.
37. Use of an environmentally resistant shipping container
removable from a supporting surface, the shipping container having
a longest dimension of at least 3 meters defining a longitudinal
axis of the shipping container, wherein the shipping container is
oriented with the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to
the supporting surface.
38-46. (canceled)
47. The use according to claim 37 wherein the shipping container is
used to store one or more items.
48. The use according to claim 47 wherein the one or more items is
liquid.
49. The use according to claim 47 wherein the one or more items is
solid.
50. The use according to claim 47 wherein the one or more items is
water or wastewater.
51-72. (canceled)
73. A method for removably installing an environmentally resistant
shipping container on a supporting surface, the shipping container
having a longest dimension of at least 3 meters defining a
longitudinal axis of the shipping container, the method comprising
orienting the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the
supporting surface.
74-78. (canceled)
79. The method of claim 73 further comprising supporting the
shipping container at its base with an environmentally resistant
second shipping container removable from the supporting surface,
the second shipping container having a longest dimension of at
least 3 meters defining a second longitudinal axis of the second
shipping container, wherein the second shipping container is
oriented with the second longitudinal axis substantially parallel
to the supporting surface.
80. The method of claim 79 wherein the shipping container is
mounted atop the second shipping container and secured to a top
face of the second shipping container.
81. The method of claim 73 further comprising supporting the
shipping container with a building or structure.
82-105. (canceled)
106. The method of claim 73 further comprising bracketing the
shipping container to an environmentally resistant third shipping
container removable from the supporting surface, the third shipping
container having a longest dimension of at least 3 meters defining
a longitudinal axis of the third shipping container.
107-108. (canceled)
109. The use according to claim 47, wherein the one or more items
is selected from the group consisting of a liquid storage tank; a
dry product; a bioreactor tank; a water tower; an anaerobic
reactor; a liquid chemical feed or dosing system; a powder chemical
feed or dosing system; a dry powder; an aeration tank; an air
stripping tank; a moving bed reactor; a sequencing batch reactor; a
sand filter; a multimedia filter; a ceramic filter; a carbon
filter; a biofilter; and a biotrickling filter.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Canadian Application
No. 2,845,235 filed Mar. 7, 2014, the contents of which are
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to shipping containers. In
particular, the present invention relates to shipping containers
oriented with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a supporting
surface. Other aspects of the invention will become apparent to
those of skill in the art upon reviewing the present
specification.
[0004] Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Throughout the world, goods are shipped in a wide variety of
shipping containers. The containers are typically constructed of
steel or aluminum with dimensions that comply with standards set by
the International Organization for Standardization ("ISO").
Standardized shipping container dimensions facilitate the handling
and shipping of the containers by trucks or other equipment. The
height of standard shipping containers is typically 8.5 feet (2.59
meters) for a standard container or 9.5 feet (2.90 meters) for a
high-cube container.
[0006] Shipping containers comprising a metal (e.g. steel) frame
and enclosing a tank container are used for transport of liquids
worldwide, wherein the metal frame has dimensions of a conventional
ISO shipping container.
[0007] Shipping containers are increasingly not only used for
transport, but as permanent or semi-permanent containers or housing
for goods located at a site. Shipping containers composed of
environmentally resistant materials such as metal can make suitable
shelters for a variety of goods, and using such containers for
long- or short-term storage of goods can save costs associated with
erecting a building, especially in remote locations.
[0008] In some cases, goods including liquid goods are optimally
stored in a vertical or upright orientation. Examples include sand
filters, biofilters, trickling filters, chemical feed systems, and
liquid storage tanks. Nevertheless, storing or sheltering such
items using the current art necessitates erecting a building or
temporary shelter at the site to accommodate the item. This can be
costly and time-consuming.
[0009] Further, a site may have limited space allotted for the
storage of goods. In the current art, shipping containers used to
store goods at a site are oriented exclusively with their
longitudinal axis parallel to a supporting surface (i.e. in a
"horizontal" orientation). Using one or more horizontally oriented
shipping containers for storage can have the disadvantage of
consuming a large proportion of the area of a site which would
otherwise be usable for other purposes.
[0010] Sites where storage is required are currently at a
disadvantage without access to a relatively inexpensive, portable
storage unit that leaves a relatively small footprint at the site
and is capable of storing goods in an upright orientation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to obviate or
mitigate at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the
prior art.
[0012] In a first aspect, provided is an environmentally resistant
shipping container removable from a supporting surface, the
shipping container having a longest dimension of at least 3 meters
defining a longitudinal axis of the shipping container, wherein the
shipping container is oriented with the longitudinal axis
substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface.
[0013] In a second aspect, provided is the use of an
environmentally resistant shipping container removable from a
supporting surface, the shipping container having a longest
dimension of at least 3 meters defining a longitudinal axis of the
shipping container, wherein the shipping container is oriented with
the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting
surface.
[0014] In a third aspect, provided is a method for removably
installing an environmentally resistant shipping container on a
supporting surface, the shipping container having a longest
dimension of at least 3 meters defining a longitudinal axis of the
shipping container, the method comprising orienting the
longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting
surface.
[0015] Other advantages of the invention will become apparent to
those of skill in the art upon reviewing the present
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals denote like parts, and in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vertical conventional
shipping container showing a longitudinal axis and two transverse
axes;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a top-view of a vertical conventional shipping
container;
[0019] FIG. 3 is an embodiment of an anchoring mechanism used to
secure a shipping container in a vertical orientation;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a computer-generated view of FIG. 3;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vertical conventional
shipping container supported at its base by a horizontal
conventional shipping container;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a top view of four vertical conventional shipping
containers supported at their bases by a horizontal conventional
shipping container;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a vertical conventional
shipping container secured by anchors to a horizontal surface and
supported at its base by a horizontal conventional shipping
container secured by anchors to the horizontal surface;
[0024] FIG. 8A is a perspective view of two adjacent vertical
conventional shipping containers secured by anchors to a horizontal
surface and stabilized by brackets;
[0025] FIG. 8B is a schematic view (left) and computer-generated
view (right) of the brackets of FIG. 8A;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a top view of four vertical conventional shipping
containers secured by anchors to a horizontal surface and
stabilized by brackets and further supported at their bases by a
horizontal conventional shipping container secured by anchors;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the shipping containers of
FIG. 9;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a vertical shipping container
being used to store a liquid storage tank or sand filter;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a vertical shipping container
fitted with an access ladder and platform and storing a sand
filter;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a vertical shipping
container secured by tethers to a horizontal surface;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a vertical shipping
container fitted with an access ladder and platform;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of two vertical shipping
containers securely mounted by brackets to the face of a horizontal
shipping container secured by anchors to a supporting surface;
[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a vertical frame shipping
container enclosing a tank container;
[0034] FIG. 17 is a top-view of a vertical frame shipping container
enclosing a tank container;
[0035] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a vertical frame shipping
container enclosing a tank container and supported at its base by a
horizontal conventional shipping container;
[0036] FIG. 19 is a top view of four vertical frame shipping
containers each enclosing a tank container and supported at their
bases by a horizontal conventional shipping container;
[0037] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a vertical frame shipping
container enclosing a tank container, secured by anchors to a
horizontal surface and supported at its base by a horizontal
conventional shipping container secured by anchors to the
horizontal surface;
[0038] FIG. 21A is a perspective view of two adjacent vertical
frame shipping containers, each enclosing a tank container, secured
by anchors to a horizontal surface and stabilized by brackets;
[0039] FIG. 21B is a schematic view (left) and computer-generated
view (right) of the brackets of FIG. 21A;
[0040] FIG. 22 is a top view of four vertical frame shipping
containers, each enclosing a tank container, secured by anchors to
a horizontal surface, stabilized by brackets and further supported
at their bases by a horizontal conventional shipping container
secured by anchors;
[0041] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the shipping containers of
FIG. 22;
[0042] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a vertical frame shipping
container enclosing a tank container and secured by tethers to a
horizontal surface;
[0043] FIG. 25 is a schematic view of a vertical shipping container
enclosing a tank container and fitted with an access ladder and
platform; and
[0044] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a vertical frame shipping
container enclosing a tank container securely mounted by brackets
to the face of a horizontal conventional shipping container secured
by anchors to a supporting surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0045] In one of its aspects, the present invention provides an
environmentally resistant shipping container removable from a
supporting surface, the shipping container having a longest
dimension of at least 3 meters defining a longitudinal axis of the
shipping container, wherein the shipping container is oriented with
the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting
surface. Preferred embodiments of this shipping container may
include any one or a combination of any two or more of any of the
following features: [0046] the shipping container is configured
substantially as a rectangular cuboid; [0047] the shipping
container is secured to the supporting surface with one or more
anchors; [0048] the one or more anchors are coupled to the shipping
container at one or more of the corners of the rectangular cuboid
abutting the supporting surface; [0049] two anchors are secured to
each longitudinal face of the rectangular cuboid, and each anchor
is positioned at a corner of the rectangular cuboid abutting the
supporting surface; [0050] the supporting surface comprises
concrete or cement; [0051] the shipping container is supported at
its base by an environmentally resistant second shipping container
removable from the supporting surface, the second shipping
container having a longest dimension of at least 3 meters defining
a second longitudinal axis of the second shipping container,
wherein the second shipping container is oriented with the second
longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the supporting surface;
[0052] the shipping container is mounted atop the second shipping
container and secured to a top face of the second shipping
container; [0053] the shipping container is supported by a building
or structure; [0054] the top face of the shipping container
comprises one or more doors; [0055] the shipping container stores
one or more items; [0056] the one or more items is liquid, solid,
water, wastewater, a liquid storage tank, a dry product, a
bioreactor tank, a water tower, an anaerobic reactor, a liquid
chemical feed or dosing system, a powder chemical feed or dosing
system, a dry powder, an aeration tank, an air stripping tank, a
moving bed reactor, a sequencing batch reactor, a sand filter, a
multimedia filter, a ceramic filter, a carbon filter, a biofilter,
or a biotrickling filter; [0057] the shipping container comprises
an inlet port or outlet port for the flow of a liquid; [0058] the
shipping container is bracketed to an environmentally resistant
third shipping container removable from a supporting surface, the
third shipping container having a longest dimension of at least 3
meters defining a longitudinal axis of the third shipping
container; [0059] the shipping container is configured as a metal
frame; and/or [0060] the shipping container encloses a tank
container.
[0061] In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to
use of an environmentally resistant shipping container removable
from a supporting surface, the shipping container having a longest
dimension of at least 3 meters defining a longitudinal axis of the
shipping container, wherein the shipping container is oriented with
the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting
surface. Preferred embodiments of this use may include any one or a
combination of any two or more of any of the following features:
[0062] the shipping container is configured as a rectangular
cuboid; [0063] the shipping container is secured with one or more
anchors to the supporting surface; [0064] the one or more anchors
are secured to the shipping container at one or more of the corners
of the rectangular cuboid abutting the supporting surface; [0065]
two anchors are secured to each longitudinal face of the
rectangular cuboid, and each anchor is positioned at a corner of
the rectangular cuboid abutting the supporting surface; [0066] the
supporting surface comprises concrete or cement; [0067] the
shipping container is supported at its base by an environmentally
resistant second shipping container removable from the supporting
surface, the second shipping container having a longest dimension
of at least 3 meters defining a second longitudinal axis of the
second shipping container, wherein the second shipping container is
oriented with the second longitudinal axis substantially parallel
to the supporting surface; [0068] the shipping container is mounted
atop the second shipping container and secured to a top face of the
second shipping container; [0069] the shipping container is
supported by a building or structure; [0070] the top face of the
shipping container comprises one or more doors; [0071] the shipping
container is used to store one or more items; [0072] the one or
more items is liquid, solid, water, wastewater, a liquid storage
tank, a dry product, a bioreactor tank, a water tower, an anaerobic
reactor, a liquid chemical feed or dosing system, a powder chemical
feed or dosing system, a dry powder, an aeration tank, an air
stripping tank, a moving bed reactor, a sequencing batch reactor, a
sand filter, a multimedia filter, a ceramic filter, a carbon
filter, a biofilter, or a biotrickling filter; [0073] the shipping
container comprises an inlet port or outlet port for the flow of a
liquid; [0074] the shipping container is bracketed to an
environmentally resistant third shipping container removable from
the supporting surface, the third shipping container having a
longest dimension of at least 3 meters defining a longitudinal axis
of the third shipping container; [0075] the shipping container is
configured as a metal frame; and/or [0076] the shipping container
encloses a tank container.
[0077] In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to
method for removably installing an environmentally resistant
shipping container on a supporting surface, the shipping container
having a longest dimension of at least 3 meters defining a
longitudinal axis of the shipping container, the method comprising
orienting the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the
supporting surface. Preferred embodiments of this method may
include any one or a combination of any two or more of any of the
following features: [0078] the shipping container is configured
substantially as a rectangular cuboid; [0079] the shipping
container is secured with one or more anchors to the supporting
surface; [0080] the one or more anchors are coupled to the shipping
container at one or more of the corners of the rectangular cuboid
abutting the supporting surface; [0081] two anchors are secured to
each longitudinal face of the rectangular cuboid, and wherein each
anchor is positioned at a corner of the rectangular cuboid abutting
the supporting surface; [0082] the supporting surface comprises
concrete or cement; [0083] the shipping container is supported at
its base with an environmentally resistant second shipping
container removable from the supporting surface, the second
shipping container having a longest dimension of at least 3 meters
defining a second longitudinal axis of the second shipping
container, wherein the second shipping container is oriented with
the second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the
supporting surface; [0084] the shipping container is mounted atop
the second shipping container and secured to a top face of the
second shipping container; [0085] the shipping container is
supported with a building or structure; [0086] the top face of the
shipping container comprises one or more doors; [0087] the further
step of storing one or more items in the shipping container; [0088]
the one or more items is liquid, solid, water, wastewater, a liquid
storage tank, a dry product, a bioreactor tank, a water tower, an
anaerobic reactor, a liquid chemical feed or dosing system, a
powder chemical feed or dosing system, a dry powder, an aeration
tank, an air stripping tank, a moving bed reactor, a sequencing
batch reactor, a sand filter, a multimedia filter, a ceramic
filter, a carbon filter, a biofilter, or a biotrickling filter;
[0089] the shipping container comprises an inlet port or outlet
port for the flow of a liquid; [0090] the further step of
bracketing the shipping container to an environmentally resistant
third shipping container removable from the supporting surface, the
third shipping container having a longest dimension of at least 3
meters defining a longitudinal axis of the third shipping
container; [0091] the shipping container is configured as a metal
frame; and/or [0092] the shipping container encloses a tank
container.
[0093] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, shown is a conventional shipping
container 102 comprising a longitudinal axis and transverse axes,
wherein the longitudinal axis is oriented perpendicular to a
supporting surface 104 (referred to herein as a "vertical" shipping
container 102). This orientation can be contrasted with the regular
orientation of a shipping container 102 (referred to herein as a
"horizontal" shipping container 102; see e.g. FIG. 5) wherein the
longitudinal axis of the shipping container 102 is oriented
parallel to the supporting surface 104. Herein the term
"longitudinal axis" refers to the axis of a shipping container 102
corresponding to the longest dimension (i.e. the length) of the
shipping container 102. For example, in the case of a shipping
container 102 approximating the shape of a rectangular cuboid (i.e.
having six rectangular faces and parallel opposite faces, also
known in the art as a "rectangular prism"; see for example FIGS. 1
and 16), the longitudinal axis corresponds to the length of the
shipping container 102 when oriented normally (i.e. in a
"horizontal" orientation) and the transverse axes correspond to the
height and width dimensions of the shipping container 102 when
oriented horizontally. As shown in FIG. 1, the present subject
matter contemplates a shipping container 102 wherein the normal
length of the shipping container 102 becomes the height when the
shipping container is oriented vertically.
[0094] Referring to FIGS. 16-17, shown is another embodiment of a
vertical shipping container 102 wherein the shipping container 102
comprises a metal (e.g. steel) frame configured substantially as a
rectangular cuboid. In this embodiment the metal frame shipping
container 102 (herein "frame shipping container") encloses a tank
container 122. As in FIG. 1, the longitudinal axis of the frame
shipping container 102 is oriented perpendicular to the supporting
surface 104, in contrast to the regular orientation of the shipping
container 102 wherein the longitudinal axis of the shipping
container 102 is oriented parallel to the supporting surface
104.
[0095] Herein the term "shipping container" encompasses a
conventional shipping container (e.g. depicted in FIG. 1) as well
as a shipping container 102 comprising a metal frame (e.g. depicted
in FIG. 16) traditionally used to secure a tank container 122
during transport. Preferably the dimensions of the outer surface of
the shipping container 102 define a rectangular cuboid of standard
(e.g. ISO-specified) dimensions. Examples of ISO-specified lengths
for the shipping container 102 include 10 feet (3 meters), 20 feet
(6.10 meters), 28 feet (8.53 meters), 40 feet (12.19 meters), and
48 feet (14.63 meters); current ISO-specified heights include 8.5
feet (2.6 meters) and 9.5 feet (2.90 meters). Typically the
shipping container is composed of an environmentally resistant
material, preferably metal.
[0096] Herein the term "substantially" refers to acceptable
deviations of from 0-10 degrees to the angles which are inherent in
the definitions of the terms "perpendicular", "parallel", and
"rectangular cuboid".
[0097] The term "tank container" as used herein refers to an
intermodal container used for the transport of liquids, gases, and
solids (e.g. powders), as is known in the art. Typically the tank
container is composed of a layer of metal (e.g. stainless steel)
which may be lined with an insulating and protective layer (e.g. of
polyurethane and aluminum).
[0098] Preferably the shipping container 102 is portable. Herein
the term "portable" refers to the nature of the shipping container
102 as a structure designed to be transported from place to place.
Although the present invention contemplates a shipping container
102 which remains stationary in a vertical orientation for an
extended period of time, the shipping container 102 typically at
all times remains portable since it can be unsecured from a
supporting structure or surface, placed in a horizontal
orientation, and loaded onto a transport vehicle for movement to a
different location. Accordingly the shipping container 102 is
typically at all times removable from the supporting surface
104.
[0099] It is contemplated that at the time of transport to or from
a site the shipping container 102 is horizontally oriented (i.e.
oriented with its longitudinal axis parallel to the ground) and may
contain goods (e.g. a tank container 122) or be empty. The shipping
container 102 may be transported to a position on the site where a
shipping container 102 is desired to be oriented vertically. Once
at the desired position, one end of the shipping container 102 may
be lifted (e.g. using a crane) until the longitudinal axis of the
shipping container 102 is substantially perpendicular to the
supporting surface 104. Once vertical, the shipping container 102
remains stationary and can be supported in various manners
described below, such as with one or more horizontal shipping
containers 102, a building or structure, anchors 106, brackets 802,
tethers 1302, or any combination of such securing means. If it is
desired to move the vertical shipping container 102, then the
securing means can be released and the upmost end of the shipping
container 102 can be lowered to the ground in a controlled manner
(e.g. using a crane), following which the horizontal shipping
container 102 can be transported to a new location. Thus the
shipping container 102 is oriented vertically when convenient or
necessary, but is not oriented vertically during shipment.
[0100] In the case of a shipping container 102 comprising a metal
frame, typically a tank container 122 is secured within the frame
shipping container 102 by means well-known in the art when the
shipping container 102 is shipped to a site. Accordingly when the
frame shipping container 102 is oriented vertically the tank
container 122 enclosed and secured within the frame shipping
container 102 is also oriented vertically, as is evident in FIG.
16.
[0101] Referring to FIGS. 3-4, a shipping container 102 (e.g. a
conventional or frame shipping container 102) can be supported in a
vertical orientation using anchors 106. An anchor 106 can comprise
a connector 302 with a flange 312 fitted into an eyelet 304 formed
in the material of the shipping container 102. The connector 302
can be mounted to the supporting surface 104 with an anchoring rod
306 that projects through an aperture 314 in the arm of the
connector 302. The anchoring rod 306 can be fastened to the
connector 302 by a fastener 308 such as a nut along with supporting
and load-distributing washers 310 and 316.
[0102] The connector 302, connecting rod 306, fastener 308, and
washers 310, 316 are typically composed of an environmentally
resistant material such as metal. One or more eyelets 304 can be
constructed in the shipping container 102 in a manner familiar to a
person skilled in the art, or in some cases the one or more eyelets
304 may comprise pre-existing pores or perforations in the material
of the shipping container 102.
[0103] In an example embodiment, the supporting surface 104
comprises concrete or cement and the connecting rod 306 is threaded
into the supporting surface 104 using external threads on the base
of the connecting rod 306 and corresponding internal threads on the
walls of a recess 318 formed in the supporting surface 104.
Alternatively, for more permanent embodiments, the connecting rod
306 can be mounted vertically in concrete or cement.
[0104] One or more anchors 106 can be used to support a shipping
container 102 in a vertical orientation. In an example embodiment
(see FIGS. 1, 2, 16, and 17), anchors 106 are secured at each of
the bottom corners of each longitudinal face of a shipping
container 102 configured substantially as a rectangular cuboid.
[0105] The anchoring mechanism displayed in FIGS. 3 and 4
represents just one manner of support for a shipping container 102
oriented with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to a supporting
surface 104. The present subject matter comprises any and all
manners of supporting or securing a shipping container 102 in a
vertical orientation, including without the use of anchors 106.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 18, a vertical shipping container 102 can
be supported at its base by one or more shipping containers 102
oriented in the regular "horizontal" manner (i.e. with the
longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the supporting surface 104).
The vertical shipping container 102 can be positioned at any
coordinate along the longitudinal axis of the one or more
supporting horizontal shipping containers 102. In another
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 19, a horizontal shipping
container 102 supports the vertical orientation of multiple
shipping containers 102 (e.g. a conventional or frame shipping
container 102), thus further reducing the total shipping container
102 footprint at a site. Where one or more vertical shipping
containers 102 are supported by a horizontal shipping container
102, one or more anchors 106 can be used to secure the vertical
shipping container 102 and/or horizontal shipping container 102 to
the supporting surface 104 (see e.g. FIGS. 7, 10, 20, and 22). It
is also contemplated that a vertical shipping container 102 can be
supported by a building or structure.
[0106] FIGS. 15 and 26 illustrate an embodiment that reduces the
storage footprint at a site further still by securely mounting
(e.g. using brackets 802) one or more vertical shipping containers
102 to the top face of a horizontal shipping container 102 that can
be secured to a supporting surface 104 with anchors 106. In this
embodiment, access to the vertical shipping container 102 may be
provided by an access ladder (e.g. ladder 1202; see FIGS. 12 and
25) that extends to the base of the horizontal shipping container
102.
[0107] Referring to FIGS. 8A-B and 21A-B, adjacent vertical
shipping containers 102 can be supported with one or more
harnessing brackets 802. In one embodiment, each of two or more
vertical shipping containers 102 is secured to a supporting surface
104 using one or more anchors 106 and also harnessed to at least
one adjacent vertical shipping container 102 with one or more
brackets 802. In an example embodiment, each bracket 802 comprises
two connectors 302, a bracketing rod 806, and two or more fasteners
308. Each connector 302 can have a flange 312 fitted into an eyelet
304 in a shipping container 102. Where two flanges 312 are fitted
into eyelets 304 of adjacent vertical shipping containers 102, the
bracketing rod 806 can be inserted through an aperture 314 in the
arm of each connector 302 and the connectors 302 can be harnessed
using fasteners 308 that adhere to the bracketing rod 806 (e.g.
using corresponding threads on the fasteners 308 and bracketing rod
806) and tighten against each connector 302.
[0108] Brackets 802 can be used to harness and stabilize two or
more vertical shipping containers 102 where no support is available
at the base of the shipping containers 102, or can confer
additional stability where one or more adjacent vertical shipping
containers 102 is supported at its base (e.g with anchors as in
FIGS. 8 and 21 and/or with horizontal shipping containers 102 as in
FIGS. 9-10 and 22-23). Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 9-10 and 22-23,
vertical shipping containers 102 can be further supported by
harnessing one or more vertical shipping containers 102 to a
horizontal shipping container 102 with one or more brackets
802.
[0109] FIGS. 13 and 24 illustrate a further embodiment of a
vertical shipping container 102 wherein tethers 1302 are used to
secure the shipping container 102 in a vertical orientation. Each
tether 1302 can comprise for example wire cable and can be secured
to the shipping container 102 and the horizontal surface 104 using
known means such as a thimble and ferrule.
[0110] As will be apparent from the above description, the present
invention contemplates both a solitary vertical shipping container
102 (i.e. a freestanding shipping container 102 which is not in
contact with another shipping container 102) and a vertical
shipping container 102 which is at least partly supported in a
vertical orientation by one or more adjacent shipping containers
102 (either horizontally or vertically oriented). In the case of a
solitary vertical shipping container 102, the shipping container
102 can be maintained in a vertical orientation using one or a
combination of the means described herein, including with anchors
106 and/or tethers 1302.
[0111] In preferred embodiments, the vertical shipping container
102 at all times is removably supported in a vertical orientation
to retain its portable aspect. For instance, when anchors 106 or
brackets 802 are used to stabilize the vertical shipping container
102, the anchors 106 and/or brackets 802 are preferably removably
affixed to the shipping container 102. In this way the shipping
container 102 can be reversibly oriented in horizontal and vertical
positions at a particular site according to the need for a vertical
shipping container at the site.
[0112] A shipping container 102 oriented with its longitudinal axis
perpendicular to a supporting surface 104 can be used to store any
type of item(s). For a conventional shipping container 102,
examples are items that may be optimally stored upright such as
liquid storage tanks, dry product (solids), bioreactor tanks, water
towers, anaerobic reactors, liquid or powder chemical feed or
dosing systems, dry powders, aeration tanks, air stripping tanks,
moving bed bioreactors, sequencing batch reactors, sand,
multimedia, ceramic, and/or carbon filters, biofilters,
biotrickling filters, long items such as pipes, tubes, and rods,
among many others. FIG. 11 illustrates an example embodiment of a
liquid storage tank or sand filter 1102 being stored in a vertical
conventional shipping container 102. In the case of a vertical
frame shipping container 102 enclosing a tank container 122, the
tank container 122 can be used to store any type of liquids and
some types of solids. In preferred embodiments the vertical
orientation of the tank container 122 within the vertical frame
shipping container 102 facilitates the upright configuration of
devices or apparatuses within the tank container 122. Examples of
contents of the tank container 122 enclosed by a vertical frame
shipping container 102 include bioreactor tanks, water towers,
anaerobic reactors, liquid or powder chemical feed or dosing
systems, dry powders, aeration tanks, air stripping tanks, moving
bed bioreactors, sequencing batch reactors, sand, multimedia,
ceramic, and/or carbon filters, biofilters, biotrickling filters,
among many others.
[0113] Further, the vertical shipping container 102 need not always
be used for storage and can act as a permanent or semi-permanent
housing at a site.
[0114] Custom modifications can be made to a shipping container 102
(or to a tank container 122 enclosed within a frame shipping
container 102) to facilitate storage of particular goods or items.
Such modifications can be introduced when the shipping container
102 is in a horizontal orientation or after it has been oriented
with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to a supporting surface
104. In an example embodiment, a conventional shipping container
102 is modified to receive, store and dispense a liquid such as
water. The interior of the conventional shipping container 102 can
be sealed using for example a water-impermeable liner, and liquid
can be pumped into the vertical shipping container 102. The
shipping container 102 can be further modified to include inlet and
outlet ports to facilitate the influx and efflux of liquid. For
example, an inlet port can be positioned on a side or top face of
the vertical shipping container 102, and can be designed to
accommodate a duct or conduit connected to a pump/water source. An
outlet port can be constructed near the bottom of the vertical
shipping container 102 to accommodate for example a fitting or a
duct leading away from the shipping container 102.
[0115] With regard to access to the interior of the shipping
container 102, in an example embodiment the top face of a
conventional shipping container 102 comprises doors 202 attached to
the shipping container 102 by hinges 204 (see FIG. 2). The shipping
container 102 (e.g. conventional or frame shipping container 102)
can be retrofitted to include access ports or flanges for
additional access to the interior of the shipping container 102
and/or enclosed tank container 122 (i.e. in the case of a frame
shipping container 102 enclosing a tank container 122). FIGS. 12,
14 and 25 illustrate example embodiments wherein a vertical
shipping container 102 has been fitted with an access ladder 1202
and platform 1204 to provide ready access to the contents (e.g.
sand filter 1102 or tank container 122) of the shipping container
102.
[0116] While this invention has been described with reference to
illustrative embodiments and examples, the description is not
intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Thus, various
modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other
embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled
in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore
contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such
modifications or embodiments.
[0117] All publications, patents and patent applications referred
to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the
same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent
application was specifically and individually indicated to be
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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