GB2081679A - A transport container - Google Patents

Abstract

A transport container, especially for transporting materials to and from drilling and production platforms, which comprises a bottom part, a top wall part (2), a front wall part (3) provided with doors (10, 11), a rear wall part, and two side wall parts (6), said parts (2, 3, 6) being made of sheet formed material, especially steel, aluminium, wood or the like material, and a frame made of steel, aluminium or the like material bars (7, 8, 9). The front wall part (3), the rear wall part, and the side wall parts (6) are releasably secured to the profile (7, 8, 9) to facilitate repairs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A transport container The present invention relates to a transport container, especially for transporting materials to and from drilling and production platforms, and comprising a bottom part, a top wall part, a front wall part provided with doors, a rear wall part, and two side wall parts, all said parts being made of sheet formed material of steel, aluminium, wood or the like material, as well as a frame made of steel, aluminium or the like material, said frame being formed partly by upper and lower horizontal profile bars connecting the top wall part and the bottom part, respectively, to the front wall part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts, and partly by vertical profile bars connecting the front wall part and the rear wall part, respectively, to the side wall parts.

A transport container of this type is known, whereby the profile bars of the frame are made of steel and are rectangular and hollow in cross section, and whereby the wall parts are made of corrugated steel plate and are secured to the profile bars of the frame by a complete welding seam. The corrugations in the steel plates used partly serve to provide the wall parts with an additional strength, and partly to provide an additional material expansion when the wall parts are subjected to bumps. This transport container is, however, encumbered with the drawback that when subjected to a heavy effect of impacts or bumps from the side, the wall part in question is deformed, which on account of the complete welding seams between the wall parts and the profile bars implies that the profile bars surrounding the wall part are deformed too.Such a damaged transport container is rather expensive and difficult to repair since it must be transferred to a special workshop ashore. Subsequently, the wall part must be cut free initially whereafter the profile bars deformed must be lined up and another steel plate welded thereto. A further draw-back is that when a vertical profile bar located on the side of the front wall part is subjected to a bump and consequently deformed, the doors of the front wall part are simultaneously deformed and squeezed together, and these doors cannot be manually opened on account of the heavy material in the form of steel plate used.

The object of the present invention is to provide a transport container of the type as stated in the opening paragraph which is inexpensive and simple to repair in case its wall parts are damaged due to the effects of bumps.

The transport container according to the invention is characterised in that the front wall part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts are secured to the profile bars in such a manner that these wall parts are relatively easily released from the profile bars of the frame at the effect of bumps. Such relatively loosely secured wall parts imply that when a wall part is subjected to a bump from the side, said wall part is relatively easily released from the profile bars without deforming the profile bars of the frame to which the wall part is connected. The transport container may subsequently be repaired by replacing the wall part by another wall part, said repair being performed in a simple manner without necessitating a transfer of the container to a special workshop ashore.These loosely secured wall parts furthermore imply that when one of the vertical profile bars on the side of the front wall part provided with doors is subjected to a bump in such a manner that the profile bar is bent, this does not imply that the doors are deformed too and consequently squeezed together and unopenable. On the contrary, these doors are released from the profile bars and faill completely or partly from the transport container in such a manner that access to the interior of said container is permitted.

The profile bars may be substantially rectangular and hollow in cross section, and the rectangular, hollow cross sections of the upper horizontal profile bars and the vertical profile bars are preferably open at the corner of the rectangle facing the interior of the transport container, the two profile sides adjacent the corner both being formed with a web turned away from the interior of the rectangle and located perpendicular to the profile side, and the hollow cross sections of the lower horizontal profile bars are preferably open at the corner of the rectangle facing the interior of the transport container, the horizontal profile side adjacent the corner at its free end being formed with a web turned away from the interior of the rectangle and located perpendicular to the profile side, whereby the rim portions of the top wall part, the front wail part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts abut said webs of said profile bars. Such profile bars with turned away webs abuttin;, the rim portions of the wall parts imply that each wall part including the doors is positioned within a plane formed by the outer side of the profile bars surrounding the wall part in question in such a manner that the wall parts are not damaged when the transport container during the lifting or lowering or during the loading or unloading inadvertently scrapes against the side of for instance a ship or a drilling platform.

Furthermore the rear wall part and the side wall parts are secured on the inside of the webs of the horizontal and the vertical profile bars. In this manner the rear wall part and the side wall parts can resist a relatively high pressure from the inside without the wall parts being released from the webs.

Moreover, the top wall part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts are tack welded, spot welded, glued or secured in a similar manner to the webs of the profile bars. As a result, a securing manner is obtained which is inexpensive with respect to welding compared to a complete welding seam. Furthermore, a possibility of a quick repair is obtained, since the wall parts may be quickly replaced. When a wall part of steel plate is subjected to a bump, one or more of the welding connections are torn up in such a manner that the profile bars connected to the wall part in question are not deformed.

The top wall part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts are individually additionally secured to the webs of the profile bars by means of a plurality of bolts, e.g. 8-12 bolts, whereby a more reliable securing of said wall parts to the webs of the profile bars is obtained.

Moreover the rear wall part and the side wall parts are at the centre individually provided with a vertical side bar secured to the associated upper and lower horizontal profile bar. As a result, a reinforcement of said wall parts is obtained, both at the effects of bumps or pressures against the wall parts from the inside and at the effects of bumps and scrapings against the wall parts from the outside.

The front wall part of the transport container may comprise two doors pivotably connected through hinges to their respective vertical profile bar, and preferably the hinge eye of each hinge and a portion of its hinge fitting are located within a recess provided in the vertical profile bars of the front wall part. In this manner the entire hinge is positioned within the plane formed by the outer side of the profile bars surrounding the front wall part in such a manner that the hinges of the doors are well protected against bumps and scrapings against the transport container.

Furthermore, a hinge retainer may be secured within each recess and be formed by a U-shaped profile member located within the recess in such a manner that the bottom portion of the U-shaped profile member is parallel to the horizontal profile bars of the front wall part, and the end portions of the U-shaped profile member may at one end of the profile member comprise two openings opposing each other vertically, said openings being provided for a hinge pine. As a result, such a hinging of the doors is obtained that they may swing 2700 in total relative to their closed position.Furthermore, the hinge pin may be mounted from the inside of the container without employing special tools since it is possible to insert a hand through the opening of the vertical profile bar in question and subsequently to carry the hinge pin vertically downwards through the openings of the two end portions of the U-shaped profile member. Finally, it is obtained that a door may be replaced in a very short time, namely in about 15-30 minutes.

Moreover, the hinge pin may at one end comprise a bent portion, whereby said hinge pin is secured in its mounted position in the hinge eye, as well as whereby the portion turned down serves as a handle or grip at the mounting and demounting.

A tightening strip is preferably secured on the inside of the rim portions of the doors in such a manner that said tightening strip abuts the webs of each of the horizontal and vertical profile bars of the front wall part in the closed position of the doors. As a result, an efficient sealing is obtained between the doors and the profile bars.

Moreover one door may on the outside along its vertical free rim comprise a flat closing rail projecting a short distance outside the vertical free rim of said door, and a tightening strip may be secured on the inside of the projecting portion of the closing rail and abut the outer side of the vertical free rim portion of the second door in the closed position of said doors, whereby a simple and efficient sealing is obtained between the two doors.

Furthermore the tightening strip may be formed by a strip quadrangular in cross section and made of rubber or the like resilient material. As a result, a tightening strip is obtained which is easy to glue on to the webs of the profile bars, and which is easy to repair one by one.

Moreover the upper ends of the vertical profile bars may be positioned a distance below the top side of the upper horizontal profile bars, each end being closed by means of a horizontal plate member, and a lifting device in the form of a substantially rectangular plate section may be secured on each of these plate members, said plate section extending obliquely upwards and inwards relative to the top wall part and at its upper horizontal rim being provided with an opening for the securing of a wire strap or the like lifting means, whereby said upper rim of the plate section is positioned at a vertical distance below the top side of the upper horizontal profile bars. In this manner the wire straps are not squeezed when they are not in use are located on top of the top wall part of the transport container, and another transport container is piled thereon.

Furthermore, each lower, horizontal profile bar may be provided with two substantially rectangular fork openings in their outer vertical profile sides, whereby the fork openings oppose each other in opposing lower horizontal profile bars and are located at a mutual distance corresponding to the distance between the fork blades of a fork lift truck, the width and the height of said fork openings corresponding to the width and the thickness of the fork blades of a fork lift truck. As a result, the transport container may be.

carried or handled by means of a fork lift truck from all four sides.

The bottom part is preferably secured, e.g. welded, to the vertical web of the lower horizontal profile bars adjacent the free end of said vertical web, and two longitudinal profile rails and two transverse profile rails perpendicular to said firstmentioned rails are preferably provided on the underside of said bottom part, whereby said profile rails are U-shape in cross section and provided with a bottom side and two outwardly directed oblique sides, the free rims of which are secured to the underside of the bottom part, and whereby said profile rails are aligned with the opposing fork openings in the opposing, lower horizontal profile bars, as well as whereby the underside of said profile rails substantially levels with the upper rim of the fork openings. In this manner it is obtained that when the fork blades of a fork lift truck are carried horizontally inwards under the transport container through the fork openings, the fork blades abut the underside of the profile rails. When the fork blades of the fork lift truck are carried obliquely inwards under the transport container, the fork blades do not grip the profile rails, but instead slide off the inclined surfaces thereof, whereby the bottom of the transport container is not damaged.

Finally a transverse plate may be secured in each side of the fork openings within the associated lower horizontal profile bar. In this manner both a reinforcement of the lower horizontal profile bars and subsequently of the bottom of the frame, and a reinforcement of the side rims of the form openings are obtained in such a manner that the side rims are not damaged when the fork blades of the fork lift truck contact the side rims obliquely from the side.

The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of a transport container according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective bottom, fractional view of the transport container of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is on a larger scale a front view of the transport container of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a rear view of the transport container of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a side view of the transport container of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a top view of the transport container of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the transport container of Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is on a still larger scale a vertical sectional view through an upper horizontal profile bar in the frame of the transport container, Fig. 9 is on the same larger scale a horizontal sectional view through a vertical profile bar in the frame of the transport container, Fig. 10 is on the same larger scale a vertical sectional view through a lower horizontal profile bar in the frame of the transport container, Fig. 11 is on the same larger scale a horizontal sectional view through a vertical side bar in the frame of the transport container, Fig. 12 is on a smaller scale a fractional view of a diagrammatical sectional view through the transport container, Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line XIll-XIII of Fig. 7, Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line XlV-XlV of Fig. 7, Fig. 1 5 is a fractional view of Fig. 5 including a hinge on a larger scale, Fig. 16 is on the same scale a front view of a U-shaped profile member retaining the hinge, Fig. 1 7 is on the same scale a cross sectional view taken along the line XVlI-XVll of Fig. 16, Fig. 18 is on the same scale a side view of a hinge, Fig. 1 9 is on the same scale a top view of the hinge of Fig. 18, and Fig. 20 is on the same scale a cross sectional view through a profile rail on the underside of the bottom part of the transport container.

The transport container illustrated in Figs. 1-7 comprises a bottom part 1, a top wall part 2, a front wall part 3, a rear wall part 4, two side wall parts 5 and 6, said parts being made of sheet formed materials, especially steel, wood or the like material, as well as a frame made of steel, aluminium or a similar material and interconnecting the above parts. The transport container is especially suited for transporting goods and materials to and from drilling and production platforms, but may also be used for a transport to small ports, e.g. on the Faroes, having hoisting winches unable to lift heavy materials.

The frame comprises a plurality of frame bars in the form of profile bars, viz. partly upper and lower, respectively, horizontal profile bars 7 and 8 connecting the top wall part 2 and the bottom wall part 1, respectively, to the front wall part 3, the rear wall part 4, and the side wall parts 5 and 6, and partly vertical profile bars 9 connecting the front wall part 3 and the rear wall part 4, respectively, to the side wall parts 5 and 6.

The front wall part 3, the rear wall part 4, and the side wall parts 5 and 6 are secured to the profile bars 7, 8, and 9 in such a manner that these wall parts are relatively easily released from the profile bars 7, 8, and 9 of the Frame when subjected to bumps. By using such relatively loosely secured wall parts 3, 4, 5, and 6 it is obtained that when a wall part is subjected to a bump from the side, said wall part is relatively easily released from the profile bars without deforming the profile bars of the frame to which said wall part is connected. The transport container may subsequently be repaired by replacing the wall part by another wail part, which may be performed in a simple manner without necessitating a transfer of the transport container to a special workshop ashore.These loosely secured wall parts 3, 4; 5, and 6 furthermore imply that when one of the vertical profile bars 9 located on the side of the front wall part 3 provided with doors 10 and 11 is subjected to a bump in such a manner that the profile bar 9 is bent, this does not imply that the doors 10 and 11 are deformed too and consequently squeezed and unopenable. On the contrary, these doors are released from their associated profile bars 9 and fall completely or partly from the transport container in such a manner that an easy access to the interior thereof is permitted.

As illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the profile bars 7, 8, and 9 are rectangular and hollow in cross section. The rectangular hollow cross section of the upper horizontal profile bars 7, cf.

Fig. 8, is open at the corner P' of the rectangle turning towards the interior of the transport container in the mounted position of the profile bars 7 within the transport container, cf. Figs. 13 and 14. The two profile sides 12' and 13' adjacent the corner P' are at their free ends formed with a web 14' and 15', respectively, turning away from the interior of the rectangle, said webs 14' and 15' being perpendicular to the profile sides 12' and 13', respectively. Correspondingly, the rectangular hollow cross section of the vertical profile bars 9, cf. Fig. 9, is open at the corner P" of the rectangle turning inwards towards the interior of the transport container in the mounted position of the vertical profile bars 9 within the transport container, cf.Fig. 1 2. The two profile sides 12" and 13" adjacent the corner P" are at their free ends formed with a web 14" and 1 5", respectively, turning away from the interior of the rectangle, said webs 14" and 1 5" being perpendicular to the profile sides 12" and 13", respectively. The hollow cross section of the lower horizontal profile bars 8, cf. Fig. 10, is open at the corner P"' of the rectangle turning towards the interior of the transport container in the mounted position of the profile bars 8 within the transport container, cf. Figs. 13 and 14. The horizontal profile side 13"' adjacent the corner P"' is at its free end formed with a web 15"' turning away from the interior of the rectangle, said web 1 5"' being perpendicular to the profile side 13"'.The rim portions of the wall parts 2,3,4, 5, and 6 abut the webs 14', 1 5', 14", 1 5, and 15"' of the profile bars 7, 8, and 9 in such a manner that the rim portions of the top wall part 2 abut the horizontal webs 14' of the profile bar 7, cf. Figs. 6, 13, and 14. The rim portions of the front wall part 3, i.e. the rim portions of the doors 10 and 11, abut the vertical webs 1 5' of the profile bars 7, the vertical webs 14" of the profile bars 9, and the vertical webs 1 5"' of the profile bars 8, cf. Figs. 3, 12, and 14. The rim portions of the rear wall part 4 abut the vertical webs 1 5' of the profile bars 7, the vertical webs 14" of the profile bars 9, and the vertical webs 1 5"' of the profile bars 8, cf. Figs. 4, 12, and 13.The rim portions of the side wall parts 5 and 6 abut the vertical webs 1 5' of the profile bars 7, the vertical webs 1 5" of the profile bars 9, and the vertical webs 1 5"' of the profile bars 8, cf.

Figs. 5, 12, and 14. By using such profile bars 7, 8, and 9 with bent webs 14', 15', 14", 1 5", and 1 5"', the rim portions of the wall parts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 abutting said webs, it is obtained that each wall part including the doors 10 and 11 is positioned within a plane formed by the outer side of the profile bars surrounding the wall part in question in such a manner that the wall parts are not damaged when the transport container during lifting or lowering or during loading or unloading inadvertentiy scrapes against the side of for instance a ship or a drilling platform.

As illustrated in Figs. 6, 13, and 14, the top wall part 2 may be secured on the outside of the horizontal webs 14' of the upper horizontal profile bars 7.

The rear wall part 4 illustrated in Figs. 4, 12, and 13 may be secured on the inside of the vertical webs 15' of the profile bar 7, the vertical webs 1 m of the profile bar 8, and the webs 14" of the profile bar 9. As illustrated in Figs. 5, 12, and 14, the side wall parts 5 and 6 may be individually secured on the inside of the vertical web 1 5' of the profile bar 7, the vertical webs 1 5"' of the profile bar 8, and the web 1 5" of the profile bars 9. As a result, the rear wall part 4 and the side wall parts 5 and 6 can resist a relatively high pressure from the inside without being released from said webs.

The top wall part 2, the rear wall part 4, and the side wall parts 5 and 6 are advantageously tack welded, spot welded, glued or secured in a similar manner to the webs 1 5', 14", 1 5", and 1 5"' of the profile bars 7, 8, and 9. Fig. 12 illustrates externally tacked welding seams 60, 61, and 62.

In this manner a securing is obtained which is inexpensive with respect to welding compared to a complete welding seam. Furthermore, a possibility of a quick repair is obtained since the- rear wall part 4 and the side wall parts 5 and 6 may be quickly replaced. When a wall part of steel plate is subjected to a bump, one or more of the welding connections are torn up in such a manner that the profile bars connected to the wall part in question are not deformed.

As illustrated in Figs. 6, 13, and 14, the top wall part 2, the rear wall part 4, and the side wall parts 5 and 6 may individually be additionally secured to the webs 14', 14", and 1 5" of the profile bars 7 and 9 by means of a plurality of bolts 16, e.g. eight to twelve bolts. In this manner a more reiiable securing of the top wall part 2, the rear wall part 4, and the side wall parts 5 and 6 to the webs 14', 14", and 1 5" of the profile bars 7 and 9 is obtained. The use of the bolts 1 6 is especially preferred when the wall parts are glued on to the webs of the profile bars.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 12, the rear wall part 4 and the side wall parts 5 and 6 may at the centre be provided with a vertical side bar 1 7 secured to the associated upper and lower horizontal profile bar 7 and 8, respectively. In this manner a reinforcement of the rear wall part 4 and the side wall parts 5 and 6 is obtained both at the effects of impacts or bumps against these wall parts from the inside, and at the effects of bumps and scrapings against the wall parts from the outside.

The two doors 10 and 11 of the front wall part 3 are pivotably connected through hinges 18 to their respective vertical profile bar 9, cf. Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 1 5. Each hinge 1 8 comprises a hinge fitting 19, which is illustrated on a larger scale in Figs. 18 and 19, and a hinge eye 20 secured, e.g. welded, to one end of the hinge fitting 19, and a hinge pin 21 cf. Fig. 15, pivotably located in the hinge eye 20. The hinge eye 20 of each hinge 18 and a portion of its hinge fitting 1 9 are located within a recess 22 provided in the vertical profile bars 9 of the front wall part 3. In this manner the entire hinge 18 is positioned within the plane formed by the outer side of the profile bars 7, 8, and 9 surrounding the front wall part 3 in such a manner that the hinges 1 8 of the doors 10 and 11 are well protected against bumps and scrapings against the transport container.

A hinge retainer is secured within each recess 22, cf. Fig. 1 5. This hinge retainer is formed by a U-shaped profile member 23 separately illustrated in Figs. 16 and 1 7. The U-shaped profile member 23 comprises a bottom portion 24 and two end portions 25 located perpendicular to said bottom portion. The U-shaped profile member 23 is located within the recess 22 in such a manner that the bottom portion 24 of the U-shaped profile member 23 is parallel to the horizontal profile bars 7 and 8 of the front wail part 3, and furthermore such that the two end portions 25 of the U-shaped profile member 23 at one end of the profile member 23 comprise two openings 26 opposing each other vertically and intended for a hinge pin 21.In this manner such a hinging of the doors 10 and 11 is provided that they may swing 270O in total relative to the closed position, and that the hinge pin 21 may be mounted from the interior of the transport container without using particular tools, i.e. merely by inserting a hand through the opening between the webs 14" and 1 5", cf. Fig. 9, of the vertical profile bar 9 in question and subsequently carrying the hinge pin 21 vertically downwards through the openings 26 in the two end portions 25 of the U-shaped profile member 23. Furthermore it is obtained, that a door 10 or 11 may be replaced in a very short time, namely in about 1 5-30 minutes.

As illustrated in Fig. 15, the hinge pin 21 may at one end comprise a bent portion 27, whereby said hinge pin 21 is ensured in its mounted position within the hinge eye 20 when a split 28 extends through a transverse opening 29 in the opposite end of said hinge pin 21. Such a hinge pin 21 furthermore provides a hinge reliable with respect to customs since it is impossible to enter the transport container because the doors 10 and 11 are closed and provided with a seal by the customs. As a result, the hinge pin 21 and consequently the hinge 1 8 cannot be removed from the outside. The bent portion 27 furthermore serves as a handle or a grip during the mounting and demounting of the hinge 1 8.

The hinge fitting 1 9 illustrated in Figs. 1 8 and 19 is provided with openings 30, whereby it is secured to the doors 10 and 11 through board bolts 31, cf. Fig. 3, lock washers or similar securing means.

As illustrated in Fig. 14, a tightening strip 32 is secured on the inside of the upper horizontal rim portion of the doors 10 and 11, said rim portion abutting the upper vertical web 1 5' of the upper horizontal profile bar 7. A corresponding tightening strip 33 is secured on the inside of the lower horizontal rim portion of the doors 10 and 11, said rim portion abutting the vertical web 15"' of the lower horizontal profile bar 8. Furthermore, a tightening strip 34 is secured on the inside of the outer vertical rim portion of the doors 10 and 11, said rim portion abutting the web 14", cf. Figs. 3 and 14, of the vertical profile bars 9 on both sides of the doors 10 and 11 in their closed position. In this manner an efficient sealing between the doors 10, 11 and the profile bars 7, 8, 9 is obtained.

On the outside, the door 11 of Fig. 3 comprises a flat closing rail 36 along its vertical free rim 35, said rail projecting a short distance a beyond the rim 35 of the door. On the inside of the projecting portion of the closing rail 36, a tightening strip 37 is secured, said tightening strip abutting the outer side of the vertical free rim portion 38 of the second door 10 in the closed position of the doors 10 and 11. In this manner a simple and efficient sealing is provided between the two doors 10 and 11. The closing rail 36 is secured to the door 11 by means of board bolts 35 with a closing rail or a similar securing means. The closing rail 36 is preferably made of a piece of flat bar.

The tightening strips 32, 33, 34, and 37 may be formed by a strip quadrangular in cross section and made of rubber or the like resilient material.

As a result, tightening strips are provided which are easy to glue on to the rim portions of the doors 10 and 11, and which are easy to repair one by one.

Each door 39 may as indicated in Figs. 3 and 14 be provided with a lock fitting 39 co-operating with a locking bar 40. Each locking bar 40 may be vertically displaced in guide fittings 41 and 42 secured to the doors 10 and 11. At both ends, these locking bars may be moved in and out of an opening in a locking fitting 43, the upper locking fitting 43 being secured to the vertical web 15' of the profile bar 7, whereas the lower locking fitting 43 is secured to the vertical web 1 5"' of the profile bar 8.

The upper ends of the vertical profile bars 9 are individually closed by means of a horizontal plate member 44, cf. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6. The plate members 44 are positioned a short distance below the top side of the upper horizontal profile bars 7. A lifting fitting in the form of a substantially rectangular plate section 45 is secured on each plate member 44. This plate section extends obliquely upwards and inwards relative to the top wall part 2 in an angle of about 45 therewith.

The plate section 45 is provided with an opening 47 at its upper horizontal rim 46, cf. Fig. 3, for securing a 4-branched wire strap 48 or the like lifting means. The upper rim 46 of the plate section 45 is positioned at a vertical distance below the top side of the upper horizontal profile bars 7, cf. Fig. 3. In this manner the wire strap 48 is not squeezed when it - when not in use - is located on top of the top wall part 2 of the transport container and a second transport container is piled thereon.

As illustrated especially in Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 7 each lower horizontal profile bar 8 may in its outer vertical profile side be provided with two substantially rectangular fork openings 49, said fork openings 49 opposing each other in opposing profile bars 8. The two fork openings 49 of each profile bar 8 are located with a mutual distance corresponding to the distance between the fork blades of a fork lift truck. The width and the height of the fork openings 49 correspond to the width and the thickness of the fork blades of a fork lift truck. In this manner the transport container may be lifted or handled by means of a fork lift truck from all four sides.

As illustrated in Figs. 7, 13, and 14, the bottom part 1 is secured, e.g. welded, to the vertical web 15"' of the lower horizontal profile bars 8 adjacent the free end of said web. Two longitudinal profiles rails 50 and two transverse profile rails 51 perpendicular to said first-mentioned rails are located on the underside of the bottom part 1. The profile rails 50 and 51 are preferably of the same cross section, viz. U-shaped in cross section, cf.

Fig. 20. The U-shaped cross section comprises a bottom side 52 and two inclined sides 53 extending outwards therefrom, the free rims of said inclined sides being secured to the underside of the bottom part 1. The profile rails 50 and 51 are aligned, cf. Fig. 7, with the two opposing fork openings 49 in the two pairs of opposing profile bars 8. The underside of the profile rails 50 and 51 levels substantially with the upper rim of the fork openings 49, cf. Figs. 13 and 14. In this manner it is ensured that when the fork blades of a fork lift truck are carried horizontally under the transport container through the fork openings 49, these fork blades abut the underside of the profile rails 50 and 51.However, when the fork blades of the fork lift truck are carried obliquely under the transport container, these blades do not grip the profile rails 50 and 51, but instead slide off the inclined sides 53 thereof in such a manner that the bottom of the transport container is not damaged.

As illustrated in Figs. 7, 13, and 14, a transverse plate 54 may be secured, e.g. welded, to both sides of the fork openings 49 within the associated lower, horizontal profile bar 8. In this manner a reinforcement of the lower horizontal profile bars 8 and consequently of the bottom of the frame is obtained, as well as a reinforcement of the side rims of the fork openings 49 in such a manner that the side rims are not damaged when the fork blades of the fork lift truck contact the side rims obliquely from the side.

For additional reinforcement of the fork openings 49 at the top and bottom rims thereof, a plate section 56 may be secured, e.g. welded, to the inner side of the upper and lower profile sides 13"' and 57, cf. Fig. 10, of the associated lower horizontal profile bar 8, cf. Figs. 13 and 14.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 3 and 14, the transport container may on the inner side be provided at the bottom with a kick plate 58 along the rear wall part 4 and a kick plate 59 along both side wall parts 5 and 6. the kick plates 58 and 59 may for instance be aluminium plates.

As previously mentioned, the transport container may be made of various materials. Both the parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and the profile bars 7, 8, 9 may for instance be made of steel. The wall parts 2, 4, 5, and 6 are then preferably tack welded to the webs of the profile bars 7, 8, 9.

Another possibility is to manufacture the profile bars 7, 8, 9 of aluminium. Then the wall parts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 may be made of aluminium or board plates which are glued on to the webs of the profile bars 7, 8, 9 and additionally secured by means of a plurality of bolts 16. The aluminium plates may also be welded on the webs of the profile bars.

When the top wall part 2, the rear wall part 4, and the side wa!l parts 5 and 6 are glued on to the webs of the profile bars 7, 8, 9, a sealing of the wall parts to the profile bars is obtained beyond the advantage of a quick and simple securing manner, whereby the transport container is waterproof.

The sheet formed material of the top wall part 2, the front wall part 3, the rear wall part 4, and the side wall parts may be plywood, e.g. of conifer or birch. As a result, the wall parts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the transport container do not rust as well as they possess an appropriate strength and resiliency towards the effects of bumps during the loading and unloading from a ship or a drilling aid production platform.

The plywood used may comprise a surface film of cellulosis, impregnated with phenole resin. In this manner the wall parts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the transport container are resistant to rot and water as well as they are easy to maintain since they are easy to clean and need no painting.

Instead of plywood, the sheet formed material of the top wall part 2, the front wall part 3, the rear wall part 4, and the side wail parts 5 and 6 may be thin steel plate preferably sand-blast and protected against rust. In this manner the wall parts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 possess an appropriate strength and resiliency towards the effects of bumps.

Claims (17)

1. A transport container, especially for transporting materials to and from drilling and production platforms, and comprising a bottom part, a top wall part, a front wall part provided with doors, a rear wall part, and two side wall parts, said parts being made of sheet formed material, especially steel, aluminium, wood or the like material, as well as a frame made of steel, aluminium or the like material, said frame being formed partly by upper and lower horizontal profile bars connecting the top wall part and the bottom wall part, respectively, to the front wall part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts, and partly by vertical profile bars connecting the front wall part and the rear wall part, respectively, to the side wall parts, characterised in that the front wall part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts are secured to the profile bars in such a manner that these wall parts are relatively easily released from the profile bars of the frame at the effect of bumps.

2. A transport container as claimed in claim 1, whereby the profile bars are substantially rectangular and hollow in cross section, characterised in that the rectangular, hollow cross sections of the upper horizontal profile bars and the vertical profile bars are open at the corner of the rectangle facing the interior of the transport container, the two profile sides adjacent the corner both being formed with a web turned away from the interior of the rectangle and located perpendicular to the profile side, and that the hollow cross sections of the lower horizontal profile bars are open at the corner of the rectangle facing the interior of the transport container, the horizontal profile side adjacent the corner at its free end being formed with a web turned away from the interior of the rectangle and located perpendicular to the profile side, whereby the rim portions of the top wall part, the front wall part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts abut said webs of said profile bars.

3. A transport container as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the rear wall part and the side wall parts are secured on the inside of the webs of the horizontal and the vertical profile bars.

4. A transport container as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the top wall part, the rear wall part and the side wall parts are tack welded, spot welded, glued or secured in a similar manner to the webs of the profile bars.

5. A transport container as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, characterised in that the top wall part, the rear wall part, and the side wall parts individually are additionally secured to the webs of the profile bars by means of a plurality of bolts, e.g. eight to twelve bolts.

6. A transport container as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rear wall part and the side wall parts at the centre are individually provided with a vertical side bar secured to the associated upper and lower horizontal profile bar.

7. A transport container as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, whereby the front wall part comprises two doors pivotably connected through hinges to their respective vertical profile bar, characterised in that the hinge eye of each hinge and a portion of its hinge fitting are located within a recess provided in the vertical profile bars of the front wall part.

8. A transport container as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that a hinge retainer is secured within each recess and is formed by a U-shaped profile member located within the recess in such a manner that the bottom portion of the U-shaped profile member is parallel to the horizontal profile bars of the front wall part, and that the end portions of the U-shaped profile member at one end of the profile member comprise two openings opposing each other vertically, said openings being provided fpr a hinge pin.

9. A transport container as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the hinge pin at one end comprises a bent portion.

10. A transport container as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, characterised in that a tightening strip is secured on the inside of the rim portions of the doors in such a manner that said tightening strip abuts the webs of each of the horizontal and vertical profile bars of the front wall part in the closed position of the doors.

11. A transport container as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that one door on the outside along its vertical free rim comprises a flat closing rail projecting a short distance outside the vertical free rim of said door, and that a tightening strip is secured on the inside of the projecting portion of the closing rail and abuts the outer side of the vertical free rim portion of the second door in the closed position of said doors.

12. A transport container as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the tightening strip is formed by a strip quadrangular in cross section and made of rubber or the like resilient material.

13. A transport container as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper ends of the vertical profile bars are positioned a distance below the top side of the upper horizontal profile bars, each end being closed by means of a horizontal plate member, and that a lifting device in the form of a substantially rectangular plate section is secured on each of these plate members, said plate section extending obliquely upwards and inwards relative to the top wall part and at its upper horizontal rim being provided with an opening for the securing of a wire strap or the like lifting means, whereby said upper rim of the plate section is positioned at a vertical distance below the top side of the upper horizontal profile bars.

14. A transport container as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that each lower horizontal profile bar is provided with two substantially rectangular fork openings in their outer vertical profile sides, whereby the fork openings oppose each other in opposing lower horizontal profile bars and are located at a mutual distance corresponding to the distance between the fork blades of a fork lift truck, the width and the height of said fork openings corresponding to the width and the thickness of the fork blades of a fork lift truck.

15. A transport container as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the bottom part is secured, e.g. welded, to the vertical web of the lower horizontal profile bars adjacent the free end of said vertical web, and that two longitudinal profile rails and two transverse profile rails perpendicular to said first-mentioned rails are provided on the underside of said bottom part, whereby said profile rails are U-shaped in cross section and provided with a bottom side and two outwardly directed oblique sides, the free rims of which are secured to the underside of the bottom part, and whereby said profile rails are aligned with the opposing fork openings in the opposing lower horizontal profile bars, as well as whereby the underside of said profile rails substantially levels with the upper rim of the fork openings.

16. A transport container as claimed in claim 14 or 15, characterised in that a transverse plate is secured in each side of the fork openings within the associated lower horizontal profile bar.

17. A transport container substantially as described above and with reference to the accompanying drawings.