JP2005104580A - Multiple-purpose vessel for air transportation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable efficient door-to-door transportation of perishable goods, precision equipment, etc., when they are air-freighted, by the use of an inexpensive, lightweight vessel capable of being recycled, while keeping the quality of those commodities. <P>SOLUTION: A paper-made vessel 2 is fixed, through the medium of a cushioning support member 3, inside a thermal insulation vessel 1 provided with a through hole 5 so that spaces for communication separated by the support member 3 are provided. If the vessel is intended for cold insulation, the through hole 5 is fitted with a check valve, so that spaces for communication are filled with low-temperature carbon dioxide gas that sublimes from dry ice. If the vessel is intended for use in transporting precision equipment, etc., a dehumidifier device so adapted as to be comprised of a container having a plurality of openings charged with desiccating agent in a ventilable way is fitted onto the through hole 5 of the thermal insulation vessel 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a container used for cargo transportation by aircraft.

  In conventional air freight transportation, air containers and pallets have been used as cargo loading equipment.

  The air containers and pallets used as the above air cargo loading equipment are specially adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the aircraft body and the specifications of the cargo compartment in addition to the effort of returning from the destination and the time of sending to the destination. Due to the low loading efficiency on trucks due to the shape and dimensions of the cargo, the so-called airport-to-airport transportation system is used, in which most cargo is transshipped between cargo loading equipment and trucks at the airport. It is a general and efficient door-to-door transportation that does not require transshipment of cargo, that is, it is an obstacle to integrated transportation that combines air and land and sea transportation from the origin to the destination.

  In addition, air container specifications are strictly defined, and individual containers must be approved for conformance. Each airline has strict standards for its operation, so the total cost of purchasing, repairing, and managing the operation makes the air container expensive.

  Air freight is more expensive than sea freight, in other words, it is mainly high-priced and high-value-added products. Examples include parts and fresh produce. These precision instruments and the like are transported by ordinary air containers and pallets, and fresh cargo such as fresh food is transported by a cold container using dry ice as a refrigerant. Particularly in civilian aircraft, the cargo compartment is not equipped with a power source for driving a cooling compressor or the like, and the use of a battery-powered motor is restricted to prevent fire and electromagnetic waves. For this reason, dry ice and gel ice are generally used to keep fresh cargo cool.

  As described above, in cold freight transportation, a cold insulated container using dry ice as a refrigerant is used, but since it has a metal container body, a heat insulating material, a heat exchanger for cooling, a dry ice storage part for refrigerant, etc. It is heavier than other containers, has a small cargo storage capacity, and is expensive. Furthermore, the temperature is low near the heat exchanger inside the cold container and the cold air outlet, and the temperature is high near the wall surface. In addition, since the convection of the cold air is hindered by the cargo loading state in the container, the temperature distribution tends to be uneven. In addition, as described above, since it is necessary to reload cargo at the airport, it becomes difficult to control the temperature, and there is a problem in maintaining the quality of fresh cargo and the like.

  In addition, with the development of the international logistics network in recent years, combined transportation that combines not only air but also other transportation means such as long-distance land transportation has become the mainstream of logistics. In such a distribution system, for example, in the case of transport of a cold-reserved cargo such as fresh goods by a cold-reserved vehicle, if the individual cold-reserved cargo is packed in an insulated container, the insulation of the container has the effect of the cold-required cargo. It becomes a factor that hinders effective cooling.

  In air transportation, the environment of the lower cargo compartment of aircraft on which containers and pallets are mounted and the main cargo compartment of dedicated cargo aircraft vary depending on the model, flight altitude, flight route, and weather conditions, but the temperature can generally be adjusted. A typical cargo compartment has a temperature of around 15 ° C., an impossible cargo room at around 5 ° C., and a humidity of around 20%.

  In the transportation of precision equipment, parts, etc. under the above conditions, if the temperature and humidity of the arrival place are high, open the cargo compartment door, the outside air will flow in and the indoor humidity will be oversaturated instantly, The cargo is exposed to high-humidity air, and water drops dripping inside the cargo compartment.In addition to cargo loaded on pallets, high-humidity air enters into air containers that are not sealed and contacts low-temperature cargo. There were problems in maintaining the quality of cargo, such as condensation on the surface and inside.

In addition, since it is exposed to direct sunlight and radiant heat after being removed from the machine, the temperature of the cargo loaded on the pallet rises rapidly, and the cargo loaded on the container is also transferred to the aluminum container. The temperature inside the container rises sharply due to thermal effects.
For this reason, there have been problems in maintaining quality, such as in the case of precision devices and parts mainly made of metal and plastic, such as failure caused by rapid thermal stress due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion.

  On the other hand, when loading and unloading an air container, the container is loaded and transported between a cargo shed and an aircraft on a wheeled carriage, commonly called a dolly. In addition, since the container or pallet is moved to a fixed position in the aircraft at the time of loading and stopped by colliding with the fixing device, the cargo may be damaged by a large shock at that time, which is a problem in maintaining quality. was there.

The problems to be solved are the trouble of transferring cargo between the air cargo loading equipment and the truck at the airport, the low loading efficiency on the truck when transporting the equipment without transferring, and returning the equipment to the airport. Is the obstacle to efficient door-to-door transportation that combines air transportation and land transportation.
In addition, it is difficult to control the temperature at the time of transshipment between equipment for loading cold-reserved cargo such as perishables and trucks, labor for feeding equipment to the destination, and the cost of equipment itself, such as weight and purchase operation, is large. Points such as burden.
Furthermore, there are points such as the occurrence of condensation and thermal stress due to temperature and humidity differences with the interior of the aircraft at the arrival location of precision equipment and its parts, and damage due to impacts when getting on and off.

  The present invention is an efficient door that does not need to return the container to the airline in order to return the container to the airline as in the past, and can be loaded onto the truck without removing the cargo from the container and reloading to the truck. Two-door transportation is possible, and fresh cargo transportation does not require an air-cooled container, and it is inexpensive, lightweight, uniform inside the container, and can be cooled from outside the container during ground transportation. In the transportation of equipment and parts, the purpose is to obtain a multipurpose container for air transportation that has functions of preventing condensation, buffering, and suppressing thermal stress, and can be easily recycled after the container is used.

  In order to achieve the above object, the multipurpose container for air transportation of the present invention is a paper container for the purpose of transporting fresh food and the like through a heat insulating container provided with a through hole and a support material having a buffering property inside the heat insulating container. The container is fixed, and a space is provided between the heat insulating container and the paper container separated by the support material.

  As will be described later, in order to adjust the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas in the communicating space, it is effective to attach a check valve to the through hole of the heat insulating container.

  As a simple check valve, the through-hole (5) is covered from the outside with an elastic plate valve (14) so as to be opened and closed by fluctuations in carbon dioxide pressure in the communicating space, and one end thereof is thermally insulated. Sticks to the container (1)

  In order to allow dry ice replenishment and cooling from the outside, which will be described later, an opening is provided in the heat insulating container, and the opening can be inserted so that carbon dioxide gas does not easily leak, and is inserted into the heat insulating container. A dry ice storage heat insulating container provided with a carbon dioxide gas exhaust port at a part thereof is attached so as to be inserted into and removed from the opening.

  For transportation purposes such as precision equipment, a dehumidifier filled with a desiccant in a container having a plurality of openings so as to be able to vent is attached to the through hole of the heat insulating container.

  A heat insulation container is comprised with the paper laminated body which has a hollow structure.

In the multi-purpose container for air transportation configured as described above, when using it for the purpose of keeping cargo that has been cooled to a predetermined temperature in advance, dry ice is sublimated in the communicating space and filled with low-temperature carbon dioxide gas. The temperature rise due to heat transfer from the outside to the inside of the heat insulating container is suppressed by the low temperature carbon dioxide layer, and the temperature rise of the cold-reserved cargo stored in the inner container is prevented. The communicating space is formed so as to cover the entire outer periphery of the paper container.
Further, even when only a part of the heat insulating container is heated, the temperature in the communication space can maintain a substantially uniform temperature distribution by convection and diffusion of low-temperature carbon dioxide gas.
On the other hand, a buffering effect by the buffering support material can also be obtained.

  In order to prevent damage due to the increase in internal pressure of the container, carbon dioxide gas that has been heated and raised by heat transfer from the outside is discharged to the outside through the through-hole, but in order to suppress external heat intrusion and dry ice consumption It is effective if a check valve is attached to the through hole.

  As a non-return valve having a simple structure, the plate-like valve (14) is closed by covering the through hole (5) from the outside, and one end of the plate-like valve (14) is covered with a heat insulating container ( It is preferable that it is fixed to 1) and the valve can be opened and closed only on the outside due to fluctuations in internal pressure.

Low-temperature carbon dioxide gas only needs to fill the communication space, not the entire space inside the container, so the required amount is small.However, for long-distance transportation, transshipment to other aircraft or trucks at the airport, temporary storage, etc. It may be necessary, and dry ice needs to be replenished.
In such a case, by providing an opening in the heat insulating container and attaching the heat insulating container for storing dry ice having an exhaust port so that it can be inserted and removed, the container for storing dry ice can be used without unpacking the multipurpose container for air transportation. Dry ice can be supplied to the insulated container.
Furthermore, in land transportation by a cold car, if the insulated container for storing dry ice is removed, low-temperature air flows into the communication space from the opening and the inside of the container is cooled.
In particular, it is effective when the land transportation time by the cold truck between the destination or destination and the airport is long.

When transporting precision instruments, etc., install the above-mentioned dehumidifier in the through-hole, so that when the cargo compartment door is opened at a hot and humid airport, the high-temperature air that has flowed into the aircraft and became supersaturated The dehumidifier is dehumidified and taken into a heat-insulated container, and the internal temperature is gradually increased from the outside of the paper container to finally raise the temperature close to the outside air. Can be prevented.
In addition, rapid temperature rise due to direct sunlight and radiation outside the machine is suppressed by the heat insulating container, and damage to precision instruments due to thermal stress caused by thermal expansion can be prevented. Thermal stress due to the reverse phenomenon can be prevented even in extremely cold regions.
That is, it is possible to cope with rapid changes in temperature and humidity inside and outside the aircraft.

  Regarding the impact received by the cargo during transportation, damage due to the impact can be prevented because the cargo storage container is fixed via the cushioning support material.

If a paper laminate having a hollow structure is used for the multipurpose container for air transportation used as described above, the entire container can be made of paper, and it is inexpensive, lightweight, excellent in strength, and can be recycled after use. Therefore, one-way transportation, that is, door-to-door transportation that does not require return of containers and containers to an airport or a destination is possible.
In the case of air transportation, the multipurpose container for air transportation of the present invention is loaded on an air pallet or container and transported, but since it is handled as a packaging material, it must be within the range of the aircraft cargo compartment dimensions and allowable equipment dimensions. The size and shape can be freely determined, and the volume is larger than the typical LD3 type of the lower cargo compartment air container and the LD6 type that is twice its size, and the shape of the cargo. Can be manufactured, and can be easily manufactured in sizes suitable for truck transportation.

When transporting fresh products and precision equipment by air, it is possible to carry out efficient door-to-door integrated transportation that does not require transshipment of individual cargo between air containers and trucks at the airport as in the past.
Along with this, it is possible to prevent cargo damage and quality deterioration at the time of cargo transshipment at the airport, and it is possible to save labor and shorten the time of transshipment work.

  The temperature of fresh cargo stored in the internal container rises by forming a carbon dioxide gas layer with a uniform temperature distribution at a low temperature in the communication space formed between the insulated container and the container fixed inside it. In addition, the cargo can be kept cold.

  During transport, dry ice can be replenished without unpacking the container. In other words, it is possible to cope with long-distance transportation and complex transportation combining land transportation.

  Although it is insulated, it can be cooled from the outside of the container when it is stored in the refrigerator.

Compared with airline containers, they are lighter and cheaper, and can be manufactured according to various cargo sizes and truck bed sizes, and with an internal volume larger than that of conventional airline containers.
In particular, when the tare weight is compared with an air container having the same volume, the weight is as low as 1/5 to 1/10, so that the allowable weight for mounting on an aircraft can be afforded, and the cargo mounting efficiency is improved. Alternatively, it is possible to reduce the fuel consumption of the aircraft by reducing the mounting weight.

  Can be recycled after using the container.

  Can reduce the impact of cargo.

  Condensation on the cargo can be prevented during cargo transportation, especially due to sudden changes in temperature and humidity when the aircraft cargo compartment door is opened.

  The thermal stress caused by the difference in expansion coefficient that occurs in precision instruments due to sudden temperature changes is suppressed to prevent damage.

  Low cost and light weight for the purpose of efficient door-to-door transportation that maintains the quality and reduces the time and effort of cargo transshipment at the airport when transporting fresh products and precision equipment by air. Realized with a multi-purpose paper container.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings.
First, as a cold storage container for transporting fresh food, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a through hole 5 is provided in the heat insulating container 1, and a paper container 2 is placed inside the heat insulating container 1 via a buffer support 3. A space 4 that is fixed and separated by a support material 3 is provided.
When keeping cold, a through-hole is provided in a heat-insulated container made of foamed plastic such as polystyrene foam, and if it is placed in a space 4 where dry ice is put into the container and communicated, the space between the heat-insulated container 1 and the paper container 2 In the space 4, a low-temperature carbon dioxide layer formed by sublimation of dry ice is formed.
The thermal energy passing through the heat insulating container 1 is absorbed by the low temperature carbon dioxide layer, and the temperature rise inside the paper container 2 is prevented. At this time, since the pressure increases with the temperature rise of the carbon dioxide layer, the gas raised in temperature is discharged from the through-hole 5 to suppress the pressure rise for the purpose of preventing damage to the container. New low-temperature carbon dioxide gas is supplied from the container containing dry ice. The position, number, and size of the through holes are determined according to the volume, shape, and purpose of use of the multipurpose container of the present invention. It is desirable that the position is not blocked and does not hinder the opening and closing of a check valve described later.
In this embodiment, the heat insulating container containing dry ice is fixedly placed in the communication space, but it is suitable when dry ice replenishment is not required during transportation or when containers need to be stacked. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
It is effective to attach a check valve 6 to the through hole 5 in order to prevent heat transfer from the outside, suppress the consumption of dry ice, and adjust the pressure according to the strength of the container. The check valve 6 is appropriate according to the pressure. However, it is suitable for one-way transportation that does not aim to reuse containers. As an example of a simple and low-priced check valve, as shown in FIG. 3, an elastic rubber or plastic plate valve 14 is used to close the through hole 5 from the outside, and one end thereof is bonded with an adhesive or the like. It is fixed to the fixing part 11 of the heat insulating container 1. Any material can be used as the material of the valve as long as it has elasticity and its shape is restored.
FIG. 4 shows dry ice having an opening 7 in the heat insulating container 1 and a low-temperature carbon dioxide gas outlet 8 in order to enable dry ice replenishment during long-distance transportation and cooling during land transportation by a cold car. A part of the heat insulating container 9 for storage is attached so that it can be inserted and removed. When there is no need for insertion / removal, it may be fixed to the opening 7. The position, number and size of the exhaust port 8 can be determined according to the required gas exhaust amount and exhaust direction.
The position, number, and size of the opening 7 are appropriately determined depending on the volume and shape of the multipurpose container, but the portion exposed to the outside of the heat insulation container 9 for storing dry ice is used for cargo handling, loading on an air pallet or container A position that does not hinder attachment is desirable. For example, when stacking is required, an opening may be provided on the side surface. The dry ice storage heat insulating container 9 is preferably made of foamed plastic having excellent heat insulating properties and good adhesion to the opening 7, and its volume and shape are also appropriately determined according to the amount of dry ice and the shape of the opening 7. .

In Example 1 and Example 2 to be described later, the cushioning support material 3 may be made of foamed plastic, rubber, or the like, but considering disposal and recycling after use, corrugated cardboard laminates, foamed paper and pulp molds Products etc. are preferred. The mounting position, shape and number are determined by the weight of the cargo and the position of the center of gravity.
The heat insulating container 1 may be made of plastic including foamed plastic having excellent heat insulating properties, a combination of the plastic and paper such as cardboard, or only paper such as cardboard. Considering the load, paper made from plant fiber, which is a renewable resource, is more desirable from the viewpoint of protecting the global environment than plastic made from petroleum, which is a depleting resource.
When all or part of the heat insulating container 1 is made of corrugated cardboard, the opening of the hollow part formed by the core and the liner is crimped or sealed with gum tape or the like, and air is sealed in the hollow part to improve the heat insulating effect. It can also be made.
In order to obtain a sufficient heat insulating effect when the heat insulating container 1 is made of paper such as corrugated cardboard, the container is formed of a laminate obtained by laminating one-sided or double-sided cardboard that is easily available as a paper laminate having a hollow structure, It is effective to ensure a larger amount of air in the hollow portion.
In particular, as a paper laminate having a hollow structure, a paper honeycomb structure used in a portion corresponding to the core of the corrugated cardboard is excellent in terms of heat insulation, weight, and strength, and is preferable from the viewpoint of environment.
Moreover, you may use what laminated | stacked the corrugated cardboard as a hanica ridge structure for a center core.
The paper container 2 may be formed of thick paperboard having a strength corresponding to a load, but a cardboard product is light and inexpensive, and is excellent in terms of strength and the like.

As a transport container such as a precision instrument, as shown in FIG. 5, a container having the same structure as in FIG. 1 is used, and the dehumidifier 10 shown in FIG. The mounting position and number of dehumidifiers in this case are determined according to the position where the opening is not blocked by other cargo during loading, the required humidity, the temperature of the arrival airport, and the humidity.
In the present embodiment, the dehumidifier 10 is filled with a cylindrical container so that the amount of desiccant necessary for dehumidification can be vented, and the desiccant is prevented from falling off the opening with a net 13, a porous plate or a nonwoven fabric. Is.
The desiccant 12 may be a widely used one such as calcium chloride, silica gel, zeolite, etc., and those formed into a spherical shape or a granular shape are easy to ensure air permeability during filling.

  It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the multipurpose container for air transportation. (Example 1)   It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. (Example 1)   It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a check valve using a plate-like valve. (Example 1)   It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the multipurpose container for air transportation. (Example 1)   It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the multipurpose container for air transportation. (Example 2)   It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a dehumidifier. (Example 2)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal insulation container 2 Paper container 3 Buffering support material 4 Communicating space 5 Through-hole 6 Check valve 7 Opening 8 Exhaust port 9 Thermal insulation container 10 for storing dry ice Dehumidifier 14 Plate valve

Claims (6)

  A through-hole (5) is provided in the heat insulation container (1), a paper container (2) is fixed inside the heat insulation container (1) through a buffer support (3), and the heat insulation container (1) and the paper Multipurpose container for air transportation provided with a space (4) communicating with the container (2).   The multipurpose container for air transportation according to claim 1, wherein a check valve (6) is attached to the through hole (5) of the heat insulating container (1).   The plate-like valve (14) having elasticity is closed so as to cover the through hole (5) from the outside, and one end of the plate-like valve (14) is firmly fixed to the heat insulating container (1), and the check valve (6) The multipurpose container for air transportation according to claim 2.   A heat insulating container (9) for storing dry ice having an opening (7) in the heat insulating container (1), a shape that can be partially inserted into the opening (7), and an exhaust port (8) provided in the insertion portion. The multipurpose container for air transportation according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is attached so as to be inserted into and removed from the opening (7).   The multipurpose container for air transportation according to claim 1, wherein a dehumidifier (10) filled with a desiccant in a container having a plurality of openings so as to allow ventilation is attached to the through hole (5) of the heat insulating container (1).   The multipurpose container for air transportation according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the heat insulating container (1) is formed of a paper laminate having a hollow structure.

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