WO2007071943A1

WO2007071943A1 - Transport container with hinged and sliding side doors

Info

Publication number: WO2007071943A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/004712
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rex Michau
Original assignee: TEC ARMECH Ltd
Current assignee: TEC ARMECH Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-23
Filing date: 2006-12-15
Publication date: 2007-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-23
Also published as: NZ569981A; GB0526298D0; AU2006328174A1; AU2006328174B2; CN101346290A

Abstract

A container has a platform (1) and a roof (2) , each incorporating side rails, respectively lower side rails (3) and upper side rails (4) , these rails being outwards opening channels. Corner posts (5) interconnect the platform to the roof and the lower side rails to the upper side rails (4) . End doors (6) are conventionally hung on the corner posts. Adjacent side end folding doors (15) - when closed - are sliding side steel doors (21) which can slide bodily in the channels at least when the end side and folding doors are open. The extent of possible movement of the sliding doors is from end to end of the container.

Description

TRANSPORT CONTAINER WITH HINGED AND SLIDING SIDE DOORS

The present invention relates to a transport container.

It is known to provide 20 and 40 foot ISO containers with fully opening hinged side doors and with fully opening curtain doors. Both these arrangements provide access to the contents of the container along its full length when fully open. However, curtain doors are susceptible of damage and do not provide good security. For longer containers, hinged side doors require intermediate hinge posts, because the width of the doors cannot be enough with them hung only at corners of the containers. Intermediate hinge posts render awkward fork-lift access behind the posts.

The object of the present invention is to provide a transport container with improved side access for loading / unloading.

According to the invention there is provided a transport container of the invention comprises:

• basic container including:

• upper and lower longitudinal side rails at roof and floor level respectively and

• corner posts interconnecting the side rails at the corners of the container;

• at least one hinged side door hinged to a respective corner post,

• at least one sliding side door, slidingly supported on the upper and lower side rails; and the arrangement being such that the sliding door can be slid into the opening left by the hinged door, thereby opening the part of the side of the container closed by the sliding door.

Whilst it can be envisaged that the sliding door should be a plain sliding door, in the preferred embodiment there is provided: • at least one hinged side door, hinged to the sliding door, the hinged sliding door when open being able to move along the side of the container with the sliding door.

The hinged sliding door can be hinged at one side only. However, again it is possible for the hinged sliding door to be hinged at both edges, possibly to one of the doors hinged at the corner posts. In one of the preferred embodiments, the sliding and hinged sliding doors are provided as a set of four, with the hinged doors between the sliding doors, the hinged sliding doors opening by hinging out against each other. The set of doors can then be slid from side to side as a unit throughout the. part of the side normally occupied by the four doors. Normally, the side doors hinged to the corners of the container are open, the set of doors can be slid along the entire side of the container.

In another preferred embodiment, the or each sliding door has a hinged sliding door hinged on both of its sides. Preferably the hinged sliding door is a double door.

To help understanding of the invention, two specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a transport container according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional detail on the line II-II in Figure 1 of a suspension roller and a lock of a sliding door in the container; Figures 3 a and 3b are respective side and plan diagrammatic views of the container with send side doors only open;

Figures 4a and 4b are similar views with the sliding doors slid towards each other and the central folding doors folded out to lie against each other; and

Figures 5a and 5b are yet further similar views with the sliding doors slid to the right hand end of the open side of the container;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a second container of the invention;

Figure 7 is a scrap cross-sectional view through a central sliding door, showing its suspension arrangements; and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the doors on one side of the container opened up.

Referring to the drawings, a container has a platform 1 and a roof 2, each incorporating side rails, respectively lower side rails 3 and upper side rails 4, these rails being outwards opening channels. Corner posts 5 interconnect the platform to the roof and the lower side rails to the upper side rails 4. End doors 6 are conventionally hung on the corner posts.

End side doors 11 are hung on the corner posts 5. These are conventional steel doors. Hinged to their distal edges 12 via hinges 14 are lightweight/aluminium folding doors 15. Where the container is an ISO 40 foot container, i.e. with an overall length of 12.200m, the corner doors are 1.575m wide and their folding doors are 1.290m wide, i.e. the corner door are 55% of these doors combined width and the folding doors are 45% of the combined width. However, these doors expose only 25% of the length of the container when open.

The end side doors 11 and the end folding doors 15 have respective lock rods 16 of conventional type incorporating upper and lower hooks 17^' on upright rods 18 turned by lockable handles 19. However they are unconventional in their arrangement, as will be explained below.

Adjacent the end folding doors 15 - when closed - are sliding steel doors 21 having two lock rods 22 each, for providing assurance against sliding as well as opening away from the rails 3,4. The end edges 23 of the sliding steel doors are plain and are sealingly abutted by the distal edges of the end folding doors 15. The opposite edges 24 of the doors 21 have full height hinges 25 to a pair of central, bifold, aluminium doors 26, themselves hinged together 27. The hinges 25 and 27 are respectively oppositely arranged so that the bifold doors can hinge out from their sliding doors but in against each other. The bifold doors are provided with lock rods 28 adjacent their central hinge 27.

As shown in Figure 2, the sliding doors 21 are provided with suspension wheels 29, which engage in the channel which is the upper side rail 4, the bottom flange of the channel has an upstanding lip 30, which retains the wheels in the channel. Thus the doors can slide bodily, with the bifold doors along the side of the container, at least when the end side and folding doors are open. The extent of possible movement of the sliding doors is from end to end of the container. With the bifold doors folded out against each other, the sliding doors are edge to edge. Thus entire side of the container can be opened except for the closure - being 55% of 0.50, i.e, 28% -provided by the sliding doors. Since these doors can be slid from end to end of the container, there remains no part of the container deck which is not accessible the fork-lift truck loading the container.

Referring again to Figure 2, the sliding doors 21 in common with all the side doors are taller than the end doors 6, which have narrow lips 31 abutting against upper and lower end rails 32,33. The top of the side doors extend to just under the edge 34 of the roof/top flange of the upper rail. Similarly, the bottom of the side doors extend to just above the lower flange 35 of the lower side rail 3. There is though just enough space at the bottom of the side doors for the locking rods 18 to extend out of the bottom of the doors with the lower locking hooks 17 able to engage with rings 36 on the lower rail 3. The upper run 37 of the rod is within an edge member 38 of the door. For the upper locking hook 117 to be able to rotate away from the lock rings 136 on the upper rail, the front face of the door has a cut-out 39 covered with a deflectable flap 40. With the hooks 17,117 locked, the side doors are pulled firmly against the bottom flange of the top rail and the top. flange of the bottom rail.

Turning on to Figures 3 a to 5b, the sequence of opening of the side doors is shown. Initially the end side doors 11 and end folding doors 15 are opened to allow access at the arrows shown in Figure 3b, to the opposite end quarters of the platform 1 of the container. As shown in the Figures 4a and 4b, with the sliding doors 21 unlocked and the middle folding doors 26 folded out against each other, the access is increased towards the centre of the container. However, if the entire sliding and folding doors assembly 21,26 is slid to one or other end - right end in Figures 5a and 5b - the entire centre of the container is accessible.

Referring to Figures 6, 7& 8, the above arrangement of two bifold central doors can be replaced by a double central door 121, which is rigid, but slidable along the side of the container. The double door has a pair of single hinged doors 126 hinged to either end. Once the hinged doors 126 are released, the central door 121, can be slid sideways, as shown in Figure 8.

The sliding door is suspended from box section bearers 151, an inner one of which is welded to a main upper longitudinal 152 of the container's frame and the outer one of which is connected to the longitudinal by a folded member 153, welded to both. The bearers support flanged rollers 154, which are inter-connected by a shaft 155 carrying a spring 156 and a hanger 157. The spring urges the hanger outwards. The door is attached to the hanger via a channel member 158, which carries a door seal 159 arranged to seal against the folded member 153. The door is provided with locking bolts 160, having upper and lower hooks 161 engaging in eyes 162, for drawing the door inwards when locked. This action compresses the springs 156 and engages the seals 159. When the bolts are released, on the sliding door 121 and the hinged doors 126, these door can all be slid along the side of the container as a unit.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A transport container comprises:

• basic container including:

• at least one hinged side door hinged to a respective corner post,

2. A transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each sliding door is a plain sliding door.

3. A transport container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

• at least one hinged side door is provided, hinged to the sliding door, the hinged sliding door when open being able to move along the side of the container with the sliding door.

4. A transport container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the or each hinged sliding door is hinged at one side only to its sliding door.

5. A transport container as claimed in claim 3, wherein each hinged sliding door is hinged at both sides.

6. A transport container as claimed in claim 4, wherein each hinged sliding door is hinged remote from its sliding door to one of the side doors hinged to the corner post.

7. A transport container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sliding and hinged sliding doors are provided as a set of four, with the hinged sliding doors between the sliding doors, the hinged sliding doors opening by hinging out against each other, the set of doors being able to be slid from side to side as a unit at least throughout the part of the side normally occupied by the four doors.

8. A transport container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the or each sliding door has a pair of single hinged sliding doors hinged onto respective ends of the sliding door.

9. A transport container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the or each sliding door is a rigid double door.

10. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the doors hinged to the corner posts of the container have lightweight doors hinged to their distal edges.

11. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim, including a channel formed upper side rail having an upstanding lip, the or each sliding door being provided with suspension wheels engaged in the channel of said rail.

12. A transport container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, including:

• an upper rail having two laterally spaced box section bearers,

• paired flanged rollers interconnected by a shaft carrying a hanger and a spring urging the bearer outwardly, the or each sliding door being supported by a respective pair of the hangers, these doors including:

• locking bolts, having upper and lower hooks engaging in upper and lower eyes fast with the container, for drawing the door inwards against the springs when locked.

13. A transport container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the or each sliding door has an upper seal arranged to seal against an outer one of the box section bearers when the door is drawn in against the springs.

14. A transport container as claimed in claim 13, wherein each hinged sliding door has an upper seal arranged to seal against an outer one of the box section bearers and locking bolts, having upper and lower hooks engaging in upper and lower eyes fast with the container, for drawing the door inwards for sealing when locked.