EP1634768A2

EP1634768A2 - Collapsible flatrack for securing containers on vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP1634768A2
Application number: EP04255533A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Clive-Smith
Original assignee: Clive Smith Cowley Ltd
Current assignee: Clive Smith Cowley Ltd
Priority date: 2003-09-13
Filing date: 2004-09-13
Publication date: 2006-03-15
Also published as: EP1634768A3; GB0321453D0

Abstract

A collapsible flatrack (11) has recessed end posts (13) set at or within an end turning arc (24), to provide end turning clearance for mounting upon an articulated trailer (33) when drawn by a tractor (32), both when erect and collapse folded; intervening end wall infill panels (22) being canted in relation to posts (13) for lie-flat collapse fold of end walls (12) upon a platform base (21).

Description

In the field of shipping containers, there is a requirement for increased length, height and width.
In particular, length increase - and resolution of attendant manoeuvring issues - are addressed.
Most vehicles for road transport of 40ft (12.2m) containers on tractor drawn trailers cannot carry containers of 45ft (13.7m) in length.
This is due to insufficient clearance between tractor unit cab rear and front end sweep of a container mounted on an articulated trailer drawn behind.
It is known to chamfer or radius a container front profile, on an arc centred on a trailer fifth wheel, so a tractor cab can articulate about a container front wall.
Thus many general purpose containers with fixed front end wall and rear access doors feature a front end chamfered in this way.
Capture, handling and support fittings, such as box castings, located at container front corner end extremities are also specially chamfered to clear a tractor unit cab.
However, a different problem arises with collapsible flat rack containers.
Thus, whilst of the same planform or foot print as general-purpose box containers, flat racks can be mounted either way round upon a trailer - and so would need to be chamfered at both ends.
For fold-down posts, essential handling fitting local relief or cut away is needed in the folded position.
Moreover, folding corner post hinge profiles are affected by the cut away - making it difficult to preserve strength and geometry.
When collapse folded, longer flat racks also need to be lifted and stacked one upon another - and locked together with twistlocks.
For trailer transport of such collapsed flat racks, corner chamfer needs to be provided both when collapsed and erect - to avoid cab interference.

Statement of Invention

According to the present invention a collapsible flatrack has one or more recessed end posts set at or within an end turning arc to provide end operating clearance for mounting upon an articulated trailer drawn by tractor.
Opposed corner end posts may be longitudinally or laterally recessed or inset in a platform base.
Conveniently, capture, handling and support fittings are recessed within the flatrack planform, to preserve end operating clearance.
An end wall infill panel set between opposed corner end posts can be canted relatively to preserve end clearance.
Additionally, an end wall infill panel set between opposed corner end posts can be canted to provide end operating clearance whilst allowing lie flat collapse fold upon a platform base.
In a particular embodiment, a collapsible flatrack comprises folding end posts, mounted upon hinges inset from platform base ends, with outward canted intervening end wall panel infill, surmounted by capture,handling and support fittings at standardised handling span, aligned with platform base extremities.
Desirably, a post hinge outer element is chamfered to preserve end operating clearance, whether erect upright or collapse folded.
Conveniently, end posts may be lockable.

Embodiments

There now follows a description of some particular embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings, in which:

Figures 1A and 1 B show collapse (corner end post and intervening end wall) fold and flatrack stacking.

More specifically:

Figure 1A shows a side elevation view of a collapse-folded flatrack surmounted by a part cut-away stack of folded flatracks.
Figure 1 B shows a side elevation of an erect (end post or wall) flatrack.
Figure 2 shows an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of an erect corner end post with bottom hinge of the Figure 1 B flatrack.
Figures 3A through 3C depict Figure 2 corner end post and hinge geometry, through sectional views AA' and BB'.

More specifically:

Figure 3A shows the sectional view taken along line AA' in Figure 3C.
Figure 3B shows the sectional view taken along line BB' in Figure 3C.
Figure 3C reflects Figure 2 in showing a fragmentary side elevation of a corner end post and hinge of the erect flatrack of Figure 1 B.
Figure 4 shows a similar view to that of Figure 3C, but with the corner end post(s) and intervening end wall collapse folded into the flatrack base.
Figure 5 show a part cut-away side elevation view of a flatrack according to the present invention, upon a trailer unit drawn by a tractor unit.
Figures 6A through 6C show sectional plan views of the tractor and trailer combination of Figure 5, with relative disposition of trailer mounted container and tractor cab.

More specifically:

Figure 6A illustrates the relative disposition of a cab and flatrack in straight ahead configuration.
Figure 6B illustrates the relative disposition of a cab and flatrack when the cab is turning at a modest angle to the trailer.
Figure 6C illustrates the relative disposition of a cab and flatrack when the cab is turning at a significant angle to the trailer.

Referring to the drawings ...

A collapsible flatrack 11 is depicted in Figure 1 B with erected opposed in walls - desirably locked in situ.
Overall standardised length or span of platform base deck 21 and surmounting capture, handling and support fittings, such as box castings 14 (for proprietary twistlocks) is some 45ft (13.7m).
Figure 2 depicts erect corner end posts 13 with intervening end wall 12 infill panel 22 - pivot mounted close to, but marginally inset at a lower end from the base deck 21 outward extremity.
A corresponding end arrangement is featured at an opposite deck 21 end - as reflected in Figure 1 B.
Corner end posts 13 are capped by capture, handling and support fittings, in this case configured as corner box castings 14.
A casting 14 features handling access apertures 15 in its outermost side faces.
An inset top face (not shown) has a profiled aperture to locate a proprietary twist lock.
At the bottom of post 13 is an inward-folding hinge 16 with outer travel limit abutment - to define erect post 13 stance and (inset) disposition.
An outer hinge element 17 and an inner hinge element 18 are pinned together by a pivot pin 19 and a locking pin 20.
Outer hinge element 17 is secured (say, welded) to platform base 21.
Between posts 13 is an end wall infill panel 22 - depicted in section AA' of Figure 3A.
In the upright post 13 stance, panel 22 adopts an outward canted or splayed stance or lean, as depicted in Figures 2 and 3C.
This 'lean' in turn presents upper capture, handling and support fittings, such as box castings 14, to a position outboard of post hinge 16 and at full base 21 standardised span.
In planform, as depicted in Figure 3A, panel 22 lies just (marginally) inside a broken line 23 - representing an extremity of a preferred envelope for containers 11 of this standardised length or span.
A cab arc line or locus 24 indicates a cylindrical surface of rotation - behind which any part of a container 11 must lie, in order safely to clear a cab 31 of a tractor unit 32 pulling and articulated trailer 33 bearing the container 11.
Another line 25 indicates a container 11 lateral or width extremity or transverse span.
Where lines 24 and 25 meet - at corner 26 - would be a preferred location of corner end post 13 - along with surmounting capture, handling and support fittings, such as box castings 14.
However, required freedom of movement arc or locus 24 intersects - and so conflicts with corner 26.
Thus, to accommodate movement arc 24, post 13 has been recessed, or inset upon base 21.
In this example post 13 is configured as an 'I' beam with outer flange 27.
End wall panel 22 is also located within arc line 24 and connected structurally to flange 27 by an intervening web 28.
Figures 2 and 3C show web 28 outward wedge profile taper or flare, as it rises up post 13.
Outer post flange 27 is close to vertical, and clear of arc 24, over its full height - whereas panel 22 leans or is canted out as it rises, with infill taper of web 28.
The rationale for this outward lean and taper of web 28 can be appreciated from Figure 4.
Here end wall 12 has been collapse folded down upon base 21.
In this position, collapse folded flatrack 11 can be used as a platform flat for cargo, or stacked one upon another, as shown in Figure 1A, for economical (return empty) storage and transport.
Had flange 27 and end wall panel 22 been in the same plane, end wall 12 would not have been able to fold flat upon base 21, or lie inset within arc 24.
Figure 2 shows, a capture, handling and support fitting, in this case configured as a box casting 29 attached to hinge inner element 18.
When folded to the position depicted in Figure 4, casting 29 overlies over a bottom deck edge capture, handling and support fitting, again a box casting 14'.
Casting 14' in turn lies at a shorter 40ft (12.2m) longitudinal span - this position being a standardised location compatible with established container transport and handling equipment.
Thus location of casting 29 above casting 14' enables standardised crane spreaders and other containers to interface with it.
When erect, casting 29 lies (well) within arc 24 - yet, when folded, it lies at, or close to, the uppermost surface of the folded flat rack 11.
Figure 3B shows a section BB' taken through hinge inner element 18 and the lower part of end wall panel 22 - here recessed or inset well within line 23.
The corner 26' of the hinge outer element 17, as depicted in Figure 3C, lies substantially on the same line as outer edge of outboard flange 27 of post 13.
Other features are bottom castings 14", located at 40ft (12.2m) span from one end of flatrack 11.
This enables the flatrack 11 to be mounted upon a 40ft (12.2m) trailer 33, with flatrack 11 end, between castings 14" and 14, overhanging the trailer 33.
In another configuration, it is envisaged that post 13-rather than being recessed or inset longitudinally from line 23 to the position shown - be recessed laterally or transversely, to point 30 in Figure 3B, where arc 24 meets line 23.
Indeed a judicious combination of longitudinal and lateral inset could be employed.
In addition, flange 27 could lie in a plane parallel to the plane of end wall infill panel 22.
A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the width of post 13 and its inboard location would necessitate narrowing of base 21 to receive it when folded.
However, post 13 might then be configured as a flat plate of narrower proportions.

Mix'n Match

Features described may be variously mixed and matched to suit operational requirements.
It is not feasible to show every such permutation or combination of features.
Phrases bracketed - vis {...}- alongside claim numbering are for ease of reference and as such form no part of claim numbering.

Component List

11: collapsible flatrack
12: end wall
13: corner post
14: corner casting
14': capture + handling fitting
14": capture + handling fitting
15: handling aperture
16: hinge
17: outer hinge element
18: inner hinge element
19: pivot pin
20: locking pin

21: base
22: panel
23: extreme length of container
24: cab arc
25: extreme width of container
26: extreme corner
26': corner
27: outer flange
28: web
29: casting
30: transverse extremity

31 1: cab
32: tractor unit
33: trailer unit

Claims

{Recessed Post}
A collapsible flatrack (11) with one or more recessed end posts (13) set at or within an end turning arc (24), to provide end operating clearance, either when erect or collapse folded, for mounting upon an articulated trailer (33) drawn by tractor (32).
{Longitudinal Recess}
A collapsible flatrack (11) of Claim 1, with opposed corner end posts (13) longitudinally recessed or inset in a platform base (21).
{Transverse Recess}
A collapsible flatrack (11) of either preceding claim, with opposed corner end posts (13) laterally recessed or inset in a platform base (21).
{Recessed CH&S Fitting}
A collapsible flatrack (11) of any preceding claim, with capture, handling and support fittings (14) recessed within the flatrack (11) planform, to preserve end operating clearance.
{Wall Panel}
A collapsible flatrack (11) of any preceding claim, with an end wall (12) infill panel (22) set between opposed corner end posts (13) and canted relatively to preserve end clearance.
{Folded Panel}
A collapsible flatrack (11) of any preceding claim, with an end wall (12) infill panel (22) set between opposed corner end posts (13) and canted to provide end operating clearance whilst allowing lie flat collapse fold upon a platform base (21).
{Inset Post Hinge}
A collapsible flatrack (11) of any preceding claim, with folding end posts (13), mounted upon hinges (16) inset from platform base (21) ends, with outward canted intervening end wall (12) panel infill (22), surmounted by capture,handling and support fittings (14) at standardised handling span, aligned with platform base (21) extremities.
{Chamfered Hinge}
A collapsible flatrack (11) of any preceding claim, with chamfered post hinge outer element (17), to preserve end operating clearance, whether erect upright or collapse folded.
{Lockable Posts}
A collapsible flatrack (11) of any preceding claim, with lockable end posts (13).
{Illustrated Embodiments}
A collapsible flatrack (11), substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.