Containerised handling of bulk materials and apparatus therefor

• US 20040206646A1
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bee Kim Ong
• Original Assignee: Bee Kim Ong
• Inventors: Goh, Eng Hock, Goh, Eng Soon
• Granted Patent: US 7,252,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/321
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/82 uniting flows of material taken from different parts of a receptacle or from a set of different receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8051 with several silos arranged in a row or around a central delivery point, e.g. provided with proportioning means
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/0069 having compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/0076 Parts or details thereof, e.g. opening, closing or unloading means
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/0084 Storage containers or silos mounted on, or specially adapted for transport by, vehicles; Means for erecting containers or silos
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/547 in multiple arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/666 Locking devices, e.g. for maintaining an open or position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/022 in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/128 tank containers, i.e. containers provided with supporting devices for handling
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/32 in multiple arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/56 by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/34 Venting means vehicle fuel tanks characterised by venting means B60K15/035
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/582 having a rotational motion
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/587 having a linear motion
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/623 having a rotational motion
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/626 having a linear motion
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 63/008 for bulk material
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/23 Devices for tilting and emptying of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/182 with aspiration means

Abstract

A freight container (10) has a base (20) or a portion thereof that can be opened to discharge its contents. This container (10) has a top which can be opened in similar manner as the base. Another container having at least one compartment, each compartment having a lower section with a reducing cross-sectional area and a pivotably operable closure assembly, with several such closure assemblies being linked together by means of bars. Such a container is used to contain raw building materials for stockpiling of these materials at a container port. It is also used to supply materials to a concrete production plant whee pollution control containers are provided below the supply container and above the scaling and mixing stations to reduce particulate pollution. A pair of slewing apparatuses is also provided to engage both ends of a container and turn the container over about its longitudinal axis, thereby emptying its contents.

Claims

1. A container for transferring bulk materials, being shaped and dimensioned in at least length and width to be handled as a standard freight container and having a base,

at least a portion of which is openable for discharging contents of the container therethrough.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of said base is slidably openable.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of said base is hingably openable.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the openable portion of the base comprises at least one pair of two cooperating halves, with one cooperating edge having an overlap over the other when said base is closed.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein both halves of the or each pair are openable.

6. The container according to claim 1, having at least one compartment, the or each compartment having at least one lower section of reducing cross-sectional area, each leading to an opening, and a closure assembly for the or at least one opening, for releasing or retaining the compartment'"'"'s contents.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein said at least a portion of said base comprises an arcuate portion, operable to swing away from said opening.

8. The container according to claim 6, wherein the or at least one closure assembly is pivoted.

9. The container according to claim 6, further comprising hook means for moving the closure assembly to an open position to allow the contents of its compartment to discharge.

10. The container according to claim 6, having a plurality of said closure assemblies pivotably linked by linkage means so that opening one opens them all.

11. The container according to claim 6, wherein the or at least one closure assembly has a perforated closure plate for allowing fluid to drain through.

12. The container according to claim 11 further comprising a filter means disposed below the or at least one perforated closure plate for allowing fluid to drain through but keeping material inside the container.

13. The container according to claim 11, wherein the or at least one closure plate is arcuate and is arranged to have a substantially constant gap between it and its opening, as it is opened.

14. The container according to claim 1, wherein said base comprises a plurality of sloped portions spaced apart from each other with the spaces between portions which slope down towards each other forming discharge chutes.

15. The container according to claim 14, wherein said base further comprises sloping portions along both ends of the container to facilitate the discharge of the contents and prevent materials from accumulating at the ends during discharge.

16. The container according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of moveable covers on said discharge chutes operable to close and open the discharge 30 chutes.

17. The container according to claim 16, wherein said covers can be lifted to open the discharge chutes for discharge.

18. The container according to claim 17, further comprising piston means for lifting said covers.

19. The container according to claim 17, further comprising access means to allow actuators to access and lift said covers from below the container.

20. The container according to claim 17, further comprising lifting means attached to the upper sides of the covers to lift them from above.

21. The container according to claim 20, wherein said lifting means comprise flexible means chosen from the group comprising:

cable, rope and chain.

22. The container according to claim 1, being compartmentalised, the base of each compartment being openable and closable independently of each other.

23. The container according to claim 1, also being suitable for transferring general cargo, including, but not limited to, any one or more of:

goods on pallets;

materials in drums or cartons; and

machinery.

24. The container according to claim 1, further comprising one or more doors at one or more of the ends and/or sides.

25. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the top is slidably or hingably openable.

26. The container according to claim 1, further comprising locking and securing means for securing the openable base portions in a closed position.

27. The container according to claim 1, further comprising piston means for opening and closing the at least one openable portion of said base.

28. The container according to claim 1, further comprising seal means around the at least one openable portion of said base, to prevent contamination of the movement mechanism and to minimise wastage of materials.

29. Stewing apparatus for turning a container

comprising:

a supporting portion;

a rotatable, container holding portion; and

means for rotating said container holding portion on said supporting portion;

wherein

said container holding portion comprises;

a base portion for supporting and fastening to the lower part of a container; and

arm means extensible in a first direction and having fastening means with an extent in at least a second plane, orthogonal to said first direction, for fastening to the upper part of a container;

wherein said fastening means is rotatable between a first position where it cannot fasten said container, whilst the container is supported and fastened to said base portion, and a second position, where it can fasten said container, whilst the container is supported and fastened to said base portion.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein, when said fastening means is in said first position, a container can be placed for fastening to said base portion or removed therefrom, and, when said fastening means is in said second position, the fastening means obstructs a container from being placed for fastening to said base portion or removed therefrom.

31. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein fastening means is rotatable about at least a vertical axis.

32. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein fastening means is rotatable about at least a horizontal axis.

33. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the base portion is arranged to support a container from below and said fastening means are arranged to fasten to a container from above.

34. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein

said base portion includes a pair of twistlocks for fastening to lower corner castings of a container;

and

said fastening means includes a pair of twistlocks for fastening to upper corner castings of a container.

35. Turning apparatus for turning a standard freight container over, comprising two slewing apparatus facing each other, each as defined in claim 29.

36. Turning apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising rail means on which at least one of said slewing apparatus is movable mounted for adjusting the relative distance between the container holding portions of the two slewing apparatus.

37. A system for producing a mixture of components, comprising:

at least one stocking section having a stocking chamber for a component; and

a scaling section for determining and delivering a scaled amount of each component;

wherein said system is arranged such that a container may be stacked on top of said stocking section for replenishing said component therein.

38. The system according to claim 37, further comprising a section for holding or blending said scaled components before discharging the mixture.

39. The system according to claim 37, operable such that a container which is shaped and dimensioned in at least length and width to be handled as a standard freight container and having a base,

at least a portion of which is openable for discharging contents of the container therethrough may be stacked on top of said stocking section for replenishing said component therein by opening said base and discharging said material therethrough.

40. The system according to claim 37, further comprising at least one of a slewing apparatus and a turning apparatus on top of said stocking section, for turning a container over to replenish said component therein, wherein:

the slewing apparatus comprises;

a supporting portion;

a rotatable, container holding portion; and

means for rotating said container holding portion on said supporting portion;

wherein

said container holding portion comprises;

a base portion for supporting and fastening to the lower part of a container; and

arm means extensible in a first direction and having fastening means with an extent in at least a second plane, orthogonal to said first direction, for fastening to the upper part of a container;

wherein said fastening means is rotatable between a first position where it cannot fasten said container, whilst the container is supported and fastened to said base portion, and a second position, where it can fasten said container, whilst the container is supported and fastened to said base portion; and

the turning apparatus comprises two of said slewing apparatuses facing each other.

41. The system according to claim 37 having a plurality of said stocking sections.

42. The system according to claim 37, wherein a material transfer means is provided to move said component from the bottom of the or each stocking section to the top of said scaling section.

43. The system according to claim 37, wherein the or each stocking section includes a pollution control section for use between said container and said stocking chamber for abating particulate pollution as material is discharged into the stocking section.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein the stocking section is shaped, dimensioned in at least length and width and operable as a standard fright container and includes said pollution control section.

45. The system according to claim 37, further comprising a pollution control section disposed on top of said scaling section for abating particulate pollution.

46. The system according to claim 43, wherein at least one pollution control section comprises at least one exhaust fan separated from an inner portion of the said section by filter means.

47. The system according to claim 46, wherein at least one pollution control section further comprises a plurality of diverting elements for creating venting spaces for said at least one exhaust fan and filter means to operate.

48. The system according to claim 46, wherein the at least one exhaust fan is operable in one direction as an exhaust fan for abating particulate pollution, or in the reverse direction as a blower to clear particulates from clogging up the filter means.

49. The system according to claim 48, wherein the at least one exhaust fan is operable in the reverse direction at periodic intervals to clear dust particles from clogging up the filter means.

50. The system according to claim 48 further comprising vibration means connected to the filter means to improve efficiency.

51. The system according to claim 37, further comprising interfacial seal means for interface gaps between said container and said stocking section and/or between said pollution control means and said stocking section.

52. The system according to claim 37, wherein at least one of the one or more stocking section, scaling section, mixing section, holding station and the one or more pollution control sections is shaped, dimensioned in at least length and width, transportable and stackable as a standard freight container.

53. The system according to claim 37, being a system for producing concrete.

54. The method of producing a mixture using the system of claim 37, comprising the steps of:

dropping components into stocking sections;

transferring said components from said stocking sections into said scaling section;

scaling said components and emptying said scaled components into said mixing section;

and blending said components.

55. Cover means clipably attachable to adjacent edges of adjacent freight containers to prevent materials falling therebetween.

56. Cover means according to claim 55, including cover portions to cover corner castings.

57. Interfacial seal means for sealing interfacial gaps between containers stacked on top of the other.

58. A container, apparatus, system or method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.