Tank container with electronic monitoring device

• US 20060021423A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CIMC Safeway Technologies Company Limited (China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nantong Cimc-Special Transportation Equipment Manufacturing Company Limited (China International Marine Containers Company Limited), China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd., Nantong CIMC Tank Equipment Company Limited (China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zhou, Shouqin, Liu, Rong, Chen, Xiaochun, Zhu, Jianbin, Zhou, Chenguang, Yuan, Wenqing
• Granted Patent: US 7,322,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/49.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/186 for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

A tank container with electronic monitoring device includes a tank barrel and a container frame supporting the same. The tank barrel includes a valve assembly and a valve assembly protection box. The electronic monitoring device is installed inside the valve assembly protection box, or on a sealing surface of the tank barrel, or in a range of the container frame outside the tank barrel. The electronic monitoring device includes a sensor for detecting a leakage condition of the cargoes contained in the tank container and transmitting an information data related to the leakage condition, and a data processing module connected with the sensor for processing the data. The invention can be used for detecting a sealing condition of a sealing surface and an illegal open of a lid of the valve assembly protection box as well as for realizing a global tracking, whereby ensuring a safe transport for containers.

Claims

1. A tank container with electronic monitoring device, comprising a tank barrel and a container frame for supporting said tank barrel, said tank barrel being further provided with a valve assembly and a valve assembly protection box for protecting said valve assembly, wherein

said electronic monitoring device, installed inside said valve assembly protection box, or on a sealing surface of said tank barrel, or in a range of the container frame outside said tank barrel, comprises

a sensor for detecting a leakage condition of substances contained in said tank container and transmitting an information data related to the leakage condition;

and

a data processing module connecting with said sensor for processing the data related to the leakage condition.

2. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said data processing module comprises

a signal acquisition and processing module connected with said sensor for acquiring and processing the data from the sensor related to said leakage;

and

a data storage and signal transmission module connected with said signal acquisition and processing module for storing and recording the data on said leakage processed by said signal acquisition and processing module, and transmitting the data on said leakage to a remote data terminal.

3. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein said data storage and signal transmission module is connected with said remote data terminal through a cable or in a wireless way.

4. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 3, wherein said electronic monitoring device is installed on a position near a sealing surface of a flange and/or the valve assembly of said tank barrel.

5. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 3, wherein said electronic monitoring device is installed on said container frame.

6. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 3, wherein said electronic monitoring device is installed inside said valve assembly protection box and further comprises

a stroke switch with a probe connected with said signal acquisition and processing module through a cable, wherein said probe can be pressed against or separated by a certain safe distance from a lid of said valve assembly protection box, to place the stroke switch in a normal or non-normal operating status, correspondingly.

7. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 6, wherein a protection device providing a protecting space is disposed at a position corresponding to said stroke switch probe on the lid of said valve assembly protection box, for receiving said probe in the protection space when said stroke switch is at the second position.

8. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 7, wherein said electronic monitoring device is installed on an inner wall at an opening side of said valve assembly protection box, said inner wall partially or wholly turning towards an inner part of said vale member protection box and extending a predetermined distance to form a reinforced protection rib.

9. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein said protection device is a protection plate disposed facing the reinforced protection rib.

10. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein said protection device is a protection ring.

11. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 3, wherein said electronic monitoring device is installed inside said valve assembly protection box and further comprises

a magnetic-reed switch for detecting an open or close status of said valve assembly protection box.

12. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic monitoring device further comprises a box for receiving the sensor and the data processing module.

13. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 12, wherein a sensing window is further arranged at a position corresponding to a sensing head of said sensor.

14. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 12, wherein said sensor is a gas sensor connecting with a sucking pump, said sucking pump sucking gas through a mouth disposed on said box, for performing a gas detection.

15. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 12, wherein said electronic monitoring device is fixed by a support.

16. A tank container with electronic monitoring device according to claim 3, wherein said electronic monitoring device has a unique ID code stored in said data storage and signal transmission module, said ID code being able to be transmitted to said remote data terminal.