Cargo Shipping Container with Top-Access Roof Cover

• US 20160137404A1
• Filed: 10/19/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gerald M. Steiner
• Original Assignee: Gerald M. Steiner
• Inventors: Steiner, Gerald M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,463,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/28 Tipping body constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 3/20 for forwarding containers
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 9/00 Tipping wagons
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 9/14 Tipping systems controlled by trackside means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/126 by rigid element, e.g. lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0086 rotating or wound around a horizontal axis

Abstract

An intermodal transport container comprising a rectangular frame having enclosed sides, a floor, a top-access roof cover including a retractable roof panel assembly, a first end closure, and an opposing end closure collectively forming an enclosed interior volume for transporting bulk material. The top-access hinged roof cover includes a robust roof panel hinge system that engages with the roof panel assembly. The roof panel opens in accordance with a two stage process: initially having a linear motion where a member of the roof panel hinge system engages with a support beam of the roof panel assembly and a second stage where the roof panel rotates in accordance with the pivotal motion of the hinge of the roof panel hinge system.

Claims

1. A cargo shipping container comprising:

a shipping container frame defining a generally rectangular shape comprising;

a first end frame comprising a pair of first end corner posts, wherein each of said pair of first end corner posts has a top portion and a bottom portion;

a first top-end frame rail extending between said top portions of each of said pair of first end corner posts; and

a first bottom-end frame rail extending between said bottom portions of each of said pair of first end corner posts;

a second end frame comprising a pair of second end corner posts, wherein each of said pair of second end corner posts has a top portion and a bottom portion;

a second top-end frame rail extending between said top portions of each of said pair of second end corner posts; and

a second bottom-end frame rail extending between said bottom portions of each of said pair of second end corner posts;

a first upper side rail extending between said top portion of a first one of said pair of first end corner posts and said top portion of a respective first one of said pair of second end corner posts;

a second upper side rail extending between said top portion of a second one of said pair of first end corner posts and said top portion of a respective second one of said pair of second end corner posts;

a first bottom side rail extending between said bottom portion of a first one of said pair of first end corner posts and said bottom portion of a respective first one of said pair of second end corner posts;

a second bottom side rail extending between said bottom portion of a second one of said pair of first end corner posts and said bottom portion of a respective second one of said pair of second end corner posts;

a pair of sidewall panels, a first one of said pair of sidewall panels extending between said first upper side rail and the respective said first bottom side rail, and a second one of said pair of sidewall panels extending between said second upper side rail and the respective said second bottom side rail;

flooring extending between said first bottom side rail and said second bottom side rail;

a first end closure operationally assembled to said first end frame comprising one of;

a first dump-gate door, a first cargo-access door and a first end panel;

a second end closure operationally assembled to said second end frame comprising one of;

a second dump-gate door, a second cargo-access door and a second end panel;

a roof panel; and

a roof panel pivot system, said roof panel pivot system comprising;

a roof panel hinge system including a roof panel hinge-attachment rail attached to an upper element of said shipping container frame, a hinge pivotal engagement rail, and a roof panel hinge pivot element pivotally assembling said roof panel hinge-attachment rail and said hinge pivotal engagement rail with one another; and

a roof panel hinge-engaging beam defining a roof panel rail-engaging channel sized and oriented for receiving and engaging with said hinge pivotal engagement rail, said roof panel hinge-engaging beam being carried by an interior surface of said roof panel;

wherein said pair of sidewall panels, said flooring, said first end closure, said second end closure, and said roof panel define a container interior volume, wherein said container interior volume is at least accessible through said roof panel; and

wherein, in operation, said roof panel is moved linearly to a position where said hinge pivotal engagement rail is inserted into said roof panel rail-engaging channel, then said roof panel pivots in accordance with a rotational motion provided by said roof panel hinge pivot element.

2. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, said shipping container further comprising a plurality of rolling elements, each rolling element being rotationally assembled to one of an interior surface of said roof panel and a roof panel roller support beam of said shipping container frame in a manner to provide a rolling interface between said roof panel and said roof panel roller support beam.

3. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 2, said shipping container further comprising a plurality of wheel roller element chock slots, each roller element chock slot being formed in a surface of one of said roof panel and an associated rolling element supporting surface of said shipping container frame to retain an associated rolling element of said plurality of rolling elements therein when said roof panel is positioned in a closed configuration.

4. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, said shipping container further comprising a plurality of rolling elements, a portion of said rolling elements being rotationally assembled to an interior surface of said roof panel and a second portion of said rolling elements being rotationally assembled to a roof panel roller support beam of said shipping container frame in a manner to provide a rolling interface between said roof panel and said roof panel roller support beam.

5. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a roof panel guide slot formed within a member located adjacent to a transverse edge of said roof panel; and

a roof panel movement guide element extending outward from said transverse edge of said roof panel;

wherein said roof panel movement guide element moves within said roof panel guide slot during said linear motion of said roof panel.

6. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 5, said roof panel guide slot further comprises a lower flange and an upper flange, wherein said roof panel movement guide element slides between said flanges.

7. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, wherein said first end closure comprises a first dump-gate door and said second end closure comprises a second cargo-access door.

8. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, wherein said first end closure comprises a first dump-gate door and said second end closure comprises a second end panel.

9. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, wherein said first end closure comprises a first end panel and said second end closure comprises a second end panel.

10. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, wherein said first end closure comprises a first dump-gate door and said second end closure comprises a second dump-gate door.

11. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, wherein said cargo shipping container comprises an ISO-compliant intermodal shipping container.

12. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, wherein said roof panel hinge-attachment rail is attached to the interior of said shipping container frame.

13. The cargo shipping container as recited in claim 1, wherein said roof panel hinge-attachment rail is attached to the exterior of said shipping container frame.

14. An intermodal shipping container comprising:

an intermodal container frame defining a generally rectangular shape, said intermodal container frame comprising;

a first end frame including a pair of first end corner posts, each first end corner post having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a first top-end frame rail extending between said top portions of each of said pair of first end corner posts; and

a first bottom-end frame rail extending between said bottom portions of each of said pair of first end corner posts;

a second end frame including a pair of second end corner posts, each second end corner post having a top portion and a bottom portion, a second top-end frame rail extending between said top portions of each of said pair of second end corner posts, and a second bottom-end frame rail extending between said bottom portions of each of said second end corner posts;

a first upper side rail extending between said top portion of a first one of said pair of first end corner posts and said top portion of a respective first one of said pair of second end corner posts;

a second upper side rail extending between said top portion of a second one of said pair of first end corner posts and said top portion of a respective second one of said pair of second end corner posts;

a first bottom side rail extending between said bottom portion of said first one of said pair of first end corner posts and said bottom portion of a respective first one of said pair of second end corner posts; and

a second bottom side rail extending between said bottom portion of said second one of said pair of first end corner posts and said bottom portion of a respective second one of said second end corner posts;

a first sidewall panel extending between said first upper side rail and said first bottom side rail;

a second sidewall panel extending between said second upper side rail and said second bottom side rail;

flooring extending between said first bottom side rail and said second bottom side rail;

a dump-gate door having an upper edge pivotally attached to one of said first end frame and said second end frame;

at least one cargo-access door, each of said at least one cargo-access door having a side edge pivotally attached to one of said first end frame and said second end frame;

a roof panel; and

a roof panel pivot system, said roof panel pivot system comprising;

a roof panel hinge system including a roof panel hinge-attachment rail attached to an interior upper portion of said intermodal container frame, a hinge pivotal engagement rail, and a roof panel hinge pivot element pivotally assembling said roof panel hinge-attachment rail and said hinge pivotal engagement rail with one another; and

a roof panel hinge-engaging beam defining a roof panel rail-engaging channel sized and oriented for receiving and engaging with said hinge pivotal engagement rail, said roof panel hinge-engaging beam being carried by an interior surface of said roof panel;

a plurality of rolling elements, each rolling element being rotationally assembled to one of an interior surface of said roof panel and a roof panel roller support beam of said intermodal container frame in a manner to provide a rolling interface between said roof panel and said roof panel roller support beam; and

a plurality of wheel roller element chock slots, each roller element chock slot being formed in a surface of one of said roof panel and an associated rolling element supporting surface of said intermodal container frame to retain an associated rolling element of said plurality of rolling elements therein when said roof panel is positioned in a closed configuration;

wherein said pair of sidewall panels, said flooring, said at least one cargo-access door, said dump-gate door, and said roof panel define a container interior volume, wherein said container interior volume is accessible through said pivotally attached roof panel and said at least one cargo-access door and said dump-gate door; and

wherein, in operation, said roof panel is moved linearly to a position where said hinge pivotal engagement rail is inserted into said roof panel rail-engaging channel, then said roof panel pivots in accordance with a rotational motion provided by said roof panel hinge pivot element.

15. The intermodal container as recited in claim 14, wherein said roof panel hinge-attachment rail is attached to the interior of said intermodal container frame.

16. The intermodal container as recited in claim 14, wherein said roof panel hinge-attachment rail is attached to the exterior of said intermodal container frame.