Transport container

• US 5,238,102 A
• Filed: 09/04/1992
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Langer, Hans-Thilo
• Primary Examiner(s): PRICE, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US07/941,249
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 206/3, 220/1.5
• US Class Current: 206/3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/14 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/32 Arrangements for preventing, or minimising the effect of, excessive or insufficient pressure valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/325 due to explosion, e.g. inside the container safely destroying explosive ammunition or similar F42B39/14; in buildings E04B1/98
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/36 Weakened parts
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/14 Explosion or fire protection arrangements on packages or ammunition F42B39/20 and F42B39/24 take precedence; wall or panel structure of fireproof safes or storage containers E05G1/024

Abstract

A transport container with an openable and closable lid for accommodating the loading and unloading of the container. The container walls and lid have a strength and elasticity which permit the withstanding of an internal pressure, which occurs up to a predetermined amount, by means of a deformation. A frame is inserted into a wall surface of the container which frame contains fragments or projectiles which are released when a defined internal pressure is exceeded to thereby force a predetermined hole in an airplane fuselage or other cargo transporter carrying the container, with a consequent controlled escape of excess container pressure through the hole.

Claims

1. A transport container comprising:

container walls defining a cargo space and having sufficient strength and elasticity to withstand a predetermined internal pressure with deformation of the container walls,

an openable lid for accommodating loading of cargo into the cargo space and unloading of cargo from the cargo space, said lid closing off the cargo space from the inside in a gas tight manner,

a frame inserted into a wall of the container, and

projectiles carried by the frame in such a manner as to be forcibly released toward the outside of the container upon exposure of the container cargo space to a predetermined internal pressure, said projectiles being configured and arranged to form a predetermined opening in a cargo support wall adjacent the container during use to thereby accommodate a controlled pressure release from the container cargo space through the predetermined opening in the cargo support wall.

2. A transport container according to claim 1, wherein the container walls are made of fiber reinforced materials.

3. A transport container according to claim 1, wherein the projectiles are offset with respect to one another in two rows in the frame, said projectiles being inserted in an opening of the frame which is groove-shaped toward the outside of the container.

4. A transport container according to claim 3, wherein the projectiles have slanted cutting edges which are directed toward the outside of the container.

5. A transport container according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined internal pressure for releasing the projectiles is lower than the holding pressure of the lid such that the projectiles are released at lower internal cargo pressures than would cause opening of the lid.

6. A transport container according to claim 1, wherein the container is configured for transport in an airplane fuselage, and wherein the frame is disposed in an oblique container wall which is adapted to the curvature of the airplane fuselage.

7. A transport container according to claim 2, wherein the projectiles are offset with respect to one another in two rows in the frame, said projectiles being inserted in an opening of the frame which is groove-shaped toward the outside of the container.

8. A transport container according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined internal pressure for releasing the projectiles is lower than the holding pressure of the lid such that the projectiles are released at lower internal cargo pressures than would cause opening of the lid.

9. A transport container according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined internal pressure for releasing the projectiles is lower than the holding pressure of the lid such that the projectiles are released at lower internal cargo pressures than would cause opening of the lid.

10. A transport container according to claim 7, wherein the container is configured for transport in an airplane fuselage, and wherein the frame is disposed in an oblique container wall which is adapted to the curvature of the airplane fuselage.

11. A transport container according to claim 8, wherein the container is configured for transport in an airplane fuselage, and wherein the frame is disposed in an oblique container wall which is adapted to the curvature of the airplane fuselage.

12. A transport container according to claim 9, wherein the container is configured for transport in an airplane fuselage, and wherein the frame is disposed in an oblique container wall which is adapted to the curvature of the airplane fuselage.