Cargo container and a pallet track assembly thereof

• US 6,381,977 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert A. Austin Jr
• Original Assignee: Albert A. Austin Jr
• Inventors: Austin, Albert A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US09/610,342
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 623/71, 622/591, 414/537, 414/539, 414/540, 296/61
• US Class Current: 62/259.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/027 Corrugated or zig-zag structures; Folded plate
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/028 hollow-walled, e.g. double-walled with spacers linings B65D90/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/08 Interconnections of wall parts; Sealing means therefor

Abstract

A cargo container is manufactured using mash seam welding or CO₂ laser welding technology. Automatic welding replaces the multiple sheets of corrugated steel used for the side and roof panels with continuous coils of steel, resulting in lower material costs and reduced material handling. A single horizontal mash-weld or CO₂ laser weld seam is needed to produce each panel, which are produced by joining two side-by-side sheets at their inner edges. Press and die assembly forms reinforcing ribs. Each panel has four straight welding edges, which enable automated welding. The cargo container includes a frame assembly made of tubular beams. The container further contains a pallet roller track assembly to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo to and from the container, and securing the pallet carrying the cargo to the container.

Claims

1. A cargo container comprising:

a cargo frame assembly having at least a floor panel attached to the frame assembly; and

a first pallet track assembly adapted to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo,

wherein the pallet track assembly comprises a base attached to the floor panel, a cam bar movably mounted to the base, and a pallet track vertically movably mounted to the base.

2. A cargo container comprising:

a cargo frame assembly having at least a floor panel attached to the cargo frame assembly; and

a first pallet track assembly adapted to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo,

wherein the first pallet track assembly comprises a base attached to the floor panel, a cam bar movably mounted to the base, and a pallet track movably mounted to the base,

wherein the cam bar comprises an elongated member, wherein the base comprises a U-shaped channel dimensioned to receive and allow the elongated member to slidably move longitudinally, and wherein the pallet track is vertically movably mounted relative to the base.

3. A cargo container according to claim 2, further including an actuator for longitudinally reciprocating the cam bar.

4. A cargo container according to claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a motor driven threaded shaft threadlingly mounted to one end of the base and relatively rotatably mounted to one end of the cam bar to allow longitudinal displacement of the cam bar relative to the base upon rotating the shaft.

5. A cargo container according to claim 4, wherein the cam bar has a plurality of cams and the pallet track has a complementary cam grooves for seating the cams, wherein the cams lift the pallet track relative to the base when the cams are moved away from the cam grooves and lower the pallet track relative to the base when the cams are seated in the cam grooves.

6. A cargo container according to claim 5, wherein the pallet track is adapted to support at least one pallet for supporting cargo, the cam bar being adapted to immobilize the pallet relative to the base when the cam bar is positioned to lower the pallet track and adapted to allow the pallet to move longitudinally across the pallet track when the cam bar is positioned to lift the pallet track.

7. A cargo container according to claim 6, wherein the cam bar has at least one longitudinal slot and the pallet track has a plurality of studs extending through the slot and extending through the base and the floor panel.

8. A cargo container according to claim 7, wherein the pallet track has a plurality of rollers to assist longitudinal movement of cargo.

9. A cargo container according to claim 8, wherein the pallet track is substantially C-shaped in cross-section, having upper and lower horizontal portions joined by a vertical portion, the rollers being rotatably journaled to the lower horizontal portion thereof, the pallet being adapted to be positioned between the upper and lower horizontal portions thereof.

10. A cargo container according to claim 9, further including a second pallet track assembly positioned parallel to and substantially identical to the first pallet track assembly.

11. A cargo container according to claim 10, further including a refrigerating or atmosphere controlling unit, wherein the first and second pallet track assemblies are adapted to support the pallet, raised above the floor panel, wherein the pallet and the floor are adapted to act as a duct and distribute temperature controlled air from the refrigerating or atmosphere controlling unit.

12. A pallet track assembly for facilitating loading and unloading of cargo, comprising:

a base adapted to be attached to a floor panel of the cargo container;

a cam bar movably mounted to the base; and

a pallet track vertically movably mounted to the base.

13. A pallet track assembly for facilitating loading and unloading of cargo, comprising:

a base adapted to be attached to a floor panel of the cargo container;

a cam bar movably mounted to the base; and

a pallet track movably mounted to the base,

wherein the cam bar comprises an elongated member, wherein the base comprises a U-shaped channel dimensioned to receive and allow the elongated member to slidably move longitudinally, and wherein the pallet track is vertically movably mounted relative to the base.

14. A pallet track assembly according to claim 13, further including an actuator for longitudinally reciprocating the cam bar.

15. A pallet track assembly according to claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a motor driven threaded shaft threadlingly mounted to one end of the base and relatively rotatably mounted to one end of the cam bar to allow longitudinal displacement of the cam bar relative to the base upon rotating the shaft.

16. A pallet track assembly according to claim 15, wherein the cam bar has a plurality of cams and the pallet track has a complementary cam grooves for seating the cams, wherein the cams lift the pallet track relative to the base when the cams are moved away from the cam grooves and lower the pallet track relative to the base when the cams are seated in the cam grooves.

17. A pallet track assembly according to claim 16, wherein the pallet track is adapted to support at least one pallet for supporting cargo, the cam bar being adapted to immobilize the pallet relative to the base when the cam bar is positioned to lower the pallet track and adapted to allow the pallet to move longitudinally across the pallet track when the cam bar is positioned to lift the pallet track.

18. A pallet track assembly according to claim 17, wherein the cam bar has at least one longitudinal slot and the pallet track has a plurality of studs adapted to extend through the slot, through the base, and through the floor panel.

19. A pallet track assembly according to claim 18, wherein the pallet track has a plurality of rollers to assist longitudinal movement of cargo.

20. A pallet track assembly according to claim 19, wherein the pallet track is substantially C-shaped in cross-section, having upper and lower horizontal portions joined by a vertical portion, the rollers being rotatably journaled to the lower horizontal portion thereof, the pallet being adapted to be positioned between the upper and lower horizontal portions thereof.