Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of handling flexible tubes, for example in the production of a liner for a cargo container to provide a tubular attachment on the liner. A tube 16 in the form of a web of flexible material is drawn over a support 39 mounted on a carrier 29,30, the support having a greater area than that of the opened-out tube and being tilted to the radial plane (FIG. 2) during the drawing action. The support is then moved to the radial plane (FIG. 4) so as to stretch the tube 16 in the region of the support whereafter the tube is cut from the web, in the vicinity of the support. The support 39 is moved to a further processing station (FIG. 8), carrying the cut off tube 16, whereat the tube is released from the support 39 by tilting the support once more and withdrawing the support from the tube. The support is then returned to its initial position ready for another cycle of operation.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the automated manufacture of a liner of a cargo container has a work area (35) over which tubular plastics material (15) may be drawn out, for forming the liner. A shuttle (39) is disposed between the layers (18, 19) of the material and is maintained stationary as the material is drawn out, until a portion of the liner (15) to carry an attachment is disposed over the shuttle (39). The shuttle provides a counter-force for the bonding of the attachment (23) (such as an access pipe) to the liner and also serves to hold apart the upper layer (18) of the material from the or each other layer during the bonding operation. The shuttle may have rollers (41) which run on an internal surface of the liner material and may be maintained stationary with respect to the work area by magnets (52, 53) on the work area (35) and the shuttle (39) respectively. Following the drawing of a sufficient length of material while holding the shuttle stationary, the drawn length may be welded across (FIG.

Abstract: A bulkhead assembly, for use with a cargo container (10) within which is provided a liner (15) for the bulk transport of flowable materials, has a plurality of elongate members (20) which extend upwardly from the floor (11) of the container, but with a central region (25) adjacent the container floor (11) free from obstruction. A flexible sheet (26) is folded to form two overlying layers (27, 28) joined together to define pockets in which are positioned two pairs of rigid plates (29, 30), the inner pair of plates (29) being spaced apart. In use, the sheet (26) is arranged adjacent the container floor, so as to extend over the central region (25), and also to provide corner fillets for the container, the lower region of the liner when in use being supported by the sheet (26) and the plates (29, 30).