Abstract: An energy-absorbing upright support system apparatus includes high-strength roll formed tubular bars, and a bar-supporting sheet to distribute stress from product shifting in large shipping containers during transport. Parts are re-useable and can be quickly installed into the shipping container at selected locations such as near the container's doors. The bars can be swept and/or have deformed/configured ends shaped to engage channel features in side walls of the large shipping container. The bars may define spaced tubes and a tie rod for added strength. For example, the bars can be steel having 120 KSI to 220 KSI tensile strength, and have a cross-section 2-3 inches in depth and 4-6 inches in height, a length of 94 long, and a longitudinal sweep of 6 inches curvature.

Abstract: The application relates to shipping and off-loading of a granular, powdered, or other particulate materials using flexible containers, where the product tends to partially or fully consolidate during loading and/or shipping, therefore making off-loading problematic. One method includes loading a granular product into a flexible container, shipping the product-loaded flexible container to an end user or intermediate storage facility, and off-loading the granular product from the flexible container. The off-loading includes fluidly connecting a fluid supply conduit to the flexible container, commencing flow of fluid into the flexible container, forming a slurry of at least a portion the granular product and the fluid, and routing the slurry out of the flexible container through a slurry off-loading conduit. In some instances the methods include heating the fluid before and/or during its flow into the flexible container.

Abstract: The application relates to shipping container systems that include a large multi-layered flexible container (“flexitank”) disposed inside a large rigid shipping container which has an open end with one or more doors capable of an open or closed position, and further including one or more bulkhead assemblies, one of the bulkhead assemblies interposed between the flexitank and the open end of the rigid container and/or the doors. In at least one specific embodiment, the bulkhead assembly includes a first brace disposed vertically along a portion of the first side wall inner surface; a second brace disposed vertically along a portion of the second side wall inner surface; and a bulkhead panel member extending horizontally between the first brace and the second brace. In other embodiments, bulkhead assemblies may utilize generally curved or “swept” bulkhead bars, which do not require vertical braces.

Abstract: A tungsten heavy alloy system is modified by partial replacement of the tungsten with substantial amounts of molybdenum ranging from 2% to 16% by weight to produce a new alloy with greater strength and hardness and moderate ductility. This new alloy is particularly useful for kinetic energy penetrators. The process involved is liquid phase sintering in an atmosphere of dry hydrogen, then wet hydrogen, then argon, followed by heat treament at 1100.degree. C. with a water quench. The resulting alloy is further hardened by swaging and strain aging which, at certain levels of molybdenum, produces a material having hardness in excess of HRC 45.