Stowage Of Cargo For Transportation
A method for stowage of cargo items (7, 18, 100). In a cargo container (12, 20, 103) wherein spaces around the cargo items and within the cargo container are at least partly filled with spacer elements (1, 19, 104-106, 109-112) so as to substantially prevent movement of the cargo items in the cargo container, characterized in that dynamic forces on the cargo items associated with motion of the cargo container and/or weight forces on the cargo items are transmitted to the container structure through the spacer elements, and wherein at least one spacer element transmitting such forces comprises a shaped block of expanded plastics foam material, preferably polystyrene. The invention is applicable to comparatively heavy loads such as those transported in shipping containers and in such land vehicles as rail cars and road transport vehicles.
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This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/989,504 filed on Mar. 6, 2009. This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/AU2006/001040 filed on Jul. 27, 2006. This application claims the benefit and priority of AUSN2005904009 filed Jul. 27, 2005. The entire disclosures of each of the above applications (are) incorporated herein by reference.
FIELDThe invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for the stowage of cargo for the transport of cargo so stowed.
BACKGROUNDEnormous quantities of goods, including manufactured goods, produce and materials, are daily shipped around the world by land, sea and air in containers of various types. Standard shipping containers as used on seagoing ships, for example, are a familiar sight at sea and on land. The loading of cargo items into such containers and their subsequent unloading, is a major activity involving much expenditure of labour and money. An important problem facing all those involved in shipping of goods is containing the cost of such loading and unloading.
Much of the cost of loading and unloading arises from the need to secure cargo items in their containers securely, to avoid damage in transit. Given the wide variety of goods that must be transported, this can be a skilled process consuming much time and effort.
It is also important in many cases that cargo items not move within their containers during transit. In sea transport, for example, any inadvertent shifting of cargo due to ship motions can have adverse effects on ship stability and hence safety.
Some cargoes comprising multiple discrete items that can be loaded in a container in layers also present a problem in that no number of complete layers closely matches the load carrying capacity of the container, yet partial layers can be difficult to secure against undesired movement.
Materials such as timber used to secure heavy loads in containers can present quarantine and disposal problems at their destinations.
An issue widely recognized in the sea transport industry, at least, is that there can be a mismatch between cargoes and container sizes on particular journey legs. For example, where cargo movements are such that “40-foot” containers arrive at a particular port in numbers greater than are required for cargoes leaving that port, there can be excessive numbers of “dead legs” for such containers, i.e. journey legs where the containers are carried empty. Enhancing the ability of such containers to be loaded with other cargo items could in such a case lead to substantial cost savings by reducing dead legs.
More generally, it is always desirable to enhance the flexibility of loading of containers. For example, making it easier to use a small container where a large one was previously required, or vice versa, allows better matching of cargoes and container availability.
SUMMARYThe invention has as its purposes and benefits easier, quicker and cheaper packing and unpacking of shipping and other transport containers, with efficient use of available space and avoidance of movement of cargo items within the container, than is available using conventional packing methods. The surprising finding that certain plastics foam materials can be used for the support end restraint of items of significant weight carried in cargo containers has led to the invention.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a method and apparatus for stowing cargo items in a structure in which the cargo is to be transported. The structure can comprise a cargo container adapted for movement by a seagoing vessel or defines a cargo carrying space of a vessel. Alternatively, the invention may find application in transport modes where cargo items are contained by the structure of a carrying vehicle—for example where cargo items are carried between decks in ships, or in rail or road vehicles.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for stowing cargo items in a structure. The method can include placing, on a floor surface within the structure, a first plurality of cargo items and a plurality of spacers, such that each of the spacers is positioned on the floor surface adjacent to cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items. A second plurality of cargo items can be placed on the plurality of spacers, whereby the cargo items of said second plurality are supported above the floor surface by the spacers so as to be partly raised relative to the cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items. A third plurality of cargo items can then be placed on the first plurality of cargo items, whereby each cargo item of said second plurality engages cargo items of said first and third pluralities.
In still another aspect of the invention, a structure containing cargo items stowed therein for transportation includes a first plurality of cargo items positioned on a floor surface within the structure. A plurality of spacers are also positioned on the floor surface, wherein each of the spacers is positioned adjacent to cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items. A second plurality of cargo items are positioned on the plurality of spacers, such that they are supported above the floor surface and thus partly raised relative to the cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items. A third plurality of cargo items are positioned on the first plurality of cargo items whereby each cargo item of the second plurality of cargo items engages cargo items of said first and third pluralities.
Advantageously, at least one of the spacer elements can comprise a shaped block of an expanded plastics foam material, preferably expanded polystyrene foam.
It is to be understood in this specification that the term “set” used in respect of a set of spacer elements, can mean one spacer element or a plurality. Similarly and intentionally in this specification, the term “set”, used in respect of a set of cargo items, can mean one cargo item or a plurality. It is not intended to imply, where there are several members of either type of set, that all such members need be identical.
The term “cargo item”, as used herein, can mean a single element or assembly of elements, or a plurality of elements. Similarly, “cargo item” could mean one or several items secured to or on a support or handling element, such as a crate or a pallet.
The term “standard shipping container” is here to be taken to include in particular containers of the type used in large numbers for transport of goods by sea. The containers in question are the subject of International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards and are available in various sizes, of which common external sizes are:
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- (a) length: 20 feet (6096 mm); width 8 feet (2438 mm); height 8 feet 6 inches (2591 mm) or 9 feet 6 inches (2896 mm); (b) length: 40 feet (12192 mm); width 8 feet (2438 mm); height 8 feet 6 inches (2591 mm) or 9 feet 6 inches (2896 mm).
Such shipping containers are of various types and in addition to general purpose containers, the invention is potentially applicable to suitable specific purpose and specific cargo container types, for example refrigerated containers. Containers of this general type are available in a number of other different lengths.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Cargo supports 1 are sized so that four of them snugly fit in container 12, being restrained from longitudinal movement by the inner end surfaces 13 and from lateral movement the inner side surfaces 14 of container 12. Such movements may be caused by ship motions at sea and need to be resisted for ship stability and safety. The width between side faces 3 of cargo support 1 is close to the width between inner side surfaces 14 and the length of the four cargo supports 1 in combination is close to the length between inner end surfaces 13. With this mode of stowing the heavy and unwieldy cargo items 7, it is quicker and easier to load a shipping container and to unload it, with no need for lashing the items 7 to the interior of the container 12 itself.
The cargo supports 1 are formed integrally from a foamed cellular plastics material such as, for example only, “RMAX Geofoam” polystyrene foam, available under the name “Isolite EPS” in Australia from a division of Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Ltd.
This rigid cellular polystyrene material is available in a range of six density classes, with different compressive strengths, and is manufactured to Australian Standard AS1366 Part 3-1992. Grades used by applicants to date are “SL” (nominal density 11 kg/cubic metre and 70 kPa compressive stress at 10% deflection) and “M” (nominal density 19 kg/cubic metre and 105 kPa compressive stress at 10% deformation). However, it is of course desirable to use a material with a suitable density for the particular application, having regard to the cargo item weights and sizes, likely movements of the container, and the like. Selection does not of itself require inventive effort.
Forming of the cargo supports 1 is preferred to be by foaming in a simple mould (not shown), and more preferably this is done on or close to the site where the coils 7 are to be loaded in container 12. This could be at a steel warehouse or at a container loading facility. Alternatively, the polystyrene foam can simply be purchased in blocks from the manufacturer and cut to shape using suitable known methods (e.g. hot wire cutting).
Cargo supports 1 may be reinforced—where necessitated by the load to be carried—by providing at appropriate points inserts (not shown) of material(s) more resistant to deformation from concentrated loads than foamed plastics. For example, the recesses 15 could be defined and their surfaces reinforced by inverted channel sections formed from sheet metal placed in the mould before foaming. However, it has surprisingly been found that in many practical cases, and with suitable choice of material, no such reinforcement is needed even for heavy loads.
Other suitable expanded plastics foam materials may be used, and spacer elements with the functionality of elements 1 may even be fabricated from several components in suitable cases.
The clearances to be provided between the elements 1 and the inner surfaces 13 and 14 of container 12 are chosen by suitable trial to suit the weights of the cargo items involved, the skill of the persons stowing and unloading the containers, and the equipment available to them.
As with cargo supports 1, cargo supports 19 are conveniently formed from an expanded foam plastics material, which may be lightweight, but without implying any limitation to this material type or construction.
It is not essential that the cargo items 18 protrude through the top of cargo support 19. This arrangement simply happens to economize on the material used to form cargo support 19. A similar cargo support (not shown) could simply cover the items 19 completely (except at the bottom), if required.
From the above descriptions of cargo supports 1, 19 and 30, it will be apparent that a very wide variety of cargo items—beyond the specific items used as examples—can be conveniently stowed in containers so as to resist undesired movement therein during transit of the containers. By making the cargo supports at the point of loading, especially by the use of lightweight foamed plastics, an efficient stowing and restraining system can be provided.
Cargo supports 1, 19 and 30 all partially surround their respective cargo items 7, 18 and 31 in use.
Spacers 41 have recesses 44 for tines of handling equipment to ease the task of locating them in the container interior 40.
Spacers 41 are solid blocks in this embodiment, but could be provided with openings (not shown), where the nature of the particular cargo items permits, to minimize weight and usage of expanded, plastics foam in the spacers 41, to provide for airflow (especially in the case of refrigerated containers), etc.
One possible variation, not shown, is to bevel, round off, or taper upright corner edges of cargo supports 1, 19, 30 and/or spacers 41 to ease the process of passing them through close fitting load openings (e.g. doors) in containers, some care in alignment being needed.
A difficulty with stowing in the way shown in
As shown in
The polystyrene cargo supports and spacers have the unexpected advantage of surprisingly high friction when in contact with container interior surfaces. Thus, lateral forces on coils 100-102 would be transmitted to the floor 133 of space 103 by shear in cargo supports 104, 105 and 106 and friction at their contacts with floor 133, as well as by direct bearing of end faces such as faces 134 on walls 107 and 108. Generally clearances between cargo supports such as 104-106 and opposing walls such as 107 and 108 should be as small as practicable, even to the extent of actual contact between the cargo supports and the walls on both sides. However, the effect of friction where cargo items such as coils 100-102 are supported from below is to alleviate any ill effects of positive clearances. Clearances can if desired or found necessary be closed by sliding any suitable thin laminar material between spacer elements and walls.
An important point of difference among the various cargo supports described herein is that some are used to resist both the weight of cargo items and lateral forces arising from motions during transport of the cargo container, whereas others resist only the latter type of forces. Cargo supports 1 and 104-106, for example, support the weight of cargo items (respectively items 7 and 100-102) and also restrain movement of those cargo items in generally horizontal directions in their containers, which movements can arise from dynamic forces associated with motion in a seaway for shipping containers or cornering and acceleration loads in land applications. By contrast, cargo supports 19 primarily restrain cargo items against generally horizontal forces, as do spacers 109-112, while the weight of the cargo items is taken directly by the floors of their respective containers.
Further, loads may be restrained against horizontal movement in a cargo container in one direction only or in two perpendicular directions. In
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described. The cargo items are not necessarily surrounded in these embodiments.
In
Each of spacer elements has the form of two cylinders 67 (that each sit under one cargo item 61) joined by an intermediate section 68. However, this is optional. It will be clear to skilled persons that many other shapes would be possible. Another possibility is to provide spacer elements (not shown) that instead of lifting some cargo items partially out of one layer to form a barrier to movement of items in another layer, are held within one layer and also extend out of that layer to form a barrier against undesired movement of items of another layer. For example, elements having a shape that is a combination of the shape of elements 67 and the cargo items 61 shown above them in
As with the arrangement of
It should be understood that there is nothing specific to the particular packing arrangement shown in
Many variations and enhancements may be made without exceeding the spirit or scope of the invention. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
Claims
1. A method of stowing cargo items in a structure in which the cargo items are to be transported, comprising the steps of:
- placing, on a floor surface within the structure, a first plurality of cargo items and a plurality of spacers, such that each of the spacers is positioned on the floor surface adjacent to cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items;
- placing a second plurality of cargo items on the plurality of spacers, whereby the cargo items of said second plurality are supported above the floor surface by the spacers so as to be partly raised relative to the cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items; and
- placing a third plurality of cargo items on the first plurality of cargo items, whereby each cargo item of said second plurality engages cargo items of said first and third pluralities.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items are arranged so as engage opposed generally upright internal surfaces of the structure.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein cargo items of the second plurality of cargo items are arranged so as to engage opposed generally upright internal surfaces of the structure.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein cargo items of the third plurality of cargo items are arranged between the second plurality of cargo items and one of the internal surfaces.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the structure is a shipping container.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the shipping container is a standard 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cargo items are of substantially uniform size and shape and are arranged in substantially uniform orientation.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cargo items are generally cylindrical and are arranged such that the central axes thereof are generally upright.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cargo items comprise drums and wherein the drums are arranged upright.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the spacers comprise expanded plastic foam blocks.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the expanded plastic foam comprises polystyrene.
12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the expanded plastic foam is substantially rigid.
13. A structure containing cargo items stowed therein for transportation comprising:
- a first plurality of cargo items positioned on a floor surface within the structure;
- a plurality of spacers positioned on the floor surface, wherein each of the spacers is positioned adjacent to cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items;
- a second plurality of cargo items positioned on the plurality of spacers, such that they are supported above the floor surface and thus partly raised relative to the cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items; and
- a third plurality of cargo items positioned on the first plurality of cargo items whereby each cargo item of the second plurality of cargo items engages cargo items of said first and third pluralities.
14. A structure according to claim 13, further comprising opposed generally upright internal surfaces, wherein cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items are arranged so as engage the internal surfaces.
15. A structure according to claim 13 further comprising opposed generally upright internal surfaces, wherein cargo items of the second plurality of cargo items are arranged so as engage the internal surfaces.
16. A structure according to claim 15, wherein cargo items of the third plurality of cargo items are arranged between the second plurality of cargo items and one of the internal surfaces.
17. A structure according to claim 13, wherein the structure is a shipping container.
18. A structure according to claim 17, wherein the shipping container is a standard 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container.
19. A structure according to claim 13, wherein the cargo items are of substantially uniform size and shape and are arranged in substantially uniform orientation.
20. A structure according to claim 13, wherein the cargo items are generally cylindrical and are arranged such that the central axes thereof are generally upright.
21. A structure according to claim 13, wherein the cargo items comprise drums and wherein the drums are arranged upright.
22. A structure according to claim 13, wherein the spacers comprise expanded plastic foam blocks.
23. A structure according to claim 22, wherein the expanded plastic foam comprises polystyrene.
24. A structure according to claim 22, wherein the expanded plastic foam is substantially rigid.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 3, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 19, 2013
Applicant: STRANG LPP NOMINEES PTY LTD (North Melbourne)
Inventor: STRANG LPP NOMINEES PTY LTD
Application Number: 13/692,131
International Classification: B60P 7/135 (20060101);