Temporary bulkhead
A temporary bulkhead for placement in a shipping container. The bulkhead may be formed from one or more panels constructed from a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the sheet-like member. The invention is also directed to a method of loading containers with flowable material which makes use of such a bulkhead.
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The application is a continuation-in-part application of PCT/AU2006/001383 filed Sep. 22, 2006, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temporary bulkhead for placement in a shipping container and a method of loading such a container with flowable material which makes use of such a bulkhead.
2. Description of the Related Art
A shipping container typically has an interior space which is defined by a floor, two side walls, an end wall and a ceiling. The end of the container opposite the end wall is open and can be closed by hinged doors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention seeks to provide a temporary bulkhead that can be placed in the interior of the container for the purpose of assisting in the process of loading flowable material into the container and the process of transporting flowable material in the container. The flowable material can be loaded into the interior space of the container behind the bulkhead.
Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the bulkhead being formed by:
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- a panel having opposite edges for contacting internal surfaces of the container, said panel comprising a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the sheet-like member and extending substantially across the width of the sheet-like member for supporting the sheet-like member against the load of flowable material.
In a preferred embodiment, the panel further includes sealing means at each opposite edge for creating a seal between the panel and the internal surfaces of the container when the opposite edges contact the internal surfaces of the container. The sealing means may be formed of a compressible material. Hence, when the flowable material presses against the bulkhead, these portions are pressed against the internal surfaces of the container. As they are compressible, the portions can mould around any small irregularities in the internal surfaces to assist in creating a seal.
In a preferred embodiment, the load-bearing members are each elongate members having opposite ends. The sealing means can be an integral extension of the sheet-like member which extends around each of the load-bearing members.
In an alternative embodiment, the sealing means are flap-like members formed by a portion of the sheet-like member extending beyond the ends of each of the elongate members.
It is preferred to use one or more fastening means with the panel to assist in holding the panel in location in the container. Each fastening means may be in the form of a clip, more preferably a ‘U’-shaped clip.
In a preferred embodiment, the load-bearing members are affixed to one side of the sheet-like member. Alternatively, they can be not affixed, and in this embodiment the panel further comprises a locating arrangement at each opposite edge for locating each of the load-bearing members in position on one side of the sheet-like member. Each locating arrangement may have a plurality of openings for receiving an end of each load-bearing member to hold each load-bearing member in position. Each locating arrangement may comprise a series of flaps moveable between a supporting position and a non supporting position. In the supporting position, each flap is adjacent an opening into which an end of a load-bearing member can be placed and the member is supported by one of the flaps. Each flap is moveable to the non supporting position independently of the other flaps. It is further preferred that each locating arrangement is integral with the sheet-like member. Each locating arrangement may be formed by folding over a portion of the sheet-like member at each of the opposite edges. Where a series of flaps is present, these too may be integral with the sheet-like member and may be joined to a portion of the sheet-like member that is folded over.
The panel in these embodiments can be supplied in parts for self-assembly by the end user. Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention is directed to a sheet-like member for forming a panel for use as a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening in the container. The sheet-like member has opposite edges and portions of each edge adapted to be folded over to form locating arrangements to hold a plurality of load-bearing members in place on one side of the sheet-like member. Each locating arrangement when folded, has a plurality of openings for receiving an end of a load-bearing member.
To form the panel, the end user takes the sheet-like member and folds over the edge portions to form the locating arrangement. The user then takes each load-bearing member and locates an end in one of the recesses in each locating arrangement.
Alternatively, the present invention is directed to a sheet-like member for forming a panel of a temporary bulkhead in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening in the container, the sheet-like member having at each opposite edge a portion adapted to be folded over and a series of flaps to form a locating arrangement, wherein when each portion is folded over, said series of flaps can be located in a supporting position in which each flap is adjacent by an opening for receiving an end of a load-bearing member and each load-bearing member can be supported by one of said flaps, and a non supporting position, each flap being moveable between the two positions independently of each other.
An advantage of the panel having a locating arrangement partly formed from a series of flaps which are moveable independently of one another is that the panel can be formed in-situ inside a container. The panel of this embodiment is formed by taking the sheet-like member and placing it in the desired position inside the container. Next the portions at each end are folded over whilst maintaining the flaps in the non supporting position. The lower most flaps are moved to the supporting position and a load-bearing member placed on these flaps. The flaps immediately adjacent the lower most flaps are then moved to the supporting position and a second load-bearing member placed on them. These steps of the process are repeated to construct a panel having the desired number of load-bearing members. If the ends of the panel extend into channels located on either side of the container, then forming the panel in-situ in this way is more convenient then attempting to form the panel outside the container and then trying to properly fit the panel in the container once formed.
In a third aspect, the invention is directed to a method of loading a flowable material into an interior space of a shipping container through an opening in the container, said method comprising the steps of:
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- locating a temporary bulkhead having any of the features as described above in the container so that the panel of the bulkhead extends a cross the opening and abuts internal surfaces of each wall defining the opening; and
- pouring the flowable material into the interior space of the container.
In this method, one of the internal surfaces contacted by the panel may be a closure member, such as a hinged door, which partially closes the opening. Hence, the panel is located so that it extends from the hinged door to an adjacent side wall of the container.
Where the internal surface abutted by the panel has a channel extending down its face, it is preferable to locate an edge of the panel in the channel.
Where the panel has sealing means located at opposite edges of the panel, the method comprises locating the panel so that each sealing means is in contact with an internal surface of the container.
It is also preferable to locate one or more fastening means in contact with an edge of the panel and the wall of the internal surface abutted by that edge, to assist in holding the panel in position. Where an edge of the panel is in abutment with a closure member, such as a hinged door, the fastening means is preferably a ‘U’-shaped clip and is placed in contact with an edge of the closure member and the edge of the panel.
The temporary bulkhead of this invention may also be formed by two or more panels. Accordingly, in a fourth aspect, the present invention is directed to a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the temporary bulkhead formed by:
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- two or more panels, each panel comprising a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned one side of each sheet-like member and extending substantially across the width of the sheet-like member for supporting the sheet-like member of the panel against the load of flowable material, said panels being locatable in an operative load-bearing condition in which each panel is in contact with an adjacent panel along edges thereof and the broad plane of each panel is angled with respect to the broad plane of the adjacent panel.
Preferably, at least one panel includes sealing means located at an edge of said panel so that a seal can be created between that edge and an internal surface of the container when the bulkhead is located in the container and pressure is applied to the bulkhead by flowable material within the container.
In one embodiment, each panel is separate and an edge of each panel is in abutment with an edge of an adjacent panel when the panels are located in the operative load-bearing condition. In this embodiment, it is also preferred if at least one panel comprises sealing means located at the edge of the panel in abutment with the adjacent panel for creating a seal between the adjacent panels when in use in the container.
In one embodiment, each sealing means is a portion of a sheet-like member and is formed of a compressible material. Hence, when the flowable material presses against the bulkhead, these portions are pressed against the internal surfaces of the container or the ends of adjacent panels. As they are compressible, the portions can deform around any small irregularities in the internal surfaces of the container or in the sides of the panels themselves, so as to assist in creating a superior seal.
In a preferred embodiment, each sealing means is a flap-like member formed by a portion of one of the sheet-like members. The flap-like member may extend beyond the ends of each load-bearing member affixed to the sheet-like members. Where the panels are separate, the flap-like members between adjacent panels can be overlapped.
In a further preferred embodiment, the panels are configured so that when they are arranged in the operative load-bearing condition in the interior of the container, the ends of the load-bearing members of each panel are in abutment with the ends of the load-bearing members of an adjacent panel.
In an alternative embodiment, each panel is hingedly connected to its adjacent panel. The panels are moveable about the hinge connection from the load-bearing condition to a non load-bearing condition. In the latter condition the load-bearing members of one panel are spaced apart from the load-bearing members of an adjacent panel. In this embodiment, it is further preferred if the sheet-like member of each panel is integrally formed with the sheet-like member of an adjacent panel.
In both the first, second and fourth aspects as described above, the sheet-like members used to form the panels are preferably formed from a lightweight material such as cardboard, plastic corrugated board, solid plastic sheet or fabric. More preferably, the sheet is formed from cardboard. As cardboard is compressible, the sealing means is ideally formed by integral portions of the cardboard sheet that are wrapped around the ends of the load-bearing members or alternatively, extend to form the sealing flaps.
In these panels it is also preferred that, the load-bearing members are each elongate members having opposing ends. Preferably the load-bearing members are formed from a timber-based material and may be timber boards of pine, hard wood or other suitable timber. Alternatively, they may be formed from laminated paper, paper tubing, cardboard or plastic extrusion. If a high strength is required, each elongate member may be formed from metal such as steel.
The most preferred combination of materials for forming each panel is cardboard for a sheet-like member and timber for the load-bearing members. Such panels are especially lightweight and can be handled and installed in a container by one person. Such materials are also inexpensive and these materials can be recycled. The timber pieces may be affixed to the cardboard, for example, by using staples or by gluing.
If the sheet-like member is formed from cardboard it is preferable if the lower most load-bearing member located on the side of the cardboard sheet is spaced away from the lower edge of the sheet. That way, when the panel is installed in the container, the panel can be pressed downwards so that the lower edge of the cardboard sheet is compressed and molds over any irregularities in the floor of the container. This creates a seal along the lower edge of the cardboard sheet. A particularly good seal can be achieved in this manner if any fluting in the cardboard sheet runs at 90° to the lower edge of the sheet and to the floor of the container.
Alternatively, sealing means can be provided along the lower edge of the sheet-like member for forming a seal between the floor of the contained and the bulkhead when in use in the container. In one embodiment, the sealing means is one or more flap-like members formed by a portion of the sheet-like member which can be folded to lie substantially flat with the floor of the container. The sealing flaps are located on the side of the bulkhead in contact with the flowable material so that the flowable material presses the sealing flaps against the floor of the container.
In a fifth aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of loading a flowable material into an interior space of a shipping container through an opening in the container, which method makes use of the temporary bulkhead as described above formed from an arrangement of two or more panels. Accordingly, this method comprises the steps of:
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- locating in the container a temporary bulkhead formed from two or more panels having any of the features as described above so that the two or more panels of the bulkhead extend across the opening and are in contact with internal surfaces of each wall defining the opening, the angle between adjacent panels on the side of the bulkhead facing away from the interior of the container being less than 180°; and
- pouring the flowable material into the interior space of the container.
Preferably, the arrangement is made up of two panels which form a ‘V’-shape when located together in the interior of the container. In this embodiment, the panels are located such that the ‘V’ extends into the interior of the container.
The shipping container can be provided with a vertical channel which extends down each side of the container. The method preferable comprises the step of locating a side edge of the arrangement of panels in these channels of the opposing sides of the container.
It is also preferred to locate the arrangement of panels away from the opening of the container and any closure positioned adjacent the opening. This way, the bulkhead prevents contact between the flowable material and the closure.
Optionally, a fastening means may also be employed to assist in holding the panels in location in the container.
In a sixth embodiment, the present invention is directed to a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the bulkhead being formed from:
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- a panel having opposite edges for contacting the internal surfaces of the container, said panel comprising a sheet of cardboard, a plurality of timber boards affixed to one side of the cardboard sheet and extending substantially across the width of the sheet for supporting the sheet-like member against the load of flowable material, and sealing means located at the opposite edges for creating a seal between the panel and the internal surfaces of the container when the opposite edges contact the internal surfaces of the container and pressure is applied to the temporary bulkhead by flowable material within the container.
Such a temporary bulkhead is lightweight and made of recyclable material.
In a preferred embodiment, the sealing means are integral extensions of the cardboard sheet which extend around the opposite ends of each timber board. Alternatively, each sealing means is an integral extension of the cardboard sheet which forms a flap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThis invention shall now be described with reference to the figures which illustrate various preferred embodiments of the invention.
As can be seen in
At each side edge a portion of the cardboard sheet 2 is not affixed to ends 3(a) and 3(b) of each board 3 and also extends beyond the ends 3(a) and 3(b), thus forming flaps 5. Flaps 5 form sealing means 4. Flaps 5 at one edge of each panel 11 are in contact with the sides 6(c) or 6(a). At the junction of the panels 11, the flaps 5 of each panel 11 are overlapped. The flaps 5 are formed of cardboard and are therefore compressible in nature and compress against the surfaces they contact when a load of flowable material is placed against the bulkhead 10. This helps create a seal.
When an outward pressure is placed against the bulkhead 10 by the flowable material, the angled arrangement of the panels 11 helps resist this outward force.
Each panel 11 shown in
As can be seen in
The panel 20 shown in
A number of advantages flow from constructing the bulkhead shown in the figures. Firstly, they are lightweight and therefore easily handled and installed in a shipping container. Being lightweight, the bulkheads do not greatly reduce the weight of the load that can be placed in the shipping containers. The panels forming the bulkheads can be easily constructed and do not require welding. The form of the panels allows them to be made out of recyclable material such as cardboard and timber. A particular advantage of using cardboard is that the contents of the shipping container can be emptied by simply cutting a hole in the cardboard sheet of the panel to allow the flowable material to spill through the hole.
The above figures illustrate preferred embodiments on the invention. It will be understood by the skilled addressee in the art that variations may be made to these preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the bulkhead being formed by:
- a panel having opposite edges for contacting internal surfaces of the container, said panel comprising a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the sheet-like member and extending substantially across the width of the sheet-like member for supporting the sheet-like member against the load of flowable material.
2. The bulkhead of claim 1 wherein each of the load-bearing members is an elongate member having opposite ends and the panel has sealing means at each of the opposite edges for creating a seal between the panel and the internal surfaces of the container when in use in the container, each sealing means being formed by a portion of the sheet-like member extending around the opposite ends of each load-bearing member.
3. The bulkhead of claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a locating arrangement at each of the opposite edges for locating each end of the load-bearing members in position.
4. The bulkhead of claim 3 wherein each locating arrangement has a plurability of openings and each end of the load-bearing members is located in an opening in order to locate each load-bearing member in position.
5. The bulkhead of claim 4 wherein each locating arrangement is integral with the sheet-like member and is formed by folding over of a portion of the sheet-like member at each of the opposite edges.
6. The bulkhead of claim 4 wherein each locating arrangement is integral with the sheet-like member and is formed by a portion of the sheet-like member which is folded over at each of the opposite edges and a series of flaps attached to each portion located in a supporting position in which each flap is adjacent one of said openings into which the end of one of said load-bearing members is received and supported by one of said flaps, each said flap also being locatable in a non supporting position, each said flap being moveable independently of each other flap.
7. The bulkhead of claim 4 wherein the entire sheet-like member is formed from cardboard and the load-bearing members are formed from a timber-based material.
8. The combination of a bulkhead of claim 2 and one or more separate fastening means for fastening the panel in place in the container.
9. A temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the bulkhead being formed by a panel having opposite edges for contacting internal surfaces of the container, said panel comprising a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the sheet-like member and extending substantially across the width of the sheet-like member for supporting the sheet-like member against the load of flowable material, said panel comprising a locating arrangement at each of the opposite edges for locating each end of the load-bearing members in position, each locating arrangement comprising a series of flaps moveable between a supporting position in which each flap is adjacent an opening into which the end of one of said load-bearing members is received and supported by one of said flaps, and a non supporting position, each flap being moveable independently of each other flap.
10. A sheet-like member for forming a panel for use as a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening in the container, the sheet-like member having opposite edges and portions at each edge adapted to be folded over to form locating arrangements to locate a plurality of load-bearing members in place on one side of the sheet-like member, each locating arrangement when folded, having a plurality of openings for receiving an end of a load-bearing member.
11. A sheet-like member for forming a panel of a temporary bulkhead in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening in the container, the sheet-like member having at each opposite edge a portion adapted to be folded over and a series of flaps to form a locating arrangement, wherein when each portion is folded over, said series of flaps can be located in a supporting position in which each flap is adjacent an opening for receiving an end of a load-bearing member and each load-bearing member can be supported by one of said flaps, and a non supporting position, each flap being moveable between the two positions independently of each other flap.
12. A temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the temporary bulkhead formed by:
- two or more panels, each panel comprising a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of each sheet-like member and extending substantially across the width of the sheet-like member for supporting the sheet-like member of the panel against the load of flowable material, said panels being locatable in an operative load-bearing condition in which each panel is in contact with an adjacent panel along edges thereof and the broad plane of each panel is angled with respect to the broad plane of the adjacent panel.
13. The bulkhead of claim 12 wherein at least one panel comprising sealing means located at an edge for creating a seal between said edge and an internal surface of the container when in use in the container.
14. The bulkhead of claim 12 wherein the panels are separate prior to location in the operative load-bearing condition.
15. The bulkhead of any claim 14 wherein at least one panel comprises sealing means located at the edge of the panel in contact with an adjacent panel for creating a seal between the adjacent panels when in use in the container.
16. The bulkhead of claim 15 wherein each sealing means is a flap-like member formed by a portion of one of the sheet-like members.
17. The bulkhead of claim 12 wherein each panel is hingedly connected to an adjacent panel.
18. The bulkhead of claim 17 wherein the sheet-like member of each panel is integrally formed with the sheet-like member of an adjacent panel.
19. The bulkhead of claim 12 wherein the sheet-like member of each panel is formed from cardboard and the load-bearing members are formed from a timber-based material.
20. The bulkhead of claim 12 wherein the panels are configured so that in the operative load-bearing condition, an end of each load-bearing member of each panel is located in abutment with an end of each load-bearing member of an adjacent panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 28, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: Karl Joyce (Point Cook), Jeffrey Goss (Hoppers Crossing), Raymond Joyce (Point Cook)
Application Number: 11/729,349
International Classification: B65D 88/00 (20060101);