Modular Shipping Container
The present invention discloses a modular shipping container, which includes a box assembled by a front door, a rear plate, a top plate, a bottom plate and two side plates. In the modular shipping container, jacket and screw holes are provided at portions where the front door and the rear plate are connected to the side plates, so as to implement detachable connection and easy assembly of the box. In addition, in the modular shipping container, traction devices capable of being assembled are horizontally provided at the sides of the box, so that the loading and unloading operations of an operator are simplified. Meanwhile, in the modular shipping container, a lock having an inward opening function is adopted, thereby guaranteeing the safety of an operator and a cargo.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a modular shipping container.
2. Related Art
A shipping container is a large cargo container that is properly strong and rigid, meets a certain specification, and is used for transportation. In the transfer of a cargo using a shipping container, the cargo can be directly loaded at a consigner's warehouse, transported to a consignee's warehouse and unloaded, and in the midway, when the vehicle and ship is changed, the cargo does not need to be taken out from the shipping container and reloaded.
A conventional shipping container should be a steel box that is steadily welded into a fixed shape and cannot be detached or assembled. Therefore, a large space is occupied during the transportation in an unloaded state, which results in a great waste to the operating cost.
SUMMARYThe technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a modular shipping container capable of being conveniently assembled.
To implement the above inventive object, one solution for implementing the modular shipping container provided in the present invention includes a box assembled by a front door, a rear plate, a top plate, a bottom plate and two side plates. The outer sides of portions where the front door and the rear plate are connected to the two side plates are covered with jackets. At least two screw holes are opened in the jacket in the vertical direction. Screw holes or openings are opened at positions, corresponding to the screw holes, on the front door, the rear plate, and the two side plates, respectively. The front door and the rear plate are detachably connected to the two side plates by the jackets through the screw holes or the openings.
As one preferred embodiment of the above modular shipping container, in the modular shipping container, the end portions, used to be connected to the side plates, of the front door and the rear plate fold inwardly to form flanges, and the screw holes are opened on the flanges.
As another preferred embodiment of the modular shipping container, the modular shipping container further includes a traction device to be used in combination with the box. The traction device includes a traction connector and a traction wheel. One traction connector hole and two traction wheel holes are opened horizontally on front and rear sides of the bottom plate, respectively. The traction connector hole is used to connect the traction connector and the box. The traction wheel hole is used to connect the traction wheel and the box. Also, the two traction wheel holes are symmetrically distributed at two sides of the traction connector hole.
As yet another preferred embodiment of the above modular shipping container, in the modular shipping container, the box is installed with a lock having an inward opening function.
The present invention discloses another solution for implementing the modular shipping container, which includes a box, and further includes a traction device to be used in combination with the box, and the traction device includes a traction connector and a traction wheel.
One traction connector hole and two traction wheel holes are horizontally opened on both of the two opposite sides of the bottom of the box, respectively. The traction connector hole is used to connect the traction connector and the box. The traction wheel hole is used to connect the traction wheel and the box. Also, the two traction wheel holes are symmetrically distributed at two sides of the traction connector hole.
The present invention further discloses further a solution for implementing the modular shipping container, which includes a box, and the box is installed with a lock having an inward opening function.
The lock includes a lock rod, a lock case handle connected to the lock rod, and a lock case base fixed on the door. The lock case handle is received inside the lock case base.
A movable bolt and a pushing rod mechanism are provided inside the lock case base. The movable bolt includes a bolt cam, a bolt base, a bolt pin and a spring. The pushing rod mechanism includes a pushing rod used to push the bolt cam to rotate and a mechanism used to push the pushing rod to move.
The bolt cam has an extension leg used to be connected to the pushing rod and a hook used to prevent the lock case handle from being opened. The extension leg of the bolt cam is connected to the pushing rod. The bolt cam has a through hole in the center. The bolt pin passes through the through hole of the bolt cam and the spring, and is fixed on the bolt base. One end of the spring is placed on the extension leg of the bolt cam, and the other end is positioned on the lock case base.
In the modular shipping container provided in the present invention, jackets and screw holes are provided at the portions where a front door and a rear plate are connected to side plates, so that detachable connection and easy assembly of a box are implemented. For the modular shipping container, traction devices capable of being assembled are horizontally provided at the sides of the box, so that the loading and unloading operations of an operator are simplified. Meanwhile, in the modular shipping container, a lock having an inward opening function is adopted, thereby guaranteeing the safety of an operator and a cargo.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not imitative of the present disclosure, and wherein:
The technical content of the present invention is illustrated in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
At some places, conventional shipping containers are gradually replaced by shipping containers capable of being assembled. These shipping containers capable of assembled are usually formed of six movable plates, which are assembled and fixed through movable connection structures in loading a cargo and are detached, folded, and stored in an unloaded state, thereby saving the storage space and facilitating transportation.
In one embodiment in
As can be seen by combining
To enhance the rigidity of the box 10 and guarantee the safety of the threaded connection, rib structures used to increase the rigidity are added at the end portions for connection of the side plates 2, the front door 3 and the rear plate 4. For example, as shown in
The end portion, used to be connected to the side plate 2, of the rear plate 4 has a connection block, and a screw hole (or opening) is opened on the connection block. Also, the end portions, used to be connected to the front door 3 and the rear plate 4, of the side plates 2 also have connection blocks, and screw holes are opened on the connection blocks. Referring to the schematic view of an assembled state in
The side plates 2, the front door 3, and the rear plate 4 may be connected to the bottom plate 1 in a pivotal connection manner also in a clamped connection manner. In an unloaded state, the side plates 2, the front door 3, and the rear plate 4 can fold inwardly to form a multi-layered integral structure for storage, or also multiple movable plates separate from each other may be stored separately, thereby saving the operating cost. The top plate 5 includes a plurality of sealing plates welded to each other on a keel. The contacts between the top plate 5 and the front door 3, the rear plate 4, and the side plates 2 are provided with flanges extending downwardly, so as to achieve the waterproof object when the top plate 5 closes on the box 10. In the above structure, the side plates 2 are connected to the front door 3 and the rear plate 4 through the angle iron 6 and screw holes, and the number of screw holes opened on a single piece of angle iron 6 is not limited and can change with the height of the box 10. For example, more than two screw holes are opened in the vertical direction. In the above embodiment, the two lateral edges of the angle iron 6 are bonded to the side plates 2 and the front door 3 or the rear plate 4, respectively. A screw hole is opened on one lateral edge of the angle iron 6, and the side plate 2 is connected to the front door 3 or the rear plate 4 through a single screw bolt. Also, a screw hole can be opened on the two lateral edges of the angle iron 6, respectively, and the angle iron 6 is connected to the side plates 2, or the angle iron 6 is connected to the front door 3 or the rear plate 4, through different screw holes, respectively. In the above structure, the structure of the screw bolt can be replaced by a threaded bolt, and the like, and the step of bonding the angle iron 6 and the box can also be omitted.
To achieve the waterproof object, in an embodiment of the modular shipping container, the area of the top plate 5 is greater than the area of the bottom plate 1. The bottom plate 1 includes a base plate 1a and a bottom frame 1b. The height of the base plate 1a is greater than the height of the bottom frame 1b (see
In an embodiment of the modular shipping container, a traction device used to implement tractive loading and unloading is further included. By installing the traction device capable of being assembled, in combination with a towing device (for example, an elevator and a windlass), the tractive loading and unloading of the shipping container can be implemented. During the loading and unloading, large suspension equipment is not required and the operations become easy.
As can be seen by combining
As shown in
As shown in
When the modular shipping container is loaded on a truck, the traction wheel 22 and the traction connector 21 are first installed on the box 10, and next through the towing device connected at the other end of the traction connector 21, the loading and unloading of the shipping container are implemented.
Specifically, the traction connector 21 is inserted in the traction connector hole 7 and is locked tight using the screw bolt to prevent falling. The retractable support on the truck is unfolded, the hook on the wire rope is then hung on the traction connector 21, and the windlass is started to lift one end of the shipping container using the wire rope. Two pairs of traction wheel 22 are inserted inside the traction wheel holes 9 on the bottom frame 1b, respectively, so that the front end of the box has two pairs of traction wheel. Two steel pipes are placed on the ground in the middle of the box, and the other end, that is not provided with traction wheels, of the box 10 is lifted using the level principle, and then two pairs of traction. wheel 22 are inserted in the traction wheel holes 9 of the bottom frame 1b through the insertion stems 22a. After four pairs of traction wheel 22 are installed, the two steel pipes are removed, and at this time the four pairs of traction wheel 22 are fixed through the weight of the box 10. To prevent the traction wheels 22 from falling off, screw bolts need to be installed for fixation. Next, the carriage of the truck slides off two the ground, and the windlass is started to pull the shipping container on the carriage through the wire rope and fix the shipping container.
The process of unloading the box 10 is the reverse operation of the above process. Through the weight of the box 10 and under the pulling force of the windlass, the box 10 slowly slides to the ground through the traction wheels 22. Through the lift of the suspension hook and the steel pipes, the four pairs of traction wheels 22 are dismounted using the level principle, respectively, so that the box 10 is stably placed on the ground.
In the whole loading and unloading process, the traction wheels 22 are loaded and unloaded using the level principle, and the box 10 is dragged through the traction connector 21 to move for loading and unloading of the truck, which is an labor-saving loading and unloading manner and requires to use low power towing equipment, and the work can be accomplished with small equipment. The elevator or windlass can be completely integrated on the truck, and one driver alone can complete the whole operation of loading the box and unloading the box through simple and labor-saving connection members and stepwise operations, and the process is safe, simple, and easy.
The traction connector hole 7 and the traction wheel hole 9 are horizontally provided to implement the installation of the traction connector 21 and the traction wheels 22 on the sides of the box 10 of the shipping container, so as to reduce the lift height during the process of installing the traction device. In the process of installing the traction wheels 22, the lift height of the box 10 only needs to reach the height equal to the radius of the roller 22c, and the loading and unloading are convenient, clear, stable and have a desirable operation space.
In the process of loading and unloading the shipping container, the traction connector 21 and the traction wheels 22 are install on the sides of the box 10, and the direction in which the traction wheel hole 9 and the traction connector hole 7 are opened is parallel to the direction of the bottom plate 1 (horizontally provided). For the box 10, the four traction wheel holes 9 bear the force and directly carry the weight of the box 10. The traction connector 21 is inserted in the traction connector hole 7, and the traction connector hole 7 directly carries the suspension force and the towing force on the box 10. Meanwhile, the traction device is fixed on the box 10 through tight locking using screw bolts, so as to guarantee that the traction device does not fall off in the whole traction process.
In addition, to guarantee safe use of a shipping container, in an embodiment of the modular shipping container, a lock having an inward opening function is further installed. The lock includes a lock rod 11, a lock case handle 14 connected to the lock rod 11, and a lock case base 15 fixed on the front door 3. The lock case handle 14 can be received inside the lock case base 15. A movable bolt 15c and a pushing rod mechanism are provided inside the lock case base 15. The pushing rod mechanism can push the movable bolt 15c to rotate to actuate the lock rod 11 to rotate, so as to implement the inward opening of the lock.
Specifically, as shown in
As shown in
As can be seen by combining
As can be seen from
In the movable bolt 15c, the bolt cam 15d has a through hole in the center. Also, the bolt cam 15d has an extension leg used to be connected to the pushing rod 15h and a hook used to prevent the lock case handle 14 from being opened. The bolt pin 15f passes through the spring 15g and the through hole of the bolt cam 15d, and is fixed on the bolt base 15e through a nut. One end of the spring 15g is placed at a position where the extension leg of the bolt cam 15d is clamped at the spring 15g, and the other end is positioned on the lock case base 15, so that the bolt cam 15d is subject to a force towards the fixing bolt 15b (referring to the clockwise direction in
As shown in
The principle of implementing the lock is illustrated below with reference to
When the door of the box needs to be closed temporarily, the lock case handle 14 approaches the lock case base 15, so that the two bolts 15b and 15c pass through the fitting rectangular through holes thereof. The hook on the bolt cam 15d can be hooked to the edges of the fitting rectangular through hole thereof on the lock case handle 14. The lock case handle 14 cannot be opened outward, and the lock of the shipping container is in a closed state. In such a state, to open the lock of the shipping container, the bolt cam 15d can be turned from outside to release the hook thereon, the lock case handle 14 is pulled outward, and the fitting between the cylinder 12 and the lock base 13 is released, so that the door of the box of the shipping container is opened. Alternatively, the pushing rod 15h connected to the bolt cam 15d is pushed from inside the box of the shipping container, so that the bolt cam 15d rotates, the hook thereon is then released from the edge of the fitting the lock case handle 14, the bolt cam 15d continues to rotate, the extension leg thereon and the pushing rod 15h push outward the lock case handle 14, and then the fitting between the cylinder 12 and the lock base 13 is released, so that the door of the box is opened. Therefore, an inward opening function can be implemented for the lock, so as to avoid the cases that a user is locked inside the shipping container. If necessary, a foldable handle 18 can be further provided inside the shipping container (referring to
In one embodiment of the present invention, a handle connected to the pushing rod 15h is provided inside the box. By pushing the handle, the pushing rod 15h pushes the bolt cam 15d to rotate, so as to implement the inward opening of the lock of the shipping container. Of course, other devices used to push the bolt cam 15d to rotate can also be used to implement the inward opening of the lock of the shipping container. For example, a pushing rod 15h having an external screw thread and a handwheel or knob connected to the pushing rod 15h can be used for implementation. A shaft sleeve with an internal screw thread (or can also be directly one welded nut) is fixed on the lock case base 15. The pushing rod 15h passes through the shaft sleeve and is connected to a knob or handwheel provided inside the box. By rotating the knob or handwheel, the pushing rod 15h is actuated to rotate along the internal screw thread of the shaft sleeve, and at the same time, the pushing rod 15h moves forward along the shaft sleeve to push the bolt cam 15d to rotate, so that the hook of the bolt cam 15d is released from the lock case handle 14. The bolt cam 15d continues to rotate and the bolt cam 15d pushes outward the lock case handle 14, and the cylinder 12 and the lock base 13 are released, so that the door is opened from inside. After the door is opened, the handwheel or knob can be rotated to restore the position of the pushing rod 15h and the bolt cam.
For the above lock having an inward opening function, the lock case handle presses the lock case base, and the hook of the bolt cam in the movable bolt clamps the edges of the rectangular holes of the lock case handle, so that the door of the box can be temporarily closed. At this time, the door of the box can only be opened by turning the bolt cam from outside the box to release the hook, which is safer and more reliable. For the inward opening of the lock can be implemented simply by pushing or rotating a mechanism that is provided at the inner side of the door plate and used to push the pushing rod to move. The lock has a simple and proper structure, a reliable mechanism, a simple and convenient operation, and is suitable for use in a shipping container for which the door requires to be temporarily closed or the door need to be frequently opened and closed, thereby guaranteeing the safety of an operator and a cargo.
In conclusion, in the modular shipping container provided in the present invention, jackets and screw hole and screw holes are provided at portions where the front door and the rear plate are connected to the side plates, so as to implement detachable connection and easy assembly of the box, and simplify the assembly process of the box.
A traction device capable of being assembled is used in the modular shipping container, traction wheels are loaded and unloaded using the level principle, a shipping container with traction wheels is dragged through a slope, and a box is loaded on or unloaded from a truck, so as to accomplish the loading and unloading work. In the process of loading and unloading of the truck, as the traction wheel holes are horizontally provided, in the process of installation, the lift height of the box is small, less labor is required (one person can accomplish the operation), and the loading and unloading equipment is simple and has low power. Compared with the shipping containers in the prior art, the efficiency of loading and unloading is significantly enhanced.
At the same time, the modular shipping container further uses a lock having an inward opening function, thereby significantly guarantee the operation safety of a user of the shipping container and the cargo safety. The lock case handle presses the lock case base, and the hook of the bolt cam in the movable bolt clamps the edges of the rectangular holes of the lock case handle, so as to temporarily close the door of the box. At this time, the door of the box can only be opened by turning the bolt cam from outside the box to release the hook thereof, which is safer and more reliable. The inward opening of the lock can be implemented simply by pushing or rotating a mechanism provided at the inner side of the door plate and used to push the pushing rod to move. The lock has a simple and proper structure, a reliable mechanism, and a simple and convenient operation.
The modular shipping container provided in the present invention is illustrated in detail above. Any obvious change made by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the actual spirit of the present invention will commit an infringement on the patent right of the present invention and will be subject to corresponding legal liabilities.
Claims
1. A modular shipping container, comprising a box assembled by a front door, a rear plate, a top plate, a bottom plate and two side plates, wherein:
- jackets are covered at outer sides of portions where the front door and the rear plate are connected to the two side plates, at least two screw holes are opened on the jackets in the vertical direction, screw holes or openings are opened on the front door, the rear plate, and the two side plates at positions corresponding to the screw holes, respectively, and the front door and the rear plate are detachably connected to the two side plates by the jackets through the screw holes or the openings.
2. The modular shipping container according to claim 1, wherein:
- end portions, used to be connected to the side plates, of the front door and the rear plate fold inwardly to form flanges, and the screw holes are opened on the flanges.
3. The modular shipping container according to claim 1, wherein:
- end portions, used to be connected to the side plates, of the front door and the rear plate, have connection blocks, and the screw holes are opened on the connection blocks.
4. The modular shipping container according to claim 1, wherein:
- end portions, used to be connected to the front door and the rear plate, of the side plates, have connection blocks, and the screw holes are opened on the connection blocks.
5. The modular shipping container according to claim 1, wherein:
- the jacket is formed by two lateral edges perpendicular to each other, and the two lateral edges are bonded on outer walls of the side plates and the front door or the rear plate, respectively.
6. The modular shipping container according to claim 5,
- further comprising a traction device to be used in combination with the box, wherein the traction device comprises a traction connector and a traction wheel;
- one traction connector hole and two traction wheel holes are opened horizontally on front and rear sides of the bottom plate, respectively, the traction connector hole is used to connect the traction connector and the box, the traction wheel hole is used to connect the traction wheel and the box, and the two traction wheel holes are symmetrically distributed at two sides of the traction connector hole.
7. The modular shipping container according to claim 6, wherein:
- the traction connector comprises a tubular connecting body and a fitting fastener thereof;
- the traction wheel comprises an insertion stem, a central shaft and rollers, one end of the insertion stem is fixed in the middle of the central shaft, and two ends of the central shaft are installed on the rollers, respectively.
8. The modular shipping container according to claim 5, wherein:
- the box is installed with a lock having an inward opening function;
- the lock comprises a lock rod, a lock case handle connected to the lock rod, and a lock case base fixed on the door; the lock case handle is received inside the lock case base;
- a movable bolt and a pushing rod mechanism are provided inside the lock case base, the movable bolt comprises a bolt cam, a bolt base, a bolt pin and a spring, the pushing rod mechanism comprises a pushing rod used to push the bolt cam to rotate and a mechanism used to push the pushing rod to move;
- the bolt cam has an extension leg used to be connected to the pushing rod and a hook used to prevent the lock case handle from being opened; the extension leg of the bolt cam is connected to the pushing rod, the bolt cam has a through hole in the center, the bolt pin passes through the through hole of the bolt cam and the spring, and is fixed on the bolt base; one end of the spring is placed on the extension leg of the bolt cam, and the other end is positioned on the lock case base.
9. A modular shipping container, comprising a box,
- and further comprising a traction device to be used in combination with the box, wherein the traction device comprises a traction connector and a traction wheel;
- one traction connector hole and two traction wheel holes are horizontally opened on both of two opposite sides of the bottom of the box, respectively, the traction connector hole is used to connect the traction connector and the box, the traction wheel hole is used to connect the traction wheel and the box, and the two traction wheel holes are symmetrically distributed at two sides of the traction connector hole.
10. The modular shipping container according to claim 9, wherein:
- the box is formed by a top plate, a bottom plate, a front plate, a rear plate and two side plates, and the traction connector hole and the traction wheel holes are opened at front and rear sides of the bottom plate.
11. The modular shipping container according to claim 10, wherein:
- the bottom plate comprises a base plate and a bottom frame, the height of the base plate is greater than the height of the bottom frame, and the traction connector hole and the traction wheel holes are opened on the bottom frame, respectively.
12. The modular shipping container according to claim 9, wherein:
- the traction connector comprises a tubular connecting body and a fitting fastener thereof.
13. The modular shipping container according to claim 9, wherein:
- the traction wheel comprises an insertion stem, a central shaft and rollers, one end of the insertion stem is fixed in the middle of the central shaft, and two ends of the central shaft are installed on the rollers, respectively.
14. A modular shipping container, comprising a box, wherein:
- the box is installed with a lock having an inward opening function;
- the lock comprises a lock rod, a lock case handle connected to the lock rod, and a lock case base fixed on a door; the lock case handle is received inside the lock case base;
- a movable bolt and a pushing rod mechanism are provided inside the lock case base, the movable bolt comprises a bolt cam, a bolt base, a bolt pin and a spring, the pushing rod mechanism comprises a pushing rod used to push the bolt cam to rotate and a mechanism used to push the pushing rod to move;
- the bolt cam has an extension leg used to be connected to the pushing rod and a hook used to prevent the lock case handle from being opened; the extension leg of the bolt cam is connected to the pushing rod, the bolt cam has a through hole in the center, the bolt pin passes through the through hole of the bolt cam and the spring, and is fixed on the bolt base; one end of the spring is placed on the extension leg of the bolt cam, and the other end is positioned on the lock case base.
15. The modular shipping container according to claim 14, wherein:
- the mechanism used to push the pushing rod to move is a handle provided at an inner side of a door plate and connected to the pushing rod.
16. The modular shipping container according to claim 14, wherein:
- the mechanism used to push the pushing rod to move is a knob or handwheel provided at an inner side of a door plate and connected to the pushing rod, the pushing rod fits a shaft sleeve provided on the lock case base, the pushing rod has an external screw thread, and the shaft sleeve is provided with an internal screw thread.
17. The modular shipping container according to claim 14, wherein:
- upper and lower ends of the lock rod pass through lock rod brackets provided at positions near sides of the door plate, respectively, and are connected to upper and lower cylinders; the upper and lower cylinders are used to fit lock bases provided at upper and lower ends of a door frame, respectively.
18. The modular shipping container according to claim 17, wherein:
- the cylinder has a hook shape and is fixed to the lock rod at a fixed angle, the lock base has a rectangular box shape, and a semicircular fixing pin fitting the cylinder is provided inside the lock base.
19. The modular shipping container according to claim 14, wherein:
- a fixing bolt is further provided inside the lock case base.
20. The modular shipping container according to claim 19, wherein:
- the lock case handle is formed of a tube cover, a central panel, and a lateral handle, the lock rod is fixedly connected to the lock case handle through the tube cover, the central panel is concave, on which rectangular holes fitting the sizes of the fixing bolt and the movable bolt are opened and a concave structure intersecting with the rectangular holes in a cross-like manner is provided.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 15, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2014
Inventor: Jen Mei Tai (Guangzhou City)
Application Number: 13/941,553
International Classification: B65D 90/00 (20060101); B65D 88/12 (20060101);