TRANSPORT CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to containers employed in
containerization, and, more particularly, to a transport container capable of being used in railway.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Containerization is an intermodal freight transport system using
standard intermodal containers. The standard intermodal containers (hereinafter referred to as conventional containers) can be loaded and transported by container ships, railroad cars, planes, and trucks. The conventional containers are built on standards and specifications set by International Organization for Standardization (ISO). For transportation of the conventional containers by railroad cars, the conventional containers need to have dimensions within existing maximum moving dimensions of railways. The conventional containers used for transporting goods on railroad cars have less volumetric and payload capacity and such large number of conventional containers have to be employed for transporting goods in bulk.
[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a transport container with an
increased volumetric and payload capacity as compared to the conventional containers.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the
general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a transport container with an increased volumetric and payload capacity, to include all advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent in the prior art.
[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a transport
container having an increased volumetric and payload capacity as compared to a conventional container.
[0006] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a transport
container with increased volumetric and payload capacity and having dimensions within existing maximum moving dimensions of railways.
[0007] To achieve the above objects, in one aspect disclosed is transport
container having a base-floor. The base-floor may include set of base corner castings, a pair of base headers connecting the base corner castings, a middle support member extending between the pair of base headers and connecting the pair of base headers centrally, a plurality of cross members disposed laterally between the pair of base headers in a manner such that the plurality of cross members extend laterally beyond the set of base corner castings, a pair of bottom rails running parallely to the middle support member and connecting the plurality of cross members on end portions on each side of the plurality of cross members, and a set of base attachment members disposed on end portions of the pair of bottom rails. Further, the transport container may include a roof panel spaced apart from the base-floor. The roof panel may include a corrugated sheet member, a set of roof corner castings disposed at corners of the corrugated sheet member, a pair of roof headers connecting the set of roof corner castings along a width of the corrugated sheet member, a pair of sheet panels extending laterally beyond a width of the corrugated sheet member and angularly from longitudinal edges of the corrugated sheet member, a pair of first top rails carried by longitudinal edges of the corrugated sheet member, a pair of second top rails respectively carried by longitudinal edges of the pair of sheet panels, the pair of second top rails parallely spaced apart from the corresponding pair of first top rails, and a set of roof attachment members carried by end portions of the pair of second top rails and positioned diagonally to the set of roof corner castings. Furthermore, the transport container may include a set of corner posts capable of attaching the set of base corner castings and the set of roof corner castings. Also, the transport container may include a set of outer posts capable of attaching the set of base attachment members and the set of roof attachment members.
[0008] These together with the other aspects of the present disclosure,
along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specified objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become
better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is perspective view of a base-floor of a transport container,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of a roof panel of the transport container;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base-floor attached with set of
corner posts and a set of outer posts, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the base-floor, the roof panel, the
set of corner posts and the set of outer posts second sidewall, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the transport container;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of the transport container depicting a front
wall; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of the transport container depicting a pair of
doors.
[0017] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
description of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0018] The exemplary embodiments described herein in detail for
illustrative purposes are subject to many variations. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular transport container, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0019] The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations
thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Further, the terms, "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.
[0020] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a transport container
having an increased volumetric and payload capacity capable of transporting goods in large volumes on a railroad car of railways.
[0021] Referring now to the FIGS. 1 to 6, a transport container 1000 is
provided, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The transport container 1000 includes a base-floor 100, as shown in FIG. 1. The base-floor 100 may include a set of base corner castings such as base corner castings 10, 12, 14, 16. Further, the base-floor 100 may include a pair of base headers 20, 22. The pair of base headers 20, 22 are
configured to attach the base corner castings 10, 12, 14, 16. More specifically, the base header 20 may be configured to connect with the base corner castings 10, 16 and the base header 22 may be configured to connect with the base corner castings 12, 14. Furthermore, the base-floor 100 may include a middle support member 30 extending between the pair of base headers 20, 22 and connecting the pair of base headers 20, 22 centrally. Also, the base-floor 100 may include a plurality of cross members (hereinafter referred to as cross members 40) disposed laterally between the pair of base headers 20, 22. The cross members 40 may be disposed between the pair of base headers 20, 22 in a manner such that the plurality of cross members extend laterally beyond the base corner castings 10, 12 on one side and the base corner castings 14, 16 on the other side of the base-floor 100.
[0022] Additionally, the base-floor 100 may include a pair of bottom rails
50, 60 running parallely to the middle support member 30 and connecting end portion 42 of each of the cross members 40 on each side of the plurality of cross members. Also, the base-floor 100 may include a set of base attachment members such as base attachment members 70, 72, 74, 76. The base attachment members 70, 72 may be disposed on end portions 52, 54 of the bottom rail 50 and the base attachment members 77, 74 may be disposed on end portions 62, 64 of the bottom rail 60. Also, the base-floor 100 may include a set of plywood sheet 80 fitted on the cross members 40. The base-floor 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may be made of a material having sufficient rigidity such that the base-floor 100 may be capable of bearing a load without experiencing excessive deflection. Examples of material of construction of the base-floor 100 may include but not limited to aluminum, steel, laminated wood, planks and plywood. It is to be understood that the material of the base-floor 100 should not be considered as a limitation to the present disclosure.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the transport container 1000 may include a
roof panel 200. The roof panel 200 may be spaced part from the base-floor 100. The roof panel 200 may include a corrugated sheet member 210. Further, the roof panel 200 may include a set of roof corner castings such as roof corner castings 220, 222, 224, 226 disposed at corners of the corrugated sheet member 210. Also, the roof panel 200 may include a pair of roof headers 230, 240 connecting the set of roof corner castings along a width of the corrugated sheet member 210. More specifically, the roof header 230 may
connect the roof corner castings 220, 226. Similarly, the roof header 240 may connect the roof corner castings 222, 224.
[0024] Further, the roof panel 200 may include a pair of sheet panels 250,
260 extending laterally beyond the width of the corrugated sheet member 210 and angularly from longitudinal edges 212, 214 of the corrugated sheet member 210 respectively.
[0025] Furthermore, the roof panel 200 may include a pair of first top rails
270, 272 carried by the longitudinal edges 212, 214 of the corrugated sheet member 210 respectively. The roof panel 200 may also include a pair of second top rails 280, 282 respectively carried by longitudinal edges 252, 262 of the pair of sheet panels 250, 260. The pair of second top rails 280, 282 may be parallely spaced apart from the corresponding pair of first top rails 270, 272.
[0026] Also, the roof panel 200 may include a set of roof attachment
members 290, 292, 294, 296 carried by the pair of second top rails 280, 282. The set of roof attachment members 290, 292, 294, 296 may be positioned diagonally to the set of roof corner castings 220, 222, 224, 226 respectively. The roof panel 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may be made of a material having sufficient rigidity, which is lightweight and non-corrosive. A suitable example of such a lightweight and non-corrosive material may include, but is not limited to, aluminum and steel. It is to be understood that the material of the roof panel 200 should not be considered as a limitation to the present disclosure. Also, the roof panel 200 may be manufactured by using a suitable manufacturing method, such as machining, casting, and molding, or any other suitable method. It is to be understood that the manufacturing method of the roof panel 200 should not be considered as a limitation to the present disclosure.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, the transport container 1000 may include a set
of corner posts such as the corner ports 300, 310, 320, 330. The set of corner posts 300, 310, 320, 330 may be configured to attach the set of base corner castings 10, 12, 14, 16 and the set of roof corner castings 220, 222, 224, 226.
[0028] Again referring to FIG. 3, the transport container 1000 may include
a set of outer posts such as outer posts 400, 410, 420, 430. The outer posts 400, 410, 420,
430 may be configured to attach the set of base attachment members 70, 72, 74, 76 and the set of roof attachment members 290,292, 294, 296 respectively.
[0029] Now referring to FIG. 4, the transport container 1000 may include
a plurality of corner walls such as a first corner wall 500, a second corner wall 510, a third corner wall 520, and a fourth corner wall 530. Each corner wall such as the first corner wall 500, the second corner wall 510, the third corner wall 520, and the fourth corner wall 530 may be adapted to extend between a corner post such as the corner post 300, 310, 320, 330 and an adjacent outer post such as the outer post 400, 410, 420, 430 respectively.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, the transport container 1000 may include a
first sidewall 600. The first sidewall 600 extends longitudinally between the first corner wall 500 and the second corner wall 510. The first sidewall 600 may be adapted to cover end portions (not shown) of the plurality of cross members extending beyond the base corner castings 10, 12 on one side of the base-floor 100. Similarly, the transport container 1000 may include a second sidewall 700. The second sidewall 700 may be adapted to cover end portions (not shown) of the plurality of cross members extending beyond the base corner castings 14, 16 on other side of the base-floor 100. Further, the transport container 1000 may include a front wall 800 (as shown in FIG. 6) disposed between the second corner wall 510 and the third corner wall 520. Furthermore, the transport container 1000 may include a pair of doors 900, 910 (as shown in FIG. 7) capable of being hingedly attached with the first corner wall 500 and the fourth corner wall 530 respectively. Further, the first sidewall 600, the second sidewall 700, and the front wall 800 may be made of a non-corrosive material such as aluminum and steel. It is to be understood that the material of the first sidewall 600, the second sidewall 700, and the front wall 800 should not be considered as a limitation to the present disclosure. Moreover, the first sidewall 600, the second sidewall 700, and the front wall 800 may be manufactured by using a suitable manufacturing method, such as machining, casting, and molding, or any other suitable method. It is to be understood that the manufacturing method of the first sidewall 600, the second sidewall 700, and the front wall 800 should not be considered as a limitation to the present disclosure. The pair of doors 900, 910, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may be made of a material having sufficient rigidity. Examples of material of construction of the pair of doors 900,
910 may include but not limited to aluminum, steel, plywood and combinations thereof. It is to be understood that the material of the door should not be considered as a limitation to the present disclosure.
[0031] In use, the base-floor 100, the roof panel 200, the corner posts 300,
310, 320, 330, the outer posts 400, 410, 420, 430, the first corner wall, the second corner wall 510, the third corner wall 520 and the fourth corner wall 530 may be configured to form a rectangular structure (not numbered). The first sidewall 600, the second sidewall 700, the front wall 800, the pair of doors 900, 910 may be fitted on the rectangular structure by any of the known methods of attachment. Examples of the methods of attachment may include but not limited to machining and welding. However, it is to be understood that the methods of attachment as referred to herein should not be considered as a limitation to the present disclosure. The transport container 1000 may be capable of storing and transporting goods (not shown). The transport container 1000 is capable of being hauled in a railway for transporting the goods. Further, the base corner castings 10, 12, 14, 16 disposed on the base-floor 100 and the roof corner castings 220, 222, 224, 226 disposed on the roof panel 200 also provide a means for locking the transport container 1000 into a place on a railroad car of a railway and for lifting the transport container 1000 by a container crane and/or a sidelifter.
[0032] The extended base-floor 100 and the roof panel 200 extending
outwardly provide additional space for storage of goods without compromising on the parameters set by ISO with regard to the specification of conventional container. The outward extension of the base-floor 100 and the roof panel 200 increases pay load capacity of the transport container 1000 in comparison to the conventional containers. The structural configuration of the transport container 1000 is such that the dimensions of the transport container 1000 lie within the existing maximum moving dimensions of the railway. Also, the structural configuration of the transport container 1000 has been customized to allow loading and unloading of the transport container 1000 from railway wagons and rail trailers with the help of conventional equipments.
[0033] In one embodiment, the base-floor 100 and the roof panel 200 may
extend width of the transport container 1000 by about 100 millimeter to about 300 millimeter on both sides and the overall width of the transport container 1000 may be
about 2640 millimeter to about 3040 millimeter. However, it may be noted that the dimensions of the frame structure 100 has not been altered and as such the dimensions of the transport container 1000 lies within the existing maximum moving dimensions of the railway. Further, the transport container 1000 of the present disclosure is capable of carrying about 31 tonnes to about 32 tonnes of goods compared to the conventional containers with the carrying capacity of 28 tonnes. Further, care has been taken to keep tare weight of the transport container 1000 similar to the conventional containers. In one embodiment, the tare weight of the transport container 1000 may be about 2.7 - 2.8 tonnes, whereas the tare weight of a conventional container is about 2.5 tonnes. Further, the structural configuration of the transport container 1000 has increased the volumetric capacity of the transport container 1000 by about 17 percent as compared to the conventional containers. Also, the transport container 1000 is capable of carrying more white goods and FMCG goods as compared to the conventional containers. For example, the transport container 1000 may carry about 25 percent extra plastic granules as compared to the conventional containers, about 20 percent extra FMCG goods as . compared to the conventional containers, about 30 scooters/motorcycles which is statistically 25 percent extra as compared to the conventional containers. However, it is to be understood that the examples as provided are set forth herein for purposes of illustration and that the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples and embodiments.
[0034] The present disclosure provides a transport container such the
transport container 1000, having an increased volumetric and payload capacity capable of transporting goods in large volumes on a railroad car of railways. The dimensions of the transport container of the present disclosure conform to the existing maximum moving dimensions of the railway. Further, the transport container provides an efficient means of storing and transporting goods in large volumes.
[0035] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present
disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others
skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.

CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A transport container comprising:
a base-floor, the base-floor comprising
a set of base corner castings,
a pair of base headers connecting the base corner castings,
a middle support member extending between the pair of base headers and connecting the pair of base headers centrally,
a plurality of cross members disposed laterally between the pair of base headers in a manner such that the plurality of cross members extend laterally beyond the set of base corner castings,
a pair of bottom rails running parallely to the middle support member and connecting the plurality of cross members on end portions on each side of the plurality of cross members, and
a set of base attachment members disposed on end portions of the pair of bottom rails;
a roof panel spaced apart from the base-floor, the roof panel comprising
a corrugated sheet member,
a set of roof corner castings disposed at corners of the corrugated sheet member,
a pair of roof headers connecting the set of roof corner castings along a width of the corrugated sheet member,
a pair of sheet panels extending laterally beyond a width of the corrugated sheet member and angularly from longitudinal edges of the corrugated sheet member,
a pair of first top rails carried by longitudinal edges of the corrugated sheet member,
a pair of second top rails respectively carried by longitudinal edges of the pair of sheet panels, the pair of second top rails parallely spaced apart from the corresponding pair of first top rails, and
a set of roof attachment members carried by end portions of the pair of second top rails and positioned diagonally to the set of roof corner castings;
a set of corner posts capable of attaching the set of base corner castings and the set of roof corner castings; and
a set of outer posts capable of attaching the set of base attachment members and the set of roof attachment members.
2. The transport container of claim 1, wherein the base-floor comprises a set of plywood sheet fitted on the plurality of cross members.
3. The transport container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of corner walls, wherein a corner wall of the plurality of corner walls is adapted to extend between a corner post of the set of corner posts and an adjacent outer post of the set of outer posts.
4. The transport container of claim 1, further comprising
a first sidewall extending longitudinally between a first corner wall and a second . corner wall of the plurality of corner walls and covering end portions of the plurality of cross members extending beyond the set of base corner castings on one side of the base-floor,
a second sidewall extending longitudinally between a third corner wall and a fourth corner wall of the plurality of corner walls covering end portions of the plurality of cross members extending beyond the set of base corner castings on other side of the base-floor,
a front wall extending between the second corner wall and the third corner wall on a front side of transport container, and
a pair of door members opposite to the front wall and extending between base corner castings and roof corner castings.