WO2018154423A1

WO2018154423A1 - Multi-box assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2018154423A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/050996
Authority: WO
Inventors: Naresh Kumar; Rajnish Kumar
Original assignee: Pristine Logistics & Infraprojects Pvt. Ltd.
Priority date: 2017-02-21
Filing date: 2018-02-19
Publication date: 2018-08-30
Also published as: CN110446670A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-box assembly for storing at least one article. The assembly comprises of a first box [100] and a second box [100]. The first box comprises of a first top frame [102], a first bottom frame [103] and at least three first side frames [101]. The first bottom frame [103] is spliced with a first plurality of rectangular pipes which is configured to rest upon a first bottom wall. The first top frame [102] and at least three first side frames [101] are spliced with a first top wall and at least three first side walls, respectively. The second box [100] comprises of a second top frame [102], a second bottom frame [103] and at least three second side frames [101]. The assembly also comprises of at least one inter-box connector configured to connect the first box [100] with the second box [100].

Description

MULTI-BOX ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a cargo container shipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a compact and stackable container in a stack arrangement for transportation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transport containers are widely used in shipment of cargo/freight/goods. Such transport containers are suitable for various mediums of transport such as water transport, road transport and rail transport. A conventional transport container usually has dimensions ranging between 20x8x8½ cubic feet and 40x8x8½ (or 9½) cubic feet respectively with carrying capacity of up to 26 to 28 Metric Tons (MT) and weight of 2-3 MT for 20 feet and 3.7-3.9 MT for 40 feet containers. However, these containers cannot be placed one on top of another during a road and train transport since the same may invite collisions with obstacles involving large dimensions and/or low height.

In the present transport container system, there is improper utilization of the actual permitted carrying capacity of wagons for light and medium cargoes on which these containers are loaded. This leads to gross underutilization of capacity of wagons, trains, track, signaling capacity and thus leads to wastage at extremely high commercial rates.

In the present transport container system, the top and side panels are made of steel and floors are made using combinations of steel and wood. The material and design of the floor increases the tare weight of the container and thereby reduces the carrying capacity of the container.

Thus, there is a need for proper utilization of capacity of wagons such as trains, track carrying cargo containers. Also, there is a need to provide a container with reduced tare weight, enhanced volumetric and carrying capacity. Further, there exists a requirement of a stacking arrangement for carrying the containers effectively during storage and/or transport. The techniques or approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This section is provided to introduce certain objects and aspects of the present invention in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-box stack arrangement for storage or transport.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-box container arrangement for adequate utilization cargo space of wagons, trains, track.

It is yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-box arrangement having improved corner casting design and positioning.

It is yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-box with improved floor for achieving reduced tare weight.

Accordingly, in order to achieve one or more aforementioned objects, the present invention relates to a multi-box assembly for storing at least one article. The assembly comprises of a first box and a second box. The first box comprising of a first top frame, a first bottom frame and at least three first side frames, wherein the first bottom frame is spliced with a first plurality of rectangular pipes and the first plurality of rectangular pipes is configured to rest a first bottom wall. Further, the first top frame and at least three first side frames are spliced with a first top wall and at least three first side walls, respectively. The second box comprising of a second top frame, a second bottom frame and at least three second side frames, wherein the second bottom frame is spliced with a second plurality of rectangular pipes and the second plurality of rectangular pipes is configured to rest a second bottom wall. The second top frame and at least three second side frames are spliced with a second top wall and at least three second side walls, respectively. The multi-box assembly further comprising at least one inter-box connector configured to connect the first box with the second box, wherein the at least one inter-box connector is configured to connect the first top wall of the first box with the second bottom wall of the second box. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed apparatus in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Also, the embodiments shown in the figures are not to be construed as limiting the invention, but the possible variants of the system according to the invention are illustrated herein to highlight the advantages of the invention. The preferred embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawing:

Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a box of the multi-box arrangement, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 (a) illustrates a top view of the box, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 (b) illustrates a side view of the box, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 (a) and 3 (b) illustrates an isometric view of a corner casting of the box, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates a door of the box, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a multi-box assembly comprising of two boxes placed in a double stack arrangement, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. Also, the well-known structures and devices are shown in line diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. The present invention relates to a multi-box assembly for storing at least one article, the multi- box assembly comprising at least a first box and a second box assembled in a stack arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, the first box and the second box may be a box for shipment of cargo/freight/goods. The box can be used in multi stack assembly for transportation on electrified wired railway tracks.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the box [100] comprises of at least three side frames [101], a top frame [102], a bottom frame [103] (not depicted/shown in the figure), at least one corner casting [104] and a door system [105].

In the present invention, the height and width of the box [100] have been modified, keeping in view the functionality, to cater to a few requirements from usage perspective. In one embodiment of the invention, the height of the box [100] has been substantially reduced to 1930 mm and the width of the boxes [100] has been substantially increased to 2600 mm to match with the maximum width allowed on means of transport such as road, rail track, etc. In a preferred embodiment, gross load capacity of the box [100] had been increased to 34.0T.

As illustrated in Figure 2(a) and Figure 2(b), the three side frames [101] of the box [100] are spliced with three side walls respectively. The three side frames [101] may be spliced with the three side walls using a fastening mechanism such as welding. Similarly, the top frame [102] of the box is spliced with a top wall. The top frame [102] may be spliced with the top wall using a fastening mechanism such as welding. The three side frames [101] and the top frame [102] have new and unique configuration in terms of dimensions to increase the internal width of the box [100] than the boxes existing in the prior art. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the height of the three side frames [101] has been substantially reduced to 1930 mm and the width of the three side frames [101] has been substantially increased to 2600 mm to match with the maximum width allowed on various means of transport such as road, rail track, etc. The breadth of the top wall has been has been substantially increased to 2600 mm to match with the maximum width allowed on various means of transport such as road, rail track, etc. The three side walls and the top wall are made up of a material of sturdier strength, such as steel, than the existing boxes in the prior art.

The bottom frame of the box [100] may be spliced to a plurality of rectangular pipes. The bottom frame may be spliced to the rectangular pipes using a fastening mechanism, such as welding. The rectangular pipes are arranged in a pattern and spliced to the bottom frame of the box [100]. In a preferred embodiment, the rectangular pipes are arranged in a pattern wherein the rectangular pipes are parallel to each other. The rectangular pipes are configured to rest a bottom wall. The structure of the bottom frame/wall [103] is of different construction from the bottom frame/wall of existing boxes known in the prior art. The bottom wall rests on rectangular pipes of different shapes and sizes, made up of steel and designed to facilitate higher strength for enhanced gross load carrying capacity and volume. The bottom wall of the box [100] is unique, being made up of sheets of aluminium alloy or fibre reinforced polymer (F P) instead of heavy materials, such as wood or steal, as existing in the prior art. The use of aluminium or FRP for the bottom wall reduces the tare weight of the box [100] and hence the overall carrying capacity of the box [100] can be enhanced and accommodated accordingly. The designing and material selection for the bottom wall [103] such as the use of aluminium or FRP, in accordance with the invention, has been done in such a way to make it economically efficient from the perspective of cargo handling both manually and with the material handling equipment like Forklifts.

The box [100] also comprises of at least one corner casting [104] positioned at the corners of the box [100]. The design and positions of the corner casting [104] have been modified to facilitate wider box [100] loading and unloading using existing equipment and using existing wagons in the stack arrangement. The corner casting [104] comprises of eight steel casting components which are the main load bearing components of the box as depicted in Figure 3 (a) and 3 (b). The corner casting [104] have special sized holes on three faces to facilitate loading and unloading, on road and railway wagons using the box handling equipment. The design of the corner casting [104] and its position on the box is carefully adopted keeping in mind the cross balancing of other components and the compatibility for the cross functioning of various components of the box and as per the design of the external handling equipment and the various mode of transport and its specific safety parameters. The corner castings [104] are configured to allow the box [100] to be able to be locked together both horizontally and vertically. The corner castings [104] also allow the box [100] to be connected to other structures such as transport modes including ship, rail, and road. In a preferred embodiment, the corner castings [104] are positioned at the corners of the boxes [100]. Additionally, the corner castings [104] are further configured to allow the box [100] to be picked up and moved around as required. The box [100] further comprises of a door system [105] in accordance with Figure 1 and Figure 4 of the present invention. The door system [105] has been modified in accordance with overall changes in the box in the context of material, carrying capacity, flooring, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the total width of the door system [105] is configured to match the modified width of the box [100] in accordance of the invention. In an embodiment, the door system [105] may comprise of double doors fitted spliced to one of the side frame [101] of the box [100] and hinged so as to maximise the size of the opening when both the doors are swung open. In an another embodiment, the door system [105] may comprise of a single door spliced to one side of the door system [105] of the box [100] and configured to open by sliding against at least one edge of the door system [100]. Additionally, the gating system of the present invention applies state of the art technology to provide a more secure/safe, watertight and airtight box [100]. The gating system is configured to secure the doors in the closed position. As an illustration, the gating system can comprise of two locking bars on each door of the door system [105] which can rotate so that the handles of the doors lock into keepers and the locking bars are secured.

The multi-box assembly also comprises of an inter box connector (IBC) which is an independent component. The IBC is used for securing two boxes [100] in a stack arrangement. A special design of IBC has been done to utilise maximum height of the box. The inter-box connector is configured to connect the top wall of the first box [100] with the bottom wall of the second box [100]. In a preferred embodiment, the inter box connector may be configured to connect the corner castings [104] of the top wall of the first box [100] with the corner castings [104] of the bottom wall of the second box [100]. The inter box connector comprises of an elongated protrusion which is configured to interlink to the special sized holes of the corner castings [104] of the first box [100] and the corner castings [104] of the second box [100]. The inter box connector further has a secure mechanism to interlock the first box [100] and the second box [100] in a stack arrangement. In another embodiment, the inter box connector comprises of an elongated protrusion which is used to connect the first box [100] with the floor of the transport carrier, such as a railway wagon, or the floor of the port, terminal, yards, assembly or any other storage area.

As depicted in Figure 5, the multi-box assembly [500] may comprise of two boxes [100] which may be placed in a double stack arrangement. As shown in the figure, the second box [100] may be placed over the first box [100] in a double stack arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, the first top wall of the first box [100] is connected to the second bottom wall of the second box [100]. The first box [100] and the second box [100] are secured together using the inter box connector in accordance with the working of the present invention. In another embodiment the boxes [100] may be arranged in a stack arrangement up to four high (three boxes over one base box) while stationary. The stationary boxes may be used in ports, terminals and yards.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments and examples thereof, other embodiments and equivalents are possible. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with functional and procedural details, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in terms of the structuring and implementation within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms. Thus various modifications are possible of the presently disclosed system and method without deviating from the intended scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

We claim

1. A multi-box assembly for storing at least one article, the assembly comprising:

- a first box [100] comprising a first top frame [102], a first bottom frame [103] and at least three first side frames [101], wherein

the first bottom frame [103] is spliced with a first plurality of rectangular pipes, the first plurality of rectangular pipes configured to rest a first bottom wall, and the first top frame [102] and at least three first side frames [101] are spliced with a first top wall and at least three first side walls, respectively;

- a second box [100] comprising a second top frame [102], a second bottom frame [103] and at least three second side frames [101], wherein

the second bottom frame [103] is spliced with a second plurality of rectangular pipes,

the second plurality of rectangular pipes configured to rest a second bottom wall, and

the second top frame [102] and at least three second side frames are spliced with a second top wall and at least three second side walls, respectively; and

- at least one inter-box connector configured to connect the first box [100] with the second box [100], wherein the at least one inter-box connector is configured to connect the first top wall of the first box with the second bottom wall of the second box.

2. The assembly as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a corner casting [104] positioned at the corners of the first box [100] and the second box [100].

3. The assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the corner casting [104] has a plurality of cavity to facilitate loading and unloading of the at least one article.

4. The assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first plurality of rectangular pipes is of different sizes.

5. The assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second plurality of rectangular pipes is of different sizes.

6. The assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first base wall and the second base wall is made of one of sheet of aluminium alloy and fibre reinforced polymer.