Bulk material cargo container liner with internal restraint system for preventing the outward bulging of the liner

Abstract

A bulk container liner assembly for use in conjunction with a bulk material cargo container comprises structure incorporated therein such that restraint forces are impressed upon or transmitted to the back or rear wall member of the bulk material cargo container liner, along linearly seamed loci, so as to effectively prevent the back or rear wall member of the bulk material cargo container liner from experiencing or undergoing any outward bulging thereof under the influence of the hydrostatic head load forces generated internally within the bulk material cargo container liner as a result of the charging of bulk cargo material into the interior portion of the bulk material cargo container liner.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application is a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 654,067 which was filed on Sep. 4, 2003 in the name of Michael J. McMahon et al. and which is entitled BULK MATERIAL CARGO CONTAINER LINER WITH INTERNAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING THE OUTWARD BULGING OF THE LINER.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to bulk material cargo containers within which fluid-like or flowable bulk cargo materials, such as, for example, dry bulk chemicals, powdered and pelletized resins, flour, coffee beans, grain, and the like, are to be housed or contained while being shipped, transported, or stored, and more particularly to a new and improved bulk material cargo container liner, for use in conjunction with such bulk material cargo containers, wherein the new and improved bulk material cargo container liner is characterized by means of an internal structural system which e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a new and improved bulk material cargo container liner that uses a plurality of gusset members. These gusset members are placed within the liner and are positioned across its width. The gusset members are attached to the interior surface of the rear wall and floor of the liner, creating a more stable and secure attachment compared to conventional methods. The gusset members are also reinforced by the weight and hydrostatic head forces of the bulk material within the liner. Additionally, auxiliary strapping is fixed to the external surface of the liner to prevent movement or collapse during unloading operations. Overall, this new liner design provides improved stability and security for the bulk material cargo."

Problems solved by technology

While the aforenoted removable bulk material cargo container liners have obviously performed satisfactorily from an overall point of view in connection with the achievement of their primary objectives, such removable bulk material cargo container liners have exhibited several operational and structural difficulties.

It is therefore readily appreciated that these systems are structurally complex and time-consuming to erect or install.

In addition, such bulkhead structures add a significant amount of weight to the gross weight of the cargo load to be transported or shipped, and they do not always enable the viewing of the interior of the bulk material cargo container liner and the bulk material cargo container whereby, for example, monitoring of the inflation or expansion of the bulk material cargo container liner, and the charging of the bulk materials into the bulk material cargo container liner, are not always able to be readily achieved.

Continuing further, as disclosed within all of the aforenoted Matias patents, relatively complex reinforcing systems, comprising a plurality of reinforcing straps disposed both internally and externally of the bulk material cargo container liners, are utilized.

While such reinforcing systems ostensibly serve to in fact reinforce the rear end wall member of the bulk material cargo container liner, such systems pose potentially defective problems, and in addition, such reinforcing systems are costly to fabricate and implement.

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