Pressure differential discharge system for a shipping container and methods of use

Abstract

A pressure differential discharge system is provided for use with a shipping container. The pressure differential discharge system includes a manifold having a mock hatch configured for attachment about a manhole of the shipping container; a mating plate attached to the mock hatch and defining a valve aperture therethrough, the mating plate shaped complementary to the spillbox, wherein the mating plate and spillbox mate, the valve of the spillbox extending through the valve aperture of the mating plate for discharge of the shipping container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Shipping containers can be used to carry a variety of liquids ranging from toxic chemicals to consumables such as wine and other beverages. When a shipping container is used to carry a chemical, for instance, from a loading point to a destination point, the shipping container must be cleaned thoroughly of chemical residue in order to reload the shipping container with another chemical. Often, the destination point may not have a cleaning station, so the shipping container must be shipped empty to a distant cleaning station to clean the chemical residue. This is inefficient and costly due to an empty transport or required repositioning of the shipping container. Even if the cleaning station is at the destination point, conventional cleaning of the cargo container is relatively expensive and inconvenient. Conventional cleaning is environmentally unfriendly due to hundreds of gallons of wastewater produced by such cleaning. Moreover, whether the shippin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention is directed in general to a pressure differential discharge manifold system, which includes a mock hatch or manlid having a built-in mating plate for use with a spillbox system. The hatch permits rapid discharge of various liquids through a valve system of a spillbox without requiring additional hoses, piping or coupling joints. Since the liquid cargo does not flow through a pump, no bruising or destabilization of the liquid cargo occurs, which is a common problem with wine and latex. Additionally, the components of the hatch are simple to manufacture, install and use. Other advantages of various embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the attached drawings, or can be learned through practice of the invention.

[0008]In one aspect of the invention, a pressure differential discharge manifold for use with a spillbox includes a mock hatch configured for attachment about a manhole of a shipping container; a mating plate attached to the mock hatch and defining a valve aperture therethrough, the mating plate shaped complementary to the spillbox, wherein the mating plate and spillbox mate, a valve of the spillbox extending through the valve aperture of the mating plate for discharge of the shipping container. In this aspect, the mock hatch and the mating plate are made of metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, and the like. Since the pressure differential discharge manifold is robustly constructed to withstand pressures of about 4 BAR to about 6 BAR, it can weigh approximately 60 pounds; therefore, one or more carrying handles are attached to the pressure differential discharge manifold to facilitate its portability and positioning.

Problems solved by technology

Since the liquid cargo does not flow through a pump, no bruising or destabilization of the liquid cargo occurs, which is a common problem with wine and latex.

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