MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINER FOR BULK GOODS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mobile storage container for bulk goods in the form of a container unit, wherein the container unit is dimensioned such that it can be transported on public roads and squares without requiring a special permit, so that the storage container is a mobile storage container.

[0002] The storage container is designed to allow the mobile storage of bulk material, preferably road salt, grit, or sand for winter road maintenance, meaning that this storage container can be transported from one location to another. In the following, "storage container" will be understood to mean a container that stores bulk material, while a "transport container" is a container used to move goods from one location to another, followed by the prompt unloading of the transported goods. However, the present invention concerns a storage container in which bulk materials are intended to be stored for extended periods, and these storage containers are also intended to be transportable on public roads and squares using conventional means of transport such as trucks without requiring a special permit.

[0003] Storage and transport containers for the daily handling of bulk goods are well-known. A wide variety of storage and / or transport tasks exist, for which suitable containers, usually tailored to individual transport requirements, are offered. Loading and unloading transport vehicles, especially when dealing with bulk goods, is not trivial and may require additional intermediate containers, both during the loading and unloading of the bulk goods and during any necessary transshipment operations.

[0004] Standard commercial containers exist, for example, as roll-off or skip containers, just like ISO shipping containers in terms of their dimensions. These containers for bulk goods often have discharge devices located at the bottom of the container, which use gravity to discharge the bulk material downwards. This occurs below the lowest point of the container in its operating position. This emptying principle requires that the necessary conveying equipment, which collects and transports the bulk material falling from the container, is located below the container, that the container is positioned high enough during emptying to allow for direct transfer of the bulk material into the subsequent unit of use, or that the bulk material is tipped onto the ground.The container is emptied onto the ground, requiring additional machinery such as a wheel loader to further transport the dumped bulk material. The subsequent conveying or handling equipment is either stationary or semi-mobile and is always separate from the container itself. The interface between transport, storage, and use of the bulk materials presents the greatest challenges for fully mobile systems.

[0005] Additionally, it should be noted—and this represents a significant limitation—that the weight restrictions for vehicles on public roads, specifically those with swap bodies or containers of various designs, limit the full utilization of the container's capacity. Examples include road vehicles and rail vehicles. Regarding the weight limit for transport with a truck licensed for public roads, a three-axle truck, for instance, has a maximum permissible gross weight of 26 tons, while a truck and trailer combination has a maximum permissible gross weight of 40 tons. Subtracting the unladen weight of the respective vehicles, this results in a maximum payload of 13 tons for a three-axle truck and 25 tons for a truck and trailer combination. The loading volume for a three-axle truck is up to 40 m³, and for a truck and trailer combination up to 100 m³. These figures refer to the permitted values ​​in Germany.Other countries may have different figures. However, this means that, based on the density of the bulk goods being transported, vehicles cannot completely fill their containers when loading heavy bulk materials. This is referred to as the containers not being fully unloaded, meaning that the entire loading volume cannot be utilized because otherwise the permissible total weight would be exceeded. This results in a significant discrepancy between the potential loading volume of trucks and the corresponding payload in terms of weight.

[0006] Many trucks use swap bodies such as ISO containers, swap bodies, and also skip and roll-off containers. However, the aforementioned discrepancies between volume and weight exist for these swap bodies as well. With well-known container services, a roll-off or skip container is typically delivered to the customer by container truck, who then fills it. Afterward, it is reloaded by the container truck. This is particularly problematic when the customer is not sufficiently aware of the load quantities and the containers are overloaded. In fact, there have been instances where the container trucks were unable to move the overloaded containers at all.

[0007] This leads to further problems, especially when vehicles cannot carry enough bulk material for a given operation and therefore have to constantly return to the base for reloading. This is particularly relevant for winter road maintenance, where relatively small vehicles have to handle heavy bulk materials such as grit for roads and paths. The relatively small quantities being transported are quickly used up, so that the return travel time to the base can sometimes exceed the actual operating time. This is especially problematic in winter road maintenance because it increases the time required to de-icer and / or thaw public roads and paths with grit and / or salt.

[0008] The most common and standard storage containers are stationary tower silos, which are built on substantial foundations. Despite their relatively great height, the loading volume achieved with these storage systems is relatively small, necessitating frequent refilling, which is very often accomplished by pneumatic conveying of the material. The small loading volumes also present the problem that, especially on weekends or holidays when suppliers of the bulk material are not delivering, a continuous supply of the material cannot be guaranteed around the clock. Tower silo operators can only remedy this by having a permanent storage building where the bulk material is stored, allowing it to be loaded onto a suitable transport vehicle and transported to the tower silo for refilling.The permanent warehouse thus combines all the disadvantages of a central warehouse.

[0009] As already mentioned, the limited storage capacity and the stationary arrangement of storage containers such as tower silos are particularly important for winter services.

[0010] The storage of bulk materials, especially de-icing materials such as salt and grit for winter road maintenance, primarily takes place in permanent structures like halls with capacities of several hundred cubic meters, as well as in tower silos. Generally, a distinction is made between mobile tower silos with storage volumes of up to 10 cubic meters and permanent tower silos with storage volumes exceeding 10 cubic meters. In addition, there are so-called grit bins with very small volumes, which are typically used only for smaller spreading areas such as sidewalks and similar surfaces.

[0011] Storing the grit required for winter road maintenance in covered storage facilities such as warehouses, ensuring dry conditions, allows for the storage of a sufficient quantity. However, a disadvantage is that these warehouses are stationary and often require long travel distances, necessitating relatively long empty runs for the vehicles to refill their grit bins. The larger the service area of ​​the winter road maintenance vehicles, or the further away the service area is from the storage location, the longer these empty runs back to the storage site become, thus increasing the time required for these increasingly longer empty runs. This, in turn, reduces the effective operating time of the grit vehicles during winter road maintenance.This is particularly disadvantageous in practical implementation, since according to current legal practice, a so-called cycle time of 3 hours must be guaranteed.

[0012] This problem exists in the same way for fixed high silos with a capacity exceeding 10 m³. The larger the storage volume of the high silos, the greater the effort required for structural engineering and foundation design, resulting in a significant additional cost factor. While storing spreading material in mobile high silos for dry storage, such as on company premises, in parking lots, for sidewalks, and in parks, offers the advantage of being able to strategically position these smaller mobile high silos with storage capacities of, for example, 3.5 m³, 5 m³, or 10 m³, their relatively small storage capacity necessitates frequent refilling during extended winter maintenance operations, where multiple vehicles typically need to access spreading material in succession.During prolonged snowfall, this can lead to significant logistical problems with filling, with the result that winter service work cannot be carried out in a quality-assured manner or in a sufficiently short time, which may lead to liability problems for the operators or contractors of the winter service work.

[0013] Furthermore, it should be noted that even mobile silos require specialized equipment for filling and refilling, such as a truck with a suitable loading crane or additional, expensive pneumatic conveying vehicles. When using a loading crane, the necessary overhead filling of high silos takes place at a height of approximately 4.5 to 6.5 meters, depending on the silo size. Another disadvantage is that it is not visible during refilling whether and to what extent the silo is already full. This often leads to problems such as gravel being unloaded next to the filling opening at the end of the filling process.

[0014] Winter maintenance is primarily carried out using trucks, Unimogs, Ladogs, Tremos, and similar vehicles, as these carriers typically have a loading platform for grit. A large loading platform is crucial for carrying grit because winter maintenance requires short turnaround times with minimal empty runs. However, these carriers are expensive to purchase and maintain, especially since year-round utilization is sometimes difficult to achieve. This is particularly true for Unimogs. While smaller vehicles or large tractors are less expensive and offer greater flexibility throughout the year, their limited loading capacity for grit significantly restricts their use.The advantage of large utility vehicles lies precisely in their large loading capacity for grit, which makes it possible to maintain the prescribed short turnaround times for winter road maintenance with few empty runs. Smaller winter service vehicles, due to their smaller grit load capacity, require a relatively high number of empty runs.

[0015] A compact sludge storage and loading system is described in a company brochure from HUNING Maschinenbau. This system consists of a large, stationary container mounted on a foundation and a raised platform. Its dimensions already preclude its suitability for normal, permit-free road use. A further disadvantage of this system is the external attachment of accessories such as a high-lift screw conveyor, which further increases its external dimensions and thus necessitates stationary use only. The described containers are designed for sludge dewatering, with the loading screw conveyor located beneath the container's base. Therefore, this storage container must be mounted on a foundation and raised platform.For flexible use with bulk materials, especially in winter road maintenance when the bulk material is grit, such stationary, i.e. non-mobile, loading containers are extremely disadvantageous for reasons of overall cost.

[0016] The Tiek Anlagen- und Maschinenbau company brochure describes commercially available roll containers and elevated containers that require a height relative to their base such that the discharge device is located at least partially below ground level. This is achieved using rollers and existing rails, which, however, necessitate that the installation or storage location of such containers be on a firm surface, as the rails would otherwise sink into loose soil due to the high surface pressure. This would prevent the containers from being level. Also described in this brochure is a discharge device in such a container in the form of a moving floor discharge system. These containers are primarily used for shavings. This moving floor discharge system is located inside the container above the base.However, these containers are disadvantageous for the intended purpose according to the present invention.

[0017] Furthermore, a company brochure from FSE Pico / Brandt GmbH indicates that containers intended for biogas plants, which may also contain general cargo, must not only be elevated but also positioned at a defined height. The discharge device, which discharges downwards, must be high enough to allow the discharged bulk material to be conveyed from the container into a truck for transport. Document EP 0 678 465 A2 discloses a mobile storage container for storing grit and for transport on public roads and squares without requiring a special permit. This container unit comprises a closed container with side walls, a base, and an intermediate floor located above the base. a) the container of the container unit has such rigidity that the container can be set up on any substantially level ground even when filled, without supports or a foundation; b) wherein a discharge device for the bulk material and a transverse conveying device are integrated into the containers, and a high-lift conveying device connected to the discharge device is integrated into the container unit, the discharge device comprising the transverse conveying device; and c) wherein the bulk material can be discharged from the container unit at a discharge height by means of the discharge device and transferred to the high-lift conveying device, from which the bulk material can be discharged at a drop height which is higher than the discharge height.

[0018] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a storage container whose size is limited in such a way that its maximum dimensions are suitable for trucks approved for public transport on public roads and squares. The aim is to create a mobile storage container which, while it can be temporarily set up at a site of use, from which bulk material can be extracted and which can also be refilled, can nevertheless be easily moved to a new site of use upon completion of the work, thus minimizing empty journeys by the vehicles, especially during winter maintenance.

[0019] This problem is solved with a self-sufficient mobile storage container having the features according to claim 1.

[0020] Further training courses are defined according to the respective dependent requirements.

[0021] According to the invention, a mobile storage container for bulk goods is designed in the form of a container unit, which is dimensioned, i.e., has external dimensions such that it can be transported on public roads and squares without requiring a special permit, using conventional trucks or specially designed vehicles. Furthermore, the container unit comprises a container with side walls, a bottom, which is preferably open or closed, and an intermediate floor arranged above the bottom. Preferably, the intermediate floor extends substantially parallel to the bottom from one side wall to the other.

[0022] According to the invention, the base or container has such rigidity that it can be placed on level ground even when full, meaning that neither a stand nor a foundation is required. Provided the ground is reasonably level, the container can be placed on any type of surface. This could be sandy soil, grass, asphalt, concrete, or simply compacted ground. The rigidity of such a container must be greater than that of a standard transport container. The base is designed so that the container does not sink even on soft ground and can be easily loaded onto a truck after use. The base does not need to be completely enclosed, but it must have a sufficiently large surface area to reduce the ground pressure to prevent sinking.The container incorporates a discharge device for the bulk material and a transverse conveyor. Furthermore, the container unit includes a high-lift conveyor connected to the discharge device and / or the transverse conveyor. Using the discharge device, and optionally after the transverse conveyor, the bulk material is dispensed from the container unit at a discharge height and transferred to the high-lift conveyor. From the high-lift conveyor, the bulk material can be discharged at a height higher than the discharge height. This allows for emptying the container for the purpose of loading a vehicle to transport the unloaded bulk material to its destination, such as spreading grit on roads and squares for winter maintenance. This is possible without having to drive underneath the container, as is necessary with tower silos, or without having to disturb the container or...The container unit must be raised on stilts or placed on a foundation at a defined distance above the ground in order to accommodate any existing equipment below ground level.

[0023] In the mobile storage container solution according to the invention, the underbody essentially rests on the installation site without any external components interfering with the underbody. Preferably, a standardized container is used, which is specifically designed in the usual standardized container dimensions or has been converted from an existing container for use as a mobile storage container. Preferably, roll-off or skip containers are used as mobile storage containers, which can be picked up by vehicles with standard vehicle bodies, transported by them, and then unloaded by them at the point of use.

[0024] The containers constitute the main part of the container unit of the mobile storage container and, according to the invention, are provided with an integrated bulk material discharge in the form of the discharge device. The discharge device includes the transverse conveying device, also referred to here as the collecting conveying device, so that after the bulk material is discharged into the collecting conveying device, it is conveyed to the discharge height by means of the uplift conveying device. The term "integrated discharge device" or "integrated uplift conveying device" means that these devices according to the invention are built into the container unit of the mobile storage container, so that the external dimensions correspond to the standardized container dimensions. If the devices, such as the uplift conveying device, are located on the outside, i.e.,If the attachment is mounted on an outer wall of the container, the container must not be larger than the container's outer dimensions plus the attachment device equal to the maximum width or length as with a standardized container.

[0025] The discharge height, to which the bulk material is conveyed by the high-lift conveyor, is arranged so that it can be directly transferred to vehicles passing below the discharge height. The advantage of such an arrangement is that the container of the mobile storage unit does not need to be tilted for emptying, nor do openings in the walls need to be made. In order for the storage unit to be mobile according to the invention—mobility being understood as the ability to be picked up by conventional transport vehicles such as trucks and transported on public roads from one place of use to another without additional permits—it, or rather the container unit, is dimensioned so that all permissible transport dimensions and, of course, transport weights for transporting the storage unit in public spaces are possible without special authorization.

[0026] According to the general design of the container unit, the material flow, i.e., the movement of the bulk material within the device, while constantly adhering to all permissible external dimensions of the container unit for public road transport, including all integrated components and attachments, is initially designed to be essentially horizontal to the collecting device or the transverse conveying device. The bulk material falls into the collecting device or the transverse conveying device with the aid of gravity and is then conveyed upwards, essentially with a vertical component, by means of the uplift conveying device, to the discharge height, where the conveyed bulk material can be transferred to a processing or further conveying device. The transverse conveying device can be an active conveying element, such as...a screw conveyor or a tubular chain conveyor, but according to the invention it is a passive conveying device in the form of a funnel, in which the conveying is carried out by gravity.

[0027] Because the mobile storage container according to the invention can be placed directly on the ground at the installation site with its base, a very space-saving design is achievable. In particular, no foundations, platforms, or mounting frames are required for the container. Likewise, no stationary emptying devices are necessary, as the mobile storage container is self-sufficient with regard to emptying the bulk material from its interior into commercial vehicles. The conveying device can also have a boom arm that extends to the discharge height. The boom arm is preferably designed with a length that allows vehicles to drive alongside the mobile storage container to pick up the bulk material and conveniently transfer the required amount to the discharge height without any additional conveying equipment.

[0028] Preferably, the container unit is additionally equipped with a loading device, for example in the form of a chute or a hopper, from which the container can be filled with new bulk material by means of an additional integrated conveying unit. This allows the container to fully utilize its volume and, as needed, distribute the bulk material stored in the mobile storage container to commercial vehicles for distribution to the desired locations. The additional conveying unit can be driven and designed separately; however, it can also be combined with the uplift conveying device. Furthermore, it is preferably possible for the bulk material to be evenly distributed inside the container unit by means of an integrated distribution device. This can preferably be combined with the loading device. However, it is also possible for a separate additional unit to be provided for this purpose.

[0029] This innovative mobile storage container, which combines the advantages of a flexible bulk storage system and is equipped for self-sustaining distribution of the bulk material it contains, offers a significant additional function: transport. This allows the container to be moved to any location using standard trucks. Simultaneously, the container unit, including loading and / or unloading equipment, is designed as a single unit. This enables the container unit to be transported and delivered to desired locations using standard trucks, ensuring flexible storage. Previous containers served solely for transport but lacked the self-contained, multifunctional capabilities necessary for effective storage.

[0030] When transporting the mobile storage container, the weight of the bulk material it contains is limited to the maximum payload of the truck. Depending on the density of the bulk material, it may therefore be necessary for the mobile storage container to be partially filled for transport. Instead, it is completely filled at the point of setup, so that the loading of commercial vehicles can then be carried out from a largely full container. This subsequent complete filling ensures that the maximum permissible gross weight of the truck is adhered to during transport, while still providing the full capacity of the mobile storage container for later use. In terms of flexibility and usability, this represents a new level of quality in the provision of bulk materials, particularly, for example, grit for winter road maintenance.This ensures that the mobile storage container according to the invention provides a relatively large storage capacity for bulk goods on site without significant effort, and can also be flexibly transported to other locations. Before returning it or transporting it to another location, it is only necessary to ensure that the container of the mobile storage container unit is emptied to such an extent that the maximum permissible transport weight of a truck is not exceeded when it is loaded onto the truck.

[0031] The container unit incorporates an intermediate floor on which the bulk material is stored. The transfer of the bulk material from the discharge device to the integrated high-lift conveying system takes place in the space between the intermediate floor and the actual container floor, i.e., the bottom. Therefore, no component is located wholly or partially below the base frame of the container or container unit, ensuring installation on level ground.

[0032] To optimally utilize the interior space of the container, the intermediate floor can be designed to be fully or partially inclined. In a preferred embodiment, it would also be possible for the base to not be a continuous floor, but rather for a support frame extending from the hypothetical base to the intermediate floor. The intermediate floor rests on this frame, and a discharge device, for example, is mounted on this frame. While such a design of the container unit is theoretically feasible, it restricts potential installation locations because a firm foundation is required. On soft ground, such as sand, the container and its support frame could sink into the soft soil.

[0033] The key advantage of the invention with a closed base lies precisely in the fact that no further components are attached below the base, so that the container can be placed in almost any location without the need for foundations, platforms, or similar structures. Special requirements for statics or structural analysis for handling the container, which would otherwise be necessary, are therefore eliminated, greatly increasing the flexibility of use of the mobile storage container according to the invention.If the external design of the container unit is such that it corresponds to the simple outer walls of a standard container, ensuring easy and reliable handling despite its mobility for transport, it can be advantageous to locate all components integrated into the container internally. While this limits the storage capacity of the mobile storage container, it guarantees the maximum transport dimensions, allowing the mobile storage container to be transported from one location to another in public spaces without a permit. To achieve this, the drive motor of the transverse conveyor, for example, can also be housed within the container. This, of course, reduces the length of the transverse conveyor; its length must be shortened by the length of the drive unit.In order not to further reduce the possible storage volume in the mobile storage container, the discharge device is preferably provided with appropriate sheet-metal deflectors in the area of ​​these interruptions of, for example, the transverse conveyor device.

[0034] Preferably, the high-lift conveying device is designed as a screw conveyor and is located inside the container. According to a further development, the high-lift conveying screw is mounted on the outside of the container. The use of screw conveyors for transporting bulk materials is particularly effective and can be achieved with moderate drive power. Since the mobile storage container is designed as a self-contained unit, optimizing the required drive energy for the respective integrated functional units is of paramount importance. The transverse conveying device is called a transverse conveying device or collecting conveying device because it typically collects the bulk material from the discharge device and is usually arranged geometrically transversely to the opening of the discharge device.

[0035] Preferably, the discharge device is designed as a push / pull floor and includes ladder stiles and ladder bars. The push / pull floor design has the advantage that it is located on or in the area of ​​the intermediate floor and, through its reciprocating movement, transports the bulk material lying on the push floor to the discharge device. To ensure reliable transport of the bulk material during the reciprocating movement of the push floor, the ladder bars of the push floor have wedges arranged in the same direction, with wedge tips and wedge end faces. The tips all point in the same direction, as do the wedge end faces, which all point in the opposite direction to the wedge tips.This wedge arrangement has the advantage that, depending on the direction of movement of the pusher floor, a wedge end face conveys the bulk material in the respective direction of movement, while the wedge tips, in the corresponding direction of movement, allow the bulk material to slide over the wedges with minimal resistance. If the collecting device or the transverse conveying device is not located at the end of the pusher / puller floor, the wedges on the shorter side of the intermediate floor are arranged opposite to those on the longer side. Thus, when the longer side moves, the pusher floor conveys towards the collecting device, while on the shorter side it passes under the bulk material. When the longer side moves in the opposite direction to the collecting device, the pusher / puller floor conveys on the shorter side, while the longer side passes under the bulk material.

[0036] Preferably, the transverse conveying device or the collecting device is also designed as a transverse screw conveyor, with the screw conveyor being arranged in the intermediate floor. "In the intermediate floor" means that the screw conveyor is located between the intermediate floor and the bottom floor. The integrated discharge device can be designed as a push or pull floor, a push-off wall (so-called walking floor), or a screw conveyor or scraper floor. If the discharge device is designed as a push or pull floor, it is preferably not arranged directly on the intermediate floor, but rather suspended. The preferred distance between the floor and the push or pull floor is between 5 and 10 cm. The suspended design also has the advantages of reduced heat generation and less wear due to friction.Furthermore, the power required to drive the push or pull floor decreases, which in turn is advantageous for the autonomous operation of the mobile storage container and optimal energy consumption.

[0037] For many bulk materials, it is advantageous that the material is collected after the discharge device integrated into the container via a further conveying device, also integrated into the container, for example by means of a screw conveyor. This collecting conveying device is typically arranged below the discharge of the discharge device, but according to the invention, also above the bottom of the container unit. This collecting conveying device can also be designed as a tubular chain conveyor.

[0038] If the collecting conveyor is not located at the end of the discharge device, the discharge device preferably conveys material on both sides of the collecting conveyor, each conveying material towards the collecting conveyor. Thus, this single discharge device provides two different conveying directions towards the collecting conveyor. For example, if the discharge device is designed as a push or pull floor, this would mean that all steep sides of the ladder bars, i.e., the wedge end faces of the push wedges, face the collecting conveyor. The ladder bars, i.e., the push wedges between the cylinder and the collecting conveyor, convey material when the cylinder is moved towards the collecting conveyor, while the ladder bars behind the collecting conveyor convey material when the cylinder is retracted.

[0039] To prevent the collecting conveyor from being overloaded by the pressure of the bulk material above it, a roof-like ridge can be arranged lengthwise above it to relieve this pressure. This roof-like element absorbs the pressure of the bulk material above and transfers it directly into the walls, for example, into the intermediate floor.

[0040] The transfer of bulk material from this collecting conveyor to the uplift conveyor integrated into the container unit preferably takes place at one end of the collecting conveyor, but can also be located, for example, in the middle of it. The uplift conveyor can be designed as a screw conveyor, scraper chain conveyor, conveyor belt, or bucket elevator, in addition to its design as an uplift conveyor. Depending on requirements, the uplift conveyor can be located on any side of the container unit. It can therefore be located at the front, rear, left side wall, or right side wall. The uplift conveyor can be mounted or designed at an angle. However, it is also possible for the uplift conveyor to be mounted essentially vertically on one side of the container or integrated into a side wall.If the uplift conveyor is designed as a tubular chain conveyor, it can be advantageous to combine the tubular chain conveyor of the collecting unit with that of the uplift conveyor and / or to design them as a single unit. When the collecting unit or transverse conveyor and the uplift conveyor are designed as a single unit, this unit is configured so that the conveyor can be changed or reversed during the transport process.

[0041] A chute is preferably arranged at the discharge point of the high-lift conveying system, allowing the discharge height or point to be relocated to an area directly accessible for subsequent use, e.g., by winter service vehicles, gritters, or stationary equipment. It is also preferably possible for the high-lift conveying system to discharge material both behind and in front of the container, or to the left, right, or even offset to multiple sides. This is particularly advantageous because it ensures optimal and variable functionality of bulk material discharge and transfer, even in often limited spaces.To increase the practicality and flexibility of the mobile storage container according to the invention, the conveying device can also be designed to be adjustable in its inclination and rotatable in its discharge direction. This mobility can be achieved either as a whole conveying device or only by rotating the discharge chute. Likewise, the chute can also be equipped with an additional conveying unit, such as another screw conveyor, another tubular chain conveyor, or a conveyor belt, which can be movable or foldable to, for example, extend the horizontal and / or vertical conveying path without increasing the dimensions for transport.

[0042] In another version, the transfer point of the bulk material to the high-level conveying device is already designed as a movable joint.

[0043] According to the invention, a power supply unit for driving the discharge device, the transverse conveyor, and the up-conveyor, as well as any other functional units that may be present, is arranged in the intermediate floor. The power supply unit is thus directly integrated into the container unit. The power supply unit is designed as a piston engine using gasoline or diesel fuel. Energy transmission from the drive motor to the various drives of the different units can be electrical, pneumatic, and / or hydraulic. With direct coupling of the drive motor to a hydraulic pump, only a small generator, for example an alternator, is required to supply power to the control unit. Alternatively, the power supply unit can be implemented via the hydraulics of vehicles or the power take-off shafts of tractors, for small electrical consumers, or by means of a battery.In such a case, the mobile storage container would only be partially self-sufficient with regard to its operation and the guarantee of all integrated functionalities.

[0044] According to a further development, preferably at least part of the intermediate floor can be raised to a defined angle from the horizontal starting position by means of a drive, in particular an additional hydraulic cylinder drive. This makes it possible to convey bulk material from the area where the intermediate floor can be inclined, towards the discharge device, using gravity. This is useful, for example, when a mobile storage container is to be completely emptied at the end of its service life. One advantage of such a device is that tilting the mobile storage container is then unnecessary for complete emptying. For bulk materials that flow very easily, i.e., those with a low angle of repose, the installation of a push / pull floor can be advantageously omitted when using a tiltable floor.

[0045] However, according to a further embodiment, it is also preferably possible to integrate extendable hydraulic cylinders into the underside of the container, by means of which the entire container unit can be tilted. This is again a possible design that is useful for completely emptying the container unit.

[0046] Preferably, the container unit has rollers on mounting rails on the underside, so that the mobile storage container can be transported in the conventional manner by trucks and can be picked up or unloaded beforehand, which are already used for the transport of such containers, as are regularly used, for example, in recycling facilities.

[0047] Furthermore, preferably the container unit is designed with regard to its external dimensions for transport on public roads and squares such as roll-off containers according to DIN30722, skip containers according to DIN20720 or sea containers according to ISO668 in standardized design.

[0048] Preferably, the bulk material used, especially in winter service operations, is road salt, grit, or sand. This represents a preferred application for the mobile storage of de-icing materials during winter operations. A particular advantage here is that the empty travel time of the carrier vehicles can be significantly reduced with a suitable spreader attachment or trailer. This substantially improves the efficiency of the entire vehicle fleet operation within the framework of prescribed and adhered-to cycle times, as well as reducing the operating costs of the carrier vehicles typically used.Because the mobile storage container can be transported and set up at any location without requiring special foundation work, its use is the most economical and efficient solution wherever there is a central access point for a spreading area, i.e., for spreading routes for vehicles distributing winter grit or grit. This means the mobile storage containers can be positioned or placed where refilling is most efficient, as the length of supply routes can also be optimized. This ensures short empty runs and improves the overall efficiency of the gritting service.

[0049] Since the mobile storage containers are particularly easy to load, especially when using spreading material, and filling spreading equipment is especially simple when using cost-effective tractors, the flexibility and effectiveness of the mobile storage containers according to the invention are increased. At the end of their service life, for example at the end of the winter season, the mobile storage containers are transported away completely intact using standard transport vehicles. Because the discharge device and the conveying system are integrated into the container unit, no disassembly of any attachments is necessary beforehand. Due to the fact that the corresponding functional units are integrated and do not protrude externally, i.e., they do not constitute obstructive objects, stacking during the summer season and thus space-saving storage is easily possible, even in large halls.

[0050] According to a further development, it is also possible to combine two containers for different bulk materials in a single container, i.e., in a single container unit of a mobile storage container, as is the case, for example, with grit trucks. Such a two-chamber spreader thus consists of one container for dry road salt and one container for grit. Trucks often already have a second container for brine when spreading road salt, in order to mix the road salt with brine directly during application and spread the roads with this mixture. This is possible in principle with the storage container according to the invention, whereby this double-chamber system can, of course, also be applied directly to the spreader, so that preferably two mobile storage containers can be provided for the respective components of a spreading substance to be applied later.

[0051] Preferably, the container unit is further equipped with an integrated control system, which also includes a bidirectional radio communication device. Using this bidirectional radio communication device, the integrated control system transmits desired operating parameters of the mobile storage container to a central control unit and / or to the container itself, preferably wirelessly. These parameters include fill levels, the load weight of the bulk material in the container, unloading or loading authorizations, the rate of removal, the rate of filling, and similar information. These parameters can be both stored and retrieved, allowing the system to evaluate relevant parameters from past operating states and to set optimal parameters and operating conditions for the current operating states of the mobile storage container.With the help of this data, it is also possible for different companies or municipalities to use the bulk material from one container, with each user identifying themselves at the container itself, for example with a chip card or a PIN.

[0052] Furthermore, the container unit preferably has a heating device at least for the discharge device, the container and the conveying device, so that, especially in winter operation, it can be ensured that the functional units of the mobile loading container are not blocked by freezing of the bulk material, which may contain a certain amount of moisture.

[0053] According to further information, the container unit is designed to be weatherproof and / or frost-protected and / or actively heated, whereby weatherproofing is understood to mean, in particular, watertight and / or frost-protected. Furthermore, it is also possible that both the discharge device and the immediate storage area inside the mobile storage container are clad, lined, insulated, or coated. Such insulation can be achieved, for example, with mineral wool for thermal insulation. A coating of wood, rubber, plastic, or even textile-reinforced concrete is conceivable. This coating serves not only as thermal insulation but also contributes to reducing noise emissions.Without such insulation, de-icing materials such as salt, grit, granules, sand, or ash could clump together upon contact with cold steel surfaces in winter due to condensation and subsequent freezing. Ideally, the inner lining should be approximately 5 cm thick and made of wood. If the mobile storage container has a sound-insulating lining, it can even be used in residential areas without any restrictions. The heating system can be powered electrically via the integrated energy supply.

[0054] Further advantages, details, and application possibilities are now described in detail with reference to the following drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a mobile storage container according to the invention in the form of a grit container for use in winter road maintenance; Figure 2 shows a container unit of the mobile storage container according to the invention. Figure 1 Top view; Figure 3 the container unit of the mobile storage container according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 as a rear view; Figure 4 the container unit of the mobile storage container according to the Figures 1 to 3 as a front view; Figure 5, another embodiment of a mobile storage container in the form of a grit container for winter road maintenance; Figure 6, the container unit of the mobile storage container according to Figure 5in top view; Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of a mobile storage container with a tipping device; Figures 8a) and b) show yet another embodiment of a mobile storage container with a moving floor on a provided intermediate floor and an intermediate floor section inclined downwards towards the discharge device in the form of a chute; and Figure 9 shows yet another embodiment of a mobile storage container with a part of the intermediate floor of the container unit that can be adjusted at a defined angle.

[0055] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a mobile storage container in the form of a grit container in a side view. This mobile storage container has a container unit with a discharge device in the form of a moving floor 2, which conveys the grit to a collection unit at discharge height 11 of the discharge device. In this embodiment, the collection unit is designed as a transverse screw conveyor 3. A cover 9 is arranged above the transverse screw conveyor 3, which protects the transverse screw conveyor 3 from the weight of the grit in the mobile storage container, thus preventing excessive weight of the grit on the transverse screw conveyor 3. The transverse screw conveyor 3 conveys the grit to a lifting device 4, which is also designed as a screw conveyor. From the lifting device, the grit reaches the discharge height 12.The discharge height is via a discharge chute 10, from where the conveyed grit falls into a grit vehicle arranged below the discharge chute, which is not shown here for the sake of simplicity.

[0056] In this embodiment, the upfeed screw conveyor 4 is arranged on the side of the container 1 of the container unit of the mobile storage container. The movement of the pusher floor 2 is effected by a hydraulic cylinder 5. Because the discharge height 12 of the upfeed conveyor 4 is above the discharge height 11 of the discharge device, the mobile storage container can be placed on its underside or bottom, on which stabilizing rails 15 may be arranged, on reasonably level ground of varying composition without the need for a foundation or supports. Furthermore, this container can be easily transported to another location without modifications or assembly work using standard trucks or other transport vehicles on public roads and squares.The spreading material can be transferred from the mobile storage container to spreading vehicles using the high-lift conveying device. The container unit itself has two rollers 13 and mounting rails 15 on its underside. This provides additional stabilization to the underside 6. The moving floor 2 moves on the intermediate floor 8. The transverse screw conveyor 3 is located in the space between the underside 6 and the intermediate floor 8.

[0057] The bulk material is stored above the intermediate floor 8 and laterally bounded by the walls 7. A hook 14 of the roll-off container is located at the front of the container unit 1, allowing for pickup and transport by truck. The utility compartment 17 is also used to house a control cabinet and an optional power supply not included in the invention, such as a generator and / or hydraulic unit.

[0058] A key advantage of this mobile storage container compared to conventional transport containers or stationary storage containers is that it integrates all functional components, making it highly versatile. Furthermore, its dimensions are designed to comply with standard container sizes, allowing it to be easily transported from one location to another on public roads without requiring special permits. This gives the container a dual function: firstly, it serves as a storage container for materials such as grit for winter maintenance, and secondly, it enables the container to be moved from one location to another without the need to assemble or disassemble any attached equipment.This dual function has not been implemented so far because transport containers do not have integrated functionalities, as they are only intended for transporting specific goods from point A to point B, whereas known storage containers are stationary and therefore require a foundation or a stand so that these containers, which only serve as storage, can also be emptied accordingly, in the sense that the bulk material stored in the container can be handed over to emergency vehicles.

[0059] Figure 2 shows container unit 1 according to Figure 1In top view. Above the base 6 is the hydraulic cylinder 5, which moves the moving floor 2. The moving floor 2 pushes the spreading material to the transverse auger 3, which conveys it further to the up-feed auger 4. A hook 14 for transport is arranged on the front 7 of the container of the container unit 1 of the mobile storage container. The last strut 16 of the moving floor 2 has a opposite conveying direction so that the spreading material is not compacted against the rear wall of the container unit 1.

[0060] Furthermore, the supply compartment 17 is shown, in which a control unit and / or a power supply unit are or can be arranged. Because all functional units are integrated into the container unit of the mobile storage container, the mobile storage container according to the invention has a high degree of flexibility in its use and is also self-sufficient with regard to the realization of the functions required for operating this storage container.

[0061] Figure 3 shows the mobile storage container according to Figure 1 and 2 Rear view. A door is located at the rear of the container of container unit 1, which can be opened to access the interior of the container of container unit 1. The rollers 13 of container unit 1 are attached to the base 6, making the mobile storage container more mobile and flexible in its use. The high-lift screw conveyor 4 is, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 shown, attached to the side wall 7 of the container.

[0062] Figure 4 Finally, the exemplary embodiment according to the Figures 1 to 3 Front view. The container unit 1 has a hook 14 on the outside of the container side wall 7 and mounting rails 15 on the underside 6, both of which are used for transport by truck and also provide additional stability to the underside 6 of the container unit. Figure 4It can be seen that the auger 4 is mounted externally on the side of the container unit, via which the spreading material is conveyed through the discharge chute 10 into a spreading vehicle (not shown). The discharge height 12 is also shown in principle and is significantly higher than the discharge height of the discharge device, which is located inside the container of the container unit 1 of the mobile storage container. In this embodiment, the auger 4 is designed to be foldable in order to comply with the permissible height for road transport.

[0063] In Figure 5Figure 1 shows another embodiment of a mobile storage container, such as a grit container 1. In this embodiment, the upfeed screw conveyor 4 conveys the grit from the central area of ​​the mobile storage container by means of a transverse screw conveyor 3. A hydraulic cylinder 5 moves the pusher floor 2, which is arranged on the intermediate floor 8. This pusher floor 2 conveys the grit to the transverse screw conveyor 3. In this configuration, the two halves of the transverse screw conveyor 3 each convey the grit towards the center, and not as in Figure 2. Figure 1to a selected page. From the center of the transverse auger 3, the upfeed auger 4 conveys the spreading material via the discharge chute 10 into a spreading vehicle (not shown here). The hook 14, which is attached to the front 7 of the container, as well as the rollers 13 attached to the underside 6 and the mounting rails 15, are designed for transporting the mobile storage container with a standard truck designed for transporting containers. The upfeed auger 4 is rotatable and can be lowered into the area of ​​the front wall 7 during transport.

[0064] Figure 6 shows the mobile storage container with its container unit 1 according to Figure 5In top view. Above the base 6 is the hydraulic cylinder 5, which moves the moving floor 2. The moving floor 2 pushes the spreading material to the auger 3, which is located below the intermediate floor (not shown in this figure) and conveys the spreading material further to the upfeed auger 4. In this embodiment, the upfeed auger 4 conveys from the center of the container unit into the spreading vehicle (not shown). The hook 14 for transport is visible on the front 7 of the container unit. The last strut 16 of the moving floor 2 has a opposite conveying direction to prevent the spreading material from being compacted against the rear wall of the mobile storage container. The transverse auger 3 is not visible in this illustration because the cover 9 (see, for example, [reference]) is located above it. Figure 5 ) is arranged.

[0065] At the in Figure 7In the illustrated embodiment, extendable and retractable hydraulic cylinders are arranged between the mounting rails of the container or container unit and the actual base 6, by means of which the entire container can be brought into an inclined position so that any bulk material or spreading material still present on the intermediate floor can be conveyed to the side into the chute and from there via the discharge device into the collection device, from which the spreading material can be conveyed to the discharge height 10 by means of the up-conveying device.

[0066] However, it is also possible that the hydraulic cylinders are arranged between the base 6 and the intermediate floor 8, so that when the container is lifted by means of the hydraulic cylinders, the intermediate floor 8, together with the container above it, is brought into a tilting position. The hook 14 is again shown on the front 7 of the container unit.

[0067] In the embodiment according to Figure 8 In side view a) and cross view b) (viewed along the longitudinal direction of the container unit 1), an intermediate floor 8 is shown within the mobile storage container. A push floor 2, driven by the hydraulic cylinder 5, can be moved from this intermediate floor into the chute and towards the collection device. The collection device is depicted here as a hopper without an active conveying element. The mounting rails 15 and the rollers 13 of the roll-off container are also shown on the underside 6. In this embodiment, the upfeed conveying device 4 is mounted on the rear of the container unit. The cross view shows that at the end where the upfeed conveying device 4 is located, the spreading material is placed into a chute, from which it can be conveyed by the upfeed conveying device to the discharge height 12.

[0068] And finally, in Figure 9 Another embodiment is shown, in which the intermediate floor 8 can be divided and a portion of it can be tilted by means of an additional hydraulic cylinder, so that any small quantities of spreading material present can be conveyed by gravity towards the collection device, from which the spreading material can be conveyed to the discharge height 12 by the lifting conveyor. This is particularly important if the mobile storage container is to be emptied as completely as possible. Reference number list

[0069] 1 Container unit 2 Moving floor 3 Cross conveyor screw 4 Upward conveyor screw 5 Hydraulic cylinder for moving / pulling floor 6 Bottom floor 7 Container walls / front wall 8 Intermediate floor 9 Cover hood 10 Discharge chute 11 Discharge height of moving floor 12 Discharge height of upward conveyor / upward conveyor screw 13 Rollers of roll-off container 14 Hooks of roll-off container 15 Container mounting rails 16 Opposing strut of moving floor 17 Supply compartment 18 Hydraulic cylinder for intermediate floor

Claims

1. Autonomous mobile storage container for storing spreading material and for exemption-free transport on public roads and squares, having a container unit with a closed container that has side walls (7), a subfloor (6) and an intermediate floor (8) arranged above the subfloor (6), characterized in that a) the container (1) of the container unit has such a stiffness that the container is able to be set up on any substantially flat ground without a stand and a foundation, even in the filled state, b) wherein a discharge device for the bulk material and a transverse conveyor (3) are integrated in the containers, and an elevating conveyor (4) connected to the discharge device is integrated in the container unit (1), wherein the discharge device has the transverse conveyor (3); c) wherein, by means of the discharge device, the bulk material is able to be discharged from the container unit at an discharge height (11) and transferred to the elevating conveyor (4), from which the bulk material is able to be discharged at an expulsion height (12) that is greater than the discharge height (11), and d) wherein an energy supply unit for the driving of the discharge device, of the transverse conveyor and of the elevating conveyor is arranged in the intermediate floor.

2. Autonomous mobile storage container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elevating conveyor is an elevating conveying screw and is arranged on the outside of the container.

3. Autonomous mobile storage container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the discharge device is designed as a push / pull floor (2) and has ladder stiles and ladder bars.

4. Autonomous mobile storage container according to Claim 3, characterized in that there is a spacing, in particular of at least 5 cm, between the push floor and the intermediate floor.

5. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transverse conveyor (3) is designed as a transverse conveying screw or tube chain conveyor and is arranged in the intermediate floor (8).

6. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, on the subfloor (6), the container unit (1) has rollers on receiving rails.

7. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least a part of the intermediate floor (8) is able to be set up at a defined angle to the horizontal starting position by means of a drive, in particular a hydraulic cylinder drive.

8. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that hydraulic cylinders able to be extended from the subfloor (6) of the container are integrated in the subfloor (6), by means of which hydraulic cylinders the container unit (1) is able to be tilted.

9. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, with regard to its outer dimensions, the container unit (1) meets the standards for transport on public roads and squares, such as for roller containers according to DIN 30722, skip containers according to DIN 20720 or sea containers according to ISO 668.

10. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the spreading material is road salt, grit or spreading sand.

11. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the container unit (1) is provided with a bidirectional radio device by means of which fill states and enabling of discharge or loading are able to be transmitted and / or retrieved and / or controlled.

12. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the container unit (1) comprises a heater at least for the discharge device, the container and the elevating conveyor (4).

13. Autonomous mobile storage container according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the container unit (1) is weather-protected, in particular waterproof, and / or frost-protected.