Transport and storage container for liquids

Abstract

A liquid transport and storage container and method for modifying a transport and storage container having a pallet-type understructure for a plastic inner container having a closeable filling nozzle on an upper bottom and a discharge nozzle on a lower section of a lateral wall with a dispensing fitting and a lattice jacket having horizontal and vertical metal lattice struts for receiving the inner container, ends of the vertical lattice struts having a hollow profile welded to lower and upper circumferential edge profiles of the lattice jacket, vertical lattice rods on opposite lateral walls connected by a traverse rod with a hollow profile extending across the upper bottom, a web extending vertically with a through opening formed therein molded on the upper bottom, the traverse rod extending through the through opening. A filling element is in a movement-free space between the through opening and the traverse rod.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2024 119 178.3 filed on Jul. 5, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The invention relates to a transport and storage container for liquids and to a method for modifying a transport and storage container having a pallet-type understructure for a plastic inner container having four lateral walls, a lower and an upper bottom, a closable filling nozzle molded on the upper bottom and a discharge nozzle molded on the lower section of a lateral wall and having a tap fitting and a lattice jacket having horizontal and vertical metal lattice rods for receiving the inner container, ends of the vertical lattice rods formed from a hollow profile being welded to a lower and an upper circumferential edge profile of the lattice jacket, at least two vertical lattice rods disposed on opposite lateral walls or sections of the upper edge profile extending opposite each other being connected by means of a traverse rod made of a hollow profile and extending across the upper bottom of the inner container, at least one web extending vertically and having a through opening formed therein being molded on the upper bottom, the traverse rod being disposed so as to extend through the through opening.

[0003] Transport and storage containers of the type mentioned above are well known and are used to transport liquids or other flowable goods. A transport and storage container of the generic kind is disclosed in WO 2017 / 108288. A transport and storage container of this kind, also known as an IBC, is regularly formed from a plastic inner container surrounded by a lattice jacket. The lattice jacket has horizontal and vertical metal lattice rods, the vertical lattice rods being welded to a lower circumferential edge profile and an upper circumferential edge profile. Two or more traverse rods are regularly attached to connective sections of vertical lattice rods on the upper edge profile and extend across an upper bottom of the inner container and thus prevent the inner container from falling out of the lattice jacket, for example if the IBC tips over. Alternatively, the traverse rods can also be attached to opposite sections of the upper edge profile. The traverse rods also serve to absorb deformation forces acting on the lattice jacket, for example if an IBC falls off a transport vehicle onto a surface. IBCs are subject to a type approval test, in which the stability of the inner container and the lattice jacket is also tested as part of a drop test.

[0004] Webs which each have a through opening are molded on the upper bottom of the inner container, with the traverse rods passing through the through opening in each case. The upper bottom and / or the inner container is thus suspended and / or secured on the traverse rods, so that a downward movement of the upper bottom and / or the inner container in the lattice jacket can be counteracted. This can significantly improve the stability of the IBC. The through openings are designed in such a manner that the traverse rods can be easily passed through the through openings after the inner container has been inserted into the lattice jacket and can be attached to the vertical lattice rods at screw-on points. An opening cross section of a through opening is therefore considerably larger than a cross section of a traverse rod.

[0005] During transportation of the IBC, for example on a vehicle or similar, dynamic loads can occur, especially when the IBC is filled; due to these loads, the traverse rod, as a result of movement of the inner container, repeatedly comes into contact with the web, so that a point load occurs on the traverse rod and / or the web. This has proven to lead to premature failure of the traverse rod or the web. The resulting lack of vertical support of the upper bottom can cause the inner container to leak.SUMMARY

[0006] The object of the invention at hand is to propose a transport and storage container and a method for modifying a transport and storage container with an improved safety against failure.

[0007] The transport and storage container for liquids according to the invention has a pallet-type understructure for a plastic inner container having four lateral walls, a lower and an upper bottom, a closeable filling nozzle molded on the upper bottom and a discharge nozzle molded on a lower section of a lateral wall and having a tap fitting and a lattice jacket having horizontal and vertical metal lattice struts for receiving the inner container, ends of the vertical lattice rods formed from a hollow profile being welded to a lower and an upper circumferential edge profile of the lattice jacket, at least two vertical lattice rods disposed on opposite lateral walls or sections of the upper edge profile extending opposite each other being connected by means of traverse rod made of a hollow profile and extending across the upper bottom of the inner container, at least one web extending vertically and having a through opening formed therein being molded on the upper bottom, the traverse rod being disposed so as to extend through the through opening, a filling element being inserted in a movement-free space formed between the through opening and the traverse rod.

[0008] By the filling element being inserted in the through opening, the movement-free space can be at least partially or even completely filled to such an extent that a relative movement of the traverse rod within the through opening, i.e., at least a relative movement in a vertical direction, is effectively prevented. Although a dynamic load can then initiate a partial movement of the upper bottom, this does not continue in the area of the through opening to such an extent that the traverse rod continuously strikes the web and / or is moved against it. In this manner, premature failure and / or breakage or damage to the traverse rod and / or the web as a result of this dynamic load can be easily prevented by simple means. In particular, displacement of the web in a horizontal direction relative to a cross-section of the traverse rod can also be prevented. This could otherwise occur, for example, in the event of liquid movement within the inner container or if the transport and storage container falls. The inner container can thus be fixed even more securely to the traverse rod.

[0009] The filling element can fill the movement-free space in such a manner that the traverse rod can be fixed in a form-fit manner at the through opening. The filling element can then reliably prevent a relative movement of the traverse rod and web in a vertical direction. The filling element can also be designed in such a manner that the traverse rod can be moved along its longitudinal direction relative to the through opening and / or the web. The form-fitted fixation can then take place for two of three translational degrees of freedom.

[0010] The web can at least partially form a ring or an eyelet. The web can then be formed in the shape of a band or loop in such a manner that a section of the web together with the upper bottom forms the through opening. The through opening can then also be formed in such a manner that the web slightly overlaps the upper bottom.

[0011] The through opening can have an oval opening cross section. The traverse rod can then be conveniently passed through the oval opening cross section for mounting or dismounting the traverse rod on the lattice jacket. The oval opening cross section can be designed as an elongated hole with rounded corners. In this manner, forces occurring in the web when a tensile load is applied to the through opening and / or the web are advantageously transferred to the web. In principle, however, it is also possible for the opening cross section to be round or otherwise polygonal.

[0012] Two filling elements which abut against opposite lateral sections of the traverse rod can be inserted in the movement-free space formed between the through opening and the traverse rod. Depending on the shape of the opening cross section and the size of the movement-free space, it can be advantageous if filling elements are inserted on both sides of the traverse rod. The traverse rod can then be guided essentially centrally through the opening cross section. If only one filling element is used, the traverse rod can rest against the filling element with one lateral section and against the through opening with the opposite lateral section.

[0013] The filling element can have an abutment surface of which at least sections are flat and which can abut against the upper bottom. This allows the filling element to be positioned and fixed in its position relative to the upper bottom to such an extent that the filling element can be easily positioned and also ultimately fixed in its intended position for assembly. This prevents the filling element from tilting relative to the upper bottom and / or within the through opening.

[0014] A circumferential groove can be formed at least in sections of the filling element, an inner web of the through opening being able to engage in the circumferential groove. The circumferential groove can prevent the filling element from slipping out of the through opening on both sides as a result of a load or relative movement of the through opening and traverse rod. The filling element can be fixed in a form-fitted manner relative to the web by means of the circumferential groove. If the web is comparatively thin, the circumferential groove can have a width which is essentially the same as the web. The filling element can also be inserted into the through opening in such a manner that the filling element widens the through opening slightly when pushed in the through opening until the inner web overlaps with the circumferential groove and engages in it in the manner of a latch connection.

[0015] A groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the traverse rod can be formed at least on sections of the filling element or ribs which extend in the transverse direction of the traverse rod and into which an outer lateral section of the traverse rod engages in the ribs are formed. The groove can have a shape which is adapted to a surface of the traverse rod. If the traverse rod is designed with an oval or round cross-section, the groove can also have such a shape which fits tightly against the traverse rod, at least in sections in the area of one of its circumferences. Alternatively, ribs can be formed on the filling element, which are molded on the filling element so as to, for example, extend in the transverse direction of the traverse rod. The ribs can also be adapted to a cross-section and / or shape of a surface of the traverse rod. The traverse rod essentially abuts against the ribs. This can save material for forming the filling element.

[0016] The filling element can be designed as a one-piece filling body. The filling element is then particularly easy and inexpensive to manufacture and use.

[0017] The filling body is wedge-shaped or cone-shaped on at least one longitudinal end of the filling body. It can also be provided that the filling body is cone-shaped or wedge-shaped at both longitudinal ends. This makes it easy to insert the filling body into the opening cross section. It is also easy to expand the opening cross section by means of the filling body when the filling body is inserted into the opening cross section.

[0018] The filling element can be made of at least two components, the components being able to have at least one latch connection which can connect the components in a form-fit manner. The two components can then be joined together to form the filling element, for example by plugging them into each other. One or both of the components can be inserted into the through opening, the components being able to be latched together. The components can then receive the web between them in such a manner that the filling element is fixed to the web to such an extent that it cannot detach from the web again.

[0019] A first component can have a latch nose, which can engage behind an edge web formed on a second component, the latch nose being able to be molded on a spring-loaded loop on the first component. When the first component is plugged onto the second component, the latch nose can slide over the edge web, during which action the spring-loaded loop on the edge web can bend open slightly. In the further course of the plugging movement, the latch nose can then engage behind the edge web, the loop being able to be moved back to its starting position. The first component is then connected to the second component in a form-fitted manner. The spring-loaded loop can also be designed and disposed in such a manner that it can be operated manually. This allows the first component and the second component to be separated again by bending open the spring-loaded loop and pulling the components apart. Non-destructive disassembly of the filling element can thus be advantageously enabled.

[0020] The first component and the second component can be identical. For example, it can also be intended for two latch connections to be formed on the filling element. The first component and the second component can then be disposed symmetrically relative to each other in a mounting position on the through opening. The filling element can then also be manufactured particularly easily, as only two identical components are required to form the filling element.

[0021] The filling element can be made of plastic, preferably polypropylene. The polypropylene can be filled with glass fibers. The filling element can then be produced simply and stably by injection molding or compression molding in large quantities at low cost.

[0022] The upper ends of the vertical lattice rods can have a connective section, which can have a bevel formed from the hollow profile via deformation, for the connection to the upper edge profile, one connective section of a vertical lattice rod being able to connected to one connective section, which can be formed on the ends of the traverse rod by deforming the hollow profile as a bevel, via a screw connection, the connective section of the traverse rod being able to be bent upward in relation to a longitudinal section extending across the upper bottom of the inner container and extending towards the connective sections of the vertical lattice rods and the connective sections of the traverse rod being able to have a fastening opening having a bulge for producing a thread engagement having a connective screw guided through a through opening of the connective section of the vertical lattice rod. The connecting rod is then particularly easy and stable to mount on the lattice jacket.

[0023] In the method according to the invention for modifying a transport and storage container for liquids, the transport and storage container has a pallet-type understructure for a plastic inner container having four lateral walls, a lower and an upper bottom, a closeable filling nozzle molded on the upper bottom and a discharge nozzle formed on a lower section of a lateral wall and having a tap fitting and a lattice jacket having horizontal and vertical metal lattice rods for receiving the inner container, ends of the vertical lattice rods made of a hollow profile being welded to a lower and an upper circumferential edge profile of the lattice jacket, at least two vertical lattice rods disposed on opposite lateral walls or opposite sections of the upper edge profile being connected by means of traverse rod made of a hollow profile and extending across the upper bottom of the inner container, at least one web extending vertically and having a through opening formed therein being molded on the upper bottom, the traverse rod being disposed so as to extend through the through opening, a filling element being inserted in a movement-free space formed between the through opening and the traverse rod. With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the description of the advantages of the transport and storage container according to the invention. By means of the method, it is in particular also possible to equip already existing transport and storage containers, which for example have already been supplied to an intended use, with the filling element at a later point in time in order to further improve the safety and stability of the transport and storage container. Further advantageous embodiments are derived from the description of features of the dependent claims referring to device claim 1.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described in further detail by means of the drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a transport and storage container without a filling element and having a lattice jacket which is equipped with traverse rods at its upper edge profile.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a traverse rod connected to the lattice jacket as shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a web connected to an inner container as shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the inner container with the traverse rod and a filling element.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the filling element as shown in FIG. 4.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal cut through the filling element as shown in FIG. 4 and through the traverse rod.

[0031] FIG. 7 shows a lateral view of the filling element.

[0032] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a filling element with a traverse rod.

[0033] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the filling element as shown in FIG. 8.

[0034] FIG. 10 shows another perspective view of the filling element as shown in FIG. 8.

[0035] FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal cut through the filling element as shown in FIG. 8 and through the traverse rod.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a transport and storage container 10 for liquids which can be used as a disposable and reusable container and which has a plastic inner container 11 having four lateral walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 as well as a lower and an upper bottom 16, 17, a filling nozzle 19 which is molded on the upper bottom 17 and can be closed with a lid 18, and a discharge nozzle 20 which is molded on the lower section of the front lateral wall 13 and has a tap fitting 21, furthermore an outer lattice jacket 22 consisting of intersecting horizontal and vertical metal lattice rods 23, 24 for receiving the inner container 11. The vertical lattice rods 24 are welded to an upper edge profile 26 by an upper connective section 25 and to a lower edge profile 28 of the lattice jacket 22 by a lower connective section 27. In addition, the lattice jacket 22 is connected to a pallet-type understructure 29 by its lower edge profile 28. A filling element is not yet shown here.

[0037] As FIG. 1 shows, the lattice jacket 22 is provided with two traverse rods 30 which extend over the upper bottom 17 of the inner container 11 and, in the present case, extend parallel to one another and, as shown in FIG. 2, are connected in a force-fit manner to the upper connective section 25 of a vertical lattice rod 24 via a screw connection 32 by connective sections 31 formed at each of their longitudinal ends. Alternatively, the traverse rods 30 can be connected to opposite sections of the upper edge profile 26 between the vertical lattice rods 24.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the traverse rod 30 on the upper bottom 17 of the inner container 11. A web 33 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the upper bottom 17. A through opening 34 is formed within the web 33, with the traverse rod 30 extending through the through opening. The through opening 34 is so large that a movement-free space 35 is formed between the through opening 34 and the traverse rod 30. Without a filling element, which is not shown here, movement of the inner container 11 occurs as a result of load changes and / or movement of the filling material in the inner container 11, the traverse rod 30 can strike at points on an inner web 36 of the through opening 34 and be loaded there with a comparatively large force.

[0039] For better illustration, FIG. 4 shows the inner container 11 of FIG. 1 with one of the traverse rods 30 and a filling element 37. As can be seen from an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the filling element 37 is disposed on both sides of the web 33. As can also be seen from a combined view of FIGS. 6 and 7, the filling element 37 is inserted in the movement-free space 35 formed between the through opening 34 and the traverse rod 30. The filling element 37 fills the movement-free space 35 in such a manner in this context that the traverse rod 30 is fixed to the through opening 34 in a form-fitted manner.

[0040] The filling element 37 is formed from two identical components 38, which are connected to each other in a form-fitted manner by means of latch connections 39. Each of the components 38 is formed with a latch nose 40, which engages behind an edge web 41, the latch nose 40 being molded on a spring-loaded loop 42 on the component. When the components 38 are plugged together along an inclined plane 43, the latch noses 40 latch onto the respective edge webs 41. The components 38 can be separated from each other again by bending the loops 42 open.

[0041] Furthermore, the filling element has a flat abutment surface 44, which is disposed close to the upper bottom 17 and can abut against it, so that the filling element 37 can always be mounted in the correct position in the position provided for it. Furthermore, ribs 45 extending in a transverse direction of the traverse rod 30 are formed on the filling element 37. An outer lateral section 46 of the traverse rod 30 engages in the ribs 45 and / or the ribs 45 are adapted with a front edge 47 to an oval cross-section 48 of the traverse rod 30. Although the traverse rod 30 can still be moved along its longitudinal direction within the through opening, it can no longer be moved in a transverse direction within the through opening 34.

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a filling element 49, which is inserted in the through opening 34 of the web 33 on the inner container 11. The filling element 49 is inserted in the movement-free space 35 formed between the through opening 34 and the traverse rod in such a manner that the traverse rod 30 is fixed to the through opening 34 in a form-fitted manner. As a further combined view of FIGS. 9 to 11 shows, the filling element 49 is designed in one-piece and has a circumferential groove 50 in some sections, into which the inner web 36 of the through opening 34 is inserted. A groove 51 which extends in a longitudinal direction of the traverse rod 30 and into which an outer lateral section 52 of the traverse rod 30 engages is formed at least in sections of the filling element 49. The groove is designed in such a manner that it is essentially adapted to the cross-section 48 of the traverse rod 30. The filling element 49, which is designed as a one-piece filling body 53, is wedge-shaped at both longitudinal ends 54. The filling element 49 can thus be inserted particularly well in the through opening 34 and be fixed to the inner web 36 by the groove 51 essentially in a form-fitting manner by latching.

Claims

1. A transport and storage container (10) for liquids having a pallet-type understructure (29) for a plastic inner container (11) having four lateral walls (12, 13, 14, 15), a lower and an upper bottom (16, 17), a closeable filling nozzle (19) molded on the upper bottom (17) and a discharge nozzle (20) molded on a lower section of a lateral wall (12) and having a tap fitting (21) and a lattice jacket (22) having horizontal and vertical metal lattice struts (23, 24) for receiving the inner container, ends of the vertical lattice rods (24) formed from a hollow profile being welded to a lower and an upper circumferential edge profile (26, 28) of the lattice jacket, at least two vertical lattice rods disposed on opposite lateral walls or sections of the upper edge profile extending opposite each other being connected by means of traverse rod (30) made of a hollow profile and extending across the upper bottom of the inner container, at least one web (33) extending vertically and having a through opening (34) formed therein being molded on the upper bottom, the traverse rod being disposed so as to extend through the through opening, wherein a filling element (37, 49) is inserted in a movement-free space (35) formed between the through opening and the traverse rod.

2. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein the filling element (37, 49) fills the movement-free space (35) in such a manner that the traverse rod (30) is fixated in a form-fit manner at the through opening (34).

3. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,whereinthe web (33) at least partially forms a ring or an eyelet.

4. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein the through opening (34) has an oval opening cross section.

5. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein two filling elements (37, 49) which abut against opposite lateral sections (46, 52) of the traverse rod are inserted in the movement-free space (35) formed between the through opening (34) and the traverse rod (30).

6. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein the filling element (37, 49) has an abutment surface (44) of which at least sections are flat and which abuts against the upper bottom (17).

7. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein a circumferential groove (50), into which an inner web (36) of the through opening (34) engages, is formed at least in sections of the filling element (37, 49).

8. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein a groove (31) extending in the longitudinal direction of the traverse rod (30) or ribs (45) which extend in the transverse direction of the traverse rod and into which an outer lateral section (46, 52) of the traverse rod engages is / are formed at least on sections of the filling element (37, 49).

9. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein the filling element (49) is designed as a one-piece filling body (53).

10. The transport and storage container according to claim 9,wherein the filling body (53) is wedge-shaped or cone-shaped on at least one longitudinal end (54) of the filling body.

11. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein the filling element (37) is made of at least two components (38), the components having at least one latch connection (39) which connects the components in a form-fit manner.

12. The transport and storage container according to claim 11,whereina first component (38) has a latch nose (40), which engages behind a edge web (41) formed on a second component (38), the latch nose being molded on a spring-loaded loop (42) on the first component.

13. The transport and storage container according to claim 11,wherein the first component (38) and the second component (38) are identical.

14. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein the filling element (37, 49) is made of plastic.

15. The transport and storage container according to claim 1,wherein the upper ends of the vertical lattice rods have a connective section (25), which has a bevel formed from the hollow profile via deformation, for the connection to the upper edge profile, one connective section (25) of a vertical lattice rod (24) being connected to one connective section (31), which is formed on the ends of the traverse rod by deforming the hollow profile as a bevel, via a screw connection (32), the connective section of the traverse rod being bent upward in relation to a longitudinal section (37) extending across the upper bottom of the inner container and extending towards the connective sections of the vertical lattice rods and the connective sections of the traverse rod having a fastening opening having a bulge for producing a thread engagement having a connective screw (39) guided through a through opening (40) of the connective section of the vertical lattice rod.

16. A method for modifying a transport and storage container (10) for liquids, the transport and storage container having a pallet-type understructure (29) for a plastic inner container (11) having four lateral walls (12, 13, 14, 15), a lower and an upper bottom (16, 17), a closeable filling nozzle (19) molded on the upper bottom (17) and a discharge nozzle (20) formed on a lower section of a lateral wall (12) and having a tap fitting (21) and a lattice jacket (22) having horizontal and vertical metal lattice rods (23, 24) for receiving the inner container, ends of the vertical lattice rods (24) made of a hollow profile being welded to a lower and an upper circumferential edge profile (26, 28) of the lattice jacket, at least two vertical lattice rods disposed on opposite lateral walls (12, 14) or opposite sections of the upper edge profile being connected by means of traverse rod (30) made of a hollow profile and extending across the upper bottom of the inner container, at least one web (33) extending vertically and having a through opening (34) formed therein being molded on the upper bottom, the traverse rod being disposed so as to extend through the through opening, the method comprising inserting a filling element (37, 49) in a movement-free space (35) formed between the through opening and the traverse rod.

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