Stackable storage, transport and handling system for bulk solid products

Abstract

The invention relates to a stackable storage, transport and handling system for bulk solid products, which combines a container having a metal structure and a big bag therein for receiving the products. The structure comprises a strong and flexible frame that can be folded and unfolded according to operating conditions for the handling thereof in container ships, ports and trucks, to be able to pile same high (thereby optimising the surfaces available on ships, in port areas, etc.).

Description

[0001] STACKABLE STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION, AND HANDLING SYSTEM, APPLIED TO SOLID BULK PRODUCTS

[0002] ■ TITLE AND SCOPE OF APPLICATION

[0003] The object proposed in the invention refers to a "STORAGE, TRANSPORT, AND HANDLING SYSTEM IN STACKABLE FORM, APPLIED TO SOLID BULK PRODUCTS", which includes a structure in combination with a large fabric bag, which has sufficient resistance and flexibility for handling in container ships, ports and trucks, in order to be able to collect them at great heights, thus optimizing the surfaces of ships, port areas, etc., as well as achieving very efficient handling of bulk cargo.

[0004] ■ STATE OF THE ART

[0005] Various systems, containers for storing and handling bulk materials are known in the prior art, where publications of patent documents are cited that deserve to be commented on due to their degree of importance:

[0006] - WO9641754 A2, discloses a container arrangement comprising a support structure in the form of a frame assembly and flexible containment means attached to the assembly generally at the open upper end of the means and arranged to define a space for containing material therein, the assembly being generally collapsible substantially as an integral unit from a first erect condition in which the containment means define a relatively large space for containing material, to a second collapsed condition after or during dispensing of material, for transport and / or storage. A movable base plate is pivotally connected along its adjacent side to a dispensing valve arrangement about a torsion bar.The torsion bar is in torsion when the base plate is on a fixed base, and is generally free of torsion, when the base plate is inclined on the base plate in a downward direction towards the slot, so that as the weight of the material in the container and the bearing on the movable plate are reduced and as the material is dispensed through the valve arrangement, the plate gradually inclines towards the downward slope, towards the valve arrangement and thereby guides the material towards the valve arrangement to be dispensed.

[0007] - Publication US8919589B2 discloses a bulk container for use with a liner bag. The bulk container includes a substructure configured to receive forks of lifting machinery for moving the bulk container and a collapsible top assembly capable of supporting a bag with an inlet thereof in an upward orientation for filling. The bulk container also includes at least one self-supporting rigid lid and suitably a pair of lids. The lids can be rotated from a closed position to an open position by orienting the container in an inclined position in which the lids can be opened by gravity.

[0008] Publication US10399741 B2 discloses a collapsible bulk container comprising a bag for containing a bulk cargo, a support base, four collapsible legs, and a rectangular upper frame member. The legs are secured to the support base by means of hinge assemblies that allow articulated movement of the legs between upright positions and collapsed positions in which the legs are folded down onto the support base.

[0009] ■ SOLUTION PROVIDED

[0010] A storage, transport and handling system is provided, applied to solid bulk products, which includes the combination of a metal receptacle and a fabric bag for receiving solid bulk products, housed inside it with sufficient resistance to transport loads of around 15 tons, and which in turn does not deform, but is flexible.

[0011] For handling, this storage system is lifted from the top of the container, the bottom of the container, or the side of the container, using the equipment typically used in ports (or large logistics centers); it can also be lifted using forklifts.

[0012] These containers are stacked vertically, capable of supporting up to eight loaded structures, equivalent to 120 tons (exceeding these amounts is simply increased by increasing the strength of the structural materials). When the system is empty, the structures fold down, considerably reducing their height, allowing them to be stacked in large quantities for storage and / or transport.

[0013] ■ TECHNICAL EFFECT:

[0014] The system consists of a lightweight, foldable steel structure with dimensions equivalent to a 20-foot container (in length and width) but with a lower height (approximately 50% of the container's height). These universal dimensions facilitate handling (loading, unloading, and transport).

[0015] The structure allows transporting bulk products using a bag (14.9 m 2 of surface and 1.05 m of height approximately, which represents an approximate volume of 15.6 m 3 ) located inside.

[0016] This bag is sealed once it's completely filled. This allows us to minimize potential contamination of the product itself (products transported in bulk are often contaminated with soil from the environment, rainwater, or excessive humidity, etc.); thus, we preserve its quality (ideally, packaging is done at the plant of origin and opening the bag only before use at the final destination).

[0017] On the other hand, and even more importantly, we also minimize the risk of contamination that often occurs when handling bulk products (especially when they have a very fine particle size, such as talc).

[0018] The metal structure has the property of being foldable (with which the total height of 1,175 meters is reduced to approximately 0,306 meters), which allows that when there are NO loads in a given direction, the structures or frames can be moved in a folded form (considerably reducing the space occupied by it), which translates into significant savings in logistics operations and their associated costs.

[0019] As a reference, we can mention that the volume occupied by an empty traditional 20-foot container (6.10 meters long x 2.44 meters wide) is equivalent to the volume of 8 frames proposed by our invention, in folded and stacked form. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] The invention is illustrated by attached representative figures, in which:

[0021] In Figure 1, a schematic view of the system of the invention is illustrated.

[0022] Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the metal frame with diagonal brackets in deployed operating conditions.

[0023] Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the enclosure containing a metal frame surrounded by metal sheets on its perimeter contour (replacing the diagonal brackets) in deployed operational conditions.

[0024] Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the metal frame in folded operating conditions.

[0025] Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a specific detail of the metal frame in deployed operating conditions (hole through which the forks of a forklift enter to raise the system of the invention, loaded or unloaded).

[0026] A front view of the folded frame structure is illustrated in Figure 6.

[0027] A side view of the folded frame structure is illustrated in Figure 7.

[0028] Figure 8 shows an expanded front view of the frame structure.

[0029] In Figure 9, a perspective view of eight stacked folded frames is illustrated (a larger number of frames could be stacked) and also a front view of said eight folded and stacked frames.

[0030] Figure 10 shows a perspective view of eight stacked, unfolded metal structures, each with the fabric bag inside.

[0031] Figure 11 shows a front view of eight stacked deployed metal structures, each with the fabric bag inside. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The components involved in the system are:

[0033] R: Metal receptacle.

[0034] B: Frame. b: base.

[0035] Cbi: lower base face.

[0036] Cbs: upper base face.

[0037] Cid: right side face.

[0038] Cli: left side face.

[0039] Cfd: front face.

[0040] Cft: front back face.

[0041] 1. Lower corner pieces, container and additional lock (quantity four).

[0042] 1. Upper corner pieces, container locks and additional ones (quantity four).

[0043] 2. Longitudinal perimeter beams of the UPN 100 profile base (for structural resistance).

[0044] 2'. Transverse perimeter beams of the UPN 100 profile base (for structural resistance).

[0045] 3. Long-shaped cavities (through which the forklift claws penetrate - darks)

[0046] 4. Structural metal corner columns (quantity four).

[0047] 4'. Intermediate structural metal columns (four). 5. Metal plates to which the metal columns (4 and 4') are attached, allowing them to fold inwards.

[0048] 6 Longitudinal beams, made of structural pipe.

[0049] 6'. Upper transverse beams, formed by structural pipe.

[0050] 7. Vertical supports of the front faces (rear and front) of the structure made up of structural pipe.

[0051] 8. Metal square arms forming diagonals.

[0052] 8'. Folded metal sheets, perimeter outline of the enclosure (R).

[0053] 9. Two 6 mm tension chains.

[0054] 10. 10 cm x 10 cm metal mesh in 6 millimeters.

[0055] 1 1 . Metal lug, serves as a stop or support for the front faces (front and rear) when the structure is deployed and assembled.

[0056] 12. Polypropylene bag for receiving solid bulk products (depending on the solid material to be transported, the material and characteristics of the fabric bag, such as impermeability, etc., are adapted to the needs).

[0057] 13. GPS positioning device (optional element, located in a strategic location).

[0058] 14. Access mouth to the bag (which is open when the bag is filled and is subsequently closed for handling and transport)

[0059] 15. Hinge that allows the plates (and therefore the columns) to fold inwards.

[0060] 16. Fixed metal plate (where the upper corner pieces rest when folded, so that they remain completely horizontal, allowing for safe stacking of several folded structures).

[0061] The frame (B) can be folded or unfolded, depending on the operating conditions. Both the front and side faces are foldable. This allows the containers to be transported without load (i.e., without product, i.e., empty). The space occupied by eight folded containers is equivalent to the dimensions of a traditional 20-foot container (6.10 meters long x 2.44 meters wide).

[0062] The lower base face (Cbi) is formed perpendicularly by UPN 100 profiles. Its dimensions are equivalent to those of a 20-foot container, that is, its external dimensions are (6.10 meters long and 2.44 meters wide). Each of its vertices has a container corner. This structure is reinforced by two equidistant crossbeams, forming three equal rectangles.

[0063] The two lateral faces are 6.10 meters long, each made up of four vertical columns with an external diameter of 7.4 cm (which largely support the vertical load of several receptacles in height).

[0064] The vertical columns are connected to each other by diagonal brackets that contribute to the transverse resistance of the receptacles, especially at height (due to possible movements, such as seismic or wind movements, ship movements, etc.).

[0065] The two outer columns of each side wall have a container corner bracket at their upper ends, which are used to connect a given receptacle (R) to the lower corner brackets of another receptacle (R) located above. The four columns (corner and intermediate) are joined at the top by the longitudinal upper beam made of structural pipe. In turn, each intermediate column is connected to its opposite column by two small tensioning chains.

[0066] The chains are tensioned before the product is loaded into the bag, playing an essential role in ensuring that, when the product is poured into the container, the shape of the structure, specifically at the top base (Cbs), remains intact and undeformed. This procedure effectively helps preserve the shape of the structure during the filling process. The total height of each container is 1.175 meters.

[0067] The two front faces (front and rear) are made up of two vertical supports, a structural pipe beam, and two diagonal brackets (which can be replaced with folding plates) located a short distance from the metal corner columns. The product is unloaded from the bag by opening the bottom of one of the faces (grasping the frame from above, below, or from the side).

[0068] ■ BAG FILLING PROCEDURE

[0069] When loading the bulk product into the bag, the bag lid must remain fully open and extend toward the outside of the metal structure (6 and 6'). Before loading begins, the two distant chains (indicated by number 9 on the structure diagram) must be tightened. These chains must pass through small holes in the fabric bag, specially designed for this purpose. Once the bag is filled, the opening must be closed.

[0070] ■ TECHNICAL ASPECTS o Eight corner pieces lock containers into the eight corners of the frame. Measurements exactly equal to 20-foot containers in both length (6.10 m) and width (2.44 m), which are universal measurements. o Possibility of lifting with cranes and special container-lifting machines commonly used in ports, and also with Clark container lifts. The frame is held from above, below, and from its sides. Deployed height totals 1.175 m. This allows the structure to be foldable (the same concept could be designed for greater heights, in which case it would not be foldable). Registration of each container with the BIC (Bureau International des Containers). Possess the following certificates for its manufacture: ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), Bureau Veritas, IMO, Lloyd's Register. Comply with the following ISO Standards: ISO 6346, ISO 1 161, ISO 668:2013, ISO 1496-1, ISO 830.Satellite GPS for continuous geographic location tracking around the world. The system is designed with a total of eight cylindrical structural columns, but this number may vary depending on the construction materials used. The base structure has a 10x10 cm welded steel mesh with a 6 mm diameter, which can be varied depending on the needs.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. STACKABLE STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND HANDLING SYSTEM, APPLIED TO SOLID BULK PRODUCTS, composed of a combination of a receptacle (R) with a metal structure and a bag (12) inside that receives said products, said metal structure comprises a frame (B) that includes two base faces: a lower one (Cbi) and an upper one (Cbs), two lateral faces: right (Cid) and left (Cli), two frontal faces: front (Cfd) and rear (Cft), foldable - unfoldable according to the operating conditions, characterized in that the lower base face (Cbi) has four perimeter beams, two longitudinal ones (2) and two transverse ones (2') made of "U" profile metal, joined in a solid way to each other by their vertices, forming a continuous perimeter and with a closed bottom of a metal mesh (10), in each of its vertices it contains a built-in lower container corner (1 ), or welded to the aforementioned perimeter beams;In turn, on the body of said lower side rails there are two long-shaped cavities (3) in a transverse direction, equidistant and parallel to each other; above the lower corner pieces (1) and the ends of the respective long-shaped cavities (3), there are eight hinged metal plates (5) (15); which are integral with the structural part of the (Cbi) on the one hand, in the lower transverse stringers (2'), and on the other hand at the ends of the longiform cavities (3), in turn, said metal plates (5) are linked in an integral manner, to the lower part of structural columns: extreme (4) and intermediate (4'), at the lower end of said columns (4 and 4') emerge metal square arms forming diagonals (8) linked in the upper sector of the intermediate column (4') and upper corner pieces (1 '), arranged at each upper vertex of the lateral faces that in turn form part of the upper base face (Cbs); the; upper base face (Cbs) has beams: longitudinal (6) and transverse (6') of structural pipe, linked to the upper ends of each of the structural columns (4, 4') and upper corner pieces In addition, at least two tension chains (9) are included, tied between the intermediate columns (4'), as means of fastening the upper base face (Cbs), also on the front (Cfd) and rear (Cft) front faces, they have two vertical supports (7) formed by structural pipes and an upper transversal beam of structural pipe (6'), which is linked when deployed, with a stop lock (1 1) located in each of the upper corner pieces (1 and also at the lower end of each vertical support (7), metal square arms emerge forming diagonals (8) linked by the other upper distal end of said vertical supports (7).

2. STACKABLE STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND HANDLING SYSTEM, APPLIED TO SOLID BULK PRODUCTS, according to claim No. 1, characterized in that the locking means are metal lugs (1 1).

3. STACKABLE STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND HANDLING SYSTEM, APPLIED TO SOLID BULK PRODUCTS, according to claim No. 1, characterized in that the receptacle is 6.10 meters long, 2.44 meters wide and 1.175 meters high.

4. STACKABLE STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND HANDLING SYSTEM, APPLIED TO SOLID PRODUCTS BULK, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a fixed plate (16) for supporting the upper corner pieces in the operational condition of the folded structure.

5. STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND HANDLING SYSTEM STACKABLE, APPLIED TO SOLID BULK PRODUCTS, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a GPS positioning device (13).

6. STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND HANDLING SYSTEM STACKABLE, APPLIED TO SOLID BULK PRODUCTS, according to claim No. 1, characterized in that the enclosure (R) contains a metal frame surrounded by metal sheets (8') on its perimeter contour.

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