FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a gravity tip container to improve and simplify the offloading of dry bulk commodities, such as manganese and iron ore.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Road transport is often the largest cost in the supply chain when it comes to bulk commodities. Several factors play a role in the overall supply chain, including the weight of the container arrangement carrying the product, the related payload and the time (and related factors) in discharging the product from the container body.

A conventional gravity tip container typically requires hydraulic power packs and heavy hydraulic cylinders to tip the container to enable the contents of the container to be discharged. Some related problems include a reduced payload, a relatively delayed tipping time and of course maintenance and related issues.

It is thus an aim of the present invention to address the above problems in a simple and efficient manner, by decreasing the weight of the overall container arrangement, increase the payload, and to provide an overall versatile and reliable solution.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a gravity tip container comprising a container body having side and end walls for accommodating product to be tipped or discharged out of the container body, the container body having at least one angled floor portion that angles down towards one of the side walls of the container body, the side wall including a flap portion that is movable relative to the side wall, the flap portion being movable between a closed position (typically locked and secured), in which the product is accommodated within the container body, and a opened position, in which the flap portion moves away from the rest of the side wall, to define a discharge opening for allowing the product to flow out of the container body, along the angled floor portion, under the action of gravity.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the gravity tip container comprises an elongate frame body for snugly accommodating the container body, the frame body accommodating a liquid storage container, with the liquid storage container being arranged below the container body.

The frame body includes an inner frame body that extends the length of the frame body, the inner frame body dividing the frame body into a lower liquid storage zone for accommodating the liquid storage container and an upper product storage zone for accommodating the container body.

The frame body comprises end frame components comprising spaced apart horizontal and vertical support beams, and side frame components comprising spaced apart horizontal support beams that extend between the end frame components.

The side frame components comprise upper horizontal support beams and lower horizontal support beams, which divide the side frame components into upper zones, middle zones and lower zones.

The upper zones are covered by upper cover plates, and the middle and lower zones are covered by lower cover plates which correspond to the flap portions, the lower cover plates being hingedly fitted to the upper horizontal support beams.

In one version, the upper and lower cover plates are fitted to the frame components that define the upper zones and the middle and lower zones. In another version, the upper and lower cover plates form part of the container body itself.

The container body has a pair of upper angled floor portions that extend downwardly and away from a central, longitudinal apex, with adjacent substantially vertically extending side walls extending downwardly from the upper angled floor portions, and adjacent lower angled floor portions angling down towards the bottom edge of the lower cover plates.

As such, the inner frame body has a plurality of pairs of upper angled support beams that extend downwardly and away from a central, longitudinal apex, for supporting the upper angled floor portions and the central, longitudinal apex of the container body, with adjacent substantially vertically extending side wall beams extending downwardly from the upper angled support beams, and adjacent lower angled support beams angling downwardly towards the vertical support beams, typically in line with the lower horizontal support beams.

The liquid storage container is accordingly shaped to complement the inner profile of the inner frame body. As such, the liquid storage container includes a pair of upper angled walls to support the support beams, intermediate vertically extending side walls, adjacent lower angled walls to support the support beams, and lower vertically extending side walls.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the flap portion is movably fitted to a lower end of the side wall, so that when it moves to the opened position, the flap portion defines a chute along which the product can flow/travel. In one version, a locking means is provided to lock the flap portion at an angle relative to the side wall to define a chute that extends transversely relative to the side wall.

In this second embodiment, the container body has a pair of angled floor portions that angle down towards opposite side walls of the container body, with each side wall having a flap portion, to enable to product to flow out of both sides of the container body. The pair of angled floor portions is thus triangular or delta shaped, when viewed from the end of the container body, with an apex being defined substantially in the middle of the container body. Typically, the pair of angled floor portions, and the corresponding flap portions, extend along the entire length of the container body, so as to define a recess, in the form of a triangular prism, under the container body. The container body is securable to a skeletal trailer with first securing means. The first securing means takes the form of lock down points that are the same as those provided on a conventional shipping container.

In an embodiment, the product is a bulk commodity, such as manganese or iron ore. If the product is being discharged at a port, the product can be discharged directly onto a conveyor belt arrangement.

The upper peripheral rim of the container body may be fitted with a self-sealing arrangement, to enable the container bodies to be sealingly stacked on top of each other. This enables the product to be safely stored within the container body, for example, while waiting for a ship.

This version may also include a liquid storage container, the upper part of which is complementary to, so as to fit snugly under, the triangular prism recess defined by the bottom of the container body. Thus, in one version the liquid storage container comprises a pentagonal prism comprising a bottom wall, two opposite side walls, and two top walls that are angled towards each to provide a closed body.

Two end walls are provided to define a fully enclosed liquid storage container. The liquid storage container includes an inlet and an outlet to facilitate the flow of liquid into and out of the liquid storage container.

The liquid storage container is arranged to be mounted on top of, and secured to, the trailer, so that in one configuration, the liquid storage container is arranged to be mounted on top of the trailer, with the container body of the gravity tip container then being mounted on top of the liquid storage container.

Second securing means are provided to secure the liquid storage container to the trailer, with the first securing means of the container body of the gravity tip container being used to secure the container body to the underlying liquid storage container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows two rear side perspective views of a gravity tip container according to the invention, the gravity tip container comprising a container body having side and end walls for accommodating product to be tipped or discharged out of the container body, the side wall including a flap portion that is movable between a locked, secured position, as shown in the drawing on the left, in which the product is accommodated within the container body, and a opened position, as shown in the drawing in the right, in which the flap portion moves away from the rest of the side wall, to define a discharge opening for allowing the product to flow out of the container body;

Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 , but shows rear end perspective views of the gravity tip container according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows perspective views of the key features of the gravity tip container according to the invention, namely a container body having at least one angled floor portion that angles down towards one of the side walls of the container body, the container body being mountable on top of a trailer;

Figure 4 shows the ability of the gravity tip container to discharge its contents directly onto a conveyor belts, at, for example, a port, thereby significantly reducing loading time;

Figure 5 shows a further feature of the gravity tip container, in which the upper peripheral rim of the container body is fitted with a self-sealing arrangement, to enable the container bodies to be sealingly stacked on top of each other;

Figure 6 shows a first modified version of the invention, in which a liquid storage container is provided that is arranged to fit snugly under the container body of the gravity tip container shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figures 7 and 8 show a second modified version of a gravity tip container according to the invention, in which a frame body is provided with a liquid storage container, the frame body being arranged to snugly accommodate a container body of another version of a gravity tip container of the invention; and

Figures 9 and 10 show a third slightly modified version of the gravity tip container shown in Figures 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, a gravity tip container 10 is provided comprising a container bin or body 12 having side walls 14, 16 and end walls 18, 20 for accommodating product 22 to be tipped or discharged out of the container body 12. In an embodiment, the product 22 is a bulk commodity, such as manganese or iron ore.

The container body 12 is typically light weight, thus increasing the overall payload and profitability. In one version, the aim is to increase the payload from 35,000 kg to 44,000 kg.

As best shown in Figure 3, the container body 12 has at least one angled floor portion 24, 26 that angles down towards one of the side walls 14, 16 of the container body 12. The side walls 14, 16 includes flap portions 28, 30 that are movably fitted (typically by means of a hinge 32) to the side walls 14, 16. Magnetic locks may be used to lock the flap portions 28, 30 to the side walls 14, 16.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown, the container body 12 has a pair of angled floor portions 24, 26 that angle down towards opposite side walls 14, 16 of the container body 12. Each side wall 14, 16 has a flap portion 28, 30, respectively, to enable to product 22 to flow out of both sides of the container body 12, as shown on the right in Figures 1 and 2 in particular. As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pair of angled floor portions 24, 26 is thus triangular or delta shaped, when viewed from the end of the container body 12, with an apex 34 being defined substantially in the middle of the container body 12. Typically, the pair of angled floor portions 24, 26, and the corresponding flap portions 28, 30, extend along the entire length of the container body 12, so as to define a continuous, elongate recess, in the form of a triangular prism or void 36, under the container body 12.

In use, as best shown on the left of Figures 1 and 2, the flap portions 28, 30 are movable between a locked, secured position, in which the product is accommodated within the container body, and an opened position, as shown on the right in Figures 1 and 2, in which the flap portions 28, 30 move away from the rest of the side walls 14, 16, to define a discharge opening 38, 40 for allowing the product 22 to flow out of the container body 12, along the angled floor portions 24, 26, under the action of gravity.

In an embodiment, the flap portions 28, 30 are hingedly fitted to a lower end of the side walls 14, 16, so that when they move to the opened position, the flap portions 28, 30 define a chute along which the product 22 can flow/travel. Advantageously, this arrangement also ensures that the product 22 is offloaded away from the container body 12. In one version, although not shown, a locking means is provided to lock the flap portions 28, 30 at an angle relative to the side walls 14, 16, to define a chute that extends transversely relative to the side walls 14, 16.

As best shown in Figure 3, the container body 12 is securable to a conventional light weight skeletal trailer 42 with first securing means (not shown). The first securing means typically takes the form of lock down points that are the same as those provided on a conventional shipping container, thus making the trailer 42 versatile for other applications, if required.

Turning now to Figure 4, if the product 22 is being discharged at a port, the product 22 can be discharged directly onto a conveyor belt arrangement 44, typically comprising a pair of spaced apart conveyor belts 46, 48 arranged on either side of the container body 12. This can significantly reduce loading time in port by up to 70%, thereby reducing the cost of mooring and shipping dramatically. Turning now to Figure 5, the upper peripheral rim of the container body 12 is fitted with a self-sealing arrangement 50, to enable a plurality of the container bodies 12 to be sealingly stacked on top of each other. This enables the product 22 to be safely stored within the container body 12, for example, while waiting for a ship.

Turning now to Figure 6, the present invention further includes a liquid storage container 52 (or tanker), for holding a fuel, such as petrol or diesel, the upper part of which is arranged to fit snugly under the triangular prism recess 36 defined by the bottom of the container body 12, as described above. Thus, in one version, the liquid storage container 52 comprises a pentagonal prism 54 comprising a bottom wall 56, two opposite side walls 58, 60, and two top walls 62, 64 that are angled towards each to provide a closed body (and which is thus arranged to accommodate the triangular prism recess 36 defined by the bottom of the container body 12). Two end walls (but only one of which, namely end wall 66, is shown) are provided to define a fully enclosed liquid storage container 52.

The liquid storage container 52 includes an inlet 70 and an outlet 72, to facilitate the flow of liquid into and out of the liquid storage container 12.

As shown in Figure 6, the liquid storage container 12 is arranged to be mounted on top of, and secured to, the trailer 42. Thus, in one configuration, the liquid storage container 52 is arranged to be mounted on top of the trailer 42, with the container body 12 of the gravity tip container 10 then being mounted on top of the liquid storage container 52.

Second securing means (also in the form of lock down points) are provided to secure the liquid storage container 52 to the trailer 42, with the first securing means of the container body 12 of the gravity tip container 10 being used to secure the container body 12 to the underlying liquid storage container 52.

Turning now to Figures 7 and 8, a second modified version of a gravity tip container 78 is shown, in which a frame body 80 is provided for accommodating a liquid storage container 82 (again, typically for holding fuel). The frame body 80 comprises end frame components 84, 86 comprising spaced apart horizontal and vertical support beams 84.1 , 84.2, 86.1 , 86.2 (not visible), and 84.3, 84.4, 86.3, 86.4.

The frame body 80 further comprises side frame components 88, 90 comprising spaced apart horizontal support beams 88.1 , 88.2 (not visible), 90.1 , 90.2 that extend between the end frame components 84, 86. In the version shown in Figures 7 and 8, intermediate beams 92, 94 and 96 are fitted to divide the frame body 80 into two sub-frame bodies. The side frame components 88, 90 comprise upper horizontal support beams 98, 100 and lower horizontal support beams 102, 104, which divide the side frame components 88, 90 into upper zones 106, middle zones 108 and lower zones 1 10 (only one of which is shown in the figures).

The upper zones 106 are covered by upper cover plates 1 12, and the middle and lower zones 108, 1 10 are covered by lower cover plates 1 14. The upper and lower cover plates 1 12, 1 14 are shown with reference to a container body 1 16 of another version of a gravity tip container 1 18 according to the invention. In one version, as shown, the upper and lower cover plates 1 12, 1 14 are fitted to the frame components that define the upper zones 106 and the middle and lower zones 108, 1 10, respectively.

Thus, in this particular version, the upper cover plates 1 12 are securely fitted to the horizontal support beams 88.1 , 90.1 , the adjacent, spaced apart upper horizontal support beams 98, 100, and the corresponding portions of the vertical support beams 84.3, 84.4, 86.3 and 86.4. In addition, the lower cover plates 1 14 define flap portions, the lower cover plates 1 14 being hingedly fitted to the upper horizontal support beams 98, 100. The lower cover plates 1 14 are thus movable between a closed, locked position, in which product (not shown) within the container body 1 16 is safely housed therein (similar to the middle figure in Figure 6), and an opened, unlocked position in which the lower cover plates 1 14 hinge away/open, thereby allowing the product within the container body 1 16 to flow out of both sides of the container body 1 16, the principle of which has already been described above with particular reference to Figures 1 , 2 and 6. As described above, magnetic locks may be used to lock the flap portions 1 14 to the lower parts of the side frame components 88, 90, and in particular to the lower horizontal support beams 88.2 (not visible) and 90.2.

In another version, the upper and lower cover plates 1 12, 114 form part of the container body 116 itself. In this version, minor modifications may need to be made to the frame body 80, but the operation remains substantially the same.

The container body 1 16 has at least one upper angled floor portion 120, but typically a pair of upper angled floor portions 120, that extend downwardly and away from a central, longitudinal apex 122. Adjacent substantially vertically extending side walls 124 extend downwardly from the upper angled floor portions 120, and adjacent lower angled floor portions 126 angles down towards the bottom edge of the lower cover plates 1 14. This configuration encourages the product within the container body 116 to flow out of the container body 116.

End walls 127 are provided to cover/enclose the ends of the container body 116 so as to safely accommodate/house the product.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the frame body 80 includes an inner frame body 128 that extends the length of the frame body 80. The inner frame body 128 essentially divides the frame body 80 into a lower liquid storage zone for accommodating the liquid storage container 82 and an upper product storage zone for accommodating/supporting the container body 1 16. The liquid storage container 82 is thus arranged within a void defined below the container body 1 16. As such, the inner frame body 128 has a plurality of pairs of upper angled support beams 130 that extend downwardly and away from a central, longitudinal apex 132, for supporting the upper angled floor portions 120 and the central, longitudinal apex 122, respectively, of the container body 1 16.

Adjacent substantially vertically extending side wall beams 134 extend downwardly from the upper angled support beams 130, and adjacent lower angled support beams 136 angle downwardly towards the vertical support beams 84.3, 84.4, 86.3 and 86.4, typically in line with the lower horizontal support beams 102, 104. These beams 134, 136 support the adjacent substantially vertically extending side walls 124 and the adjacent lower angled floor portions 126 of the container body 1 16.

A plurality of support struts 138 extend across the beams 134, 136 to provide additional support.

The liquid storage container 82 is accordingly shaped to complement the inner profile of the inner frame body 128. As such, the liquid storage container 82 includes a pair of upper angled walls 140 to support the support beams 130, intermediate vertically extending side walls 142, adjacent lower angled walls 144 to support the support beams 136, and lower vertically extending side walls 146.

The liquid storage container 82 includes an inlet 148 and an outlet 150, to facilitate the flow of liquid into and out of the liquid storage container 82.

The arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8 provides a sturdy and secure gravity tip container 78, that can be easily and safely transported on top of a trailer, for example. Securing means of the type described above, may be used to secure the gravity tip container 78 to the trailer.

Figures 9 and 10 show a third slightly modified version of the gravity tip container shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this version, the gravity tip container 160 comprises an elongate frame body 162 for snugly accommodating a container body 164. The frame body 162 accommodates a liquid storage container 166, with the liquid storage container 166 being arranged below the container body 164. The liquid storage container 166 is thus arranged within a void defined below the container body 164.

The frame body 162 includes an inner frame body 168 that extends the length of the frame body 162, the inner frame body 168 dividing the frame body 162 into a lower liquid storage zone for accommodating the liquid storage container 166 and an upper product storage zone for accommodating the container body 164. In this particular version, the liquid storage container 166 is removably and/or slidably accommodated within the inner frame body 168, with the frame body 162 and the container body 164 typically forming an integrated combined arrangement.

As with the version shown in Figures 7 and 8, the frame body 162 comprises end frame components 170 comprising spaced apart horizontal and vertical support beams 172, and side frame components 174 comprising spaced apart horizontal support beams 176 that extend between the end frame components 170. The side frame components 174 comprise upper horizontal support beams 178 and lower horizontal support beams 180, which divide the side frame components 174 into upper zones, middle zones and lower zones.

The upper zones are covered by upper cover plates 182, and the middle and lower zones are covered by lower cover plates 184 (which are omitted in Figure 9 for clarity, but which are shown in Figure 10) which correspond to the flap portions. As with the version shown in Figures 7 and 8, the lower cover plates 184 are hingedly fitted to the upper horizontal support beams 178.

As indicated above, in this version, the upper and lower cover plates 182, 184 are fitted to the frame components 174 that define the upper zones and the middle and lower zones.

The container body 164 has a pair of upper angled floor portions 186 that extend downwardly and away from a central, longitudinal apex 188, with adjacent substantially vertically extending side walls 190 extending downwardly from the upper angled floor portions 186, and adjacent lower angled floor portions 192 angling down towards the bottom edge of the lower cover plates 184.

End walls 193 are provided to cover/enclose the ends of the container body 164 so as to safely accommodate/house the product.

As such, as best shown in Figure 10, the inner frame body 168 has a plurality of pairs of upper angled support beams 194 that extend downwardly and away from a central, longitudinal apex 196, for supporting the upper angled floor portions 186 and the central, longitudinal apex 188 of the container body 164, with adjacent substantially vertically extending side wall beams 198 extending downwardly from the upper angled support beams 194, and adjacent lower angled support beams 200 angling downwardly towards the vertical support beams 172, typically in line with the lower horizontal support beams 180.

The liquid storage container 166 is accordingly shaped to complement the inner profile of the inner frame body 168. In this version, the liquid storage container 166 comprises a substantially flat roof 202, intermediate vertically extending side walls 204, adjacent lower angled walls 206 to support the support beams 200, and lower vertically extending side walls 208.

The gravity tipping arrangements of the present invention thus does not require any hydraulic power packs or heavy hydraulic cylinders, and no leverage mechanisms are required to tip the load. The overall payload can thus be increased. The dual configuration of the gravity tip container on top of the underlying liquid storage container is particularly useful in remote areas where railway allocation is limited. This bi-directional configuration allows wet bulk (such as fuel, sulfuric acid etc) to be transported to site (typically from a port), and for dry bulk (such as manganese and iron ore) to be transported back to the port on the return trip.

The present invention thus provides a cost-effective solution for both dry and wet bulk transportation.