US 6,401,983 B1 · Bulk cargo container · patentgrep

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Abstract

A bulk cargo container is disclosed for storing, transporting or processing solid or liquid bulk materials. The bulk cargo container includes a vessel suitable for containing the bulk material and a supporting frame assembly having a generally horizontally disposed support member attachment. In an exemplary embodiment, the vessel is formed of fiber reinforced plastic material and includes a container portion and a support member. The container portion is formed into at least one hopper having a discharge opening therein suitable for discharging bulk material contained within the vessel. The vessel is supported from the support member attachment via the support member so that the weight of the bulk material is carried in tension by the fiber reinforced plastic material of the vessels shell.

Claims68

Dependent claims

A bulk cargo container, comprising:

a vessel suitable for containing bulk material, said vessel being formed of fiber reinforced plastic material;
at least one discharge assembly formed in said vessel, said discharge assembly having an opening suitable for discharging said bulk material;
a support member formed in said vessel for supporting said vessel and bulk material contained therein, said support member having an inverted generally U-shaped cross-section;
a frame assembly including a generally horizontally disposed support member attachment engaged by said support member, said support member attachment having an inverted generally U-shaped cross-section;
a clamping member placed over said engaged support member and support member attachment such that said support member is disposed between said support member attachment and said clamping member;
and
a fastener for securing said clamping member, support member, and support member attachment together;
wherein said vessel is supported from said support member attachment via said support member so that the weight of said bulk material is carried in tension by said fiber reinforced plastic material;
and
wherein said support member, said clamping member, and said fastener cooperate to uniformly distribute tensile loads in said fiber reinforced plastic material to said support member attachment.

7 more elements

A bulk cargo container, comprising:

a vessel suitable for containing bulk material, said vessel being formed of fiber reinforced plastic material;
at least one discharge assembly formed in said vessel, said discharge assembly having an opening suitable for discharging said bulk material and comprising a hopper integrally formed in said vessel;
a reinforcing frame disposed in said hopper surrounding said opening, said reinforcing frame including a core imbedded in said fiber reinforced plastic material, each side of said core having a generally triangular cross-section for transitioning said fiber reinforced plastic material from said ellipsoidal shape of said opening to said rectangular shape of said reinforcing frame;
and a support imbedded in said reinforced plastic material, adjacent to said core;
a support member formed in said vessel for supporting said vessel and bulk material contained therein;
a frame assembly including a generally horizontally disposed support member attachment engaged by said support member;
a clamping member placed over said engaged support member and support member attachment such that said support member is disposed between said support member attachment and said clamping member;
and
a fastener for securing said clamping member, support member, and support member attachment together;
wherein said vessel is supported from said support member attachment via said support member so that the weight of said bulk material is carried in tension by said fiber reinforced plastic material;
and
wherein said support member, said clamping member, and said fastener cooperate to uniformly distribute tensile loads in said fiber reinforced plastic material to said support member attachment.

9 more elements

A bulk cargo container, comprising:

a frame assembly including a support member attachment having an inverted generally U-shaped cross-section;
a vessel held in said frame assembly suitable for containing bulk material, said vessel being formed of fiber reinforced plastic material and including a container portion and a support member, having an inverted generally U-shaped cross-section;
at least one discharge assembly comprising a hopper integrally formed in said container portion, said hopper having an opening through which bulk material may be discharged;
a reinforcing frame surrounding said opening, said reinforcing frame including a tension ring internally disposed in said fiber reinforced plastic material;
a clamping member placed over said engaged support member and support member attachment such that said support member is disposed between said support member attachment and said clamping member;
and
a fastener for securing said clamping member, support member, and support member attachment together;
wherein said support member, said clamping member, and said fastener cooperate to uniformly distribute tensile loads in said fiber reinforced plastic material to said support member attachment;
and
wherein said vessel is supported from said support member attachment via said support member so that the weight of said bulk material is carried in tension by said fiber reinforced plastic material;
and
wherein said tension ring distributes tensile loads in said fiber reinforced plastic material surrounding said opening.

9 more elements

A bulk cargo container, comprising:

a frame assembly having a support member attachment;
a vessel held in said frame assembly suitable for containing bulk material, said vessel being formed of fiber reinforced plastic material and including a container portion and a support member;
at least one discharge assembly comprising a hopper integrally formed in said container portion, said hopper having an opening through which bulk material may be discharged;
and
a reinforcing frame surrounding said opening, said reinforcing frame including a tension ring internally disposed in said fiber reinforced plastic material, a core imbedded in said fiber reinforced plastic material, said core having a generally triangular cross-section for transitioning said fiber reinforced plastic material from said ellipsoidal shape of said opening to said rectangular shape of said reinforcing frame;
and a support imbedded in said reinforced plastic material, adjacent to said core;
wherein said vessel is supported from said support member attachment via said support member so that the weight of said bulk material is carried in tension by said fiber reinforced plastic material;
and
wherein said tension ring distributes tensile loads in said fiber reinforced plastic material surrounding said opening.

6 more elements

A bulk cargo container, comprising:

an ISO compliant frame assembly having comer fittings suitable for facilitating stacking of said bulk cargo container with other ISO compliant containers;
a vessel formed of fiber reinforced plastic material supported in said frame, said vessel suitable for containing bulk material and including a container portion;
and
at least one hopper assembly formed in said container portion, said hopper assembly having an opening suitable for discharging said bulk material;
wherein said vessel further comprises a generally horizontally disposed support member and said frame assembly comprises a generally horizontally disposed support member attachment positioned at least adjacent to said support member, and wherein said vessel is supported from said support member attachment via said support member;
and
wherein said support member attachment and said support member comprise inverted generally U-shaped cross-sections and wherein said support member engages said support member attachment for supporting said vessel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/454,271Filed 3 Dec 1999 · continuation in part
Priority: 9 Dec 1997
Granted: 11 Jun 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60P 1/56
Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading: the load-transporting…
B65D 88/128
Specially adapted for transport: tank containers, i.e. containers provided with supporting devices for handling
B65D 90/20
Supports: frames or nets, e.g. for flexible containers
B60P
Vehicles adapted for load transportation or to transport, to carry, or to

Family

Application08/987,319Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Dec 1997
Application08/987,705Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 9 Dec 1997
Application09/363,500Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 Jul 1999
Application09/363,500Parent of this continuation
Application08/987,319Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,059,372 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,401,983 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Citations

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