A substantially solid brick of non-volatile bituminous material has a shape that is defined by an irregular outer surface to minimize surface contact with nearby bricks when shipped in bulk. The overall shape is preferably that of a modified tetrahedron having three non-planar face surfaces, a top surface, and a surface or point. Both the top and bottom surfaces are preferably modified domed shapes comprised of several sections. The face sections are preferably modified concave surfaces comprised of several triangular sections that can be planar, concave, or convex. Curved edges connect the face sections to each other and can include several planar edge sections. The bituminous material can include additives, and the brick can further include a skeleton distributed throughout. The skeleton can be a customizable matrix, framework of fiber groups, or other structure and can include customizable buoyant features such as air pockets or capsules.

A method of preparing non-volatile bituminous material in solid form includes first accessing molds having mold cavities defining an irregularly shaped brick having a plurality of non-planar surfaces and preparing the bituminous material for casting by heating it until it is suitably viscous for casting and optionally blending it with an additive. Then, the molds can be filled with the bituminous materials, preferably using a retractable conduit that progressively fills each mold cavity from its bottom to its top. Next, the bituminous material in the molds is solidified until substantially solid bricks are formed. Optionally, a skeleton with optional additional buoyant features can be placed in each mold cavity prior to casting so that the resulting brick has increased buoyancy throughout, and the skeleton and any buoyant features can be customized according to the needs of the customer. The resulting bricks can be removed for transport.

A cargo container is disclosed which contains a bottom side; a front side; a back side; a central frame connected to the front side, the back side, and the bottom side, dividing the cargo container into a multiple storing areas; a left top wing-shaped door, hingedly connected to a top of the central frame, operable to open and close down to one and a half height to the central frame; a left bottom wing-shaped door, hingedly connected at a one and a half height of the central frame; a right top door, hingedly to the said half height distance to the mid-section frame; and a right bottom door, hingedly connected to the central frame at the one and a half height of the central frame and close down to the bottom side.

A releasable power assembly prevents damage to plugs and receptacles connected to refrigerated shipping containers (reefers). Reefers are temporarily stored in shipping port reefer scaffolds and then loaded onto or unloaded off of ground transportation or freighters. However, errors in port command and control systems may result in the failure to unplug reefers prior to loading or unloading. Conventional reefer power plugs and receptacles are twist-locked together and damaged or destroyed if not manually disconnected prior to reefer movement. An advantageous releasable power assembly automatically unlatches before reaching a breaking point for failure to disconnect plug and receptacle.

A releasable power assembly prevents damage to plugs and receptacles connected to refrigerated shipping containers (reefers). Reefers are temporarily stored in shipping port reefer scaffolds and then loaded onto or unloaded off of ground transportation or freighters. However, errors in port command and control systems may result in the failure to unplug reefers prior to loading or unloading. Conventional reefer power plugs and receptacles are twist-locked together and damaged or destroyed if not manually disconnected prior to reefer movement. An advantageous releasable power assembly automatically unlatches before reaching a breaking point for failure to disconnect plug and receptacle.

An assembly for maturing distilled spirits comprises a shipping container and a racking system positioned within the shipping container. The racking system includes a racking column attached to a pair of racking rails for supporting one or more barrels inside the shipping container. An external surface of the side walls of the shipping container has a light reflective value of less than about 10 while an external surface of the roof of the shipping container has a light reflective value of about 75 or more to induce a convective air flow around the racking system. Systems for maturing distilled spirits include a plurality of the assemblies for maturing distilled spirits in a stacked configuration. Methods for maturing distilled spirits comprise placing a plurality of barrels including distilled spirits on the racking system of an assembly for a period of time and under conditions sufficient to age the distilled spirits.

A receiver for irregularly shaped bricks cast from non-volatile bituminous material includes a receiver with a specialized storage chamber that can receive viscous bituminous material and a concave lid preferably modified with a radiant heating system that can accept and melt or soften arriving bricks. The lid includes multiple openings or other delivery routes that funnel the melted bituminous material to the chamber below. The radiant heating system can be electrical where cables or grids are embedded in the lid or where conductive materials coat or are distributed throughout the lid. Alternatively, the radiant heating system can be hydronic where channels or conduits are embedded in the lid to circulate heated liquid such as water or water mixed with propylene glycol. The receiver can also include blenders, skimmers, and additional heaters to further skim, blend, or process the bituminous material collected in the chamber.

A temperature controlled container comprises exterior wall structure, interior wall structure positioned within the exterior wall structure, the interior wall structure at least partially defining an interior space configured to hold one or more products for shipping, and a chamber defined between the interior and exterior wall structure, the chamber configured to retain thermal storage medium to provide a thermally insulative layer at least partially protecting the interior space.

The present invention relates to a container provided with heat insulation means (8), characterized in that the heat insulation means (8) are removable and consist of a partition having a multilayered structure, or films, arranged between the wall of the tank (5) and at least the walls of two of the above-mentioned sides (2, 2′) as well as the upper surface (4) of the container (1). The invention further relates to the use of such heat insulation means (8) in a conventional container (1).

The present invention relates to a container provided with heat insulation means (8), characterized in that the heat insulation means (8) are removable and consist of a partition having a multilayered structure, or films, arranged between the wall of the tank (5) and at least the walls of two of the above-mentioned sides (2, 2′) as well as the upper surface (4) of the container (1). The invention further relates to the use of such heat insulation means (8) in a conventional container (1).