MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINER FOR BULK GOODS

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile storage container for bulk material in the form of a container unit which is dimensioned such that it can be transported on public roads and in public areas without requiring special permits for said transport. The container unit has a container with sidewalls, an underfloor, and an intermediate bottom arranged above the underfloor. The container has a stiffness that allows for the container to be set up even in the filled state on any essentially level ground without pillar mounting and without a foundation. A discharge device for the bulk material and a cross conveyor are integrated into the container, and a vertical conveyor connected to the discharge device is integrated into the container unit. By means of the discharge device, the bulk material is dispensed at a discharge height from the container unit and transferred to the vertical conveyor. From the vertical conveyor, the bulk material is dispensed at a drop height, which is higher than the discharge height.

Claims

1. Storage container for bulk material in the form of a container unit which is dimensioned such that it can be transported without a special permit on public roads and in public areas and comprises a closed container with sidewalls, an underfloor, and an intermediate bottom arranged above the underfloor, characterized in that the container has a stiffness that allows for the container to be set up on any essentially level ground even in the filled state without pillar mounting and foundation, a discharge device for the bulk material and a cross conveyor are integrated into the containers, and a vertical conveyor, which is connected to the discharge device, is integrated into the container unit, wherein the bulk material, by means of the discharge device, can be dispensed at a discharge height from the container unit and transferred to the vertical conveyor, from which the bulk material can be dispensed at a drop height which is higher than the discharge height.

2. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical conveyor is a vertical auger and arranged in the interior of the container.

3. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical auger is arranged on the outside of the container.

4. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross conveyor and the vertical conveyor are designed as a unit which realizes a change in the conveying direction during the transport process.

5. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharge device is designed as a push/pull bottom and has ladder rails and ladder bars.

6. Storage container according to claim 5, characterized in that there is a distance, particularly of at least 5 cm, between the push bottom and the intermediate bottom.

7. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross conveyor is designed as a cross auger or a tube chain conveyor and arranged in the intermediate bottom.

8. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that a supply space is provided, in which an energy supply unit for driving the discharge device, the cross conveyor, and the vertical conveyor is arranged.

9. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the underfloor, the container unit has rollers on receiving rails.

10. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a portion of the intermediate bottom is positionable at a defined angle to the initial horizontal position by means of a drive, particularly a hydraulic cylinder drive.

11. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that hydraulic cylinders, which are extendable from the underfloor of the container and by means of which the container unit can be tilted, are integrated into the underfloor.

12. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that, with regard to its outer dimensions, the container unit is standardized for transport on public roads and in public areas, such as roll-off containers according to DIN 30722, skip containers according to DIN 20720, or sea containers according to ISO 668.

13. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the bulk material is road salt, road sand, or road grit.

14. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container unit is provided with a bidirectionally operating radio device, by means of which filling states and unloading or loading releases can be transmitted and/or queried and/or controlled.

15. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container unit comprises a heating device at least for the discharge device, the container, and the vertical conveyor.

16. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container unit is designed to be weather- protected, particularly waterproof and/or frost-protected.

17. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container is provided with a lid or a tarpaulin.

Description

[0053] In the following, further advantages, details, and possible applications shall be described in detail using the following drawings. In the drawings:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a mobile storage container according to the invention in the form of a grit container to be used for winter service;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a container unit of the mobile storage container according to FIG. 1;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the container unit of the mobile storage container according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the container unit of the mobile storage container according to FIGS. 1 to 3;

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a mobile storage container in the form of a grit container for winter service;

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the container unit of the mobile storage container according to FIG. 5;

[0060] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a mobile storage container with a tilting device;

[0061] FIG. 8 a) and b) show yet a further embodiment of a mobile storage container with a push bottom on an provided intermediate bottom, and an intermediate bottom section inclined downwardly toward the discharge device in the form of a chute; and FIG. 9 shows yet a further embodiment of a mobile storage container with a section of the intermediate bottom of the container unit positionable at a defined angle.

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a mobile storage container in the form of a grit container. This mobile storage container has a container unit with a discharge device in the form of a push floor 2 which conveys the grit at a discharge height 11 of the discharge device to a collecting device which, in this embodiment, is designed as a cross auger 3. Above the cross auger 3, a hood 9 is arranged which protects the cross auger 3 from the weight of the grit present in the mobile storage container; as a result, no excessive weight of the grit bears down on the cross auger 3. The cross auger 3 conveys the grit to a vertical conveyor 4 which is also designed as an auger. From the vertical conveyor, the grit reaches the ejection height 12 or drop height via an ejection chute 10, from where the grit conveyed to said position falls into a gritting vehicle arranged below the ejection chute, which is not shown here in order to simplify the drawing.

[0063] In this embodiment, the vertical conveyor 4 is arranged on the side of the container 1 of the container unit of the mobile storage container. The push bottom 2 is moved via a hydraulic cylinder 5. Because the drop height 12 of the vertical conveyor 4 lies above the discharge height 11 of the discharge device, it is possible that the mobile storage container with its underside or its underfloor, on which stabilizing rails 15 are possibly arranged, can be set down on fairly level ground of highly diverse consistency without having to build a foundation or pillars for mounting the storage container, and it is also possible to easily transport said container without conversion or fittings to another operating location by means of commercial trucks or other transport vehicles on public roads and in public areas. By means of the vertical conveyor as part of the mobile storage container, the grit can be transferred from the storage container to gritting vehicles. On its underfloor, the container unit itself has two rollers 13 and receiving rails 15. As a result, the underfloor 6 is additionally stabilized. The push bottom 2 moves on the intermediate bottom 8. The cross auger 3 is arranged in the space between the underfloor 6 and the intermediate bottom 8.

[0064] The bulk material is stored above the intermediate bottom 8 and delimited on the sides by the walls 7. A hook 14 of the roll-off container, by means of which the container is received by and transported with a truck, is located at the front side of the container unit 1. The supply space 17 is additionally used for accommodating a control cabinet and an optionally provided energy supply, e.g. a power generation unit and/or a hydraulic aggregate.

[0065] A significant advantage of this mobile storage container over conventional transport containers or conventional stationary storage containers is that the storage container has integrated all functional aggregates and can thus be used in a very flexible manner. With regard to its dimensions, the mobile storage container is additionally designed such that it does not exceed the measurements of standardized containers and can thus be transported problem-free and without a special permit in public road traffic from one operating location to another. The actual storage container thus has a dual function, namely the function of storing the grit, for example, for winter service tasks, and the mobility or the transport of the storage container from one operating location to another without installation or disassembly of possibly attached devices. Until now, this dual function has not been realized in this manner, since transport containers have not integrated functionalities because they are intended only for the transport of specific goods from a location A to a location B, whereas known storage containers are set up stationarily and therefore require a foundation or a mounting on pillars in order to ensure that these containers, which merely serve as a storage facility, can also be emptied appropriately in the sense that the bulk material stored in the container can be transferred to operational vehicles.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the container unit 1 according to FIG. 1. The hydraulic cylinder 5, which moves the push bottom 2, lies above the underfloor 6. The push bottom 2 pushes the grit to the cross auger 3 which further conveys it to the vertical auger 4. At the front side 7 of the container of the container unit 1 of the mobile storage container, a hook 14 for transport is arranged. The last strut 16 of the push floor 2 has an opposite conveying direction to ensure that the grit is not pressed in on the rear wall of the container unit 1.

[0067] In addition, the supply space 17 is shown, in which a control unit and/or an energy supply unit are or can be arranged. Due to the fact that all functional aggregates are integrated into the container unit of the mobile storage container, the mobile storage container according to the invention has a high flexibility regarding its use and is also autarkic with regard to the realization of the functions required for operating this storage container.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the mobile storage container according to FIGS. 1 and 2. At the rear of the container of the container unit 1, a door is arranged, which can be opened to reach the interior of the container of the container unit 1. The rollers 13 of the container unit 1 are fastened to the underfloor 6, making the mobile storage container overall more mobile and flexible in its use. As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1, the vertical auger 4 is fastened to the sidewall 7 of the container.

[0069] FIG. 4 finally shows a front view of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3. On the outer side of the container wall 7, the container unit 1 has a hook 14, and on the underfloor 6, it has receiving rails 15 which are both used for transport with a truck and also provide additional stability at the underfloor 6 of the container unit. FIG. 4 shows that the vertical auger 4 is attached outside on the side of the container unit and is used to convey the grit via the ejection chute 10 into a gritting vehicle (not depicted). The ejection or drop height 12 is also indicated in principle and lies clearly above the discharge height of the discharge device, which is arranged in the interior of the container of the container unit 1 of the mobile storage container. In this embodiment, the vertical auger 4 is designed to be hinged in order to comply with the permissible height for road transport.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a mobile storage container, e.g. a grit container 1. In this embodiment, the vertical auger 4 conveys the grit from the central area of the mobile storage container by means of a cross auger 3. A hydraulic cylinder 5 moves the push bottom 2 which is arranged on the intermediate bottom 8. This push bottom 2 conveys the grit to the cross auger 3. In this embodiment, the two halves of the cross auger 3 each convey the grit to the center and not to a selected side, as shown in FIG. 1. From the center of the cross auger 3, the vertical auger 4 conveys the grit via the ejection chute 10 onto a gritting vehicle (not depicted). The hook 14, which is fastened to the front side 7 of the container, the rollers 13 attached to the underfloor 6, and also the receiving rails 15 are provided for the transport of the mobile storage container with a normal truck which is designed for the transport of bins or containers. In this case, the vertical auger 4 is designed to be rotatable and can be lowered during transport to the area of the front wall 7.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the mobile storage container with its container unit 1 according to FIG. 5. The hydraulic cylinder 5, which moves the push bottom 2, is arranged above the underfloor 6. The push bottom 2 pushes the grit to the auger 3 which is arranged below the intermediate bottom (not depicted in this drawing) and further conveys the grit to the vertical auger 4. In this embodiment, the vertical auger 4 conveys from the center of the container unit into the gritting vehicle (not depicted). The hook 14 for transport is visible at the front side 7 of the container unit. The last strut 16 of the push floor 2 has an opposite conveying direction to ensure that a pressing in of the grit on the rear wall of the container of the mobile storage container can be avoided. In this depiction, the cross auger 3 is not visible because the hood 9 (see, e.g. FIG. 5) is arranged above it.

[0072] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, extendable and retractable hydraulic cylinders are arranged between the receiving rails of the container or the container unit and the actual underfloor 6, said cylinders being used to bring the entire container into an inclined position, so that any bulk material or grit possibly still present on the intermediate bottom can be conveyed to the side into the chute and from there, via the discharge device, into the collecting device, from which the grit can be conveyed to the drop height 10 by means of the vertical conveyor.

[0073] However, it is also possible that the hydraulic cylinder is arranged between the underfloor 6 and the intermediate bottom 8, and so the intermediate bottom 8 together with the overlying container is brought into a tilted position when the container is lifted by means of the hydraulic cylinders. The hook 14 is once again shown on the front side 7 of the container unit.

[0074] In the embodiment according to FIG. 8, the side view a) and the cross-sectional view b) viewed in the longitudinal direction of the container unit 1 show an intermediate bottom 8 provided in the mobile storage container, on which a push bottom 2, drivable by means of the hydraulic cylinder 5, can be conveyed in the direction toward the collecting device for conveying the grit from the intermediate bottom into the chute. In this case, the collecting device is shown as a funnel without an active conveying member. The receiving rails 15 and the rollers 13 of the roll-off container are also shown on the underfloor 6. In this embodiment, the vertical conveyor 4 is attached to the rear side of the container unit. In the cross-sectional view, it can be seen that at the end, at which the vertical conveyor 4 is arranged, the grit is transported into a chute, from which it can be conveyed to the ejection height 12 by means of the vertical conveyor.

[0075] Finally, FIG. 9 depicts yet a further embodiment, which shows that the intermediate bottom 8 can be designed to be divided, and a potion of the intermediate bottom can be brought into an inclined position by means of an additional hydraulic cylinder, and so possibly present smaller quantities of grit can be conveyed, due to gravity, in the direction of the collecting device, from which the grit can be conveyed to the ejection height 12 by means of the vertical conveyor. This is particularly important if the mobile storage container is supposed to be emptied as completely as possible.

[0076] List of References Signs

[0077] 1 Container unit

[0078] 2 Push bottom

[0079] 3 Cross auger

[0080] 4 Vertical auger

[0081] 5 Hydraulic cylinder push/pull bottom

[0082] 6 Underfloor

[0083] 7 Container walls/front wall

[0084] 8 Intermediate bottom

[0085] 9 Hood

[0086] 10 Ejection chute

[0087] 11 Drop height of the push bottom

[0088] 12 Drop height of the vertical conveyor/vertical auger

[0089] 13 Rollers of the roll-off container

[0090] 14 Hook of the roll-off container

[0091] 15 Receiving rails of the container

[0092] 16 Reverse strut of the push bottom

[0093] 17 Supply space

[0094] 18 Hydraulic cylinder intermediate bottom