Abstract
Object of the present invention is a new supporting structure for a container cargo comprising a plurality of pre-tensioned belts coupled to an elastically deformable and not extensible element in composite material.
Claims
1. A cargo supporting structure (4) inside a container (5) from its open side comprising a plurality of pre-tensioned belts (1), at least a deformable and not extensible element (2), at least a tensioning means (3) wherein said cargo supporting structure is a reciprocal coupling between said belts (1) and said deformable and not extensible element (2) to which there are connected all said belts (1).
2. The cargo supporting structure (4) inside a container (5) according to claim 1, wherein said tensioning means (3) is configured to tension all the plurality of pre-tensioned belts (1) of said supporting structure (4) and is arranged on any pre-tensioned belt (1) the supporting structure is provided with.
3. The cargo supporting structure (4) inside a container (5) according to claim 1, wherein said deformable and not extensible element (2) is shaped as a circular ring (2).
4. The cargo supporting structure (4) inside a container (5) according to claim 3, wherein said circular ring (2) is made up of a matrix of elastomer means with steel stiffening elements therein.
5. The cargo supporting structure (4) inside a container (5) according to claim 4, wherein said steel stiffening elements can be arranged along an inner circumference (21) of the circular ring (2).
6. The cargo supporting structure (4) inside a container (5) according to claim 1, wherein said tensioning means (3) can be made of ratchet levers.
7. The cargo supporting structure (4) inside a container (5) according to claim 1, wherein said cargo (4) is made of a liner for the transport of bulk material inside the container (5).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other advantages will be clear from the detailed description of the present invention which will refer to the following FIGS. 1/3 to 3/3 in which it is shown an absolutely not limiting preferred embodiment of the invention. In particular:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows schematically the cargo supporting structure applied to the rear open side of a generic container;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front view of the open side of the container with the scheme of the cargo supporting structure made up of the belts coupled to a deformable and not extensible central element;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a particular of the deformable and not extensible element in its preferred embodiment shaped as a ring,
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the liner arranged inside the container for the transport of the bulk material to be supported by means of the structure object of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring to said appended figures, it will be described now in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a not limiting way, with reference to the example of a cargo to be transported in a container of standard dimensions made up of a liner containing bulk material.
[0018] In FIG. 1 it is described schematically the open side of a container 5 of standard dimensions ISO 20 ft or ISO 40 ft (i.e. units equal to twenty or forty feet) with the cargo supporting structure object of the present invention; in particular the cargo to be supported is made up of a liner 4 for the transport of bulk material. Said supporting structure for the liner is made up of a plurality of pre-tensioned belts 1, a deformable and not extensible element 2 in composite material arranged in the centre and at least a tensioning means 3 for adjusting the tension of the belts 1. The liner 4 in the container is provided with at least an opening 6 through which the bulk material can be introduced or extracted from the same liner. In the preferred embodiment of the cargo supporting structure represented in FIG. 1, the deformable element 2 is shaped as a circular ring 2 around which the belts 1 pass, and is able to be slightly deformed when subdued to the belt tension. However, at the same time, the ring 2 cannot be elastically extended since it is provided inside with a stiffening in steel wires with which the element 2 is given more stiffness.
[0019] The liner 4 to be supported usually has more o lees standardized dimensions as well since it has to be arranged in the container 5 and has to full almost entirely its inner volume.
[0020] As it is shown in the front view of FIG. 2, the pre-tensioned belts 1 are anchored on both ends to different connection points (preferably opposed with respect to each other) arranged on the inner wall of the container 5, making attention that each belt 1 abuts in its way the central ring 2 thus acting as support for the same ring. In such a way, as it is clear from FIG. 2, the ring 2 maintains itself in an almost central position thanks to the combined action of the belts 1 after being tensioned. Always referring to the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, it is clear that a first belt la starts from the end in the top right-hand of the container, crosses the ring 2 in its upper portion and goes through it going out from the other side to be coupled to the upper end opposed to the starting one, i.e. in the top left-hand. A similar procedure can be adopted to position a second belt lb in a specular way to the belt la in the lower portion of the liner 4. A third belt lc can be positioned horizontally almost at half height of the container and can be coupled to the opposed end making attention that it goes first through the inside and then to the outside of the ring 2 arranged in the centre, as it was a tab. It is also possible that the single belts 1 can go around the ring 2 many times to be anchored optimally. According to an alternative embodiment of the scheme of the cargo supporting structure, said third belt lc can be substituted by a couple of belts (not represented for convenience) to be arranged always horizontally, each one with an end coupled to the inner wall of the container (right side and left side) and the other end to the central ring 2. The cargo supporting structure thus obtained by the coupling of the belts and the central ring is tensioned by acting on only one tensioning means 3 arranged on any of the structure arms, i.e. on one of the belts 1. Said tensioning means 3 can be advantageously arranged on any belt 1, but it is preferable to be positioned at a relatively low height with respect to the floor of the container 5, hence at one of the belts positioned in the lower portion of the liner 4. Said tensioning means 3 can consist of ratchet levers.
[0021] Unlike the systems known at the state of the art, the properties of the material with which it is made up of the deformable and not extensible element realized as a central ring 2 in the preferred embodiment, allow to adjust the tension from only one point of the cargo supporting structure by means of a tensioning means 3 and to balance the whole structure transferring uniformly the tension state to the other belts.
[0022] In fact the central ring 2, as schematized in FIG. 3, is made up of a composite material made up of a matrix in reinforced elastomer with a material which gives it more stiffness. The elastomer can be usually cured rubber while the stiffening can be a steel ring arranged along the inner circumference 21 of the ring 2 or alternatively a plurality of steel wires arranged inside the rubber matrix. It is clear that also other materials can be used provided that the elasticity and at the same time a sufficient stiffness are maintained to avoid the extension as a purely elastic of the deformable element 2.
[0023] Finally, FIG. 4 shows schematically the liner 4 to be arranged inside the container 5, which is realized in low density polyethylene and has an average thickness of about 0.14 mm. As it is shown in the side view, the liner 4 can be provided with one or more openings 6 for the introduction and the extraction of the bulk material to be transported.
[0024] In addition to the cargo supporting structure of a container as described so far it can be further provided a raffia cloth (not represented for convenience and drawing simplicity) to be interposed between the structure made up of the belts 1 coupled to the central ring 2 and the liner 4 to be supported. The aim of the use of said cloth is to provide a clear separation between the bulk material contained in the liner 4 and the cargo supporting structure.
