1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shipping containers, and particularly to a container interconnect for connecting the air space in shipping containers together, e.g., for performing inspection of shipping containers stacked together for transport.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to security concerns with respect to potential dangerous cargo effluents and the like. Ship containers usually go through some sort of cursory inspection at the port. The main concern is that some terrorist organization may smuggle dangerous incendiary devices, bombs and the like into a port of entry, and that the contraband would go unnoticed by the inspection team at the port. Thus, currently ship containers need to be physically inspected by opening each container through its door. It would be highly desirable to discover a new way to inspect the ship containers without the onerous requirement of inspecting each container by opening its doors.
Thus, a container interconnect solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The container interconnect has a hollow female component installed on the roof steel panel of a container. A corresponding hollow male component is installed on the floor panel. Aligned and stacked containers automatically interconnect via the container interconnect because the container interconnect has a flange, seal and quick release fastener enabling the device to be self-guiding, self-connecting, self-sealing, self-fastening, self-releasing, and self-contained. Moreover, the container interconnect is made of a corrosion resistant material for durability in humid environs. The purpose of the container interconnect is to provide a common airflow through a column of interconnected shipping containers. Air interconnects from multiple columns of the shipping containers can be joined, the collective airflow being suctioned to the interconnect on the top container, the top interconnect being connected to an air analyzer so that the common air of all the containers is analyzed for contraband, explosives, and the like.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
As shown in
Aligned and stacked containers 12 automatically interconnect via the container interconnect 10 because the container interconnect flange, seal and quick release fastener enables the device to be self-guiding, self-connecting, self-sealing, self-fastening, self-releasing, and self-contained. It should be understood that when aligned containers 12 are stacked, the probe 14 pushes down against spring-biased seal plate 33, causing the seal plate 33 to retract into an open position.
The spring bias against seal 33 is produced by contact of piston 36 extending from the seal plate 33 with helical spring 28, which is housed in the piston guide and is concentrically disposed around the piston shaft. A shoulder defined on the piston shaft bears against the top end of the spring 28. The spring 28 normally biases the seal plate 33 to a closed position, sealing the aperture defined in the upper body portion 160a, as shown in
The vent probe 14 has a flexible portion forming a boot 18 surrounding the plunger 40 that fits into a boot retaining channel 30 defined in the top surface of the upper body portion 160a of the female vent port 16 to seal air within the hollow portion of the assembly 10. Air grill mesh 42 of the probe 14 allows for air to travel from the hollow port 16 of the lower container through the probe 14 of the upper container stacked on top of the lower container. The process is repeated for all stacked containers 12 until all air in all of the containers is eventually co-mingled.
Moreover, the container interconnect is made of a corrosion resistant material for durability in humid environs. The purpose of the container interconnect is to provide a common airflow through a column of interconnected shipping containers. Air interconnects from multiple columns of the shipping containers can be joined, the collective airflow being suctioned to the interconnect on the top container, the top interconnect being connected to an air analyzer operated by an inspector I, wherein the common air of all the containers is analyzed for contraband, explosives, and the like.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/202,506, filed Mar. 5, 2009.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61202506 | Mar 2009 | US |