Discharge apparatus for a shipping container

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a discharge apparatus for a shipping container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cargo containers are used to carry bulk cargo such as dry bulk chemicals, powdered and pelletized resins, flour, coffee, grains and the like. When cargo containers are used to carry bulk cargo, the container must be kept clean or be cleaned after each load of cargo is emptied from the container, so that the container can be subsequently used with another load of cargo. Moreover, the cargo must be protected from contamination and from undesirable exposure to natural elements.

Removable liners typically are used to line interior walls or surfaces of the cargo containers in order to carry the bulk cargo without sullying the container and contaminating the cargo. Such a removable liner protects the cargo during shipment or storage from rain, debris, and the like. After the cargo is delivered, the liner can be removed so that the container is again usable without significant cleaning to carry another load of cargo.

The conventional removable liner typically includes a pliable tube or sleeve that is tied off during transportation of the cargo. After the container arrives at an unloading destination, the sleeve is untied and attached to a take-away device through which the cargo is unloaded. Due to the pliability of the liner and the sleeve, attachment of the take-away device is difficult. Moreover, as the container is inclined to unload the cargo, forces exerted by the shifting cargo can cause the liner sleeve to slip off the take-away device thus spilling and contaminating the cargo.

A discharge apparatus for a pliable liner that can be readily installed when a load of cargo is to be unloaded, which will easily attach to a take-away hose and remain attached during cargo unloading, is needed in the industry.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed in general to a discharge apparatus for a pliable bulkhead liner for a shipping container. The discharge apparatus is readily attachable to the bulkhead liner to discharge a load of cargo or product held in the bulkhead liner. The component parts of the discharge apparatus are simple and economical to manufacture, assemble and use. Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and attached drawings, or can be learned through practice of the invention.

According to one aspect of the invention, a shipping container discharge system includes a bulkhead liner for a shipping container having a reinforced area and a discharge sleeve extending from the reinforced area. The discharge sleeve has a discharge passage in communication with an interior space of the bulkhead liner for discharging the product from the interior space. In this aspect, the bulkhead liner is made from a pliable material such as a polymer and the reinforced area is a patch attached to the bulkhead liner. The patch can also be made of polymer.

The shipping container discharge system includes a manifold with a first aperture and one or more attachment members. In this aspect, the discharge sleeve extends through the first aperture of the manifold. The attachment members can be, for instance, a pair of opposing arms, bars or attachment holes in a portion of the manifold. The attachment members are attached to the reinforced area to secure the manifold to the bulkhead liner. A plurality of cable ties inserted in respective slits formed in the reinforced area is used to secure the attachment members of the manifold to the liner.

The manifold in this aspect of the invention has a flat or straight edge, which complements a surface of the shipping container. The edge is positioned on the surface to support a weight of the manifold, to stabilize the manifold and to align the first and second apertures with the discharge sleeve. The manifold can also have a window for viewing the product during discharge from the interior space of the bulkhead liner. Additionally, the manifold can have an attachment device for securing a cap or high hat to the manifold. The attachment device, for example, can be a plurality of adjustable rods attachable to respective rod receptacles of the high hat via a plurality of bolts or the like.

The high hat is attachable to the manifold with a portion of the discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat to prevent contamination of the discharging product. The high hat can have a spout to direct the product during discharge. In this aspect, an inner sleeve extends from within the discharge sleeve through a second aperture of the high hat and is secured about the high hat by folding over a perimeter of the spout. The spout can have a raised band or a plurality of weld beads to hold a take-away hose against the inner sleeve folded over the weld beads.

In another aspect of the invention, a shipping container discharge system includes a manifold with an aperture formed through the manifold. The manifold includes at least one attachment member such as a bar, rod or arm attachable to a reinforced area of a bulkhead liner to secure the manifold to the bulkhead liner. The bulkhead liner is a woven or extruded polypropylene or polyethylene material and the reinforced area is a woven or extruded polypropylene or polyethylene patch attached to the bulkhead liner. A discharge sleeve of the bulkhead liner extends through the aperture and is secured about the manifold. A take-away hose is attached to the manifold and the discharge sleeve for discharging a product from the bulkhead liner through the aperture and the discharge sleeve.

The manifold in this aspect of the invention has an edge, which is shaped complementary to a surface of the shipping container. The edge is positioned on the surface to support the manifold and to align the aperture with the discharge sleeve. The manifold can have a window for viewing the product during discharge from the bulkhead liner.

The shipping container discharge system also includes cable ties, which are inserted in slits formed in the reinforced area. The cable ties are securable to the attachment member.

The shipping container discharge system further includes a high hat with a complementary aperture formed in the high hat. The high hat is attachable to the manifold with the discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat.

The high hat can have a spout with a plurality of protrusions formed on or attached to the spout. The spout directs the product during discharge while the protrusions hold a take-away hose about a complementary sleeve extending from within the bulkhead liner through the discharge sleeve. The complementary sleeve is placed between the protrusions and the take-away hose to hold the complementary sleeve in position.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of discharging a product from a shipping container includes the steps of: providing a bulkhead liner for a shipping container having an external surface and an internal surface defined about a cavity therein, and at least one discharge sleeve attached to the internal surface and depending through the external and internal surfaces; attaching a manifold to the external surface, the at least one discharge sleeve depending from the internal surface through a first aperture of the manifold; and attaching a high hat to the manifold with a portion of the at least one discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat, the high hat defining a second aperture therethrough for unloading a product from within the bulkhead liner through the at least one discharge sleeve and the second aperture.

The method of discharging a product can also include the step of attaching a reinforcement patch to the internal surface, the manifold attached to the external surface opposite the reinforcement patch.

The method of discharging a product can further include the steps of providing a plurality of slits through the external and internal surfaces and the reinforcement patch, inserting at least one cable tie into a first one of the slits, projecting the at least one cable tie from a second one of the slits, and securing the at least one cable tie about an attachment member of the manifold to attach the manifold to the external surface.

The method of discharging a product can also include the steps of providing the bulkhead liner with a complementary sleeve disposed in the at least one discharge sleeve, and securing a portion of the complementary sleeve between the high hat and a take-away hose for unloading the product from the bulkhead liner through the second aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, or can be learned through practice of the invention, in combination with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shipping container discharge system according to an aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view a discharge apparatus according to an aspect of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of a manifold and a high hat of the discharge apparatus as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a step according to a method of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing another step according to the method of the invention;

FIG. 6A is another partial perspective view showing a further step according to the method of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is yet another step according to the method of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is another partial perspective view showing an additional step according to the method of the present invention; and

FIG. 7B is a partial perspective view showing a further step according to the method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples embodying the present invention are shown. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features of the drawings. Like or similar designations of the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention.

The drawings and detailed description provide a full and written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, so as to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make a use it, as well as the best mode of carrying out the invention. However, the examples as set forth in the drawings and detailed description are provided by way of explanation only and are not meant as limitations of the invention. The present invention thus includes any modifications and variations of the following examples as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

A shipping container discharge system is broadly embodied in the Figures designated in general by the element number 10. The shipping container discharge system 10 generally includes a discharge apparatus 12 and a bulkhead liner 20 installed in a shipping container 14. The shipping container discharge system 10 is used to discharge a product such as grains, dry chemicals or other dry bulk cargo from the liner 20 via a take-away tube or hose T, shown for instance in FIG. 7B. As described in greater detail and by example operation below, the shipping container discharge system 10 resists various forces imparted or exerted by the discharging product against the take-away hose T to prevent spillage and contamination of the product.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the bulkhead liner 20 of the shipping container discharge system 10 is shown installed in an interior space 15 of the shipping container 14. The liner 20 is a pliable, flexible body, which is woven or extruded from a polymer material such as polypropylene, polyethylene and similar durable, plastic-like materials or combinations of these materials. An exemplary liner suitable for use as the bulkhead liner 20 is available from Powertex®, Inc., Rouses Point, N.Y. and is the subject of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/055,555, filed Feb. 10, 2005, entitled “Braceless Liner”.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the liner 20 is filled with the product (not shown), the liner 20 occupies most of the interior space 15 of the shipping container 14 and generally assumes a shape of the host shipping container 14. In this example, the shipping container 14 is a rectangularly shaped trailer of the type used on many tractor-trailers. The shipping container 14 includes a doorway with a door or doors D, three internal walls or sides 14a-c, a ceiling 14d and a floor 14e, collectively referred to herein as container surfaces 14a-e.

FIG. 1 further shows the discharge apparatus 12, which includes a manifold 16 and high hat or cap 18. The manifold 16 is directly attached to the liner 20 and the high hat 18 is coupled to the manifold 16. More particularly, the manifold 16 is attached to an exterior surface 20a of the liner 20. As shown, a lattice 22 is also attached to the exterior surface 20a to support the liner 20 when it is filled with the product. Also generally shown in FIG. 1, an inner contamination sleeve 76 (alternatively referred to as inner or complementary sleeve) extends from the liner 20 through the discharge apparatus 12. These and other elements, components, and characteristics of the shipping container discharge system 10 are described in detail and by way of example operation below.

FIGS. 2 and 3 more particularly show the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 of the discharge apparatus 12. Specifically, FIG. 2 shows the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 coupled together, and FIG. 3 shows the components separated for clarity.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the manifold 16 includes a body or base member 24, which defines an annular or circumferential neck 26 in this example that forms a discharge aperture 28. The manifold 16 also defines a lip 30, which has at least one flat edge 32 for positioning the manifold 16 on a brace B of the shipping container 14 as described below with respect to FIGS. 4-7B.

FIGS. 2 and 3 further show a top hatch assembly 34, which opens to provide a viewing window 36 to view the discharging product. The top hatch assembly 34 includes a door 38 that is attachable to the base member 24 by one or more hinge assemblies 40. As indicated by a double-headed arrow labeled “A” in FIG. 3, a handle or latch 42 of the top hatch assembly 34 fits into a catch 44 to open and close the door 38 via the hinge assemblies 40 to access the viewing window 36. Alternatively or in addition to the door 38, the viewing window 36 can be a piece of durable clear plastic for viewing the discharging product.

FIGS. 2 and 3 also show one or more attachment bars 46 (alternatively referred to as attachment members or arms), which are used to secure the manifold 16 to the liner 20 as described below. Also shown, the base member 24 of the manifold 16 includes at least one high hat attachment device 48. The attachment device 48 includes a rod base or swivel 50 in which an adjustable, threaded rod 52 is swivelably attached. As indicated by another double headed arrow labeled “B” in FIG. 3, the adjustable rod 52 swivels away from the neck 26 until a technician is ready to attach the high hat 18 to the neck 26 and secure the high hat 18 to the manifold 16 as will be described operation below. The skilled artisan will instantly appreciate that various alternatives to the high hat attachment device 48 are available. For instance, a plurality of snaps, screws, bolts and the like can be positioned on and about the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 in lieu of or in addition to the attachment device 48.

The high-hat 18 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes an annular skirt 56 that defines an annular run 58 defined by concentric lips or walls 58a,b (shown partially cut away) between which the neck 26 of the manifold 16 is inserted. The high hat 18 also includes respective rod receptacles 60 for receipt of the swivelable rods 52 as noted above. Once the high hat 18 is positioned on the neck 26 of the manifold 16, the rods 52 are bolted against the rod receptacles 60 by a plurality of nuts, butterfly nuts, or bolts 54 as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the high hat 18 includes an annular spout 62 with one or more protrusions such as a band, ring or weld beads 64 that are used to grip and immobilize the inner sleeve 76 as well as the take-away hose T as described below.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 can be manufactured from various durable materials including metals such as aluminum. Thus, the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 can be repeatedly used and have sufficient structure to withstand a force of the discharging product; however, the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 have minimal weight to reduce strain against the liner 20 and to simplify installation. It will be further appreciated that the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 can be manufactured in various shapes and sizes depending on customer requirements and sizes and shapes of the take-away device. For instance, the spout 62 of the high hat 18 can be square-shaped to accommodate a square-shaped take way hose T. Likewise, the discharge aperture 28 of the manifold 16 can have a 13-inch or a 21-inch outside diameter with a respective 18-inch or 8-inch high hat outside diameter forming a complementary discharge opening or aperture 65. Again, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to particular dimensions or shapes.

The above and other aspects of the invention may be better understood with reference to a method of using the shipping container discharge system 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-7B, the method of utilizing the shipping container discharge system 10 includes the steps of providing the discharge apparatus 12 substantially as described above for attachment to the liner 20 of the shipping container 14. In FIGS. 1 and 4, for instance, the brace B of the shipping container 14 is shown adjacent the door D. The liner 20 is placed in the interior 15 of the shipping container 14 inward of the brace B away from the door D. As introduced above, the liner 20 includes the exterior surface 20a, which has an opposing interior or inner surface 20b. A reinforcement patch or section of material 68 is attached to the interior surface 20b in this example such as by sewing the reinforcement patch 68 to the inner surface 20b with nylon thread. The reinforcement patch 68 like the liner 20 is a durable synthetic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene, which reinforces an area of the liner 14 where the discharge apparatus 12 is attached. The skilled artisan will instantly recognize that the reinforcement patch 68 can also be attached to the exterior surface 20a or to both exterior and interior surfaces 20a,b. Moreover, the reinforcement patch 68 can be a plurality of separate patches as shown in this example, or a single patch of any size depending on a size of the area of the liner 20 to be reinforced.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, a plurality of slits 70 is formed through the exterior and interior surfaces 20a,b and the reinforcement patch 68 so that a plurality of cable ties 66 can be inserted in the slits 70 to position portions of the cable ties 66 against the interior surface 20b of the liner 20. The cable ties 66 are heavy-duty ties such as plastic that are sufficiently flexible for repeated manipulation and sufficiently strong to secure the manifold 16 to the liner 20 without requiring metal or wood bracing. As shown, each cable tie 66 has a male end 66a and a female end 66b that project from respective slits 70. The spacing of the slits 70 permits adjustment of the cable ties 66 several inches to either side to position the manifold 16 before securing the manifold 16 in place with the cable ties 66. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the slits 70 can be spaced or positioned about the reinforcement patch 68 to accommodate various manifold diameters and liner discharge locations.

FIG. 4 further shows an outer contamination sleeve 74. The outer contamination sleeve 74 can be attached to one or both of the exterior and interior surfaces 20a,b of the liner 20. As shown in these steps of the method, the contamination sleeve 74 is attached to the interior surface 20b and pulled through an aperture 23 of the liner 20. The outer contamination sleeve 74 is then inserted in the manifold 28 and pulled through the discharge aperture 28.

Turning now to another step of the method as shown in FIG. 5, the flat edge 32 of the manifold is placed on the brace B of the shipping container 14. The flat edge 32 is complementary to the horizontally oriented brace B to prevent the manifold 16 from rolling side to side on the brace B. Additionally and with brief reference to FIG. 2, the flat edge 32 is spaced on the lip 30 at a sufficient distance from the body 24 of the manifold 16 to align the discharge aperture 28 with the liner aperture 23 when the flat edge 32 is resting on the brace B. Such alignment avoids constriction of the outer and inner contamination sleeves 74, 76 through the apertures 23 and 28 and facilitates product discharge. Moreover, the flat edge 32 supports the added weight of the product as it discharges through the apertures 23, 28.

In a further step shown in FIG. 5, the female end 66b of the cable tie 66 is wrapped around one of the attachment members 46 of the manifold 16 and the male end 66a is inserted through female end 66b to secure the attachment member 46 and thus the manifold 16 to the exterior surface 20a of the liner 20. As noted above, the reinforcement patch or patches 68 enable the cable ties 66 to hold the weight of the manifold 16 as well as the added weight of the product as it discharges.

Turning now to FIG. 6A, once the cable ties 66 are secured to the attachment members 46, the outer contamination sleeve 74 can be trimmed with a knife, razor, or other cutting instrument “C” to remove excess material from the outer contamination sleeve 74. As shown, the rods 52 of the attachment devices 48 are swiveled away from the neck 26 of the manifold 16 in this step until the technician is ready to place the high hat 18 on the manifold 16.

FIG. 6B shows another step in the method in which the outer contamination sleeve 74 is folded over and about the neck 26 of the manifold 16 in preparation for receipt of the high hat 18.

FIG. 7A shows the high hat 18 slid or snapped on the manifold 16. As introduced above with respect to FIG. 3, the run 58 of the high hat 18 mates against the neck 26 of the manifold 16. As shown, this mating arrangement traps and secures the outer contamination sleeve 74 between the manifold 16 and the high hat 18.

In a further step according to a method of the invention, the rods 52 shown in FIG. 7A have been swiveled in their swivel joints 50 to slide into the rod receptacles 60 of the high hat 18. In another step, the bolts 54 are screwed on the rods 52 in a known manner to secure the high hat 18 to the manifold 16. As noted above, the skilled artisan will instantly appreciate that various devices such as trunk locks, hasps or the like can be used in lieu of or in addition to the high hat attachment devices 48.

Turning to FIG. 7B, the inner contamination sleeve 76 is pulled from within the liner 20 and through the outer contamination sleeve 74 in another step of the method. The inner contamination sleeve 76, like the outer contamination sleeve 74, is attached to one or both of the exterior and interior surfaces 20a,b and/or to the outer contamination sleeve 74. Similar to the steps described above for trimming the outer contamination sleeve 74, the inner contamination sleeve 76 is trimmed and rolled over the spout 62 of the high hat 18.

FIG. 7B shows another step in the method in which the take-away hose T is placed over the spout 62 and held in position as a function of size of the outer diameter of the spout 62 and the inner diameter of the take-away hose T. Moreover, the protrusions or weld beads 64 spaced about the spout 62 press against the inner diameter of the take-away hose T, which compresses the inner contamination sleeve 76 therebetween to hold both the sleeve 76 and the take-away hose T securely in place while the product is unloaded from the shipping container 14.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will recognize that other changes and modifications may be made to the foregoing examples without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, various durable, reusable materials can be used for the liner 20, the reinforcement patch 68 and the cable ties 66. Moreover, certain devices such as the high hat attachment devices 48 and the cable ties 66 can be substituted with other attachment arrangements. Furthermore, additional cable ties 66 and respective slits 70 can be used to further secure the manifold 16 to the liner surface 20a. It is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

References herein to “top,” “upward,” “upper,” “higher,” “lower,” “bottom,” “downward,” “descending,” “ascending,” “side,” “first,” and “second” structures, elements, designations, geometries and the like are intended solely for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure and in no way suggest limitations regarding the operative orientation or order of the exemplary embodiments or any components thereof.

Claims

1. A shipping container discharge system, comprising: a bulkhead liner for a shipping container having a reinforced area and a discharge sleeve depending from proximate the reinforced area, the discharge sleeve defining a discharge passage therein in communication with an interior space of the bulkhead liner for discharging a product from the interior space; a manifold defining a first aperture therethrough and at least one attachment member, the discharge sleeve extending through the first aperture, the at least one attachment member configured for attachment to the reinforced area to secure the manifold to the bulkhead liner; and a high hat defining a second aperture therethrough, the high hat attachable to the manifold with a portion of the discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat to prevent contamination of the discharging product.
2. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein the bulkhead liner is a pliable material and the reinforced area is a polymer patch attached thereto.
3. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, further comprising an inner sleeve depending from within the discharge sleeve and securable about the high hat.
4. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein the manifold defines an edge shaped complementary to a surface of the shipping container, the edge positionable on the surface to support the manifold and align the first and second apertures with the discharge sleeve.
5. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein the manifold defines a window for viewing the product during discharge from the interior space of the bulkhead liner.
6. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein the manifold includes an attachment device for securing the high hat to the manifold.
7. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 6, wherein the attachment device is at least one adjustable rod and at least one bolt and the high hat includes at least one rod receptacle, the at least one adjustable rod attachable to the at least one rod receptacle by the at least one bolt.
8. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment member is a pair of opposing bars.
9. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of cable ties and wherein the reinforced area defines a plurality of slits therethrough, each of the cable ties insertable in respective slits and securable about the pair of opposing bars.
10. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein the high hat defines a spout with a plurality of weld beads disposed thereon, the spout configured to direct the product during discharge, the weld beads configured to hold a take-away hose about an inner sleeve folded over the weld beads, the inner sleeve depending from within the bulkhead liner through the discharge sleeve to prevent contamination of the product.
11. A shipping container discharge system, comprising: a manifold defining an aperture therethrough and attachable to a reinforced area of a bulkhead liner for a shipping container to secure the manifold to the bulkhead liner, a discharge sleeve of the bulkhead liner extending through the aperture and secured about the manifold, the manifold configured for receiving a take-away hose for discharging a product from the bulkhead liner through the aperture and the discharge sleeve.
12. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, wherein the manifold defines an edge shaped complementary to a surface of the shipping container, the edge positionable on the surface to support the manifold and align the aperture with the discharge sleeve.
13. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, wherein the manifold defines a window for viewing the product during discharge from the bulkhead liner.
14. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, wherein the bulkhead liner is a woven or extruded polypropylene or polyethylene material and the reinforced area is a woven or extruded polypropylene or polyethylene patch attached to the bulkhead liner.
15. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of cable ties and wherein the reinforced area defines a plurality of slits therein, each of the cable ties insertable in respective ones of the slits and securable to the manifold.
16. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, further comprising a high hat defining a complementary aperture therethrough, the high hat attachable to the manifold with the discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat.
17. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 16, wherein the high hat defines a spout with a plurality of protrusions disposed thereon, the spout configured to direct the product during discharge, the protrusions configured to hold a take-away hose about a complementary sleeve disposed between the protrusions and the take-away hose, the complementary sleeve depending from within the bulkhead liner through the discharge sleeve.
18. A method of discharging a product from a shipping container, comprising the steps of: providing a bulkhead liner for a shipping container having an external surface and an internal surface defined about a cavity therein, and at least one discharge sleeve attached to the internal surface and depending through the external and internal surfaces; attaching a manifold to the external surface, the at least one discharge sleeve depending from the internal surface through a first aperture of the manifold; and attaching a high hat to the manifold with a portion of the at least one discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat, the high hat defining a second aperture therethrough for unloading a product from within the bulkhead liner through the at least one discharge sleeve and the second aperture.
19. The method of discharging a product as in claim 18, further comprising the step of attaching a reinforcement patch to the internal surface, the manifold attached to the external surface opposite the reinforcement patch.
20. The method of discharging a product as in claim 19, further comprising the steps of providing a plurality of slits through the external and internal surfaces and the reinforcement patch, inserting at least one cable tie into a first one of the slits, projecting the at least one cable tie from a second one of the slits, and securing the at least one cable tie about an attachment member of the manifold to attach the manifold to the external surface.
21. The method of discharging a product as in claim 18, further comprising the steps of providing the bulkhead liner with a complementary sleeve disposed in the at least one discharge sleeve, and securing a portion of the complementary sleeve between the high hat and a take-away hose for unloading the product from the bulkhead liner through the second aperture.

Discharge apparatus for a shipping container

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