Patent Application
20250178826
Part of today' supply chain challenges is this: Cargo is getting bigger and heavier. The central idea for the Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform described herein is to ease maneuvering and hauling activities of heavy, out of gauge cargo. In one embodiment this three-piece platform, comprising a 40′×8′ center platform, and two 3′ side wing extensions, is capable of withstanding cargo up to 40′ long and 14′ wide and in excess of 250 tons. Further, the design reduces backhaul challenges by detaching the side wing extensions, reducing the 40′×14′ platform to an ISO-compliant 40′×8′ platform. This facilitates the transport and storage of heavy cargo related sub-assemblies or finished components of oversized cargo. This platform can incorporate containerized features, such as the capability of being stacked and locked by using twist locks, lifting elements associated for commercial cranes, forklifts, reach stackers, gantry cranes, and telescopic cranes, etc. Incorporating these features in this innovative and unique design allows the unit to be shipped back to the manufacturing plant using conventional intermodal transport.
A transport platform for heavy and oversized cargo between manufacturing and installation sites is required to meet the ever-increasing cargo size. The purpose of the High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform described herein is to ease transport of oversized and heavy weight cargo, up to 250 tons on a 40′×14′ platform. The platform described herein will reduce the backhaul challenge of such a wide platform by enabling the user to detach the side wing extensions of the platform, creating a 40′×8′ intermodal platform with a height of ×4′9″. While these dimensions will permit the user to maximize the capacity and utility of the platform, other dimensions may be used as desired.
The Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform described herein is designed to meet the requirements for intermodal transport of heavy weight, high density cargo by sea, road, rail, and air transportation systems while minimizing the need to remove or reconfigure the cargo during multimodal and intermodal transport.
The Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform described herein has an interchangeable design that allows the use of heavy-duty tractors, trailers, chassis, Self-Propelled Modular Transport, or SPMT, to transport the cargo on its way from the factory to the assembly site. At the center of the 40′×8′ platform are standard ISO corner castings so the unloaded unit, with side wing extensions detached and stowed, can be transported intermodal using commercial chassis, trailers, rail, and sea transport. This way the back haul transit can be done using commercial vehicles, and as a result it reduces time, costs, and risks on schedule delays.
Further, on an empty unloaded platform, the side wing extensions 6 can be detached, stacked, and secured on top of the center platform 1. In one embodiment, the side wing extensions 6 may be attached to the center platform using standard twist-lock style connectors. This will allow two (2) unloaded Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platforms, with wing extensions detached, to be stacked forming a bundle with dimensions similar to a standard 40′ High Cube container, eliminating the need to have them transported as special cargo.
The Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform described herein may be constructed using standardized ISO 1161 style corner castings and ISO 1496/668/3874 intermodal shipping container requirements. The unloaded platform may advantageously be constructed to meet the requirements set forth by the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) standard and the container dimensions and handling requirements enable it to fit and be compatible with existing shipping container-based transportation systems.
To provide for multiple cargo types, sizes, and weights, the platform may be configured with multiple tie-down points, threaded and pass-through bolt locations, hooks, forklift slots, D-rings, and shipping container style corner castings. This allows maximum flexibility and strength for securing all shapes and weight cargos up to platform capacity. Twist locks may be used to secure the bundled assembly and provide sufficient locking and lifting access points for safe handling and storage.
The platform described herein may be constructed of any suitable material; in one embodiment the platform is constructed using steel. When steel is used, all steelwork may completed by means of automatic and semi-automatic gas arc welding using qualified welders and welding techniques that meet ISO 1496 standards. In one embodiment, the support structure is made of Corten steel due to high tensile strength and corrosion resistance. The Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform is constructed simply as a base with ISO corner castings, no walls or roof. In one embodiment sixteen (16) corner castings are used. These corner castings may advantageously comply with ISO 1161 standards and, when steel is used as a material, are weldable. In addition to the ISO corner castings at the corners, the platform may also comprise four additional bottom ISO corner castings at the center. Each side wing extension is also constructed using cast steel corners. The extensions function as a stiffener supporting main platform structure and provides a wider work area to withstand the payload.
The side wing extensions 6 are attached to the center platform by high strength bolts and nuts. Advantageously, one or more cross beams 3 may be added to provide sufficient strength to withstand cargo loads. In one embodiment, the platform is provided with four cross beams. Lifting points for the loaded Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform may be designed for dual and single crane lift operations from the top of the platform. In one embodiment, four lifting points for dual crane lifting operations are set at the end corners of the center platform. The four lifting points for single crane lifting operations may be installed, for example, at the center platform section outside the side wing extensions of the platform.
In one embodiment, the main frame is provided with two side rails 2, four cross beams 3, two end sills 4, two pieces of steel mesh 5, lashing rings, and lifting hooks. The platform may also be provided with two forklift tubes, to facilitate transport of the empty platform. The frame may be provided with multiple through holes and mounting features arranged on the surface, inside and outside of the side rails 2 to allow for mounting bolts and fixtures. In one embodiment each bottom side rail 2 is an “I” beam fabricated with high strength steel. There may be one or more rectangular openings in the side rail. In one embodiment, four of these rectangular openings are configured for use as interfaces for the cross beams 3 that will connect side wing extensions to the main structure. The ends of the platform may also be configured to accept jack legs.
One or more cross beams 3 may be used to connect the side rails 2, creating the main structure; in one embodiment, four cross beams 3 are used. In one embodiment, each cross beam 3 is a welded rectangle tube with a large U-shaped notch in the top center. The cross beams 3 may be hollow and open at both ends. The ends of the cross beams will match the openings in the side rails and form tunnels that the inserted cross beams 3 pass through. In one embodiment, the end sills 4 are welded “I” beams with U-shaped notches at the top centers with top and bottom flanges.
Side wing extensions are constructed with two (2) longitudinal beams that have a rectangular cross section for weight optimization. It connects with the main frame using the four cross openings as guides to align the three pieces using the insert beams as connection points. Steel trapezoidal-shaped truss plates are added as stiffeners to increase resistance. High Strength Structural Bolts are used to lock the interfaces, allowing the platform working area to extend from 8′ wide to 14′ wide.
Due to the super heavy maximum gross weight of a loaded Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform, the unit is not allowed to be put on top of any other container when it is shipped by container vessel. On chassis the platform is suitable for road transportation, including, but not limited to, flat bed or skeletal chassis, as well as with Self-Propelled Modular Transport (SPMT). The unit is secured at the eight (8) bottom corner fittings or by inserting locking jack legs on both sides toward the ends for heavy cargo transport systems such as chassis, trailers, or specialized goosenecks. The special interface on the bottom side of the side extensions will allow the installation of provisional legs or supports at the factory and will support the entire load where cargo will be assembled. On a flatbed chassis the laden platform should be secured at the eight (8) bottom corner fittings and supported on side rails.
The Extendable High-Capacity Intermodal Transport Platform described herein is capable of being handled without any permanent deformation that will render it unsuitable for use or any other abnormality.
The platform described herein may be equipped with one or more pieces of mesh disposed in the area between the cross beams and end sills, and flush with the bottom flanges of the side rails. The mesh may be made of steel or any other suitable material. In one embodiment, there are two (2) pieces of steel mesh provided to the areas between cross beams and end sills.
The platform described herein may be equipped with one or more lashing rings which may be used for securing cargo to the platform. Lashing rings may be attached to the side rails, the end rails, and/or anywhere else on the platform to which attachment of cargo lashings is desired. In one embodiment, the platform is provided with eight (8) lashing rings at each side rail and four lashing rings are also provided to the end sill near the corner castings. The safety workload of these lashings is 5000 kg.
The platform described herein may be equipped with sling lifting hooks configured to permit the platform to be lifted with slings. The lifting hooks will typically be welded to the side rails adjacent to the crossbeam openings. In one embodiment there are four (4) specially designed sling lifting hooks that allow the platform to be lifted with slings.
Once the welding work is complete, there will be a process to remove all the slag and spatters. Grinding or needle hammers will be used during this process. The contaminated area will be cleaned and degreased before pickling. The purpose of the pickling process is to completely remove the rust or mill scale and some other attachment on the surface. Finally, the unit is hot dip zinc galvanized.
While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/383,801, filed 15 Nov. 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2023/079798 | 11/15/2023 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63383810 | Nov 2022 | US |
