The present invention relates generally to a modified type of shipping container. The invention can be used in conjunction with a fumigation system for the fumigation of any type of bulk material, timber dunnage and cargo packing materials, manufactured goods and organic produce which may contain pests, insects or other vermin and which therefore requires fumigation.
Large quantities of manufactured goods, bulky goods and agricultural produce are carried all over the world in ISO shipping containers. Often the manufactured goods are packed into position in the container using timber or other packing materials. Bulky goods (such as grains or rice) and agricultural produce (such as fruit and vegetables), as well as some manufactured goods and their associated packaging can be infested by pests, parasites, insects or other vermin from another country, or another part of the same country. These pests and parasites can include, for example, borers, lice, ticks, fleas or termites. It is best that the contaminated produce, manufactured goods and timber dunnage and packaging not leave the vicinity of the airport, dock or wharf facility since this would pose an environmental exposure risk.
It is common practice to fumigate such goods prior to shipment so that multiple handling in a further treatment process is not required, and before the goods leave their geographic region of origin to prevent the spread of insects and vermin. However, many imported goods have not been fumigated at the point of despatch, so quarantine practices often require a fumigation treatment to be conducted upon arrival.
Fumigation processes for bulky materials and manufactured goods, as well as for shipping containers themselves (which can contain timber floors etc) are known in the art. These processes involve placement of a heavy, impervious blanket or other covering article over the materials to be fumigated followed by subsequent addition of toxic gas flow under the blanket to fumigate the covered goods. Current methods of fumigation under blankets are crude, ineffective at fully eliminating insect infestation since little mixing of gases with the goods to be treated can occur, and highly dangerous from an occupational health standpoint since the gases used for effective fumigation are extremely toxic. Subsequent atmospheric discharges of fumigant gases, for example methyl bromide, are highly undesirable also because this gas is an ozone depleting substance. Sometimes the fumigant gas can be trapped in pockets and interstices between the goods being fumigated, and present a danger during later occupational contact with these goods.
In a first aspect the present invention provides an ISO shipping container which incorporates at least one gas portal, the portal adapted for being operatively coupled to a fumigation system for fumigating the container, where the fumigation system comprises a fumigant introduction means to allow a flow of a fumigant into the shipping container and a fumigant extraction means arranged to remove fumigant from the shipping container,
the portal incorporating:
wherein the portal protrudes out of the container only to the extent that it does not interfere with placement of the container in a stack or other close-facing relationship with an adjacent container.
When the term “ISO shipping container” is used throughout this specification, it includes various standard sizes of shipping containers approved by the International Standards Organisation for road, rail and shipping movement of goods. The term is to be construed to include all types of general purpose, ‘reefer’ (refrigerated) and ‘bulker’ (grain-carrying) types of container, as well as airtainers used on commercial aircraft for transportation of goods.
When the term “protrudes out of the container” is used throughout this specification, it is to be construed to mean that the portal does not protrude significantly beyond the maximum external dimensions of the container, which are normally defined by the walls, doors, roof or floor of the container itself, or by the dimensions of any external attachments thereat, such as locking rods or cam devices that are normally arranged to secure the end doors of an ISO container (and which can have a latch and pin fastening arrangement), or protruding corner reinforcement stiffeners or basal side edge beams etc. All of these items can extend some distance beyond the external dimensions of the container box itself. It is these external attachments that normally limit the proximity of placement of adjacent containers when stacked on top of one another, or when placed end to end, or alongside, an adjacent container.
By having a portal which is limited in size so that it does not protrude to any significant extent beyond these maximum external dimensions, the containers can be handled and positioned no differently to conventionally known ISO containers. This means that no additional space is taken up, and no new handling considerations are required, either when the container is being moved on of off a ship, truck or aircraft, or when stored at dock, port or airport facilities, or when actually on board a ship, truck or aircraft during transportation.
In one embodiment, the shipping container can have a single portal for operative coupling to one of the fumigant inlet means or fumigant extraction means, in use so that fumigant can flow between an interior and an exterior of the container. In this configuration, the fumigant inlet means and fumigant extraction means are coupled to the same portal but necessarily at different times. For example, in one possible circumstance, the fumigant inlet means can first be connected to the portal and fumigant introduced into the container, whereupon the fumigant inlet means can be disconnected and the fumigant extraction means subsequently connected to the same portal, for extraction removal of the fumigant and perhaps after some time interval has elapsed. For example, the container could have had some fumigation carried out in it and then the fumigant left for a period of time. In another arrangement, the container can be fumigated and the fumigant evacuated, but some residual gases or trapped gases could remain between the goods that were fumigated.
A subsequent gas extraction removal step could assist in the removal of such gases.
In an alternative embodiment, the shipping container can have two portals for operative coupling to one each of the fumigant inlet means and the fumigant extraction means, in use so that fumigant can flow from an exterior of the container to an interior thereof via one portal, and from the interior to the exterior of the container via the other of the portals. In this configuration, the fumigant inlet means and fumigant extraction means can both be coupled to the shipping container at the same time, each being coupled to different portals. In this arrangement fumigant can be simultaneously introduced into the container and extracted from the container, allowing for a ‘continuous flow’ fumigation operation.
In one embodiment, the portal can have a sealing arrangement which includes a valve capable of being opened and closed. Whether there are one or two (or more) portals present, in each case the valve(s) are located in at least one of a wall, roof, floor or door of the shipping container. Closure arrangements are possible other than a valve, for example a simple removable closure such as a stopper, cap or plug, or other types of seal such as a flap, a zip, a screw-on cover plate, a slidable cover, and so on. The selected closure arrangement is normally securable to prevent the passage of fumigant to a significant or complete extent. This means that the toxic gases normally used in fumigation applications will not pose any occupational health risk to operators of the fumigation apparatus during processing, within the designated exposure limits in the particular workplace.
In one form, the valves are of a type that is adapted for detachable engagement with a conduit located at an exterior of the container, the said conduit arranged for conveying gas. For example, conduits such as flexible hoses for carrying gas can be screw- or friction-fitted to the valve in order to be coupled thereto, and can be retained in a gas-tight manner by a rubber gasket of some kind.
In some embodiments, the or each portal can further includes a locking mechanism operative to lock the sealing arrangement in the closed position. In some forms this can comprise a cap with a key lock or the like, although other variations are possible such as a hinged flap with a lockable latch, for example.
In embodiments where two portals are located at the shipping container, the portal which is operatively coupled to the fumigant inlet means and which delivers fumigant into the container, is disposed above the portal which is operatively coupled in use to the fumigant extraction means and which removes fumigant from the container. Such an arrangement allows the fumigant, which is generally heavier than air, to fall in a dispersed fashion downward over the top of the material to be fumigated (such as the timber and dunnage, or agricultural products etc) inside the container, and then to be extracted from a location near the bottom of the container.
In one form, the at least one portal can be located in a door of the container. In one arrangement where there are two portals, they can both be disposed in the same door of the container. In other forms, the portal (or two or more portals) can be located anyplace on the roof, walls or floor of the container. If there are two portals they need not be located in the same surface of the container and can, for example, be located at opposite ends or in opposing sides of the container, or in an arrangement with one portal in the top of the container and the other in the bottom of the container.
In the arrangement where there is a portal located in the door of the container, the portal can be located in a recess formed in the door. Typically container doors and walls have corrugated recesses formed therein to stiffen and strengthen the walls and doors to prevent bulging under load. In such a position, a portal may be accessible without protruding beyond the maximum external dimensions of the container and therefore possibly interfering with the stackability or placement of the container when stored near adjacent containers. In still other arrangements, the portal need not be located in the side wall ridge, but can be located in another custom-formed recess or concavity formed at the side wall, roof, floor or door of the container, or not in any recess at all.
In a second aspect the present invention provides a fumigation assembly comprising:
In one embodiment, the fumigant inlet means can comprise a fan arranged to deliver fumigant gas into the shipping container via a conduit operatively coupled to one (or the) gas portal.
In one embodiment, the fumigant inlet means can comprise a heater to convert a liquid source of fumigant into a gas. The heat energy transferred to the liquid fumigant enables it to become buoyant and to become part of the gas flow. Other alternative arrangements are possible, for example where the fumigant inlet means is adapted to detachably couple to a mobile source of the fumigant such as a motor vehicle on which a fumigant gas source or liquid source vessel and associated heater is mounted.
In one embodiment, the fumigant extraction means can comprise a fan arranged to provide suction for the extraction of fumigant from the shipping container via a conduit operatively coupled to one or the gas portal.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of retrofitting a pre-existing ISO shipping container to incorporate at least one gas portal, where the portal is adapted for being operatively coupled to a fumigation system for fumigating the container, where the fumigation system comprises a fumigant introduction means to allow a flow of a fumigant into the shipping container and a fumigant extraction means arranged to remove fumigant from the shipping container,
the portal incorporating:
wherein the portal protrudes out of the container only to the extent that it does not interfere with placement of the container in a stack or other close-facing relationship with an adjacent container.
In one embodiment, the at least one gas portal is retrofitted to the container by cutting a hole into at least one of a wall, roof, floor or door of the container and then locating the portal into position at the hole. Multiple portals can be fitted to the container in the same manner. Rather than retrofitting a portal to a container door in situ, in one form the retrofitting of the gas portal of the container can accomplished by replacing an entire container door with another door which has been separately modified with at least one gas portal located thereat.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method of fumigating material, the method comprising the steps of:
In one embodiment, the step of operating the fumigation system to fumigate the material in the container involves the provision of a flow of fumigant to the shipping container from a fumigant source.
In one embodiment, the method can further comprise the step of extracting a flow of fumigant from the shipping container via the fumigation system.
In one embodiment, the method is otherwise as defined for the operation of the fumigation system of the assembly of the second aspect.
In one embodiment, the step of extracting a flow of fumigant can be performed simultaneously with the provision of a flow of fumigant to the shipping container, which can effectively circulate fumigant and gases within the container. Such an arrangement can allow a more even and thorough dispersion of the fumigant and gases as they enter and are dispersed in the shipping container.
In one embodiment, the method can further comprise the step of absorbing/adsorbing at least part of the fumigant extracted from the shipping container onto or at a substrate material. In such an arrangement, the substrate material is placed in a vessel which is operatively coupled to the extraction means, and the substrate is arranged to have sufficient capacity to adsorb/absorb part if not all of the fumigant extracted from the shipping container.
In one embodiment, the method can further comprise the step of washing at least part of the substrate to remove the absorbed/adsorbed fumigant. In one arrangement, the substrate can be an activated carbon and the absorption bed can be washed with a scrubbing solution, such as sodium thiosulphate, to yield one or more salts, such as bromide and sodium methylthiosulphate.
Generally the fumigant includes an alkyl halide such as methyl bromide.
It is envisaged that some embodiments of the ISO container may be built (or pre-existing containers retro-fitted) with a plurality of small diameter floor and wall-mounted pipes connected via a system of connectors to a fumigant sampling and detection meter unit which is positionable at an exterior surface location on the shipping container. These floor and wall-mounted pipes may be located in recesses or grooves which may form part of the construction of the walls or floor of the container. In such an embodiment, the quantity of fumigant remaining in the container can thus be monitored during the step of extracting a flow of fumigant from the container, so an operator can know when to disconnect the extraction fan. In an alternative embodiment, a sampling line for monitoring the concentration of residual fumigant in the extracted gases can be branched off the conduit located between the portal and the extraction fan, for example. The branch line may be connected to the fumigant sampling and detection meter unit which again may be positionable at an exterior surface location on the shipping container, or in some other location near the extraction fan.
Rather than having a separate fumigation facility for fumigating goods prior to shipment, or upon receipt of a shipment, which would require removal of the goods from the containers, the inventor has devised a new type of ISO shipping container in which fumigation can be conducted in situ simply by coupling the container to a portable fumigation system. The ISO shipping container is in all respects suitable for handling and use in the vicinity of a wharf, port, truck dock or airport and there is no need for any new type of lifting or handling equipment to be used. Fumigation of bulky goods, produce, manufactured goods and timber packing and dunnage on site at the wharf by skilled operators can allow for safe quarantine and pre-shipment treatment and eliminates the possibility of insects or vermin escaping into the environment. Such a method can speed up the fumigation processing rate (by eliminating the need for time to be wasted on unloading and reloading containers). The method can also provide enhanced occupational health and safety benefits by limiting the exposure of workers to fumigant gases to minimal levels.
In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides an ISO shipping container which incorporates at least one gas portal, the portal adapted for being operatively coupled to a gas extraction system for extracting gas from the shipping container, where the gas extraction system comprises a gas extraction means arranged to remove gas from the shipping container,
the portal incorporating:
wherein the portal protrudes out of the container only to the extent that it does not interfere with placement of the container in a stack or other close-facing relationship with an adjacent container.
In one embodiment, the shipping container can have a single portal for operative coupling to the gas extraction means, in use so that gas can flow from an interior to an exterior of the container. In this configuration, the fumigant extraction means can operate to remove gas from the container and, if operated for some time, also can reduce the pressure in the container to slightly below atmospheric pressure. This may assist to “draw out” any trapped fumigant located in interstices or pockets between goods in the container.
In an alternative embodiment, the shipping container can have two portals for operative coupling to one each of a gas inlet means and the gas extraction means, in use so that gas can flow from an exterior of the container to an interior thereof via one portal, and from the interior to the exterior of the container via the other of the portals. In this configuration, one possible arrangement is where fresh air or some other flushing gas is introduced into the container via the gas inlet means, being drawn into the container by the operation of the gas extraction means as it draws gas from out of the interior of the container. In this arrangement, the introduction of a flushing gas into the container followed by its subsequent extraction can allow for a ‘continuous flow’ flushing of any other gases that were initially present in the container.
In one embodiment, the portal can have a sealing arrangement which includes a valve capable of being opened and closed. Whether there are one or two (or more) portals present, in each case the valve(s) are located in at least one of a wall, roof, floor or door of the shipping container. Forms of other closure arrangements for this aspect have already been described in relation to the first aspect, a disclosure which is incorporated herein.
In one form the valves are of a type that is adapted for detachable engagement with a conduit located at an exterior of the container, the said conduit arranged for conveying gas. Forms of conduits and valves for this aspect have already been described in relation to the first aspect, a disclosure which is incorporated herein.
In some embodiments, the or each portal can further include a locking mechanism operative to lock the sealing arrangement in the closed position. In some forms this can comprise a cap with a key lock or the like, although other variations are possible such as a hinged flap with a lockable latch, for example.
In embodiments where two portals are located at the shipping container, the portal which is operatively coupled to the gas inlet means can be disposed above the portal which is operatively coupled in use to the gas extraction means. Such an arrangement allows any gases present which are heavier than air (such as fumigants) to congregate downward inside the container, so as to be more efficiently extracted from a location near the bottom of the container. The introduction of another gas via an inlet portal (which is located above the portal which is coupled to the gas extraction means) can assist the flushing of such heavier than air gases out of the container.
In one form, the at least one portal is located in a door of the container. Other portal positions have already been described in relation to the first aspect, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein. In one arrangement where the portal is located in the door, it can be in a recess formed in the door. This portal position and some other alternatives have already been described in relation to the first aspect, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein.
In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a gas extraction assembly comprising:
In one embodiment, the gas extraction means can comprise a fan arranged to provide suction for the extraction of gas from the shipping container via a conduit operatively coupled to one or the gas portal.
In a seventh aspect, the present invention provides a method of retrofitting a pre-existing ISO shipping container to incorporate at least one gas portal, the portal being adapted for being operatively coupled to a gas extraction system for extracting gas from the shipping container, where the gas extraction system comprises a gas extraction means arranged to remove gas from the shipping container,
the portal incorporating:
wherein the portal protrudes out of the container only to the extent that it does not interfere with placement of the container in a stack or other close-facing relationship with an adjacent container.
In one embodiment, the at least one gas portal is retrofitted to the container by cutting a hole into at least one of a wall, roof, floor or door of the container and then locating the portal into position at the hole. Multiple portals can be fitted to the container in the same manner. Rather than retrofitting a portal to a container door in situ, in one form the retrofitting of the gas portal of the container can accomplished by replacing an entire container door with another door which has been separately modified with at least one gas portal located thereat.
In an eighth aspect, the present invention provides a method of gas removal, the method comprising the steps of:
In one embodiment, the step of extracting a flow of gas is performed simultaneously with the provision of a flow of a replacement gas into the shipping container.
In one embodiment, the method can further comprise the step of absorbing/adsorbing at least part of the gas extracted from the shipping container onto or at a substrate material, as previously described for the fourth aspect.
In one embodiment, the method can further comprise washing at least part of the substrate to remove the absorbed/adsorbed gas, also as previously described for the fourth aspect.
Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within its scope, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
a shows a side, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a portal in accordance with the invention, the portal shown in a closed configuration and also in an open configuration when coupled in use via a conduit to either a fumigation system or a gas extraction system;
b shows a side, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a portal in accordance with the invention, the portal shown in a closed configuration and also in an open configuration when coupled in use via a conduit to either a fumigation system or a gas extraction system;
c shows a side, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a portal in accordance with the invention, the portal shown in a closed configuration and also in an open configuration when coupled in use via a conduit to either a fumigation system or a gas extraction system;
d shows a side, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a portal in accordance with the invention, the portal shown in a closed configuration and also in an open configuration when coupled in use via a conduit to either a fumigation system or a gas extraction system;
e shows a front, elevational view of one embodiment of a portal in accordance with the invention, the portal shown in an open configuration ready for coupling to either a fumigation system or a gas extraction system, and in a closed configuration when not coupled to such systems;
f shows a front, elevational view of one embodiment of a portal in accordance with the invention, the portal shown in an open configuration ready for coupling to either a fumigation system or a gas extraction system, and in a closed configuration when not coupled to such systems;
g shows a front, elevational view of one embodiment of a portal in accordance with the invention, the portal shown in an open configuration ready for coupling to either a fumigation system or a gas extraction system, and in a closed configuration when not coupled to such systems;
h shows a front, elevational view of one embodiment of a portal in accordance with the invention, the portal shown in an open configuration ready for coupling to either a fumigation system or a gas extraction system, and in a closed configuration when not coupled to such systems.
Referring to the drawings,
The lowermost portal 14 is shown coupled via a further hose 36 to a fumigant extraction means in the form of a suction fan 38, and the suction fan 38 is in turn connected via a hose 40 to a fumigant absorption tower 42 containing activated carbon for absorption of the fumigant gas prior to atmospheric discharge. This ensures that the toxic gases being extracted from the shipping container 10 after the fumigation process will not pose any occupational health risk to operators of the fumigation apparatus while those operators may be standing in the vicinity. As a safety check, the concentration of toxic gases remaining in the interior of the shipping container 10 can be measured from gas samples drawn via a plurality of separate gas sampling lines that are connected to a gas flow meter test unit, or from a side pipe connected to the inlet of the suction fan 38. This measurement allows an operator to ascertain when it is safe to open the end doors 20 of the container 10 and possibly remove or access the contents safely.
In the arrangement shown in
The portals shown in the drawings each have an opening which can be accessed so as to place an interior and an exterior of the container in fluid communication. The portals 12, 14 shown in
A similar arrangement is shown in
Referring now to
The portals have a sealing arrangement positioned at the opening to enable a coupling somehow of a fumigant inlet or outlet hose into the opening. The portals also have a closure located at the opening to close off the opening when the fumigant inlet or outlet hose is not coupled to the portal. Some examples are presented in
In
In
In
In
e to 4h illustrate a number of different portal closure arrangements which can be used. Each of these closures is arranged at a hole which is made in the wall, roof, floor or door of the shipping container. In the drawings of each of these arrangements, no inlet or outlet hose or conduit is shown in position in the opening, but it is to be understood that such a hose is received in use in a friction or interference fit in the portal when the hole is not closed off.
In
In
In
In
The fumigant gas methyl bromide can become attached to the activated carbon of the absorption bed 42, 42B prior to discharge of the fumigant/gas mixture from the fumigation apparatus. The absorption bed can be periodically washed, for example with a scrubbing solution, such as sodium thiosulphate. Scrubbing of the absorption bed with sodium thiosulphate yields bromide and sodium methylthiosulphate which are non-toxic salts which can be discharged safely to the environment. Thus, the methyl bromide gas is degraded following its fumigation and then extraction from the fumigation apparatus.
Now that several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in some detail it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that the shipping container, fumigation assembly, gas extraction assembly and the methods for their use have at least the following advantages over the admitted prior art:
1. The shipping container used in the assembly is adapted from a widely known, conventional shipping container and thus is relatively convenient and uncomplicated to fabricate;
2. The adaptation of the shipping container for use in the assembly can be by retrofit of a conventional container;
3. When used as part of a fumigation assembly, the shipping container is relatively effective in fumigating produce; and
4. When used as a fumigation assembly, the shipping container is “environmentally friendly” in its fumigation and discharge of fumigant.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the source of fumigant need not a located in the fumigation apparatus but rather may be mounted on a mobile vehicle such as a utility truck. The invention need not be restricted to methyl bromide as the fumigant but rather extends to any substance which is suitable in fumigating produce and thus killing pests, parasites, insects, or vermin, for example phosphine gas, carbon dioxide etc. The invention need not be restricted to the specific constructional features described, so for example, the circular-shaped holes for many of the portal arrangements shown in the drawings can be of other shapes (square, oval, and so on).
Such variations and modifications are considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2005905380 | Sep 2005 | AU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/AU2006/001429 | 9/29/2006 | WO | 00 | 5/9/2008 |