Patent Application
20220153513
The costs associated with solid waste management have risen dramatically in recent years. The diminishing availability of landfill and other solid waste management facilities, governmental laws and regulations, and transporting debris over long distances are all factors driving the increase in costs. As those and the cost of labor have increased alternative methods for transporting solid waste from the customer sites at which the debris is handled (usually at a permitted transfer station) has increased the need for new methods for safely and efficiently handling waste transportation.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, an intermodal container includes first and second ends, joined by first and second sides in a generally rectangular configuration. A generally continuous floor cooperates with the first and second ends and the first and second sides to form an open top container. A plurality of roof overhangs extend adjacent a top of the open top container, generally parallel to the floor. The intermodal container includes a roll cover having a first position in which the open top container is substantially open to the ambient environment to allow for loading from above the first and second sides and first and second ends of the open top container. The roll cover has a second position in which the open top container is substantially closed to the ambient environment to prevent any contents of the open top container to be ejected from the open top container during transport. A plurality of top reinforcement rails are disposed adjacent upper portions of the first and second sides, and extend from the first side to the second side.
Much of the nation's solid waste is transferred over the nation's roadways using trucks of various sizes. Trucks have the advantage of mobility and can be used to collect solid waste from practically any point at which it is generated. However, size limits, fuel costs and new limits on the hours drivers can sit behind the wheel have contributed to increased concerns about this method of transportation. In addition, trucks produce higher levels of greenhouse gases, relative to rail transportation, on a per-ton moved basis.
The nation's rail system has also been utilized to transport solid waste over large distances, since a much larger capacity is available and the cost of labor to transport a fixed amount of solid waste can be lower than using trucks. However, getting the solid waste to a nearby rail station can diminish the cost advantages. Also, the amount of labor necessary to collect, assemble, load and package solid waste (usually at a permitted solid waste transfer station) in the manner needed for traditional rail transportation methods is high.
One industry standard method involves using 20′ long containers that are approximately 12′ high with a solid metal lid. Such containers can carry approximately 60 to 62 cubic yards of solid waste per trip. However, specialized equipment is needed at the place of loading, in order to properly lid and seal the container and cover the load. Permits are often required if the lidding is to be done off-site from a permitted transfer station. Thus, such a system is difficult and can be at -times prohibitively costly to employ at a customer's transfer station. In addition, to avoid highway height restrictions, these 12′ high containers must move on expensive drop-deck chassis. The costs associated with transporting the solid waste in these containers makes for a less than ideal alternative.
The embodiments disclosed herein and in the attached figures provide methods that allow for municipal solid waste and debris to be loaded into containers a) as easy as it is currently to load a long-haul truck and b) in a container suitable for safe rail travel with waste inside. The containers have an open top design that allow for simple, fast and effective top loading into the containers. These containers also offer rooftop sealing covers that allow the containers to be transported over rail in compliance with federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
The rooftop sealing covers disclosed herein offer a fast and effective way to cover the containers in a manner that allow any customer or collection station to easily load and cover the containers without the need for any specialized equipment to handle the sealing cover.
In accordance with a particular embodiment disclosed herein, a standard 40′ intermodal container (be they a closed-top or open-top version) can be modified in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein. For example, for a closed-top container, the roof can be removed from a standard 40′ intermodal container to allow for top loading of solid waste. In particular embodiments, certain edges of the roof can remain in order to provide adequate strength and workability with the rest of the provided components. Top rails can be provided at various intervals in order to maintain the structural integrity of the container for loading and transportation purposes. C-channels can also be strategically placed at edges to provide additional strength and/or accommodate other equipment.
In accordance with a particular embodiment, a specially modified roll cover can be provided as the cover for the roof, after loading is complete. The specially modified roll cover may be installed across the 40′ length of the container, from end to end. However, in order to enhance strength and provide for a stronger seal of the container, it may be advantageous in certain embodiments to provide the specially modified roll cover from side to side. Thus, a 40′ specially modified roll cover can be installed across the top of the container from one side to the other in order to substantially decrease the length the specially modified roll cover will need to be extended to cover the load.
In order to provide for a user-friendly mechanism to close and seal the specially modified roll cover on the roof, low profile ratchets are strategically placed along the edges to tighten straps that are used to hold the specially modified roll cover down. These effectively close the specially modified roll cover roof sufficient for transportation and allows the end user to do this simply and effectively. Rope and bungy cords can also be used to more effectively seal the specially modified roll cover and keep the roof sealed during transportation. Once the customer or end user seals the container, it is not necessary to open the container until it reaches the final destination (e.g., landfill/disposal facility). The container design outlined in this submission allows for waste to be safely shipped on the rails, with little to zero odors being emitted or vermin attracted. This is a critical component to the safe and compliant shipment of waste on the nation's railroads.
Weep holes with plugs may also be employed in the floor and walls to allow for drainage (at the receiving landfill/disposal facility) due to fluid buildup that can accompany solid waste. At the same time the weep holes can be shut to prevent any leakage of fluids while the container is in transit to the landfill/disposal facility.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure is provided below and provides alternatives for components, sizes and placements, in accordance with a particular embodiment.
In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, a 40′ standard intermodal container may be used with the roof removed (e.g., cut off with torch or other specialized equipment). However, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that intermodal containers of practically any length (e.g., 20′ to 53′) may be used in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. In particular embodiments, when the top of the container is removed, it may be desirable to leave a portion of the roof as an overhang at the front and rear of the container to provide stability for the covering system. The overhang may encompass the entire front and rear, or portions thereof. It may be a single portion or multiple portions at each of the front and rear. In some embodiments, an overhang or multiple overhangs may be used at the sides as well. Either the entirety of the sides, portions thereof, or multiple portions thereof each of the sides (or a single one of the sides). In a particular embodiment disclosed herein, an overhang of approximately 30″ was used at the front and rear of the container. However, an overhang of between 12 inches and 36 inches may be employed within the teachings disclosed herein.
In accordance with another embodiment of this disclosure, an open top container [10] of approximately the dimensions of a standard 40′ intermodal container (e.g., approximately 40′×8.5′×8′) may be designed and built for these purposes. A particular embodiment of such a container is illustrated in the attached
In particular embodiments, some or all of the hardware described below may be used as part of the modified container.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/115,427 filed on Nov. 18, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63115427 | Nov 2020 | US |
