SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING INTERMODAL CONTAINERS ON PALLETS

Abstract

The invention is a system for positioning and removably securing an intermodal container to an intermodal pallet. The system permits the container's longitudinal centerline to be offset from the longitudinal centerline of the pallet, while still providing sufficient support to the container. The invention is a removable system of adapters for positioning and securing a container to the surface of the pallet, and when the adapters are in place, define longitudinal and lateral boundaries for engagement with an intermodal container. A plurality of strap brace assemblies positioned on one side of the pallet to provide an offset anchor position for a plurality of flexible straps, which secure the container when it is positioned on the pallet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system and apparatus for positioning intermodal containers on the surface of pallets for transport, and more particularly, to a system and apparatus for allowing intermodal containers to be secured to pallets offset from the lateral centerline of said pallets.

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Modern transport of freight relies heavily on the use of standardized cargo containers. Trucks, rail cars, ocean-going vessels and aircraft have all been adapted to accommodate such containers with due regard for their standard dimensions and shape. As a result, the movement of containerized cargo has become reliable and cost-effective. A container may be loaded with cargo at a point of origin, transported by truck to a railway station, transported by rail to a seaport, transported by ship to a remote port, transferred again by road or rail to an airport, and transported by aircraft to a remote airport. Standard containers are well adapted to be carried and secured in all of these different modes of transport. Such containers may be reused, and the cargo which they contain need never be handled or unloaded until the container has arrived at its ultimate destination. It is common for multiple containers to be transported in a single vehicle, car, ship or aircraft, and placed side-by-side and/or stacked vertically.

To facilitate movement and transport of such containers, particularly by air, the containers are commonly secured to pallets having standardized construction and dimensions. In a typical aircraft cargo environment, intermodal containers are placed on pallets by suitable lifting equipment, and then secured to the pallet by adjustable straps which surround the container and attach to opposing sides of the pallet. Pallets of this type are well suited to loading and off-loading from aircraft cargo bays, which are typically equipped with floor rollers permitting the pallet and its container load to be conveniently positioned within the cargo hold.

These systems have been in use for decades and have become the worldwide standard for transport of goods over short and long distances. The containers and pallets are rugged and reusable, and have been approved by private and government standards organizations certifying their acceptability and safety. However, as a result, commercial shipping companies are somewhat constrained to the utilization of standardized containers and pallets to conform to shipper and customer expectations and a wide variety of laws and regulations, to insure conformity with the interior dimensions of cargo holds in ships and aircraft.

Devices for locating containers and cargo on pallets are well known in the art, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,220 to Gangloff et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,163 issued to Coats. Efforts to create adjustable pallets have also been made, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,738 issued to Rapeli.

In some cargo-carrying vessels, particularly aircraft, the positioning of these containers may present certain difficulties. The positioning and securement of these containers is time consuming and often difficult to accomplish in field conditions. It is desirable, therefore, to construct a system which permits a method of securement that provides ease of installation in minimal time, while enhancing safety and at the same time minimizing the weight of the overall pallet load. It is likewise desirable to be able to reliably position each container in proper relationship to the pallet on which it is mounted, and to adjust the positional relationship between container and pallet to allow the container's position to be adjusted somewhat in relation to the pallet, so that the container may properly fit within the available cargo space.

The orientation and positioning of containers in aircraft is problematic because of the curvature inherent in the cargo compartments of aircraft as a result of the shape of the aircraft fuselage, which tends to be somewhat circular in cross-section. As a result, rectangular containers, if incorrectly positioned, when palletized, may come into contact with the interior structure of aircraft cargo compartments, creating the potential for damage and limiting the width of the cargo which may be positioned inside aircraft fuselages. It is desirable, therefore, to be able to securely offset standard containers in relation to pallets, thereby allowing side by side positioning of palletized containers in transport vehicles. It is preferable that solutions to this problem incorporate utilization of existing pallet designs, i.e., imposing no requirement for specialized pallets to accommodate containers. It is preferable that existing containers may be secured to existing pallets with the necessary versatility obtained by the use of adapters which may selectively position containers at desired locations on standard pallets.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved system to position and secure a standardized intermodal cargo container in an offset relationship to the pallet on which the container is loaded and transported. It is another object of the present invention to provide a system of removable elements which can be temporarily affixed to any standard pallet to facilitate such offset loading, and allowing the pallet to be used in the conventional fashion without such elements or offset. These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the summary and description which follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof by providing a plurality of specialized adapters positioned at the corners and along one side of a standard intermodal container transport pallet. As utilized herein, the direction “longitudinal” refers to container lengthwise dimensions and directions generally fore and aft in the transport vehicle and the term “lateral” refers to container widthwise dimensions and the direction from side to side in relation to the transport vehicle. While the embodiments herein described are explained in relation to a cargo transport aircraft, the present invention is not so limited and may also be utilized in other transport vehicles, such as trucks, rail cars and ocean-going vessels.

The invention described herein contemplates two or more adapters which are removably positionable at spaced apart locations on the perimeter of a pallet. Preferably, the adapters are secured to the pallet perimeter by locking bars which engage a complimentary track on the perimeter of the pallet. Each adapter is further configured to removably connect to a socket incorporated in the standard container. Securement means interconnect the adapter to the socket, thereby securing the container in relation to the adapter.

In the embodiment, two or more corner elements are utilized, each element referred to as an “adapter”. Each of the adapters is positioned on and removably secured to one corner of a rectangular pallet. Each adapter is configured to be attached to or removed from the pallet, preferably without the need for tools. In the embodiments described herein, locking bars are provided to interconnect the adapters to the pallet. Locking bars serve to interconnect the adapters and the pallet, and permit positioning of the adapters, again without the need for specialized tools. Once in position, the adapters will engage corresponding sockets formed in the containers, thereby restricting vertical, longitudinal or lateral movement of the container in relation to the pallet. The system further comprises a plurality of removable strap brace assemblies which are positioned on one lateral side of the pallet, and which engage straps which secure the container to the pallet. The final elements of the system include a plurality of anchors positioned on the opposite lateral side of the pallet from the strap brace assemblies, and a plurality of flexible restraint straps or webs which extend from the strap brace assembly, over the top of the container, thence connecting to the anchors on the opposing lateral side of the container. Each of said plurality of straps may be tightened using conventional strap-tightening means, to securely hold the container onto the pallet. Because of the geometry of the adapters and the strap brace assemblies, the longitudinal centerline of the container is offset from the longitudinal centerline of the pallet, thereby spacing the outboard wall of the container away from the outboard side of the pallet, and hence, positioning the entire container inboard in relation to the cargo hold of the vehicle in which the combination container and pallet is being transported.

Since the adapters and strap brace assemblies are removable, the pallet may be converted for conventional use, wherein the container is laterally and longitudinally centered on the pallet, i.e., not offset in relation to the pallet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above embodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, as well as the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 1-13.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting a container positioned on a pallet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a typical pallet, showing the adapters and strap brace assemblies of the present invention attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a container, pallet and adapters of the system of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a forward outboard adapter as used in the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a complimentary aft outboard adapter as used in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a forward inboard adapter as used in the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a complimentary aft inboard adapter as used in the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a strap brace assembly as used in the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the detail of one corner of a container secured to one corner of a pallet; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the locking bars used in the invention to secure the adapters and strap brace assemblies to the pallet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, the basic structure of the invention in relation to an intermodal container 20 will be best understood. The container 20 is typically of rectangular floor plan, having rectangular top 21, rectangular bottom 22, rectangular end walls 23 and rectangular side walls 24 forming an enclosure for an interior space. The typical container 20 is constructed of corrugated steel surrounded by a steel framework 28. At least one side wall 24 or end wall 23 of the container 20 is provided with one or more doors 26 or other closeable elements to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo into the interior space of the container 20. Such closeable elements are provided with latching mechanisms 27 to secure the contents of the container 20 during shipment. The base framework 28 is provided with a plurality of openings 29 suitable for accommodating the forks of a forklift truck, and other portions of the framework may be provided with lifting eyes (not shown) to facilitate lifting and movement of the container 20. Each corner of the framework is provided with a socket 12, which allows the containers 20 to be secured to a surface or pallet 30 during transport.

FIG. 2 depicts the structure of a standard container pallet 30. A typical container pallet 30 is rectangular in plan, having a top surface 92, a bottom 93, opposing ends 90, 94 and opposing lateral sides 96, 98. Typically, such pallets 30 are constructed of high strength materials such as steel or aluminum, and incorporate an internal framework, covered by a skin. Each pallet 30 is further provided with one or more tracks 60, 62 on its perimeter 57. As can be seen from the figures, the typical track 60, 62 is comprised of a plurality of interconnected cylindrical cavities 61 arrayed on an axis, and extending across the width and along the length of the perimeter 57 of the pallet 30. These tracks 60, 62 are utilized to engage locking bars 6 or other anchor elements having complimentary cylindrical protrusions and a locking plunger, which permits the locking bars 6 to be placed in the track 60, 62, positioned anywhere along the length of the track 60, 62, and temporarily locked into position utilizing said locking plunger. A plurality of locking bars 6 is utilized in the present invention to engage and interlock the elements of the system with the pallet 30.

In FIG. 2, the pallet 30 is seen in plan view, and the outboard and inboard mounting adapters 50A, 50B, 59A, 59B and strap brace assemblies 100 are pictured as typically disposed around the perimeter 57 of the pallet 30. In the embodiment, a pair of outboard adapters 50A, 50B, which are mirror images of each other, are positioned at the first outboard corner 54 and second outboard corner 55 of pallet 30. Similarly, inboard adapters 59A, 59B, also mirror images of one another, are positioned at first inboard corner 53 and second inboard corner 51 of pallet 30, as depicted in the figure. Adapters 50A, 50B, and 59A, 59B serve to establish offset positions for the corners of a container 20, thereby orienting and positioning container 20 laterally in relation to pallet surface 92. A plurality of strap brace assemblies 100 are removably secured to pallet upper track 60 and pallet side track 62, the position of strap brace assemblies 100 being selectable along the length of pallet side track 62 and pallet upper track 60. The upper surfaces 101 of strap brace assemblies 100 provide support for container 20.

In FIG. 3, the offset position of a container 20 in relation to the pallet 30 will be better understood. Viewed from one end, the adapters 50B, 59B are shown in their mounted configuration on the pallet 30. As shown in the drawing, the dimensions and configuration of the adapters 59 are such that the lower edge 23 of one side wall 24 of the container 20 is positioned inboard of one lateral edge of the pallet 30. On the opposite side of the pallet 30, the outboard adapter 50 is dimensionally longer, measured laterally in relationship to the pallet 30, thereby positioning guide 60 of the outboard adapter 50 further from the centerline 150 of the pallet 30. As a result, the adapters 50, 59 position the longitudinal center line 152 of container 20 in an offset relationship to longitudinal center line 150 of the pallet 30. The amount of offset may be selected by appropriate selection of the dimensions of adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B.

FIG. 4 depicts the geometry and structure of the forward outboard adapter 50A. FIG. 5 depicts the geometry and structure of aft outboard adapter 50B. It will be appreciated that the outboard adapters 50A and 50B are similar in dimension and configuration, and are essentially mirror images. Identical reference numbers therefore apply to FIG. 5, and to the descriptions which follow. The forward outboard adapter 50A features an upward extending container engaging member 62 which engages a socket 12 in the outboard forward corner of the cargo container 20. One or more through holes 66 in the forward outboard adapter 50A accept a locking pin 4 which passes through an opening in the socket 12 in the corner of the container 20 as shown in FIG. 9, as well as through the member 62 of adapter 50A, thereby securing the container 20 to the adapter 50A. Outboard adapters 50A, 50B are typically monolithic, and formed of lightweight but high strength material such as aluminum. Adapter 50A, in plan view, has a generally “L” shaped base 52 having a top side 54 and underside 56, and is removably secured to the pallet track 60 in a manner which will be further described herein. When secured to pallet 30, outboard adapter 50A is positioned at one of the corners of pallet 30 as shown in FIG. 2.

Protruding from base 52 topside 54 are guide 60 and container engaging member 62. Container engaging member 62 is formed with lightening holes 64 which serve to reduce the overall weight of adapters 50A, 50B. Container engaging member 62 is sized and oriented to engage one corner socket of container 20, thereby restraining container 20 from movement in relation to adapters 50A, 50B and pallet 30. Guide 60 is provided with bevel 63 which collectively serve to facilitate positioning of container 20 in relation to adapters 50A, 50B as container 20 is lowered into position onto pallet 30 and adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B. Engaging members 62 and guide 60 are further provided with locking pin bores 66. Complimentary locking pin holes are formed in the corners of container 20. When container 20 is positioned on pallet 30 and adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B, locking pin holes in container 20 align with locking pin bores 66 in adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B. A locking pin 4 may thus be inserted through the wall of container 20 and locking pin bores 66 of engaging member 62 and guide 60, thereby preventing vertical, longitudinal or axial movement of the container 20 in relation to pallet 30.

It will be appreciated that outboard adapters 50A, 50B are positioned at first outboard corner 54 and second outboard corner 55 in similar fashion.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict the geometry and structure of inboard adapters 59A, 59B, again with reference to FIG. 2. Inboard adapters 59A, 59B are mirror images of one another, and have a roughly “L” shaped geometry when viewed in plan. The forward inboard adapter 59A features an upward extending container engaging member 262 which engages a socket in the inboard forward corner socket of cargo container 20. One or more through holes 266 in the forward inboard adapter 59A accepts a locking pin 4 which passes to an opening in the socket 12 in the corner of container 20 as shown in FIG. 9, as well as through member 262 of adapter 59A thereby securing the container to adapter 59A. Inboard adapters 59A, 59B are typically monolithic and formed of lightweight but high strength material such as aluminum. Adapter 59A in plan view has a generally “L” shaped base 252 having a top side 254 and an underside 256 and is removably secured to the pallet upper track 60 in a manner which will be further described herein. When secured to pallet 30, inboard adapter 59A is positioned at one of the corners of pallet 30 as shown in FIG. 2.

Protruding from base 252 top side 254 are guide 260 and container engaging member 262. Container engaging member 262 is formed with lightening holes 264 which serve to reduce the overall weight of adapters 59A and 59B. Container engaging member 262 is sized and oriented to engage one corner socket of container 20, thereby restraining container 20 from movement in relation to adapters 59A and 59B, as well as pallet 30. Guide 260 is provided with bevel 263 which collectively serve to facilitate positioning of container 20 in relation to adapters 59A, 59B as container 20 is lowered into position on pallet 30 and onto adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B. Engaging member 262 and guide 260 are further provided with locking pin bores 266. Complimentary locking pin holes are formed in the corners of container 20. When container 20 is positioned on pallet 30 and adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B, locking pin holes in container 20 align with locking pin 4 bores 266 and adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B. A locking pin 4 may thus be inserted through the wall of container 20 and locking bin bores 266 of engaging member 262 and guide 260, thereby preventing vertical, longitudinal or axial movement of the container in relation to pallet 30.

It will be appreciated that inboard adapters 59A and 59B are positioned at first inboard corner 53 and second inboard corner 51 of pallet 30 in a similar fashion. Accordingly, the fore and aft center line 152 of container 20 is positioned laterally offset from centerline 150 of pallet 30. As a result, one side of container 20 is positioned to rest on the “foot” of adapters 59A, 59B, as well as the upper surfaces 101 of strap brace assemblies 100 as will be described in further detail herein. It will be likewise appreciated that inboard adapter 59A is positioned at the pallet second end 94 in the same fashion that first inboard adapter 59B is positioned at the pallet first end 90 of pallet 30.

By so positioning opposing outboard adapters 50 and opposing inboard adapters 59 in their respective corner positions on pallet 30, container 20 may be offset from the center line 150 of pallet 30, yet still be appropriately supported by the pallet 30 and the pallet strap brace assemblies 100. Securement straps 130 may subsequently be installed over the container 20 by securement to the pallet upper and side track 62 as well as to the strap brace assemblies 100 as will be later described

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, strap brace assemblies 100 are adapted to be secured to one side of the pallet 30, thereby providing support for the outboard wall of the container 20. Each strap brace assembly 100 is preferably formed of high strength, relatively lightweight material such as aluminum. Each strap brace assembly 100 comprises a container support 120, a flange 104 and a transition section 116. Underside 106 is provided with a slot configured to accept a locking bar 6 engageable with pallet upper track 60. Transition element 116 may be provided with a plurality of cylindrical protrusions (not visible) configured to engage pallet side track 62. Slot 112 allows access to the plunger 7 of locking bars 6. The actuating plunger 3 of locking bar 6 may be accessed through slot 112. To provide the necessary strength to bear the loads associated with containers 20, strap brace assembly 100 support elements 120 and flange 104 are interconnected by reinforcements 102. When one or more brace assemblies 100 are accordingly removably affixed to first side 96 of pallet 30, said assemblies 100 provide the necessary support for the outboard perimeter of container 20. Attached to upper surface 101 of strap brace assembly 100 is a strap brace track 110 provided with cylindrical cavities 107 suitable for engaging locking bars or locking fasteners to which load straps may be secured.

FIG. 9 is a detailed, close-up view of one corner of the system of the present invention, depicting one adapter 59 secured to pallet 30, and one end of a strap 130 affixed to track 60. Fixing pin 4 penetrates guide 60 and member 62 as well as socket 12, thereby fixing container 20 in relation to pallet 30. Preferably, fixing pin 4 is provided with a spring loaded locking ball which selectively locks pin 4 into fixed relationship with adapter 59.

To secure the lugs and brace assemblies to the perimeter of the pallet, locking bars of the type depicted in FIG. 10 are utilized. The interconnection of the locking bars with the pallet tracks is also evident from the details shown in FIGS. 4-7.

Also evident from a study of FIG. 9 is the securement of one end of strap 130 to track 60. In the embodiment, flexible strap 130 is provided with a removable, repositionable anchor 9 at each end of said strap. Anchor 9 comprises a cylindrical element complimentary to cylindrical cavities 61, and further comprises a spring loaded release. To attach anchor 9 to track 60, the cylindrical element is inserted into a first cavity 60 and positioned intermediate said first cavity 60 and an adjacent cavity 60. Spring loaded release locks the anchor 9 in said intermediate position, in which anchor 9 is prevented from removal from track 60. This and other well-known methods for affixing cargo restraints may be used for securing the container 20 to pallet 30.

FIG. 10 depicts the utilization and structure of the locking bars 6. While FIG. 10 depicts the use of locking bars 6 in association with track 60 and strap brace assembly 100, it will be appreciated that locking bars 6 engage adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B in similar fashion. The underside of strap brace assemblies 100 and adapters 50A, 50B, 59A and 59B are provided with slots 2 having a “T” profile. Locking bars 6, on their upper side, have a corresponding profile, allowing locking bars 6 to slide into slots 2. A plurality of circular sections 5 are formed on the bottom side of locking bar 6. The sections 5 have a diameter complimentary to the diameter of track cavities 61, and the spacing of sections 5 corresponds to the spacing of cavities 61. In this fashion locking bars 6 may be inserted into track 60. Once so positioned locking bar 60 may be moved in relation to track 60 so that the centers of sections 5 and cavities 6 are no longer in register, thereby preventing extraction of locking bar 6 from track 60. Locking plunger 3 engages track 60, thereby preventing lateral movement of bar 6 in relation to track 60.

As shown in the figures, it will be appreciated that by placement of adapters 50A, 50B, 59A, 59B and strap brace assemblies 100, a plurality of flexible straps 130 may be anchored and progressively tightened to restrain container 20 from movement in relation to pallet 30.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that in the present invention a standard pallet constructed for supporting a standard container in the normal configuration wherein the alignment of the longitudinal centerline of the pallet is maintained with the longitudinal centerline of the container, maybe temporarily configured to allow a standard intermodal container to be offset from the longitudinal centerline of the pallet, and hence, offset from the pallet so that the exterior of the container is adequately spaced from the interior walls of the cargo compartment in which the container is being transported.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of many possible specific embodiments. Various modifications obvious to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention as further defined in the claims which follow.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to secure a container on a pallet, the apparatus comprising: first and second adapters configured for releasable connection to the container and to the pallet, wherein the first and second adapters are mirror images of each other and each include: a base;an engaging member extending from the base and configured for removable insertion into a socket formed in an underside of the container; anda guide extending from the base such that a receiving space is defined between the engaging member and the guide, the receiving space being configured to receive a corner edge of the container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second adapters are non-identical in configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base includes an L-shaped configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving space is linear in configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide includes a bevel to facilitate connection of the container to the first and second adapters.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base, the engaging member, and the guide are rigid in construction.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engaging member and the guide are fixedly connected to the base.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the engaging member and the guide are monolithically formed with the base.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engaging member and the guide are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the base.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the engaging member includes a first aperture and the guide includes a second aperture aligned with the first aperture.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further including fasteners configured for removable insertion into the first aperture and the second aperture to secure the first and second adapters to the container.

12. A system comprising: a pallet;first and second adapters that are non-identical, mirror images of each other, wherein the first and second adapters are configured for removable connection to the pallet and each include: a base;an engaging member fixedly protruding from the base; anda guide fixedly protruding from the base, the guide being spaced axially from the engaging member along a longitudinal axis of the base; anda container including sockets configured to receive the engaging members such that the container, whereby the container is connected to the pallet via the first and second adapters.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the engaging member and the guide are monolithically formed with the base.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the engaging member includes a first aperture and the guide includes a second aperture aligned with the first aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture being configured to receive a locking pin.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each socket includes an aperture configured to receive the locking pin such that the locking pin extends through the container into the guide and into the engaging member to thereby connect the container to the pallet via the first and second adapters.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the engaging member and the guide protrude from the base so as to define a receiving space therebetween configured to receive an edge of the container.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the guide is positioned adjacent to an end of the base such that the guide is disposed axially outward of the container upon connection of the container to the pallet.

18. A system comprising: a pallet;first and second adapters releasably connectable to the pallet, the first and second adapters being mirror-images of each other;a container including sockets configured to receive the first and second adapters such that the container is releasably connectable to the pallet via the first and second adapters;strap brace assemblies releasably connectable to the pallet; andflexible straps each configured for releasable connection to the strap brace assemblies to secure the container in relation to the pallet.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first and second adapters are non-identical in configuration.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first and second adapters each include: a base;an engaging member extending from the base and configured for insertion into the sockets of the container; anda guide extending from the base, wherein the engaging member and the guide extend from the base in a common direction.