WO1999022190A1

WO1999022190A1 - Heat insulated transport box, especially a container

Info

Publication number: WO1999022190A1
Application number: PCT/EP1998/006758
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uwe Ahrens; Rolf Wirz
Original assignee: Uwe Ahrens; Rolf Wirz
Priority date: 1997-10-24
Filing date: 1998-10-23
Publication date: 1999-05-06
Also published as: EP1025405B1; ES2181294T3; DE59804830D1; DE19747181A1; AU1155699A; EP1025405A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat insulated transport box (1) whose containing space is encompassed by space delimiting elements, i.e. a roof element (2), a floor element (3), side walls (4) and an end wall (22). Each space delimiting element is self-contained and comprises a core wall part (13-16) with a large surface area which consists generally of rigid foam, especially polyurethane, and which is bordered entirely or partially by side members consisting of fibre-reinforced plastic. The space delimiting elements are rigidly interconnected on connecting surfaces in the area of the side members. The inventive transport box can be closed with conventional doors.

Description

Thermally insulated transport containers, in particular containers

description

The invention relates to a heat-insulated transport container, in particular containers, the container interior of which is rectangularly delimited by rectangular, large-scale room boundaries made of a material with low thermal conductivity, in particular rigid foam. The rectangular, large-area delimitation elements are the side walls, the ceiling, the floor, and a front wall on the square-shaped transport container and, if appropriate, door elements on the other end of the transport container.

Such a transport container is known from US 5,450,977. The known rectangular transport container has four corner posts which are connected to one another by transverse angle profiles and by longitudinal angle profiles which extend along the edges of the cuboid. The corner posts and the angle profiles connecting the corner posts form a support frame for the individual space-limiting elements. A respective space limitation element, i.e. the respective side wall, the ceiling or the floor are formed in a sandwich construction from two cover layers (inner skin, outer skin), between which a rigid foam is arranged as an insulating material. C-shaped stiffening elements, which are connected to the two outer cover layers, are provided in the rigid foam for stiffening the space-limiting elements. Reinforcing rods are also arranged in the insulating material.

Furthermore, it is known from US Pat. No. 3,561,633 to arrange plastic panels in a steel frame consisting of the corner posts and the cross members and side members made of angle profiles connecting the corner posts to save weight, several panels form a space delimitation element. Such an arrangement of panels in a supporting metal frame is also known from US Pat. No. 3,003,810.

The object of the invention is to provide a thermally insulated transport container, in particular container, of the type mentioned at the outset, in which considerable weight savings are achieved when the strength and stiffness values prescribed by the ISO standards are met.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the characterizing features of patent claim 1.

The invention is a self-supporting structure made of fiber-reinforced plastics. The respective space limitation element, in particular in a sandwich construction, i.e. the respective side wall, the floor and the ceiling as well as the front wall have, in their middle layer of the sandwich construction, a large wall core consisting entirely of rigid foam. This wall is wholly or partially surrounded by edge hoimes. The side rails form a stiffening frame. The large wall core consisting entirely of rigid foam, which is encompassed by the stiffening frame from the side rails, forms the middle layer of the sandwich structure. Each edge spar consists at least partially of fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular carbon fiber and / or glass fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP and / or GRP). In particular, the respective edge spar consists of a spar core, which is preferably formed from hard foam, for example polyurethane foam, and a sheath encompassing this core on all sides. The covering is formed from a fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP and / or GRP).

The two cover surfaces, ie the inner skin located inside the container space and the outer skin of the sandwich structure of the respective space delimitation element located on the outside of the container, are likewise formed from fiber-reinforced (CFRP and / or GFK) plastic. As fiber reinforcement, preference is given to fabric, laid and roring types are used. It can also be Pultrosions-Fertigteite and the like. Ver _¬ spent.

The respective space delimitation elements are firmly connected to one another in the area of the edge bars. For this purpose, right-angled edge profiles made of fiber-reinforced, in particular glass-fiber-reinforced, plastic can be provided for large-area adhesive connections on the inside and outside of the container.

Circumferential reinforcement frames, namely front and end frames made of steel or fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP and / or GRP), are provided on the two end sides of the cuboid transport container. These reinforcement frames are provided separately and independently of one another at the ends of the cuboid transport container and are not connected to one another via separate longitudinal members. In a known manner, so-called "corner fittings" can be provided on the corner posts of the two reinforcing frames, which have engagement means with which a plurality of transport containers, in particular containers, can be stacked one above the other and on which the transport containers are lifted and to their destination on the means of transport (ship, truck etc.) can be brought.

The longitudinal beam function of the transport container is formed along its longitudinal edges by the firmly connected edge rails of the ceiling, the floor and the side walls. Furthermore, two longitudinal beams can be provided on the underside of the base, which are supported at their corners in the two end reinforcement frames, the respective longitudinal beam having a hard foam core, in particular made of polyurethane foam, which is surrounded by a fiber-reinforced plastic covering. If necessary, the lower longitudinal edge spar can then cease to exist in the respective side wall. On the underside, the frame, which surrounds the respective wall core of the side wall, is then replaced by the side member.

A complex steel frame, in which longitudinal members in the form of angle profiles, frame spars and the like connect the end reinforcement frames to one another, is not required in the invention. Due to the special training of each Space boundary element and its connection to the adjacent Raumbe _¬ grenzungselementen is achieved the required rigidity and strength in transverse and longitudinal direction of the transport container executed in particular in hybrid construction or with hybrid reinforcement. The thickness of the side walls of the roof and the floor can be kept low while achieving the required thermal insulation, so that a low weight of the container is achieved.

To further improve the rigidity and strength, cross members can be provided on the underside of the base, which also consist of a hard foam core and a fiber-reinforced plastic covering surrounding this hard foam core. These cross beams can be attached to the floor with the aid of a fiber-reinforced plastic skin which is glued to the underside of the floor.

Adhesive connections are provided at the transitions between the reinforcement frames at the ends of the transport container and its plastic construction. Rivet connections can also be provided. Adhesive wings adapted to the connections to be produced, for example in the form of approximately 2 mm thick steel sheets, can also be provided for additional reinforcement of the connection to be produced.

The invention is suitable for use in the production of temperature-controlled insulating and refrigerated transport containers, such as, for example, insulating and refrigerated containers. The transport containers can be transported on trucks, possibly as fixed bodies, railway wagons, ships and the like. The invention can also be used in the manufacture of air cargo containers.

Based on the figures, the invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. It shows:

1: schematically shows a transport container in perspective; Zung essential elements in a perspective view features of the Raumbegren _¬, which are shown without their respective inner and outer skin; Fig. 2

Fig. 3: a sectional representation for the corner connections between the

Roof and a respective side wall and the front wall;

4 shows a sectional representation of the corner connection between the floor and a respective side wall; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a longitudinal section through the floor.

The illustrated embodiment of a temperature-controlled insulating and cooling transport container 1 (FIG. 1) has a cuboid-shaped container body 23 which is made of

Space limitation elements exist. The space delimiting elements (FIG. 2) which comprise the interior of the container are a roof element 2, a base element 3 and side walls 4 (only one shown in FIG. 2), and an end wall (front wall 22). Each of the space delimiting elements 2 to 4 has a wall core made of rigid foam, in particular polyurethane foam, which is surrounded by edge rails. The

Edge bars can be made entirely or partially of glass fiber reinforced plastics. The edge bars can also be designed as hollow profiles (covering 28) made of fiber-reinforced plastic with a bar core 27. The side rails preferably have a rectangular cross section and are produced in the conventional manner as posts or beams. Glass fiber reinforced plastics (GRP) and / or carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are used. Fiber-reinforced plastics with special blended fabrics made of CFRP and GFRP can also be used. The individual side rails are assembled into a rectangular frame, in particular by gluing or riveting. The hard foam cores of the side rails can be produced in a known manner in a corresponding casting mold or in the already finished fiber-reinforced plastic covering 28. The finished side rails made of fiber-reinforced plastic, which are connected to each other to form a frame, are inserted into a mold. brought in which, for example, by known reaction molding technology, the wall core is formed from rigid foam. The respective wall core made of rigid foam and the frame consisting of the edge bars surrounding the wall core forms the middle layer of a sandwich structure of the respective space-limiting element. Cover layers are applied to this middle layer on both sides. In this way, an inner skin 29 lying inside the container is formed on one side and an outer skin 30 lying on the outside of the container is formed on the other side. The inner skin 29 and the outer skin 30 consist of fiber-reinforced plastic. The space delimiting elements forming the side walls 4 and the front wall 22 preferably have a thickness-symmetrical sandwich structure.

In this way, the individual space-delimiting elements, which form the cuboid-shaped container body 23, are produced, a rigid connection with the plastic of the edge bars being made of rigid foam during the reaction casting of the wall core.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the roof element 2 consists of the wall core 13 and the edge bars 5 and 6, which are connected to one another to form a frame comprising the wall core 13. The two side walls 4 are formed by the wall cores 15 and the side rails 9 and 10, respectively. The edge bars 9 and 10 are likewise connected to one another to form a frame comprising the respective wall core 15. The base element 3 consists of a wall core 14 and the edge bars 7 and 8 that surround the wall core in the form of a frame. The front wall 22 is formed by a wall core 16 and the edge bars 11 and 12 that surround the wall core 16 in a frame shape. If necessary, for further simplification, the side rails 11 and 12 can be omitted and the wall core 16 covered with the outer and inner skin can be inserted directly into the front side rails 6, 7 and 10, which form the frame for the wall core 6.

The space delimiting elements 2 to 4 and 22 are firmly connected to one another to form the cuboid-shaped container body 23 in the region of their side rails, in particular by gluing. Along the inner edges and outer edges of the container 1 Longitudinal edge profiles 19 and 20 can be provided for large-area connection. As a result, fixed flat connections are formed along the respective spars, which form a rigid and rigid framework consisting of the spars. Here, the side rails 5 and 9, along which the side walls 4 are connected to the roof element 2, and the side rails 8 and 9, along which the base element 3 is connected to the side walls 5, act as longitudinal members. Here, longitudinal members 25, which have a structure like the edge bars, can additionally be provided (FIG. 4). The longitudinal beams 25 can be designed to protrude inwards so that they form a support and connection surface in the area of the respective edge bar 8 of the base element 3 on their upper side. The respective longitudinal member, which is supported at its ends in reinforcement frames at the ends, in particular in the region of the corners of the reinforcement frames 17, 18, has a rigid foam core 34 and a covering 35 made of fiber-reinforced plastic and surrounding the rigid foam core in the form of a hollow professional. If necessary, the lower side rails 9 can be omitted in the two side walls 4, the frame function on the respective space boundary element forming the side wall 4 being fulfilled by the side members 25 together with the other side rails 9 and 10. The wall core 15 of the respective side wall 4 then extends to the longitudinal member 25 between the inner skin 29 and the outer skin 30.

The edge bars 6 of the roof element 2 and the edge bars 7 of the base element 3, which run transversely, have a cross-beam function in the cuboid structure of the container body 23. This cross member function is further supported by the edge bars 11 of the end wall (front wall) 22. The frame of the end wall 22 created by the edge bars 11 and 12 also supports the three-dimensional rigidity of the cuboid structure of the container body 23.

In addition, the reinforcing frames 17 and 18 can be provided at the two ends of the container body 23. The reinforcement frames can consist of steel or fiber-reinforced plastic with the exception of corner fittings 24 in the respective frame corners. The corner fittings 24 are made of steel and are designed in accordance with the respective regulations for insulating and cooling containers, in particular containers. det. The two reinforcement frames 17 and 18 are provided separately at the two ends of the container body 23. Due to the stiffness which the container body has the surface on the other (in particular by the additional edge profiles 19 and 20) mitein _¬ space connected limiting elements 23, it is not necessary that the two reinforcing frames are connected together by additional, provided along the container edges Verbindungsproiϊle. The individual space delimiting elements 2, 3, 4 and 22 each have a self-supporting property, and a three-dimensional stiffness of the container body is achieved due to their fixed, flat connection along the side rails. Since the wall delimitation elements in their sandwich construction with the relatively thin inner and outer skins 29, 30 are essentially formed by expansion from the large-area wall cores 13, 14, 15 and 16 from a continuous rigid foam body, in particular polyurethane foam, this results in an extremely light construction of the container body 23. The necessary stiffness is ensured by the frame spars which surround the wall cores in cooperation with the inner and outer skins 29, 30. This also ensures that the dimensioning ύe <side walls 4, the roof element 2 and the Bodenelernentes 3 can be kept optimally low with the required thermal insulation.

The connection of the plastic construction of the container body 23 with the two reinforcement frames 17 and 18 can additionally be reinforced with the aid of adhesive wings. These adhesive wings can be designed as, for example, 2 mm thick internal steel sheets. As a result, the transitions between the plastic structure of the container body 23 and the two reinforcement frames 17 and 18 are additionally reinforced.

In a known manner, door leaves (not shown in more detail) for opening and closing the container 1 on schematically illustrated, e.g. Fastening elements 26 designed as hinges can be pivotably attached.

The bottom of the container 1 is formed by the space-limiting element 3 and cross bars 31 attached to its underside. The cross bars 31 are fastened to the underside of the base 3 by means of a plastic skin 36. The plastic skin 36 is made of fiber-reinforced plastic. The cross bars 31, which extend essentially over the entire width of the floor, preferably have a trapezoidal cross section. Like the edge bars and the longitudinal beams 25, the cross bars 31 have a bar core 32 made of rigid foam, in particular polyurethane, and a covering 33 made of fiber-reinforced plastic. On the top of the bottom 3 there is provided a baffle 21, which is optionally welded in a vapor-tight manner and is glued to the bottom. The grating 21 can consist of T-shaped longitudinal profiles, for example made of aluminum. However, it can also be designed in the manner described in German patent application 197 01 171.3. The plastic skin 36 with which the cross members 31 are fastened to the underside of the floor can form the outer skin of the floor 3.

Examples of the dimensions are given below for the individual components of the space limitation elements. The following types of fabric or scrim can be used as fiber reinforcements for the components formed from fiber-reinforced plastics:

Floor construction The inner skin 29 of the floor 3 is formed from a laminate with a fiber-reinforced plastic according to type (A), six layers being used, which give a total thickness of approximately 1.9 mm. The grammages (g / m ² ) of the glass fibers are 234 along and 2316 across.

The thickness of the wall core 14 formed from hard foam is 60 mm with a minimum density of 80 kg / m ³ . The spar cores 27 of the edge spars are also formed by such a rigid foam, in particular made of polyurethane. That around this core formed hollow profile (sheathing 28) is formed from fiber-reinforced plastic with a fiber reinforcement according to type (A), sixteen layers being used in the spars 7 and eight layers in the edge spars 8. In two of the layers, the warp threads of the fibers are aligned at an angle of 45 ° to the longitudinal extension of the respective spar. The warp threads of the other layers take place in the longitudinal direction of the respective edge spar. Glass fiber-reinforced plastics are preferably used for the envelopes 28 of the side rails 7, 8 of the base 3, the surface weights (g / m ² ) for the side side rails 8 being 3088 and 312 lengthways and for the front and rear side rails 7 lengthways 624 and 6176 across.

A fiber-reinforced plastic with two layers of fiber reinforcement according to type (A) and two layers of type (C) is used for the outer skin 30 of the floor. The warp threads of the two layers of type (C) are at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the outer skin 30. The basis weights (g / m ² ) of the fiber reinforcement are longitudinal for the glass fiber 922 and transverse 78 and for the carbon fiber, which is only provided transversely, 490.

Sixteen cross bars 31 are preferably attached to the underside of the floor. The density of the rigid foam core 32 of the respective spar is at least 80 kg / m ³ . The plastic skin 36, which is placed over the crossbars 31 with adaptation to the trapezoidal shape and which is glued to the bottom underside and the crossbars, consists of fiber-reinforced plastic with a fiber reinforcement which has four layers of type (C) and three layers of type (A). The weights per unit area (g / m ² ) are 1458 and 1117 across for the glass fibers and 980 across for the carbon fibers.

The longitudinal member 25 provided on the floor has a hard foam core with a density of 200 kg / m ³ . The hollow profile of the casing 35 is formed from fiber-reinforced plastic with fourteen layers of type (C) fiber reinforcement and two layers of type (A) fiber reinforcement. The basis weights (g / m ² ) of the fiber reinforcement are 78 for longitudinal glass and 1822 across and 3430 for carbon fiber. According to ISO regulations, there may be four steel reinforcements on the outside of the floor as chassis supports. Sidewall construction

The side walls are designed as thick-symmetrical sandwich elements. The outer skin and the inner skin are formed from fiber-reinforced plastic with a fiber reinforcement which has one layer of type (A), two layers of type (C) and one layer of type (B). The basis weight (g / m ² ) of the fiber reinforcement is 536 horizontally for the glass fibers, 39 vertically and 490 for the carbon fibers and 204 diagonally.

The wall core 15 of the respective side wall 4 is formed from a hard foam ((PPoollyyuurreetthhaarn) with a density of at least 70 kg / m ^3. The thickness is 60 mm

The spar cores 27 of the edge spars 9 and 10 are also formed from such a rigid foam. The hollow profile (casing 28) of the respective edge spar 9 and 10 is formed from fiber-reinforced plastic. The fiber reinforcement on the upper spar has six layers of type (A). The fiber reinforcement on the lower spar has four layers of type (A) and one layer of type (D). In the front and rear edge rails 10, the fiber reinforcement has six layers of type (A). The basis weights (g / m ² ) of the fiber reinforcement for the upper spar for the glass fibers are along 2316 and transversely 234 and for the lower spar for the glass fibers along 156, transversely 1544 and for the carbon fiber along 1260.

Roof construction The roof 2 is also formed by a prefabricated sandwich element. The outer skin 30 is formed from a fiber-reinforced plastic. The fiber reinforcement consists of four layers of type (A). The basis weights (g / m ² ) of the fiber reinforcement for the glass fibers are 850 horizontally and 850 vertically, the outer skin 30 preferably being made of glass fiber reinforced plastic. The inner skin preferably also consists of glass fiber reinforced plastic, the fiber reinforcement consisting of two layers of type (A). The basis weights (g / m ² ) for the glass fibers are 425 horizontally and 425 vertically.

The wall core 13 is formed from rigid foam with a density of at least 40 kg / m ³ and a thickness of 90 mm. The rigid foam is preferably made of polyurethane. The edge bars 5 and 6 of the roof 2 each have a bar core 27 made of a foam of the type described above (density at least 40 kg / m ³ , thickness 90 mm). The sheath 28, which forms the hollow profile surrounding the spar core 27, is made of fiber-reinforced plastic, the fiber reinforcements for the side edge spars 5 being formed from four layers of type (A) and one layer of type (D). The fiber reinforcements of the front and rear edge spar 6 are formed by four layers of type (A). The weight per unit area (g / m ² ) of the fiber reinforcements is 156 for the glass fibers along the side and 1544 for the side edge bars 5 and 1244 for the carbon fibers. 1260 for the carbon fibers. In the front and rear

Edge bars 6 are the basis weights of the glass fibers along 156 and across 1544.

Front wall

The front wall 22 is formed from a prefabricated, thickness-symmetrical sandwich element. The inner skin 29 and the outer skin 30 are formed from fiber-reinforced plastic. The fiber reinforcement consists of five layers of type (A). The fiber reinforcement is formed in particular by glass fibers. The basis weights (g / m ² ) for the glass fibers are 81 1 horizontally, 464 vertically and 850 diagonally. The wall core 16 is formed by a hard foam core with a density of at least 70 kg / m ³ and a thickness of 60 mm. The front edge bars 6, 7 and 10 of the roof, base and side wall elements 2, 3, 4 preferably form the frame surrounding the wall core 16. However, it is also possible to provide a separate frame made from the side rails 11, 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The front wall can also be replaced by a conventional refrigerator connected to the front frame.

The basis weights of the fiber reinforcements given above are minimum values. Conventional door constructions are used for the doors. Doors can also be provided in one or both side walls. A two-leaf door with an opening angle of approximately 270 ° can be provided on the rear. The two door leaves can be made in a sandwich construction. This can have insulation made of polyurethane foam with a thickness of 57 mm and a density of approx. 60 kg / m ³ . The outer door can be made of plywood, with the outside being coated with aluminum sheet. The inside can be coated with galvanized sheet steel. Each door leaf has four strong hinges. Each door leaf is equipped with locking rods in a known manner.

In a known manner, suitable protective layers can be applied to the inner and outer skin 29, 30 of the space delimiting elements. The exemplary embodiment shown can have the following external dimensions, for example: length = 6,058 m, width = 2,438 m, height = 2,438 m

Claims

claims

Heat-insulated transport container, in particular container, the container space of which is surrounded by rectangular, large-area delimiting elements essentially made of a material with low thermal conductivity, in particular rigid foam,

because of the fact that

a respective space-limiting element (2, 3, 4, 22) cantilevered with a large-area wall core (13, 14, 15, 16) made entirely of rigid foam, which is made entirely or partially of edge bars (5 - 12) made of fully or partially fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular is surrounded by carbon fiber and / or glass fiber reinforced plastic, is formed and the respective space delimiting elements (2, 3, 4, 22) in the area of the edge bars (5 - 12) are firmly connected to one another at connecting surfaces.

Transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge bars (5, 8, 9) of the space-limiting elements (2,

3, 4) on the longitudinal edges of the transport container (1) have a longitudinal beam function.

Transport container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that reinforcement frames (17, 18) which are not connected to one another are provided at the ends of the cuboid transport container (1).

4. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the respective reinforcing frame (17, 18) consists of steel or fiber-reinforced plastic.

5. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the edge bars (5 - 12) are bar-shaped with a square cross-section.

6. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the respective edge spar (5 - 12) from a spar core (27), in particular made of rigid foam, and a sheath (28) formed by a fiber-reinforced plastic, which the spar core ( 27) is formed.

7. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the respective space-limiting element (2, 3, 4, 22) has a sandwich structure.

8. Transport container according to claim 7, characterized in that the wall core (13, 14, 15, 16) and the edge bars surrounding the wall core (5 -12) form an inner layer of the sandwich structure, which consists of an inner skin lying in the container interior ( 29) and an outer skin (30) lying on the outside of the container is occupied on both sides.

9. Transport container according to claim 8, characterized in that the inner or. The outer skin is made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

10. Transport container according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the space boundary elements (4) forming the side walls have a thickness-symmetrical sandwich structure.

11. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the front wall (22) has a thickness-symmetrical sandwich structure.

12. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that transverse bars (31) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the container are attached to the underside of the space-limiting element (3) forming the bottom.

13. Transport container according to claim 12, characterized in that the respective cross member (31) has a trapezoidal cross section.

14. Transport container according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the respective cross member (31) has a spar core (32) which is surrounded by a fiber-reinforced plastic sheath (33).

15. Transport container according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the crossbars (31) by means of a fiber-reinforced plastic skin (36) which is glued to the bottom underside and the crossbars, are attached to the floor-forming space-limiting element (3) .

16. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that two longitudinal beams (25) are provided on the underside of the space-limiting element (3) forming the floor, which are supported at their ends in the two end reinforcement frames (17, 18) , and a hard foam core (34) which is surrounded by a fiber-reinforced plastic sheath (35).

17. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the space-limiting elements (2 - 4, 22) along the outer and inner edges of the container (1) are connected by edge profiles (19, 20) made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

18. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the front wall (22) is formed by a sandwich component, in particular thickness-symmetrical sandwich component, the wall core (16) between the respective front side rails (6, 7, 10) of the roof, the floor and the two side walls which form the frame for the wall core (16) is arranged.

IC