초록 ▼

A cargo flow control system for bulk cargo containers. The system uses an inflatable bag positioned between the floor of the container and the cargo. When the bag is inflated, it slopes downward from the front of the container to the discharge door at the rear of the container. When the slope is gre

A cargo flow control system for bulk cargo containers. The system uses an inflatable bag positioned between the floor of the container and the cargo. When the bag is inflated, it slopes downward from the front of the container to the discharge door at the rear of the container. When the slope is greater than the angle at which the bulk cargo naturally flows, the container can be unloaded without using other unloading techniques such as tilting the container. The system can be used with or without a liner. When used with a liner, it can be manufactured as an integral part of the liner, or as a separate unit. The upper surface of the bag is fabricated from one or more rigid panels which may be attached to the inside or outside of the upper surface of the bag. In one embodiment, the rigid panels are separate and operate independently from one another. In a second embodiment, the panels are attached via hinge mechanisms.

대표청구항 ▼

An inflatable floor panel for use with a bulk cargo container having a floor area, side walls, a forward end and a rear end with a discharge door, comprising: an inflatable bag, the inflatable bag having a flexible outer surface and having at least one pressurizable inner compartment, the inflatable

An inflatable floor panel for use with a bulk cargo container having a floor area, side walls, a forward end and a rear end with a discharge door, comprising: an inflatable bag, the inflatable bag having a flexible outer surface and having at least one pressurizable inner compartment, the inflatable bag having at least one air pressure line to accept input of pressurized air, and further having a size suitable to cover a substantial portion of the floor area of the container, the bag formed from flexible material such that when it is deflated it will compress into a substantially flat layer such that cargo can be loaded into the container and on top of the inflatable bag, the inflatable bag further divided into a plurality of inflatable compartments arranged in sequence from the forward end of the container to the rear end of the container; the air input means attached to the inflatable bag air pressure line such that each compartment can be selectively inflated; each compartment having an upper surface and further having a rigid support panel attached to the upper surface of the compartment such that when the compartment is inflated, the rigid support panel forms a substantially flat plane with a uniform flow angle, each rigid support panel attached to its respective compartment and aligned in close proximity with adjacent rigid support panels such that when the inflatable bag is inflated, the rigid support panels form a substantially continuous rigid surface; and the inflatable bag further shaped such that when the inflatable bag is inflated the upper surface forms a plane which slopes downward from the forward end of the container to a point substantially near the rear end of the container where the discharge door is located, the slope thus formed providing an increased slope angle for cargo flow which is greater than the natural flow angle for a particular cargo type.