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(11) | EP 0 655 047 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
CONTAINER WITH HINGED LOWER SECTIONS FOR EMPTYING, ADAPTED FOR OPERATION BY FORKLIFT TRUCK BEHÄLTER MIT UNTEREN KLAPPTEILE ZUM ENTLEEREN, GEEIGNET ZUM HANDHABUNG DURCH GABELSTAPLER CONTENEUR A PARTIES INFERIEURES ARTICULEES POUR LE VIDAGE, ADAPTE POUR ETRE ACTIONNE PAR UN CHARIOT ELEVATEUR A FOURCHES |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a bottom-dump container comprising a container portion having at least two bottom doors situated opposite to each other and hingedly connected to said container portion and fork tubes supporting said container portion, which when changing their relative distance by e.g. a fork truck having adjustable fork distance in the horizontal plane, admits opening or closing of the bottom doors.
[0002] The problems with present known containers of a similar type are i.a. that their dumping devices require a relative large space. Further the truck driver must often get out from the truck in order to release the locking device when dumping the contents out of the container. The container also often need a stand over and above the place where the material shall be dumped and the container only can be dumped from one direction. The dumping time will in this way be long and finally the locking mechanism of the container can be unintentionally be released if an obstacle is run into. Also other types of containers exist, the bottom doors of which are resting upon fork tubes, which via a link arrangament is pivotedly connected to the end walls of the containers and which during sepatating of the fork tubes by the forks of a truck achieve an opening up of the container, see e.g. GB-A-969 124.
[0003] Thanks to the structure according to the present invention the container portion now includes fewer parts than the containers mentioned above and other which are common on the market and also a much more rigid design. Furthermore the bottom doors according the invention have been integrated with the sides of the container, which results in that during dumping the lower part of the container is separated in an opposite direction so that the content is dumped very quickly and effectively.
[0004] The invention will be described below further in detail by aid of a preferred embodiment in view of the accompanying drawing, in which
- Fig. 1
- schematically shows a perspective view of a bottom-dump container according to the present invention where the bottom doors are in their closed position and
- Fig. 2
- schematically shows a perspective view of the container illustrated in Fig. 1, where the bottom doors are totally open.
[0005] As can be seen from the figures the container 1 according to a preferred embodiment according to the present invention consists of a container portion 2 which at its lower part comprises two opposite bottom doors 4,5, which are hingedly connected to the container portion 2 by a hinge mounting in the form of a hinge 3 and fork tubes 6,7 supporting the container portion 2 and which are located at the lower part of the bottom doors 4,5 of the container portion 2. The fork tubes 6,7 are provided to open the bottom doors 4,5 by increasing the horisontal distance of the fork tubes 6,7 from each other e.g.by aid of a fork truck having adjustable fork distance in the horizontal plane. When closing the bottom doors 4,5 the horizontal distance of the fork tubes 6,7 is instead decreased in a direction from each other. According to the invention the fork tubes 6,7 are preferably integrally connected to the bottom doors 4,5 e.g. by welding against their bottom sides 8,9. In the case that the fork tubes 6,7 have a cross section, which does not permit turning around the forks of a fork truck, the respective fork tube 6,7 can be hingedly connected to bottom doors 4,5 along the corner portion of the fork tubes 6,7 facing towards each other.
[0006] Each bottom door 4;5 has an openig line 10, which over its extension along the hinge 3 from its ends 23 forms a border-line between adjacent edge portions of the end walls 15,16 of the container portion 2 and the side walls 11,12;13,14 of the bottom door 4;5,said border line from a direction mainly preferably parallel to the bottom plane of the container 2 or bottom sides 8,9 can take a direction which extends obliquely downwards up to the lower, free edge or corner portion 24 of the bottom door 4;5. In the last case the side walls 11,12;13,14 have a triangular design and the end walls 15,16 of the container 2 have a pointed, lower portion. The bottom doors 4,5 have the same size and extend over the whole length and width of the container portion 2.
[0007] Respective bottom door 4;5 is formed by the bottom side 8;9, at the underside of which one of the fork tubes 6;7 is fixed, two opposite side walls 11,12;13,14, which are perpendicular to the bottom side 8;9, said side walls in the closed position of the bottom door 4;5 being a part of the end walls 15;16 of the container portion 2, and a connecting wall 19;20 connecting the side walls 11,12;13,14 to the bottom side 8;9 and forming lower parts of the longitudinal sides 17;18 of the container portion 2, at the upper portion of said connecting wall and at the longitudinal sides 17;18 of said conatainer portion 2 the hinge 3 is located.
[0008] The connecting wall 19;20 on respective bottom door 4,5 has a height, which in the embodiment illustrated, is about 1/3 of the total height of the sides 17,18 of the container portion 2. In syncronizing the opening and closing of the bottom doors 4,5 there is a cross bar 21 articulately fixed to respective side wall 11,12;13,14 of the bottom doors 4;5 near the hinge 3, the one end of the cross bar 21 being directly articulated in the upper portion of one of the side walls 11,12 while the other opposite end of the cross bar 21 is indirectly articulated via a distance bar 22 extending above the opening line 10 and at its upper portion a short distance above the opening line 10, when the bottom doors are in their closed position, in the other side wall 13,14. In this way it always occurs simultaneous an opening and a closing respectively of the bottom doors 4,5 and an eventual tilting danger for the container 1 is eliminated.
1. A bottom-dump container comprising a container portion (2) having at least two bottom
doors (4,5) situated opposite to each other and hingedly connected to the container
portion (2) and fork tubes (6,7) supporting the container portion (2), which when
changing their relative distance by e.g. a fork truck having adjustable fork distance
in the horizontal plane, admits opening or closing of the bottom doors (4,5), characterized in that the bottom doors (4,5) have an opening line (10), which from ends (23) of hinges
(3) connecting the bottom doors (4,5) to the container portion (2) defines a border
line between adjacent edges of the end walls (15,16) of the container portion (2)
and side walls (11,12,13,14) of the bottom doors (4,5); the lower edges of the container
end walls (15,16) extend straight between the ends (23) of the hinges (3) or have
a downwardly pointed configuration; each bottom door (4;5) is formed by at least one
bottom side (8;9) against which one of the fork tubes (6;7) is fixed, two of said
side walls (11,12;13,14) at opposite ends of and perpendicular to the bottom side
(8;9) and forming extensions of the end walls (15,16) of the container portion (2)
in the closed position of the bottom door (4;5), and a connecting wall (19;20) connecting
the side walls (11,12;13,14) to the bottom side (8;9) and forming lower extensions
of the longitudinal sides (17,18) of the container portion (2); and in that the extending
hinge (3) is situated between the upper portion of said connecting wall (19;20) and
the lower portions of the longitudinal sides (17,18) of the container portion (2).
2. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening line (10) is lying with its border line in parallel to the bottom
plane or bottom sides (8,9) of the container portion (2).
3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting wall (19;20) of the respective bottom door (4;5) has a height
which is about 1/3 of the total height of the longitudinal sides (17,18) of the container
portion (2).
4. A container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that respective bottom door (4;5) near the hinge (3) comprises a cross bar (21) pivotably
provided at its side walls (11,12;13,14) for syncronizing of the opening and closing
of the bottom doors (4,5).
5. A container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fork tubes (6,7) have a cross section admitting these to be rotatable around
the forks of a fork truck during dumping.
1. Behälter mit Bodenentleerung, der aus einem Behälterteil (2) und wenigstens zwei Bodentüren
(4, 5) besteht, die zueinander gegenüberliegend angeordnet und mit dem Behälterteil
(2) über Scharniere verbunden sind, und Gabelröhren (6, 7), welche den Behälterteil
(2) stützen und bei einem Wechsel ihres relativen Abstandes bspw. durch einen Gabelstapler
mit einem einstellbaren Gabelabstand in der horizontalen Ebene ein Öffnen oder Schließen
der Bodentüren (4, 5) ermöglichen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Bodentüren (4,
5) eine Öffnungslinie (10) aufweisen, die von den Enden (23) der die Bodentüren (4,
5) mit dem Behälterteil (2) verbindenden Scharniere (3) eine Grenzlinie zwischen benachbarten
Kanten der Endwände (15, 16) des Behälterteils (2) und Seitenwänden (11, 12, 13, 14)
der Bodentüren (4, 5) definiert, wobei die unteren Kanten der Behälterendwände (15,
16) geradlinig zwischen den Enden (23) der Scharniere (3) verlaufen oder eine nach
unten zugespitzte Ausbildung haben, und jede Bodentür (4; 5) durch wenigstens eine
Bodenseite (8; 9) ausgebildet ist, an welcher eine der Gabelröhren (6; 7) befestigt
ist, zwei Seitenwänden (11, 12; 13, 14) an entgegengesetzten Enden und senkrecht zu
der Bodenseite (8; 9) welche Verlängerungen der Endwände (15, 16) des Behälterteils
(2) in der geschlossenen Stellung der Bodentür (4; 5) bilden, und einer Verbindungswand
(19; 20), welche die Seitenwände (11, 12; 13, 14) mit der Bodenseiten (8; 9) verbindet
und untere Verlängerungen der Längsseiten (17, 18) des Behälterteils (2) bildet, und
das Scharnier (3) zwischen dem oberen Bereich der Verbindungswand (19; 20) und den
unteren Bereichen der Längsseiten (17, 18) des Behälterteils (2) angeordnet ist.
2. Behälter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Öffnungslinie (10) mit ihrer
Grenzlinie parallel zu der Bodenebene oder den Bodenseiten (8, 9) des Behälterteils
(2) verläuft.
3. Behälter nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verbindungswand (19;
20) der betreffenden Bodentür (4; 5) eine Höhe aufweist, die etwa ein Drittel der
Gesamthöhe der Längsseiten (17, 18) des Behälterteils (2) ausmacht.
4. Behälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die
betreffende Bodentür (4; 5) nahe des Scharniers (3) einen Querstab (21) aufweist,
der an den Seitenwänden (17, 12; 13, 14) schwenkbar angeordnet ist für eine Synchronisierung
des Öffnens und des Schließens der Bodentüren (4, 5).
5. Behälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die
Gabelröhren (6, 7) einen Querschnitt aufweisen, der sie um die Gabeln eines Gabelstaplers
während des Entleerens drehen läßt.
1. Un conteneur à vidage pour le bas, comportant une partie conteneur (2) présentant
au moins deux portes inférieures (4, 5) situées à l'opposé l'une de l'autre et reliées
de manière articulée à la partie conteneur (2), et des tubes à fourche (6, 7) supportant
la partie conteneur (2) qui, lors de la variation de leur distance relative, par exemple
par un engin à fourche dont la distance de fourche dans le plan horizontal est réglable,
permettent l'ouverture et la fermeture des portes inférieures (4, 5), caractérisé en ce que les portes inférieures (4, 5) ont une ligne d'ouverture (10) qui, à partir
des extrémités (23) des articulations (3) reliant les portes inférieures (4, 5) à
la partie conteneur (2), définit une ligne frontière entre des bords adjacents des
parois extrêmes (15, 16) de la partie conteneur (2) et des parois latérales (11, 12,
13, 14) des portes inférieures (4, 5) ; les bords inférieurs des parois d'extrémité
(15, 16) du conteneur s'étendent de manière rectiligne entre les extrémités (23) des
articulations (3) ou ont une configuration en pointe vers le bas ; chaque porte inférieure
(4 ; 5) est formée par au moins un côté inférieur (8 ; 9) sur lequel est fixé l'un
des tubes à fourche (6 ; 7), deux desdites parois latérales (11, 12 ; 13, 14), aux
extrémités opposées du côté inférieur (8 ; 9) et perpendiculairement à celui-ci, formant
des prolongements des parois extrêmes (15, 16) de la partie conteneur (2) pour la
position fermée de la porte inférieure (4 ; 5), et une paroi de liaison (19 ; 20)
reliant les parois latérales (11, 12 ; 13, 14) au côté inférieur (8 ; 9) et formant
des prolongements inférieurs des côtés longitudinaux (17, 18) de la partie conteneur
(2) ; et en ce que l'articulation allongée (3) est située entre la partie supérieure
de ladite paroi de liaison (19 ; 20) et les parties inférieures des côtés longitudinaux
(17, 18) de la partie conteneur (2).
2. Un conteneur selon 1a revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la ligne d'ouverture (10) s'étend, avec sa ligne frontière, parallèlement
au plan inférieur ou aux côtés inférieurs (8, 9) de la partie conteneur (2).
3. Un conteneur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la paroi de liaison (19 ; 20) de la porte inférieure respective (4 ; 5) présente
une hauteur qui est d'environ 1/3 de la hauteur totale des côtés latéraux (17, 18)
de la partie conteneur (2).
4. Un conteneur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la porte inférieure respective (4 ; 5), près de l'articulation (3), comporte
une traverse (21) prévue de manière pivotante sur ses parois latérales (11, 12 ; 13,
14) pour la synchronisation de l'ouverture et de la fermeture des portes inférieures
(4, 5).
5. Un conteneur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les tubes à fourche (6, 7) ont une section droite leur permettant de pouvoir
tourner autour de la fourche d'un engin à fourche lors du vidage.