Field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to a cargo container with increased fire resistance.
State of the art
[0002] Numerous types of storage units for storing hazardous materials are known in the
state of the art, including fire-resistant storage units. Such warehouses are suitable
for storing hazardous and flammable products, but the mobility of such warehouses
is not ensured and they are used only as stationary warehouses.
[0003] The most common type of mobile warehouse is the cargo containers (ISO containers)
used for loading and transporting various types of goods. Containers available in
the state of the art allow goods to be stored and transported in containers, but such
containers do not have safety features guaranteeing fire resistance, in particular
fire resistance according to classification A60/REI60. Any known attempt to modify
a container to achieve fire resistance properties deprives the container of cargo
container properties under the Convention on Safe Containers (CSC Convention). The
fact that a container has all the features indicated in the CSC Convention is extremely
important, as it is a condition for the container to be certified and recognised by
an accredited body as suitable for the transport of goods
[0004] An example of a fire-resistant container is disclosed in Russian patent
RU2122967. This invention discloses a container for road, rail and water transport suitable
for storing and transporting flammable liquids, including liquid gases. Such a container
has a horizontal, cylindrical container, a shield insulating the container from the
environment formed by coatings equally spaced from each other, the outer and/or inner
surface of the coatings being coated with a fireproof layer. The fire protective layer
is provided of a material that swells when exposed to very high temperatures. The
coatings are connected to each other and to the container by threaded joints. The
container is only suitable for transporting liquid substances.
Purpose of the invention
[0005] The purpose of the invention is to develop a container with fire-resistant features,
which would enable the safe transport of flammable goods and which at the same time
would meet the requirements for containers under the CSC Convention. Such a container
should provide for both storage and transport of flammable goods. With the present
invention it has been possible to achieve the above objective.
Essence of the invention
[0006] The subject matter of the invention is a cargo container with increased fire resistance,
formed from trapezoidal sheets into a cuboidal shape. The cuboid is defined by a floor,
a ceiling, two side walls, a rear wall and a double container door. The cargo container
is also equipped with container corner castings. The container is characterized in
that the floor, the ceiling, the side walls, the rear wall and the container door
are internally covered with mineral wool, preferably with at least two layers of mineral
wool panels, arranged so that the contacts between the mineral wool panels do not
overlap. The floor shall include a structural floor plate. Each container door wing
comprises an expanding seal on a surface of the container door wing facing the sill
beam in the floor, the upper door bar in the ceiling and the door posts in the side
walls, and, on a surface of the upper door bar in the ceiling and the door posts in
the side walls, substantially opposite the expanding seal when the container door
is closed. The container door comprises chamber seals in the upper and lower door
slots attached to the upper door beam in the ceiling and the sill beam in the floor,
respectively. One wing of the container door comprises a rebate located on the inner
side of the container door on the side of the inter-wing gap such that it overlaps
the other wing of the container door, and at least one seal is attached to the rebate
on the side of the inter-wing gap. Advantageously, the seals are fixed substantially
symmetrically at each end of the rebate and the seal is fixed in the middle of the
rebate, spaced from the seals, and advantageously spans the width of the inter-wing
gap, wherein the seal is an expanding seal. The container door further comprises at
least one pair of additional seals located on the side surface of the container door
wings on the side of the inter-wing gap, so that the corresponding seals of one pair
are opposite to each other in the closed position of the container door.
[0007] Advantageously, in the cargo container there is an outer sheet below the structural
floor plate and between the structural floor plate and the outer sheet there is mineral
wool. Even more advantageously, the mineral wool layer has a thickness of between
30 mm and 100 mm. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mineral wool
is fixed to the underlying metal surface by means of pins, wherein the pins preferably
have a diameter of 3 mm and are made of steel.
[0008] Advantageously, the side walls and the rear wall of the cargo container are provided
with a transom structure on which the cladding forming the inner finishing layer of
the cargo container is mounted, wherein such transom structure is in the form of a
grid of alternately and parallel cold-formed angles and square tubes, where advantageously
the cold-formed angles and square tubes are in contact only with the inner layer of
mineral wool.
[0009] Advantageously, the ceiling of the cargo container is provided with a transom structure
on which a lining is mounted to form the inner finishing layer of the cargo container,
wherein such transom structure being in the form of a grid of square tubes arranged
in parallel to each other, wherein the square tubes advantageously contacting only
the inner mineral wool layer.
[0010] Advantageously, the floor of the cargo container is provided with a reinforcing grid
of cold-formed angles, on which a finishing floor plate is mounted.
[0011] Advantageously, the contacting metal parts connecting the floor and the ceiling to
the side walls and the rear wall of the cargo container are welded together.
[0012] Advantageously, mineral wool is additionally located in trapezoidal recesses of the
trapezoidal metal sheet on the interior side of the cargo container.
[0013] Advantageously, the container door is provided with cold-formed angles forming an
inner peripheral frame to which the cladding sheet is fixed. Advantageously the container
door comprises thermally resistant "J" type seals positioned on the outer periphery
of the container door so as to cover the side, top and bottom slots of the container
door when the door is closed.
[0014] Advantageously, the cargo container has a gravity ventilation system comprising an
intake and an exhaust, the intake being provided with a fire-proof swelling ventilation
grating and the exhaust being provided with a shut-off damper, the shut-off damper
advantageously being located inside the exhaust.
[0015] Advantageously, the exhaust is built into the structure of the side wall of the cargo
container, so that fireproof linings and mineral wool are provided between the exhaust
and the steel structures holding it.
[0016] Advantageously, the shut-off damper comprises a thermocouple.
Brief description of the figures
[0017] The subject matter of the invention in an example of implementation is illustrated
in the figure wherein:
Fig. 1 illustrates a cargo container in front, bottom, side, top and rear view,
Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-section through the side wall of the container,
Fig. 3 illustrates cross-section through the container's ceiling,
Fig. 4 illustrates a cross-section through the place of joining the floor with the
side wall 4,
Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a mounting bracket in the form of an eye,
Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-section through the container door, with marked detail
AL showing the place of connection of the container door with the ceiling (in cross-section)
and detail AM showing the place of connection of the container door with the floor
(in cross-section),
Fig. 7 illustrates detail AM showing the place of connection of the container door
with the floor in cross-section,
Fig. 8 illustrates detail AL showing the place of connection of the container door
with the ceiling in cross-section,
Fig. 9 illustrates the cross-section through the container door and the floor 2,
Fig. 10 illustrates the longitudinal section through the container door,
Fig. 11 illustrates the "J" type seal,
Fig. 12 illustrates a view of a fragment of side wall 4 of cargo container with an
air intake,
Fig. 13 illustrates a cross-section through the air intake 35 with visible ventilation
grating,
Fig. 14 illustrates a view of a fragment of a side wall of a cargo container with
an exhaust,
Fig. 15 illustrates a cross-section through the exhaust with a visible shut-off damper.
Advantages of the invention
[0018] The container which is the subject of the present invention is suitable for both
storage and transport of flammable goods. It has both the fire resistance characteristics
according to the A60/REI60 classification and the specified performance characteristics
of a cargo container, which ensures its compliance with the CSC Convention.
[0019] This provides the flammable goods container with unprecedented versatility, as it
can perform both the storage function itself and the transport function, with the
possibility of being transported by any means of transport designed for the transport
of cargo containers. Thanks to its compliance with the CSC Convention, it meets all
the requirements for the safe transport of ISO containers - whether by road or sea
- throughout its lifetime.
[0020] Furthermore, when the container according to the invention is implemented in an industrial
infrastructure, the storage of hazardous and flammable substances in the form of a
container according to the present invention can be repositioned on the plant site
any number of times, which is very important in case of technological changes or development
of the industrial infrastructure. The costs of such relocation are disproportionately
small compared to the costs of construction or reconstruction of a similar warehouse
in the form of a traditional room or building.
[0021] An additional advantage resulting from the mobility of the container is that, in
the event of a fire inside it, the danger resulting from such a situation can be reduced
by transporting the container to a place where it does not endanger human life or
health or where the risk of fire spreading is lower, e.g. to a safe zone, where an
extinguishing operation can be carried out.
Detailed description of the invention
[0022] The object of the invention is a cargo container 1 in the shape of a cuboid, which
cuboid is defined by external partitions, which include a floor 2, a ceiling 3, two
side walls 4, a rear wall 5 and a container door 6 forming the body of the cargo container
1. The cargo container 1 according to the present invention is further provided with
container corner castings 7, corresponding to standard container corner castings known
in the state of the art. The outer partitions of the cargo container 1, excluding
the floor 2, are manufactured from trapezoidal sheets, as is the case in conventional
ISO cargo containers. An example of a cargo container 1 is shown in Fig. 1.
[0023] The container door 6 is a double door and is embedded in a container door frame formed
respectively by a lower door beam, also referred to as a sill beam 26 forming a structural
element of the floor 2, an upper door beam (not shown) forming a structural element
of the ceiling 3 and two door pillars (not shown) forming a structural element of
each of the side walls 4.
[0024] For the purposes of the present invention, the trapezoidal sheets and other metal
sheets or plates used in the present invention are collectively referred to as metal
surfaces.
[0025] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a state-of-the-art ISO 20' cargo
container known in the state of the art is used as a base for the fire-resistant cargo
container 1, which has been modified in terms of its construction to provide it with
fire resistance.
[0026] The basis for ensuring such resistance was the proper design of the insulation systems
of external partitions, with particular emphasis on the insulation of container doors
6.
[0027] The first design modification applied was the use of certified mineral wool 8 for
fire insulation of the outer partitions. Mineral wool 8 was laid on the inside of
the trapezoidal sheet metal on the ceiling 3, side walls 4, rear wall 5 and container
door 6. Advantageously the mineral wool 8 used was a wool used in marine structures,
such as Rockwool Searox SL620. In order to provide the most favourable fire insulation
conditions, two layers of mineral wool 8 are advantageously used, each of which advantageously
had a thickness of 50 mm. The mineral wool 8 slabs are arranged so that the contact
lines of the slabs of the first layer of mineral wool 8 do not overlap with the contact
lines of the slabs of the second layer of mineral wool 8. This arrangement of the
slabs ensures that, in the event of a fire, heat enters the contact line between the
plates in the first mineral wool 8 layer and encounters the plate surface of the second
mineral wool 8 layer, rather than the contact line of the plates of the second mineral
wool 8 layer, which could cause heat to escape outside the cargo container 1 through
such a contact line.
[0028] The layers of mineral wool 8 are advantageously fastened directly to the trapezoidal
sheets by means of pins 9, advantageously made of steel and even more advantageously
having a diameter of 3 mm, although an expert in the field will know other ways of
fastening the mineral wool 8 to the elements of the cargo container 1. As a method
of fastening, in the case of the pins 9, a condenser welding method has been selected.
This fastening method is quick and easy to perform and at the same time provides a
very good connection between the mineral wool 8 and the trapezoidal sheet metal forming
the outer surface of the cargo container 1. By using such a solution, none of the
places of attachment of the mineral wool 8 layers to the external surface of the cargo
container 1 is through from the inside to the outside, which further improves the
fire resistance of the cargo container 1.
[0029] Another design change was the provision of transom structures on the side walls 4
and the rear wall 5 of the cargo container 1 for serving as a base for the installation
of the sheet metal cladding forming the inner finishing layer of the cargo container
1. The transom structures are provided in the form of grids from cold-formed angles
10, in embodiment made from angles L50x50x3, and square tubes 11, in embodiment made
from tubes RKW 50x50x2. The cold-formed angle brackets 10 and square pipes 11 are
arranged parallel and alternately with respect to each other, in embodiment, at intervals
of 628 mm. The arrangement of the transom structures is such that the cold-formed
angles 10 and square tubes 11 come into contact only with the first, inner layer of
mineral wool 8, as shown in Fig. 2. A similar solution was introduced for the ceiling
3 of cargo container 1, but in this solution cold-formed angles were not used. The
transom structure for ceiling 3 was made of square tubes 11, in the embodiment made
of RKW 50x50x2 tubes, placed parallel to each other at intervals of 416 mm, as shown
in Fig. 3. Such transom structure on the side walls 4, rear wall 5 and ceiling 3 ensures
that, in the event of fire, heat can bridge along the steel profiles of the transom
structure only to the thickness of the first of the two layers of mineral wool 8,
while the second, outer layer serves to cut off heat penetration outside the cargo
container 1.
[0030] The modifications made also applied to the floor 2 of the cargo container 1. In the
floor structure, the 28 mm layer of container plywood present in the conventional
container has been removed and replaced by a layer of structural steel floor plate
12. Advantageously, a structural floor plate 12 with a thickness of 4.0 mm, preferably
made of S235 steel, has been used to obtain an adequate strength of the floor 2. The
structural floor plate 12 has been tightly welded circumferentially to the side walls
4 and the rear wall 5 of the cargo container 1 and to the longitudinal and transverse
floor beams of the floor 2, at the point of contact therewith. These beams previously
provided support for the plywood layer and are not a modification of the structure
of a conventional cargo container. Two layers of hard mineral wool 8, advantageously
floor wool, are placed on the structural floor plate 12. The layers of mineral wool
8 have been arranged with mutual contact displacement, as described above. An example
of mineral wool 8 suitable for this application is Rockwool Searox SL480. A reinforcing
grid of cold-formed angles 13, preferably angles 30x30x3, is placed on top of the
mineral wool 8. The ends of the cold-formed angles 13 were welded to the lower cold-formed
angles 10 of the grates of the side walls 4 and the rear wall 5 to strengthen the
cargo container structure 1. The arrangement of the cold-formed angles 10 and 13 with
respect to each other is shown in Fig. 4. On the grating of the cold-formed angles
13, another layer of the finishing floor sheet 14 was placed, constituting the top
layer of the floor. For this purpose, sheet metal is used in one of the variants,
in the example made of S235 structural steel.
[0031] Additionally, in the container 1, rolled angles 15 may be used which are positioned
and welded along the contact edge of the floor finish layer 2 with the cladding -
of the side walls 4 or the rear wall 5 of the cargo container 1, respectively. In
the embodiment, the rolled angle bars 15 are L100x50x8. The rolled angles 15 provide
a base for stable fastening of the cargo to be transported.
[0032] In one variant of the invention, mounting brackets 16 are additionally welded to
the rolled angles 15, such as welded brackets DIN 1677-1, eye form D, class 8. An
example of a mounting bracket 16 is shown in Fig. 5. The mounting brackets 16 were
arranged, in the embodiment, at intervals of 1150 mm.
[0033] The mounting brackets 16, together with the rolled angles 15, form a stable and sturdy
set for restraining the transported load, so that during transport the load does not
move and, at the same time, an appropriate distribution of forces inside the container
1 is ensured.
[0034] In one of the embodiments, illustrated in Fig. 4, the floor is also provided with
an additional layer of mineral wool 8. This layer is located below the structural
floor plate layer 12 and fills the spaces between the transverse frames (not shown)
of the floor. Advantageously, the additional mineral wool layer 8 has a thickness
of 100 mm. An example of mineral wool 8 suitable for this application is Rockwool
Searox SL620. In the embodiment, the mineral wool 8 is fixed to the structural floor
plate 12 with pins (not shown) in the same way as when fixing the mineral wool 8 to
the walls of the cargo container 1. Underneath the additional mineral wool 8 layer,
an outer sheet 17 of steel was mounted, in the embodiment made of S235 steel. In the
example, the outer sheet 17 had a thickness of 1.5 mm. The outer plate 17 was fixed
by welding it to the perimeter beams 18 of the cargo container 1 and at the point
of its contact with the transverse frames of the container to those frames (not shown).
[0035] One of the most significant modifications to the cargo container 1, which ensures
its fire resistance, is the modification made to the container doors 6. Firstly, as
part of the modification, the conventional container door 6 has been retrofitted with
mineral wool insulation 8. Two layers of mineral wool 8, each of which is advantageously
50 mm thick, are used and placed with staggered joints relative to each other as previously
described. In the embodiment, the mineral wool 8 used to insulate the container door
6 was Rockwool Searox SL620. In one of the embodiments, illustrated in Fig. 6, the
mineral wool 8 was additionally placed in the trapezoidal cavities 19 of the trapezoidal
sheet constituting the outer layer of the container door 6. The thickness of this
additional layer of mineral wool 8 was 30 mm. The mineral wool 8 was fastened to the
trapezoidal sheeting by means of 3 mm pins 9 of steel in an analogous manner to that
used to fasten the mineral wool 8 to the side walls 4 and the rear wall 5 of the cargo
container 1 such that the pins 9 passed through two or three layers of mineral wool
8, respectively, depending on where they were placed and the application of the additional
layer of mineral wool 8. The mineral wool 8 is then covered by a sheet, such as for
example a sheet 1.5 mm thick, which forms the inner lining 21 of the container door
6. To secure the inner cladding 21 in each of the wings of the container door 6, a
cold-formed angle 22 is welded to a cold-formed perimeter channel 20, which is one
of the structural members of the conventional container door 6, as shown in Fig. 7.
Once welded, the cold-formed angles 22 formed a peripheral frame to which a plate
forming the inner lining 21 of the container door 6 was attached by means of rivets.
Advantageously, in one example implementation, L50x50x3 angles were used as cold-formed
angles 22.
[0036] A further modification to ensure the fire resistance of the cargo container 1 is
to provide a swelling seal 23 along each wing of the container door 6 on the upper
surface of each wing of the container door 6 at a position opposite the upper door
beam (not shown). An identical swelling seal 23' is provided on the ceiling 3 of the
cargo container 1, on the upper door beam, at a location opposite the first swelling
seal 23 when the container door 6 is closed. Specifically, the second swelling seal
23' is positioned on the lower surface of the square tube 11 which forms the upper
door beam in the frame of the container door 6. The arrangement of the swelling seals
23, 23' is shown in Fig. 8. Advantageously, as swelling seals 23, 23' Promaseal 2.5x30
seals are used.
[0037] In order to further increase the fire resistance of the cargo container 1 with respect
to the tightness of the container door 6 in case of fire, a cold-formed profile comprising
two welded cold-formed angles 24, 24' is welded to the same square tube 11 closest
to the door opening, to its side surface furthest from the door opening of the cargo
container 1, as shown in Fig. 8. Advantageously, a cold-formed angle L50x50x3 as a
cold-formed angle 24, 24' and a cold-formed angle L47x15x3 as a cold-formed angle
24', respectively, were used. As can be seen in Fig. 8 one of the arms of the cold-formed
angle bar 24' is directed towards the container door 6 and a chamber seal 25 has been
glued between the arms of the cold-formed angle bar 24'. In one variant, the chamber
seal 25 is made of a silicone-based rubber compound with a thermal improver. Preferably,
this is a 40x20 (3x8) seal. The chamber seal 25 provides cushioning when closing the
container door 6, and additionally closes the upper gap between the container door
6 and the upper door beam in the ceiling 3 of the cargo container 1. Its function
during a fire is to prevent heat and fire from escaping through the gap between the
container door 6 and the upper door beam in the ceiling 3 outside the cargo container
1. The chamber seal 25 is mainly used in the first phase of the fire, after which
the function of keeping the fire inside the cargo container 1 is taken over by the
swelling seals 23, 23' which are behind it, when viewed in an external direction,
which provide an even more effective closure of the upper door gap during the fire.
[0038] The lower surface of each of the wings of the container door 6 is also provided with
a swelling seal 23 along each of the wings, analogously as it occurs on the upper
surface of each of the wings. The place of attachment of such a seal 23 is shown schematically
in Fig. 9. The swelling seal 23 increases its volume in the event of a fire by sealing
the empty space between the wing and the sill beam 26 of the cargo container 1 when
the container door 6 is closed. Additionally, the gap remaining between the container
door 6 and the floor 2 when the container door 6 is closed is sealed by bonding the
chamber seal 25 to the vertical surface of the sill beam 26, on the side of the container
door 6, in such a way that the chamber seal 25 can also perform a cushioning function
when the container door 6 is closed. The exact place of attachment of the chamber
seal 25 is indicated in Fig. 9. Advantageously, such a chamber seal 25 is a seal made
of a silicone-based rubber compound with a heat enhancer. For example, it is a 40x20
(3x8) seal.
[0039] Another problematic point in the container door 6, which required modification in
order to make the cargo container 1 suitable for transporting and storing flammable
materials, was the contact line of the wings of the container door 6, in the present
invention referred to as the inter-wing gap 27, which is illustrated in Fig. 10. In
order to ensure the tightness of the connection of the wings of the container door
6, the inter-wing gap 27 at the contact of the wings was covered on the inner side
of the cargo container 1 by a metal-made rebate 28 riveted to the wing opening second
(or closing first). Between the metal rebate 28 and the container door wing 6, to
which the rebate 28 is riveted, there is a seal 29 acting as a spacer. The same seal
29' is symmetrically glued (see Fig. 10) on the other side of the rebate 28 so as
to ensure a tight contact between the second wing and the rebate 28. Advantageously,
the seals 29, 29' are manufactured from a silicone-based rubber compound with a thermal
improver. Advantageously, another seal 30 is provided on the metal rebate 28 at the
height of the inter-wing gap 27 to provide an additional seal at the location of the
inter-wing gap 27. For example, such a seal 30 may be a Promaseal PL-SK 2.5x35 seal.
[0040] As additional protection against heat escaping through the inter-wing gap 27 in the
event of a fire, additional seals 31, 32 are introduced on the wings of the container
door 6, arranged opposite to each other on each of the wings of the container door
6, as shown in Fig. 10. At least one pair of such seals, such as a pair of seals 31
or a pair of seals 32, is provided in the wing gap 27. In an advantageous variant,
the inter-wing gap 27 between the wings of the container door 6 is provided with four
seals 31 arranged in pairs opposite each other at the height of the insulation of
the container door 6 with mineral wool 8. The seals 31, 32 may be of any suitable
thickness and length. For example, they are Promaseal PL-SK 2,5x30 seals. Advantageously,
at the height of the rectangular tubes 33 constituting the frames of the container
door 6, two additional seals 32 are arranged opposite to each other, advantageously
with a smaller size than the seals 31. Advantageously, these seals are Promaseal PL-SK
2.5x15.
[0041] In conventional cargo containers 1, the container door 6 is provided on its outer
side with "J" type seals, of such a configuration as shown in Fig. 11, which are intended
to protect the cargo container 1 during its normal use against the entry of water
and moisture when the container door 6 is closed. The "J" type seals are intended
to cover the outer edges of the container door 6 along the frame, and due to their
attachment along the lower and upper edges of the container door 6 they also partially
cover the inter-wing gap 27 of the container door 6. In the present invention, in
order to further ensure the fire resistance of the cargo container 1, the conventional
"J" type seals are replaced by "J" type seals 34 of analogous cross-section, but manufactured
from silicone-based rubber with a thermal improver. Due to the changed composition,
the Type "J" seal 34 is resistant to increased temperatures in the range up to 350°C,
maintaining its full functionality at this increased temperature.
[0042] In one of the embodiments, a gravity ventilation system specifically tailored to
the expected functionality of the cargo container 1 is additionally provided. Such
a system comprises an intake 35 and an exhaust 36. The intake 35 is located in the
front part of the side wall 4 of the container just above the floor 2 (see Fig. 12).
The intake 35 is provided with a fire-resistant, swelling ventilation grating 37,
positioned as shown in Fig. 13. In the embodiment, a ventilation grating 37 is chosen
with fire resistance class EI120, such as, for example, Tecsel, model TECSEL V60 EI120
300x300. The swelling grating 37 reacts to the increased temperature accompanying
the occurrence of the fire by swelling rapidly, which results in the immediate blocking
of the ventilation opening.
[0043] At the other end of the ventilation duct, on top of the side wall 4 opposite the
one on which the air intake 35 is mounted, an exhaust 36 is placed, as shown in Fig.
14. The exhaust 36 comprises a shut-off damper 38, such as, for example, the RK370M
"Frapol" damper. The exhaust 36 is incorporated in the structure of the side wall
4 of the cargo container 1 inside steel structures 40, advantageously attached to
square tubes 11 forming part of the structure of the side wall 4, as shown in Fig.
15. The exhaust 36 has been isolated from the steel structures 40 supporting it by
means of fireproof claddings 39, in the example implementation with a Promatect cladding
of 10 mm or 20 mm thickness. In addition, additional insulation in the form of mineral
wool 8, preferably Rockwool Searox SL620, is provided between the fire-resistant linings
39 and the exhaust 36. The shut-off damper 38 forming part of the exhaust 36 is designed
so that, in the event of a fire, a thermocouple (not shown) located inside the cargo
container 1 burns out due to the increase in temperature, as a result of which the
shut-off damper 38 immediately mechanically closes. The spring (not shown) is released,
thereby cutting off the airflow in the cargo container 1.
[0044] Although in the above description of the invention specific commercially available
types of seals, wool or steel types and specific container models have been indicated,
those skilled in the art will know that other components and raw materials with analogous
or similar functions and parameters may be used, and will be able to easily select
them within the scope of the basic knowledge in the field. The purpose of indicating
specific, currently commercially available elements and raw materials was not to narrow
the scope of protection to those elements and raw materials, and it is clear that
such alternative elements and raw materials are also intended to be within the scope
of the present invention.
List of numerical designations used:
| 1 cargo container |
21 inner lining |
| 2 floor |
22 cold-formed angle section |
| 3 ceiling |
23, 23' swelling seal |
| 4 side wall |
24, 24' cold-formed angle sections |
| 5 rear wall |
25' chamber seal |
| 6 container door |
26 sill bar |
| 7 container corner casting |
27 inter-wing gap |
| 8 mineral wool |
28 rebate |
| 9 pin |
29, 29' seal |
| 10 cold-formed angle section |
30 seal |
| 11 square tube |
31 seal |
| 12 structural floor plate |
32 seal |
| 13 cold-formed angle section |
33 rectangular tube |
| 14 finishing floor plate |
34 "J" seal |
| 15 rolled angle |
35 air intake |
| 16 assembly bracket |
36 exhaust |
| 17 external metal sheet |
37 ventilation grating |
| 18 perimeter bar |
38 shut-off damper |
| 19 trapezoidal recess |
39 fire-resistant cladding |
| 20 perimeter channel |
40 steel structure |
1. A cargo container (1) with increased fire resistance, formed from trapezoidal sheets
in the shape of a cuboid, which cuboid is defined by the floor (2), the ceiling (3),
two side walls (4), the rear wall (5) and a double-wing container door (6), and which
cargo container (1) is further equipped with container corners (7),
characterised in that the floor (2), the ceiling (3), the side walls (4), the rear wall (5) and the container
door (6) are internally lined with mineral wool (8), preferably with at least two
layers of mineral wool (8) slabs, arranged so that the contacts between the mineral
wool slabs (8) do not overlap,
wherein the floor (2) comprises a structural floor plate (12),
wherein each container door wing (6) comprises a swelling seal (23) on the surface
of the container door wing (6) facing the sill beam (26) in the floor (2), the upper
door beam in the ceiling (3) and the door pillars in the side walls (4), and, there
are swelling seals (23') on the surface of the upper door beam in the ceiling (3)
and the door posts in the side walls (4), substantially opposite the swelling seal
(23) when the container door (6) is closed,
wherein the container door (6) comprises, in the upper and lower door slots, chamber
seals (25) fixed respectively to the upper door beam in the ceiling (3) and the sill
beam (26) in the floor (2),
wherein one container door wing (6) comprises a rebate (28) on the inside of the container
door (6) on the side of the wing gap (27) so that it overlaps with the other container
door wing (6), and at least one seal (29, 29', 30) is attached to the rebate (28)
on the side of the wing gap (27),
wherein the seals (29, 29') are advantageously fixed substantially symmetrically at
each end of the rebate (28), and the seal (30) is fixed in the middle of the rebate
(28), spaced from the seals (29, 29'), and advantageously extending across the width
of the wing gap (27), the seal (30) being a swelling seal,
and wherein the container door (6) further comprises at least one pair of additional
seals (31, 32) located on the side surface of the wings of the container door (6)
on the side of the wing gap (27), so that the corresponding seals (31, 32) of one
pair are opposite each other in the closed position of the container door (6).
2. The cargo container (1) according to claim 1, wherein below the structural floor plate
(12) there is an outer plate (17) and between the structural floor plate (12) and
the outer plate (17) there is mineral wool (8).
3. The cargo container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mineral wool layer
(8) has a thickness of between 30 mm and 100 mm.
4. The cargo container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mineral
wool (8) is attached to the underlying metal surface by pins (9).
5. The cargo container (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pins (9) have a diameter
of 3 mm and are manufactured from steel.
6. The cargo container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the side walls
(4) and the rear wall (5) are provided with transom structures on which the cladding
forming the inner finishing layer of the cargo container (1) is mounted, Whereby such
transoms are in the form of grids made of alternately and parallel to each other cold-formed
angles (10) and square tubes (11), advantageously the cold-formed angles (10) and
square tubes (11) are in contact only with the inner layer of mineral wool (8).
7. The cargo container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ceiling
(3) of the cargo container (1) is provided with a transom structure on which is mounted
a lining forming an inner finishing layer of the cargo container (1), wherein said
transom structure is in the form of a grid of square tubes (11) arranged parallel
to each other, wherein advantageously the square tubes (11) are in contact only with
the inner mineral wool layer (8).
8. The cargo container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the floor (2) of
the cargo container (1) is provided with a reinforcing grating of cold-formed angles
(13) on which a finishing floor plate (14) is mounted.
9. The cargo container (1) according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the contacting metal
elements connecting the floor (2) and the ceiling (3) with the side walls (4) and
the rear wall (5) are welded together.
10. The cargo container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the mineral wool
(8) is additionally located in trapezoidal recesses (19) of the trapezoidal plate
on the inner side.
11. The cargo container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the container
door (6) is provided with cold-formed angles (22) forming an inner circumferential
frame to which the cladding sheet is attached.
12. The cargo container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the container
door (6) comprises thermally resistant "J" type seals (34) positioned on the outer
perimeter of the container door (6) so as to shield the side, top and bottom slots
of the container door (6) when the door is closed.
13. The cargo container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein there is provided
a gravity ventilation system comprising an intake (35) and exhaust (36), the intake
(35) being provided with a fire-resistant intumescent ventilation grating (37) and
the exhaust (36) being provided with a shut-off damper (38), the shut-off damper (38)
preferably being located inside the exhaust (36).
14. Cargo container (1) according to claim 13, wherein the exhaust (36) is built into
the structure of the side wall (4) of the cargo container (1) so that fireproof linings
(39) and mineral wool (8) are provided between the exhaust (36) and the steel structures
(40) holding it.
15. The cargo container (1) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the shut-off damper (38)
comprises a thermocouple.