Blast-resistant cargo container

Abstract

A blast-resistant cargo container includes side panels and connecting members. The connecting members are mounted between the adjacent side panels to create a non-framed structure of the cargo container. Under ordinary conditions, the structure still has sufficient stiffness for loading goods. When an explosive blast occurs in the cargo container, the structure is flexible and utilizes membrane strength in the entire container structure, whereby the cargo container is capable of withstanding the explosive blast. Extruded bars can also be mounted around a bottom surface of the cargo container grooves are defined in the extruded bars and L-shaped flanges are formed on edges of the vertical side panels. Therefore, by receiving the L-shaped flanges into the grooves, the extruded bars are securely connected with the side panels.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A blast-resistant cargo container comprising: 
 multiple side panels; and    multiple connecting members, wherein the connecting members are securely mounted between adjacent side panels to form a flexible structure of the cargo container,    whereby the flexible structure is able to confine an explosive blast in the cargo container.    
     
     
         2 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising multiple bars securely mounted around a bottom panel of the cargo container, wherein each of the bars has an groove defined therein, and the side panels to be connected to the bars each has an L-shaped flange formed at an edge thereof, the L-shaped flange is received in the corresponding groove so as to securely connect the side panels and the bars.  
     
     
         3 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting members are made of a ductile material.  
     
     
         4 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein every adjacent connecting panel has at least one of the connecting members securely mounted therebetween.  
     
     
         5 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein every adjacent connecting panel has two layers of the connecting members securely mounted therebetween, the two layers are respectively connected with inner surfaces and outer surfaces of the adjacent connecting panels.  
     
     
         6 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the connecting members has an arcuate cross-section.  
     
     
         7 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one layer of the connecting members has a curve cross-section constituted by line segments.  
     
     
         8 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one layer of the connecting members has a bubble-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         9 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one layer of the connecting members has a crinkled cross-section.  
     
     
         10 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one spacer is disposed between the two layers of the connecting members for reinforcement.  
     
     
         11 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a cap is mounted at each corner where the connecting members intersect.  
     
     
         12 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising multiple bars securely mounted around a bottom panel of the cargo container, wherein each of the bars has a groove defined therein, each of the side panels was securely connected with an L-shaped connecting member in its bottom portion, each connecting member further has a bottom edge formed as a flange to be received in the corresponding groove so as to securely connect the side panels and the bars.  
     
     
         13 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the cap is only connected to one of the side panels.  
     
     
         14 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the multiple bars are extruded bars.  
     
     
         15 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the multiple bars are extruded bars.  
     
     
         16 . The connecting members as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the material can be selected from the metal consisting of stainless and aluminum.  
     
     
         17 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the side panels are made of high tensile strength material.  
     
     
         18 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the metal includes laminated composite, fiber-reinforced metal laminates and high strength aluminum.  
     
     
         19 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the connecting members are made of ductile metal.  
     
     
         20 . The blast-resistant cargo container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the connecting members are extruded members.