Iso container having a load transfer plate

Abstract

A lightweight transportable container is disclosed in which the wall, roof, and floor of the container are laminated panels bonded together to form a rigid monolithic structure. The container has fittings attached thereto to provide for the attachment of lifting hooks, tie downs, and alignment and coupling pins for attachment with other units when stacked one on top of the other. Load transfer plates are secured to both the fittings and an interior surface of the container to distribute loads otherwise concentrated at the fittings. The container is particularly useful in hostile and extreme temperature environments and is designed to withstand the application of numerous forces from various directions, such as those typically applied, for example, in ISO certification testing.

1 . A monocoque shipping container, comprising:
 a plurality of nonmetallic columns;   a plurality of nonmetallic wall panels, each wall panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first vertical edge, and a second vertical edge, each vertical edge integrally bonded to one of the nonmetallic columns;   a nonmetallic floor panel having a plurality of edges integrally bonded with one of the bottom edges of the wall panels and a plurality of corners integrally bonded with separate nonmetallic columns;   a nonmetallic roof panel having a plurality of edges integrally bonded with one of the top edges of the wall panels and a plurality of corners integrally bonded with separate nonmetallic columns;   a plurality of fittings, each fitting being secured to an end of one of the nonmetallic columns; and   at least one load plate secured to at least one of the fittings and an interior surface of one of the panels.   
   
   
       2 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate and fittings are metallic. 
   
   
       3 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate is integrally formed with at least one of the fittings. 
   
   
       4 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate is welded to at least one of the fittings. 
   
   
       5 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate is integrally bonded to an interior surface of the roof panel. 
   
   
       6 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate is integrally bonded to an interior surface of the floor panel. 
   
   
       7 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein there are an equal number of fittings and load plates. 
   
   
       8 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein each load plate is welded to a different fitting. 
   
   
       9 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein each load plate is approximately one quarter inch thick. 
   
   
       10 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein each load plate is approximately one foot wide. 
   
   
       11 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein each load plate is approximately one foot long. 
   
   
       12 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein each load plate is formed of substantially the same material as the fittings. 
   
   
       13 . The monocoque shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein each load plate is fixedly secured to the fitting. 
   
   
       14 . A support structure for a monocoque shipping container, comprising:
 a plurality of nonmetallic columns;   a plurality of metallic fittings, each fitting being secured to an end of one of the nonmetallic columns; and   a plurality of metallic load plates, each load plate being welded to a different one of the fittings, said metallic load plates being integrally bonded to an interior surface of a non-metallic panel.   
   
   
       15 . The support structure according to  claim 14 , wherein a number of the plates are integrally bonded to an interior surface of the roof panel. 
   
   
       16 . The support structure according to  claim 14 , wherein a number of the load plates are integrally bonded to an interior surface of the floor panel. 
   
   
       17 . The support structure according to  claim 14 , wherein there are an equal number of fittings and load plates. 
   
   
       18 . The support structure according to  claim 14 , wherein each load plate is approximately one quarter inch thick. 
   
   
       19 . The support structure according to  claim 14 , wherein each load plate is approximately one foot wide and approximately one foot long. 
   
   
       20 . A monocoque shipping container, comprising:
 a plurality of nonmetallic columns;   a plurality of nonmetallic wall panels, each wall panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first vertical edge, and a second vertical edge, each vertical edge integrally bonded to one of the nonmetallic columns;   a nonmetallic floor panel having a plurality of edges integrally bonded with one of the bottom edges of the wall panels and a plurality of corners integrally bonded with separate nonmetallic columns;   a nonmetallic roof panel having a plurality of edges integrally bonded with one of the top edges of the wall panels and a plurality of corners integrally bonded with separate nonmetallic columns;   a plurality of metallic fittings, each fitting being secured to an end of one of the nonmetallic columns;   a first plurality of metallic load plates, each plate being welded to a different one of the fittings and integrally bonded to an interior surface of the roof panel; and   a second plurality of metallic load plates, each plate being welded to a different one of the fittings and integrally bonded to an interior surface of the floor panel;   wherein there are an equal number of fittings and plates.