Container

Abstract

An example embodiment provides a container having generally cuboid frame defining a volume. The container has a lid and an end door which may be closed to form a watertight enclosure. The lid spans substantially the entire upper surface of the container. The lid may be opened and closed by an actuation system located within the volume defined by the frame and outside of the watertight enclosure. The actuation system may comprise a single hydraulic cylinder attached to the lid near hinges thereof. A hydraulic locking system may be provided to selectively lock the end door in its closed position.

1 . A container comprising:
 a generally cuboid frame defining a volume;   a bottom panel, two side panels, an end panel and a top piece attached to the frame, the top piece defining an aperture therein extending across substantially the entire upper surface of the volume, the end panel set back from outer edges of the frame to define a recess;   an end door pivotally attached to the frame at a side of an end thereof opposite the end panel by one or more end door hinges, the end door moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein the end door forms a seal between the frame, bottom panel, the top piece and the side panels;   a lid pivotally attached to the frame near a top of one of the side panels by one or more lid hinges, the lid moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein the aperture defined in the top piece is covered by the lid such that the lid forms a seal with the top piece;   the bottom panel, the side panels, the top piece, the end panel, the end door in its closed position and the lid in its closed position thereby cooperating to form an enclosure; and,   a lid actuator mounted in the recess defined between the end panel and the outer edges of the frame such that the lid actuator is positioned within the volume defined by the frame and outside of the enclosure, the lid actuator operable to move the lid between the open position and the closed position.   
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the lid actuator comprises a single hydraulic cylinder coupled to the lid near the one or more lid hinges. 
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 2  comprising a hand operated pump coupled to the single hydraulic cylinder, the hand operated pump operable in a first configuration to move the lid toward the open position and operable in a second configuration to move the lid toward the closed position. 
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein the single hydraulic cylinder is pivotally coupled to the lid at a location approximately 14″ from an axis of the one or more lid hinges. 
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 4  wherein the lid comprises a plurality of cross members and angled supports for imparting sufficient rigidity to the lid such that the lid may be lifted by the single hydraulic cylinder without significant deformation of the lid. 
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 1  comprising a lid support bar configured to selectively lock the lid in the open position. 
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of lid locking members located along an edge of the lid opposite to the lid hinges configured to selectively lock the lid in the closed position. 
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein each lid locking member comprises a bolt pivotally coupled to the frame, a notched tab extending from the lid for receiving the bolt, and a nut threadable onto the bolt for bearing against the tab. 
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of end door locking members located about a periphery of the end door configured to selectively lock the end door in the closed position. 
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 9  wherein each end door locking member comprises a bolt pivotally coupled to the frame, a notched tab extending from the end door for receiving the bolt, and a nut threadable onto the bolt for bearing against the tab. 
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 3  comprising a hydraulic locking system for selectively locking the end door in the closed position, the hydraulic locking system operatively coupled to the hand operated pump by a plurality of lines located inside of the volume defined by the frame for providing pressurized fluid from the pump to the hydraulic locking system. 
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 1  comprising a hydraulic locking system for selectively locking the end door in the closed position, the hydraulic locking system comprising:
 a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to the end door and moveable between an extended position and a contracted position;   a plurality of bars, each bar pivotally coupled to a second end of a corresponding cylinder;   a plurality of pivoting members, each pivoting member having a first end and a second end and pivotally coupled pivotally coupled at a location between the first end and the second end to the end door near an edge of the end door, each pivoting member pivotally coupled at the first end thereof to one of the plurality of bars; and,   a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the frame around a periphery of the end door, each tab defining a slot therein configured to receive the second end of a corresponding one of the plurality of pivoting members.   
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 12  wherein, when the end door is in the closed position, moving the cylinders into the contracted positions forces the second ends of the pivoting members into the slots defined in the tabs, such that the end door is locked in the closed position, and moving the cylinders into the extended positions withdraws the second ends of the pivoting members from the slots defined in the tabs, such that the end door is moveable toward the open position. 
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein the second end of each pivoting member comprises an angled portion for guiding the second end of the pivoting member into the slot defined in the corresponding tab. 
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein the plurality of cylinders comprise a first cylinder pivotally mounted near a top of the end door, a second cylinder pivotally mounted near a hinge side of the end door, a third cylinder pivotally mounted near a bottom of the end door, and a fourth cylinder pivotally mounted near an opening side of the end door. 
   
   
       16 . A container according to  claim 15  comprising a pump located in the recess, the pump operatively coupled to the plurality of cylinders by locking lines and unlocking lines and configured to selectively provide pressurized fluid to either the locking lines or the unlocking lines, whereby when the pump provides pressurized fluid to the locking lines the cylinders are moved to the contracted positions and when the pump provides pressurized fluid to the unlocking lines the cylinders are moved to the extended position. 
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 16  comprising a locking valve in the locking lines between the pump and the cylinders, and an unlocking valve in the unlocking lines between the pump and the fourth cylinder, wherein the first, second and third cylinders are coupled to the unlocking lines between the unlocking valve and the pump, wherein the locking valve is in fluid communication with the unlocking lines and configured such that when pressurized fluid is provided to the unlocking lines the locking valve releases pressure from the locking lines, and wherein the unlocking valve is in fluid communication with the locking lines and configured such that when pressurized fluid is provided to the locking lines the unlocking valve releases pressure from the unlocking lines. 
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 17  wherein the unlocking valve is configured to effect a delay in operation of the fourth cylinder such that when pressurized fluid is provided to the unlocking lines the first, second and third cylinders are moved to the extended positions before the fourth cylinder is moved to the extended position.