Container interconnect

Abstract

The container interconnect has a hollow male component installed on the floor steel panel of a container. A corresponding hollow female component is installed on the roof panel. Aligned and stacked containers automatically interconnect via the container interconnect because the container interconnect has a flange, seal and quick release fastener enabling the device to be self guiding, self connecting, self sealing, self fastening, self releasing, and self contained. Moreover, the container interconnect is rust proof. The purpose of the container interconnect is to provide a common airflow through a column of interconnected shipping containers. Air interconnects from multiple columns of the shipping containers can be joined, the collective airflow being suctioned to the interconnect on the top container, which interconnect is connected to an air analyzer wherein the common air of all the containers is analyzed for contraband, explosives, and the like.

1 . A container interconnect for connecting air space in containers stacked for transport, the container interconnect comprising:
 a vapor port adapted for installation in a roof of a first cargo container;   a spring-biased retractable port seal plate formed within the vapor port;   a vapor port probe adapted for attachment to the floor of a second cargo container, the probe contacting and retracting the port seal of the first cargo container when the second cargo container is stacked on the roof of the first cargo container in order to connect air space in the first container with air space in the second container to permit inspection of the air space in both containers simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The container interconnect according to  claim 1 , wherein said vapor port has an upper body portion defining an aperture and a lower body portion having a plurality of support ribs extending radially inward and a piston guide supported by the ribs, the piston guide being concentrically aligned with the aperture in the upper body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The container interconnect according to  claim 2 , further comprising an air permeable medium permitting air to flow from internal space of the first cargo container through the vapor port aperture into a hollow portion of the vapor port. 
     
     
         4 . The container interconnect according to  claim 2 , wherein said vapor port seal plate comprises a disk having a piston extending therefrom, the disk having a diameter slightly smaller than the aperture defined in the upper body portion in order to seal the aperture in a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The container interconnect according to  claim 4 , wherein said vapor port seal plate further comprises a lip extending around said disk, the lip forming a seal against said upper body portion in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The container interconnect according to  claim 4 , wherein said vapor port comprises a helical spring disposed in the piston guide and concentrically disposed around a portion of said piston, the spring bearing against said piston to bias the seal plate in a closed position sealing the seal plate against the aperture in the upper body portion to prevent airflow through the port, the spring being compressible to retract the seal plate away from the aperture in an open position to permit airflow through the port when said probe bears against the seal plate. 
     
     
         7 . The container interconnect according to  claim 2 , wherein said vapor port further comprises parallel flanges extending peripherally about the upper and lower body portions, the flanges being adapted for securely attaching said vapor port to the roof of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The container interconnect according to  claim 1 , wherein said vapor port probe has an annular ring body member having parallel flanges extending peripherally from the body member, the flanges being adapted for securely attaching said vapor port probe to the floor of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The container interconnect according to  claim 8 , wherein said vapor port probe further comprises a plunger and a plurality of support ribs extending radially inward from the annular ring body member to the plunger, the plunger bearing against the seal plate of said vapor port when the second cargo container is stacked atop the first cargo container with said probe aligned with said port, retracting the seal plate to permit airflow through said port and said probe. 
     
     
         10 . The container interconnect according to  claim 9 , further comprising an air permeable material extending between said annular body member, said plunger, and said plurality of ribs, the air permeable material permitting airflow through said probe. 
     
     
         11 . The container interconnect according to  claim 9 , further comprising an air impermeable, annular flexible boot from said annular ring body member around said plunger. 
     
     
         12 . The container interconnect according to  claim 11 , wherein said vapor port has a boot retaining channel defined therein, said boot seating in the channel to form an air seal between said probe and said vapor port when the first and second cargo container are stacked with said probe aligned with said port. 
     
     
         13 . A stack of cargo containers, each of the containers comprising an enclosure for carrying cargo having a floor and a roof, each of the containers having:
 a vapor port installed in the roof of the container, the vapor port having a spring-biased retractable port seal plate formed therein for opening and closing the port; and   a hollow vapor port probe attached to the floor of the container, the probe contacting and retracting the port seal plate to open the port of the container immediate below when the containers are stacked with the probes aligned with the vapor ports so that air in the containers is intermixed, permitting inspection of the air in each of the containers by accessing the vapor port in the container atop the stack.