Impact resistant freight container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a freight container comprising a frame ( 10 ); an attachment point ( 20, 21, 22, 23 ) for a lifting device to attach to the container; and a wall, roof or floor comprising: an impact resistant portion ( 30, 30 ′) proximal to the attachment point; and a portion ( 100,100 ′), distal from the attachment point. The impact resistant portion ( 30, 30 ′) has an impact energy resistance of at least 1.0 kilojoules and the modulus of elasticity of the distal portion ( 100,100 ′) is at least 20% greater than the modulus of elasticity of the impact resistant portion.

1 . A freight container comprising:
 a frame ( 10 );   an attachment point ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 — FIG. 2 ;  20 ′,  21 ′,  22 ′,  23 ′,  24 ′,  25 ′,  26 ′,  27 ′— FIG. 3 ) for a lifting device to attach to the container; and   at least a wall, roof or floor comprising:   (a) an impact resistant portion ( 30 — FIG. 2 ;  30 ′— FIG. 3 ) proximal to the attachment point; and   (b) a distal portion ( 100 — FIG. 2 ,  100 ′— FIG. 3 ), distal from the attachment point,   characterized in that the modulus of elasticity of the distal portion is at least 20% greater than the modulus of elasticity of the impact resistant portion.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment point is a fitting attached to the frame on the roof side. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact resistant portion has a modulus of elasticity of at least 1 MPa. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact resistant portion has an impact energy resistance of at least 1.0 kilojoules. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact resistant portion extends to greater than 750 mm from the end of the container or from the end of the attachment point. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact resistant portion is an impact resistant panel and the distal portion is a distal panel and the distal panel and impact resistant panel are separate panels. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein the panels are separated by an adhesive, said adhesive having a composition comprising an elastomeric polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact resistant portion is affixed to the frame by a resilient fastening means. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 8 , wherein the resilient fastening means comprises a spring loaded bolt and/or an adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the impact resistant portion comprises a polyurethane rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the impact resistant portion and the distal portion comprises an outer layer, a core layer and an inner layer. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the layers of the distal portion comprises a fiber reinforced composite material. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the fiber reinforced composite material comprises a fiber or yarn with a tensile strength of at least 0.5 GPa. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact resistant portion is attachable and detachable from the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact resistant portion covers less than 30% of the surface area of the wall, roof or floor.