Stowage Of Cargo For Transportation

Abstract

A method for stowage of cargo items ( 7, 18, 100 ). In a cargo container ( 12, 20, 103 ) wherein spaces around the cargo items and within the cargo container are at least partly filled with spacer elements ( 1, 19, 104 - 106, 109 - 112 ) so as to substantially prevent movement of the cargo items in the cargo container, characterized in that dynamic forces on the cargo items associated with motion of the cargo container and/or weight forces on the cargo items are transmitted to the container structure through the spacer elements, and wherein at least one spacer element transmitting such forces comprises a shaped block of expanded plastics foam material, preferably polystyrene. The invention is applicable to comparatively heavy loads such as those transported in shipping containers and in such land vehicles as rail cars and road transport vehicles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of stowing cargo items in a structure in which the cargo items are to be transported, comprising the steps of:
 placing, on a floor surface within the structure, a first plurality of cargo items and a plurality of spacers, such that each of the spacers is positioned on the floor surface adjacent to cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items;   placing a second plurality of cargo items on the plurality of spacers, whereby the cargo items of said second plurality are supported above the floor surface by the spacers so as to be partly raised relative to the cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items; and   placing a third plurality of cargo items on the first plurality of cargo items, whereby each cargo item of said second plurality engages cargo items of said first and third pluralities.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items are arranged so as engage opposed generally upright internal surfaces of the structure. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein cargo items of the second plurality of cargo items are arranged so as to engage opposed generally upright internal surfaces of the structure. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein cargo items of the third plurality of cargo items are arranged between the second plurality of cargo items and one of the internal surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the structure is a shipping container. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the shipping container is a standard 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cargo items are of substantially uniform size and shape and are arranged in substantially uniform orientation. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cargo items are generally cylindrical and are arranged such that the central axes thereof are generally upright. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cargo items comprise drums and wherein the drums are arranged upright. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacers comprise expanded plastic foam blocks. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the expanded plastic foam comprises polystyrene. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the expanded plastic foam is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         13 . A structure containing cargo items stowed therein for transportation comprising:
 a first plurality of cargo items positioned on a floor surface within the structure;   a plurality of spacers positioned on the floor surface, wherein each of the spacers is positioned adjacent to cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items;   a second plurality of cargo items positioned on the plurality of spacers, such that they are supported above the floor surface and thus partly raised relative to the cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items; and   a third plurality of cargo items positioned on the first plurality of cargo items whereby each cargo item of the second plurality of cargo items engages cargo items of said first and third pluralities.   
     
     
         14 . A structure according to  claim 13 , further comprising opposed generally upright internal surfaces, wherein cargo items of the first plurality of cargo items are arranged so as engage the internal surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . A structure according to  claim 13  further comprising opposed generally upright internal surfaces, wherein cargo items of the second plurality of cargo items are arranged so as engage the internal surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . A structure according to  claim 15 , wherein cargo items of the third plurality of cargo items are arranged between the second plurality of cargo items and one of the internal surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . A structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the structure is a shipping container. 
     
     
         18 . A structure according to  claim 17 , wherein the shipping container is a standard 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container. 
     
     
         19 . A structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the cargo items are of substantially uniform size and shape and are arranged in substantially uniform orientation. 
     
     
         20 . A structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the cargo items are generally cylindrical and are arranged such that the central axes thereof are generally upright. 
     
     
         21 . A structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the cargo items comprise drums and wherein the drums are arranged upright. 
     
     
         22 . A structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the spacers comprise expanded plastic foam blocks. 
     
     
         23 . A structure according to  claim 22 , wherein the expanded plastic foam comprises polystyrene. 
     
     
         24 . A structure according to  claim 22 , wherein the expanded plastic foam is substantially rigid.