Systems and methods for safely transporting liquid

Abstract

A system for shipping liquid includes multiple bladders, with each bladder having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear edges, opposing side edges, a valve located on the top surface proximate the front edge, and at least one seam located along at least one of the side edges. The system also includes a non-slip mat shaped to cover at least a portion of the floor of a shipping container. The bladders are shaped to fit within the shipping container such that at least a portion of the bottom surface of each bladder contacts the non-slip mat. The bladders are also shaped such that the side edges of each bladder can be aligned substantially parallel to the side alls of the shipping container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for transporting liquid, comprising:
 a plurality of bladders, each bladder comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; 
 a front edge; 
 a rear edge; 
 opposing side edges; 
 a valve located on the top surface proximate the front edge; and 
 at least one seam located along at least one of the side edges; 
   a non-slip mat shaped to cover at least a portion of a floor of a shipping container;   wherein each bladder is shaped to fit within the shipping container such that at least a portion of the bottom surface of each bladder contacts the non-slip mat, and the side edges of each bladder are aligned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shipping container.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front and rear edges of each of the plurality of bladders comprises a compression fitted flange. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bladders is sized such that, at full capacity, the side edges of the bladder contact the sidewalls of the shipping container. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bladders is sized to hold up to about 2500 gallons of liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bladders comprises an outer material of polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bladders comprises two inner layers of polyethylene film and an outer woven polypropylene cover. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bladders comprises a gas barrier layer for preventing gas from penetrating the bladder, 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bladders comprises strength bands woven into an outer material of the bladder. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the strength bands are woven into the out material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the at least one seam, 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping container is a standard 40-foot shipping container. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping container is a standard 53-foot shipping container. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping container is a refrigerated shipping container. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping container has a footprint of about 10 feet by about 12 feet. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-slip mat is a carpet. 
     
     
         15 . A method of transporting liquid, comprising:
 covering at least a portion of a floor of a shipping container with a non-slip mat;   placing a first bladder on the non-slip mat, the first bladder comprising a valve and at least one seam;   arranging the first bladder such that the at least one seam is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shipping container;   attaching a hose to the valve of the first bladder; and   filling the first bladder with the liquid to be shipped.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 placing a second bladder on the non-slip mat, the second bladder comprising a valve and at least one seam;   arranging the second bladder such that the at least one seam is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shipping container;   attaching the hose to the valve of the second bladder; and   filling the second bladder with the liquid to be shipped.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 placing a third bladder on the non-slip mat, the third bladder comprising a valve and at least one seam;   arranging the third bladder such that the at least one seam is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shipping container;   attaching the hose to the valve of the third bladder; and   filling the third bladder with the liquid to be shipped.