Systems and methods for employing a bulkhead bag in intermodal shipping of dry flowable commodities

Abstract

Systems and methods for employing a bulkhead bag in intermodal shipment of dry flowable commodities are disclosed. An example system includes a bulkhead bag configured to be positioned on a loading floor, between sidewalls, and proximate loading doors of an intermodal shipping container. The example system includes one or more straps configured to extend between and couple to connection points of the bulkhead bag and eyelets of the intermodal shipping container to hold an upper edge of the bulkhead bag aloft from the loading floor. The bulkhead bag is configured to expand when filled with a first portion of the dry flowable commodity such that end portions of the bulkhead bag engage sidewalls of the intermodal shipping container to form a partition between the loading doors and an interior of the intermodal shipping container used to contain a second larger portion of the dry flowable commodity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for loading and transporting a dry flowable commodity, the system comprising:
 an intermodal shipping container comprising a loading floor, a ceiling, sidewalls, a closed end, loading doors opposite the closed end, and eyelets fixed to at least one of the ceiling and the sidewalls adjacent the loading doors and the ceiling;   a bulkhead bag that extends between the sidewalls on the loading floor and proximate the loading doors, the bulkhead bag comprising a bottom portion engaging the loading floor, end portions for engaging the sidewalls of the intermodal shipping container, an upper edge opposite the bottom portion and defining an opening of the bulkhead bag, and connection points proximate the upper edge; and   one or more straps extending between and coupled to the eyelets of the intermodal shipping container and the connection points of the bulkhead bag, the one or more straps operating to hold the upper edge of the bulkhead bag aloft from the loading floor of the intermodal shipping container;   wherein the bulkhead bag is configured to expand when filled with a first portion of the dry flowable commodity such that the end portions engage the sidewalls to form a partition between the loading doors and an interior of the intermodal shipping container used to contain a second larger portion of the dry flowable commodity.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead bag is configured to form a rectangular cuboid when the upper edge of the bulkhead bag is held aloft by the one or more straps and the bulkhead bag is filled with the first portion of the dry flowable commodity. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead bag comprises one or more baffles that define the intermodal shipping container into different sections across a width of the intermodal shipping container. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein at least some of the one or more baffles defines openings configured to allow the passage of the dry flowable commodity between the different sections of the bulkhead bag. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the bulkhead bag is formed of a polypropylene material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the eyelets include inner eyelets and outer eyelets, the outer eyelets being positioned between the loading doors and the inner eyelets;   the connection points include inner connection points and outer connection points, the outer connection points being positioned between the loading doors and the inner connection points; and   the one or more straps include an inner strap and an outer strap, the outer strap being positioned between the loading doors and the inner strap.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the outer strap extends between and is coupled to the outer eyelets and the outer connection points, and wherein the inner strap extends between and is coupled to the inner eyelets and the inner connection points. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the inner eyelets and the outer eyelets each include two eyelets, the inner connection points and the outer connection points each include three connection points, and the inner strap and the outer strap each is configured to form an M-shaped pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a diverting line coupled to an auger and a flow valve for controlling flow of the dry flowable commodity through the diverting line, the flow valve having an open position and a closed position that enables and prevents, respectively, the flow of the dry flowable commodity through the diverting line. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein when the flow valve is in the open position, the diverting line is configured to fill the bulkhead bag with the first portion of the dry flowable commodity while the auger fills the intermodal shipping container with the second larger portion of the dry flowable commodity. 
     
     
         11 . A system for loading and transporting a dry flowable commodity within an intermodal shipping container having a loading floor, a ceiling, sidewalls, a closed end, loading doors, and eyelets, the system comprising:
 a bulkhead bag configured to be positioned on the loading floor, between the sidewalls, and proximate the loading doors of the intermodal shipping container, the bulkhead bag comprising a bottom portion configured to engage the loading floor, end portions configured to engage the sidewalls, an upper edge opposite the bottom portion and defining an opening of the bulkhead bag, and connection points proximate the upper edge; and   one or more straps configured to extend between and couple to the connection points of the bulkhead bag and the eyelets of the intermodal shipping container to hold the upper edge of the bulkhead bag aloft from the loading floor;   wherein the bulkhead bag is configured to expand when filled with a first portion of the dry flowable commodity such that the end portions engage the sidewalls to form a partition between the loading doors and an interior of the intermodal shipping container used to contain a second larger portion of the dry flowable commodity.   
     
     
         12 . A method for loading and transporting a dry flowable commodity within an intermodal shipping container having a loading floor, a ceiling, sidewalls, a closed end, loading doors, and eyelets, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a bulkhead bag on the loading floor, between the sidewalls, and proximate the loading doors of the intermodal shipping container, the bulkhead bag comprising a bottom portion configured to engage the loading floor, end portions configured to engage the sidewalls, an upper edge opposite the bottom portion and defining an opening of the bulkhead bag, and connection points proximate the upper edge;   extending one or more straps between and coupling the one or more straps to the connection points of the bulkhead bag and the eyelets of the intermodal shipping container;   raising the upper edge of the bulkhead bag away from the loading floor of the intermodal shipping container; and   filling the bulkhead bag with a first portion of the dry flowable commodity via an auger, the bulkhead bag expanding when filled such that the end portions engage the sidewalls to form a partition between the loading doors and an interior of the intermodal shipping container used to contain a second larger portion of the dry flowable commodity.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of filling the intermodal shipping container with the second larger portion of the dry flowable commodity via the auger. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of filling the bulkhead bag with the first portion of the dry flowable commodity is performed simultaneously with the step of filling the intermodal shipping container with the second larger portion of the dry flowable commodity until the bulkhead bag is substantially full. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of filling the intermodal shipping container with the second larger portion of the dry flowable commodity continues after the bulkhead bag is filled with the first portion of the dry flowable commodity. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of filling the bulkhead bag with the first portion of the dry flowable commodity comprises the step of filling the bulkhead bag via a diverting line coupled to the auger. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of opening a flow valve to enable the dry flowable commodity to flow through the diverting line and into the bulkhead bag. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of closing the flow valve to prevent the dry flowable commodity from flowing through the diverting line and into the bulkhead bag. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of extending the one or more straps between and coupling the one or more straps to the connection points of the bulkhead bag and the eyelets of the intermodal shipping container comprises:
 extending an inner strap between and coupling the inner strap to inner connection points and inner eyelets; and   extending an outer strap between and coupling the outer strap to outer connection points and outer eyelets;   wherein the outer strap, the outer connection points, and the outer eyelets are positioned between the loading doors and the inner strap, the inner connection points, and the inner eyelets.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of cutting the bulkhead bag after the intermodal shipping container has been transported with the dry flowable commodity to empty the first portion of the dry flowable commodity from the bulkhead bag, remove the partition, and subsequently empty the second portion of the dry flowable commodity from the intermodal shipping container.