Container having internal bulkhead
View Patent ↗A container assembly for a container trailer includes a generally cylindrical elongate container with a bulkhead mounted internally within the container. The bulkhead comprises a non-flanged curved plate having a curve of constant radius, and it includes a horizontally-oriented stiffening rib. The trailer also includes a structural frame which supports all or a portion of the container, a plurality of axles and a suspension system.
1. A container trailer comprising:
(a) a generally cylindrical elongate container;
(b) a bulkhead mounted internally within the container, said bulkhead:
(i) having a width;
(ii) having a height;
(iii) comprising a plate which does not comprise a portion of a sphere and which includes no peripheral flange, said plate having a curve of constant radius across its width;
(iv) including a horizontally-oriented stiffening rib;
(c) a structural frame which:
(i) supports all or a portion of the container;
(ii) includes a plurality of axles and a suspension system therefor.
2. The container trailer of claim 1 wherein the radius of the curve across the width of the bulkhead is within the range of 90-95% of the width of the bulkhead.
3. The container trailer of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the bulkhead is generally elliptical;
(b) the minor radius is within the range of 30-50% of the major radius.
4. The container trailer of claim 1 wherein the horizontally-oriented stiffening rib is formed in the bulkhead.
5. The container trailer of claim 4 wherein the horizontally-oriented stiffening rib has:
(a) a length;
(b) a depth;
(c) a radius at the center of its length that is within the range of 1-2 times its depth at the center of its length.
6. A container trailer comprising:
(a) a generally cylindrical elongate container;
(b) a bulkhead mounted internally within the container, said bulkhead comprising a plate which comprises a segment of a cylinder, said plate:
(i) having no peripheral flange;
(ii) including a horizontally-oriented stiffening rib;
(c) a structural frame which:
(i) supports all or a portion of the container;
(ii) includes a plurality of axles and a suspension system therefor.
7. The container trailer of claim 6 wherein:
(a) the bulkhead has a width;
(b) the bulkhead has a height;
(c) the radius of the curve of the bulkhead across its width is within the range of 90-95% of the width of the bulkhead.
8. The container trailer of claim 6 wherein:
(a) the bulkhead is generally elliptical;
(b) the minor radius is within the range of 30-50% of the major radius.
9. The container trailer of claim 6 wherein the horizontally-oriented stiffening rib is formed in the bulkhead.
10. The container trailer of claim 6 wherein the horizontally-oriented stiffening rib has:
(a) a length;
(b) a depth;
(c) a radius at the center of its length that is within the range of 1-2 times its depth at the center of its length.
11. A container trailer comprising:
(a) an elongate container;
(b) a bulkhead mounted internally within the container, said bulkhead:
(i) having a width;
(ii) having a height;
(iii) comprising a plate with no peripheral flange, said plate having a curve of constant radius across its width and no curve across its height;
(iv) including a horizontally-oriented stiffening rib;
(c) a structural frame which:
(i) supports all or a portion of the container;
(ii) includes a plurality of axles and a suspension system therefor.
12. The container trailer of claim 11 wherein the radius of the curve across the width of the bulkhead is within the range of 90-95% of the width of the bulkhead.
13. The container trailer of claim 11 wherein the horizontally-oriented stiffening rib is formed in the bulkhead.
14. The container trailer of claim 13 wherein the horizontally-oriented stiffening rib has:
(a) a length;
(b) a depth;
(c) a radius at the center of its length that is within the range of 1-2 times its depth at the center of its length.