Modular intermodal container

Abstract

A modular intermodal container has a main frame of rectangular dimensions suitable for stacking with conventional intermodal containers. Cargo cradles are selectively supported on the main frame so as to be selectively separable from the main frame independently of one another. In a preferred embodiment, each cargo cradle is an enclosed hopper bin arranged to support particulate material therein. Use of a plurality of selectively separable cargo supporting cradles permits a plurality of different types of cargo items to be transported and subsequently individually separated from one another.

1 . A modular intermodal container for stacking with conventional intermodal containers, the modular container comprising: 
 a main frame having rectangular dimensions of length, width and height similar to conventional intermodal containers; and    a plurality of cargo cradles selectively supported on the main frame so as to be selectively separable from the main frame, each cargo cradle being arranged to support a cargo item thereon for selective separation from the main frame with the respective cargo cradle upon which the cargo item is supported.    
     
     
         2 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 1  wherein the main frame comprises four vertical corner posts at respective corners of the main frame, open truss frames spanning the top, bottom and sides of the main frame; and load transfer members on the truss frames upon which the cargo cradles are supported.  
     
     
         3 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 2  wherein the open truss frames include a plurality of intersecting struts and chords and wherein the load transfer members are each supported on the truss frames at an intersection of one of the struts and one of the chords.  
     
     
         4 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 2  wherein the load transfer members are mounted adjacent the bottom of the main frame and support the cargo cradles thereabove.  
     
     
         5 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 2  wherein each cargo cradle includes a rectangular support frame and wherein there is provided one of the load transfer members supporting each corner of each rectangular support frame of the cargo cradles thereon.  
     
     
         6 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 2  wherein the cargo cradles are fastened to the load transfer members by selectively separable fasteners.  
     
     
         7 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo cradles are slidably removable from the main frame through a top side of the main frame independently of one another.  
     
     
         8 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 1  wherein each cargo cradle is generally rectangular in cross section and wherein the main frame includes four vertical corner posts in a rectangular configuration associated with each cargo cradle for receiving the cargo cradle between the corner posts, each cargo cradle including a vertically extending recessed channel formation along each corner thereof which receives a respective one of the corner posts of the main frame therein such that side walls spanning between the corners of the cargo cradle are offset laterally outwardly in relation to interior corners of the vertical corner posts of the main frame.  
     
     
         9 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 1  wherein each cargo cradle comprises a rigid cradle frame supporting an enclosed bin formed of non-metallic walls thereon.  
     
     
         10 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 9  wherein each cradle frame is supported directly on the main frame and comprises a peripheral flange supporting the enclosed bin thereon.  
     
     
         11 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo cradles are interchangeable with one another.  
     
     
         12 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo cradles substantially fill a volume defined by the rectangular dimensions of the main frame.  
     
     
         13 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 1  wherein each cargo cradle includes lifting hooks formed thereon.  
     
     
         14 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 1  wherein at least one cargo cradle comprises an enclosure.  
     
     
         15 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 14  wherein the enclosure includes a lid opening and a lid which selectively encloses the lid opening, the lid including corrugated venting passages formed therein for venting the enclosure.  
     
     
         16 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 14  wherein the enclosure includes a perforated plenum within a hollow interior of the enclosure and a plenum duct communicating between the perforated plenum and an exterior of the enclosure for aeration of particulate materials within the enclosure.  
     
     
         17 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 16  wherein there is provided a nozzle attachment on the plenum duct for dispersing substances into aeration air in the plenum duct.  
     
     
         18 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 14  wherein the enclosure includes moisture and temperature sensing probes within a hollow interior of the enclosure.  
     
     
         19 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 14  wherein there is provided a pressure washing system comprising a plurality of nozzles within the enclosure and a connector on an exterior side of the enclosure in communication with the plurality of nozzles for supplying fluid to the nozzles.  
     
     
         20 . The modular intermodal container according to  claim 19  wherein the internal pressure washing system incorporates a main line for carrying washing fluid and a venturi adapter coupled to the main line for introducing concentrated solutions into the washing fluid in the main line through the venturi adapter.