Temporary bulkhead

Abstract

A temporary bulkhead for placement in a shipping container. The bulkhead may be formed from one or more panels constructed from a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the sheet-like member. The invention is also directed to a method of loading containers with flowable material which makes use of such a bulkhead.

1 . A temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the bulkhead being formed by: 
 a panel having opposite edges for contacting internal surfaces of the container, said panel comprising a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the sheet-like member and extending substantially across the width of the sheet-like member for supporting the sheet-like member against the load of flowable material.    
   
   
       2 . The bulkhead of  claim 1  wherein each of the load-bearing members is an elongate member having opposite ends and the panel has sealing means at each of the opposite edges for creating a seal between the panel and the internal surfaces of the container when in use in the container, each sealing means being formed by a portion of the sheet-like member extending around the opposite ends of each load-bearing member.  
   
   
       3 . The bulkhead of  claim 1  wherein the panel comprises a locating arrangement at each of the opposite edges for locating each end of the load-bearing members in position.  
   
   
       4 . The bulkhead of  claim 3  wherein each locating arrangement has a plurability of openings and each end of the load-bearing members is located in an opening in order to locate each load-bearing member in position.  
   
   
       5 . The bulkhead of  claim 4  wherein each locating arrangement is integral with the sheet-like member and is formed by folding over of a portion of the sheet-like member at each of the opposite edges.  
   
   
       6 . The bulkhead of  claim 4  wherein each locating arrangement is integral with the sheet-like member and is formed by a portion of the sheet-like member which is folded over at each of the opposite edges and a series of flaps attached to each portion located in a supporting position in which each flap is adjacent one of said openings into which the end of one of said load-bearing members is received and supported by one of said flaps, each said flap also being locatable in a non supporting position, each said flap being moveable independently of each other flap.  
   
   
       7 . The bulkhead of  claim 4  wherein the entire sheet-like member is formed from cardboard and the load-bearing members are formed from a timber-based material.  
   
   
       8 . The combination of a bulkhead of  claim 2  and one or more separate fastening means for fastening the panel in place in the container.  
   
   
       9 . A temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the bulkhead being formed by a panel having opposite edges for contacting internal surfaces of the container, said panel comprising a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the sheet-like member and extending substantially across the width of the sheet-like member for supporting the sheet-like member against the load of flowable material, said panel comprising a locating arrangement at each of the opposite edges for locating each end of the load-bearing members in position, each locating arrangement comprising a series of flaps moveable between a supporting position in which each flap is adjacent an opening into which the end of one of said load-bearing members is received and supported by one of said flaps, and a non supporting position, each flap being moveable independently of each other flap.  
   
   
       10 . A sheet-like member for forming a panel for use as a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening in the container, the sheet-like member having opposite edges and portions at each edge adapted to be folded over to form locating arrangements to locate a plurality of load-bearing members in place on one side of the sheet-like member, each locating arrangement when folded, having a plurality of openings for receiving an end of a load-bearing member.  
   
   
       11 . A sheet-like member for forming a panel of a temporary bulkhead in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening in the container, the sheet-like member having at each opposite edge a portion adapted to be folded over and a series of flaps to form a locating arrangement, wherein when each portion is folded over, said series of flaps can be located in a supporting position in which each flap is adjacent an opening for receiving an end of a load-bearing member and each load-bearing member can be supported by one of said flaps, and a non supporting position, each flap being moveable between the two positions independently of each other flap.  
   
   
       12 . A temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container to prevent the escape of flowable material through an opening of the container, the temporary bulkhead formed by: 
 two or more panels, each panel comprising a sheet-like member and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of each sheet-like member and extending substantially across the width of the sheet-like member for supporting the sheet-like member of the panel against the load of flowable material, said panels being locatable in an operative load-bearing condition in which each panel is in contact with an adjacent panel along edges thereof and the broad plane of each panel is angled with respect to the broad plane of the adjacent panel.    
   
   
       13 . The bulkhead of  claim 12  wherein at least one panel comprising sealing means located at an edge for creating a seal between said edge and an internal surface of the container when in use in the container.  
   
   
       14 . The bulkhead of  claim 12  wherein the panels are separate prior to location in the operative load-bearing condition.  
   
   
       15 . The bulkhead of any  claim 14  wherein at least one panel comprises sealing means located at the edge of the panel in contact with an adjacent panel for creating a seal between the adjacent panels when in use in the container.  
   
   
       16 . The bulkhead of  claim 15  wherein each sealing means is a flap-like member formed by a portion of one of the sheet-like members.  
   
   
       17 . The bulkhead of  claim 12  wherein each panel is hingedly connected to an adjacent panel.  
   
   
       18 . The bulkhead of  claim 17  wherein the sheet-like member of each panel is integrally formed with the sheet-like member of an adjacent panel.  
   
   
       19 . The bulkhead of  claim 12  wherein the sheet-like member of each panel is formed from cardboard and the load-bearing members are formed from a timber-based material.  
   
   
       20 . The bulkhead of  claim 12  wherein the panels are configured so that in the operative load-bearing condition, an end of each load-bearing member of each panel is located in abutment with an end of each load-bearing member of an adjacent panel.