by Roger Howell Duramin 40ft side and end loading freight containers
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A NEW 40ft long general-purpose freight container, designed to allow maximum unrestricted side access as well as normal end loading and unloading, has just been produced by the Duramin Engineering Co. Ltd., Harbour Road, Lydney, Glos. Ten of these containers, which comply with ISO requirements and are TIR and UIC approved, are now being supplied to M.A.T. Transport Ltd., Basle.
On the near side of the containers, 10ft wide fixed panels are fitted at each end, thus forming a central opening measuring approximately 2011 wide by 7ft 0.5in. high. Four rubber-sealed doors are fitted, these being hinged in two pairs with the centre doors so arranged that they hinge back over the end doors which in turn fold back on to the fixed side panels.
Overall dimensions of the new containers are 40ft long by 8ft wide by 8ft high, giving internal dimensions of approximately 39ft 6.5in. long by 7ft 6.25in. wide by -7ft 4in. high. Gross rating is 30 tons and the tare weight 3 tons 14cwt, allowing for a distributed floor load of 26 tons 6 cwt.
Despite their low tare weight, these containers are claimed to be of extremely robust construction, being assembled by a combination of welding, clench-bolting and riveting. Framework is in high-yield steel to B.S. 968, with high-strength aluminium-alloy intermediate side sections. The base frame is formed from high-yield steel folded sections, with lipped channel cross-members.
Off-side and front end panelling is in 14gauge aluminium-alloy sheet, lap-jointed and riveted to heavy-duty "top hat"-section exterior pillars to provide a smooth interior surface. These pillars are solid riveted to the main floor and roof framework.
Side doors are framed in Duralumin alloy, panelled internally in 14-gauge and externally in 16-gauge Duralumin sheet. Centre door locks are operated externally, while the other door locks will operate only when the centre doors have been opened. All doors are fully waterproofed.
The rear end of the containers is strongly framed in steel box section to give a 7ft Sin. wide by 7ft 0.5in. high opening for rubbersealed double doors. These are of 1in thick plywood, with 20-gauge galvanized steel sheet bonded to both interior and exterior surfaces.
The construction of the roof incorporates mild steel "top-hat"-section intermediate ribs, panelled in 16-gauge aluminium alloy sheet. The main floor is of 27mm thick exterior grade Finnish birch plywood, and the floor scarf joints are positioned directly over the floor bearers.
Provision is made for handling by means of special castings welded at all corners of the containers. These are inter-connected by steel corner cappings to provide a rigid structure capable of being top-lifted fully-laden by an automatic spreader device or alternatively, suitable for normal lifting with a vertical pull from the castings.
The corner castings are multi-purpose for, in addition to facilitating handling, they also permit the units to be anchored securely to a ship's deck. Furthermore, they allow the stacking of containers one on another up to six high, and facilitate their locking together for safety reasons.