United States Patent [i9]
Toth et al.
US005647514A [ii] Patent Number: 5,647,514 [45] Date of Patent: Jul. 15, 1997
[54] DRY BULK PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL CONTAINER WITH EXTERNAL FRAME SUPPORT
[75] Inventors: John J. Toth, Danbury, Conn.; Richard McNealy, McKenney, Tex.
[73] Assignee: Aluminum Company of America,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
[21] Appl. No.: 634,632
[22] Filed: Apr. 18,1996
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 390,763, Feb. 17, 1995, Pat No. 5,529,222, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 155,721, Nov. 19,1993, Pat No. 5,390,827, whichis a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 48,518, Apr. 20, 1993, Pat No. 5,353,967.
[51] Int CI.6 B65D 88/30
[52] U.S. CI 222/181.3; 220/1.5; 222/185.1;
222/637; 406/119; 406/146
[58] Field of Search 222/181.3, 185.1,
222/630, 637; 406/39, 41. 119. 120, 146;
410/46, 47, 49; 220/1.5
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,269,779 8/1966 Rollins 406/119
3,726,431 4/1973 Botkin 220/1.5
3,912,103 10/1975 Gerhard 220/1.5
4,381,062 4/1983 Taquol 220/1.5
4,416,384 11/1983 Bjuding 220/1.5
4,574,986 3/1986 Bans et al 222/94
433,832 6/1986 Gerhard 220/1.5
4,603,788 8/1986 Gerhard 220/1.5
4,823,989 4/1989 Nilsson 406/119
4,840,282 6/1989 Gerhard 220/1.5
4,902,173 2/1990 Hendee et al 406/145
4,917,544 4/1990 Crahanetal 406/119
5,083,673 1/1992 Fossey 220/1.5
5,248,227 9/1993 Hidocketal 406/119
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Alaska Marine Lines "Guidelines for Preparation of Proposal to Manufacture a Dry Bulk Pneumatic Discharge Container", Jul. 1991.
Alaska Marine Lines "Application Guidelines and General
Information for AML's Preferred Coating/Paint System",
Jul. 1991.
Primary Examiner—Joseph Kaufman
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—E. L. Levine
[57] ABSTRACT
A container used for transporting dry bulk product which can be loaded and unloaded using a pneumatic mechanism and without need for tipping the container, comprising a plurality of hoppers, an external frame, a unique method of connecting the hoppers to the frame using skirt rings at the ends of the frame and side panels secured to the hoppers and to the end pieces of the external frame and extending the length of the container to provide sufficient strength to the container.
2 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
