Sea-land Corporation

Sea-land Service, Inc.

Robert E Preller

Donald L Miedama

James Wilson

Hugh J Roarty

A collapsible car rack system for use in intermodal containers wherein each car rack is capable of carrying two automobiles. Each rack is configured so that two racks completely fill a standard 40 ft. intermodal container and each rack is also fitted with a dunnage device in order to extend the size of the rack to fill a standard 45 ft. intermodal container. Each rack is equipped with push plates and pulling eyes so that the loaded racks may be inserted into, and withdrawn from a standard intermodal container with a forklift. In use, each rack will accommodate two automobiles the first of which is driven onto the rack in a collapsed condition and after erecting a top portion of the rack with a forklift and securing by vertical support members, a second automobile is driven onto the lower portion of each rack. The erect rack, loaded with two automobiles is of a suitable size to be loaded into a standard intermodal container with a forklift.

Method and apparatus for containerized shipment of automobiles

A chassis conversion saddle for a standard 40' ISO container trailer for converting it to allow it to carry a standard 20' intermodal container. The chassis conversion saddle is constructed to be carried by the container trailer, and includes a forward section, a central section and a rear section. The forward section of the conversion saddle includes two standard ISO corner castings for being secured to the two forward standard ISO corner fittings of a standard 40' ISO container trailer. The forward section lies at least partially above the raised forward portion of the container trailer which clears the fifth wheel of a tractor, and includes a downturned end where it connects to the central section of the conversion saddle. The central section of the conversion saddle is lower to the ground than the forward section, and includes an upper plane surface for receiving and supporting a standard 20.degree. intermodal container. The rear section of the conversion saddle includes two standard ISO corner castings for being secured to the two rear standard ISO corner fittings of a standard 40' ISO container trailer. The rear section has an upper surface which extends substantially parallel to and coextensive with the upper plane surface of the central section, and also has a movable deck plate which is movable to provide a ramp between the floor of a standard 20.degree. intermodal container and the upper surface of the rear section.

Chassis conversion saddle

A container transporting trailer comprising a forward, main and rear portion. The forward portion extends from the front of the trailer rearwardly and is adapted to hitch to, and thus clear, the fifth wheel of a tractor. At the end of the front portion opposite the front of the trailer, the forward portion turns downward and joins with the front of a main portion. The main portion extends rearwardly from the forward portion and has an upper surface plane for receiving and supporting a standardize container above the plane. The main portion is lower to the ground than the forward portion. Extending rearwardly from the end of the main portion. Extending rearwardly from the end of the main portion is a rear portion which ends at the end of the trailer. The rear portion has fixture for receiving a trailer bogie. The rear portion has an upper surface which lies parallel to and above the plane of the main surface. A segment of the rear portion adjacent the main portion is movable to facilitate the mounting and removal of a container on the main portion. The remaining non-adjacent segment of the rear portion is not movable.

Growing community of inventors

Mount Holly, NJ, United States of America

Robert E Preller