EP0918707A2

EP0918707A2 - Packaging for transporting hazardous materials, and module therefor

Info

Publication number: EP0918707A2
Application number: EP97933733A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emmanuel Delmee
Original assignee: Kaysersberg Packaging SA
Current assignee: DS Smith Kaysersberg SAS
Priority date: 1996-07-19
Filing date: 1997-07-11
Publication date: 1999-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-11
Also published as: DE69705412D1; CZ296799B6; RO118412B1; PL186550B1; HU221766B1; FR2751308A1; CZ9900172A3; PL331210A1; SK283992B6; DE69705412T2; ATE202533T1; WO1998003412A3; HUP9902793A3; WO1998003412A2; FR2751308B1; HUP9902793A2; EP0918707B1; SK5199A3

Abstract

A packaging for transporting hazardous materials in one or more containers is disclosed. Said packaging includes a box (1) made of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard; at least one module (2) made of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard and including at least four side interconnected walls (12, 13, 14, 15), said module (2) having a substantially rectangular cross-section and being arranged inside said box (1) and spaced from the walls (4, 5, 6, 7) thereof, while said containers are arranged inside the module; and a filler material made of expanded phyllosilicates, preferably expanded vermiculite, which fills all of the remaining space inside said box (1) and said module (2) containing said hazardous material containers. The production of cardboard packagings, and the use thereof, particularly for packaging hazardous chemicals, are also disclosed.

Description

PACKAGE FOR THE TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS MATERIALS AND MODULE FOR SUCH PACKAGING

The invention relates to a packaging for the transport of hazardous materials such as chemicals or pharmaceuticals, toxic or flammable, etc. These hazardous materials in solid form and most often fluid, are packaged in containers such as bags, flasks or fragile containers that must be protected against impact.

The packaging provided for this purpose currently existing does not always meet the standards required for the transport of dangerous goods, with particular regard to impact resistance.

The known packages are of the type comprising a box made of semi-rigid material, such as an American cardboard box, in which the containers of dangerous materials are placed, and a material in beads or in chips, for example expanded polystyrene, distributed in the box and occupying the volume left between the containers and the walls of the box.

Other packaging made of semi-rigid material is more complex or is only suitable for a specific object size to be packaged.

French patent application No. 2,685,288 relates to cardboard packaging for fragile objects requiring protection against impact during transport. This packaging includes a corrugated cardboard box of determined thickness in which is placed a pair of damping bellows each consisting of a sheet of corrugated cardboard of determined thickness comprising a cutout allowing the object to be protected to be encased in an opening made up by the lateral bands of the cutout which hold the objects laterally. This cutting allows the constitution of damping means in the vicinity of the bottom of the box. The packaging also includes an upper padding allowing the upper part of the object to be pressed to be pressed in specific locations. This rather complex packaging only allows one unit to be packaged.

French patent application No. 2,687,370 relates to cardboard packaging for fragile objects, consisting of a parallelepipedic outer box and an inner box formed by folding a cardboard blank having a central part of rectangular shape, corresponding at the bottom of the inner box, and four side faces whose dimensions correspond substantially to the outer dimensions of the object to be packaged. The central part has, along each of these lateral edges, at least one cut delimiting centering tongues laterally extending the central part, the latter being delimited by pre-grooved lines extending between the tongues. Such packaging is provided for an object having specific dimensions and cannot be used to package other fragile products of different dimensions.

Other packaging comprises elements made of composite material which absorbs shock.

French patent application No. 2 607 1] 2 describes a parallelepipedic packaging made of semi-rigid material, consisting of three elements, one element of which forms an outer shell of rectangular section designed to adapt to two other elements each constituting a tube of rectangular section and being arranged one inside the other to form together a receptacle, the two open faces of the internal element being closed by two of the faces of the external element. The two elements forming the receptacle are covered on their internal faces with a layer of shock absorbing material so that after introduction of the receptacle into the shell, the packaging has four lateral faces each having a single thickness of shock absorbing material and upper and lower faces having a double thickness of shock-absorbing material This packaging requires the use of a composite material and is probably not sufficient for the transport of dangerous goods to wedge the containers

European patent application No. 0 512 888 relates to separating elements for packaging fragile articles Each separating element comprises a layer of semi-rigid material and a large layer of flexible and non-slip material on a or the two sides of the layer of semi-rigid material This flexible and non-slip material is for example a synthetic foam These separating elements will not always be able to absorb very large shocks in the transport of dangerous materials and wedge the containers in which are conditioned these last.

Other patents describe packaging using filling materials, absorbing shocks

The subject of European patent application N ° 0 460 942 is a packaging for the transport of heavy and fragile articles, comprising a breathable bag, preferably made of material very resistant to breakage (in antistatic plastic), containing particles of light but relatively rigid material, preferably having a high compressive strength These particles are expanded or blown polymer (polystyrene) beads or vermiculite beads The object to be wrapped is surrounded by bags as described below above, inside a container such as a cardboard box, so that the weight of the object and the pressure exerted on the bags, closing the lid of the box, causes the evacuation air through the microporous walls of the bags The particles inside the bags thus form an essentially rigid body molded to the shape of the wrapped object The bags prevent therefore the object to move inside the container However, this packaging seems advantageous in the particular case of a single object to be packaged

The German utility model No. 87 14 830 also describes air-permeable envelopes, welded together and comprising a filling material such as expanded plastic or vermiculite chips.

German patent application No. 35 34 706 relates to a material used as an accessory means for packaging, allowing the transport of fragile objects while protecting them from shocks and pressures. This material can absorb liquids in the event of a leak and has the property of being a thermal insulator. This material includes expanded phyllosilicates (vermiculite, perlite or synthetic inert hair material), small amounts of an organic or inorganic binder and a foaming agent which increases the surface of the binder and forms a foam of high viscosity, thus increasing the capacity of absorption of phyllosilicates originally simply expanded. This material requires a particular preparation process and consequently increases the overall cost of a packaging compared to a filling material of simpler composition.

The object of the invention is to overcome all the drawbacks encountered with the packaging of the prior art, described above.

The invention more particularly aims to provide a packaging for the transport of dangerous and fragile materials, which has exceptional shock absorption or shock absorption properties and fulfills the conditions required by the standards required in the transport of dangerous materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging which provides double impact insulation for the dangerous materials transported.

The invention also aims to provide a packaging for transporting different containers, shape, material (glass, metal, plastic) and volume (for example from 0.5 to 5 liters) different A large mass can thus be transported

The invention also aims to provide a packaging which can adapt to the number of containers it contains, in other words which comprises modular and transformable elements, unlike most packaging for the transport of dangerous or fragile cardboard materials, which are intended for a given shape and number of articles or containers, most often unitary

The packaging according to the present invention can be qualified as universal packaging

The packaging according to the present invention combines the possibility of being able to transport hazardous materials and of being able to package a variable number of containers, by combining a shock-absorbing packaging element with a specific granular cushioning material.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the packaging comprises - a parallelepipedic box made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard,

at least one module made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard, comprising at least four assembled side walls, said module of substantially rectangular section being disposed inside said box, set back from the walls of said box, and the or said containers being arranged inside the module, and

- a filling material in expanded phyllosilicates, preferably expanded vermiculite, filling all the residual volume inside said box and said module comprising the said container or containers of dangerous materials.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the filling material is expanded vermiculite in the form of grains whose particle size varies from approximately 0.3 to approximately 8 mm, preferably from approximately 1 to approximately 6 mm.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each of the side walls of the module, with another adjacent side wall, forms a cross with short sides, the latter separating the side walls of the module from the walls of the box.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the module comprises one or more removable separation panels of semi-rigid material such as cardboard, arranged inside the module, each separation panel forming with a perpendicular side wall, a cross.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, two parallel side walls of the module are respectively provided with at least one flap of width substantially equal to half the distance separating the two parallel side walls and preferably at most equal to the height d 'a side wall, the flaps can be folded 90 ° towards the inside of the module to close an upper or lower face of the module.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic, the packaging comprises at least two superimposed modules.

The invention also relates to a parallelepiped module in semi-rigid material such as cardboard, for a packaging intended for the transport of dangerous materials.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the module comprises:

- Four side walls assembled to each other in a cross, two parallel side walls being provided respectively with at least one flap of width substantially equal to half the distance between the two parallel side walls mentioned above and preferably at most equal to the height of a side wall, the flaps can be folded 90 ° towards the inside of the module to close an upper or lower face of the module, and - At least one removable partition panel disposed inside the module, the partition panel being assembled in a cross perpendicular to two parallel side walls.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the cross-pieces are formed by means of cutouts forming notches provided in the parallel side walls and the partition panels.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, this module comprises a partition panel arranged perpendicular to the side walls provided with flaps and each of these side walls is provided on one of its sides with a flap and on the other side with a or two adjacent shutters that can fold on either side of the partition panel, all of the shutters that can be folded 90 ° towards the interior of the module to close the upper and lower faces of the module.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the module comprises two separation panels forming a cross-piece inside the module and one of the separation panels parallel to the side walls provided with a flap, consists of two plates, each plate being provided of a shutter, the width of the shutter being substantially equal to half the distance separating the parallel side walls provided with shutters, the set of shutters being able to be folded at 90 ° towards the interior of the module to close the lower face and top of the module.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, where appear, dissociated, an American box 1 A and a module 1B;

- Figure 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, where appear, dissociated, an American box 2A, a first module 2B and a second module 2C;

- Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 where the position of certain components of the modules is different;

- Figure 4 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, where appear, dissociated, an American box 4A, a first module 4B and a second module 4C; and

- Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 where the position of certain components of the modules is different. The choice and selection of the materials constituting the different parts of the packaging according to the invention are important for obtaining all of the required properties.

The American body and the module are made of semi-rigid material and more particularly of corrugated cardboard

Preferably, the cardboard plates constituting the box and the module are formed of a double groove suitable for impact resistance, in particular shock absorption. An example of double groove comprises a first layer of groove with a thickness of approximately 5 millimeters and a second layer of groove with a thickness of approximately 7 millimeters This groove is preferably chosen for the plates constituting the body Another example of groove comprises a first layer of groove with a thickness of approximately 3 millimeters and a second groove layer with a thickness of approximately 4 millimeters This other groove can be used for the modules

The filling material which has the function of wedging both the containers placed inside the module and the module inside the American body, must also have exceptional shock absorption properties. The selected material is a phyllosilicate. expanded and more particularly expanded vermiculite Many other materials have been tested but did not, in combination with the other elements of the packaging according to the invention, the properties of resistance and shock absorption. These other materials are for example the polystyrene in different densities and shapes (e.g. chips and stars), corn puffs, or bran

Expanded vermiculite is a material of mineral origin It is essentially composed of aluminum, magnesium and iron silicates The natural rock is in the form of flakes and consists of mica-type sheets, separated by two layers of molecule d water The expanded vermiculite is obtained by exfoliating, by heat treatment (at around 900 ° C), the flakes which turn into grains. The expanded vermiculite has a particle size distributed between about 0.3 and about 8 millimeters, preferably between approximately 1 and approximately 6 millimeters Even more preferably, this particle size varies in the interval ranging from approximately 1.4 to approximately 4 millimeters. An advantageous property of expanded vermiculite is its very light mass, facilitating its handling and the transport of packages comprising this filling material Indeed, its density is in the range from about 70 to about on 90 kg / m * - ¹ , preferably approximately 80 kg / m * - ^* Its melting point is approximately 1300 ° C This material also has the property of being non-flammable II is non-toxic It is a very good thermal insulator II is unalterable and rot-proof Finally, it still has an advantageous property for the packaging according to the invention, it has a significant capacity absorption of liquids. The water absorption capacity is from about 175 to about 470, and preferably at least 260 grams of water per liter of vermiculite. An example of expanded vermiculite is the product sold under the name VERMEX by the company EFISOL.

Referring to FIG. 1, representing the simplest and basic embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, the packaging comprises three main elements:

- a parallelepipedic box 1 of the American box type shown in 1A, made of corrugated cardboard,

a module 2 of corrugated cardboard shown in 1B, of substantially rectangular section, placed inside the box 1, and the container or containers of hazardous materials being placed inside this module 2, and

- a filling material (not shown) in the form of expanded vermiculite previously described, filling all the residual volume inside the box 1 comprising the module 2 in which is (are) placed the container (s) ( s).

The body 1 consists of a bottom 3, four side walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively extended by four flaps 8, 9, 10 and 1 1 which, when folded at 90 ° relative to the respective planes of the walls side, towards the inside of the box, form the cover of the latter.

The module 2 comprises four side walls 12, 13, 14 and 15. These walls are assembled two by two so as to form a spider. One end of the side wall 12, for example, is fixed perpendicular to one end of the side wall 13, the two walls forming a cross or a cross 16 with short sides 12a for the wall 12 and 13a for the wall 13. These short sides separate the side walls 12 and 13 of the module 2 from the side walls 4 and 5 of the American body 1. The cross-pieces are for example produced by means of cutouts forming notches in the side walls of the module. The module 2 thus assembled has a rectangular or square section. Placed in box 1, its main functions are to absorb shocks, in particular by protecting the corners of the box and isolating the containers of hazardous materials from the walls of the box.

FIG. 2 represents another embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, which incorporates the elements described in the previous embodiment, in their principles, namely the American body, a module formed by the cross-braced assembly of four side walls and expanded vermiculite.

According to the embodiment represented in this FIG. 2, the packaging comprises an American box 20 represented in 2A of suitable dimensions (in particular of sufficient height) to contain two modules 21 and 22 represented respectively in 2B and 2C. The two modules 21 and 22 are made up of identical elements. In the representation 2B, the module 21 comprises four side walls 23, 24, 25 and 26 assembled in a cross. The modules 21 and 22 also include a removable partition panel 27, arranged parallel to the side walls 23 and 25 inside the module 21 or 22 and of height h \ less than the height h2 of the side walls 23 and 25. This separation panel 27 forms with each of the perpendicular side walls 24 and 25, a cross. The short sides of the separation panel 27, on either side of the side walls 24 and 26, also make it possible to separate the side walls 24 and 26 of the modules 21 and 22, of the side walls 5 and 7 of the American body. The cross-pieces are also formed here by cutouts forming notches in the regions located at each of the ends of the partition panel 27 and in the middle region of each of the side walls 24 and 26.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the side walls 24 and 26, perpendicular to the partition panel 27, are each extended on one side, by two adjacent flaps 30, 31 and 32, 33. These flaps can be folded 90 ° relative to the plane of their respective wall, to close the upper face of the module 21. These flaps 30 to 33 have the main characteristic of having a width 1 substantially equal to half the distance d separating the two parallel side walls 24 and 26. In addition, the width 1 of the flaps is at most equal, and preferably substantially equal to the height h2 of the side walls. The flaps 30 and 31 of the same side wall 24 can fold towards the inside of the module on either side of the partition panel 27.

With reference to FIG. 2C, the module 22 is equivalent to the module 21, but its position is reversed with respect to that of the module 21, the upper face of one corresponding to the lower face of the other. The flaps 30 to 33 of each of the modules 21 and 22, in a position folded 90 ° towards the inside of each of the modules, constitute a separation between the two modules and makes it possible to isolate the containers which are arranged inside d 'a module, containers arranged in the other module Each of the parallel side walls 24 and 26 is extended, on the side opposite respectively to the flaps 30, 31 and 32, 33, by a single flap 35 and 36 whose width 1 is substantially equal to half the distance d between the parallel walls 24 and 26. These flaps 35 and 36 can also be folded 90 ° relative to the plane of each of their side walls 24 and 26, towards the interior of the module 22 to close the upper face of the latter. These flaps 35 and 36 also have the particularity of each comprising a small flap 37 and 38 which, folded 90 ° upwards outside the module, constitute a locking system when the flaps 35 and 36 are folded to close the upper face of the module 22. The width hr of these small flaps 37 and 38 is substantially equal to the difference between the height h2 of the side walls 23 and 25 and the height h * of the partition panel 27 The length Lr of each of the flaps 37 and 38 is greater than the length L of the flaps 35 and 36 so as to form a tongue 40, 40 'and 41, 41' at each end of a flap 37 or 38. Cut-outs 42 and 43 are provided respectively in the upper middle of the parallel side walls 23 and 25, to receive the tongues 40, 40 'and 41, 41' of each of the flaps 37 and 38. The two small flaps 37 and 38 therefore come, face against face, to be placed in each of the cutouts 42, 43 and 45, in order to lock the closure of the upper face of the module 22 in FIG. 2C. It should be noted that the flaps 35 and 36 are cut at the level of the crosspieces situated at the intersection of the side walls so as to isolate the upper face formed by the flaps 35 and 36 from the cover of the body 20. The height of the walls lateral 24 and 26 once the flaps 35 and 36 thus cut and folded 90 ° towards the inside of the module 22, is substantially equal to the height hi of the partition panel 27.

This packaging comprising the two modules makes it possible to offer two storage spaces per module and therefore four for the whole, the flaps 35 and 36 being in a position folded 90 ° towards the interior of the module, closing the upper face of the module 2B and the underside of module 2C. The containers are placed inside the storage spaces thus formed, preferably one container per storage. The expanded vermiculite in the form of grains is poured into the packaging so as to fill all the residual volume inside the box 20, between the walls of the box and the side walls of each of the modules 21 and 22, and at the interior of modules 21 and 22 where the containers are placed, between the walls of the modules and the containers

FIG. 3 illustrates a variant of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. In this variant, the flaps 30 to 33 are folded 180 ° relative to the plane of their respective side wall, towards the outside of the modules 21 and 22. Under these conditions, when the two modules 21 and 22 are superimposed, there is no longer any separation between the modules, the separation panel 27 of each of the modules 21 and 22, constituting a single separation plane inside the two superimposed modules. The packaging comprising these two modules 21 and 22 thus folded and superimposed, offers two storage spaces for containers having a greater height than the containers packed in the modules according to FIG. 2. In addition, the flaps 30 to 33 thus folded to 180 ° towards the outside of the modules, reinforce the side walls 24 and 26.

We could also provide boxes having a sufficient height to receive more than two modules thus described (three, or even four or more), depending on the number and volume of storage desired for packaging. In this case, the intermediate modules may not have flaps 35 and 36, the flaps 30 to 33 being in the folded position at 180 ° C relative to the plane of their side wall, towards the outside of the module.

Figure 4 shows yet another embodiment of the packaging according to the invention. This packaging includes a parallelepipedic American box 50, a first module 51, a second module 52 and expanded vermiculite distributed in all the residual volume of the packaging, once the containers have been placed inside the modules The box 50 shown in 4A comprises a bottom wall 53, four side walls 54, 55, 56 and 57 The side walls 54 to 57 have flaps, respectively 58 to 61, which once folded at 90 ° relative to the plane of their side wall, towards the inside of the box, close the upper face of the box. The parallel flaps 59 and 61 here have a cutout on their outer edge. These two flaps allow the four flaps to be crossed by folding them to close the box 50

The two modules 51 and 52 each comprise four basic side walls, 62, 63, 64 and 65, assembled in pairs at their ends by forming cross-pieces, as has already been described Each module further comprises two partition panels 66 and 67, removable With reference to FIG. 4B, the first separation panel 66 is mounted parallel to the parallel side walls 62 and 64, inside the module 51 This separation panel 66 has a height lv $ less than the height 114 side walls 62 to 65 This partition panel 66 forms with each of the side walls 65 and 66, a cross-piece The other partition panel 67 is mounted parallel to the side walls 63 and 65 and perpendicular to the first partition panel 66 This second panel divider forms cross bars with each of the parallel side walls 62 and 64 A cross bar is also formed at the intersection of the two dividing panels. tion 66 and 67 All the short sides formed by the cross-pieces at the intersection of two side walls or a side wall and a partition panel, allow the side walls 62 to 65 to be isolated from the modules 51 and 52, side walls 54 to 57 of the American body 50 Preferably, the removable partition panels each consist of two corrugated cardboard plates. Two plates constituting the same panel can in fact result from the folding in half of a single large plate with the dimensions appropriate Thus, the partition panels have a reinforced thickness compared to the side walls of the modules which can keep a simple thickness

With reference to FIG. 4B, the parallel side walls 63 and 65, each comprise a flap, respectively 68 and 69, which can bend at 90 ° relative to the plane of their respective side wall, to close the upper face of the module 51 The flaps 68 and 69 have a width I substantially equal to half the distance d separating the two parallel side walls 63 and 65 In addition, this width I is at most equal and preferably equal to the height 1 ^* 14 of the side walls

FIG. 4C illustrates the module 52 comprising the same elements as the module 51, with the difference that it is arranged in an inverted or inverted position relative to the module 51 Indeed, the two flaps 68 and 69 shown in FIG. 4B , closing the upper face of the module 51, close in FIG. 4C the lower face of the module 52 Thus, the flaps 68 and 69 of each of the modules 51 and 52, once folded at 90 ° relative to the plane of their side wall, constitute a separation between the two modules 51 and 52 superimposed in these particular positions. Still with reference to FIG. 4C, the two plates constituting the separation panel 67, each comprises a flap 70 and 71. These flaps 70 and 71 are parallel to the flaps 68 and 69 of the side walls 63 and 65. The width 1 of the flaps 70 and 71 is substantially equal to half the distance d which separates the two parallel side walls 63 and 65. The flaps 70 and 71 fold at 90 ° relative to the plane of the partition panel 67, towards the interior of the module 52, to close the upper face of the latter. These flaps 70 and 71 are further cut at the angles 72 of the plates of the partition panel 67, near the cross-pieces formed by the panel 67 and each of the side walls 62 and 64, so that, once folded at 90 °, isolate the face upper part of module 52, flaps 58 to 61 forming the cover of the box 50. Each flap 70 and 71 has a small flap respectively 74 and 75 which, folded at 90 ° relative to the plane of each flap 70 and 71, once that these same flaps are folded at 90 ° relative to the plane of the partition panel 67 towards the interior of the module 52, constitutes a locking system. The width hr of these small flaps 74 and 75 is substantially equal to the difference between the height 114 of the side walls 62 and 64 and the height 113 of the partition panels 66 and 67. The length Lr of each flap 74 and

75 is greater than the length L of the flaps 70 and 71 so as to form a tongue

76 and 77 at each end of a flap. Cut-outs are provided in the upper part of the ends of the parallel side walls 62 and 64, near the cross-pieces, so as to be able to receive the tongues 76 and 77 of the flaps. A tongue, for example 77, is housed in the cutout provided at the corner of the wall

62 near the cross located at the intersection of the walls 62 and 65 and the flap 74 is placed facing the side wall 65, in order to lock the flap 70 in the folded position at 90 ° relative to the partition panel 67.

The packaging thus mounted with the two modules 51 and 52 superimposed, provides eight storage spaces for the containers, four per module, the flaps 70 and 71 being folded as mentioned previously.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the packaging shown in FIG. 4. Here, with reference to FIGS. 5B and 5C, the flaps 68 and 69 are folded 180 ° relative to the plane of their side wall 63 and 65, towards the outside of each of the modules 51 and 52. The flaps 68 and 69 thus folded reinforce the side walls

63 and 65. In this variant, there is therefore no longer any separation at the upper face of the module 51 and the lower face of the module 52. The packaging thus formed then offers four storage spaces in total, each storage space having a height on two modules. If other modules were superimposed on the two previous ones, a new module would for example be placed on the module 52, with an appropriate body height 50, so that the bottom of this new module is well closed by flaps at the bottom. image of the shutters closing the upper face of the module 52 An infinite number of combinations could be envisaged with the superposition of several modules having an equivalent or different number of storage, or even with pairs of modules having a separation or not between them.

Other alternative embodiments using equivalent means also form part of the invention.

The packaging according to the invention has the advantages, from a unique concept comprising modules and removable elements, of being able to form several packages making it possible to contain containers in variable number and volume while ensuring damping properties for exceptional shocks.

Shock absorption tests were carried out as follows. Three series of packaging according to the embodiments shown respectively in Figures 1, 2 and 4 were used for these tests.

A first series of basic packaging such as that shown in Figure 1, is prepared according to the conditions of the test. Two containers of hazardous materials, in the form of glass bottles, are each placed in a plastic film bag such as polyethylene. The bags are closed with a tie such as a twisted wire or a ribbon made of polyamide fibers (such as the material sold under the brand Rilsan). The two bags thus closed are placed next to each other, at a distance of at least 15 millimeters from each other, in the module 2 itself arranged inside the box 1 Expanded vermiculite is then distributed in all the remaining empty spaces between the bags and the side walls 12 to 15 of module 2, and in the remaining empty spaces between the side walls 12 to 15 of module 2 and the bottom 3, the side walls 4 to 7 and shutters 8 to 1 1 closed forming a cover, of the body 1.

For each package of the second series, such as that shown in FIG. 2, four bags, each wrapping a container of hazardous materials, are prepared under the same conditions as those described above. The containers have a height of less than 150 millimeters. A bag is placed for storage, so two per module. Expanded vermiculite is distributed throughout the residual volume inside each module and inside the box comprising the two modules.

Finally, in the case of the packaging shown in Figure 4, for the third series, eight bags are prepared in exactly the same conditions as those described above. A bag is placed for storage, therefore four per module.

The test is carried out on five packages of each series.

There is a drop of 1.80 meters per package in each series. A package falls flat on the face corresponding to the cover of the box. Another package falls flat on the bottom of the box. Another package falls flat on a side wall of the box. Yet another package falls flat on a wall side of the body, arranged perpendicular to the aforementioned side wall. A last package falls on a corner of the box.

As a result of these tests, none of the bottles are broken. The packaging according to the invention has very good shock absorption and meets the standards required in the transport of dangerous goods.

Claims

1) Packaging for the transport of dangerous materials packaged in one or more containers, characterized in that it comprises.

- a parallelepipedic box (1, 20 or 50) in semi-rigid material such as cardboard,

- at least one module (2, 21 or 51) of semi-rigid material such as cardboard, comprising at least four assembled side walls ((12, 13, 14 and 15); (23, 24, 25 and 26) or ( 62, 63, 64 and 65)), said module (2, 21 or 51) of substantially rectangular section being arranged inside said box (1, 20 or 50) recessed with respect to the walls of said box, and the said container or containers being placed inside the module (2, 21 or 51), and

- a filling material made of expanded phyllosilicates, preferably expanded vermiculite, filling all the residual volume inside said box (1, 20 or 50) and said module (2, 21 or 51) comprising the said container or containers of materials dangerous

2) Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling material is expanded vermiculite in the form of grains whose particle size varies from about 0.3 to about 8 mm, preferably from about 1 to about 6 mm

3) Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned expanded vermiculite has a density in the range from about 70 to about 90 kg / m * - "

4) Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the side walls (12, 23 or 62) of said module (2,21 or 51), forms with another adjacent side wall (13, 24 or 63) , a spider (16) with short sides ((12a, 13a), (23a, 24a) or (62a, 63a)), the latter separating the side walls ((12, 13), (23, 24) or ( 62, 63)) of said module (2,21 or 51), of the side walls of the aforementioned body (1, 20 or 50)

5) Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said module (21 or 51) comprises one or more removable separation panels ((27 or (66,67)) made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard, arranged inside the module (21 or 51), each partition panel ((27 or (66,67)) forming with a perpendicular side wall (24 and 26) or ((63, 65), (62, 64) ), a crosspiece

6) Packaging according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that two parallel side walls ((24 and 26) or (63 and 65)) of said module (21 or 51) are respectively provided with at least one flap ((30 and 32) or (68 and 69)) of width 1 substantially equal to half the distance d separating the two aforementioned parallel side walls and preferably at most equal to the height h2 of a side wall, said flaps ((30 and 32) or (68 and 69)) which can be folded 90 ° towards the interior of the module (21 or 51) to close an upper or lower face of said module.

7) Packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that each of the two parallel side walls (24, 26) mentioned above are respectively provided with at least two flaps ((30, 35); (32, 36)) arranged on the side and on the other side of said wall (24, 26), the set of flaps that can be folded 90 ° towards the interior of the module (21, 22) to close the lower and upper faces of said module and in that said module ( 21, 22) comprises a single partition panel (27) arranged perpendicular to the fold lines of said flaps (30, 32, 35 and 36).

8) Packaging according to claim 7, characterized in that the aforementioned parallel side walls (24, 26) are provided on one side with a single flap (35, 36), and on the other side with two flaps adjacent ((30, 31) and (32, 33)), these two adjacent flaps can be folded 90 ° towards the interior of the module to close one of the lower or upper faces of said module on either side of the panel partition (27) and which can be folded 180 ° towards the outside of the module to reinforce said parallel side walls (24, 26).

9) Packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that the aforementioned module (51, 52) comprises two perpendicular separation panels (66 and 67) forming a cross, at least one of the separation panels (67) consisting of two plates , each of the plates being provided on one of its sides with a flap (70, 71), each of said flaps (70, 71) being able to be folded at 90 ° towards the interior of the module (51, 52) to close a face lower or upper of said module, the opposite upper or lower face of said module being able to be closed by shutters (68 and 69) integral with the two side walls (63 and 65) of said module (5 1, 52) and parallel to said partition panel ( 67) provided with flaps (70 and 71).

10) Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two modules ((21 and 22) or (51 and 52)) superimposed.

1 1) Packaging according to one of claims 8 or 9 and claim 10, characterized in that the two modules are superimposed so that the fold lines of the flaps ((30 to 33) or (68 and 69)) of the walls parallel sides ((24 and 26) or (63 and 65)) of a module, are contiguous with the fold lines of the corresponding flaps of the other module, said flaps being able to be folded either 90 ° towards the interior of the module, i.e. 180 ° outwards from the module.

12) Parallelepipedic module ((21, 22) or (51, 52)), in semi-rigid material such as cardboard, for a packaging intended for the transport of dangerous materials conditioned in several containers, characterized in that it comprises:

- four side walls ((23,24,25 and 26) or (62, 63, 64 and 65)) joined to each other in a cross, two parallel side walls ((24 and 26) or (63 and 65)) being respectively provided with at least one flap ((30, 32) or (68, 69)) of width I substantially equal to half the distance d between the two parallel side walls ((24 and 26) or (63 and 65) above) and preferably at most equal to the height h2 or 1X4 of a side wall (23 or 62 ), said flaps being able to be folded 90 ° towards the interior of the module ((21, 22) or (51, 52)) to close an upper or lower face of said module, and

- at least one removable partition panel ((27 or (66, 67)) disposed inside said module ((21, 22) or (51, 52)), said partition panel ((27 or (66, 67)) being assembled in a cross perpendicular to two parallel side walls ((24 and 26) or (63 and 65, 62 and 64)).

13) Module according to claim 12, characterized in that the braces are formed by means of cutouts forming notches provided in said parallel side walls and said partition panels

14) Module according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises a partition panel (27) disposed perpendicular to the side walls (24 and 26) above provided with flaps (30, 32) and in that each of said walls side (24 and 26) is provided on one side with a flap (35, 36) and on the other side with one or two adjacent flaps ((30, 31); (32, 33)) which can be folded on either side of the separation panel (27), all of the aforesaid flaps (30 to 36) being able to be folded 90 ° towards the interior of the module (21 or 22) to close the upper and lower faces of said module

15) Module according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises two perpendicular separation panels (66 and 67) forming a spider inside the module (51 or 52) and in that one of the panels partition (67) parallel to the side walls (63 and 65) consists of two plates, each plate being provided with a flap (70, 71), the width 1 of said flap (70, 71) being substantially equal to half of the distance d separating the parallel side walls (63 and 65) provided with flaps (68 and 69), the set of flaps (68 to 71) being able to be folded 90 ° towards the interior of the module (51 or 52) to close the lower and upper face of said module.

16) Module according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the flaps ((35 and 36) or (70 and 71)) respectively have a small flap ((37 and 38) or (75 and 76)) having a length Lr greater than the length L of each of the flaps ((35, 36) or (70 and 71)) and a width hr substantially equal to the difference in height (h2 - hi) or 14 - 113) between the side walls (23 or 62) and the partition panels (27 or (66, 67)), said small flaps constituting locking systems