Testing device and method for testing containers

Claim 1

A testing device for a container having upper and lower connector elements located at the upper and lower corners of said container, each connector element including at least one horizontal extending recess, a lifting device connected to the upper connector elements for lifting the container and for effecting exertion of an upward reactive force on said upper connector elements, said testing device comprising a horizontal support surface and a plurality of supports located on said surface, each of said supports including a base, a support pedestal on said base extending upwardly relative thereto, said pedestal of each support including an arm and strut means connected to said arm, said arm and said strut means being hingedly connected to said base in opposed and spaced relation to each other such that said strut means extends diagonally upwardly from said base, said arm having an opening alignable with the recess of a lower connector element of the container, the opening being disposed above said support surface, said strut means including longitudinally adjustable means for effecting hinged movement of said arm relative to said base and alignment of the opening of said arm with the recess of a lower connector element, and removable connecting means receivable in the opening of each arm and the aligned recess of each lower connector element for connecting the arms to the lower connector elements of the container in order that the lower connector elements of the container support the container above and in spaced relation to said surface so that testing of the lower connector elements of the container is effected as the lifting device is lowered relative to the container.

Claim 9

A method of testing the lifting capability of a container carrying a test load and having connector elements located at the upper and lower corners of the container, each connector element including a horizontally extending recess, a plurality of supports on a support surface, each one of the supports having a base and an arm hingedly connected to and disposed above the base, each arm having an opening alignable with the recess of a lower connector element, a lifting device connected to the recess of each one of the upper connector elements, said method comprising the steps of: aligning the recesses of the lower connector elements with the openings of the arms of said supports as the lifting device is connected to the recesses of the upper connector elements and suspends the container above the support surface, inserting removable connecting elements in the aligned openings and recesses of the arms and lower connector elements for connecting the container to the supports, and lowering the lifting device along with the container in order that the container is supported by said removable connecting elements at the lower connector elements of the container such that the container is disposed above and spaced from the support surface and such that each one of said removable connecting elements exerts a diagonally upwardly extending reactive force against a lower connector element of the container.

Claim 10

A method of testing the lifting capability of a container carrying a test load and having connector elements located at the upper and lower corners of the container, each connector element including a horizontally extending recess, a plurality of supports on a support surface, each one of the supports having a base and an arm hingedly connected to and disposed above the base, each arm having an opening alignable with the recess of a lower connector element, a lifting device connected to the recess of each one of the upper connector elements, said method comprising the steps of: aligning the recesses of the lower connector elements with the openings of the arms of said supports as the lifting device is connected to the recesses of the upper connector elements and suspends the container above the support surface, inserting removable connecting elements in the aligned openings and recesses of the arms and lower connector elements for connecting the container to the supports, and lowering the lifting device along with the container in order that the container is supported by said removable connecting elements at the lower connector elements of the container such that the container is disposed above and spaced from the support surface and such that each one of said removable connecting elements exerts a diagonally upwardly extending reactive force against a lower connector element of the container.