EP4045430B1 - Pallet container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pallet container for storing and transporting liquid or free-flowing goods with a thin-walled rigid inner container made of thermoplastic material, with a tubular lattice frame tightly enclosing the plastic inner container as a supporting jacket and made of horizontal and vertical tubular bars welded together, and with a floor pallet on which the plastic inner container rests and to which the tubular lattice frame is firmly connected, with two rod-shaped crossbars being provided above the plastic inner container, which have both ends on two opposite side walls in the upper area of the tubular lattice frame are attached.

The rod-shaped crossbeams are intended to prevent excessive bulging of the plastic inner container or its top floor with a central screw cap, especially in the event of transport shocks and dynamic vibrations, and also serve, among other things, to secure the plastic inner container in the tubular lattice frame on the floor pallet in the event of the pallet container accidentally tipping over and to prevent it from slipping out of the tubular lattice frame. To enable easy replacement of the plastic inner container for multiple use of the pallet container, the crossbars are detachably attached at both ends in the upper area of the tubular lattice frame, usually screwed.

Such a pallet container with two parallel crossbeams is z. B. from the publication WO 2012085940 A2 known. At one in print DE 44 25 630 A1 In the pallet container described, four crossbeams are provided, with two diagonally crossing crossbeams each covering one half of the plastic inner container. More pallet containers are out WO2004096660 A1 and US2016376059 A1 known.

problem:

If pallet containers are used for storing and transporting hazardous liquid goods such as e.g. B. aggressive chemicals are to be used, then these pallet containers require a so-called dangerous goods approval from a national official testing agency, in Germany this is the BAM (Federal Institute for Materials Testing). To one To obtain such dangerous goods approval, the different types of pallet containers are subjected to a special design test with different load conditions such as e.g. B. subjected to an internal pressure test, drop test and vibration test. In the vibration test, strong transport loads (shocks, shocks) are simulated on a filled pallet container. The column of liquid in the plastic inner container can experience strong dynamic vibrations. These vibrations cause strong alternating loads on the side walls of the plastic inner container and are transmitted directly to the tubular lattice frame that tightly encloses the plastic inner container as a supporting jacket. Since a pallet container usually has two longer and two shorter side walls, the two longer opposite side walls are loaded to a greater extent and are therefore stabilized by the overarching crossbeams. The top floor of the plastic inner container also performs strong dynamic up and down vibrations, which affect the crossbeams. If the top floor bulges upwards, the well-known straight crossbars running parallel to one another are pushed upwards and strong tensile stresses act on the two attachment points of the crossbars on the tubular lattice frame between the opposite side walls of the tubular lattice frame, whereby the upper area of the tube -Grid frame is pulled inwards. When the top floor is lowered, the opposite side walls of the plastic inner container and the tubular lattice frame bulge outwards, with the upper area of the tubular lattice frame also being pressed outwards. In this case, the crossbeams are in turn subjected to a large tensile load with their two attachment points. This alternating load is repeated at high frequency over a long period of time and exerts a grueling effect on the corresponding components of a pallet container.

Task:

It is the object of the present invention to reduce these disadvantageous tensile stresses and to intercept the effect of tensile stresses on the attachment points of the crossbeams and correspondingly on the upper area of the tubular lattice frame and to mitigate stress peaks.

Solution:

The intended reduction of disadvantageous tensile stresses is achieved in that the two rod-shaped transverse members are designed as elastic spring elements. Due to the elastic design of the two crossbeams as spring elements, the rigid connection of previously standard linear crossbeams with the opposite side walls of the tubular lattice frame is dissolved and a limited elasticity is "built into" the upper level of the tubular lattice frame. If the top panel bulges upwards, the tensile forces that occur on the two attachment points of the crossbeams are reduced and the upper area of the tubular lattice frame is pulled inwards less. If the plastic inner container buckles to the side and the associated outward bulging of the opposite side walls of the tubular lattice frame, the tensile forces occurring in the upper area of the tubular lattice frame are significantly reduced by the crossbeams designed as elastic spring elements and the operational safety of filled pallet containers during dynamic Transport loads noticeably increased.

According to the present invention, it is provided that the crossbeams designed as elastic spring elements are not formed to run linearly, but each have one or more arcuate sections. The actual length of the crossbeams between their two attachment points is greater than the direct distance between the two attachment points at the ends of the crossbeams in the upper area of the tubular lattice frame. Due to this structural design, the crossbeams are, on the one hand, flexible in their horizontal longitudinal direction under tensile loads - when the tubular lattice frame bulges outwards - and on the other hand they are also flexible under lateral pressure loads - due to upward bulging of the top floor of the plastic inner container - in designed to be flexible in the vertical direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, this is achieved in that the crossbars between their two attachment points are not designed to run linearly, but rather in an arc shape and have a comparatively large arc.

The formation of the two crossbeams as elastic spring elements is achieved in a preferred design by a curved shape with a large molded arc. The crossbars are - considered in the installed state - bent in the horizontal plane, the arcs each having a comparatively large radius and are directed outwards in the direction of the two opposite shorter side walls of the tubular lattice frame. In the installed state, the arched crossbars thus lie flat on the top floor of the plastic inner container, with the arches of the two crossbars being aligned pointing away from one another.

Expediently, the two crossbeams are each guided by a holding device in the form of a closed holding eye formed from the top floor of the plastic inner container. In a modified form, the holding devices formed from the top floor of the plastic inner container can also be designed as supporting pins that are open on one side. These trunnions, which are open on one side, are also referred to below as hook eyes.

The closed retaining lugs or the trunnions open on one side are arranged laterally next to the central filling opening of the plastic inner container, which can be closed by means of a screw cap, and the center of the arc of the two crossbars is located exactly under a retaining lug or a trunnion. The crossbeams with their curved shape can on the one hand be pushed up and down if the top floor bulges - e.g. B. also in an internal pressure or drop test - yield elastically in the vertical direction and adapt to the bulging, they almost "follow" the shape of the top floor.

In another embodiment of the invention, the crossbeams can also be equipped as elastic spring elements with two or three smaller curves with comparatively smaller radii.

The attachment points of the curved, arc-shaped cross members are - in comparison to previously used straight cross members - shifted further towards the center of the upper area of the tubular lattice frame, where the largest bulges with the greatest tensile loads occur and are to be intercepted.

During the vibration test, the arched crossbeam acts like an elastic spring. During the vibration, the top floor of the inner container vibrates up and down. At their upper and lower end points, these vibrations cause the straight crossbeams that have been customary up to now to bend elastically upwards and downwards, which is directly translated into a shortening of the distance between the attachment points. Due to this reduction in distance, the tubular lattice frame is pulled significantly inwards in the upper area with each lift. With the new "spring solution", which is also flexible in the longitudinal direction, a significantly reduced deformation and thus a reduced load on the pallet container is achieved at the upper edge of the tubular lattice frame.

In order to obtain optimal elasticity and resilience of the crossbeams, it is provided that the length of the crossbeams according to their arc line between their two attachment points is between 1% and 5% greater than the direct distance (corresponding to a chord) between the two attachment points. As a result, the size of the arch and the arched shape of the crossbars are realized as an elastic spring element.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the two ends of the crossbars are strongly pinched in the radial direction, directly into the pinches a corresponding internal thread, z. B. M8 is formed and the two ends of the cross members are frontally bolted to an upper horizontal or vertical tubular bar of the tubular lattice frame. For this embodiment variant, the two ends of the cross members are each screwed to the front of the upper end of two adjacent vertical tubular bars.

Figur 1

in perspektivischer Ansicht einen erfindungsgemäßen Palettencontainer,

Figur 2

eine vergrößerte Teil-Ansicht auf den oberen Bereich des erfindungsgemäßen Palettencontainers gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf eine als Federelement ausgebildete Quertraverse,

Figur 4

eine Seitenansicht auf eine andere Ausführungsform einer Quertraverse,

Figur 5

eine vergrößerte Teil-Ansicht auf den linken Endbereich der Quertraverse gemäß Figur 4,

Figur 6

eine vergrößerte Teil-Ansicht mit Anbindung einer Quertraverse an den oberen Bereich eines Rohr-Gitterrahmens,

Figur 7

in vergrößerter Teil-Ansicht den rechten Endbereich einer Quertraverse mit eingesetzter Schraubmutter,

Figur 8

eine vergrößerte Querschnitts-Teil-Ansicht mit einer stirnseitigen Verschraubung einer Quertraverse an den oberen Bereich des RohrGitterrahmens,

Figur 9

in Teil-Ansicht eine aus dem Oberboden des Kunststoff-Innenbehälters ausgeformte, über eine Quertraverse greifende Hakenöse (Tragzapfen) und

Figur 10

eine vergrößerte Querschnitts-Teil-Ansicht mit konventioneller Anbindung einer Quertraverse an den oberen Bereich des Rohr-Gitterrahmens

In another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a screw nut with an internal thread is firmly inserted into the two ends of the crossbeams and the crossbeams are screwed tightly to an upper horizontal or vertical tubular bar of the tubular lattice frame - so to speak, in the axial direction. The screw nut, which is firmly and permanently inserted into the crossbar designed as a hollow tube profile, can simply be pressed, pinched or welded. The invention is explained and described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

figure 1

a perspective view of a pallet container according to the invention,

figure 2

according to an enlarged partial view of the upper area of the pallet container according to the invention figure 1 ,

figure 3

a top view of a crossbar designed as a spring element,

figure 4

a side view of another embodiment of a cross member,

figure 5

according to an enlarged partial view of the left end area of the crossbeam figure 4 ,

figure 6

an enlarged partial view with connection of a crossbeam to the upper area of a tubular lattice frame,

figure 7

in an enlarged partial view the right end area of a crossbeam with the screw nut inserted,

figure 8

an enlarged partial cross-sectional view with a front screw connection of a crossbeam to the upper area of the tubular lattice frame,

figure 9

in a partial view of a hook eyelet (carrying pin) formed from the top floor of the plastic inner container and reaching over a crossbar and

figure 10

an enlarged cross-sectional partial view with conventional connection of a crossbeam to the upper area of the tubular lattice frame

In figure 1 an inventive pallet container 10 (also referred to as "IBC" = Intermediate Bulk Container) is shown for storing and transporting liquid or free-flowing filling goods. The pallet container 10 comprises a thin-walled, rigid plastic inner container 12 made of thermoplastic material, a tubular lattice frame 14 tightly enclosing the plastic inner container 12 as a supporting jacket and made of horizontal and vertical tubular rods 18, 20 welded together and a Bottom pallet 16, on which the plastic inner container 12 rests and with which the tubular lattice frame 14 is firmly connected. Provided above the plastic inner container 12 are two rod-shaped crossbeams 22 which are attached at both ends to two opposite side walls of the upper tubular lattice frame 14 . The two crossbeams 22 are designed as elastic spring elements 24 in a curved shape. The special structural design of the crossbeams 22 is characterized in that between their two attachment points 26, 28 they are not straight or linear but arc-shaped and have a comparatively large arc 34. The length of the crossbars 22 between their two attachment points 26, 28 is, in a completely unusual manner, greater than the direct distance between the two attachment points 26, 28 at the ends of the crossbars 22. In the present embodiment, the attachment points 26, 28 are at the ends of the crossbeams 22 are each arranged on two vertical rods just below the uppermost horizontally encircling tubular rod 18 between two opposite side walls of the tubular lattice frame 14 .

In this specific case, the length of the cross members 22 between their two attachment points 26, 28 is between 1% and 5%, preferably 3%, greater than the direct distance between the two attachment points 26, 28.

For standard pallet containers with a capacity of 600, 1000 or 1200 liters, which have the same width and length dimensions, the distance between the two attachment points 26, 28 from each other is approximately 960 mm and the effective length of the crossbeams 22 is approximately 993 mm. For the same standard pallet container, the arched crossbeams 22 should have a large arc radius of between 300 mm and 700 mm, preferably 500 mm.

The structural design of the invention described above is figure 2 can be seen in more detail in an enlarged section. It is clear that the arched crossbars 22 - in the installed state - lie flat on the top floor 38 of the plastic inner container 12 in the horizontal plane, with the large curves 34 of the two crossbars 22 being aligned pointing away from one another.

In a modified embodiment, it can be provided that the crossbars 22 are designed as elastic spring elements with two or three smaller arcs aligned in the horizontal plane with comparatively smaller radii.

In any case, the arched crossbars 22 - when installed - are each guided through a retaining eyelet 40 formed from the top floor 38 of the plastic inner container 12, the retaining eyelets 40 being arranged overlapping in the middle of the installed curved crossbars 22 (a different form the retaining eyelet is in figure 9 shown).

figure 3 shows a plan view of a curved crossbeam 22 designed as a spring element and having a large radius of curvature of approximately 500 mm. The crossbeams can be designed as a hollow tube with a round or square cross-section.

In a preferred embodiment, the transverse members 22, 42 have a round tubular profile with a diameter of between 16 mm and 24 mm, preferably 20 mm, and a wall thickness of between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.9 mm. According to another type of construction, the transverse members 22, 42 can also have a square tube profile with a side length between 14 mm and 20 mm, preferably 16 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.9 mm .

In figure 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a crossbeam with 2 arches 42, which in their end areas - viewed in the installed state - each have a downwardly formed small arch 36 with a comparatively small radius and upward-pointing ends and (as in figure 8 can be seen in detail) are each screwed at the front from below against the uppermost circumferential horizontal tubular bar 18 . One end of the crossbar with 2 arches 42 with small radius arches 36 formed downwards is shown in an enlarged partial view in FIG figure 5 shown. A screw nut 30 with an internal thread 44 (e.g. M8 or M10) is firmly inserted into the open ends of the hollow tube profile of the crossbeam with 2 arches 42 (see also figure 7 ). The screw nut 30 that is permanently inserted can simply be pressed in, crimped or welded in.

A fastening option in which a threaded screw 48 is screwed into the end of the hollow tube profile of the crossbar 22 is shown in figure 6 apparent. The crossbeam 22 is just below the top horizontal tube 18 by means of the front side from the outside - in the horizontal direction - screwed screw 48 fixed to the upper flattened ends of two opposite vertical tubular bars 20.

figure 7 shows in a corresponding manner the open end of the hollow tube profile of the crossbeam 22 (with only one large bend) with a firmly inserted screw nut 30 with an internal thread 44. The crossbeam with 2 bends 42 is, as previously described, pressed at the front from below against the uppermost circumferential horizontal tube 18 of the tubular trellis frame is firmly but detachably screwed on.

Another fastening option with front-side screwing of the crossbeam with 2 arches 42 is shown in an enlarged view in figure 8 shown. The two ends of the crossbeams with 2 arches 42 are severely squeezed in the radial direction, with a corresponding internal thread 46 being formed directly in the squeezed portions 32 . The transverse traverses with 2 arches 42 with the smaller arches at their end regions are fixed at the front from below against the uppermost horizontal tubular rod 18 by means of a threaded screw 48 screwed in from above—in the vertical direction. Appropriately, the uppermost horizontal pipe rod 18 is slightly countersunk at the top of the borehole and the threaded screw 48 is designed as a flat head, countersunk head or pan head screw so that it does not protrude upwards. The constrictions 32 with a correspondingly formed internal thread 46 can, of course, also be implemented in the crossbar 22 (with only one large arc). The screw connections on the face side also have the advantage that the screw tip sits completely in the hollow tube profile of the crossbars 22, 42 and is covered, so that injuries can no longer occur as a result, as is often the case with open screw connections with protruding screw tips that have been customary up to now was.

Straight trusses that have been customary up to now can only be screwed to the front with screws directly in the central axis with difficulty. When tightening the screws, the traverse rotates and it must be fixed for assembly. This fixation is not necessary with the arched shape of the crossbeams.

As previously mentioned, the curved transverse members 22 are guided—in the installed state—in each case through a retaining eyelet 40 formed from the top floor 38 of the plastic inner container 12 . In another embodiment, the retaining eyes 40 can also be designed as supporting pins 50 open on one side (also referred to as hook eyes), as is shown in figure 9 is shown. The arched cross members 22 are overlapped and fixed centrally from the outside to the inside by the support pins 50, which are solidly formed by thickening the material.

The differently designed versions of the crossbars 22, 42 allow a different design of the attachment of the two ends of the crossbars 22, 42 on the upper tubular lattice frame 14. In addition to the frontal attachments described, the ends 52 of the crossbars 22, 42 - in a manner known per se - also be flattened, placed around the top horizontal bar of the tubular lattice frame 14 and screwed by means of a threaded screw 54 below the top horizontal tube bar 18, as is shown in figure 10 is evident.

In a combined form, the transverse members 22, 42 can also be designed as elastic spring elements with two smaller arcs aligned in the vertical plane with comparatively smaller radii and one, two or three smaller arcs aligned in the horizontal plane with comparatively smaller radii. Such a shape can be of interest for a torque-neutral design. Within the scope of the present invention, the described configurations of the crossbeams and the fastening options can be simply combined with one another or exchanged for one another, as far as this is technically possible.

Conclusion: Due to the inventive design of the crossbeams 22, 42 as elastic spring elements, the upper area of the tubular lattice frame 14 can be protected in a comparatively simple manner in a pallet container 10 against the adverse effects of transport vibrations and dynamic shock loads and operational safety can be increased when handling filled pallet containers are increased.

reference number list

10

pallet container

12

Plastic inner container

14

tubular lattice frame

16

floor pallet

18

horizontal tube bars (14)

20

Vertical Tube Bars (14)

22

crossbeam

24

spring element (22)

26

attachment point (22)

28

opposite attachment point (22)

30

nut (22)

32

crushing (22)

34

big bow (22)

36

small bow (22)

38

top floor (12)

40

retaining eyelet (38)

42

Crossbeam 2 arches

44

internal thread (30)

46

internal thread (32)

48

threaded screw (30, 32)

50

Hook eyelet or trunnion (38, 12)

52

End of crossbeam (22, 42)

54

threaded screw (22, 42)

Claims (17)

1. A pallet container (10) for storing and transporting fluid or flowable filling materials, having a thin-walled, rigid plastics inner container (12) made from thermoplastic plastics material, having a tubular grid frame (14) which tightly surrounds the plastics inner container (12) as a supporting covering and which comprises horizontal and vertical tubular rods (18, 20) which are welded to each other, and having a base pallet (16) on which the plastics inner container (12) is positioned and to which the tubular grid frame (14) is securely connected, wherein two rod-shaped transverse cross-members (22) are provided above the plastics inner container (12) and are fixed with the two ends thereof to two mutually opposite side walls in the upper region of the tubular grid frame (14),
   characterized in that
   the two rod-like transverse cross-members (22, 42) are constructed as resilient spring elements (24) in that the two rod-like transverse cross-members (22, 42) are not formed so as to extend in a linear manner, but each have one or more curved portions.
2. The pallet container (10) as claimed in claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the length of the transverse cross-members (22, 42) between the two fixing locations (26, 28) thereof is constructed to be greater than the direct spacing of the two fixing locations (26, 28) of the transverse cross-members (22, 42) at the ends thereof in the upper region of the tubular grid frame (14).
3. The pallet container (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the transverse cross-members (22) are constructed not to be linear between the two fixing locations (26, 28) thereof but instead curved and have a comparatively large curve (34).
4. The pallet container (10) as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3,
   characterized in that
   the transverse cross-members (22) - when viewed in the fitted state - are bent in the horizontal plane, wherein the large curves (34) are directed in each case outward in the direction of the two opposing shorter side walls of the tubular grid frame (14), wherein the arcuately curved transverse cross-members (22) are positioned flat on the upper base (38) of the plastics inner container (12) and the large curves (34) of the two transverse cross-members (22) are orientated so as to be directed away from each other.
5. The pallet container (10) as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4,
   characterized in that
   the length of the transverse cross-members (22) is constructed between the two fixing locations (26, 28) thereof between 1% and 5%, preferably 3%, greater than the direct spacing between the two fixing locations (26, 28).
6. The pallet container (10) as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5,
   characterized in that
   the spacing of the two fixing locations (26, 28) for standard pallet containers having a filling volume of 600, 1000 or 1200 liters is approximately 960 mm and the effective length of the transverse cross-members (22) is approximately 993 mm.
7. The pallet container (10) as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,
   characterized in that
   the curved transverse cross-members (22) for standard pallet containers having a filling volume of 600, 1000 or 1200 liters have a large radius of curvature between 300 mm and 700 mm, preferably 500 mm.
8. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that
   the two ends of the transverse cross-members (22, 42) are strongly compressed and an internal thread (46) is directly formed in the compressed portions (32), and the two ends of the transverse cross-members (22, 42) are securely screwed on the end face to an upper horizontal or vertical tubular rod (18) of the tubular grid frame (14).
9. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that
   a threaded nut (30) having an internal thread (44) is inserted at the end face in both ends of the transverse cross-members (22, 42) and are screwed in a secure manner on the end face to an upper horizontal or vertical tubular rod (18) of the tubular grid frame (14).
10. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the two ends of the transverse cross-members (22, 42) are screwed in each case at their end face to the upper region of two adjacent vertical tubular rods (20).
11. The pallet container (10) as claimed in claim 1, 2, 5 or 6,
    characterized in that
    the transverse cross-members with two curves (42) are constructed not to be linear between the two fixing locations (26, 28) thereof and instead have at the two ends thereof a small - when viewed in the fitted state - downwardly formed curve (36) having a comparatively small radius and are in each case screwed with their end faces from below against the uppermost circumferential horizontal tubular rod (18).
12. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 11,
    characterized in that
    the transverse cross-members (22, 42) have a round tubular profile with a diameter between 16 mm and 24 mm, preferably 20 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.9 mm.
13. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 12,
    characterized in that
    the transverse cross-members (22, 42) have a square tubular profile with a side length between 14 mm and 20 mm, preferably 16 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.9 mm.
14. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, 5, 6, 8 - 10 and 12,
    characterized in that
    the transverse cross-members (22) are constructed as resilient spring elements having two or three smaller curves which are orientated in a horizontal plane with smaller radii in comparison.
15. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, 5, 6, 8 - 10, 12 and 14,
    characterized in that
    the transverse cross-members (42) are constructed as resilient spring elements having two smaller curves which are orientated in a vertical plane and which have smaller radii in comparison and two or three smaller curves which are orientated in the horizontal plane and which have smaller radii in comparison.
16. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 15,
    characterized in that
    the arcuately curved transverse cross-members (22, 42) - in the fitted state - are guided in each case through a retaining lug (40) which is formed from the upper base (38) of the plastics inner container (12) and the retaining lugs (40) are arranged in the center of the arcuately curved transverse cross-members (22, 42).
17. The pallet container (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 15,
    characterized in that
    the arcuately curved transverse cross-members (22, 42) - in the fitted state - are guided in each case below a hook lug (50) which is formed from the upper base (38) of the plastics inner container (12) and the hook lugs (50) are arranged in the center of the arcuately curved transverse cross-members (22, 42)

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