FR2657065A1 - Support pallet for cable drum (reel) - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a support pallet for a cable drum, which will be applied in particular in the field of goods handling and transportation. According to the invention, the support pallet (1) is constituted by two longitudinal members (3 and 4) mounted on skids (5) and connected by cross-pieces (6). Furthermore, it comprises two transverse supports (7) fixed to the longitudinal members (3 and 4) and which serve as a support for the drum. All the elements used are preferably constituted by mechanically welded metal profiles. The support surfaces (7) are oriented such that they are tangential with respect to the drum. The invention relates to the metal construction industry.

Description

 The invention relates to a support pallet for cable drum. It will find its application in particular in the field of handling and transport of cable or wire packaged in rolls on a reel.

 The industrial packaging of flexible linear products such as pipe, electric cable, steel wire or other, is preferably done by winding the product on a reel. The dimensions of the drum depend of course on standard sales conditions. The producer and the user jointly determine the size most appropriate to the needs.

 In the context of the present invention, the example chosen to illustrate it is in the field of noble metal wire used for the preparation of special steels. In metallurgy, more and more frequently, the contribution of the noble metal for the production of special steels is done in wire form and no longer in powder form.

A determined length of calibrated filler wire is introduced during the special steel production cycle to give it special properties.

 Companies specializing in the production of noble metal filler wire package their product on a reel which weighs between three and five tonnes. This product being both fragile and precious, it is important to take great precautions when handling it.

 Currently, the drums are arranged on wooden pallets where shims are fixed to immobilize the drum on the pallet. The advantage of the pallet is that it makes it possible to handle the wire drums using a forklift truck. The transport of the reel on a pallet can be done on a simple truck platform, which offers the advantage of great simplicity. On the other hand, there are several defects linked to the use of a wooden pallet.

First of all, it has to be built in a special way with many assemblies of small pieces of wood, which makes the pallet relatively expensive and complex. This defect is all the more penalizing that, very often, the wooden pallet is considered as a lost packaging and therefore its manufacturing cost is directly deducted from the price of the product. Indeed, in many cases, the shipment of filler metal wires is done at long distance and it is not economically profitable to organize the return of the packaging which would be consigned.

 In addition, the wooden pallets are rather fragile and there is frequent breakage during unloading, which causes loss of time and possibly degradation of the product. The solution to avoid these inconveniences would of course be to use very solid wooden pallets, in which case the sections should be large and this would have a direct impact on the price.

 We can also criticize the current packaging on wooden pallet forcing the user to directly handle the reel to place it on the wire unwinding machine. This manipulation at the place of use is not always easy, in particular it is necessary to have hoists or specialized handling means for directly handling the reel.

 The main object of the present invention is to present a support pallet for cable reel, which offers the advantage of being at least as economical if not more than existing pallets as regards their cost of construction with above all better solidity. , which eliminates any risk of accident, in particular breakage of the pallet during handling or transport and a better guarantee of product protection on a reel.

 The advantages of the traditional pallet are maintained with regard to the ease of handling with a forklift since, in the case of the present invention, the geometry of the proposed pallet offers four entries.

 Whatever the position of the forks inserted in the pallet, guarantees are offered so that no risk of contact of the forks with the wire can be produced accidentally.

 Thanks to a recommended construction of the pallet by mechanically welded assembly of metal parts, it enjoys great resistance and a reduced manufacturing cost. The installation of an adequate coating also avoids any risk of oxidation.

 Another object of the present invention is to present a support pallet for cable drum which allows, in addition to the traditional static storage of the product, also dynamic storage, that is to say in which the drum can be unwound to employ directly the wire. This is an important advantage since you gain handling at the site of use where the reel does not have to be handled alone.

 Another object of the present invention is to present a support pallet for a drum compatible with stacking storage. Indeed, to facilitate the storage of the product on a reduced surface, it is sometimes advantageous to be able to stack the cable drums. The first solution to do this is to use specialized shelving which has compartments in which the pallets can be placed. This solution is however expensive and the advantage of the pallet of the present invention is that stacking can be done without infrastructure, which is economical and practical, all the more since the stacking proposed is compatible with dynamic storage at height, which allows direct use of the reel wire placed high up.

 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear in the course of the description which follows which is however given only for information.

 The support pallet for cable reel which will find its application in the field of handling and transport, is characterized by the fact that it consists of - two longitudinal members mounted on pads and connected by crosspieces, - two transverse supports fixed on the side rails and which serve as a support for the reel.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by attached drawings, among which
- Figure 1 shows schematically a pallet supporting a cable reel,
FIG. 2 represents the positioning of the various elements constituting a support pallet according to the present invention,
- Figure 3 shows schematically in longitudinal section the establishment of the cable drum on the pallet,
FIG. 4 represents the support pallet in front view,
FIG. 5 shows a support pallet according to the present invention intended for the dynamic storage of the cable drum,
FIG. 6 represents the stacking of support pallets according to the present invention,
- Figure 7 illustrates the placement of stacking columns on the pallet to allow storage at height.

 The invention relates to a support pallet for cable drum, which will find its application in particular in the field of handling and transport.

 Although the support pallet of the present invention can find numerous applications in different fields of activity, it has been more specifically designed to receive drums of noble metallic wires for the production of special steels.

 Generally, this type of wire reel weighs between three and five tonnes and is intended to be shipped over long distances by a wide variety of means of transport.

 These noble metal wires are precious and fragile, which means that great care must be taken in their packaging. Currently, it consists of a wooden support pallet formed by an assembly of different parts fixed by nailing. For economic reasons, the dimensions of the parts are calculated as accurately as possible, which sometimes leads to pallet breaks more particularly encountered during unloading of the product.

This damage causes loss of time and can also damage the wire. It is difficult to find a compromise between good solidity of wooden pallets and an acceptable cost price.

 In its basic version, the support pallet for cable reel of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1 under the reference (1) is in a traditional form, that is to say that the reel cable (2) rests on the upper part of the pallet (1) where it is immobilized in rotation. In addition, the underside of the support pallet is cleared to allow the introduction of the forks of a forklift. On this subject, preferably, the pallet has four entries to facilitate its taking.

 A preferred embodiment of the support pallet of the invention is illustrated in Figure 2. The support pallet (1) consists of two beams (3 and 4) mounted on pads (5) and connected by crosspieces (6).

 For economic reasons, it is desirable to use parts in reduced number but sufficiently dimensioned to respond safely to the forces encountered. Thus it is preferable to use two crosspieces (6) placed at each end of the pallet rather than a higher number with reduced sections. In the example chosen, the side members (3 and 4) are cut from an L-shaped profile while the cross members (6) are cut from a tubular profile with a square section. This allows a mechanically welded, economical and resistant assembly from standard elements.

 The support pallet (1) also comprises two transverse supports (7) fixed on the side members (3 and 4) and on which the reel is intended to rest.

 Preferably, the pads (5) are in the form of a frame, as illustrated in FIG. 3, which shows the pallet (1) in view of longitudinal section. The pads (5) are preferably made by folding a flat welded to the base of the side members (3 and 4). The frame shape for the skids (5) is recommended to facilitate the introduction of the forks of a forklift. This geometry also makes it easy to secure the pallet to the ground using cables or support legs.

 The supports (7) are formed by tangential shims for the drum, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

That is to say that the bearing surface in contact with the drum (2) is not punctual but is preferably distributed. In the example chosen, the supports (7) are tubular profiles of square geometry and oriented so that the face (8) in contact with the drum (2) is tangent to the latter. Thus, the support constraints are lighter and it is even recommended to cover the surface of the two supports (7) with a soft material, such as PVC foam, to protect the product being transported.

 An additional geometrical precaution must be taken at this level during the construction of the pallet, for the spacing between the supports (7). I1 is indeed important that the height and spacing of the shims (7) are such that the lower part of the drum (2) is slightly raised relative to the lower part of the side members (3 and 4). This precaution is essential to protect the reel from any accidental contact with the forks of a forklift when they are inserted under the pallet. Indeed, when the pallet is taken longitudinally by a forklift, the forks come to rest at the base of the crosspieces (6) and it is not necessary that, in this position, they are in contact with the lower part of the drum (2). I1 is the same as regards the lower parts of the supports (7), it is not necessary that the forks of the forklift rest only on the supports without taking support under the crosspieces (6) because there would be a lack of load balance.

 In Figure 4, the pallet (1) is illustrated in longitudinal view where we can notice the fixing of the pads (5) on the lower wing of the angles used for the manufacture of the side members (3 and 4) with the setting place of sleepers (6) fixed in the inner part of said angles (3 and 4).

 FIG. 5 represents the support pallet of the present invention in a form designed to allow dynamic storage of the drum (2). This dynamic storage makes it possible in particular to unwind the wire or the cable from the reel (2) without having to undo the latter from the support pallet (1).

To do this, the two transverse supports (7) are this time in the form of free rollers fixed on the side members (3 and 4) and which allow the rotation of the reel (2) as shown schematically by the arrow in Figure 5 Given the weights involved, it is preferable to use rollers (7) mounted on bearings to facilitate rotation. Those skilled in the art can very easily determine the mounting of the bearings on a shaft fixed between the side members and which will serve as support for the free rollers (7). Of course, the dimensions of the rollers and their geometric position must be determined so that the lower part of the drum (2) is raised relative to the crosspieces (6) so that the forks of a forklift cannot come into contact with said drum. during movement of the support pallet (1).

 In certain applications, it may be advantageous to be able to stack the pallets without having recourse to a specialized infrastructure. The stacking of the support pallets of the present invention can be carried out as illustrated in FIG. 6. Moreover, this stacking is compatible with the dynamic storage of the drums (2), that is to say the setting in place of transverse supports (7) in the form of free rollers. To do this, the support pallets (1) have means for fixing stacking columns (9) which make it possible to support and position the upper pallet relative to the lower pallet. On this subject, it is perfectly possible to envisage making several floors.

 Although different solutions can be adopted, Figure 7 recommends the adoption of sleeves (10) fixed to the end of the side members (3 and 4) of each of the pallets and into which comes a column (9) whose ends (11) are profiled to be introduced into the sleeves (10). Pins not shown will ensure the locking of the removable fixing.

 By the reduced number of elements involved, the cost price of the pallet recommended according to the present invention is extremely reduced. The metal profiles used give it great robustness and an adequate coating eliminates the risk of corrosion.

 Although clearly superior in terms of resistance compared to a wooden pallet, the metal pallet of the present invention remains more economical and can be used as a lost package.

 Other implementations of the present invention, within the reach of ordinary skill in the art, could also have been envisaged without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (10)

 1. Support pallet for cable reel, which will find its application in the field of handling and transport, characterized by the fact that it consists of - two beams (3 and 4) mounted on pads ( 5) and connected by crosspieces (6), - two transverse supports (7) fixed on the side members (3 and 4) and which serve as support for the reel (2).  2. Pallet support for reel, according to claim 1, c a r a c t é r i s e in that the pads (5) are frame-shaped to allow the introduction of forklift forks.  3. Support pallet for reel, according to claim 1, c a r a c t é r i s e in that the supports (7) are formed by tangential shims for the reel (2).  4. Pallet of support for reel, according to claim 3, c a r a c t é r i s e in that the supports (7) are tubular profiles of square section, oriented to be tangent to the reel (2).  5. Pallet support for reel, according to claim 3, c a r a c t é r i s e in that the shims (7) are covered with a soft material such as PVC foam.  6. Pallet for reel support, according to claim 1, characterized in that the height and the spacing of the support shims (7) raise the reel (2) relative to the lower part of the crosspieces ( 6).  7. Pallet support for reel, according to claim 1, c a r a c t é r i s e in that the two transverse supports (7) are constituted by free rollers fixed on the side members (3 and 4).  8. Pallet of support for reel, according to claim 1, c a r a c t é r i s e in that it has fixing means for columns (9) stacking.  9. Support pallet for cable drum, according to claim 8, c a r a c t e r i s e in that the means are in the form of sleeves (10) fixed to the ends of the side members (3 and 4).  10. Support pallet for cable drum, according to claim 1, c a r a c t é r i s e in that the two beams (3 and 4) are in the form of L-shaped profiles.