FR2736415A1 - Support plinth for transporting goods - comprises rectangular frame delimited by four uprights, support surface being formed by cross members fixed inside frame, variable number of intermediate supports on surface immobilising goods - Google Patents

Abstract

The support plinth for the transportation of goods (M) comprises a rectangular rigid frame (3) delimited by four uprights (5). The plinth support surface is formed by an assembly of cross members (7) installed and fixed inside the frame. The goods are immobilised by a variable number of intermediate supports (10a,10b) connectable to all points of the support surface and immobilised on the cross members by removable bolts. Each cross member has a hollow rectangular section with an upper support surface having a T shaped groove (9) which extends along the whole of the cross member length. The cross members are parallel to each other and adjustable in position inside the frame. They can be welded at their ends to the frame. Each intermediate support comprises a base (12) surmounted by a support (14) and reinforcements (16).

Description

SUPPORT BASE FOR THE TRANSPORT OF MATERIAL
The invention relates to a support base for the transport of a material, this base comprising a bearing surface for receiving the material and fixing means for immobilizing the material on the base.

 In general, in the field of handling, the materials are most often packaged in one or more copies in packaging or cases. These packages are stacked on pallets, possibly covered with a protective plastic film, which are maneuvered by forklifts to then load them into a road, rail, sea and / or air transport vehicle depending on the place of destination. When these materials are not packaged, they are generally placed directly on a pallet or an intermediate support and possibly covered with a protective sheet, summarily attached.

 However, this type of handling is not always possible for all equipment. Indeed, certain materials which have relatively large dimensions do not always have a sufficient support surface to be able to rest in a stable manner on the ground or any support base. It is then necessary in this case to provide special bases adapted to the material considered. As a result, the solutions adopted for the transport of these materials are very heterogeneous, since they vary not only from one material to another but also from one industrialist to another.

 The object of the invention is to design a versatile support base which can be used for different materials not already packaged in packages, cases or containers, that is to say a support base designed independently of a type particular of material, knowing that by material one must in particular mean any industrial product, such as for example spare parts, accessories, etc.

 To this end, the invention provides a support base for the transport of equipment, this base comprising a support surface for receiving the material and means for immobilizing the material on the base, which is characterized in that the base consists of at least one rigid frame of generally rectangular shape delimited by uprights, in that the support surface of the base is formed by a set of cross members mounted inside the frame and integral with the latter, and in that the means for immobilizing the equipment comprise intermediate supports, in variable number, which can be attached at any point of the bearing surface and immobilized on the crosspieces by removable fixing means.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, each cross member is of substantially rectangular cross section with a bearing face or upper face comprising an inverted T-shaped groove extending substantially over the entire length of the cross member.

 In general, each intermediate support comprises a base surmounted by a support structure or attachment of the material, this base being pierced by at least one orifice facing the groove of a crosspiece to cooperate with a means fixing which immobilizes the intermediate support on the cross, this fixing means being for example a bolt which comprises a head engaged in the groove of the cross and movable along it, a threaded rod projecting out of the groove pass through the hole in the intermediate support, and a nut screwed to the free end of the threaded rod.

 Advantageously, each intermediate support can comprise at least a second orifice for the passage of a locking screw whose rod is screwed into the bottom of the groove of a cross member to perfect the immobilization of the intermediate support on the cross member.

 In general, the sleepers are arranged parallel to each other, each sleeper being adjustable in position in the frame of the support to modify the space separating two consecutive sleepers, and intermediate sleepers forming a complementary bearing surface can be provided between two consecutive sleepers.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the support base also comprises a protective bell intended to cover the material, this bell being detachably fixed on the uprights delimiting the frame of the base.

 In general, each upright delimiting the frame of the base has a substantially rectangular cross section with a bearing face or upper face comprising an inverted T-shaped groove extending substantially over the entire length of the upright, and the bell comprises on its peripheral periphery an external rim which is pierced with a plurality of orifices coming opposite the grooves of the uprights of the frame to cooperate with removable fixing means for immobilizing the bell on the frame of the base.

 According to an important advantage of the invention, the support base can receive any type of material, knowing that the rigid frame of the base can be sized according to the dimensions of a particular material.

 According to another advantage of the invention, materials of different types can be received on the same support base, only the shape and the number of intermediate supports can vary from one material to another.

 According to yet another advantage of the invention, the support base can be indifferently used for road, rail, sea and / or air transport, knowing that the lower or lower surfaces of the frame and / or crosspieces can be equipped with rolling or guiding means to facilitate their boarding, in particular in an airplane.

Other advantages, characteristics and details of the invention will emerge from the explanatory description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings, given solely by way of example and in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, with partial cutaway of a support base according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support base surmounted by a protective bell,
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view to illustrate the means for fixing the intermediate supports mounted on the base and of the protective cover attached to the base, and
- Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of a complementary means for fixing an intermediate support on the base.

 The support base 1, as illustrated in perspective in FIG. 1, is constituted by at least one rigid frame 3 of generally rectangular shape which is delimited by four uprights 5, and by a plurality of crosspieces 7 which are mounted on the 'inside the frame 3 and fixed to the latter to form a support surface S intended to directly or indirectly support a material M which is shown schematically in broken lines.

 As can be seen in FIG. 3, each upright 5 of the frame 3 is constituted by a hollow section with a straight section of generally rectangular shape and which has two substantially planar faces 5a and 5b opposite one another and two lateral faces 5c. The flat face 5a or upper face has a longitudinal groove 6 in the shape of an inverted T which extends substantially over the entire length of the upright 5 and the function of which will be explained below. The four uprights 5 are assembled two by two by welding with the interposition of an ISO 8 corner, standardized and known per se.

Each cross member 7 is constituted by a hollow section with a straight section of generally rectangular shape and which has two substantially planar faces 7a and 7b opposite one another and two lateral faces 7c. The flat face 7a or upper face of each cross member 7 forms part of the bearing surface
S, while the opposite face 7b or lower face forms a part of the bearing surface of the frame 3 on the ground or on an intermediate surface.

 The upper face 7a of a cross-member 7 and preferably of all the cross-members 7, has a longitudinal groove 9 in the shape of an inverted T which extends substantially over the entire length of the cross-member 7. The cross-members 7 are arranged in parallel to the others but without necessarily being regularly spaced from one another, in a direction substantially parallel to that defined by two opposite uprights 5 of the frame 3. Each cross member 7 can be fixed, at each end, to the frame 3 of the base by welding, by example.

 The support surface S delimited by the upper faces 7a of the crosspieces 7 is intended to receive intermediate supports 10a and 10b in variable number and at any point of the surface S.

 Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the intermediate supports 10a and 10b each comprise a base 12 surmounted by a support or support structure 14 with possibly, in the case of the intermediate support 10a, the presence of reinforcing means 16 .

 Each base 12 of an intermediate support 10a or 10b can have any shape but it is always equipped with means making it possible to fix the intermediate support 10a or 10b on one or more crosspieces 7 according to its degree of size. These means can simply be holes or orifices 18 drilled in the base 12. These holes 18 are arranged so that at least some of them come opposite or in line with a groove 9 of minus a cross member 7, once the intermediate support 10a or 10b is positioned on the bearing surface S.

Thus, by means of a bolt 20 for example, it is possible to immobilize each intermediate support îOa or lOb on the base 1. More precisely, the bolt 20 comprises
a head 20a, the dimensions of which are such that it can be introduced freely inside the groove 9 of a cross-member 7 and slide along the latter,
a threaded rod 20b which projects out from the groove 9 to engage through a hole 18 in the base 12, and
- A nut 20c attached to the threaded rod 20b to immobilize the intermediate support lOa or lOb.

 To perfect the immobilization of an intermediate support îOa or lOb on a cross member 7, it can also be provided, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 4, a fixing screw 21 which crosses a hole 18 of the base 12 and whose threaded rod penetrates into the groove 9 of a cross-member 7 so as to be screwed into the bottom of this groove 9.

 The structure 14 which surmounts the base of an intermediate support îOa or lOb is generally adapted to the type of material M considered. In general, this structure 14 is designed to partially support the material M which does not necessarily have direct contact with the bearing surface S of the base 1. The structure 14 can also fulfill the function of a wedge which bears against the material M, and it is not necessarily rigid because it can be constituted by a strap attached around the material M, for example.

 Advantageously, the bases 12 can be designed in a standard manner, while the structures 14 which are adapted to the material M considered, can be removably attached to these bases 12.

 In FIGS. 1 and 5, the equipment M is for example the engine of a rolling vehicle. In this example, the intermediate support 10a is used as a support for supporting and fixing the motor, while the intermediate support 10b is only a support for support. Of course, the number of these intermediate supports varies according to the dimensions and the shape of the engine.

 To be able to manipulate the support base 1 by means of a forklift, the two opposite uprights 5 of the frame 3, which extend perpendicular to the crosspieces 7, have openings 22 to allow the forks of the carriage to pass freely, these openings 22 lying between the crosspieces 7.

 The support base 1 is also designed to receive a protective bell 25 which is attached and removably fixed to the frame 3 to form a container C. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the bell 25 is for example of shape rectangular parallelepiped with an external size substantially equal to that presented by the frame 3. The periphery of the opening of the bell 25 is delimited by four sections 26 assembled by welding, each section 26 having a cross section in the shape of an inverted T which has a central core 26a with, at one end, an inner rim 26b and an outer rim 26c. The lateral envelope of the bell 25 is formed by four walls 27 which each extend over substantially the entire length of a profile 26 in bearing on the inner peripheral rim 26b on the one hand and against the core 26a on the other hand, the assembly is then carried out by welding. The top of the bell 25 is constituted by a wall 29 which is assembled to the side walls 27 by means of profiles 26 similar to the preceding ones with the interposition, at each angle, of an ISO 8 corner.

 The outer peripheral rim 26c of the bell 25 is pierced with a plurality of orifices 30.

When the bell 25 is attached to the frame 3 of the base 1, the outer peripheral rim 26c comes to bear on the upper faces 5a of the uprights 5 of the frame 3, so that the orifices 30 of the rim 26c are opposite or at the right of the grooves 6 of the uprights 5 of the base 1. The assembly between the bell 25 and the frame 3 is carried out by means of removable fixing elements such as bolts 20 used in the same manner as those for fixing the intermediate supports lOa and lOb on the sleepers 7.

 In the case where the container C thus formed by the assembly of the base 1 and the bell 25, must have a seal vis-à-vis the outside, the free spaces between the crosspieces 7 of the base 1 are closed by means of plates 32. For this purpose, the internal lateral face 5c of the uprights 5 and the lateral faces 7c of the crosspieces 7 advantageously have a longitudinal rib 34 to facilitate the operations of assembling the plates 32 by welding, for example.

 In the case where the uprights 5 of the frame 3 are provided with openings 22 for the free passage of the forks of a forklift, two opposite openings 22 are connected to each other by a box 35 fixed to the two uprights 5 associated with the frame 3. To complete the seal, it is advantageous to provide a peripheral seal 37 (FIG. 3) between the profiles 26 of the bell 25 and the uprights 5 of the frame 3.

 Such a container C can thus be transported by land, rail, air and / or sea, and it is also advantageously possible to provide pads or guide rails shown diagrammatically at 40 to facilitate loading operations.

 In the example which has been described above, it was considered that the crosspieces 7 were rigidly fixed to the uprights 5 of the frame 3. Of course, one can provide suitable means so that the mounting of the crosspieces can be carried out in a removable and adjustable manner to modify at will the arrangement of the crosspieces 7 relative to each other. In addition, the bearing surface S of the base 1 can be completed by intermediate crosspieces mounted perpendicular to the crosspieces 7 taking into account the presence of the openings 22 of the uprights 5, when these openings 22 are provided for the passage of the forks. a forklift.

 In general, the base according to the invention is not necessarily made of steel, aluminum and plastic materials that can be used.

Claims (14)

 1. Support base for the transport of a material, this base comprising a bearing surface (S) for receiving the material (M) and means for immobilizing the material on the base, characterized in that the base comprises at at least one rigid frame (3) of globa shape; ement rectangular delimited by uprights (5), in that the bearing surface (S) of the base is formed by a set of crosspieces (7) mounted inside the frame (3) and integral with it, and in that the means for immobilizing the material are constituted by intermediate supports (lova, lOb) in variable number and which can be attached at any point of the support surface ( S) and immobilized on the sleepers (7) by removable fixing means (20).  2. Support base according to claim 1, characterized in that each crosspiece (7) is constituted by a hollow profile with a substantially rectangular cross section with a bearing face or upper face (7a) comprising a groove (9) in the form of inverted T extending substantially over the entire length of the crosspiece (7).  3. Support base according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the crosspieces (7) are arranged parallel to each other with a spacing between them which can be variable.  4. Support base according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the crosspieces (7) are adjustable in position inside the frame (3).  5. Support base according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises intermediate sleepers mounted between two sleepers (7) consecutive.  6. Support base according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each intermediate support (lOa, lOb) consists of a base (12) intended to rest on at least one crosspiece (7) and surmounted by a rigid structure (14) for fixing and / or supporting the material (M).  7. Support base according to claim 6, characterized in that the base (12) of an intermediate support (lOa, lOb) is pierced with orifices (18), some of them, once the base (12) positioned on at least one cross member of the bearing surface (S), are opposite the groove (9) of the cross member (7) to receive a fixing means (20).  8. Support base according to claim 7, characterized in that the fixing means (20) consists of a bolt having a head (2Oa) freely engaged in the groove (9) of the crosspiece (7) and movable along therefrom, a threaded rod (20b) protruding from the groove (9) to pass through an orifice (18) in the base (12), and a nut (20c) screwed onto the free end of the rod threaded (20b).  9. Support base according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that one of the orifices (18) of the base (12) is traversed by a locking screw (21) which is screwed into the bottom of the groove (9) of a crosspiece (7) to perfect the immobilization of the intermediate support (lOa, lOb) on the crosspiece (7).  10. Support base according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each upright (5) of the frame (3) is constituted by a hollow profile with a substantially rectangular cross section with a bearing face or upper face (5a ) comprising an inverted T-shaped groove (6) extending substantially over the entire length of the upright (5).  11. Support base according to claim 10, characterized in that two opposite uprights (5) of the frame (3) are pierced with openings (22) for the free passage of the forks of a forklift.  12. Support base according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free spaces between the crosspieces (7) of the base are closed by walls (32) mounted between two adjacent crosspieces (7) on the one hand , and between each upright (5) of the frame (3) and the crosspiece (7) adjacent to said uprights (5).  13. Support base according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it is surmounted by a bell (25) attached and removably fixed on the frame (3) to form a container (C) .  14. Support base according to claim 13, characterized in that the peripheral periphery of the bell (25) has an outer rim (26c) pierced with orifices (30), and in that the bell (25) is supported by this outer rim (26c) on the uprights (5) of the frame (3) with the orifices (30) located opposite the grooves (6) of the uprights (5) to receive a fixing means (20), such as a bolt to fix the bell (25) on the frame (3).