FR2782309A1 - Storage and transport pallet for linear articles e.g. tubes or extruded sections, comprises base with side racks that move from a vertical open position to a closed horizontal position and includes locking fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

The pallet (1) has a base (3) and two racks (4a,4b) that form sides. The racks can move with respect to the base. They can move from an open position (A) where the racks extend laterally and generally vertically from the base, to a closed position. In the closed position the racks are arranged in a generally horizontal plane on the base. A fastener is provided to lock the racks in the open position.

Description

PALElTE FOR STORING AND TRANSPORTING ELEMENTS

LONGI IGNES

  The present invention relates to a storage and transport pallet intended for the storage of elongated elements such as tubes

or profiles for example.

  Several types of pallets are known in the prior art intended for the storage of elongated elements. However, these have many drawbacks. One of their main drawbacks is linked in particular to their size. Thus, conventional pallets occupy an important floor space and are bulky

when transported empty.

  The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks using simple, reliable and easy to implement means. The pallet according to the invention is intended to be able to be stored with a minimum of bulk so as to be able to store several pallets in one place. Furthermore, the pallets according to the invention can be transported in number, and this always because

of their small size.

  Thus, according to its main characteristic, the pallet for storing and transporting elongated elements such as tubes or profiles according to the invention is constituted by a lower base and two side panels and is characterized in that the panels are movable by relative to the base between an open position o the side panels extend substantially vertically laterally above the base and a closed position o the side panels are arranged in planes substantially

horizontal on the base.

  According to an additional characteristic of the storage and transport pallet, the latter includes locking means intended to allow the locking of the drop sides in their open position. According to another characteristic of the storage and transport pallet according to the invention, this one is characterized in that the drop sides are articulated in rotation around a longitudinal axis of rotation by

compared to the lower base.

  According to one embodiment of the storage pallet, the side panels are constituted by uprights articulated on the base around longitudinal axes of rotation, said uprights being connected together by retaining elements such as walls or wire mesh.

for example.

  According to this embodiment, the uprights are articulated on articulation feet integral with the base and formed by two flanges

  which carry the axes of rotation longitudinally.

  According to another characteristic of the storage pallet according to the invention, the lower base is made up of two lateral beams arranged longitudinally and connected together by crosspieces

  transverse orthogonal to said beams.

  According to the preferred embodiment of the storage pallet, the locking means are obtained by the cooperation between locking pins arranged longitudinally on the uprights and lights

  locking devices located in the flanges.

  According to this embodiment, the cooperation of the locking axes and the locking lights is obtained by sliding the upright along its longitudinal pivot axis obtained using a transverse light located in the upright and at the interior of

  which is engaged the pivot axis.

  According to an additional characteristic of the storage pallet according to the invention, it is characterized in that it includes stop means intended to limit the rotation of the side panels around

their axis of rotation.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge

  of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not

  given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

  Figures 1 to 7 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the

  storage pallet according to the invention and one of its variant embodiments.

  Figure 1 illustrates a front view of the preferred embodiment of the pallet storing elongated elements of different sizes, in the open position. Figure 2 illustrates in a view similar to Figure 1 the pallet in

closed position.

  Figure 3a illustrates a top view of the pallet in the open position. Figure 3b shows in a view similar to Figure 3a the

pallet in closed position.

  FIGS. 4a and 4b respectively show in side view the

  pallet in open and closed position.

  Figure 5 illustrates in detail the articulation of the amount of the drop side

in side view.

  Figures 6a to 6d illustrate in detail the pivoting of an upright

  on a beam, and its locking, in front view.

  Figure 6a illustrates the drop side in the closed position.

  Figure 6b shows the drop side during its pivoting.

  FIG. 6c illustrates the drop side during the sliding intended for

cause locking.

  Figure 6d illustrates the drop side in its open position.

  FIG. 7 represents an alternative embodiment in a view

similar to Figure 4a.

  According to the invention, the storage and transport pallet bearing the general reference (1) is intended for the storage of elongated elements (2) such as profiles or tubes for example. It is formed by a lower base (3) on which are mounted side panels (4a, 4b). According to the preferred embodiment of the storage pallet (1), the lower base (3) has a generally rectangular shape, its long side having a length (d) substantially similar to that of the elongated elements intended to be stored. So the length (d) of the side

  is greater than 4 m and is advantageously equal to 6 m for example.

  The lower base (3) is constituted by two lateral longitudinal members (10a, b) arranged longitudinally which form the long sides of the rectangle and which are connected in a manner known per se by crosspieces

  transverse (11) arranged orthogonally to said beams.

  According to the preferred embodiment of the storage pallet (1), the crosspieces (11) are regularly spaced along the side members except at the longitudinal ends of the base which each have a narrowing of the spacing of the crosspieces as shown in the Figure 3a. It goes without saying that the lower base could be produced differently and consist of a wire mesh or a wall

  full without departing from the scope of the invention.

  According to the invention, the side panels (4a, 4b) are movable relative to the lower base (3) between an open position (A) illustrated

  Figure 1 o they extend laterally substantially vertically

  above the base (3), and a closed position (B) where they are arranged in substantially horizontal planes on the base (3). We will also hear by substantially horizontal planes, planes slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal such as that which contains the drop side

  left side (4a) illustrated in Figure 2.

  According to the preferred embodiment of the storage pallet (1), the movement of the drop sides (4a, 4b) relative to the base (3) is obtained at least in part by articulation means (MA) which allow to the side panels (4a, 4b) to pivot around a longitudinal articulation axis (12) in order to be positioned in the closed position on the lower base (3) in the space (50) located just above said base. According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6d, the drop sides (4a, 4b) comprise two uprights (13) on which the articulation means (MA) are arranged, said uprights being connected by retaining elements (14) such as a wall, a wire mesh or the like (14), said element being able to be formed as shown in FIG. 4a by one or more cross-pieces made of tubes or metal rods (51), each side panel has three articulated uprights (13 ) separated by cross-pieces (14), however the type of the retaining element, the number of articulated uprights and their longitudinal positioning on the base could be different without going beyond the scope of

protection of the invention.

  Similarly, according to the embodiment described, the pallet (1) comprises two lateral drop sides (4a, 4b), each drop side extending longitudinally along the length of a large side of the base (3). It goes without saying, as shown in the variant illustrated in FIG. 7, that the pallet (1) could have on each side a side wall (4a) made of several articulated panels or side wall elements (60a, 60b) independent each articulated on the base (3) between their position

  open (A) and their respective closed position (B).

  According to the preferred embodiment of the pallet (1) according to the invention, each drop side (4a, 4b) comprises three uprights (13) articulated in transverse planes on the lateral beams (10a, 10b) of the base (3 ). They are articulated on the base by means of articulation feet (15) arranged at the longitudinal ends of the side members (10a, 10b) and in the middle of these. Each upright (13) is thus articulated on a hinge foot (15) around a longitudinal axis (12). Locking means (MV) are provided to allow the locking of the side panels (4a, 4b) or of the side panel elements (60a, 60b)

in their open position (A).

  According to the illustrated construction method, the locking means (MV) consist of locking pins or pins (20) arranged longitudinally on the uprights (13) and intended to cooperate with complementary locking light (21) arranged on the articulation feet (15). The locking lights (21) are arranged vertically in the transverse flanges (15a, 15b) of the articulation foot (15) and are open upwards (HA) so as to allow the locking pins (20) to come to slide. vertically in these when the uprights (13) are in a vertical position, that is to say when the drop sides (4a, 4b) are positioned in

open position (A).

  To do this, the uprights (13) can pivot in transverse planes relative to their articulation axis (12) which is fixedly mounted on their respective articulation foot (15) and can also slide along this axis ( 12) in the plane of the drop side (4a, 4b) which they form in part. This sliding is obtained by means of a transverse light (23) called pivoting which passes longitudinally through the upright (13) and inside which is mounted the longitudinal articulation axis (12), the light (23) and the axis (12) form the articulation means (MA) of the drop sides. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 6b, 6c and 6d, when the articulation axis (12) traverses the transverse lumen (23) of the upright (13) during the sliding of the upright, the locking axes (20) traverse the openings associated locking (21) between a position illustrated in Figure 6c or the locking pins are out of the lights (21) and a position illustrated in Figure 6d o the locking pins (20) are located in the lights (21) and cooperate with it to prevent pivoting of the upright

  (13) around the axis of articulation (12).

  According to the preferred embodiment, each upright (13) has two locking pins (20) and a transverse lumen (23), while the articulation foot (15) is formed by two flanges (15a, b), one hinge pin (12) longitudinally connecting the two flanges through the transverse lumen (23) of the upright (13). This axis can advantageously be constituted by a conventional device of the type

bolt and nut.

  Furthermore, it should be noted that the articulation foot comprises means for guiding and lateral reinforcement of the uprights constituted by a portion of tube (35) whose section is of dimension smaller than the dimensions of the internal section of the uprights and of complementary shape. According to the preferred embodiment, stop means (30) are provided intended to limit the pivoting of the sides (4a, 4b) around their axis of rotation (12), said stop means being advantageously arranged on the uprights. (13). Said means are advantageously constituted by a stop surface (30) integral with the upright intended to cooperate in abutment on the lateral edge of the base (3), that is to say against the external face of the side members (10a, 10b). This abutment surface can advantageously be obtained using a flat iron (30) welded on the face

external of the upright (13).

  According to the preferred embodiment, the uprights (13) and the tube portion (35) are made with tube of square or rectangular section, while the flanges (S15a, 15b) forming the articulation foot (15), are obtained using angles fixed on the side members (10a, 10b) by riveting, welding or any other method of

equivalent fixing.

  Note that the pallets (1) have complementary assembly means (MC) intended to allow their stacking one on the other so that their respective lower bases (3) are contained in planes substantially parallel to each other These means assembly are advantageously obtained by a set of upper end pieces (31) or candles arranged on the side members (10a, b) of a pallet and intended to cooperate with receiving shoes (32) of complementary shape arranged under the face lower

  rails of another pallet as shown in Figure 5.

  According to the preferred embodiment, the upper end pieces (31) are formed by tube portions and are intended to cooperate with receiving shoes (32) constituted by housings of complementary shape. Note that the upper end pieces (31) and the receiving shoes (32) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the base and are six in number, located substantially at the four corners of the pallet and in the middle of the side members. The size of the end caps and the shoes is chosen so as to allow the pallets to be stacked

  when the drop sides are in the closed position (B).

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it includes

  also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (9)

  1. Pallet for storage and transport (1) of elongated elements (2) such as tubes or profiles, constituted by a lower base (3) and two side boards (4a, 4b) characterized in that the side boards are movable relative to the base between an open position (A) where the side panels (4a, 4b) extend laterally substantially vertically above the base (3) and a closed position (B) where the side panels are arranged in substantially horizontal planes on the base (3).   2. Storage and transport pallet (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises locking means (MV) intended to allow the locking of the side panels (4a, 4b) in their open position (A).   3. Storage and transport pallet (1) according to any one   of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drop sides (4a, 4b)   are articulated in rotation about a longitudinal axis of rotation (12)   relative to the lower base (3).   4. Storage pallet according to claim 3 characterized in that the side walls (4a, 4b) are constituted by uprights (13) articulated on the base (3) around longitudinal axes of rotation (12), said   uprights being interconnected by retaining elements (14).   5. Storage pallet according to claim 4 characterized in that the uprights (13) are articulated on articulation feet (15) integral with the base and formed by two flanges (15a, 15b) which carry   longitudinally the axes of rotation (12).   6. Storage pallet according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the lower base (3) consists of two lateral beams (10a, 10b) arranged longitudinally and connected together by transverse crosspieces (11) orthogonal to said beams.   7. Storage pallet according to claims 2 and 5 characterized   in that the locking means (MV) are obtained by the cooperation between locking pins (20) arranged longitudinally on the uprights (13) and locking slots (21) located in the flanges (15a, 15b).   8. Storage pallet according to claim 7, characterized in that the cooperation of the locking pins (20) and locking lights (21) is obtained by sliding the upright (13) along its longitudinal pivot axis ( 12) obtained by a transverse light (23) located in the upright (13) and inside which   is engaged the pivot axis (12).   9. Storage pallet according to claim 3 characterized in that it comprises stop means (30) intended to limit rotation   drop sides (4a, 4b) about their axis of rotation (12).