GB2032392A - Frame-Construction Module - Google Patents

Abstract

A module 10, adapted to accommodate panels (not shown) and be insertable into and removable from a load carrying enclosure of or for a vehicle, such as an I.S.O. container, comprises a base 12 and an open- sided frame construction to facilitate loading from at least two sides. Preferably the module has notched panel-locating bars 68, 70, base members 74, and vertically adjustable upper bars 50 which also contact the panels. The frame may have a central divider 26 comprising uprights 28, 30, diagonal braces 34, and a longitudinal brace 36. Wheels (76, figure 2, not shown) may be provided on the module, and may be guided by rails or bars (80) situated on the enclosure floor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Loader The invention relates to loaders and has particular, but not necessarily exclusive, application to the loading of standard containers or box vans.

It is well known that the use of standard size containers, at present in widespread use for transportation purposes, affords significant advantages both to security and to transport efficiency, at least partly by reason of their loading and unloading by supplier and customer, respectively. This leads to maximum utilisation of transport vehicles as they need only off-load empty containers and pick them up when filled. It is an object of this invention to further improve matters by speeding such loading and unloading, perhaps especially in relation to articles, such as panels, that may be difficult and/or timeconsuming to load and unload.

According to the invention there is provided a module adapted to support or accommodate particular articles and be readily insertable into and removed from a load carrying enclosure of or for a vehicle, the module comprising a base and an open-sided frame construction to facilitate loading at least from two directions.

The load carrying enclosure may be a container, particularly a container having dimensions prescribed by the International Standard Organisation, or a road/rail vehicle box van. It is preferred that a loaded module fills the cross-section of the enclosure. Loading is preferably effected from the two longest sides of the module, usually relative to a central longitudinal division thereof. The base is preferably adapted for ready insertion and removal from a container by cooperation of mutually guiding parts, say container rails and module base wheels. Such wheels are advantageously in the form of castors to further facilitate manoeuvring of the module when outside the container for loading or unloading purposes.

Normally, of course, such container modules are not required to have overall rigidity comparable with that of the container itself as that will take transportation and handling loading.

However, a centrally divided framed module structure can offer substantial and advantageous robustness by virtue of a braced construction of a base and a central division in a generally inverted T-configuration, which is particularly suitable for supporting whatever end and medial transverse division may be desired and will usually, of course, itself contribute to bracing the Tconfiguration and may be interconnected longitudinally if appropriate.

A preferred panel supporting module of such basic inverted T-configuration has on both its base and/or central division preferably both, series of individual panel edge locations, say in the form of notched bars running longitudinally of the module.

Upper panel edge retaining bars are preferably readily raised for loading/unloading and lowered for panel retention, say on pivotted assemblies, and may further be provided with notched bar or other panel location means.

In order to accommodate two series of standard size panels, say of the order of 8 feet by 4 feet dimensions, the panels may be loaded parallel to each other but non-perpendicularly to the longitudinal central division. Then, and preferably, the location notching or other panel edge engaging means is disposed or utilisable at the desired loading angle.

Special purpose panels of other than wholly rectangular shape may be accommodated in specially adapted or designed modules. Such special adaptation will usually amount, using the preferred braced T-construction, to no more than the addition of longitudinal members and base variations to match panel edges.

Embodiments of the invention will now be specifically described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of one special purpose panel supporting module; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the module of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the module of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a partial side elevation of the module of Figure 1; Figures 5A and 5C show base detail alternative for the module of Figure 1; and Figure 6 shows a further module base modification.

In Figures 1 to 4, a container module 10 has a braced frame base 12 comprising a central longitudinal member 14, box-like side members 1 6, 1 6' and cross-coupling members 20. The box-like side members 1 6, 1 6' are chamfered 22, 22' across their inner upper edges to conform to or accommodate a particular panel having a cutout at one corner, and include suitable channel and angle reinforcement 1 8, 24. The central longitudinal base member 14 also constitutes part of a central module division 26 having end uprights 28 and a central upright 30 to a top Tsection member 32 slotted therein, upwardly divergent diagonal braces 34 between the uprights, and a further central longitudinal brace 36.

Between the base side members 1 6 and the central division uprights 28, 30 are vertical end and central members 38, 40 and horizontal upper end and central members 42, 44 forming a braced structure open at sides and top between the members 38 to 44. It will be noted that all of the members of the module thus far described are, except for the T-section member 36, of box or bar form, and will usually be fabricated from mild steel, but could comprise clad steel beams or be of other reinforced construction. Also, of course, bare angle, channel or I-beams could be used. In general, we would note only that the preferred construction is as shown but any other suitable construction could be used.

Between end-bracing structures 38, 42 and central bracing structures 40, 44 are upper panel bearing bars 50 mounted in pivotal assemblies by arms 52 hinged at 54 to the central division uprights. Raising and lowering of bars 50 is conveniently by way of linkages 56 to the free ends of the arms 52 via rods 58 and pivotted thereto at 60 and at 62 to handles 64 themselves pivotted at 66 to the central division uprights.

The sloping surfaces 22,22' of the base side members, the midheight brace 36 and the movable upper bars 50 all carry notched bars 68, 70, 72 to serve in accommodating and locating edges of panels to be carried by the module. The base also has longitudinal grooved bars or planks 74 to assist in supporting lower edges of such panels, and it will be noted that the notching of bars 68, 70 and grooving of members 74 is such that these panels will adopt a parallel attitude non-perpendicular to the central division so as to allow storage of panels wider than each half of the module.

It will also be noted that the open-frame side and top structure of the panels lends itself not only to ready loading and unloading but also to the provision of panel storage space right up to the outer dimension of the structure without danger of panel damage.

The box-like base side members 1 6, 1 6' house castored wheels 76 generally at the positions of the uprights 38, 40, though they could clearly be at any desired position.

Figures 5A and 5C show a modification in which individual castor mounting boxes 78 are used, again maintaining the wheels themselves within the overall dimensions of the module regardless of their castoriny angles. This latter is, however, not necessary, at least in relation to module width, as it is envisaged that containers will be end-loaded with the wheels aligned longitudinally thereof, say using rails or angle bars 80 or the like for guidance and location.

Figure 6 shows a base side member variant for standard rectangular or straight lower edged panels and only a tubular upstanding castor shaft housing 82 is shown in a channel, or part channel, section side member to minimise interference with carrying capacity of the module, though it may then be necessary to use smaller diameter wheels than the 7 inch diameter preferred for the special purpose and castor-box versions described above.

Clearly, if desired, open-sided modules could be used, even fitted or otherwise adapted for supporting other than vertical slot-located panels, for example horizontal panels or pallets.

Claims (22)

Claims

1. A module adapted to support or accommodate particular articles and be readily insertable into and removed from a load carrying enclosure of or for a vehicle, the module comprising a base and an opensided frame construction to facilitate loading at least from two directions.

2. A module as claimed in claim 1 wherein loading is effected from the longest sides thereof.

3. A module as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the base is adapted for ready insertion and removal from said enclosure by cooperation of mutually guiding parts.

4. A module as claimed in claim 3 wherein the base has wheels.

5. A module as claimed in claim 4 wherein the wheels are in the form of castors.

6. A module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 having a centrally divided frame structure.

7. A module as claimed in claim 6 wherein the centrally divided frame structure comprises a braced base and central division in a generally inverted T-configuration.

8. A module as claimed in claim 7 having end and/or medial division.

9. A module as claimed in claim 8 wherein the end and medial divisions contribute to bracing the T-configuration.

10. A module as claimed in claim 9 wherein the end and medial divisions are interconnected longitudinally.

11. A module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 having means for supporting panels.

12. A module as claimed in claim 11 wherein the supporting means comprises series of individual panel edge locations on the base and/or central division.

13. A module as claimed in claim 12 wherein the panel edge locations are on both the base and central division.

14. A module as claimed in claim 13 wherein the panel edge locations are in the form of notched bars running longitudinally of the module.

1 5. A module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 having upper panel edge retaining bars which are readily raised for loading/unloading and lowered for panel retention.

16. A module as claimed in claim 1 5 wherein the upper panel edge retaining bars are on pivotted assemblies for raising and lowering.

17. A module as claimed in claim 15 or 1 6 wherein the upper panel edge retaining bars are provided wtih panel location means.

18. A module as claimed in claim 17 wherein the panel location means are in the form of a notched bar.

1 9. A module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the load carrying enclosure is a container having dimensions prescribed by the International Standards Organisation.

20. A module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 8 wherein the load carrying enclosure is a road/rail vehicle box van.

21. A module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. A loaded module installation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 filling the cross-section of the load carrying enclosure.