GB2064304A

GB2064304A - Cantilever storage rack with improved column construction

Info

Publication number: GB2064304A
Application number: GB8008183A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Palmer Shile Co
Current assignee: Palmer Shile Co
Priority date: 1979-12-04
Filing date: 1980-03-11
Publication date: 1981-06-17
Also published as: ZA806691B; JPS5691710A; IL61394A0; FR2471165A1; AU6407080A; NZ195503A; IT7928406A0; DE3041908A1; GB2064304B; IT1209168B; CA1142136A; BR8007636A

Abstract

A storage rack having cantilever brackets whose root ends are U shaped so as to embrace a column. The column comprises a pair of channel shaped side members (25, 26) of relatively thin gauge metal and a pair of end members (27, 28) welded to the flanges (31, 32) of the side members, the end members being relatively thick metal plates. This increases the moment of area while still requiring only a small number of parts and simple welds (34). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cantilever storage rack with improved column construction The invention relates to cantilever storage racks of a type used in industrial environments, and more particularly to cantilever storage racks which use rectangular cross-section columns and arms with U-shaped brackets embracing the columns, the arms being adjustable in height by the insertion of pins through apertures in the brackets and columns.

The specification of United States Patent No.

3,212,648 shows a cantilever rack for use in industrial environments for storage of relatively heavy material such as bars or tubes. The rack utilizes columns of rectangular cross sectional shape and arms having U-shaped brackets embracing the columns.

Pins extend through aligned apertures in the brackets and columns so that the weight of the material on the arms tends to compress and bend the columns.

It is necessary to provide higher load capacity for these racks. One method of doing this is to increase the thickness of the metal utilized to fabricate the column. In the construction disclosed in the abovementioned patent specification, the rectangular column is fabricated of two symmetrical sections of generally channel shape, with inturned flanges secured together by welding. The bends in the channels are conventionally formed by presses. These presses are of limited capacity and sometimes not capable of bending metal of heavy gauge. Moreover, as the rated capacity becomes higher, it is expensive to provide the total weight of steel required in such columns. Heavier gauge columns of conventional design would require greater width in a direction parallel to the column webs, in order to accommodate the press dies.The bending radii at the corners of said heavier gauge parts would also have to be larger, which means that the apertures for the pins must be placed further back from the column web.

It has been suggested as an alternative construction that four bars of rectangular cross-section be inserted in the column immediately inside the webs and in between the inturned flanges. These stiffening bars however require many welds, some of which are difficult to produce because the location is inaccessible.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved column construction in cantilever storage racks of the type described above, which is especially useful for heavy loads and avoids the necessity of making the columns wider or using an excess amount of metal.

According to the invention there is provided a cantilever storage rack having arms with U-shaped brackets embracing a rectangular cross-section column and connected thereto by pins passing through apertures in the column and brackets, the column comprising two channel shaped members of rela tivelythin gauge metal, each channel shaped member having a relatively wide web and relatively shallow flanges, rows of apertures in said webs adj acent said flanges for receiving said pins, and plates substantially thicker than the gauge of said channel shaped members overlapping the outsides of said flanges to form the webs of said column, the width of said plates being less than the distance between the outside surfaces of the webs of said channel shaped members, said plates being welded along their opposite edges to said flanges.

Another aspect of the invention provides a cantilever storage rack for industrial use, comprising a base; a column mounted on said base, said column having a pair of oppositely facing webs and sides connecting said webs, said sides having vertically spaced rows of aligned apertures; a cantilever arm extending from said column; a U-shaped bracket secured to the inner end of said arm and embracing said column, the web of said bracket facing the web of said column; a pin extending through aligned apertures in the flanges of said bracket and the sides of said column, the column being fabricated of a pair of channel shaped members having relatively wide webs forming the sides of said column and relatively narrow flanges extending toward each other, said channel shaped members being of relatively thin gauge metal as compared with a pair of relatively thicker gauge metal plates overlapping the outside surfaces of said flanges of the channel shaped members, the width of said plates being less than the distance between the outside surfaces of the webs of said channel shaped members; and welds connecting the opposite edges of said plates to said flanges of the channel shaped members, whereby said plates comprise the webs of said column.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cantilever storage rack embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the column showing its construction, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional view similar two Figure 2 but showing a modified form of the column in which the flanges of the channel shaped members have abutting inturned ends.

Referring to the drawings, a cantilever rack 11 comprises a plurality of spaced parallel bases 12 on which are mounted upstanding columns 13. The columns are tapered upwardly and support cantilever arms 14 on the opposite sides thereof. Each column is of rectangular cross sectional shape, having a pair of oppositely facing webs 15 which are relatively narrow, and sides 16 and 17 which are relatively wide. A plurality of pairs of vertically spaced apertures 18 are formed in column 13 in the side webs 15.

Each cantilever arm 14 is provided with a U-shaped bracket 19 secured to its inner end. The bracket is adapted to embrace web 15 of column 13 with the flanges 21 of the bracket overlapping the sides 16 and 17 of the column. Each bracket is provided with a pair of aligned apertures 22 which are adapted to receive a pin 23, the pin also passing through aligned apertures 18 in the column to secure the arm thereto. Further particles of the aperture and pin construction are described in the specification of the aforementioned United States Patent.

It will be noted that the load on any given arm 14 will tend to bend column 15 about the bending axis indicated in dot dash lines at 24 in Figure 2, this axis being that about which the bending moment of inertia is measured. Column 13 is fabricated of a pair of channel shaped side members 25 and 26 and a pair of end members or plates 27 and 28. Each side member 25 and 26 has a relatively wide web 29 and relatively short flanges 31 and 32. The channel shaped members are fabricated of a relatively thin gauge metal, that is, stock which is substantially thinner than the gauge of members 27 and 28. The corners 33 of members 25 and 26 have relatively short radii which may be formed by a conventional bending press.

Members 27 and 28 on the other hand are of rela tivelythick gauge metal and comprise plates of rectangular cross sectional shape. The width of these plates is somewhat less than the distance between the outer surfaces of webs 29. Welds 34 are used to secure the edges of plates 27 and 28 to flanges 31 and 32. These welds leave the outer surfaces of the plates clear for the reception of brackets 19.

It will be noted that only four parts are needed to manufacture the column 13, and also that only four welds are required to secure the components together. Parts 16 and 17 may be fabricated using bending presses of limited capacity. When assembled, the major metal section of the column will be a substantial distance from axis 24 thus providing a relatively high moment of inertia for the column section and adding to its strength for a given weight of metal. Because the gauge of parts 16 and 17 is relativelythin, radii 33 may be small and apertures 18 need not be located a substantial distance from the webs of a column. The welds used to secure the parts together are all easily accessible and may thus be fabricated with a minimum of effort.

Comparing the cost of manufacturing the illustrated column with that of manufacturing a conventionally shaped column but with heavier gauge parts, it has been found that the advantages increase for higher load capacities. The thickness of plates 27 and 28 for example could vary from 5 mm to 40 mm, and when relatively thick plates are used, the total cost is lower as compared with a heavier gauge column of conventional design. The depth of the col umn, that is, the distance between the outer surfaces of the two plates 27 and 28, could of course be var ied but will, in any event, be substantially greater than the width of the column between the outer surfaces of webs 29.

Figure 3 shows a modified embodiment which util izes channel shaped side members similar to those shown in the aforementioned United States patent specification, that is, having abutting inturned ends at the inner ends of the flanges. The column is gen erally indicated at 101 and comprises a pair of chan nel shaped members generally indicated at 102 and 103. Each channel shaped member has a web 104 which is relatively wide and a pair of flanges 105.

The flanges have inturned ends 106, and the ends of both members 102 and 103 abut each other. Welds 107 are placed along the juncture of these inturned ends, these welds being flush with the outer surfaces of webs 105 so as not to interfere with the placement of the outer plates.

The pair of outer plates 108 and 109 are secured to the outer surfaces of flanges 105. As before, the width of these plates is somewhat less than the distance between the outer surfaces of webs 104. The thickness of plates 108 and 109 is substantially greaterthan that of channel shaped members 102 and 103. Welds 111 are formed along the side edges of plates 108 and 109 to secure these plates to flanges 105. The welds are so formed as not to interfere with the mounting of bracket 5t2 of the column.

Claims

1. Acantileverstorage rack having arms with U-shaped brackets embracing a rectangular crosssection column and connected thereto by pins passing through apertures in the column and brackets, the column comprising two channel shaped members of relatively thin gauge metal, each channel shaped member having a relatively wide web and relatively shallow flanges, rows of apertures in said webs adjacent said flanges for receiving said pins, and plates substantiallythickerthan the gauge of said channel shaped members overlapping the outsides of said flanges to form the webs of said column, the width of said plates being less than the distance between the outside surfaces of the webs of said channel shaped members, said plates being welded along their opposite edges to said flanges.

2. A cantilever storage rack for industrial use comprising a base; a column mounted on said base, said column having a pair of oppositely facing webs and sides connecting said webs, said sides having vertically spaced rows of aligned apertures; a cantilever arm extending from said column; a U-shaped bracket secured to the inner end of said arm and embracing said column, the web of said bracket facing the web of said column; a pin extending through aligned apertures in the flanges of said bracket and the sides of said column, the column being fabricated of a pair of channel shaped members having relatively wide webs forming the sides of said column and relatively narrow flanges extending toward each other, said channel shaped members being of relatively thin gauge metal as compared with a pair of relatively thicker gauge metal plates overlapping portions of the outside surfaces of said flanges of the channel shaped members, the width of said plates being less than the distance between the outside surface of the webs of said channel shaped mem berstherebyto provide recesses defined by the side edges of the pates and the portions of the flanges not overlapped by said plates, and welds connecting the opposite edges of said plates to said flanges of the channel shaped members, whereby said plates comprise the webs of said column.

2. A cantilever storage rack for industrial use comprising a base; a column mounted on said base, said column having a pair of oppositely facing webs and sides connecting said webs, said sides having vertically spaced rows of aligned apertures; a cantilever arm extending from said column; a U-shaped bracket secured to the inner end of said arm and embracing said column, the web of said bracket facing the web of said column; a pin extending through aligned apertures in the flanges of said bracket and the sides of said column, the column being fabricated of a pair of channel shaped members having relatively wide webs forming the sides of said column and relatively narrow flanges extending toward each other, said channel shaped members being of relatively thin gauge metal as compared with a pair of relatively thicker gauge metal plates overlapping the outside surfaces of said flanges of the channel shaped members, the width of said plates being less than the distance between the outside surfaces of the webs of said channel shaped members; and welds connecting the opposite edges of said plates to said flanges of the channel shaped members, whereby said plates comprise the webs ofsaid column.

3. Astorage rackaccordingto claim t or2, wherein the flanges of the two channel shaped members face and are spaced from each other.

4. A storage rack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flanges of said channel shaped mem bers have inturned inner ends, the inturned ends of the two channel shaped members abutting each other, and welds are provided along the junctures of said inturned ends.

5. A cantilever storage rack constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 6th March 1981 Superseded claims 1 and 2

1. A cantilever storage rack having arms with U-shaped brackets embracing a rectangular crosssection column and connected thereto by pins passing through apertures in the column and brackets, the column comprising two channel shaped members of relatively thin gauge metal, each channel shaped member having a relatively wide web and relatively shallow flanges, rows of apertures in said webs adjacent said flanges for receiving said pins, and plates substantiallythickerthan the gauge of said channel shaped members overlapping portions of the outsides of said flanges to form the webs of said column, the width of said plates being less than the distance between the outside surfaces of the webs of said channel shaped members thereby to provide recesses defined by the side edges of the plates and the portions of the flanges not overlapped by said plates, said plates being welded along their opposite edges to said flanges.