GB2093797A

GB2093797A - Load-handling pallets

Info

Publication number: GB2093797A
Application number: GB8106675A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: JOLODA Ltd
Current assignee: JOLODA Ltd
Priority date: 1981-03-03
Filing date: 1981-03-03
Publication date: 1982-09-08
Also published as: GB2093797B

Abstract

A load-carrying pallet for use within containers or the like has a loading platform or floor 12 supported by parallel beams 14. The beams 14 nearest to sides of the pallet are each similarly associated with extensible and reactable members, such as that shown at 20. The member 20 normally underlies the load-carrying floor at or adjacent the associated side edge of that floor and is movable by a lever, such as a bell crank 28, operable via a suitable linkage 40, 44, 50 to take up the clearance between the pallet sides and sides of the container to prevent the pallet from shifting significantly in the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load-handling The invention relates to load handling and has particular reference to the avoidance of problems associated with shifting of loads within containers or the like.

These days, it is customary for many loads to be transported in containers, and we believe that advantages arose from having the loads on pal lets to facilitate at least off-loading by trolleys such as our Joloda (Registered Trade Mark) trolleys or by fork-lift apparatus such as trucks. In order to support heavy loads, containers therefore have heavily rated load-bearing floors that may well constitute the most expensive parts of their overall costs. However, pallets for such loads must have the strength to support them and so, with pallet floor support beams at right angles to crossbearers of containers, will transfer loading thereto without requiring such an expensive container floor.But. a problem that can rise for palletsupported loads is that the pallet may shift during handling, for example by cranes or hoists on and off oil-rigs, and make straight withdrawal of a loaded-pallet difficult if not virtually impossible.

It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby such loading and off-loading problems are at least reduced and stringent location requirements for a load within a container are readily met.

To this end, the present invention proposes that a pallet have at least one part extendable from at least one side thereof towards at least one side of a container or the like so that effective clearance between the pallet and that container side is reduced to a minimum if not eliminated.

Preferably a said part or parts is associated with each of opposed sides of the pallet. That permits location adjustment of the load to be effected entirely on the pallet, i.e. outside the container or the like, and ensures that the loaded pallet cannot shift, either at all, or at least to an extent that will interfere with off-loading.

In a particularly simple and advantageous embodiment, a pallet has elongate members along each of its sides that are capable of extension and retraction from and to positions whereat they lie under or immediately adjacent to the load carrying "floor" of the pallet. Such elongate members may conveniently each be carried by rods, tubes, bars or the like that are secured thereto and pass through a beam of the pallet underlying said load carrying "floor" at or adjacent the associated side edge of that "floor". Such extendable and retractable elongate members, suitably guided in holes through the beams, can be moved by levers operated simultaneously via a suitable linkage.

Using bell-cranks as said levers with medial pivots thereof fixed to plates on the beams, forked ends of the bell-cranks may engage pins through the rods or the like, and other ends of the bell-cranks may be pivoted to a transfer bar operated via an actuator mechanism. A suitable actuator mechanism comprises a link parallel with these bell-crank limbs coupled to the transfer bar and also pivoted thereto at one end and fixedly pivoted at its other end whereat a handle is affixed thereto. Suitable said handles each protrude from an end of the pallet and are locatable in notched plates fixed to the end of the pallet to define possible extension positions for the elongate members.

The elongate members, when retracted under the side edges of the pallet platform or floor, may usefully cooperate with anchorages for load securing straps, ropes or nets to block or obstruct disengagement of hooks, even eyes, of the straps, ropes or nets from those anchorages, which may also serve as stops for the elongate members.

In use, a load will be affixed to a pallet hereof and the loaded pallet will be put into a container or the like, with its elongate side members retracted, for example using a fork-lift truck or our Joloda (Registered Trade Mark) trolleys. Such clearance as then exists between the pallet sides and sides of the container or the like will be taken up to the maximum extent possible so that the loaded pallet cannot shift significantly in the containers or the like. It will further be appreciated that the pallet represents a strong load-bearing floor with a substantial spread of its loading onto cross bearers of the container, thus reducing loadbearing requirements for the container floor itself.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are plan, side and end views of a pallet before fitting of its side extensions; Figure 4 is an incomplete plan view of side extension fitments to a pallet of Figures 1, 2 and 3; and Figures 5 and 6 are end and sectional detail views of what is shown in Figure 4.

In the drawings, a pallet 10 has a loading platform or floor 1 2 supported by parallel beams 14, 1 5, 1 6 and 17 running the length of the pallet.

The beams 14 and 1 7 nearest to sides of the pallet 10 are each similarly associated with extensible and retractible members, such as that shown at 20 for the beam 1 4 on which description will now be concentrated.

The extensible and retractible members are elongate angle members extending over at least most of the length of the pallet 10, and are mounted outboard of the associated beam 14, 1 7 via rods, tubes or bars 22 through holes 24 in the associated beam. Affixed to extend from outer sides of the beams 14, 17 are anchorages 26 against which the elongate angle members may abut when retracted under the outer side edges of the platform or floor 12.

Inboard of the beams 14, 1 7 the rods, tubes or bars 22 extend sufficiently to afford the desired extension of the elongate angle members via operation of bell-cranks 28 engaging pins 30 in end portions of the rods, tubes or bars 22. The bell-cranks 28 are medially pivoted at 32 at the angle of its limbs to fixed plates themselves secured to the beams 14, 17 in lower cutouts 34 to extend inboard thereof, see 35 Bifurcated or forked ends 36 of the bell-cranks engage about the pins 30. The other ends of the bell-cranks 28 are pivoted at 38 to a transfer bar 40 thus held parallel to the beams 14, 17.

Close to one end 42 of the pallet each of the transfer bars is pivoted to a link 44 itself fixedly pivoted at 45 to a plate secured to the associated beam 1 4, 1 7 and extending from the transfer bar 40 parallel with the bell-crank limbs also pivoted thereto. A bush 48 of the pivot 45 moves with the link 44 and carries a handle 50 extending outwardly at the end 42 of the pallet 10 which itself carries a plate 52 notched at 54 to afford a choice of securement positions and thus extensions of the angle members 20 when the turning of the link 44 about its pivot 45 causes movement of the transfer bar, bell-cranks and angle member carriers 22.

Pallets hereof are usefully dimensioned for close fitment in prescribed containers, at least as to length with substantial clearance available on their width with their side extensions retracted, which clearance is taken up or greatly reduced after side extension to achieve elimination or reduction to an acceptable maximum, even on rough handling (e.g. at oil rigs), and so enabling ready withdrawal when the side extensions are again retracted. Length correspondence substantially to container size less a reasonable amount enables assurance that the container cannot be shut unless the extension handles are operated, otherwise container doors will foul those handles. Side reliefs 56, 58 of the pallet end 42 are indicated for that purpose.

Suitable handles of heavy duty and appropriate compliance comprise spring steel rods that are readily operated by workers' feet.

Finally, it will be noted that notchings 60 are made in edges of the pallet platform or floor to take straps, ropes or the like that affix by hooks, even eyes, to the anchorages 26 without protrusion and risk of snagging or fouling, and with useful obstruction to their removal while the pallet is being loaded onto and off-loaded from a container with its side extensions retracted. The anchorages 26 are of double, spaced-headed form and are located in holes 62, 63 in beams at sides and edges of the pallet 10.

Claims

1. A load-carrying pallet for use within containers or the like comprising at least one part extendable from at least one side thereof towards at least one side of a container or the like to reduce effective clearance between the pallet and that container side.

2. A pallet as claimed in claim 1, wherein a said part or parts is associated with each of opposed sides of the pallet.

3. A pallet as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pallet has elongate members along each of its sides that are capable of extension and retraction from and to positions whereat they lie under or immediately adjacent to the load carrying "floor" of the pallet.

4. A pallet as claimed in claim 3, wherein the extendable and retractable elongate members are each carried by rods, tubes, bars or the like that are secured thereto and pass through a beam of the pallet underlying said load-carrying "floor" at or adjacent the associated side edge of that "floor".

5. A pallet as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the extendable and retractable elongate members, suitably guided in holes through the beams, are movable by levers operable simuitaneously via a suitable linkage.

6. A pallet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the levers are bell-cranks with medial pivots thereof fixed to plates on the beams.

7. A pallet as claimed in claim 6, wherein forked ends of the bell-cranks engage pins through the rods or the like, and other ends of the bellcranks are pivoted to a transfer bar operated via an actuator mechanism.

8. A pallet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a link parallel with these bell-crank limbs coupled to the transfer bar and also pivoted thereto at one end and fixedly pivoted at its other end whereat a handle is affixed thereto.

9. A pallet as claimed in claim 8, wherein said handles each protrude from an end of the pallet and are locatable in notched plates fixed to the end of the pallet to define possible extension positions for the elongate members.

10. A pallet as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the elongate members, when retracted under the side edges of the pallet platform or "flooi', usefully cooperate with anchorages for load securing straps, ropes or nets to block or obstruct disengagement of hooks, even eyes, of the straps, ropes or nets from those anchorages, which also serve as stops for the elongate member.

11. A pallet substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of locating a pallet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 in a container or the like, comprising placing the pallet into the container or the like with its elongate side members retracted, and extending its elongate side members towards at least one side of the container or the like to reduce such clearance as exists between the pallet sides and the at least one side of the container or the like to prevent the pallet from shifting significantly in the container or the like.

13. A method of locating a pallet substantially as herein described with reference to and as iliustrated in the accompanying drawings.