GB2198395A

GB2198395A - Trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2198395A
Application number: GB08726036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurence Geoffrey Turner
Original assignee: COYLEBANK FABRICATIONS
Current assignee: COYLEBANK FABRICATIONS
Priority date: 1986-11-06
Filing date: 1987-11-06
Publication date: 1988-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-06
Also published as: GB8626497D0; GB2198395B; GB8726036D0

Abstract

A trolley, for transporting panes of glass or the like, comprises a base (3) provided with ground engaging wheel means, in the form of castors (26). A plurality of distinct elongate support areas (5) are provided by a corrugated upper face of the base (3), and a plurality of spaced support members (4A, B) are vertically spaced from the base (3) to define a plurality of open ended slots corresponding to support areas (5) of the base (3) member for receiving edge portions of upright panes of glass or the like (2) supported on the base (3). Additional support members may be provided at the front of the trolley or above the members 4A, B. Also described is a method of transporting panes of glass in which a series of trollies are winched on to a lorry platform, and retained in position on the platform using shoes which engage the castors 26. <IMAGE>

Description

Trolley This invention relates to a trolley.

The invention has particular application in the transport of panes of glass or the like.

At present in factories where double glazing units are assembled panes of glass and completed units are often transported around the factories on trolleys. A typical trolley comprises two sloping support surfaces, in the form of a "n", each having a support ledge extending from a lower edge, the units being stacked on top of one another on either side of the trolley.

As units are often of a substantial weight difficulties can be encountered in removing units from a stack on a trolley.

Also the units are easily damaged by the loading or unloading of an adjacent unit onto or from the trolleys.

When units are to be transported from the factory the units must be removed from the trolleys and individually secured on a vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a trolley, for transporting panes of glass or the like, comprising a base member provided with ground engaging wheel means, means for defining a plurality of distinct elongate support areas on the base member, and a plurality of spaced support members vertically spaced from the base member and defining a plurality of open ended slots corresponding to support areas of the base member for receiving edge portions of upright panes of glass or the like supported on the base member.

Preferably the means defining a plurality of distinct elongate support areas on the base member comprises a corrugated upper face of the base member.

Alternatively the means defining a plurality of distinct elongate support areas on the base member may comprise a plurality of pins or pegs extending from an upper surface of the base member.

Preferably also the elongate support areas on the base member are V-shaped in end cross-section such that panes of glass or the like supported therein are centrally located.

The support members may extend over the base member from one side of a frame. The frame may enclose three sides of the trolley, the fourth side being open to permit panes of glass to be loaded onto the trolley.

The support members are preferably in the form of elongate fingers which extend from a cross member of the frame. Two or more additional sets of support members may be provided above the support members to provide additional support for large panes of glass.

The open end of the frame may be closed by a cross member in order to retain panes of glass on the trolley. Further support members may extend from the cross member to provide additional support for large panes of glass on the trolley or to support smaller panes located at the end portion of the trolley.

The ground engaging wheels means may be in the form of swivel castors located at each of the corners of the base member such that the trolley is easily manoeuvred.

To help prevent movement of panes of glass on the trolley resilient wedges may be placed between each pane and an adjacent support member. The support members themselves may be provided with a resilient coating to prevent damage to the panes.

For convenience the trolleys are sized such that they may be efficiently accomodated on the load platform of a lorry.

Support shoes may be provided for the two front castors of each trolley, the castors being located on the shoes by curved front walls. The shoes are held in position by the weight of the trolley. The front faces of the support shoes of a trolley located behind a first trolley may abut the rear castors of the first trolley and so help to prevent movement of the trolley on the load platform.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trolley in accordance with the present invention; Figs. 2 to 5 are perspective views of the trolley of Fig. 1 loaded with different sizes of sealed double glazing units and fitted with different forms of support members; Figs 6 to 8 are respectively, plan, side and end views of the frame and trolley base of the trolley Fig. 1 fitted with different forms of support members; Fig. 9 is a scrap view of fixing means of a support member of the trolley of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a lorry loaded with trolleys; and Fig. 11 is a side view of a support shoe for a trolley.

Referring to the drawings, a trolley 1, for transporting sealed double glazing units 2, comprises a base 3 in the form of a sheet of corrugated steel, four castors 26 located at each of the corners of the base 3, and two sets of support fingers 4A and 4B vertically spaced from and extending over the base 3.

The base 3, which is of galvanised steel, has twenty separate V-shaped folds 5, each for receiving a lower edge of an unit 2 to be loaded onto the trolley.

The supports fingers 4A and 4B,which are of PVC coated steel, define open ended slots which correspond to the folds 5 in the base 3. The fingers 4A and 4B extend from horizontal cross members 6A and 6B which extend between two frames 7A and 7B which enclose the sides of the trolley 1.

The ends of the cross members 6A and 6B are provided with brackets 8 each having open ended perpendiclar slots 9 and 10 for engaging pins on the frames 7A and 7B.

The frames 7A and 7B are formed of lengths of rectangular hollow section steel welded together. Each of the frames 7A and 7B comprises three upright member 12; 13 and 14, a lower horizontal member 15, an upper horizontal member 16 which extends from the rear of the trolley and an angled member 17 which extends backwards and upwards from the shorter front upright member 12.

The frames 7A and 7B are joined at the closed rear end of the trolley 1 by two cross members 11 which provide additional rigidity.

In use, units 2 are loaded onto the trolley 1 for transport, the lower edge of each unit 2 being located in a fold 5 and the unit 2 being held upright by the fingers 4A and 4B.

To close the open front end of the trolley 1 and to provide support for small units 2A an additional set of support fingers 4C may be fitted between the frames 7A and 7B. The ends of the cross member 6C from which the fingers 4C extend are provided with rectangular section brackets 8C which receive reduced section pins which extend from the upper end of the frame members 12.

To provide support for larger units 2B an additional set of support fingers 4D may be fitted, in a similar manner, at the front end of the trolley, at the ends of extension members 27 fitted to the members 12. For transporting very large units 2C a set of support fingers 4E may be fitted on extension members 18 at the rear of the trolley 1 To help prevent movement of the units 2 in the trolley 1 rubber wedges 19 may be placed between the units 2 and an adjacent support finger 4.

Each trolley 1 is sized such that up to ten trolleys 1 may be efficiently accomodated on the load platform 21 of a lorry 20. Each trolley 1 is winched up a ramp 28 onto the platform 21 where the front castors 26 of each trolley 1 are positioned on shoes 22 as illustrated in Fig. 11.

The shoes 22 each comprise a wedge-shaped ramp portion 23 and an upper portion 24 having a curved wall 25 to accomodate a castor 26. When the front castors 26 of a trolley 1 are located on shoes 22 the weight of the trolley 1 prevents movement of the shoes 22 on the platform 21. The front faces of the shoes 22 for the trolley 1 located behind a trolley abut the rear castor 26 of the front trolley.

Thus the trolley of the present invention allows sealed double glazing units or windows of a variety of sizes to be safely and conveniently transported within an assembly factory and also on a vehicle to a site.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A trolley1 for transporting panes of glass or the like, comprising a base member provided with ground engaging wheel means, means for defining a plurality of distinct elongate support areas on the base member, and a plurality of spaced support members vertically spaced from the base member and defining a plurality of open ended slots corresponding to support areas of the base member for receiving edge portions of upright panes of glass or the like supported on the base member.

2. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for defining a plurality of distinct elongate support areas on the base member comprises a corrugated upper face of the base member.

3. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for defining a plurality of distinct elongate support areas on the base member comprises a plurality of pins or pegs extending from an upper surface of the base member.

4. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the elongate support areas on the base member are Vshaped in end cross-section such that panes of glass or the like supported therein are centrally located.

5. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the support members extend over the base member from one side of a support frame which extends upwardly from the base member.

6. A trolley as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the support frame encloses three sides of the trolley, a fourth side being open to permit panes of glass to be loaded onto the trolley.

7. A trolley as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, whereas the support members are in the form of elongate fingers which extend from a cross member of the support frame.

8. A trolley as claimed in any one of Claims 5-7, wherein a plurality of sets of support members are provided each set being formed from a plurality of support members each equally vertically spaced from the base member and each set being differently vertically spaced from the base member on the support frame.

9. A trolley as claimed in Claim 6, wherein a selectively mountable or demountable cross member is provided to close the open side of the trolley.

10. A trolley as claimed in Claim 9, wherein further support members extend from the cross member to provide additional support for panes of glass on the trolley.

11. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the ground engaging wheel means are in the form of swivel castors located at each of the corners of the base member.

12. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein resilient wedges are provided for positioning between panes and adjacent support members.

13. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the support members are provided with a resilient coating.

14. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. A glass transport system comprising a plurality of trolleys as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims said trolleys co-operating one with another for accommodation on the load platform of a goods transport vehicle and means being provided to retain the ground engaging wheel means of the trolleys to restrict movement of the trolleys on the load platform.