GB2203410A

GB2203410A - Heavy-duty container

Info

Publication number: GB2203410A
Application number: GB08807777A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerd Dieter Maibach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-01
Filing date: 1988-03-31
Publication date: 1988-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-31
Also published as: DE3710856A1; IT1220429B; GB8807777D0; GB2203410B; FR2613334B1; IT8804821A0; FR2613334A1; CH675111A5

Description

3 3 9 1 - 9903410 HEAVY-DUTY CONTAINER iv t-j The invention relates to-a

heavy-duty container comprising a bottom portion for carrying the heavy load and a housing-like cover portion which accommodates the container content at least partcially between side walls and whose edges can be clamped to the bottom portion by way of clamping means and in which the bottom portion has opening means which are accessible at least from the side for a fork of a fork lift truck and the bottom portion and in matching configuration the cover portion have centering projections and centering depressions for securely stacking a plurality of containers in superposed relationship.

Such a container which is known from German published specification (DE-AS) No 11 60 781 has a trough-like bottom portion. The operation of introducing heavy loads into that bottom portion is a complicated one, because of the poor accessibility of the interior of the container.

It is the usual practice for heavy loads to be stacked on pallets and secured for example by shrink foils. However, in that case the material being transported is practically unprotected and the pallets are not stackable. In addition packaging in special transportation boxes is complicated and timeconsuming To overcome the above-indicated disadvantages, the present invention is based on the problem of so developing a heavy duty container of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, that the material being transported can be introduced into the container-in a particularly simple manner, possibly also by machine, by means of transport devices or the like, and can

0 3 33 -0 2 - also be easily unloaded again, while seeking to ensure protected transportation and stackability of a plurality of containers in superposed relationship.

To solve that problem the invention provides that the bottom portion is in the form of pallet-like flat plate and the cover portion is fitted with its lower peripheral edge on the outer edge of the bottom portion. That ensures that the container is easily accessible from all sides for loading and unloading thereof, even by loading and unloading apparatuses which require a great deal of space. Then, in transportation, the load material is well protected by the cover portion.

The container can be sealingly closed off in a particularly satisfactory manner by virtue of the feature that the outer edge of the bottom portion has a receiving channel for the end of the side walls of the cover portion. Even substantial lateral.forces which occur during transportation cannot displace the cover portion relative to the bottom portion, and that substantially contributes to transportation safety and security.

The receiving channel in the bottom portion may be a shaped edge bar, in a structure which is especially moderate in price and simple from the construction point of view.

For sealingly closing the container, it may be particularly advantageous for the receiving channel to be substantially of a W-shaped crosssection, wherein the middle part of the W-shaped cross-section may co-operate as a sealing strip or bar with a seal.

To save weight but nonetheless also to carry high stacking forces, the cover portion may be formed by plates which are held in angle frames. The 0 z -g -; 0 forces which occur can then be carried and transmitted by the suitably dimensioned angle frames while the plates themselves can comprise light- weight material, preferably laminate material such as plywood, honeycomb plates with closed support walls or the like. The plates of the side walls and the bottom portion may be made up of at least three layers, namely two outer layers and at least one hard foam layer which is disposed therebetween and preferably comprising ployurethene, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene. The outer layers may also be glass fibre- reinforc ed plastics plates which are particularly resistant to corrosion and weathering.

In order to increase the carrying capacity the hard foam layer may be strenghtened by stiffening members, wherein the stiffening members may be of a U-shaped or I-shaped cross-section in order to save weight, but it is also possible to use tubes of square cross-section wherein the stiffening members may comprise glass fibre reinforced plastics material, but also aluminium or steel.

For the purpose of stiffening the plate of the bottom portion the stiffening members are arranged therein in such a way as to extend transveresly with respect to the runners, wherein the spacing between the individual stiffening members may be selected depending on the respective loading to be carried. When dealing with bottom portions which are to be subjected to particularly high loadings, it is possible for the stiffening members to be arranged practically one upon the other so that there is practically no hard foam layer left at all.

The stiffening members in the plates of the side walls are each arranged in the region above the respective runners, for transmission of force which 0 4 is as direct as possible so that when a plurality of particularly heavy heavy-duty containers are stacked one upon the other, that the arrangement provides for a transmission of force which is as direct as possible, with minimum bending loading in respect of all components.

In order to provide for good secure stackability the angle frames may then have the centering projections and/or the centering recesses so that the plates of the walls of the cover portion are kept substantially load-free.

In terms of manufacture and assembly, with particular advantages in respect of carrying and transmitting forces, the angle frames, in crosssection, may have an L-shaped step with a support leg for laterally supporting the plate. For the purposes of fixing the plates themselves it is then particularly advantageous for a further step to be disposed adjoining the L-shaped step in the angle frame, for an angle bar, so that the edge of the plate is then securely held between the support leg and the angle bar.

The angle frame, possibly with the exception of the centering projections and/or depressions, may have a 45 plane of symmetry, in which case the two steps adjoin an L-shaped cavity which substantially increases bending strength and carrying capacity.

In a particularly simple embodiment from the assembly point of view the shaped edge bars can be connected to the bottom portion at the same time as the cover portion by way of the clamping means. For the purposes of loading and unloading the bottom portion, in order to improve accessibility, the shaped frame bars which are composed of a number 9 t -3 331 01 of components in a frame-like configuration can then be removed.

A high degree of transportation safety and security can be ensured if the clamping means used are screws distributed at the outer edge of the bottom portion, with clamping nuts, which each pass through,a two-armed clamping bar of which one arm bears against an angle member on the cover portion and the other arm bears against the shaped edge bar by way of an intermediate portion.

Opening and closing of the container without a tool can be made possible by the clamping nut being rotattable by way of a pivotable loop which engages the clamping nut at both sides.

Substantial stiffening of the bottom portion, while at the same time forming the opening means for the fork of a fork lift truck, may be effected by providing runners or skids on the underside of the bottom portion, while the centering projections and/or centering recesses are disposed on the underside of the runners or skids.

Further constructions in accordance with the invention are set forth in the subsiduary claims and are described in greater detail in the following description, together with the advantages thereof, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of part of a heavyduty container, Figure 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of part of the structure shown in Figure 1, in section taken along line II-II in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a further view, also on an enlarged scale, of part of the structure shown in Figure 1, in section taken along line III-III 0 7 3 35 0, therein, with further heavy-duty containers which are shown in dash- dotted lines and which are stacked thereon.

A heavy-duty container comprises a pallet like bottom portion 1 of a flat configuration and a parallelepipedic cover portion 2, which are fixedly clamped together by clamping means 3.

The bottom portion 1 has a flat plate 4, on the underside of which are screwed skids or runners 5 comprising sheet metal members. The runners 5 are of a U-shaped cross- section, with somewhat outwardly inclinedly extending limbs 6 which go into bent-over flange edges 7 for screwing the runners firmly in position. Frustoconical centering depressions 8 of circular section are provided at regular spacings on the underside of the runners 5.

A shaped edge bar 10 which affords protection is arranged on the outer edge 9 of the bottom portion 2, extending around same, and comprising a bent-over leg 11 on which an edge protecting member 12 of rubber-elastic material is fixed. The shaped edge bar 10 itself is clamped in position together with the cover portion 2, by way of the clamping means 3 which includes a screw 13; for that purpose, angle members 15 are preferably screwed to the side wall 14 of the cover portion 2. The clamping action itself is effected by way of a twoarmed clamping bar 16 which one arm bears against the angle member 15 while the other arm is supported on an intermediate portion 17 which bears against the shaped edge bar 10. The clamping bar 16 is clamped by way of a clamping nut 18 which is fitted on the screw 13; the clamping nut 18 can be tightened and loosened by way of a loop member 19 which is pivotably fixed thereon, as shown in Figure 2.

z A 7-71 -1 3 9 7 - -1 The shaped edge bar 10 has, at a spacing from its leg 11, a receiving groove or channel 20 which is of a W-shaped cross-section for the perihperal edge 21 of the parallelepipedic cover portion 2. The end part 22 is of U-shaped crosssection and serves to accommodate a seal 23 which cooperates with the sealing strip or bar 24 of the receiving channel 20 which is of W-shaped crosssection.

The cover portion 2 itself is made up of angle frames 25 and plates 26, as can best be seen from Figure 1. The angle frames 25 have an Iii-shaped cavity 27 whose outside walls are extended by abutment legs 28 in order thereby to form an L-shaped step configuration 29, which corresponds to the thickness of the plates 26. The 90-bend. configuration of the angle frame cross-section forms a further step 30. Th -plates 26 can then be screwed to the abutment legs 28 through a 90'-angle bar member 31. The entire arrangement is symmetrical with respect to a 45 plane-of symmetry 32, with the exception of frustoconical centering projections 33 of circular cross-section, which are arranged on one side and which are arranged in a distributed array at equal spacings over the entire length of the angle bar member 31, as can be seem from Figure 1. The centering projections 33 of the angle frames 25 and the centering recess 8 of the runners 5 serve for stacking a plurality of containers in superposed relationship and in a secure position, as shown in dash-dotted lines in Figure 7. The space between the runners 5 forms an opening means 34, being accessible to the fork of a fork lift truck, thereby to facilitate transportation of the container.

The angle frames 25 and the corner bar 7 -g -g 0 members 31 of the cover portion 2 are produced from glass fibre reinfo reed plastics material (GRP) and are thus particularly strong and not susceptible to corrosion.

The plates 4 and also the plates 26 of the side members 14 in the illustrated embodiment are made up of three layers, namely two outer layers 35 and an interposed hard foam layer 36 which is preferably made of hard polyurethane foam. The outer layers 35 are particularly corrosionresistent glass fibre-reinforced plastics plates. To stiffen the plates 4 and 26 the hard foam layer 36 is interru-pted by shaped stiffening members 37. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, tubes of square cross-section are inserted for that purposed. However, as described hereinbefore, the arrangement is not parallel to the runners 5 but is arranged to extend transversely with respect thereto, for the purposes of better transmission of bending moments.

The number of stiffening members 37 arranged in the plates 4 and 26 depends on the desired load-carrying capacity. When dealing with a higher loading the stiffening members 37 are disposed at a small spacing from each other in the hard foam layer 36, while the stiffening members 37 are glued to the outer layers 35 in order to increase the load-carrying capacity.

In order to prevent condensate water from being able to form in the stiffening members 37, the interior of those hollow members is also foamfilled.

That also applies in regard to the cavities 27 in the angle frames 25. However, to increase the loadcarrying capacity, steel or aluminium shaped members may also be fitted as required in the cavity 27 in the angle frames 25 and also in the stiffening members 37; the steel or aluminium members may additionally be embedded on plastics foam for complete filing of the cavities involved.

1 1 3 3 -;,19, q -

Claims

1. A heavy-duty container comprising a bottom portion for carrying the heavy load and a housinglike cover portion which accommodates the container content at least partially by its side walls and whose peripheral edge can be clamped to the bottom portion by clamping means, in which the bottom portion has an opening means which are accessible at least from the side for a fork of a fork lift truck and the bottom portion and in matching configuration the cover portion have centering projections and centering depressions for securely stacking a plurality of containers in superposed relationship, wherein the bottom portion is in the form of a pallet-like flat plate and the cover portion is fitted with its lower peripheral edge on the outer edge of the bottom portion.

2. A container according to Claim 1 wherein the outer edge of the bottom portion has a receiving channel for the end of the side walls of the cover portion.

3. A container according to Claim 2 wherein the receiving channel of the bottom portion is part of a shaped edge bar.

4. A container according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the receiving channel is substantially of a W-shaped cross-section and the middle part of the W shaped co-operates as a sealing bar with a seal.

5. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the cover portion is formed by plates which are held in angle frames.

6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the plates comprise light-weight laminate material, such as plywood or honeycomb plates with closed support walls.

0 3339

7. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the plate is formed of at least three layers, namely two outer layers and at least one interposed hard foam layer.

8. A container according to Claim 7 wherein the outer layers are glass fibre-reinforced plastics plates.

9. A container according to Claim 7 wherein the hard foam layer is strengthened by stiffening members.

10. A container according to Claim 9 wherein the stiffening members are U-shaped or I-shaped members.

11. A container according to Claim 9 wherein the stiffening members are tubes of square cross section.

12. A container according to any one of Claims 9 to 11 wherein the stiffening members are GRP-, Al or steel members.

13. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 wherein the stiffening members are arrranged in the flat plate in such a way as to extend transversely with respect to the runners.

14. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 wherein the stiffening members are arranged in the plates of the side walls in the region above the runners, extending transveresly with respect thereto.

15. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the angle frames comprise glass fibre-reinforced plastics material.

16. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the angle frames have the centering projections and/or centering recesses.

17. A container according to any one of Claims 0 1 3 -,1 -0 41 to 16 wherein the angle -frames have in cross section an L-shaped step, with a support leg for laterally supporting the plate.

18. A container according to Claim 17 wherein adjoining the L-shaped step in the angle frame is a further step for an angle bar and that the edge of the plate is held between the support leg and the angle bar.

19. A container according to any one of Claims 16 to 18 wherein the angle frame has a 45 plane of symmetry, possibly with the exception of the centering projections and/or the centering recesses, and that the two steps adjoin an li-shaped cavity.

20. A container according to Claim 2 or 4 wherein at least one end of the side wall is of U shaped cross-section and thus provides a seal co operating with the shaped edge bar, wherein a seal may be provided, possibly of U-shaped cross-section.

21. A container according to Claim 3 wherein the shaped edge bar is connected to the bottom portion at the same time as the cover portion by way of the clamping means.

22. A container according to Claim 21 wherein provided on the cover portion are angle members which are engaged by the clamping means.

23. A container according to Claim 22 wherein the clamping means are screws with clamping nuts, which are distributed at the outer edge of the bottom portion and which each pass through a two-armed clamping bar of which one arm bears against the angle member and the other arm bears against the shaped edge bar by way of an intermediate portion.

24. A container according to Claim 23 wherein the clamping nut is rotatable by way of a loop pivotably fixed to the clamping nut.

0 1 7 1: -71 Q

25. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 24 wherein runners are provided on the underside of the bottom Dortion for forming the opening means and wherein the centering recesses and/or centering projections are arranged on the underside of said runners.

26. A container according to Claim 25 wherein the runners are U-shaped members with laterally projecting flange edges.

27. A container according to any one of Claims 9 to 12 wherein the stiffening mem bers themselves are stiffened by further stiffening members.

28. A container according to any one of Claims 9 to 12 or 27 wherein the cavity of the stiffening members is filled with hard foam.

29. A container according to Claim 5 wherein at least a part of the cavities of the the angle frames is strengthened with stiffening members.

30. A container according to Claim 29 wherein the stiffening members compise glass fibre reinforced plastics material, steel or aluminium.

31. A container according to Claim 5, 29 or 30 wherein the cavity of the angle frames is filled with hard foam.

32. A container according to Claim 7 an any claim appended thereto, wherein the hard foam layer comprises polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene.

33. A heavey-duty container according to Claim 1, constructed, arragned and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Fate Office, Sate House, 66171 HIgh Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Gray, OrpingtOn, Kent BR5;SRD. Printed by Multiplex techniques Itc St Mary Gray. Kent. Con. 1187.