GB2276860A - Boat cradle - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a pallet beam which comprises a length of load bearing beam (12) having at each end a lip portion (16) designed to receive the corresponding lip of pallet lifting means e.g. trailer (28, Fig. 4 and 5, not shown), and the beams also carry means (18 Figs 2 and 3, not shown) whereby spacer bars (20) can be connected so that two or more beams of the invention can be connected together to form the pallet. Vertical support members (22, 29, 31 Figs 4, 6, 7, not shown) may be removable attached to the pallet to form a boat cradle. The lips (16) are preferably formed on a flange (14) welded to the ends of the beam (12). The spacers (20) can be detachable or welded in position. In an alternative embodiment (Figs 6 and 7, not shown) the lips are formed by an I beam joined to the ends of a number of beams (12). <IMAGE>

Description

PALLET BEAMS This invention relates to beams designed to be used in conjunction with one another to form a pallet, preferably for the lifting and storing of boats.

Most boats, in particular pleasure craft, are stored out of the water during the winter. Usually the boats are lifted out of the water and placed on a specially designed boat cradle which supports the boat on the dockside. Moving the boat around requires expensive lifting equipment. It has been proposed to store the cradles on pallets which is an improvement since pallet lifting equipment is less costly.

The invention seeks to provide pallet beams by which an individual pallet can be tailored to, and if required attached to, a particular boat cradle.

According to the present invention there is provided a pallet beam which comprises a length of load bearing beam having at each end a lip portion designed to receive the corresponding lip of pallet lifting means.

Preferably the beams also carry means whereby spacer bars can be connected so that two or more beams of the invention can be connected together to form a pallet.

We have now found that addition of removable vertical support member greatly increases the versatility and usefulness of the invention. In particular the removability of the supports enable the cradle to be stored flat, and also allows supports suitable for use with yachts to be replaced by those suitable for motor cruisers, again increasing versatility.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pallet formed from three beams of the invention; Figure 2 is partial plan view on an enlarged scale of one end of a pallet beam; Figure 3 is a side elevational view corresponding to Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a boat cradle formed from the beams of the invention being lifted; Figure 5 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a boat cradle similar to that shown in Figure 4 and illustrating the attachment of removable vertical support members, and; Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 of the cradle adapted to support motor cruisers.

Referring to the drawings, pallet beams generally designated 10 in accordance with the invention comprise steel I-beams 12 having attached at each end thereof, e.g. by welding, a plate 14 having a lip portion 16.

In addition, across the corner formed by the back of the plate 14 and the side web of the I-beam 12 is a corner piece 18 designed to receive and locate a crossbar 20. The crossbars 20 may be of varying length but are chosen to produce a pallet of a desired size when coupling two, three, four or more beams 10 of the invention. The crossbars 20 may be held in place loosely, e.g. by friction, semi-permanently e.g. by a pin and hole arrangement, or permanently, e.g. by welding or the like.

In use, when it is desired to palletise a boat cradle either existing or to be built, the requisite base size is set up using two or more beams of the invention with appropriate crossbars 20. If the cradle is already available it is placed on top of the pallet to produce a composite whole.

The bars 20 may be left in place or indeed welded in place.

If the cradle is not already available, the crossbars 20 will be affixed permanently in place and vertical support members 22 welded directly to the beams 12 thereby actually forming an integral pallet and cradle. The upper portions of the vertical supports 22 may carry adjustable cushion pads 24 as is conventional in the boat cradle field.

The lips 16 of the pallet beams 10 of the invention are designed to be engaged by corresponding lips 26 of a lifting trailer generally designated 28. The latter comprises a generally "U" shaped frame work 27 having the lips 26 on the inner edge thereof, wheels 30 at the extremity of each of the arms of the "U" and a hitch arrangement 32 enabling the trailer 28 to be attached to tractor means 34.

As can be seen best from figure 4, the extremities of the "U" and the portion adjacent the hitch each have hydraulic cylinder arrangements 36, 38 so that the framework 27 can be lifted with respect to the trailer 28 as a whole. Thus, the trailer is backed into the position shown in figure 5 so that the lips 26 engage the lips 16 of the pallet beams of the invention, the cylinders 36,38 are actuated and the pallet, and thus the boat carried by it, is lifted from contact with the ground (as shown in figure 4). The tractor 34 can then take the pallet, cradle and boat to its desired new location. Re-positioning the boat on the ground is the reverse of the above procedure.

The beams of the invention are useful in producing pallets and thus boat cradles for use with boats up to approximately 15 tonnes in weight.

The pallet beam of the invention is very flexible in that it allows pallets of varying size to be produced and can also cater for many of the pallets already in existence. The beam itself can be made in different lengths and, in combination with different lengths of crossbar 20, a very wide variety of pallets can be produced to suit the bulk of boat cradle requirements. Again the pallet of the invention can be used with existing cradles or can be used actually to produce a cradle by attaching suitable supports such as the vertical supports 22 directly to it.

The attachment of removable vertical support members is illustrated in more detail in Figures 6 and 7 to which the following description refers.

Referring to the drawings, pallet beams generally designated 10 generally comprise steel I-beams 12 having attached at each end thereof, e.g. by welding, a continuous angle bar 14 having a lip portion 16. The angle bar 14 replaces the spacer bars 20 shown in Figures 1 to 3. Moreover, vertically directed sockets 18a are provided in the beams 10 adjacent each end thereof.

The sockets 18a are designed to receive, inter alia, vertical support members 22 whose upper ends are provided with cushion pads 24 as is conventional in the boat cradle field. The members 22 have adjustable support props 23 fixed to suitable brackets 25 on the end beams of the pallet. As illustrated the cradle in Figure 6 is suitable for supporting yachts, and indeed a removable keel retainer 27a may be affixed to the cradle.

Turning now to Figure 7, basically the same cradle as shown in Figure 6 is illustrated with the members 22 replaced by a support frame 29 suitable for motor cruisers. A smaller support frame 31 may be positioned at the other end of the cradle.

The large frame 29 may be buttressed by means of props 33 pivotally attached to blocks 35 designed to fit into the sockets 18a.

In use, when it is desired to palletise a boat cradle either existing or to be built, the requisite base size is set up using two or more beams of the invention with appropriate angle bars 14. If the cradle is already available it is placed on top of the pallet to produce a composite whole. The bars 16 will normally be welded in place. If a separate cradle is not already available, vertical support members 22 or frame members 29,31 as appropriate will be inserted into sockets 18 in the beams 12 thereby actually forming an integral pallet and cradle. After use the supports can be removed for easy storage, or replaced with those of another type to enable the same basic cradle to be used with a variety of boats including yachts and cruisers.

The lips 16 of the pallet beams 10 of the invention are designed to be engaged by corresponding lips of a lifting trailer. The latter comprises a generally "U" shaped frame work having lips on the inner edge thereof, wheels at the extremity of each of the arms of the "U" and a hitch arrangement enabling the trailer to be attached to tractor means. Alternatively, the trailer can be self-powered.

The "U" and the portion adjacent the hitch each have hydraulic cylinder arrangements so that the framework can be lifted with respect to the trailer as a whole. Thus, the trailer is backed into position so that the lips engage the lips 16 of the pallet beams of the invention, the cylinders are actuated and the pallet, and thus the boat carried by it, is lifted from contact with the ground. The tractor can then take the pallet, cradle and boat to its desired new location. Re-positioning the boat on the ground is the reverse of the above procedure.

It will be noted that the top surface of the pallet produced from the beams 10 is clear to receive other cradles, twin keel boats, and so forth.

The invention is useful in producing pallets and thus boat cradles for use with boats up to approximately 15 tonnes in weight.

The apparatus of the invention can be made in different lengths and sizes and, in combination with different support members, a very wide variety of cradles can be produced to suit the bulk of boat cradle requirements. Again the apparatus of the invention can be used with existing cradles or can advantageously be used actually to produce a cradle by removably attaching suitable supports 22,29,31.

Claims (10)

1. A pallet beam which comprises a length of load bearing beam having at each end a lip portion designed to receive the corresponding lip of pallet lifting means.

2. A pallet beam comprising a length of load bearing beam having means for removably securing thereto at least one vertical support member.

3. A pallet beam according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and carrying means whereby spacer bars can be connected so that two or more beams of the invention can be connected together to form a pallet.

4. A pallet comprising two or more beams, each comprising a length of load bearing beam, connected together by means of at least one continuous bar having a lip portion designed to receive the corresponding lip of pallet lifting means.

5. A pallet beam according to any of Claims 1 to 3 and carrying means for removably securing thereto at least one vertical support member.

6. A cradle comprising a pallet according to Claim 4 having removably secured thereto at least one vertical support member.

7. A cradle comprising two or more beams according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 connected together and including removable vertical support members.

8. A cradle according to Claim 7 wherein the vertical support members comprise one or more support frames.

9. A pallet beam substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A cradle substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.