GB2284593A

GB2284593A - Aluminium alloy pallet

Info

Publication number: GB2284593A
Application number: GB9423879A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ludwig Neff
Original assignee: Vereinigte Aluminium Werke AG; Vaw Aluminium AG
Current assignee: Vereinigte Aluminium Werke AG; Vaw Aluminium AG
Priority date: 1993-12-08
Filing date: 1994-11-25
Publication date: 1995-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-25
Also published as: GB9423879D0; DE4434802A1; NO944044D0; NL9401668A; SE9403513L; SE9403513D0; NO944044L; DE9318827U1; DK9400427Y6; BE1008553A6; SE9403513A0; NO300495B1; GB2284593B

Abstract

The object is to develop a pallet for transporting goods which are preferably packed in bags by means of a fork-lift truck or a crane, comprising of longitudinal and transverse members which are disposed horizontally in one plane, extend essentially in parallel and are held at a distance from one another by non-positive and/or positive connections. This is achieved by forming the longitudinal and transverse members (1 - 14) from hollow sections of an aluminium alloy of the AlMgSi type, with insertion openings (18, 19) for the penetration of the forks of the fork-lift trucks. Preferably lifting eyes (20) for a crane hook are provided on members (12 to 14). The sections are preferably made from bevelled plates bent into hollow sections and connected. <IMAGE>

Description

PALLET The invention relates to a pallet for transporting goods which are preferably packed in bags by means of a fork-lift truck or a crane, the pallet comprising of longitudinal and transverse members which are disposed horizontally in one plane, extend essentially in parallel and are held at a distance from one another by non-positive and/or positive connections.

Various dimensions and constructions of wooden pallets of the above-mentioned type are known for various applications. When transporting heavy loose material in bags, however, this design causes the pallet to have a very high dead weight. It cannot be moved by four people, as is usual, when loading and unloading inside the hull of a ship, for example, so that complex additional devices have to be used for transport purposes.

A further disadvantage of known pallet systems lies in the fact that the bags, which are filled with heavy goods, may sag between the members extending in parallel at a distance from one another and easily be damaged.

This results in a loss of the goods being transported and additional cleaning work, as the damaged transport bags have to be sorted out.

In addition, the problem of recycling wooden pallets has recently become critical again. This is because the wooden materials must be preserved against corrosive, acid-containing goods for transport and can therefore no longer be disposed of in the usual way without harming the environment.

The object of this invention is to improve the transport pallets of the type initially mentioned so as to ensure that handling and recycling can be safely carried out, even in the case of aggressive filling goods, while keeping the number of transport staff required for handling these goods to a minimum.

This object is solved according to the invention, which provides a pallet for transporting goods which are preferably packed in bags by means of a fork-lift truck or a crane, the pallet comprising longitudinal and transverse members which are disposed horizontally in one plane, extend essentially in parallel and are held at a distance from one another by non-positive and/or positive connections, characterised in that the longitudinal and transverse members comprise hollow sections of an aluminium alloy of the AlMgSi type, with insertion openings for the penetration of the forks of the fork-lift trucks being provided at least in the central pallet area.

It has become apparent that the use of a special aluminium alloy means that even goods for transport which contain acid can be safely handled, especially as the insertion openings required to enable the forks of the fork-lift truck to penetrate prevent damage to the surfaces of the transport bags which are used. The openings provided may at the same time be used as stop faces for attaching crane hooks, thus producing a highly flexible, novel transport system which, being lightweight, can be handled by two or three people.

Preferably, the insertion openings are in the form of rectangular hollow sections. Loop or eye-shaped connection parts may be disposed in the insertion openings and/or in the transverse members for attaching a crane hook.

The longitudinal and transverse members and/or the insertion openings are preferably formed from bevelled metal plates which are bent into hollow sections and positively connected. Alternatively, the longitudinal and transverse members and/or the insertion openings are formed as extruded parts.

Preferably, the transverse members have a rectangular cross section, with the point of attachment to the longitudinal members being disposed at the vertical axes of the transverse members.

The invention is further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a transport pallet according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the transport pallet according to Figure 1; Figure 2a is a view similar to Figure 2 of an alternative transport pallet according to the invention; and Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a transport hook for use with a transport pallet according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a transport pallet according to the invention with eleven longitudinal members 1 to 11 and three transverse members 12, 13, 14.

The cross-sectional view of Figure 2 shows that the transverse members 12, 13, 14 have a rectangular crosssection, with the vertical axis 15, 16, 17 of the transverse members at the same time forming, as central axis, a positive and/or non-positive connection with the longitudinal members 1, la. Eye-shaped crane hook loops 20, as shown in cross-section in Figure 3, can be inserted in these transverse members 12, 13, 14. The bevelled connection parts 21, 22 can be attached in a positive and/or non-positive manner in the openings in the transverse members 12, 13, 14, e.g. by inserting pins along the hole axes 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.

Figure 2a shows the basic structure of an alternative transport pallet according to the invention with two insertion openings 18, 19 of different dimensions to allow the fork-lift truck to penetrate. It is clear that in this case the insertion openings according to the invention on the one hand perform the function of a transverse member and on the other prevent damage to the transport bags.

It is in principle possible to dispose the insertion openings for the penetration of the forks in the central area I, II of the pallet. For special pallet dimensions it may also be necessary to dispose insertion openings away from the centre. This is facilitated by the use according to the invention of closed hollow sections as a frame profile for the fork insertion movement, as the supporting face of the section prevents damage due to eccentric loads.

Claims

1. A pallet for transporting goods which are preferably packed in bags by means of a fork-lift truck or a crane, comprising of longitudinal and transverse members which are disposed horizontally in one plane, extend essentially in parallel and are held at a distance from one another by non-positive and/or positive connections, characterised in that the longitudinal and transverse members (1-14) comprise hollow sections of an aluminium alloy of the AlMgSi type, with insertion openings for the penetration of the forks of the fork-lift trucks being provided at least in the central pallet area I, II.

2. A pallet according to claim 1, characterised in that the insertion openings are in the form of rectangular hollow sections (18), (19).

3. A pallet according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the members (1-14) and/or the insertion openings (18), (19) are formed as extruded parts.

3. A pallet according to claim 1, characterised in that loop or eye-shaped connection parts (20) are disposed in the insertion openings (18), (19) and/or in the transverse members (12), (13), (14) for attaching a crane hook.

4. A pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the members (1-14) and/or the insertion openings (18), (19) are formed from bevelled metal plates which are bent into hollow sections and positively connected.

5. A pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the members (1-14) and/or the insertion openings (18), (19) are formed as extruded parts.

6. A pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transverse members (12), (13), (14) have a rectangular cross section, with the point of attachment to the longitudinal members (1-11) being disposed at the vertical axes (15), (16), (17) of the transverse members (12), (13), (14).

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS (REVISED) 1. A pallet for transporting goods which are preferably packed in bags by means of a fork-lift truck or a crane, comprising of longitudinal and transverse members which are disposed horizontally in one plane, extend essentially in parallel and are held at a distance from one another by non-positive and/or positive connections, characterised in that the longitudinal and transverse members (1-14) comprise hollow sections of an aluminium alloy of the AlMgSi type, with insertion openings which are in the form of rectangular hollow sections (18), (19), for the penetration of the forks of the fork-lift trucks being provided at least in the central pallet area I, II, further characterised in that loop or eye-shaped connection parts (20) are disposed in the insertion openings (18), (19) and/or in the transverse members (12), (13), (14) for attaching a crane hook, whereby the members (1-14) and/or the insertion openings (18), (19) are formed from bevelled metal plates which are bent into hollow sections and positively connected and characterised in that the transverse members (12), (13), (14) have a rectangular cross section, with the point of attachment to the longitudinal members (1-11) being disposed at the vertical axes (15), (16), (17) of the transverse members (12), (13), (14).

2. A pallet according to claim 1, characterised in that the eye-shaped crane hook loops (20) have bevelled connection parts (21, 22) which can be attached in a positive and/or non-positive manner in the openings of the transverse members (12, 13, 14) by insertingalong the hole axes (23-27).