GB2443758A

GB2443758A - Structure for holding and transporting materials

Info

Publication number: GB2443758A
Application number: GB0802053A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig John Mckinnon; Adrian Sidney Diamond
Original assignee: MATERIALS HANDLING SOLUTIONS U
Current assignee: MATERIALS HANDLING SOLUTIONS U
Priority date: 2004-02-12
Filing date: 2008-02-05
Publication date: 2008-05-14
Also published as: GB0802053D0

Abstract

A structure 1 for holding and transporting materials comprises a base member 2, side members 4 extending upwards from the base and end members 5 extending upright from the base. The side and end members are joined at their lateral ends to legs 3 at the corners of the base. The legs may be provided with wheels at their lower ends. The base may be formed of a solid piece of material or may be formed from a lattice of bars 7,8. Side and end plates 11, 13 may be formed from frames 12,14 having sheet material 18 within. The side and end plates may be connected to posts 17 by means of nuts and bolts. The posts cooperate with sleeves that form the upper part of legs 19.

Description

* 2443758

MECHANICAL STRUCTURE FOR HOLDING AND TRANSPORTING

MATERIALS

The present invention relates to a mechanical structure for holding and transporting materials, for example materials to be used in a manufacturing process.

The invention has a particular application in holding and transporting car parts for use in assembling cars.

Such a structure is commonly called a "stillage". "Stillage "is a term applied to a wide variety of crates and boxes, the purpose of which is usually to hold products and transport then from one place to another. Each stillage usually comprises a generally rectangular base member, two generally rectangular side members permanently attached to and extending generally vertically from the base member, and two generally rectangular end members also permanently attached to and extending generally vertically from the base member. The end members are permanently attached to the side members so as to form a substantially rigid crate or container. The base member is normally solid in construction so as to provide a rigid support for the side members and end members and for materials contained in the stillage. The side members and end members may also be solid in construction or more open as required.

Stillages normally fall into two categories respectively termed "standards" which are basic containers each having a base member and side and end members made of either sheet steel or mesh, and "specials", which are designed specifically for an item or family of items to be held and transported in the stillage and each having a base member and side and end members with unique arms, trays or shelves to hold the items securely.

Stillages are manufactured and sold as e(ther "standards" or "specials" and can only be converted from one to the other by the processes of cutting, welding and painting the component parts of the stillage, which involves significant costs. In many cases stillages become damaged and will require repair by the use of the same processes. Also stillages, both standard and special, will eventually have to

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be scrapped due to high cost of conversion or repair. Whether conversion, repair or scrapping these processes are not environmentally friendly. Further, stillages may be manufactured at a distance from the user and will incur transport charges dependent on their overall size.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanical structure for holding and transporting materials (a stillage) which can be modified and repaired and transported more easily.

According to the present invention a mechanical structure for holding and transporting materials comprises a base member, one or more side members adapted to be attached to the base member and each constructed from one or more of a first set of standard modules, and one or more end members each adapted to be attached to the base member and to the or each side member and constructed from one or more of a second set of standard modules.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a base member for a structure in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an exploded, perspective view of a first design of side and end members for the base member of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an exploded, perspective view of a second design of side and end members for the base member of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is an exploded, perspective view of a third design of side and end members for the base member of Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1, the base member 1 comprises a main base portion 2, four legs 3 attached to and extending generally at right angles to the base portion 2, two side walls 4 and two end walls 5. The legs 3 are made from square or rectangular section tubing so as to provide recesses 6 at their upper ends. The base portion 2 is formed from a set of longitudinally extending bars 7 and of transversely extending bars 8 to form a partially open support for material placed on the base portion. Alternatively, the base portion may be solid constructed solid. The lower ends of the legs 3 are provided with wheels 9.

With reference to Figure 2, the side members 11 comprise rectangular frames 12 and the end members 13 comprise rectangular frames 14. The side frames 12 and the end frames 14 are attached to four posts 17. The side and end frames 12, 14 can be filled with solid sheets of material or sheets of mesh 18 as required The side members 11 and the end members are adapted to be attached to the posts 17 by bolts and nuts in any well known manner.

The lower ends of the posts 17 are formed with sleeves 19 which can be fitted over the upper ends of the legs 3 of the base member I so that the lower ends of the posts 17 inside the sleeves 19 fit into the recesses 6 at the upper ends of the legs 3 and can be bolted in position.

The side and end members 11, 13 and the posts 17 are modules which can be can be changed so as to provide for articles of different shapes and sizes to be securely held and transported in the structure 1.

With reference to Figure 3 the side members 21 comprises rectangular frames 22 and the end members 23 comprise rectangular frames 24. The side frames 22 and the end frames 24 are adapted to be attached to four posts 27. The side and end frames 22, 24 can be filled with solid sheets of material or sheets of mesh 28 as required. The upper portions 30 of the frames 22, 24 are arranged to pivot relative to the frames 22, 24.

The side members 21 and the end members 22 are adapted to be attached to the posts 27 by bolts and nuts in any well known manner.

The lower ends of the posts 27 are formed with sleeves 29 which can be fitted over the upper ends of the legs 3 of the base member 1 so that the lower ends of the posts 27 inside the sleeves 29 fit into the recesses 6 at the upper ends of the legs 3 and can be bolted in position.

As for the arrangement illustrated in Figure 2, the side and end members 21, 23 and the posts 27 are modules and can be changed.

With reference to Figure 4 the side members 31 (only one illustrated) comprise rectangular frames 32 and the end members 33 comprise pairs of bars 34.

The side frames 32 and the pairs of bars 34 are attached to four posts 37. The side frames 32 are filled with solid sheets of material 38 formed with sets of holes 39 to which support members (not illustrated) for supporting items to be held in the structure can be attached.

The side members 31 and the end members 33 are adapted to be attached to the posts 37 by bolts and nuts in any well known manner.

The lower ends of the posts 37 are formed with sleeves 40 which can be fitted over the upper ends of the legs 3 of the base member 1 so that the lower ends of the posts 37 inside the sleeves 40 fit into the recesses 6 at the upper ends of the legs 3.

As for the arrangements illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the side and end members 31, 33 and the posts 37 are modules and can be changed.

The dimensions of the modules will be specific to the items to be held and transported in the structure 1. The side front and rear module posts will sleeve over the base module posts and be securely bolted in place.

The structures to hold and transport materials will be manufactured as the above modular sub assemblies (the base member 1, the side members (11, 21, 31), the end members 13, 23, 33) and the posts (17, 27, 37) , stocked and later configured as required.

The structures can be transported from the manufacturer to the assembler or final destination with the side and end members, and the posts, mounted on top of the base member so as to reduce to a minimum the space occupied by each structure during transportation.

Structures which have been configured, supplied to a customer and subsequently damaged in use can be repaired and modified quickly and easily by replacing only the damaged part (or part to be changed) eg. a new side member or a new rear member or post. The process will comprise unbolting the old part and bolting in the replacement part which can be done at the customer site and has major benefits to power consumption and transport emissions.

At the end of the customer production run, for example when a car model changes the structures can be reconfigured to suit the next generations of parts in the new car model simply and quickly with significant environmental benefits.

Claims

1. A mechanical structure for holding and transporting materials comprising a base member (1), one or more side members (11, 21, 31) adapted to be attached to the base member and each constructed from one or more of a first set of standard modules, and one or more end members (13, 23, 33) each adapted to be attached to the base member and to the or each side member and constructed from one or more of a second set of standard modules.

2. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 comprising posts (17,27,37) and means for temporarily attaching the side and end members to the posts.

3. A structure as claimed in Claim 2 in which the base member comprises legs (3) and means for attaching the posts to the legs.

4. A structure as claimed in Claim 3 in which each post comprises a sleeve (19, 29, 40) adapted to fit over the top of one of the legs.

5. A mechanical structure for holding and transporting materials substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.