GB2480534A

GB2480534A - Pallet with securing means for cargo and deck

Info

Publication number: GB2480534A
Application number: GB1107964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oyvind Vikse; Jostein Forland
Original assignee: DEEPOCEAN AS
Current assignee: DEEPOCEAN AS
Priority date: 2010-05-19
Filing date: 2011-05-13
Publication date: 2011-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-13
Also published as: NO20100730A1; GB2480534B; NO335795B1; GB201107964D0

Abstract

A cargo carrying device or pallet 1 comprising a platform 11 supported by at least two beams 14 extending between two side surfaces 11b, wherein the platform 11 is formed by multiple longitudinal extruded platform sections 111 arranged in parallel and mutually rigidly connected. Each longitudinal platform section is provided with one or more fastening slots 112 extending the whole length of the platform sections 111 and arranged for receipt of a head of a fastening bolt. The beams 14 are rigidly connected to the platform 11 are provided with multiple foundation plates 144 comprising one or more elements 145 arranged to be able to enter into a guiding or locking engagement with fixation means arranged in a ship deck 3. The beams may also be fitted with lifting attachments 148 or padeyes 149.

Description

DEVICE FOR LOAD CARRIER

There is described a cargo carrying device comprising a platform supported by at least two beams extending between two side surfaces which together with end surfaces define the platform, more particularly in that the platform is formed by multiple longitudinal platform sections arranged in parallel and formed by extrusion, as the platform sections are rigidly connected mutually and provided with one or more attachment slots extending the whole length of the platform sections arranged for receiving the head of an attachment bolt.

In transporting general cargo in ships, particularly cargo on an open vessel deck such as on supply vessels for oil and gas fields offshore, there is a need for quick and efficient securing of the cargo at the same time as mobility is is maintained, for example that the items to be transported may be transferred quickly by crane or other lifting equipment between a vessel and a field installation. Existing, standardised structures on the cargo deck, such as attachment means and support structures should preferably be able to be used.

It is known that there for ISO-standardised 20' cargo containers having a nominal base of 2.4 x 6.0 m is a network of corner attachment points integrated in the cargo deck of supply vessels, and for standardised cargo pallets a cooperative skid system is known.

From US 3972326 A is known a cargo carrier comprising a platform supported by three beams extending between two side surfaces which together with two end surfaces define the platform. The platform is formed by multiple longitudinal platform elements arranged in parallel, which by means of locking elements rising from the beams and in releasable engagement in recesses in the platform elements, are releasably attached to the beams without the use of special tools.

0 From US 2005/0150194 Al is known a cargo carrier comprising a platform wherein tracks extending from one of the platform side edges and are arranged for receipt and fixation of a locking element in any position in the track for locking of a cargo item.

is The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to

provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

The object is achieved by the features disclosed in the below

description and in the subsequent claims.

There is provided a cargo pallet wherein the cargo may be secured without the use of hot work, i.e. welding, grinding etc. The pallet may serve as a lifting support for heavy objects and it may be stored on a vessel and relevant installations offshore during prevailing environmental conditions.

An extrudable, corrosion resistant material, preferably aluminium, forms a platform wherein there in a cargo surface is arranged a series of longitudinal, parallel attachment slots, for example with an inverted T-profile, arranged for receipt of fastening means, for example the head portion of fastening bolts of a hammerhead or T-bolt type corresponding with the slot profile in such a manner that the fastening means are connected rotatably rigid with the pallet and which in the free condition may be displaced in the whole extent of the slot. A platform is assembled by multiple longitudinal platform section being arranged side by side and joined together to a stable unit having the prescribed base. The joining of the sections is preferably carried out by welding.

Advantageously the sections are provided with means for mutual positions of the platform sections before joining, io typically in the form of longitudinal, protruding lips engaging corresponding grooves in the adjacent section.

In the sections there are multiple walls integrated extending between the platform cargo surface and its opposing bottom surface to provide a platform having adequate flexural rigidity.

The platform is supported by multiple beams extending laterally to the longitudinal direction of the platform sections and being attached to the platform. The beams are formed from profiles of a material being approximately galvanic neutral relative to the platform material. On a lower side surface in use is arranged multiple foundation plates arranged to be able to rest on a for the purpose suitable deck structure on a ship. The foundation plates are provided with one or more elements arranged to be able to come into locking engagement with fixation means arranged in the deck structure, such as flanges on guide rails or container corner fasteners integrated in the ship deck.

The foundation plates may be provided with sliding plates suited to be able to provide a prescribed friction against the guide rail on displacement of the pallet on the ship's deck at the same time as the sliding plates show a great wear resistance. An example of a suitable material is Hardox45O.

The beams are in one embodiment provided with lifting attachments projecting outward from two of the opposing platform side surfaces. In an alternative embodiment the beams are also provided with coupling details projecting outward from the two adjacent end surfaces of the platform, as the coupling details are arranged for releasable connection to means arranged to be able to push or pull the pallet on the support, for example along the guide rails.

The beams are in another embodiment also provided with means to be able to be in a releasable, locking engagement with the guide rails, for example in the form of rotatable gripping claws mutually connected to a strapping device.

On the platform cargo surface there may, by means of the above mentioned fastening means be fastened cargo securing brackets in any portion of an arbitrary track. The cargo securing brackets may be provided in a series of shapes adapted to different cargo item types. They are advantageously arranged to be able to be rotated about a vertical axis coincident with a central axis of a fastening means. The cargo securing bracket is preferably displaceable in a plane parallel to the platform cargo surface, advantageously in an area at least corresponding to the center distance between two adjacent tracks. A locking element arranged on the cargo securing bracket is arranged for displacement in a plane perpendicular to the platform cargo surface to be able to abut a portion of the cargo to be secured and thereby prevent vertical movement of the cargo relative to the cargo pallet.

For particular purposes the system may be completed with plates where the cargo is welded down and the plates fastened to the cargo pallet as described above.

S

The slots in the platform may possibly also be used for fastening the cargo pallet to fastening elements in a supporting surface, such as said ship deck, particularly ship decks not being provided with standardised guide rails or a network of container corner fasteners, in that locking brackets suitable for the purpose extend between the support surface fastening elements and for example an edge portion of the cargo surface of the cargo pallet, where the locking bracket is fastened to the cargo pallet and the pallet is io fixed relative to the base.

Inserts of a suitable material, typically stainless steel are preferably used to protect the pallet against galvanic corrosion due to long term exposure of aluminium to steel, particularly the guide rail system of the vessel, for example between the base plates and the beam. Between the cargo and the pallet inserts of a passive plate material such as rubber or plastic may be used.

The invention more specifically relates to a cargo carrying device comprising a platform supported by at least two beams extending between two side surfaces which together with two end surfaces define the platform, wherein the platform is formed by multiple longitudinal platform sections arranged in parallel, characterized in that -the platform sections are formed by extrusion, are mutually rigidly connected and are provided with one or more fastening slots extending the whole length of the platform sections and are arranged for receipt of a fastening bolt head; -the beams are rigidly connected to the platform; and -the beams are provided with multiple foundation plates comprising one or more elements arranged to be able to enter into a guiding or locking engagement with fixation means arranged in a ship deck.

The foundation plates may be provided with sliding plates suitable for abutting guide rails sunk into the ship deck.

A material being approximately galvanic neutral relative to the platform sections may form a beam stem.

At least some of the beams may be provided with lifting attachments projecting out from two opposing side surfaces of the platform.

io At least some of the beams may be provided with pacleyes for pulling projecting out from two opposing side surfaces of the platform.

At least some of the beams may be provided with means arranged to be able to be in a releasable, locking engagement is with guide rails sunk into the ship deck, or other deck elements.

The means for releasable, locking engagement with the guide rails may be formed as rotatable locking clamps mutually connected to a strapping device.

The platform sections may be mutually connected by welding, in that an outward projecting portion in a platform section is in engagement with a corresponding groove in the adjacent platform section, or by a combination of these.

In the following is described an example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows in perspective a first embodiment of a cargo carrier in the form of a cargo pallet placed on a ship deck being provided with a network of guide rails; Fig. 2 shows the cargo pallet to a larger scale in perspective seen from below; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the cargo pallet platform; Fig. 4 shows to a smaller scale and in perspective a second embodiment of a cargo carrier in the form of a cargo sheet placed on a ship deck provided with a network of standardised sheet and container io fasteners; Fig. 5 shows the cargo sheet of Figure 4 to a larger scale in perspective seen from below; and Fig. 6 shows in perspective and to a larger scale a cargo carrier lock in engagement with flanges on a guide rail.

In the figures the reference numeral 1 indicates a cargo carrier, also called a pallet or a sheet, arranged to be able to carry a cargo 2, see particularly the Figures 1 and 4, wherein the cargo carrier 1 is placed on a ship deck 3 being provided with per se known, integrated guide rails 31, fastening elements 32 and other deck elements 31' arranged to be able to carry large point loads. In a first embodiment example shown in the Figures 1 and 2 the cargo carrier 1 is formed roughly square and having base dimensions approx. 2.8 x 2.8 m, while the cargo carrier 1 in a second embodiment example shown in the Figures 4 and 5 is formed having base dimensions equivalent to a standardised 20' container, i.e. 2.4 x 6.0 m.

The pallet 1 is formed as a platform ii provided with a cargo surface ha, two side surfaces lib, two end surfaces hic and a bottom surface lid.

Multiple longitudinal platform sections 111 provided by extruded aluminium form the platform 11. The platform sections 111, excluding side sections 111', 111'' are provided with means easing the mutual positioning of the platform sections 111 during assembly of the platform 11, as a positioning lip 114 extending the whole length of the io platform section 111, is arranged on a side edge of the platform section lii having a shape being complementary to a positioning groove 115 extending in an opposing side edge of the adjacent platform section 111. The side sections 111', ill'' are not, to be suitable for the purpose, provided with such lip 114, or groove 115 respectively on their outward facing side edges. Assembled platform sections 111, lii', ill'' form continuous, longitudinal recesses arranged for placing of welding grooves 116 lying recessed in the cargo surface ha and the bottom surface lid of the platform, see particularly Figure 3.

The platform sections 111, 111', 111'' are provided with multiple voids formed by stiffeners 113 extending in parallel between the cargo surface ha and the bottom surface lid to save materials and still maintain the necessary strength.

The platform sections 111, lii', 111'' are provided with a series of fastening slots 112 extending the whole length of the platform 11. The fastening slots 112 have a profile suited to receipt and locking of the head 121 of a fastening bolt 12, in Figure 3 shown as a hammerhead bolt. The fastening bolt 12 may be positioned in any position in the longitudinal direction of the fastening slot 112.

The platform 11 is on its bottom surface lid provided with multiple beams 14 extending between the side surfaces llb and functioning as stiffeners for the platform 11. The beam 14 comprises a stem 141 where on each of the end portion of a lower side surface 142 is arranged a foundation attachment 143. To the foundation attachment 143 is attached a foundation plate 144, and an intermediate plate 147 made of stainless steel or another suitable material is arranged between the foundation attachment 143 and the foundation io plate 144 to form a galvanic partition between the material of the beam 14, typically aluminium, and the material of the foundation plate 144 and the ship deck 2, typically steel. A foundation plate 144 and an appurtenant intermediate plate 147 are for clarity shown pulled away from their respective foundation attachment 143 in the Figures 2 and 5.

The foundation plate 144 is in the first embodiment example (see Figure 2) formed with a sliding plate 146 provided in a for the purpose suitable material and suited to be able to slide against a base, such as guide rails 31 in the ship deck 3. Multiple engagement elements 145 project downwards from the foundation plate 144 and are arranged to be able to enter into engagement with a flange 312 on the guide rail 31.

In an alternative embodiment (see Figure 6) the beam 14 is provided with multiple cargo carrier locks 15 each provided with two locking clamps 151 rotatable about a rotational axis 152 and mutually connected with a tightening device 153. The cargo carrier lock 15 is arranged to be in engagement with the flange 312 on the guide rail 31.

In the second embodiment example (see Figure 5) the foundation plate 144 is formed with an engagement element 145 in the form of a recess having guide and holding on surfaces arranged to enter into lockable engagement with a standardised container anchoring 321 fastened in an attachment element 32 on the ship deck 3 (see Figure 4) In the first embodiment example (see Figure 2) the beam 14 is in its end portions provided with lifting attachments 148 projecting out from the platform 11 side surfaces llb. On one of the beam 14 side surfaces are arranged multiple padeyes 149 for pulling projecting out from the platform end surfaces llc. The padeyes 149 are used when the cargo carrier 1 is to be displaced on the base 3, 31.

io By means of a fastening bolt 12 positioned in one of the fastening slots 112 in the platform 11 a cargo securing bracket 13 (see Figure 1) may be fastened on an arbitrary place on the cargo carrier 1 cargo surface lla. The fastening bolt 12 projects up through a longitudinal slot 131 in a bottom portion of the cargo securing bracket 13. A locking element 132 is releasably attached to a vertical surface on the cargo securing bracket 13, as multiple locking element bolts 134 extend through the locking element 132 and through longitudinal, vertical locking element slots 133 providing a possibility for a vertical displacement of the locking element 132 relative to the platform 11.