WO1988005408A1

WO1988005408A1 - Load carrier

Info

Publication number: WO1988005408A1
Application number: PCT/SE1988/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl Johan Back
Original assignee: Stretch Machinery Ab
Priority date: 1987-01-14
Filing date: 1988-01-13
Publication date: 1988-07-28
Also published as: DK509288D0; DK509288A; AU1225688A

Abstract

Load carrier including frames (1, 2) of strip material, which is folded transverse the longitudinal direction of the strip along lines in the plane of the strip, each frame including a bearer web (11; 21) forming an elongate surface parallel to the plane of the load carrier, and two legs (12, 13; 22, 23) integral with said bearer web, formed by folding the strip at right angles. Each frame also includes two lower web portions (14, 15; 24, 25) each integral with its respective leg, and formed by folding the strip at right angles such that the ends of the lower web portions are mutually opposing.

Description

LOAD CARRIER Technical Field

The present invention relates to load carriers provided with frames of strip material, which is folded transverse the longitudinal direction of the strip along lines in the plane of the strip. Background Art

Load carriers of the kind described above are already known, e.g. from, the Swedish patent application No. 8600603-8. The load carriers illustrated and described in this application comprise load pallets manufactured from metallic strip material. The use of such material results in that the material may be re-used when the pallet has served its purpose, that the pallet will withstand rough treatment and ' aggressive environment, that the pallet can be repaired if it is deformed during use and that it will be lighter in weight and, at least in countries where timber is scarce, that it will be cheaper to manufacture than wooden pallets with corresponding load-carrying properties.

The load pallets in acccordance with the above- mentioned patent application are burdened with certain disadvantages, however. One disadvantage is that the frames forming the pallets are closed, which makes handling with so-called stackers impossible, since stackers are provided with fixed wheeled arms as well as lifting tynes, both being intended for insertion between the pallet and substructure, the wheels then running along the substructure after the pallet has been lifted by the tynes from the substructure. The weight of the pallet will be relatively high due to the frames being closed. Since the frames have different heights in order to be inserted one in the o-ther, the tolerances on the dimensions between the webs of the frames must be very small, and two different folding tools and operations must be used. In addition, the frames cannot be used for manufacturing so-called quarter pallets. Disclosure of Invention One object of the present invention is to at least partially remove the disadvantages with previously known load pallets of the kind described above, while the advantages with the use of strip as a constructional material are retained at the same time. This object is achieved by the load carrier in accordance with the invention being given the distinguish¬ ing features disclosed in the characterizing portions of the claims. Description of Figures Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a first frame for a load carrier in accordance with the invention .

Figure 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a second frame for a load carrier in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of the first frame.

Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the second frame. Figure 5 is a side view of two first frames in accordance with the first embodiment put together to form a frame unit.

Figure 6 is a plan from above of a first load pallet put together from two first and two second frames according to one of the two embodiments in figures 1 - 4, and shown in full lines, and a second pallet shown with dashed lines which is identical with, and attached to the first pallet shown in full lines.

Figure 7 is a side view of one of the pallets in Figure 6, comprising frames according to the first embodiments illustrated in figures 1 and 2. Figure 8 is an end view of the pallet . illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side view of one of the pallets in Figure 6 comprising frames in accordance with the second embodiments illustrated in figures 3 and 4.

Figure 10 is an end view of the pallet illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan seen from below of a third pallet put together from a panel and frames according to Figure 1 or 2.

Figure 12 is a side view of the pallet according To Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a side view corresponding to the one in Figure 12 but with different orientation of the frames, and

Figure 14 is a side view of a part of the pallet in Figure 13 in a somewhat modified embodiment. Preferred Embodiments

The load carrier according to the embodiments of the invention illustrated in figures 1 - 10 includes two frames, of which the first frame 1 or 1 ' is illustrated in figures 1 , 3 and 5 and the second frame 2 or 2' is illustrated in figures 2 or 4.

The frames are formed from a strip material, e.g. steel, aluminium, plastics or plywood, although steel is to be preferred, due to the advantageous relation ship between strength and price. The cross-sectional dimensions of the strip may be such as 60 mm wide and 2 mm thick.

The first frame illustrated in figure 1 comprises a bearer web 11 , two legs 12 and 13 and two lower portions 14 and 15. The bearer web can be 600 mm long, correspond¬ ing to half the length of a standard pallet, the legs can be 98 mm long, corresponding to the normal height of a standard pallet minus the strip thickness of 2 mm, and the lower web portions have a length corresponding to the band width of 60 mm. In the alternative embodiment illustrated in figure 3, the bearer web 11 ^r, legs 12' and 13' and one lower web portion 14^r are identical with the correspond¬ ing details in Figure 1, while the lower web portion 15' has a length corresponding to the length of the bearer web 11' minus the length of the lower web portion T4' (or its width) .

The second frame illustrated in figure 2 comprises a bearer web 21 , two legs 22 and 23 and two lower web portions 24 and 25. This frame 2 is identical- with the first frame 1 illustrated in figure 1 , except¬ ing that the bearer web 21 is shorter than the bearer web 11, e.g. 400 mm.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in figure 4, the bearer web 21 " , legs 22' and 23^r and one lower web portion 24 are identical with corresponding details in figure 2, while the web portion 25' has a length corresponding to the length of the bearer web 21 minus the length of the lower web portion 24' (or its width).

Frames 1 and 2 are rectangular and have been formed by folding the strip material in the main plane of the strip along lines at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the strip, the folding radii having been kept small. The strip material suitably comprises straight metal strip of rectangular cross section, but can comprise other material, e.g. material having a corrugated configuration. Since the legs 12, 13, 12' , 13' , 22, 23, 22' , 23' are equally as long, both frames can be fabricated in the same folding machine, which can be of simple construction.

To form a load carrier in the form of a so-called quarter pallet, two frames 1 and two frames 2 are put together into a rectangular unit as illustrated by full lines in Figure 6 or by dashed lines and in the way illustrated in figures 7 and 8. From these figures it will be seen that the bearer webs 11 and 21 form load bearing surfaces, that a leg 12 or 13 and a leg 22 or 23 are at right angles to each other in the horizontal plane such as together form a corner, and that a lower web portion 14 or 15 and a lower web portion 24 or 25 form a foot which is parallel to the load bearing surfaces. Before being put together, the surfaces facing towards each other at the ends of the bearer webs 11 , 21 and web portions 14, 15 and 24, 25 are coated with adhesive. Since the webs and web portions can be moved at right angles to each other without obstruction from remaining frame parts when they are put together it is ensured that the adhesive is not rubbed off from said surfaces before they contact each other. Since the distance between the bearer web 11 and the lower web portion 14 or 15 is exactly the same as the distance between the bearer web 21 and the web portion 24 or 25 it is further ensured that all adhesive coated surfaces, come into contact with each other. Instead of, or supplementary to, the adhesion procedure, the latter bearer webs and lower web portions may be connected to each other by such as spot welding.

Two frames 1 ' and two frames 2' can also be used to form a quarter pallet, which is illustrated in figures 9 and 10. Such a pallet will be more stable than the one illustrated in figures 7 and 8, but does not allow the pallet to be handled by a pallet truck with a wheeled support frame. The pallet formed by the frames 1 ' and 2' is assembled just as readily as the one described previously, although when one frame is inserted into an other frame the web portions 15' , 25' must be moved aside, which does not meet any great resistance, since the strip material can flex. After the frames 1 ' and 2' have been attached to each other in the same way as described above, the free ends of the web portions 15' , 25' are connected to the free ends of the web portions 14' , 24' e.g. by welding. The frames 1, 1' , 2, 2^r may also be combined in other ways to achieve a quarter pallet. Accordingly, two frames 1 may be used together with, and connected to two frames 2', or two frames 2 can be used together with and connected to two frames 1 ' . If a quarter pallet with a quadratic shape is desired, four equally as long frames 1, 1 ', 1 or 2^l can be used.

Several quarter pallets of the same kind as those described above can be combined to a full or half pallet (a full pallet is four quarter pallets and a half pallet is two quarter pallets). The pallets are placed side by side in the loading plane and are connected to each other by juxtaposed legs 12, 13; 22, 23; etc. being adhered or welded together. It is indicated in Figure 6 by full lines and dashed lines how two quarter pallets are put together to a half pallet.

Figure 5 shows how to frames 1 and a flat strip 30 of the same width as the strip material in the frames are put together into a long frame to form a whole side in a full or half pallet. The legs 12 or 13 of both frames 1 are adhered, welded or riveted together, and the strip 30 is fastened in a corresponding manner to the lower web portions 14 and 15 of the frames 1. A long frame extending over the entire length or width of a full or half pallet, and built up in the same way as the frame illustrated in figure 5, may also comprise frames 2, 1' or 2' and a flat strip 30.

Rectangular panels made from such as sheet metal can be fastened to the pallets according to figures 6 - 10 for reinforcing them, and/or for increasing the frictional grip between these and the tynes which are used to lift the pallets. In figure 7, chain dotted lines illustrate how a panel 40, with a width equal to the distance between the outsides of the bearer webs 11 or 11 ' in figure 6 and a length equal to the distance between the insides of the bearer webs 21 or 21 ^r , is placed on top of the bearer webs 11 or 11 ' between the webs 21 or 21 ' and joined by such as adhesive to the surfaces of the bearer webs 11 or 11 ' facing away from the lower web portions. In order to further increase reinforcement and/or the frictional engagement with the tynes, a panel 41 can be fastened to the insides of the bearer webs 21 or 21 ' in the manner illustrated in figure 8, the panel then passing between the insides of both bearer webs 11 or 11 ' and covering the underside of the bearer webs 21 or 21 ' . Both panels 40 and 41 can also be fastened to each other by such as adhesion, riveting or welding.

In the case where panels corresponding to the panels 40 and 41 are to be used for a full pallet comprising four quarter pallets according to figures 7 _ 10, each panel extends over two juxtaposed quarter pallets, four panels being needed if both the outside and the inside of a full pallet is to be covered by panels, while only two panels are required if only the outside or the inside is to be covered.

For reinforcement and/or increase in friction with the aid of panels, the latterly described panels such as the panels 40, 41 may be replaced, or supplemented by, a single panel covering a full pallet, for example, this panel being fastened to the outsides of the bearer webs 11 , 11 ' , 21 or 21 ' or to the out¬ sides of the lower web portions 14, 15; 14' , 15' ; 24, 25; 24' , 25' . In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in figures 11 - 13 the load carrier made as a full pallet includes a rectangular panel 50 of particulate board, or other suitable material, and a plurality of frames of one of the kinds illustrated in figures 1 - 5, e.g. six frames 1. The legs 12 and 13 of two frames 1 are joined to each other with the aid of weld- ing, riveting and/or adhesion, and both frames form a frame pair. The frame pairs are joined to the panel 50 with the aid of riveting and/or adhesion to the bearer webs 11, or as illustrated in Figure 13, of the lower web portions 14 and 15. Two frame pairs extend along the side edges of the panel 50, while the third frame pair is assembled centrally and parallel to them. If desired, more than three frame pairs can be attached to the panel, in which case the frame pairs are always mutually parallel.

For reinforcing each of both edges on the panel 50, which are at right angles to the frame pairs, a flat strip 51 of the same material and suitably of the same width and thickness as the frames may be fastened between the frames and panel. The strip 51 can suitably be inserted in a complemental recess 52 in the panel. A strip or two juxtaposed strips (unillustrated) identical to the strip 51 may be placed between the panel 50 and the frames opposite the mutually joined lower web portions 14, 15. According to an alternative un¬ illustrated embodiment of the pallet illustrated in figures^" 11 - 13, the bearer webs 11 or the lower web portions 14, 15 may be inserted in complemental recesses in the panel 50. An angle section 53 is illustrated in figure 14, and it is fastened either between two opposing ends of the pallet, or forms a closed rectangular frame, the outside of which is in approximately the same vertical planes as the legs 12, 13 of the frames 1. The section 53 stiffens the pallet, and its vertical leg protects the edges of the panel 50, which is fastened to the frames 1 , and may be made from one or more particulate boards or sheet metal. Recesses corresponding to the recesses 52 in figures 11 and 12 can optionally be made in the panel 50, for accommodating the horizontal legs of the sections 53. In the case where several sheets of metal are used, these may be given a corrugated, or the like cross section, and/or have the same longitudinal section as a frame 1 , with its web portions engaging against the horizontal leg of the section 53. For also protecting a part of the upper surface of the panel 50, the angle 55 may be replaced by an unillustrated, U- shaped section, with its flanges horizontal and situated on either side of the panel in spaced relationship corresponding to the thickness of the panel.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described above and shown on the drawings, it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to these embodiments but only by the disclosure in the claims.

Claims

1. Load carrier including frames of strip material, which is folded transverse the longitudinal direction of the strip along lines in the plane of the strip, each frame including a web forming an elongate surface parallel to the plane of the load carrier, and two legs joined to this web by folding the strip at right angles, characterized in that each frame (1,1' ; 2, 2' ) also includes two web portions (14, 15; 14' , 15' ; 24, 25, 24', 25') which, by folding the strip at right angles and in a direction towards each other, are each connected to a leg (12, 13, 12^r, 13' ; 22, 23, 22' , 23').

2. Load carrier as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that each of a first and a second frame (1, 1' ; 2, 2') includes a web (11, 11 ' ; 21, 21 ') forming an elongate surface parallel to the plane of the load carrier, and two legs (12, 13, 12* , 13'; 22, 23, 22' , 23') which by folding the strip at right angles are joined to the web, and also two web portions (14, 15; 14' , 15 ^r ; 24, 25, 24' , 25') which by folding the strip at right angles and in a direction towards each other are each connected to a leg, and in that a web portion (24, 24', 25, 25') on one frame (2, 2') is inserted in the second frame (1, 1 ^r) so that this web portion and a web portion (14, 14' ; 15, 15' ) on the second frame overlap each other in the immediate vicinity of the legs (22, 22' ; 23, 23* ; 12, 12' ; 13, 13') joined to said web portions and forming a corner.

3. Load carrier as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that mutually overlapping web portions (14, 15; 23, 24) have a length substantially corresponding to the width of the strip .

4. Load carrier as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that for one frame at least, one of its web portions (14' ; 24') has a length substantially corresponding to the width of the strip, and its other web portion (15' ; 25') has a length bridging the distance between the free end of said one web portion and the leg (13' , 23' } to which the second web portion is connected, the ends of both web portions facing towards each other being joined to each other.

5. Arrangement as claimed in any ones of claims 2 - 4, characterized in that the distances between each web portion (14, 15; 14' , 15' ) and the web (11 ; 11 ' ) on the first frame (1 ; 1 ' ) are equally as great as the corresponding distance on the second frame (2; 2' ) .

6. Arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 2^~ 5, characterized in that the mutually overlapping web portions (14, 24; 15, 25; etc) and their opposing, mutually overlapping portions of the webs (11 , 21 ; 11 ' , 21 ' ) on both frames (1 , 1 ' ; 2, 2' ) are joined to each other by adhesion, riveting and/or welding.

7. Arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 2 - 6, characterized. in that two first (1 ; 1 ' ) and two second (2; 2' ) frames are joined to each other to form a rectangular unit, the load carrying surface of which comprises the webs (11 ; 11 ' ) of two parallel first frames and the webs (21 ; 21 ' ) of two parallel second frames, the webs on two parallel frames being at the same level but spaced from the webs of the other two parallel frames.

8. Arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a panel (40; 41) is fastened to the frames (1 , 1 ' ; 2, 2' ) and covers the opening between the frames and also the webs (11 , 11 ' ; 21 , 21 ' ) on two parallel frames, so that the panel together with the webs on both the other parallel frames form a substantially flat surface.

9. Arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that two or four units (Figure 6) are put together to a larger unit with legs (12, 13; 12' , 13' ; 22, 23; 22' , 23' ) on the frames (1 , 1 ' ; 2, 2' ) engaging against each other and preferably joined to each other with the aid of adhesion

10. Arrangement as claimed in claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the panel (40; 41 ) extends over two juxtaposed units. 11. Arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 8 - 10, characterized in that there is a panel (40; 41) fastened to either side of the webs (11 ,

11 ' ; 21 , 21 ' ) .

12. Load carrier as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the legs (12, 13) of two frames (1) are joined to each other to form a frame pair, in that a plurality of frame pairs are arranged with mutual spacing without connertion with the aid of other frame pairs of the kind mentioned, in that the frame pairs are mutually parallel and have substantially the same length as a load carrying panel (50), to which the webs (11) or web portions (14, 15) on both frames in each frame pair are connected.

13. Load carrier as claimed in claim 12, characterized by flat strips (51) extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the frame pairs and which are situated between the panel (50) and the webs (11) or web portions (14, 15) facing towards the panel.

14. Load carrier as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the flat strips (51) are placed at the edges of the panel (50) and optionally directly opposite the web portions as well, said strips being preferably accommodate -in complemental recesses (52) made in the panel.

15. Load carrier as claimed in any one of the preced¬ ing claims, characterized in that L- or U-shaped sections (53), preferably forming a closed frame, are fixed to the load carrier and constitute edge protection for a panel (50) mounted on top of the frames (1, 1 ' ; 2, 2').