Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B47/00—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
  • A47B96/14—Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like
  • A47B96/1441—Horizontal struts
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
  • A47B96/14—Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like
  • A47B96/145—Composite members, i.e. made up of several elements joined together

Definitions

• the invention relates to a structural member for shelving (structural shelving member) , particularly to a column or transverse crossbar for steel shelving.
• Ordinary shelving comprises an arrangement of vertical columns (uprights) and horizontal crossbars (connecting bars) and brackets or other rods carrying palettes or shelves for storage of goods .
• Structural members of various profiles have been used for the columns, transverse crossbars and other rods of such shelving.
• profile is used hereunder to designate the shape of the structural member in a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length of the member.
• Such structural members can be manufactured from flat roller-milled sheet metal which is metal-formed by roll-forming (continuous bending by means of rolls) to form the structural member of the desired profile .
• the profile is the same over the entire length of the structural member.
• An example for roll-forming of structural members from sheet metal is disclosed in EP-A-0 715 974.
• DE-A-24 59 421 discloses a double-T-profile for use as a crossbar in steel shelving.
• This profile comprises parallel upper and lower flanges connected by a web. It is shaped from a single sheet metal in a way that the upper and lower flanges which are stressed relatively high consist of two layers of sheet metal whereas the web which is stressed relatively low consists of only a single layer of sheet metal.
• the two sheet metal layers of the upper and lower flanges are each obtained by folding from a single metal sheet.
• DE-A-24 21 918 shows a similar member having a separate strip of sheet metal inserted between the two layers of each of the upper and lower flanges to further reinforce the structural member. Further structural members for shelving and made from single layer or multilayer sheet metal are shown in DE-G-26 28 537 and DE-A-30 02 401.
• WO 00/29138 discloses a method for manufacturing a structural member starting out from sheet metal having portions of different thickness .
• the sheet metal is obtained by welding two thinner sheet metal strips to the lengthwise edges of a thicker sheet metal strip. ' The two thinner strips are then bent to obtain a U-profile with thinner legs and a thicker web. The profile is the same over the entire length of the member.
• DE-C-195 25 347 and WO 99/05380 disclose structural steel members for use in car bodies and in buildings, which have reinforcement plates welded thereon. The one disclosed in WO 99/05380 is filled with concrete.
• the invention is based on the idea to impart different profiles to different portions in lengthwise direction of the structural shelving member. This takes into consideration that different lengthwise portions of a structural shelving member carry different loads. For example, the individual portions of a shelving column each carry only the load of the shelves above them and thus, the load decreases from the bottom to the top.
• the structural shelving member comprises a profile bar. Different profile cross-sections of the structural shelving member are achieved by a reinforcement strip reinforcing the profile bar and extending along the length but only over a portion but not over the entire length of the profile bar or of the structural shelving member. This results also in an efficient use of material.
• the reinforcement strip can be formed integrally connected with the profile bar.
• both are separate pieces of sheet material which, during manufacturing of the structural shelving member, are commonly supplied and connected to each other.
• steel shelving is usually disassembled for delivery and transport and is only assembled at its final destination to save transport volume, its high weight can cause shipping costs to exceed manufacturing costs.
• An efficient use of material in accordance with the invention lowers the weight of shelving in relation to its load carrying capability and thus reduces costs of manufacturing and transport .
• Subclaims 2 to 4 relate to preferred ways of interconnecting the reinforcement strip and the profile bar.
• An embodiment according to claim 5 has the particular advantage that the reinforcement strip does not affect the look of the shelving.
• Claims 6 to 8 relate to more explicit embodiments of structural members for shelving combining an efficient use of material with high load carrying capability.
• Claims 9 to 13 relate to economical methods for manufacturing a structural shelving member in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 1 shows heavy load shelving
• Figures 2 and 3 show a schematic representation of two different installations for manufacturing structural shelving members
• Figure 4 shows a transverse cross bar
• the heavy load shelving shown in Figure 1 comprises vertical columns 1 interconnected by horizontal transverse crossbars 2 and horizontal and diagonal bracing struts 4. Shelves 3 and depthwise rods 5 used to deposit goods rest on the transverse cross bars 2.
• a foot plate 9 is welded to the bottom face of each column 1.
• An engagement plate 10 is welded to each side face of each transverse crossbar 2 and has hooks ! (not shown) for engagement with holes (not shown) in the columns 1.
• the columns 1, transverse crossbars 2, bracing struts 4 and depthwise rods 5 are different structural shelving members made of steel .
• Each portion of a shelving column 1 carries the part of the shelving load above itself. Thus, the buckle load on the column 1 increases from the top to the bottom of the column. This course of load is taken into account in the profile of the column 1.
• Figure 1 also shows the profile of the column 1 in cross-section perpendicular to the length of the column at two positions.
• the column 1 comprises a profile bar 11 extending over its entire length.
• the profile bar is made by roll-forming from sheetl;,metaX and has the same hollow profile over its entire length.
• the hollow profile is not entirely closed because each column 1 has a slit 8 along the entire length of the column where the columns 1 face each other along the narrower sides of the shelving.
• the bracing struts engage the slits 8 and are fixed therein by welding or screwing.
• the profile in the upper portion 6 of each column is exclusively defined by the profile bar 11.
• the lower portion 7 of the column 1, however, comprises two additional reinforcement strips 12 extending along the length of the column and fixed to two opposite inner walls of the profile bar 11.
• the fixing can be made by welding, screwing, riveting, clinching or other positive or non-positive connections.
• the reinforcement strips 12 are mounted to those inner walls of the profile bar 11 which are perpendicular to the wall having the slit 8. Hence, they reinforce the column 1 against buckling within the plane of the front face or rear face of the shelving, i.e. within the plane of the transverse cross-bars 2. This reinforcement is important because, other than the narrower side faces of the shelving, those front and rear faces have no or only few diagonal struts because these would obstruct access to the shelves. Further, the transverse crossbars 2 are often not very rigidly engaged with the columns 1 and thus their ability to support the columns is limited.
• the upper portion 6 without reinforcement strips 12 extends over 4/5 or more and the lower portion 7 having reinforcement strips 12 extends from the foot plate 9 over about 1/5 or less of the length of the shelving column.
• the reinforcement strips In heavy load shelving being 12 m high or more, the reinforcement strips have a length of up to about 2.5 m.
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an installation for manufacturing the columns 1. Also shown is the profile section, respectively formed in the different steps of the manufacturing process .
• the installation comprises a levelling machine 21, having a coil 22 of a first sheet metal 23 and two coils, one 24 of which only being visible of a second sheet metal 25.
• the levelling machine 21 uncoils the sheet metals 23, 25 from the coils 22, 24, straightens them and supplies them parallel to each other in the same direction.
• the installation further comprises connection and roll- forming means 26 in which individually cut strips of the second sheet metal 25 are connected to the first sheet metal 23 by welding or clinching.
• the first sheet metal 23 Prior to or after making the connection, the first sheet metal 23 is roll-formed to form the profile of the profile bar 11.
• Cutting means 27 cut the first sheet metal 23 into pieces having the length of a column 1 which is longer than the strip of the second sheet metal 25 fixed thereto.
• Punching means 28 punch holes (not shown) into the first sheet metal 23 for engagement by the transverse crossbars 2 and for fixture of the bracing struts 4 by screwing.
• a foot plate 9 ( Figure 1) is welded to one end of the compound of first and second sheet metals 23, 25, where ends of the first and second sheet metals 23, 25 are flush.
• the first sheet metal 23 forms the profile bar 11 and the two strips of second sheet metal 25 form the rein orcement strips 12.
• Figure 3 shows a modification of the installation of Figure 2. That modification comprises two different levelling machines 31, 32 for supplying the first sheet metal 23 and the second sheet metal 25 from opposite directions.
• the sheet metals 23, 25 are uncoiled from respective coils 22, 24 and are straightened.
• Roll-forming and cutting means 33 are provided for giving the first sheet metal 23 the profile of the profile bar 11, cutting it to the length of a column 1 and supplying it to connection means 34.
• the connection means 34 are supplied from the opposite direction with two parallel strips of the second sheet metal 25. These strips are inserted from the front side into the profile bar 11 made from the first sheet metal 23 and are cut to a shorter length than the profile bar 11 by the connecting means 34 to form the reinforcement strips 12.
• the reinforcement strips are fixed to mutually opposite inner faces of the profile bar 11 by welding or clinching.
• a portion 7 of the column comprises reinforcement strips whereas another portion 6 is void of reinforcement strips .
• Figure 4 shows a side view of the transverse crossbar 2 when the engagement plates 10 are not yet welded to its two ends. Also shown are cross-sections along lines A-A and B-B. Similar to the column 1, the transverse crossbar 2 comprises a profile bar 41 and a reinforcement strip 42. The profile bar 41 extends along the entire length of the transverse crossbar 2 and shows a ' rectangular hollow profile in cross- section perpendicular to its lengthwise direction. The hollow profile is not entirely closed. Namely, the lower side of the profile bar 41 comprises a slit 43.
• the reinforcement strip 42 is deposited on the bottom within the profile bar 41 where it covers the slit 43.
• the reinforcement strip 42 is welded at the slit 43 to the profile bar 41 and carries part of the load of the crossbar 2 in use.
• the length of the reinforcement strip 42 is about.1/5 the length of the crossbar 2.
• the adjacent end portions 45 each having 2/5 the length of the .crossbar 2 comprise no reinforcement strips. Further reinforcement strips could, however, be provided at the outermost ends of the crossbar 2 to increase the rigidity of its connection to the engagement plate 10 and thus to the column 1.
• Figure 2 or 3 can also be used for manufacturing the transverse crossbar " 2., wherein one coil only is required to provide the second sheet metal .
• the reinforcement strip 12, 42 is made from sheet material separate from the sheet material of the profile bar 11, 41 and is fixed on its flat side to the latter.
• the first and second sheet materials 23, 25 have the same metal composition and thickness and differ only by their width. However, different materials and/or different thicknesses could also be used. It is also conceivable to manufacture the reinforcement strip integrally with the profile bar by bending part of the sheet material of the profile bar to the location of the reinforcement strip.
• the profile bar extends ' over the entire length of the structural shelving member whereas the reinforcement strip extends over 1/20 or 1/10 to 1/5 or 1/2 the length of the structural shelving member or the profile bar.
• the profile bar is hollow except that it includes the reinforcement strip or strips .
• the profile bar has a lengthwise slit, i.e. has an open profile which facilitates manufacturing by roll-forming.
• Heavy load shelving comprising structural shelving members according to the invention can typically carry 50% higher loads than conventional shelving having the same weight .

Landscapes

• Assembled Shelves (AREA)
• Rod-Shaped Construction Members (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
• Cabinets, Racks, Or The Like Of Rigid Construction (AREA)
• Bending Of Plates, Rods, And Pipes (AREA)
• Pallets (AREA)
• Centrifugal Separators (AREA)

Priority Applications (16)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=7657200

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (27)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (12)

Citations (11)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2000
  • 2000-09-21 DE DE10046947A patent/DE10046947C2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-09-18 UY UY26940A patent/UY26940A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-19 PE PE2001000941A patent/PE20020314A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-20 TW TW090123246A patent/TW562910B/zh active
  • 2001-09-21 PL PL01354255A patent/PL354255A1/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-21 WO PCT/EP2001/010954 patent/WO2002024030A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-21 IL IL14921501A patent/IL149215A0/xx unknown
  • 2001-09-21 KR KR1020027006415A patent/KR20020067909A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-21 CZ CZ20021750A patent/CZ20021750A3/cs unknown
  • 2001-09-21 AU AU21617/02A patent/AU2161702A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-21 SK SK840-2002A patent/SK8402002A3/sk unknown
  • 2001-09-21 EP EP01985232A patent/EP1322202A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-09-21 US US10/380,424 patent/US20040035812A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-21 YU YU36502A patent/YU36502A/sh unknown
  • 2001-09-21 RU RU2003107680/12A patent/RU2003107680A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-21 CN CNB018028330A patent/CN1189121C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-09-21 MX MXPA02004995A patent/MXPA02004995A/es unknown
  • 2001-09-21 JP JP2002528075A patent/JP4370094B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-09-21 CA CA002392358A patent/CA2392358A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-21 BR BR0107233-1A patent/BR0107233A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-21 HU HU0204004A patent/HUP0204004A2/hu unknown
• 2002
  • 2002-04-24 ZA ZA200203251A patent/ZA200203251B/en unknown
  • 2002-05-14 EC EC2002004256A patent/ECSP024256A/es unknown
  • 2002-05-16 NO NO20022353A patent/NO20022353L/no unknown
  • 2002-05-20 HR HR20020436A patent/HRP20020436A2/hr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-06-19 BG BG106844A patent/BG106844A/xx unknown
• 2003
  • 2003-09-06 HK HK03106360.6A patent/HK1053959A1/zh unknown

Patent Citations (11)

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