WO2011140674A1

WO2011140674A1 - Pallet

Info

Publication number: WO2011140674A1
Application number: PCT/CN2010/000678
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fredrik Edfast; Linda Forslund; Robert Marquis; Yangshi Bai
Original assignee: Svenskt Stal Domnarvet Ab
Priority date: 2010-05-12
Filing date: 2010-05-12
Publication date: 2011-11-17

Abstract

A metallic pallet is disclosed. The pallet comprises a substantially rectangular continuous load bearing surface arranged essentially horizontally, at least four leg members having a vertical extension, each leg member being arranged essentially in a corner of the rectangular load bearing surface.

Description

PALLET

The present disclosure relates to a metallic pallet intended for storage and transportation, the pallet being especially suitable for storage and transportation of gheavy weight articles.

Background

Conventional pallets for transporting and storage are often made of wood and are as such quite heavy. The size of the pallets is standardized in order to facilitate storage and

transportation. However, the standards vary between different countries.

Therefore, a pallet for example from Europe may possibly not be able to use in for example Australia. Hence, conventional pallets made of wood are often discarded prematurely and the entire possible lifespan of such pallets may thus not be effectively used. Furthermore, they are not always recyclable even though most of them are. Another disadvantage of conventional pallets is that they are not efficiently stackable. Furthermore, the pallets sometimes can only be stored in one direction since, even though the length of the pallet is sufficient, the pallet does not have sufficient load bearing properties in all directions. Moreover, pallets made out of metal are previously known. These metallic structures may be made of for example aluminum or steel, and generally consists of a plurality of metal beams arranged in a square shaped pattern. These metallic pallets often suffer from the same problem relating to the standardized size, ability to stack and load bearing properties as the pallets made of wood. One example of a metallic pallet is disclosed in GB 2,354,505. The pallet is adjustable in size. However, the structure of the pallet may make it heavy and it may not necessarily be appropriates for storage depending on the storage facilities. Pallets are often stored on beams arranged at a distance from each other. Due to the various standards in different countries, such storage beams may be arranged at different distances from each other.

Thus, there is a need for a pallet able to carry a heavy load and which does not suffer from the problems discussed above.

Summary

The primary object of the invention is a pallet which is able to carry a heavy load and which may be used for transportation and storage in most parts of the world.

The object is achieved by means of the metallic pallet according to claim 1.

Embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.

The metallic pallet comprises a substantially rectangular continuous load bearing surface arranged essentially horizontally, at least four leg members having a vertical extension, each leg member being arranged essentially in a corner of the rectangular load bearing surface. The fact that the load bearing surface is continuous ensures that the pallet has sufficient mechanical stability. Furthermore, the leg members have a comparably long extension in the horizontal plane even though they have a relatively small thickness. Moreover, the load bearing surface of the pallet preferably continues in a vertical plane, thereby providing substantially vertically arranged support members. These features ensure that the pallets can be lifted and stored irrespectively of the standard size of pallets in each country. Moreover, the fact that the pallet is metallic enables it to carry heavy loads and increases the life span of the pallet compared to for example wooden pallets.

According to a preferred embodiment, the metallic pallet is made of steel.

Preferably, the steel has the following composition in percent by weight: C max 0.25, Si max 0.3, Mn max 2.0, Al, max 0.6, Cr max 0.8, Mo max 0.8, Nb max 0.05, Ti max 0.05, V max 0.02, B max 0.001 balance iron and normally occurring impurities. Such a steel provides excellent strength to the pallet and further enables easy manufacturing of the pallet.

The surface of the steel may suitably be galvanized in order to avoid corrosion of the steel. The load bearing surface may suitably comprise at least one elongated

indentation arranged in the surface. The indentation increases the strength of the pallet. Preferably, the indentation extends essentially along the entire extension of the load bearing surface. Moreover, the indentation may suitably have a substantially semi-circular cross section. Furthermore, the indentation preferably has its elongated extension arranged in the direction of the longest extension of the rectangular load bearing surface. It should however be noted that the indentation may be arranged in any direction of the horizontal plane, such that the desired properties for a specific pallet is achieved.

Each leg member is preferably in the form of a plate, possibly with an indentation arranged in the surface thereof. Moreover, they are preferably relatively broad and thus have an extension along the side edges of the rectangular load bearing surface which is considerably longer than the thickness of the leg member.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the plane of the leg member is arranged at an angle relative to the extension of load bearing surface, said angle being equal to or less than 135 degrees but more than 90 degrees. Preferably, the angle is between 95 and 120 degrees.

In order to fit most standards of pallet sizes, it is preferred that the load bearing surface has a first extension in the horizontal plane which is about 1.5 times a second extension in said plane, the second extension arranged perpendicular to the first extension.

In order to avoid welds or the like which could possibly break, the pallet preferably consists of one single metallic sheet or plate shaped to achieve the geometrical shape of the pallet. This may be achieved by conventional manufacturing methods such as stamping or the like. The metallic pallet may also comprise additional leg member arranged in the middle of the extension of the load bearing surface along the edges thereof in order to provide additional strength. It is however essential that the pallet may be lifted from both the short end side and the long end size thereof.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pallet in accordance with a first

embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a pallet in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of the pallet shown in Figure 1.

Detailed description

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings shall not be considered drawn to scale since some features have been exaggerated in order to more clearly illustrate the invention. Moreover, the invention shall not be considered limited to the embodiments shown in the figures and described below, but may be varied within the scope of the claims. Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a metallic pallet 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. As can be seen from the figure, the pallet 1 consists of one single metallic sheet or plate shaped to achieve the geometrical shape of the pallet. The pallet comprises a load bearing surface 2 having a substantially rectangular shape arranged essentially horizontally. A plurality of elongated indentations 4 is arranged in the load bearing surface 2. The purpose of the elongated indentations is to improve the mechanical stability of the metallic pallet and avoid possible distortion of the load bearing surface 2. In each corner of the load bearing surface, a leg member 3 is arranged. The leg member 3 is adapted to support the load bearing surface 2. Moreover, the leg members are arranged in such a manner that a fork lift can be used to lift and transport the pallet 1. Moreover, the leg members are arranged in such a manner that a fork lift can be inserted under the pallet both from the short end side as well as the long end side thereof.

Furthermore, the leg members 3 are of planar type and are preferably arranged such that their extension is in an angle of more than 90 degrees to less than 135 degrees in relation to the extension of the load bearing surface where these extensions intersect. Preferably, the angle is 95-120 degrees. The angel ensures that a plurality of pallets may be stacked on top of each other without taking to much space. Moreover, the fact that the leg members are provided in an angle provides better load bearing properties compared to if they would have been arranged perpendicular to the load bearing surface. Figure 2 illustratesanother embodiment of the metallic pallet which differs from the pallet 1 shown in Figure 1 merely in that there are no indentations in the load bearing surface 2.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the metallic pallet showing the indentations 4 having a semi-circular geometrical cross sectional shape. The sheet or plate used to make the pallet should preferably have a thickness of 0.4-5 mm, more preferably 0.5-2 mm.

Claims

1. Metallic pallet comprising a substantially rectangular continuous load

bearing surface arranged essentially horizontally, at least four leg members having a vertical extension, each leg member being arranged essentially in a corner of the rectangular load bearing surface.

2. Metallic pallet according to claim 1 wherein said metallic pallet is made of steel.

3. Metallic pallet according to claim 2 wherein said steel comprises C max 0.25, Si max 0.3, Mn max 2.0, Al, max 0.6, Cr max 0.8, Mo max 0.8, Nb max 0.05, Ti max 0.05, V max 0.02, B max 0.001 balance iron and normally occurring impurities.

4. Metallic pallet according to any of claims 2 and 3 wherein the surface of the steel is galvanized.

5. Metallic pallet according to any of the preceding claims wherein the load bearing surface comprises at least one elongated indentation arranged in the surface thereof.

6. Metallic pallet in accordance with claim 5 wherein said indentation extend essentially along the entire extension of the load bearing surface.

7. Metallic pallet in accordance with claim 5 or 6 wherein said indentation has a substantially semi-circular cross section.

8. Metallic pallet in accordance with any of claims 5 to 7 wherein said

indentation has its elongated extension arranged in the direction of the longest extension of the rectangular load bearing surface.

9. Metallic pallet in accordance with any of the preceding claims wherein each leg member has an extension in the direction along the sides of the load bearing surface which is considerably bigger than the thickness of the leg member.

10. Metallic pallet in accordance with claim 9 wherein the plane of the leg

member is arranged at an angle relative to the extension of load bearing surface, said angle being equal to or less than 135 degrees but more than 90 degrees.

11. Metallic pallet in accordance with claim 10 wherein the angle is between 95 and 120 degrees.

12. Metallic pallet according to any of the preceding claims wherein the load bearing surface has a first extension in the horizontal plane which is about 1.5 times a second extension in said plane, the second extension arranged perpendicular to the first extension.

13. Metallic pallet in accordance with any of the preceding claims consisting of one single metallic sheet or plate shaped to achieve the geometrical shape of the pallet.

14. Metallic pallet in accordance with any of the preceding claims, further

comprising a set of legs arranged in the middle of the longest extension of the load bearing surface at the end surface thereof.

15. Use of a steel comprising in percent by weight C max 0.25, Si max 0.3, Mn max 2.0, Al, max 0.6, Cr max 0.8, Mo max 0.8, Nb max 0.05, Ti max 0.05, V max 0.02, B max 0.001 balance iron and normally occurring impurities as a pallet intended for transport and/or storage of loads.