WO2012085939A1

WO2012085939A1 - Pallet container with improved plastics pallet

Info

Publication number: WO2012085939A1
Application number: PCT/IN2011/000876
Authority: WO
Inventors: Naveen Kumar JAIN
Original assignee: Genex Science And Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Priority date: 2010-12-24
Filing date: 2011-12-20
Publication date: 2012-06-28
Also published as: TW201242847A; TW201235267A

Abstract

Accordingly the present invention provides improved plastics pallet (20) with ground conductivie pallet containers (1). The plastics pallet is reinforced by an inserted U-shaped steel insert having 90° noses at both ends of the U-shaped steel insert (21) to avoid radial movement of the bottom horizontal tube of the outer cage during transportation, stacking and performance tests. The U- shaped steel insert is fixed at the lateral feet's of the plastics pallet by bolts (23) and ground plates (24). The U-shaped steel insert is fixed at the center feet of the plastics pallet by bolts and ground plates. The bolts and the ground plates ground the pallet container resting on floor and by double stacking. The plastics pallet is preferably injection molded as single piece with 2 center grooves to accommodate the U-shaped steel insert later. This provides better pallet dimensional accuracy, simpler molding and better recyclability of the plastics pallet as there are no metal components in plastics.

Description

PALLET CONTAINER WITH IMPROVED PLASTICS PALLET

Field of invention:

This invention relates to pallet containers which are used for the transportation of liquid dangerous goods and more specifically to plastics pallets with reinforcement U-shaped steel insert an arrangement to increase the rigidity of the plastics pallet.

Background of invention:

Pallet containers are used for transportation of liquid dangerous goods. Pallet containers consist of outer cage made out of hollow steel tubes welded at their intersections, fixed on a pallet and holding a plastics bottle/ inner container having one filling opening on top and one emptying/discharge valve at bottom.

Pallet containers have a volume of 800-1250 1 preferable 1000 1 with pallet dimension of 1200x1000 mm. Pallet containers are consisting of 3 main components i.e. plastics bottle/inner container, hollow tube outer cage and pallet. With pallet containers different kinds of pallets are used mainly wooden, plastics, steel or composite pallets. The plastics pallet is made out of polyethylene can be injection molded, blow molded or compression molded.

Pallet containers with plastics pallets are state of art They are designed with 4 way entry allowing the handling by means of hand trucks or forklift truck. Pallet container with 10001 volume can be filled with filling goods up to 1,9 SG . The plastics pallet will be loaded with 1900 kg and for reduced pallet deformation on stacking, safe static and dynamic performance of the pallet containers plastics pallets are reinforced by steel inserts as tubes or U-shaped steel inserts.

Normally the plastics pallets are weak, they show more bending deformation as wooden or steel pallets and at elevated temperatures they do not take load of filled inner container .The performance of the plastics pallets can be improved by increasing the thickness of the injection molded cross sections and ribs, this results in very heavy pallets. To strengthen the plastics pallet one or more metal inserts are embedded in the plastics during the pallet injection to provide rigidity. This process is very cumbersome and difficult to process. Dimensional stability is not possible also due to combination of steel and plastics and different shrinking properties, cracks tend to develop in pallets due to the shrinking stress at the ends of the steel inserts, the plastics shrinks during and after injection and the steel insert is not shrinking. Material separation for reuse of the plastics by shredding of such plastics pallets is not easy possible as they steel insert inside the plastics is difficult to separate.

Object of the invention

The main object of the present invention is to obviate the above drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide pallet containers with improved plastics pallet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide pallet containers with improved plastics pallets which are more rigid during transportation, stacking and performance tests

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide pallet containers with improved plastics pallet whose bottom surface makes them ground conductive.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide stacked pallet container with improved plastics pallet whose bottom surface makes them conductive with the lower pallet container.

Another object of the present invention- is to provide pallet containers with improved plastics pallets which are easy to separate for material reuse.

Another object of the present invention is to provide pallet containers with improved plastics pallets which have no cracks at the ends of the inserted steel inserts. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly the present invention,discloses a pallet container (1 ) consisting of an outer cage (7) made out of hollow tubes welded at their intersections, holding a storage means (2) with closable filling means (3) and emptying means (5), fastened on pallet (20) with a central draining channel supported by a steel insert wherein said pallet (20) are configured to be reinforced by inserting steel insert (21 ) post manufacturing.

The steel inserts are U-shaped configured for inserted in predetermined openings of the pallet (20) such that the top end face of said U - shaped steel insert (21 ) and the top end face of said pallet (20) are in one plane or the steel insert (21 ) endface is 1 -3 mm above the top endface of the pallet (20) to ensure the bottom end (6) of the storage means/plastics container (2) has grounding contact with the U-shaped steel insert (21).

The pallet (20) are single piece molded plastics pallet configured with grooves to insert the U-shaped steel insert (21) post molding providing better dimensional accuracy, avoiding shrinking stress at the end of the steel inserts and providing better recyclability as there are no metal parts in plastics material.

The plastics pallet (20) are configured for injection molding and/or compression molding and/or blow molding without reinforcing steel inserts during molding process.

The steel inserts are U-shaped configured for inserted in predetermined

openings of the pallet (20) such that the top end face of said U - shaped steel insert (21) is 1-3 mm above the top end face of said

pallet (20) to ensure the bottom end (6) of the storage

means/plastic container (2) has safe grounding contact with the

U-shaped steel insert (21).

The U- shaped steel inserts (21) are provided with the thickness needed

according the rigidity of the plastics pallet (20).

The U-shaped steel insert (21 ) is constituted of galvanized steel sheet having 1 -3 mm thickness with U-shaped cross section with ends (22) of the bend upwards at 90 degree to produce 90 degree nose at both ends to restrain its radial displacement outside of the lower horizontal tube (10) of the outer cage (7) during transportation, stacking and performance tests.

The U-shaped steel insert (21) is configured to be fixed to the plastics pallet (20) by long center bolts (23) and grounding plates (24) adapted to ground the pallet container (1), by having connection over the U-shaped steel insert (21 ) to the inner container (2) and the outer cage (7) resting on floor allowing grounding of standalone pallet container.

The lower horizontal tube (10) of the outer cage (7) is configured to be connected to said U-shaped steel insert (21 ) and the plastics pallet (20) by the lateral bolt (25) and the grounding plate (26) wherein said grounding plates (26) further grounds the top pallet container (1 ) by double stacking by resting on the top horizontal tube (1 1 ) of the lower pallet container (1) allowing grounding of stacked pallet containers.

The holding ribs (27) of the plastics pallet (20) are configured to hold the snapped in U- shaped steel insert (21) over his snapping lips (28). The U-shaped steel insert (21) are provided with same length as that of said plastics pallet (20) and width.This arrangement increases also the rigidity of the plastics pallet (20).

The snapping lips (28) at each side of U shaped steel insert (21 ) after insertion are configured to rest under 4-6 holdings ribs located in the plastics pallet (20)..

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION:

Accordingly, the invention provides a pallet container (1) consisting of an outer cage (7) made out of hollow tubes welded at their intersections, holding a storage means (2) with closable filling means (3) and emptying means (5), fastened on pallet (20) with a central draining channel supported by a steel insert wherein said pallet (20) are configured to be reinforced by inserting steel insert (21 ) post manufacturing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 01 shows a pallet container with plastics pallet according the invention in a perspective view,

FIG. 02 shows a U-shaped steel insert in a perspective view,

FIG. 03 shows a perspective partial view on plastics pallet with fixed U- shaped steel insert,

FIG. 04 shows cut "A-B" of FIG.02, a cut through the U-shaped steel insert,

FIG.05 shows cut "C-D" of FIG.03, a cut through a plastics pallet with installed U-shaped steel insert,

FIG.06 shows a perspective view of the details connection lower horizontal tube of the outer cage with U-shaped steel insert and plastics pallet,

FIG. 07 shows cut "E-F" according FIG. 06, connection of lower horizontal tube of the outer cage with U-shaped steel insert and plastics pallet.

FIG. 08 shows cut "G-H" of FIG. 03, a cut through a plastics pallet with installed U- shaped steel insert and holding ribs holding the snapped in U-shaped steel insert.

Description of reference numbers for the major component in the drawings.

1 pallet container

2 Plastic container of 1, storage means

3 filling opening of 2

4 screw cap of 3

5 discharge valve of 2, emptying opening

6 bottom end of 2

7 outer cage of 1 , metal strap

8 vertical tubes of 7

9 horizontal tubes of 7

10 lower horizontal tube of 7

1 1 top horizontal tube of 7

20 plastics pallet of 1

21 U-shaped steel insert of 20, U shaped metal channel

22 90 ° nose end of 21

23 center bolt of 21 26 lateral grounding plate of 20

27 holding rib of 20

28 snapping lip of 21

X, Y- intersection points of 8 and 9.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

According to present application pallet containers have a volume of 800-1250 L preferable 1000 L. Pallet container consist of outer cage made out of hollow steel tubes fixed on a pallet holding a replaceable bottle/inner container with one filling and one emptying opening. The pallets can be made out of steel, plastics, wood or a combination of steel and plastics or wood named composite pallet. This invention is specifically to develop a plastics pallet reinforced by inserting U shaped metal channel providing additional strength to the pallet containers for use on pallet containers which overcome above discussed problems and give better performance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.

FIG. 01 shows a pallet container (1) according the invention. Pallet containers (1 ) for liquid comprises of a storage means/inner container (2) equipped with a filling opening (3) closable by a screw cap (4) and a discharge valve (5) both with a hermetic seal. The storage means according to an embodiment of this invention is a plastics container (2). However one can envisage other storage means include plastics gallons/ jars/ bottles/ plastic tanks, metal containers or the same kind object that would achieve the same function.

The plastics container is protected by an outer cage (7) and resting on a pallet (20). The outer cage (7) is made up of steel tubes. However other metal mesh/grid structure or the like can be used that would achieve the same function. The outer cage (7) is built by vertical (8) and horizontal (9) steel tubes welded at their intersections. The outer cage (7) is bolted on a pallet (20) and the inner container (2) is resting with his bottom end (6) on a plastics pallet (20) as shown at FIG. 01.

FIG.02 shows a U shaped steel insert (21 ) which will be inserted in some openings of the plastics pallet (20) until the top end face of the U - shaped steel insert (21) and the top end face of the plastics pallet (20) are in one plane as shown in FIG.05. This insures that the bottom end (6) of the plastics container (2) has grounding contact with the U-shaped steel insert (21) even by minimum filling volume of the plastics container (2).

The plastics pallet (20) is injection molded as single piece using only plastics and in center, grooves are provided for accommodate the U-shaped steel insert (21 ) separately. This provides simpler injection molding, better dimensional accuracy, no shrinking stress at the end of the steel inserts and better recyclability as there are no metal parts in plastics material. The plastics pallet can be also compression molded or blow molded. FIG.03 shows the U-shaped steel insert (21 ) of FIG.02 is fixed to the plastic pallet (20).

The steel inserts are U-shaped configured for inserted in predetermined

pallet (20) to ensure the bottom end (6) of the storage

means/plastic container (2) has safe grounding contact with the

U-shaped steel insert (21).

The U - shaped steel inserts (21 ) are provided with the thickness needed

according the rigidity of the plastics pallet (20).

The U-shaped steel insert (21) is made out of galvanized steel sheet having 1-3 mm thickness has a U-shaped cross section as show at FIG. 04 and at each end a 90° nose (22) as shown at FIG.02 avoiding radial displacement to the outside of the lower horizontal tube (9) of the outer cage (7) during transportation, stacking and performance tests. The ends (22) of the U shaped steel insert are bend upwards at 90 degree to produce 90 degree nose at both end. The U-shaped steel insert (21) is fixed to the plastics pallet (20) according FIG.05 by long center bolts (23) and grounding plates (24). The bolts (23) and the grounding plates (24) ground the pallet container (1), by having connection over the U- shaped steel insert (21) to the inner container (2) and the outer cage (7), resting on floor. The rigidity of the plastics pallet (20) can be post molding adopted to the required value by the varying the thickness of the U-shaped steel insert (21 )..

FIG.06 and 07 are showing the connection of the lower horizontal tube (10) of the outer cage (7) with the U-shaped steel insert (21) and the plastics pallet (20) by the lateral bolt (25) and the grounding plate (26).The grounding plates (26) grounds the top pallet container (1) by double stacking by resting on the top horizontal tube (1 1) of the lower pallet container (1).

FIG. 08 shows cut "G-H" of FIG. 03, a partial cut through a plastics pallet (20) with installed U-shaped steel insert (21) and holding ribs (27) holding the snapped in U-shaped steel insert (21) over his snapping lips (28).The U-shaped steel insert (21 ) has the same length as the plastics pallet (20) width, 1000 mm and after insertion at each side of the U shaped steel insert (21 ) the snapping lips will rest under 4-8 holdings ribs located in the plastics pallet (20).

The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

Claims

WE CLAIM

1. A pallet container (1) consisting of an outer cage (7) made out of hollow tubes welded at their intersections, holding a storage means (2) with closable filling means (3) and emptying means (5), fastened on pallet (20) with a central draining channel supported by a steel insert wherein said pallet (20) are configured to be reinforced by inserting steel insert (21 ) post manufacturing.

2. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said steel inserts are U- shaped configured for inserted in predetermined openings of the pallet (20) such that the top end face of said U - shaped steel insert (21) and the top end face of said pallet (20) are in one plane to ensure the bottom end (6) of the storage means/plastic container (2) has grounding contact with the U-shaped steel insert (21).

3. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pallet (20) are single piece molded plastics pallet configured with grooves to insert the U-shaped steel insert (21 ) post molding providing better dimensional accuracy, avoiding shrinking stress at the end of the steel inserts and providing better recyclability as there are no metal parts in plastics material.

4. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastics pallet (20) are configured for injection molding and/or compression molding and/or blow molding without reinforcing steel during molding process.

5. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped steel insert (21) is constituted of galvanized steel sheet having 1 -3 mm thickness with U- shaped cross section with ends (22) of the bend upwards at 90 degree to produce 90 degree nose at both ends to restrain its radial displacement outside of the lower horizontal tube (10) of the outer cage (7) during transportation, stacking and performance tests.

6. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped steel insert (21) is configured to be fixed to the plastics pallet (20) by long center bolts (23) and grounding plates (24) adapted to ground the pallet container (1 ), by having connection over the U-shaped steel insert (21) to the inner container (2) and the outer cage (7) resting on floor allowing grounding of standalone pallet container.

7. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower horizontal tube (10) of the outer cage (7) is configured to be connected to said U-shaped steel insert (21) and the plastics pallet (20) by the lateral bolt (25) and the grounding plate (26) wherein said grounding plates (26) further grounds the top pallet container (1) by double stacking by resting on the top horizontal tube (1 1) of the lower pallet container (1) allowing grounding of stacked pallet containers.

8. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holding ribs (27) are configured to hold the snapped in U-shaped steel insert (21) over his snapping lips (28).

9. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped steel insert (21 ) are provided with same length as that of said plastics pallet (20) and width.

10. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein of said snapping lips at each side of U shaped steel insert (21) after insertion are configured to rest under 4-8 holdings ribs located in the plastics pallet (20).

1 1. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said steel inserts are U- shaped configured for inserted in predetermined openings of the pallet (20) such that the top end face of said U - shaped steel insert (21 ) is 1 -3 mm above the top end face of said pallet (20) to ensure the bottom end (6) of the storage means/plastic container (2) has safe grounding contact with the U-shaped steel insert (21 ).

12. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped steel inserts (21) are provided with the thickness needed according the rigidity of the plastics pallet (20).