GB2195975A

GB2195975A - Tiltable stand for container

Info

Publication number: GB2195975A
Application number: GB08624483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ladislav Stephan Karpisek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-13
Filing date: 1986-10-13
Publication date: 1988-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-13
Also published as: GB8624483D0; GB2195975B

Abstract

A tiltable stand for a container, the stand comprising a base (1) with a cradle pivotally mounted on and between masts (3) on the base. The cradle comprises a floor (7) and a support (8) which engages two sides of a container. The cradle is tilted about pivots (5) at the top of the masts, this movement being controlled by a shock absorber (14). Retaining means (10) by engaging lugs (11) on the cradle releasably 9 maintain the cradle in a tilted position or a rest position where the cradle floor is substantially horizontal. In its tilted position the container can be emptied by suction from its lowest point by a probe (12) fixed to a cover (13). The base may be mounted on wheels (2) and have a block (9) to support the cradle in its rest position. When empty the container and cradle tend to pivot to the rest position and when full the assembly of containers and cradle is unstable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A tiltable stand for a container This invention relates to a tiltable stand for a container for the purpose of facilitating the emptying of the container when filled with a flowable non-liquid material. Preferably the container is one of generally rectangular crosssectional shape.

The purpose of the invention is primarily to orient the container in such a position that the contents1 when of the aforesaid type, will flow to a low point allowing their extraction through a single suction device.

The invention can be broadly said to comprise a tiltable stand for a container of substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, said stand comprising a ground engaging base, two spaced apart masts fixed to and upstanding from said base, first bearing components on the masts at substantially the same height above the base, a cradle having second bearing components engaged in said first bearing components to suspend said cradle from and between said masts and so as to be pivotal relative to said base frame, a cradle floor on which a container can be mounted, container positioning and supporting means on said cradle adapted to engage two adjacent sides of a container when mounted on said cradle floor to position said container on said cradle floor and support said container when said cradle is pivoted to a floor tilted condition, and retaining means to releasably maintain said cradle in a predetermined pivoted position or in a rest position where said cradle floor is substantially horizontal.

A presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a plan view of the stand of the invention, Fig.2 is a side view of the stand of Fig. 1 with a container mounted thereon, and Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig.2 showing the stand tilted.

From the drawings it will be seen that there is provided a stand which comprises a rectangular base perimeter frame 1 which is supported at its four corners by wheels 2. It will be understood that the use of a perimeter ring type frame is for convenience and not essential to the working of the invention. It is primarily provided to allow a cradle mounted on the base to tilt to a position where portion of the cradle can extend below the base, this enhances the workability of the stand and lowers the centre of gravity of the stand. It is to be understood also that the wheels are not essentials of the invention. At two diagonal corners of the frame 1 there are two upstanding masts 3 each having a bearing 4 at the top.

Pivotally mounted in the bearings 4 there are stub axles 5 to which is attached a container cradle 6 having a floor 7 on which a container is intended to sit. The container could comprise a pallet with an enclosure fixed thereto of the type known by the Trade Mark "Pallecon". The cradle has a frame portion 8 intended to embrace a corner and two adjacent sides of the container, as can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3. In this way the container is positioned on the cradle floor and will be supported when the cradle is tilted.

The cradle has a rest position in which it is supported by a block 9 on the base. There is a cradle positioning means 10 in the form of a strap pivotally connected at one end to the base and adapted to hold the cradle in the rest postion and in one of several possible tilted positions where the other end of the strap 10 is releasably connected to a lug 11 on the position frame 8. This can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

It follows that when the container is in the Fig.3 position the free flowing material in the container will move to the lowest corner 15 where it can be withdrawn by a single suction probe 12. To prevent spillage of material as the container is tilted there is a triangular top cover 13 for approximately half of the open top of the container. The probe 12 can be fixed to the cover 13 or mounted in a socket thereof.

A shock abosrber 14 is proved to prevent uncontrolled movement of the container and the cradle as it moves from the rest position to a tilted position and vice versa.

One preferred feature is that the cradle floor upper surface is located from the pivot points 5 by a distance such that when the container is empty the weight disposition of the pivotal assembly is such that there will be a gravitational effect which will cause the cradle/container combination to pivot to the rest position. Preferably also, when the container is filled ready for emptying the weight of the contents plus the weight of the portion of the container above the pivots 5 is greater than the weight of the contents and the pallet/container/cradle portions below the pivots so that there is a tendancy for the assembly to be unstable. A small effort on the art of the operator, after release of the strap 10, will therefore be sufficient to cause the assembly to tilt to the Fig.3 position where it can be held by reconnection of the strap 10.

In the presently preferred form of the invention the arrangement would be such that with the cradle in its rest position the second bearing components 5 are spaced above the cradle floor by a distance such that they are substantially aligned with but are at a distance above the cradle floor no greater than the distance above the cradle floor of the centre of gravity for a combination of the cradle and a load supported on the cradle floor where said load comprises a container of predetermined shape and size filled with a predetermined material. To facilitate this arrangement, and cater for differing circumstances, the stub axles 5 can be varied in their positioning on the frame 8.

Claims

1. A tiltable stand for a container of substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, said stand comprising a ground engaging base, two spaced apart masts fixed to and upstanding from said base, first bearing components on the masts at substantially the same height above the base, a cradle having second bearing components engaged in said first bearing components to suspend said cradle from and between said masts and so as to be pivotal relative to said base frame, a cradle floor on which a container can be mounted, container positioning and supporting means on said cradle adapted to engage two adjacent sides of a container when mounted on said cradle floor to position said container on said cradle floor and support said container when said cradle is pivoted to a floor tilted condition, and retaining means to releasably maintain said cradle in a predetermined pivoted position or in a rest position where said cradle floor is substantially horizontal.

2. A stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container positioning and supporting means is a frame upstanding from said cradle floor with two angled sides to abut two adjacent sides of a container when mounted on said cradle floor and wherein said second bearing components are fixed to said frame.

3. A stand as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first bearing components are bearings on the masts and the second bearing components are spigots on said frame.

4. A stand as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein the retaining means is a strap pivotally secured at one end to said base and adapted at its other end to be releasably connected to one of several positioning lugs on said cradle.

5. A stand as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cradle when in its rest position with said cradle floor substantially parallel with the ground bears upon a travel stop means on said base.

6. A stand as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5 wherein the base is of ring form and supported by wheels thereby allowing a corner of said floor to extend through said ring to an elevation below said ring when the cradle is tilted to one of its predetermined positions.

7. A stand as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein with said cradle in its rest position said second bearing components are spaced above said cradle floor by a distance such that they are substantially aligned with but are at a distance above said cradle floor no greater than the distance above said cradle floor of the centre of gravity for a combination of the cradle and a load supported on said cradle floor where said load comprises a container of predetermined shape and size filled with a predetermined material.

8. A stand as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 7 wherein the height of the second bearing components above said cradle floor is variable.

9. A stand as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 8 wherein movement damping means is provided to limit the pivotal speed of said cradle relative to said base.

10. A tiltable stand constructed and arranged to function as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.