US1772732A - Portable platform - Google Patents

Description

Aug. l2, 1930. R. 1'. RoMlNE PORTABLE PLATFORM Filed Sept. 3, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTD bymuwpzmWYL/q Il HHH HUI. mmm. www

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' PORTABLE PLATFORM Fi 5- ILVE TUFF by MIC*Q\MCDAMYM! Q4 ATIQRNEyi' I 15 tremely l Patented Aug. 12, 1930 PATENT oFFlcE ROBERT T. Rom tl IQ'U'NT` S, IICHIGAN ron'rmn m'rronu Application led September 3, 193B. letill lo. 188,371."

beneath the floor of the platform to elevate the platform and its load and transport it from place to place.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved platform which will be relatively simplified in construction enabling it to be manufactured at a relatively low cost, while at the same time being'strong and durable and capable of sustaining with safety exor fifteen tons. y

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompany- 2 ing drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters des-- ignate corresponding parts in the several views. ,n

Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating a platform embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

' Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the lift truck in position beneath the platform with the platform elevated on the truck.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a somewhat modified form of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 5.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, and the method or mode of operation embodied therein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application o to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology -or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and itis not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended or the requirements of the prior art.

heavy loads, such as loads of five, ten

Portable platforms which are used 'under present day conditions in connection with power driven electric lift trucks are required to sustain wide variations in loads, rangin `anywhere from several tons to twelve an even fifteen tons in weight. In addition the loads are not alwa s centred on the latforms and the drivers o the electric truc s seldom use care in propelling the trucks beneath the platforms, frequently striking the legs and subjecting them to severe blows. Furthermore it reflxiently happens that the platforms with t eir loads are placed on uneven ground so that the floor of the latform will not be level. In such cases w en the truck platform is `introduced beneath the ioor ards and elevated, one end edge or portion of the oor will frequently receive at first the entire upward thrust, subjecting it to severe strain which heretofore resulted frequentl in breaking oif the floor boards at the end o the platform.

It is therefore important in providing a 'commercially satisfactory platform not only to reduce to a minimum the cost of manufacture but also the weight of the platform, while constructing the platform in such a way as to withstand the various conditions of use and loads of any weight within a wide range.

It is alsor important that the load be distributed to the greatest possible extent from the floor boards through the legs, that the upward thrust of the truck platform be sustained and distributed uniformly from end to endof the platform, and that the legs be constructed to sustain loads whether centred or not and whether the platform is supported on level or uneven ground. In addition it is important that the legs be constructed to withstand impacts in any rdirection from the trucks or as the result of collisions while the platforms are being transported from place to place. l

The portable platform in the present instance com rises a load supporting iioor 9 which pre erably is formed of a series of cross boards. The platform Hoor is bounded around its marginal edges by means of a metal frame comprising angle bars 10 embracin or confining the longitudinal edges of the oor and transvcrse angle bars 11 confining the end edges of the floor.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, a sup orting. truss 12 extends len hwise beneath tllie platform floor at each on 'tudinal side thereof and in this instance tie truss com rises an an le bar having a vertical guidek ange 12l an an inwardl Lextending horizontal flan 12'I which may e riveted to the floor boar s at 12 by means of countersunk rivets.v The an le bars l2 extend in parallel relation the entire length of the platform, and the vertical flanges 12n provide guide means for the lift platform L of a lift truck T when the truck n addition the inwardly extending flanges 12" of the trusses act both as a supporting means for the platform boards and also to receive the upward thrust of the truck platform when elevated to lift the platform and its load. l y

The platform at opposite sides is supported by means of legs 13. Each leg comprises a vertical bar formed from channel iron. Each channel leg therefore comprises a vertical central web 13 which is positioned back to back with the flange l2 of the truss, and the leg also comprises vertical flanges 13 extending outwardly from the central web 13". In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the upper portions ofthe flanges 13" are removed or cut ofi' in any suitable manner and the upper portion of the web 13 bent outwardly to form a lateral flange 13 which bears against the bottom of the floor. The flange 13 may be secured to the floor by means of rivets 15 extending through the angle iron binding strip 10 at the edge of the platform. The central portion of the channel 13 is also riveted at 14 to the vertical flange 12 of the truss.

y Each leg also comprises a bar 16 which may be bent into U or V-shape so as to embrace the lower end of the channel 13. The bar vide horizontal portions 16d bearing against the bottom of the floor and bolted thereto at 18.

Referring to Fig. 4, the platform is constructed in substantially the same manner as above described, having a load supporting floor and supporting trusses 12 as shown in Figs. 1\ and 3. In this instance each leg comprises a vertical channel bar 13 having the central web positioned back to back with the guide portion 12 of the truss and riveted platform is introduced beneath the platform.

to provide diver ing side or brace members 19, the upper e' ges of which abut against the outer face of the guide flange 12. The

nt into substantialupper ends of the sides 19 are o positely bent in the direction of the length o the platform to provide att-aching flanges 19l extending beneath the ends of the floor boards and these parts are secured to the floor by means of bolts 20. The sides 19'may also be secured to the truss 12 bv means of angle plates 21, one flange of the plate being riveted to the side members 19 at 22, and the other flange riveted to the guide flan e 12 at 23.

Referring to igs. 5 and 6 each supportin leg for the platform also comprises a vertic channel bar 13 having the central web thereof positioned back to back with the truss 12. In this instance a usset plate 25 is interposed between the c annel 13 and the flange 12l of the truss. The leg is riveted at 28 to the gusset plate below the truss flan e 12, and the upper end of the le is rivcte at 29 to both the gusset plate an the truss. The

lower end of the leg is provided with a flatfootportion comprising a strip or bar 30 extending across the bottom of the channel and having side portions 30 riveted at 31 to 0pposite sides of the channel.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a platform of strong and durable construction, capable of sustaining varying loads and of distributing the load so as to prevent the platform from buckling or breaking when engaged by the lift platform of a truck. In addition the platform is provided with legs capable of sustaining heavy loads within a wide range, and also capable of sustaining blows an im acts resulting from collisions by the truc platform or ether shocks to which the legs are subjected 1n use.

What I claim is:

1. In a portable platform the combination of a load supporting floor, a pair of an le bars extending beneath said floor in para el relation, each angle bar having a vertical guide flange for a truck and an inwardly extending flange to receive the upward thrust of the truck, a gusset plate secured to the outer side of each vertical flange and having an outwardly extending flange for supporting the floor, and a channel formed leg secured to each gusset plate.

2. In a portable platform the combination of a load supporting floor, a pair of an le bars extending beneath said floor in para el relation, each angle bar having a vertical guide Ilan for a truck and an inwardly extending ange to receive the upward thrust of the truck, a gusset plate secured to the outer side of each vertlcal flange and hav ing an outwardly extending flange for sup-A porting the floor, and a le comprising `a channel member of substantlall less width than said gusset plate and havlng the central web of the channel ositioned back to back with respect to sai gusset plate and secured thereto.

3. In a portable platform, a load supporting floor comprising a series of cross oards, parallel truss members angular in cross section extending along opposite under sides of said floor, `usset members secured to the outer faces o the truss members and each including an outwardly extending horizontal flange for supportin the floor, and a vertical channel member aving the central web thereof secured to the outer face of said gusset member.

4. In a portable platform, a load supporting floor comprisin a series of cross boards, parallel truss mem ers angular in cross section extendin along opposite under sides of said floor, an a leg structure comprising a gusset member and a vertical channel memer, the gusset member having greater width than said channel and extending below the truss member to stifen the channel member.

5. In a portable platform, in combination, a load supporting Hoor, parallel truss members angular in cross section extending longitudinally along opposite under sides of the floor, and a leg structure comprising a sset member abutting against and secure to the outer side o f a truss member and having an outwardly extending flange supporting the floor and also comprising a leg member secured to the outer side of the gusset member beneath said flange.

6. In a portable platform, in combination, a load supporting floor, parallel truss members angular in cross section extendin longitudinally along opposite under si es of the oor, and a leg structure comprising a gusset member having a flat web abutting against and secured to the outer side of a truss member and having at its upper edge a flange extending outwardly from said web in parallelism with the undersurface of the floor and serving to support the latter and also comprising a leg member secured to the outer side of the gusset member web beneath said flan e, said gusset member extending below sald truss member to stifl'en the leg.

In testimony whereof I ailix my si ature.

ROBERT T. RO NE.

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