WO2012085941A1

WO2012085941A1 - Pallet container with reinforced composite pallet

Info

Publication number: WO2012085941A1
Application number: PCT/IN2011/000878
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

Abstract

According to present invention, a composite pallet (10) used with pallet a container which provides full circumferential support to the steel pan (11) and also having easy accessibility for forklift and pallet truck forks. The composite pallet is consisting of one steel pan, some plastics blocks (15, 16, 17, 18) placed on all four corners and plastics middle blocks of back side, left and right side and one plastics drip pan on the front side. This drip pan accommodates the discharge valve (5) which requires more space for operation. The plastics blocks are fixed to the outer cage by either self - threading screws and at a few places with long bolts and flat holding plates. The plastics blocks are connected to each other by 4 numbers of reinforcement steel tubes which are fixed one each on front, rear, left and right sides. These reinforced steel tubes (19, 21) are bended in a manner to pass under the plastics blocks and going up to support the steel pan between the plastics blocks. These supporting tubes are either bolted or welded to the steel pan for better connectivity and support.

Description

PALLET CONTAINER WITH REINFORCED COMPOSITE PALLET

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to pallet containers which are used for the transportation of liquid dangerous goods and more specifically to composite pallets with reinforcement steel tubes connecting the plastics bearing elements, supporting the steel pan and protecting the bearing elements.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Pallet containers (FIG.l)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/ 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 containers different kinds of pallets are used mainly wooden, plastics, steel or composite pallets. The composite pallet is a combination of one steel pan, some plastics blocks and a base ring which is connected on the lower side of the plastics blocks.

The conventional composite pallet is having one steel tube ring on the base on which plastics blocks are fixed. One metal pan is resting on the plastics blocks which in turn support the plastics bottle. The outer cage is also fixed with the plastics blocks and holding steel pan. The steel pan is made of thin steel sheet, supported by a steel traversal piece and resting under the tube cage on the plastics blocks. There is no support for the steel pan in between the plastics blocks which makes it weak and prone to caving in during transportation of liquids with high specific gravity. Since the base ring is fixed on the lower side and in full contact with the floor even between plastics blocks, it can be difficult to handle the pallet container with pallet hand truck.

Prior Art:

EP 1 232 961 is describing a pallet container with a composite pallet. The composite pallet consists of a steel pan, supported by a steel traversal piece, resting on plastics blocks (bearing elements) and a steel tube base ring consisting of two u shaped halves .The 2 base ring halves of this application are preassembled to a one piece base ring, touching on his whole circumference the floor (bent in one plane) and connecting all plastics bearing elements. The base ring is not supporting the steel pan between the plastics bearing elements.

A modified version of the composite pallet according EP 1 232 961 is on the market called "Easy entry". This composite pallet has the tube base ring on two sides raised, this gives a larger pallet entry height, between the plastics blocks (on the pallet container front side and on the rear side). This base ring consists also of two parts, the base ring halves are not supporting the steel pan and are because of their bending into two planes more difficult to produce.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIO

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

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite pallet with reinforcement steel tubes connecting and protecting all plastics bearing elements. Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite pallet with reinforcement steel tubes supporting the steel pan on his circumference between the bearing elements on two pallet sides

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite pallet with reinforcement steel tubes supporting the steel pan between the bearing elements on all pallet sides Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite pallet with four simple to produce (bending only in one plane) reinforcement steel tubes Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite pallet with reinforcement steel tubes having different steel gauges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite pallet where the reinforcement tubes can be changed easily and separately.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite pallet where the reinforcement tubes can be check welded to the steel pan,

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly the present invention discloses a composite pallet container with circumferential support to the steel pan with easy accessibility to the fork lift and pallet truck forks comprising:

at least one steel pan (11) configured with stiffening grooves, reinforced on its circumference by a hollow supporting collar (13);

plurality of bearing elements / plastic blocks (15,16,17,18) configured to be placed at bottom of said composite pallet to be fixed to the outer cage by fastening means wherein bearing elements / plastic blocks (16) are placed on all four corners and plastic middle blocks (15) on back side, plastic side blocks (17) on left and right side and one plastic block (18) a drip pan on the front side said plastics blocks;

plurality of reinforcement steel tubes (19,21) provided one each on front, rear, left and right sides of said composite pallets configured for connecting said plastics blocks to each other and to support said steel pan (11) between the plastics blocks (15, 16, 17, 18); and

at least one traversal piece (14) is provided under the steel pan (11) resting on the side bearing elements (15) for supporting the steel pan (11).

The drip pan is configured to accommodate the discharge valve (5) with extended space for operation. The plastics blocks configured to be fixed to the outer cage by either self-threading screws and at a few places with long bolts and flat holding plates.

The reinforced steel tubes are configured to pass under the plastics blocks and going up to support the steel pan between the plastics blocks by bending them in predetermined profile wherein said tubes are bolted or welded to the steel pan for better connectivity and support ensuring less movement of steel pan during handling and transportation of the pallet container and preventing it from caving in.

The specially designed profile of reinforced steel tubes configures easy entry of the hand pallet truck forks from all four sides of the pallet in addition to protecting said plastics blocks against impact and damage during handling. The reinforcement tubes are configured for bolting with the plastics blocks from the bottom side and for resting of said steel pan on its hollow supporting collar peripherally on said reinforced tubes on four pallet sides.

The reinforcement tubes are configured for bolting with the plastics blocks from the bottom side and for resting of said steel pan on its hollow supporting collar peripherally on said reinforced tubes on two pallet sides.

The supporting tubes are being fixed to have easy pallet truck entry only from front and rear side of the composite pallet.

The steel pan (11) is configured with a central drainage channel (12) provided with downwardly slope from the rear side to the front side of said steel pan (11). .

The bottom parts of the reinforcement tubes are configured to be located under and bolted to the bearing elements (15,16,17,18) and the elevated parts (20,22) are supporting the steel pan ( 11) by going under the hollow supporting collar (13).

The drainage channel (12) is perpendicular to the a traversal piece (14) located under the steel pan (11) resting on the side bearing elements (15). The reinforcement tube (19, 21) ends are configured to be placed into holding shells (25) and bolted by fastening screws (26) with the corner bearing element (16)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

According to the present invention,

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

FIG. 02 shows a pallet container with composite pallet in an exploded view,

FIG. 03 shows view "A" on composite pallet,

FIG.04 shows view "B" on composite pallet,

FIG.05 shows view "B" on composite pallet with straight side tubes,

FIG.06 shows cross section according "A-B" ofFIG.03,

FIG. 07 shows view "C" according FIG.04,

FIG. 08 shows view "C" according FIG.04 with bended reinforcement tube ends, FIG.09 shows cross sections according "CD and DE" ofFIG.07and FIG. 08, FIG. 10 shows details of FIG.05 in a larger scale,

FIG. 11 shows cross section G-H of FIG. 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTIO

According to present invention, a composite pallet used with pallet a container which provides full circumferential support to the steel pan and also having easy accessibility for forklift and pallet truck forks. The composite pallet is consisting of one steel pan, some plastics blocks placed on all four corners and plastics middle blocks of back side, left and right side and one plastics drip pan on the front side. This drip pan accommodates the discharge valve which requires more space for operation. The plastics blocks are fixed to the outer cage by either self-threading screws and at a few places with long bolts and flat holding plates. The plastics blocks are connected to each other by 4 numbers of reinforcement steel tubes which are fixed one each on front, rear, left and right sides. These reinforced steel tubes are bended in a manner to pass under the plastics blocks and going up to support the steel pan between the plastics blocks. These supporting tubes are either bolted or welded to the steel pan for better connectivity and support.

The support provided to steel pan between the plastics blocks by supporting tubes ensures very less movement of steel pan during handling and transportation of the pallet container, preventing it from caving in. This also helps in better outercage performance during transportation and handling of pallet containers. This also improves performance of the pallet container during vibration test, internal pressure test and also drop test.

The reinforcement tubes are bolted with the plastics blocks on the bottom side. The specially designed profile allows easy entry of the hand pallet truck forks from all four sides of the pallet. The supporting tubes can be fixed to have easy pallet truck entry only from front and rear side of the composite pallet. The reinforcement tube also protects the plastics blocks against impact and damage during handling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 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.

This invention provides a composite pallet for pallet containers which provide full circumferential support to the steel pan and also having easy pallet accessibility for the forks of forklift and pallet truck.

FIG. 01 shows a pallet container (1) according the invention.

Pallet Containers(l) for liquids are comprising an inner plastics container (2) equipped with a filling opening(3)closable by a screw cap(4) and a discharge valve (5) both with a hermetic seal, protected by an outer cage(7) and resting on a pallet (10).The outer cage is built by vertical (8) and horizontal (9) steel tubes welded at their intersections. Outer cage (7) and inner container (2) are placed on a composite pallet (10).

FIG.02 shows the composite pallet (10) in an exploded view. Inner container (2) and outer cage (7) of the pallet container (1) are resting on a by plastics blocks called bearing elements (15,16,17,18,) supported steel pan (l l).In addition the steel pan (11) is stiffened by stiffening grooves, reinforced on its circumference by a hollow supporting collar (13).The bearing elements (15,16,17,18)are placed on all four corners(16) and middle of rear side (17), left and right side (15) and one on the front side (18), build as drip pan. This drip pan (18) accommodates the discharge valve (5) which requires more places for operation.

The inner container (2) and the steel pan (11) are equipped with a central drainage channel (12), which extends sloping downwardly from the rear side to the front side of the steel pan (11), and perpendicular to the drainage channel (12) a traversal piece(14) is located under the steel pan (11) resting on the side bearing elements (15) also supporting the steel pan (l l).At each side of the composite pallet (10) one reinforcement tube (19,21) is connecting 3 bearing elements (15,16,17,18) and supporting between the bearing elements (15,16,17,18) the steel pan(l l) over the hollow supporting collar (13) resting on the elevated part (20,22) of the reinforcement tube( 19,21 )

FIG. 03 and FIG.04 are showing the view "A" and the view "B" of the composite pallet (10).The bottom parts of the reinforcement tubes are located under and bolted to the bearing elements (15,16,17,18) and the elevated parts (20,22) are supporting the steel pan (11) by going under the hollow supporting collar (13).The specially designed profile allows easy entry of the hand pallet truck from all four sides of the pallet (10). The reinforcement tubes (19, 21) also protect the bearing elements (15,16,17,18) against impact and damage during handling. FIG.05shows the view "B" of a composite pallet (10) with straight side tubes (23).This composite pallet (10) has only the front and rear side equipped with reinforcement tubes (19) having elevated parts (20).

FIG.06 shows the section A-B of FIG.03with an additional illustration of the outer cage (7) vertical tube (8) welded with the bottom horizontal tube (9) and one cage fastening screw (24).The elevated part (22) of the side tube (21) is located under and supporting the hollow supporting collar (13) of the steel pan (l l).For additional connection the steel pan (1 1) can be check welded with the elevated part (22) of the side reinforcement tube(21 ).

FIGs. 07,08and 09are showing the connection of the reinforcement tubes (19.21) to one corner bearing element (16).The side reinforcement tube (19, 21) ends are placed into holding shells (25) and bolted by fastening screws (26) with the corner bearing element (16).FIG. 07 and FIG. 08shows the view "C" of FIG.03, in FIG 09the cuts E-F and C-D ofFIGs.07 and 08 are illustrated showing the connection of the side reinforcement tubes (19, 21) to the corner bearing element (16) by fastening screws (26), at FIG.08 the reinforcement tube (19) ends with a 90° bend.

FIG.10 and FIG. 11 are showing details of FIG. 05 in a larger scale .For some pallet container (1) conveyors the side tubes of the composite pallet (10) have to be on the floor for safer pallet container (1) conveying movement. The steel pan (11) of the composite pallet (10) is than supported according FIG.10 and FIG. llby straight supporting tubes (27). The ends of the straight supporting tube (27) are resting in tube receiving shells (28) of the corner bearing element (16) and the side bearing element (15), on the bottom side the corner bearing elements (16) and the side bearing elements (15)by a straight side tube (23).Between the bearing elements (15, 16) the straight side tube (23) is squeezed to enlarge the composite pallet (10) entry height for the hand truck forks. List of reference numerals

1 pallet container

2 inner container of 1

3 filling opening

4 screw cop of 3

5 discharge valve of 2

6 bottom end of 2

7 outer cage of 1

8 vertical tubes of 7

9 horizontal tubes of 7

10 composite pallet of 1

11 steel pan of 10

12 central draining channel of 11

13 hollow supporting collar of 11

14 traversal piece of 10

15 side bearing element of 10

16 corner bearing element of 10

17 rear bearing element of 10

18 front bearing element of 10

19 front/rear reinforcement tube of 10

20 elevated part of 19

21 side reinforcement tube of 10

22 elevated part of 21

23 straight side tube of 10

24 fastening screw cage-composite pallet

25 tube holding shell

26 tube fastening screw

27 straight supporting tube of 10

28 tube holding shell 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 composite pallet container with circumferential support to the steel pan with easy accessibility to the fork lift and pallet truck forks comprising

' at least one steel pan (11) configured with stiffening grooves, reinforced on its circumference by a hollow supporting collar (13);

plurality of reinforcement steel tubes (19,21) provided one each on front, rear, left and right sides of said composite pallets configured for connecting said plastics blocks to each other and to support said steel pan (11) between the plastics blocks (15,16,17,18); and

2. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drip pan is configured to accommodate the discharge valve (5) with extended space for operation.

3. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastics blocks configured to be fixed to the outer cage by either self-threading screws and at a few places with long bolts and flat holding plates.

4. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforced steel tubes are configured to pass under the plastics blocks and going up to support the steel pan between the plastics blocks by bending them in predetermined profile wherein said tubes are bolted or welded to the steel pan for better connectivity and support ensuring less movement of steel pan during handling and transportation of the pallet container and preventing it from caving in.

5. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said specially designed profile of reinforced steel tubes configures easy entry of the hand pallet truck forks from all four sides of the pallet in addition to protecting said plastics blocks against impact and damage during handling.

6. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforcement tubes are configured for bolting with the plastics blocks from the bottom side and for resting of said steel pan on its hollow supporting collar peripherally on said reinforced tubes on four pallet sides.

7. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforcement tubes are configured for bolting with the plastics blocks from the bottom side and for resting of said steel pan on its hollow supporting collar peripherally on said reinforced tubes on two pallet sides.

8. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said supporting tubes are fixed to have easy pallet truck entry only from front and rear side of the composite pallet.

9. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said steel pan (11) is configured with a central drainage channel (12) provided with downwardly slope from the rear side to the front side of said steel pan (1 1).

10. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom parts of the reinforcement tubes are configured to be located under and bolted to the bearing elements (15,16,17,18) and the elevated parts (20,22) are supporting the steel pan (11) by going under the hollow supporting collar (13).

11. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drainage channel (12) is perpendicular to the a traversal piece (14) located under the steel pan (11) resting on the side bearing elements (15).

12. The composite pallet container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforcement tube (19, 21) ends are configured to be placed into holding shells (25) and bolted by fastening screws (26) with the corner bearing element (16).