EP2759485B1 - Transport pallet for compressed gas bottles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a transport pallet for compressed gas cylinders, with a bottom plate and a framework connected to the bottom plate for securing the compressed gas cylinders against lateral falling out during transport.

For transporting a plurality of compressed gas cylinders from the supplier to customers or within a factory often specially designed transport pallets are used. Such a transport pallet, as used for example in the EP 0 104 471 A1 is described, has a generally 10 to 15 cm high, rectangular or square bottom frame made of flat profiles, within which recesses allow under reaching by the lifting unit of a material handling vehicle, such as a forklift. On the floor frame, a bottom plate in the form of a sheet or a grid is fixed, on which the compressed gas cylinders to be transported are parked during transport. A framework of vertical beams, which are arranged in the region of the corners of the floor frame and horizontally arranged side rails connecting the vertical beams together, secures the compressed gas cylinders during transport against lateral falling, which usually during transport to the railing thus formed by lashing additional secured. In order to allow loading of the transport pallets with the sometimes over 70 kg heavy compressed gas containers, the side rails are hinged on at least one side of the frame structure; At the same time, a pivotable loading flap is provided on this side, over which the compressed gas cylinders are rolled when loading the pallet. The rolling of the heavy compressed gas cylinders on this inclined ramp is associated with a high risk for the operator and is still one of the biggest sources of accidents in the handling of compressed gas cylinders.

To avoid the problem of loading the pallets with gas bottles, was in the US 3,602,368 a specially designed for the transport of upright objects transport pallet proposed with a dimensionally stable, ground-level base plate is equipped on which the goods to be transported are parked. In order to enable transport with an industrial truck, hollow profiles are mounted on both sides of the base plate, in which the tines of a forklift fork can be introduced. Since the base plate must carry the full weight of the cargo in this article, this is very solid, resulting in an overall high weight of the transport pallet and maneuverability difficult; At the same time, the relatively tight design of hollow sections for reasons of space sometimes requires a very expensive maneuvering effort until the transport vehicle has been brought into a position suitable for receiving the transport pallet. In addition, the laterally extending profiles require a certain amount of space, which reduces the loading capacity of the vehicle.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a transport pallet for compressed gas cylinders, which is easy to use and increases the safety of the operator during loading compared to transport pallets according to the prior art; Furthermore, the transport capacity is not or only slightly reduced.

This object is achieved with a transport pallet having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are claimed in the subclaims.

A transport pallet of the type and purpose mentioned above is thus characterized in that the bottom plate, which may otherwise also be a grate, is arranged so as to be vertically displaceable relative to the frame structure and can be fixed in at least two operating positions, wherein in a first operating position (FIG. hereinafter also referred to as "loading position") the bottom plate rests on a substrate and in a second operating position (also referred to below as "transport position") has a vertical, the reaching under by a lifting element of a conveyor vehicle enabling distance from the ground. In the loading position is to load the transport pallet no significant height difference to overcome and the gas cylinders can largely be safely parked on the bottom plate. Before transporting the pallet, the bottom plate is raised and fixed in the transport position and can then be undercut by the forks of a forklift o. The like.

The vertical positioning of the bottom plate by means of suitable lifting means, according to the invention for vertical displacement of the bottom plate at least one lifting device is arranged as an integral part of the transport pallet fixed to the frame.

As a lifting device for lifting or lowering the bottom plate is preferably a mechanical lifting device, such as a pulley or a winch, or a hydraulic lifting device is used, in which the lifting effect by applying a reciprocating piston with a hydraulic pump by means of a hydraulic pump carried hydraulic fluid (lifting cylinder). A motor-driven lifting device is in the context of the invention, although by no means excluded, but less preferred due to the high associated costs.

In the region of the lifting device, an angle profile projecting from the top plate is preferably provided, by means of which the bottom plate is supported on the lifting device. The angle profile is designed so that the height of the lifting device is compensated in its retracted state, so the bottom plate rests in the loading state of the transport pallet on the ground.

A particularly advantageous arrangement provides that the lifting devices are arranged in the region of the vertical side edges of the frame profile within a substantially cuboid-shaped frame. The Lifting devices, preferably hydraulic lifting cylinders, are based for example on brackets which are arranged in the lower region of the side edges of the frame forming vertical profiles, for example, welded to these, while in this case substantially rectangular bottom plate in the region of its corners has angle profiles, with which it rests on the lifting elements of the lifting devices. In this embodiment, a uniform raising or lowering of the bottom plate is made possible without jamming; In addition, the lifting devices do not hinder the loading of the base plate or only insignificantly. To get into the transport position of the transport pallet, the bottom plate is moved by operating the lifting devices in a position in which it has a vertical distance of, for example, 10 to 20 cm from the ground, which can be attacked by a forklift fork.

A yet further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that as lifting devices lifting cylinders are used, which are operatively connected to a arranged on the frame, hydraulic control unit, by means of which the lifting cylinder can be operated synchronously. This not only ensures a uniform up and down movement of the bottom plate, but also allows the loading and unloading of the transport pallet by a single person. The hydraulic control unit can be operated manually by means of an electric drive and / or in order to use the transport pallet in areas where there is no electrical connection.

Fig. 1:

Die perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Transportpalette in einem ersten Betriebszustand,

Fig. 2:

Eine Hubeinheit der Transportpalette aus Fig. 1 in einer vergrößerten Schnittansicht,

Fig. 3:

Die Transportpalette aus Fig. 1 in einem zweiten Betriebszustand.

With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail below. In schematic views show:

Fig. 1:

The perspective view of a transport pallet according to the invention in a first operating state,

Fig. 2:

A lifting unit of the transport pallet Fig. 1 in an enlarged sectional view,

3:

The transport pallet out Fig. 1 in a second operating state.

The transport pallet 1 shown in the drawings for transporting a number of, for example, 8 to 30 compressed gas cylinders comprises a cuboidal frame 2, the side edges of which are formed by vertical profiles 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. The vertical profiles 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are fixedly connected to each other on three sides of the frame 2 via horizontal profiles 4a, 4b, 4c; for example, the horizontal profiles 4a, 4b, 4c are welded or screwed to the vertical profiles 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. On the fourth side of the frame, a securing spar 5 is provided, which is articulated on the vertical profile 3d and can be pivoted before loading the transport pallet 1 upwards, as indicated by the dot-dashed arrow. Between the vertical profiles 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, a bottom plate 7 is arranged. The bottom plate 7, which consists for example of a steel sheet or a steel grid, is arranged relative to the vertical profiles 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d displaceable in a vertical direction. Fig. 1 shows an operating state of the transport pallet 1, in which the bottom plate 7 rests on a substrate. In this operating state, the transport pallet 1 can be loaded easily and without the aid of a ramp or the like with compressed gas cylinders. Not shown here are known fuse elements, such as circlips or safety chains with which the compressed gas cylinders are additionally held during transport on the frame and in particular allow safe transport even with incomplete loading.

For raising and lowering the bottom plate 7, hydraulic lifting units 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d are arranged in the region of the vertical profiles 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. In Fig. 2 is shown as an example for all lifting units 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, the lifting unit 8d in an enlarged sectional view. The lifting unit 8d comprises a hydraulic lifting cylinder 9 which is supported by a console 11 protruding from the respective vertical profile 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and acts on the lifting side against an angle profile 12 protruding from the base plate 7. Upon actuation of the lifting units 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d in this way, the bottom plate (as indicated by the arrows) moved vertically upwards by a distance of, for example, 10 cm to 20 cm. Of course they are Lifting units 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d formed such that the lifting and lowering of the bottom plate 7 is easily possible even at full load.

All of the lifting units 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d are operatively connected to a manual control 15 housed inside the frame 2. By actuating a hand lever 16, all lifting units 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d are activated simultaneously, whereby a constant horizontal positioning of the bottom plate 7 is ensured during the lifting operation.

In Fig. 3 is the transport pallet 1 in its transport state, that is shown with vertically upwardly shifted bottom plate 7 and closed securing spar 5. In this operating state, the transport pallet is alone with the lower portions of the vertical beams 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d on the ground 13, while the vertical distance between the bottom plate 7 and ground 13, the insertion of tines of a forklift and thus the further transport of the transport pallet. 1 allowed by forklift. To exclude the accidental lowering of the bottom plate 7, securing bolts 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d are provided which can be inserted into corresponding holes 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d in the vertical profiles 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and the bottom plate 7, whereby the bottom plate 7 is fixed in a vertical direction. Another securing bolt 20 can fix the securing spar 5 in his in Fig. 3 shown closed state serve. The securing of the bottom plate 7 can also be done by means of other suitable devices, such as folding angles. <U> REFERENCE LIST: </ u> 1 pallet 2 frame 3a, 3b, 3d, 3d vertical profile 4a, 4b, 4c Horizontal profile 5 backup Holm 6 - 7 baseplate 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d Hydraulic lifting units 9 lifting cylinder 10 - 11 console 12 angle section 13 underground 14 - 15 control 16 hand lever 17 - 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d safety bolt 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d drilling 20 safety bolt

Claims (5)

1. Transport pallet (1) for transporting compressed gas bottles by means of an industrial truck, with a base plate (7) and with a framework (2), which is connected to the base plate, for securing the compressed gas bottles from dropping out laterally during transportation,
   characterized
   in that the base plate (7) is arranged in a vertically displaceable manner in reflation to the framework (2) and is fixable in at least two operating positions, wherein, in a first operating position, the base plate (7) rests on an underlying surface (13) and, in a second operating position, is at a vertical distance from the underlying surface (13) enabling a lifting element of the conveying vehicle to engage under the base plate,
   and at least one elevating apparatus (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) is arranged on the framework (2), by means of which elevating apparatus the base plate (7) can be displaced vertically.
2. Transport pallet according to Claim 1, characterized in that a mechanical or a hydraulic elevating apparatus is provided as the elevating apparatus (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d).
3. Transport pallet according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that an angle profile (12) which protrudes from the base plate (7) on the upper side and by means of which the base plate is supported on the elevating apparatus (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) is provided in the region of the elevating apparatus (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d).
4. Transport pallet according to Claim 3, characterized in that the framework (2) is of substantially cuboidal design and an elevating apparatus (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) is provided in each case in the region of the vertical side edges of the frame profile (2).
5. Transport pallet according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that lifting cylinders (9) which are provided as the elevating apparatus (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) are operatively connected to a preferably manually operable, hydraulic control unit (15) which is arranged on the framework (2) and by means of which the lifting cylinders (9) are actuable synchronously.

Images