GB2270295A - Equipment for handling and storage of loads. - Google Patents

Abstract

"U" shaped support members 1 are hold for storage on frame fig 3 or are held on a transport frame fig 6. The members 1 have crossbars 2 which co-operate with hooks 7 on either the storage frame or the transport frame. Additionally a latching device (14/17, Fig 5) on the transport device acts to hold pads/lugs 3 and hence hold the support member in position. The equipment is useful for storing/handling long tubes. <IMAGE>

Description

EQUIPMENT FOR HANDLING AND STORAGE OF LOADS This invention relates to equipment for the handling and storage of loads, in particular loads which are long in relation to either, or both, height and width.

Where single items, or a collection of items, need to be moved or stored it is often the case that the item or items need to be held or restrained by some form of container. In many cases the container would not completely encompass the items. For example, loads formed from a number of long stiff items may be restrained adequately by four up-right members each set at the corner points of a rectangle. In established practice should such a load and container need to be moved then the four posts would need two be connected by a frame work of adequate strength and stiffness to maintain the posts in the required relative positions in order to provide an adequate and safe container. The need to maintain the adequacy and security of the container would need to be ensured. wherever the load was Stored or placed for work.

In the case where loads are long in relation to width and height the provision of adequate containers frequently involves extensive structural ssemblies. Each container must be a complete structure capable of standing alone and resisting all the forces encountered in service.

There are a number of such systems that are known and are in widespread operation.

It is possible to simplify the means employed to contain such loads if the means used to maintain the essential elements of the container in the correct relationship is provided by the equipment used to move and store the load and not by the container alone.

According to the present invention there is provided a number of load supporting or containing units, means to maintain said units in the desired relative positions when stationary, and equipment that can maintain said units in the desired relative positions when being transported. The containing units are specially adapted and incorporate features that enable both the holding means and the transporting equipment to co-operate with the containing units.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, in isometric projection, one of two or more containing units together with a representative load.

For clarity, neither the holding means nor the transporting equipment are shown in Figure 1. In subsequent Figures the load will be omitted Figure 2 shows the detail of one of a number of up-right members forming a storage or holding unit.

Figure 3 shows a general view of a storage unit.

Figure 4 shows a general view of a holding unit.

Figure 5 shows the detail of one assembly of a number attached to the transporting equipment.

Figure 6 shows a general view of a transport unit.

In this example the load is taken to be a number of tubes of relatively rigid material. The tubes are of sufficient overall stiffness to enable safe handling and storage using only two containing units.

It should be understood that in certain applications more than two containing units would be used to handle and store a load. In addition the containing units could be adapted to support and contain loads that were relatively flexible.

The containing unit shown in Figure 1 comprises a 'U' shaped frame l. Fixed close to the upper extremity of each vertical leg of the 'U' shaped frame isa cross-bar 2. Fixed close to the lower extremity of each vertical leg of the 'U' shaped frame, on the exterior face, is a combined pad and lug 3.

In this particular embodiment each containing unit is identical and symmetrical, this will not always be the case when used with other embodiments.

The detail of the up-right member shown in Figure 2 comprises a stiff member 4 built up from sections of a relatively strong and inelastic material such as steel. In a preferred embodiment there is recess 5 in each working face of the upright member. Fixed to the the faces 6 of the up-right member 4 are pockets 7.

The up-right member 4, may in a particular embodiment, be equipped with said pockets on one working face, whereas in another embodiment both working faces may be so equipped.

Said pockets 7 are specially shaped so as to co-operate with the cross-bar 2 of the containing unit 1.

In general, storage units will comprise a number of upright assemblies 8 each comprising supporting members and one up-right member 4 equipped with a number of pairs of pockets 7 arranged vertically at an appropriate pitch or pitches. A storage unit compriSing two such units 8 is shown in Figure 3.

In general, holding units will comprise a number of upright units 9 with a single pair of pockets 7 on each working face. There may only be one working face for a given holding unit. The holding unit, or units, may be free standing or built in, or attached, to an adjacent floor, wall, or similar structural element. An example showing a single sided free standing floor fixed holding unit is shown in Figure 4.

In all the above embodiments it is the cross-bar 2 of the containing units 1 which co-operates with the pockets 7 fixed to the up-right member 4. In additidn, the combined pad and lug 3 of the containing unit 1 makes abutting contact with the face of the recess 5 when the containing unit is in place.

In order to lift and transport a number of containing units a matching number of the assemblies 10 shown in Figure 5 shall be provided. In a particular embodiment a vertical member 11 has, near the upper extremity, a pair of lugs 12 fixed thereto. Each lug 12 has a pocket 13 formed on the face of the lug closest to the centre of the vertical member. The said pockets and lugs co-operate with the cross-bar 2 of a containing unit 1.

Arranged near the lower extremity of the vertical member 11 are a pair of latches 14, said latches are pivotally connected to the vertical member 11. The latches are shown in the engaged position, that is holding the lugs of the containing unit. This position is indicated by the centre line of the latch arm at 15. The disengaged positioned is shown with the centre line at 16.

Said latches may be operated by one of any number of different known actuating means. The actuating means are not shown in this case.

near the lower extremity of the vertical member 11 there is sensing lever 17 pivotally connected to the said vertical member 11. Said sensing lever 17 actuates an electrical limit switch, not shown or numbered, in order to generate a signal when the containing unit is correctly positioned in respect to the associated handling assembly 10.

In order to move a load, equipment will be required that incorporates a frame 18 which carries a number of handling assemblies 10. Such equipment is shown in Figure 6.

The essential feature of such handling and transport equipment is that the frame 18 may be caused to move in a controlled manner in at least the three main directions of movement: longitudinal, lateral, and vertical. These directions are shown by arrows numbered 19, 20 & 21 respectively.

In the embodiment shown, the frame 18 is slideably connected to the mast 22, and the said frame may be caused to move up and down the said mast by driving means not shown.

The mast 22 is slideably attached to: a chassis 23 and said mast may be caused to move across the said chassis in either direction by driving means not shown.

In both the above cases the driving means may be any one of a number of well know and commonly used means, for example a combination of chains and hydraulic cylinders.

The chassis 23 may be caused tb move in the directions of arrows 19 by any one of a number of well known and commonly used means, for example by mounting the said chassis on wheels and applying driving forces to a number of the said wheels.

In one embodiment the handling assemblies 10 are fixed to the frame 18. Figure 6 shows an example incorporating two said handling assemblies. In an alternative embodiment the said handling assemblies may be slideable attached to the frame 18 and capable of moving in the directions of arrows 24. In this manner the handling equipment is capable of picking up containing units set at different pitches.

In a further embodiment the containing units need not all be of the same height and of the same width. In this case width has the meaning of the distance between adjacent faces of the up-right members of a containing unit. The co-operating features would need to be arranged in a suitable manner so as to engage with the storing and handling equipment.

Claims (8)

1 Equipment for the handling and the storage of loads comprising a number of load supporting or containing units together with supporting means to maintain said units in the required relative positions when stationary and together with transporting devices that can maintain said units in the required relative positions while being moved.

2 Equipment as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said supporting means takes the form of supports incorporating features that co-operate with the said containing units.

3 Equipment as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said transporting devices take the form of an attachment to a vehicle, or a similar machine, incorporating features that co-operate with the said containing units.

4 Equipment as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the said transporting devices incorporate movable features which engage with features associated with the said containing units.

5 A load supporting or containing unit substantially as described herein and shown in Figure 1.

6 Supporting means, to hold the said load supporting or containing units, substantially as described herein and shown in Figures 2; 3 & 4.

7 Transporting devices, to move the said load supporting units, substantially as described herein and shown in Figure 6.

8 Transporting devices as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the devices, that engage the said supporting or containing units, are substantially as described herein and shown in Figure 5.