Apparatus For Transport Of Goods

Abstract

A goods stacking platform comprises a base frame having a post upstanding from each corner, and a laterally projecting foot rigid with the lower end of each post having a fixed axis pivot connection to the base frame located to one side of the post providing for movement of the post between an erect upstanding position to a collapsed folded position substantially flatly overlying said base frame. Axially slidable offset locking pins distinct from the pivots are mounted on said base frame for displacement into corresponding apertures in the lower ends of said posts when the posts are erect.

Description

This invention is concerned with the bulk transport of goods on road and rail vehicles and on ships. In the transport industry, stacking platforms are used to which have a bottom platform on which goods can be placed and upright legs at the corners to support a second platform spaced above the first platform. This type of stacking platform is often used stacked three high on a quayside or six high in cellular ships, and can be slung from a crane for loading and unloading.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of transport which utilized utilizes a modified form of stacking platform.

According to this invention, goods are transported on stacking platforms having upstanding legs which legs are collapsible on to the platform itself, but can be locked in the upstanding position, and the platforms are returned with their legs collapsed so that they occupy less height on the transporter during the return journey than on the carrying journey.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of three stacking platforms embodying the invention arranged in upstanding condition one upon another;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the platforms in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view (drawn to a somewhat larger scale than FIGS. 1 and 2) of one corner of one of the stacking platforms, a corner post of the platform being shown in the upstanding position;

FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of one corner of the platform, a corner post of the platform being shown in the collapsed condition and a further platform being shown in chain-dotted lines overlying it; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view (drawn to a slightly smaller scale than FIGS. 3 and 4) showing the constructions of the corner posts.

Referring now to the drawings, a stacking platform has a rectangular basal part incorporating a e base frame made of welded steel channels and rolled steel joists on which a wooden floor is laid to support the goods to be transported. The platform is a convenient size for carrying on a lorry or tailer.

Side members 10 of the channel section and end members 12 also of channel section meet at a corner casting 14 to which they are welded. Each corner casting is of standard size (arrived at by International agreement) and the lateral and longitudinal spacing of the castings also conforms to a standard so that in this way a standard platform or container of any make can be stacked upon any other standard platform or container of the same nominal size. The corner castings are provided with apertures 16 through which chains or hooks can extend for lifting the platform.

Respective corner posts 18 are provided at the corners of the base frame and are pivotally mounted so that they can be arranged in upstanding condition as shown in FIG. 3 or in a collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 4. Each corner post comprises a main angle section 20 with an angle section 21 of somewhat smaller cross section welded within it as shown in FIG. 5. A length of steel bar 22 of rectangular cross section is welded within the main angle section at one end of the post to project laterally therefrom, and a pair of holes 24 and 26 are drilled and reamed in said bar.

The mountings for the corner posts at the four corners of the base frame include respective plates 28 welded at the extreme ends of the side members 10 and blocks 30 welded in parallel with said plates, portions of the channel section members 10 and 12 having been cut away to accommodate said blocks. Aligned pairs of holes 32 and 34 are drilled and reamed in the plates 28 and blocks 30. The holes 32 of each mounting accommodate a fitted bolt 36 which extends through the hole 24 in the bar 22 of the respective corner post and about which the corner post can be pivoted between its upstanding and collapsed positions. The holes 34 on the other hand are provided to accommodate a locking pin 38 which can be slid axially through the hole 26 in the bar 22 of the corner post to retain the latter in the upstanding position. The locking pin is slidably mounted in a bracket 40 within the channel member 12 and a stop 42 is provided to prevent it being withdrawn completely from the block 30 when being withdrawn from engagement with the corner post to permit the collapse of the latter. The locking pin is provided with a lever 44 to facilitate the sliding of the pin, and a stop 46 is provided for the abutment of said lever to prevent the accidental withdrawal of the pin 38 when the corner posts are in their upstanding positions. It will be seen from the foregoing that a lower part of each corner post is of L-shape configuration, an extremity of the foot of the L being pivotally connected to the basal part of the platform whereby in its collapsed condition the corner post can lie flat upon the basal part of the platform. The locking pins 38 are of substantial size since it will be understood that when a loaded stacking platform is lifted by the apertures of the head castings of the corner posts the entire load is taken by the locking pins. The bolts 36 then serve to prevent the corner posts from rocking about the axes of the locking pins 34 and in this they are aided by abutment plates 48 which join the upper portions of the plates 28 to upstanding gusset members 50. The upper edges of the plates 28 and 48 and of the gusset members 50 provide surfaces on which another platform can be placed, when the corner posts have been folded flat, as shown in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 4. Lugs 52 of a tapering shape which are welded at an angle to the gusset members 50 ensure that the platforms can be rested accurately one upon another in their collapsed condition.

The stacking platforms illustrated in FIG. 1 are shown to be provided with upstanding posts 54 md midway along their longitudinal sides, but these are merely slotted into apertures formed in the basal parts of the platforms and are simply laid flat upon the basal parts when the corner posts have been collapsed. The platforms illustrated are also provided with lifting lugs 56 which are slidably mounted whereby when not in use they can be retracted so that they do not protrude further than the flanges of the side members 10. Means are, of course, provided to ensure that they cannot be withdrawn completely from the apertures in which they slide.

Thus there is provided a method of transporting stacking platforms to-and-fro, that is to say, mounted one upon another, on the outward (loaded) journey with each platform in an erected condition and on the return (empty) journey with each platform in a collapsed condition so that they occupy less height than on the outward journey. There is also provided a design of stacking platform whereby this method can conveniently and safely be carried out.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the actual design of the basal part of the platform may be varied according to the load to which it is to be subjected, and the number of I-sections and/or channel sections and their size will be chosen accordingly. Furthermore, the platform may be provided with removable ends and side panels, and these may be made of wood or metal or framed wire netting. Alternatively, the platform may be enclosed by waterproof fabric sheets after loading in normal manner.

Claims

We claim:

1. A stacking platform comprising a base frame having corner structures, a post upstanding from each corner structure, a laterally projecting foot rigid with the lower end of each post, means providing a fixed axis pivot connection between each said foot and said base frame located to one side of said post providing for movement of the post between an erect upstanding position to a collapsed folded position substantially flatly overlying said base frame, and axially slidable locking pins distinct from said pivots mounted on said base frame for displacement into corresponding apertures in the lower ends of said posts when the posts are in erect position, said locking pin receiving apertures being offset with respect to said pivot connections.

2. The stacking platform defined in claim 1, wherein said locking pin apertures are formed in the foot portions of said corner posts.

3. The stacking platform defined in claim 1, wherein said locking pins slide parallel to the associated corner post pivot axis.