Edge Protector

Abstract

The inner edge of a roll of sheet steel or similar element, which is secured by a tiedown chain, is protected by an edge protector positioned between the element and the chain. The edge protector comprises two plates joined at a right angle and having a contour at the junction conforming to the edge of the element being protected. The plates have ribs to hold the chain on the edge protector.

Description

It is common practice in the steel industry to ship relatively thin sheet steel in rolled form. These rolls, which may be quite large, are usually chained to the bed of a truck or a railway car. It is customary to apply considerable force when the chains are tightened in order to prevent movement of the rolls during shipment. Unfortunately, the chains may damage as many as 10 to 12 layers of sheet steel in a roll. While various types of protective elements have been proposed to minimize damage by the chains, a need still exists for an effective, low-cost edge protective element.

In accordance with this invention, an improved edge protector is provided for use with rolls of sheet steel or similar items. This protector comprises two generally flat plates which are joined at an angle of approximately 90.degree.. The junction at which the two plates are joined is curved to provide a contour which approximates the contour of the hollow opening through the roll to be protected. The edge protector is placed on the roll so that the tiedown chain extends over the protector and is thus maintained out of direct engagement with the edge of the roll. Ribs are provided on the plates to keep the chain from slipping off and to facilitate lateral movement of the edge protector on the roll when the chain is tightened. The edge protector is advantageously formed of a plastic resin which is somewhat resilient to absorb the crushing force exerted by the chain. This material of construction permits the device to be molded as a single unit at low cost.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 illustrates a roll of sheet steel chained to a truck bed with the aid of edge protectors of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of an edge protector showing the surface which extends outside the roll of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the edge protector showing the surface which extends inside the roll.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the edge protector.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown a roll of sheet steel 10 which is mounted on a truck bed 11. Tapered blocks 12 are fastened to the truck bed to center the roll and to minimize movement of the roll in a lateral direction. Tiedown chains 13 are secured at first ends to the truck bed and extend through the central opening 14 of roll 10. The second ends of these chains are connected by suitable load binders, not shown, to additional chains which are secured to the truck bed at the opposite end of the roll. Edge protectors 15 constructed in accordance with this invention are positioned beneath chains 13 at the four edges of opening 14 to prevent the chains from making direct contact with the roll of sheet steel at these points.

One of the edge protectors 15 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. This edge protector comprises two integral plates 16 and 17 which form an angle of approximately 90.degree. at their junction. The junction between the two plates is curved, as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the inner edge of the junction has approximately the same contour as the edge of opening 14. This is accomplished by constructing the protector so that the radius of curvature of the junction between the two plates is approximately equal to the radius of cylindrical opening 14 of roll 10. Two ribs 18 and 19 are formed on the outer surface of plate 16 in spaced generally parallel relationship with one another. Similar ribs 20 and 21 are formed on the outer surface of plate 17. In the preferred method of constructing the edge protector by injection molding, the ribs are integral with the plates and with one another as illustrated. The ribs serve to prevent chains 13 from sliding off the edges of the edge protector, and permit the edge protector to be displaced along the edge of the roll of sheet steel when the chains are being tightened. Accordingly, the ribs should be of sufficient size to accomplish these objectives.

The edge protector of this invention is advantageously formed of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. This permits the device to be injection molded as a single integral unit at low cost. The material employed to construct the device should have sufficient strength to prevent the chain from damaging the sheet steel being protected, and at the same time should have sufficient resilience to absorb any crushing force which may result from the chain being tightened.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, top plate 17 is somewhat longer than than end plate 16. The top plate should be of sufficient length to receive at least one link of the chain. It is generally not necessary that the end plate be this large because the chain normally extends outwardly at an angle with the end of the roll of sheet steel. In one specific embodiment of this invention, excellent results were obtained when top plate 17 was approximately 2.5 by 2.7 inches. The ribs were approximately 1.75 inch apart and extended upwardly from the plates approximately three-sixteenths inch. The radius of curvature of the junction between plates 16 and 17 was approximately 12 inches.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a transportation system wherein a member having a generally cylindrical opening therethrough is secured to the bed of a transport body by means of at least one tiedown chain which extends through the opening in the member, the improvement comprising at least one edge protector positioned on the edge of the opening through said member between the chain and the member, said edge protector comprising first and second generally flat plates secured to one another so that the angle between the plates is approximately 90.degree., the junction at which the plates are secured to one another being curved to conform to the contour of the edge of the generally cylindrical opening of the member being transported, said first plate extending into said opening, first and second ribs formed on the outer surface of said first plate in spaced relationship with one another, said first and second ribs extending generally parallel to one another and perpendicular to the junction between said first and second plates, third and fourth ribs formed on the outer surface of said second plate in spaced relationship with one another, said third and fourth ribs extending parallel to one another and perpendicular to the junction between said first and second plates, said first rib being aligned with said third rib and said second rib being aligned with said fourth rib, said chain engaging said outer surfaces between said first and second and between said third and fourth ribs.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said plates and said ribs are an integral unit formed of a thermoplastic material and wherein said first and third ribs are joined at said junction and said second and fourth ribs are joined at said junction.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said first plate extends into said cylindrical opening and said second plate is located outside said cylindrical opening, the length of said first plate extending into said cylindrical opening being greater than the length of said second plate outside said cylindrical opening.