PALLET-TYPE BASE STRUCTURE FOR A TRANSPORT AND STORAGE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS, AND A TRANSPORT AND STORAGE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS

Description

1 / 13 “PALLET-TYPE BASE STRUCTURE FOR A TRANSPORT AND STORAGE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS, AND TRANSPORT AND STORAGE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS”

[001] The present invention relates to a pallet-type base structure for a liquid transport and storage container and to a transport and storage container comprising such base structure, wherein the base structure has a base to support an inner container housed in an outer metal jacket, which is preferably a cage, corner legs and intermediate legs.

[002] A pallet-type base structure for a transport and storage container is known from document EP 2 426 067 A1, wherein this base structure has a base to support an inner container of the transport and storage container, which is connected by means of corner and intermediate legs to a base structure, which forms a contact surface with the ground of the transport and storage container. All components of the known pallet-type base structure are made of metal, therefore, the base structure is characterized by particular stability.

[003] In addition, the well-known pallet-type base structure serves as a base structure for transport and storage containers that have an inner container housed in an outer jacket at the base of the base structure and can be arranged one on top of the other in a stack, with the base structure, which is a tubular structure, allowing easy access to the spaces formed between the stacked transport and storage containers, even though they are stacked.

[004] However, the particular robustness of the known base structure, which is particularly advantageous in terms of the long service life of the known pallet-type base structure, can lead to increased wear in contact with conveyor equipment, which is usually in the form of conveyor rollers, conveyor belts or similar, which is why, to reduce wear, it has been necessary to Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 80 / 104 2 / 13 Use base structures made entirely of plastic or base structures that have both components made of a plastic material and components made of metal.

[005] A composite pallet of this type is known from document WO 2007 / 087857 A1, which is supplied with a metal base that is connected to a plastic base frame or rails by means of plastic corner and intermediate legs. The use of plastic allows for low-wear contact between the pallet-shaped base frame and a conveyor system. However, the well-known pallet-type base frame is less robust due to the plastic material used. Additionally, it has been found that contact of the plastic material with a conveyor device can easily result in abrasive wear of the plastic material due to friction, so the pallet-type base frame is subject to progressive wear when used in conveyor devices. Furthermore, the removed plastic material can undesirably contaminate the environment of the conveyor device in question, for example, in the form of what is termed microplastics.

[006] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to propose a pallet-type base structure and a transport and storage container comprising such base structure, which has high stability or great robustness, allowing transport in a handling device with the least possible wear.

[007] This objective is achieved by a pallet-type base structure having the features of claim 1 and a transport and storage container having the features of claim 20.

[008] The pallet-type base structure for a liquid transport and storage container comprises a base to support an inner container housed in an outer metal jacket, preferably a cage, corner legs and intermediate legs, the corner legs and intermediate legs being arranged on rails and connecting the rails to the base, each rail forming a contact surface with the ground and being made of sheet metal. Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pp. 81 / 104 3 / 13 metallic.

[009] According to the invention, it is therefore foreseen that the ground contact surface of the base structure is made of metal or sheet metal. The fact that the pallet-type base structure rests on the ground by means of rails means that the ground contact surface of the base structure is many times larger than would be the case for a base structure with a metal tube around it or a structural profile. In this case, the weight of the transport and storage container is distributed over a large area of ​​the ground contact surface, resulting in a comparatively lower contact force per unit area and allowing for low-wear transport of the pallet-type base structure with a transport system. Furthermore, unwanted abrasion of the plastic material on the pallet-type base structure can be avoided.The corner legs, intermediate legs and / or base can be made from basically any suitable material, such as wood, plastic or similar.

[010] Rails may be provided with reinforcing corrugations extending along the rails, and the reinforcing corrugations may form bottom flanges that form the contact surface with the ground. The reinforcing corrugations may be basically any shape relative to a cross-section of the rail in question and may extend along the rails or in the direction of a longitudinal geometric axis of the rail in question. One or a plurality of reinforcing corrugations, for example, three reinforcing corrugations, may be formed. The reinforcing corrugations may run essentially along the entire length of the rail in question or only along part of the rail in question. The bottom flanges may be flat or parallel to a ground or to the base of the base structure, so that the contact surface with the ground formed by the bottom flanges of the rails is as large as possible.

[011] Reinforcing corrugations can be supplied with webs running between the upper flanges and the lower flanges of the reinforcing corrugations. The upper flanges can basically have any cross-sectional shape, as Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 82 / 104 4 / 13 rails are not primarily intended for contact with a surface. The webs may extend in a straight or curved shape between the upper and lower flanges. The upper and lower flanges, along with the webs, may be trapezoidal, arched, or wavy relative to a cross-section of the rail in question. A transition between the webs, upper flanges, and lower flanges may have a radius. When shaped in this way, the rails may be made from a comparatively thin sheet metal that is particularly lightweight and resistant to bending.

[012] Rails may have at least partially a web edge. The longitudinal edges of the rails may be formed by bottom flanges, in which case a web edge may also be formed in the bottom flanges. The web edge may run along the entire length of a rail or only along part of it. It is also possible for the web edge to be interrupted by cuts.

[013] Rails may have, at least in cross-sections, a traversable sill and / or a ramp, where the height of the rail in question above the contact surface with the ground is reduced. In this case, the height of the rail in question above a surface may be reduced in such a way that a conveying means, such as a pallet truck, can easily pass over the rail. If the rails have a web edge, this may be interrupted in the traversable sill area. Alternatively or additionally, a ramp may be formed in the rail so that conveying means can be moved over the rail more easily. The traversable sill may also be formed by the fact that any reinforcing corrugations present in the traversable sill area are comparatively low. For example, reinforcing corrugations with reduced height may be provided in the traversable sill area.

[014] Corner legs, intermediate legs and / or base may be made of metal. If the corner legs and intermediate legs are also made of metal, the pallet-type base structure is particularly robust and stable. A Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pp. 83 / 104 5 / 13 pallet-type base structure can also be free of plastic material.

[015] Each rail may have weld projections and / or through holes for a bolted connection to the corner legs and intermediate legs. Each rail may have a plurality of weld projections. The weld projections may be embossed on the sheet metal of the rails. In particular, weld projections may be formed at the respective ends of the rails and, if necessary, in a central area of ​​the rails, for example, for a connection to corner legs and / or intermediate legs. This also makes it possible to simply weld the rails to the corner legs and / or intermediate legs in particular. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible for the corner legs and intermediate legs to be connected to the rails using bolts. This is particularly advantageous if the corner legs and intermediate legs are not made of metal.

[016] Corner legs, intermediate legs and / or rails can be designed as one-piece cold-drawn bodies made of sheet metal. This allows the number of base frame parts to be reduced as much as possible. Corner legs, intermediate legs and rails can also be economically produced in large quantities by deep drawing of sheet metal.

[017] Rails can be symmetrical. This makes it possible to further reduce the number of different parts of the base structure and simplify the assembly of the base structure. Rails can be axially symmetrical or symmetrical so that a rail can be positioned in any way relative to an intermediate leg or a corner leg, for example. In this case, the rails can also have an identical design regardless of whether the rail in question is mounted on a specific side of the base structure. Alternatively, rails can also be asymmetrical.

[018] The basic structure can have either just two outer rails or one intermediate rail and two outer rails. The intermediate rail and the two outer rails Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 84 / 104 6 / 13 rails can be arranged parallel to each other. The intermediate rail can then be placed between the two outer rails. If the rails are symmetrical, the two outer rails can be designed identically. This simplifies the fabrication of the base structure.

[019] The intermediate rail can form a central leg of the base structure. The center leg can be formed, for example, by engraving the center leg into the intermediate rail. In this case, the intermediate rail may have an arched or roof-shaped center leg in the center. For example, the center leg may be formed by two flanks that deviate from a longitudinal extension of the intermediate rail and thus form a U- or V-shaped elevation of the intermediate rail.

[020] Two opposing intermediate legs may be connected to each other by means of a base crossbar, or the base crossbar may form the two opposing intermediate legs. The base crossbar may be formed in the manner of a rail as a single-piece body engraved from sheet metal and have reinforcing corrugations. The base crossbar may be configured in such a way as to connect two opposing intermediate legs, which in turn are one-piece deep-drawn bodies made of sheet metal. In this case, the base crossbar is comparatively flat. Alternatively, the base crossbar may form the two opposing intermediate legs if the base crossbar has intermediate leg bodies at its respective longitudinal ends, the intermediate leg bodies themselves having a U- or V-shaped cross-section relative to a longitudinal geometric axis of the intermediate rail.In this case, the intermediate leg in question may have a base wall, an outer flank wall, and an inner flank wall. The base wall and flank walls may be formed in the axial end regions of the intermediate leg in a plane transverse to a longitudinal geometric axis of the intermediate leg and form a U-shaped edge web.

[021] A central leg of the base structure can be detachably connected directly to the base crossbar. A bowl-shaped recess that Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 85 / 104 A 7 / 13 extension towards the central leg can be formed in the base crossbar. This allows the weight of the inner container to be advantageously transferred to the intermediate leg via the base crossbar. The detachable connection can be a bolted connection, for example. The bolted connection can be simply formed by a single central sheet metal bolt.

[022] Therefore, it is also advantageous if a form-adjusting rotation lock is formed between the central leg and the base crossbar. In this case, the intermediate rail, which is screwed to the base crossbar, can be prevented from moving or rotating relative to the base crossbar. A position of the intermediate rail relative to the base crossbar can be securely fixed so that the intermediate rail can be pre-assembled with the base crossbar. The rotation lock can be economically formed, for example, by tabs formed in the intermediate rail and mounting holes in the base crossbar or vice versa. The tabs can be formed by embossing and the holes can be formed by punching. If the intermediate rail and the base crossbar are produced by deep engraving, the tabs or holes can be formed during deep engraving without an additional step.

[023] The intermediate rail can be welded to an intermediate leg and bolted directly to a bowl-shaped intermediate leg formed opposite it by the base. The intermediate rail can be welded to the intermediate leg by resistance butt welding, for example. In this case, the intermediate leg can be permanently fixed to one end of the intermediate rail, so that the intermediate rail and the intermediate leg together form a base module. If the base has a bowl-shaped intermediate leg, i.e., the intermediate leg is molded into the base, the base or the intermediate leg formed in it can simply be bolted to the intermediate rail when assembling the base frame.

[024] The outer rails can be welded to the corner legs and / or the intermediate legs. For example, the outer rails can be welded together. Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 86 / 104 8 / 13 top resistance. The outer rails can be connected to the corner legs by means of, for example, two, preferably four, welding points. The corner legs can thus be securely and immobilely arranged on the outer rails. In addition, the intermediate legs can also be welded to the outer rails by means of at least two welding points. If the intermediate legs are formed by a base crossbar, a component group consisting of the corner legs, the intermediate legs and the outer rails can be formed, which can be formed and handled in just a few steps as part of a manufacturing process for the base structure.

[025] In addition, the connections of the base with the corner legs and intermediate legs can be detachable connections. In this case, the base structure can be composed of two to three modules, which are joined in a final assembly step to form the base structure. For example, one module can be composed of outer rails with corner legs, intermediate legs and a base crossbar, another module can be composed of an intermediate rail with an intermediate leg, and a third module can be formed by the base, in which case the base can also form an intermediate leg. If the connections between the corner legs, intermediate legs and rails are formed by welding, the corner legs and intermediate legs can be precisely positioned or fixed in their intended position to be connected to the base. This facilitates bolting the base to the corner legs and intermediate legs in a final assembly step.This screwing step can also be performed by screwing an outer cover of a transport and storage container with these screws at the same time.

[026] The rails can form the corner legs and / or the intermediate legs of the base structure. In this case, it is no longer necessary to connect the corner legs and / or the intermediate legs to the rails. The corner legs and / or the intermediate legs can be formed, for example, by embedding the corner legs and / or the intermediate legs into the outer rails. In this case, the rail in question Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 87 / 104 9 / 13 may have an arched or roof-shaped intermediate leg in the center. For example, corner legs may be formed by two flanks that deviate from a longitudinal extension of the rail and thus form a U- or V-shaped elevation of the rail.

[027] The outer edges of the ground contact surface of the rails may be configured in such a way that the outer edges are at least partially overlapped laterally by the corner legs and the base structure may be inserted with the outer edges within an inner edge of an upper structure profile of the outer jacket of the transport and storage container. In this case, the base structure is configured so that a transport and storage container supplied with the base structure may be stacked with other transport and storage containers of essentially the same type. The rails may be configured so that an upper transport and storage container is centered on a lower transport and storage container or the base structure of the upper transport and storage container is centered on an upper structure profile of the lower transport and storage container.Since the rails can be inserted at least partially into the inner edge of the upper profile of the structure, horizontal movement of the upper transport and storage container over the lower transport and storage container can be essentially avoided. Thus, the rails fit within the inner edges with their outer edges in such a way that a form fit can be achieved in the horizontal direction.

[028] The liquid transport and storage container according to the invention comprises an inner plastic container with four side walls, a bottom and a top, a closureable filling neck formed in the top bottom and a discharge port formed in the lower part of a side wall and with a tap fitting, and an outer metal cover, preferably a cage, to receive the inner container and a pallet-like base structure according to the invention. Other embodiments of a Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pp. 88 / 104 10 / 13 Transport and storage container are apparent in the descriptions of the features of the claims dependent on claim 1.

[029] Hereafter in this document, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings: Figure 1 is an isometric illustration of one embodiment of a transport and storage container; Figure 2 is an isometric illustration of a module of a basic structure of the transport and storage container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric illustration showing a bottom view of the base structure of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an isometric illustration of an external base rail from Figure 3; Figure 5 is an isometric illustration of an intermediate rail of the base structure of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a detailed view of the intermediate rail of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate rail of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the outer rail of Figure 4; Figure 9 is a detailed view of the basic structure of Figure 3; Figure 10 is a second detailed view of the base structure of Figure 3; Figure 11 is a third detailed view of the basic structure of Figure 3; Figure 12 is a fourth detailed view of the base structure of Figure 3; Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the base structure of Figure 3; Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a stack of transport and storage containers as per Figure 1.

[030] A combined view of Figures 1 to 14 shows a transport and storage container 10 for liquids with a pallet-like base structure 11. The transport and storage container 10 has a container Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 89 / 104 11 / 13 inner plastic 12 with four side walls 13, 14, 15, 16, a bottom 17 and a top 18, a filling neck 19 that can be closed, formed in the top 18, and a discharge door 20 formed in the lower part of a side wall 13 and with a tap fitting 21, in addition to an outer metal cover 23, which is a cage 22 and serves to accommodate the inner container 12 and the pallet-type base structure 11. The outer jacket 23 has an upper structure profile 24 and a lower structure profile 25, which is bolted to the pallet-type base structure 11.

[031] Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the base structure 11, which is composed of a base 26 to support the inner container 12 housed in the outer jacket 23, corner legs 27, intermediate legs 28, 29, 30, a central leg 31, two outer rails 32, an intermediate rail 33 and a base crossbar 34. The base structure 11 is made entirely of metal in this case. Figure 2 shows a mounting module 35, which does not include the base 26.

[032] A combined view of Figures 4 and 8 shows one of the outer rails 32, which has reinforcing corrugations 36 with webs 27. The webs 37 run between the upper flanges 38 and the lower flanges 39 of the reinforcing corrugations 36. The lower flanges 39 each form a ground contact surface 40 of the base structure 11, which generally comes into contact with a soil (not shown). In addition, the outer rail 32 has an edge web 41 in sections. A height of the outer rail 32 above the ground contact surface 40 is reduced in a portion 42. The edge web 41 is also interrupted in part 42. The portion 42 therefore forms a traversable sill 43 for a forklift, for example. Furthermore, weld projections 44 and 45 to form a welded connection with the corner legs 27 and the intermediate legs 28, respectively, are formed on the outer rail 32.

[033] A combined view of Figures 5, 6 and 7 shows the intermediate rail 33, which also has reinforcing corrugations 46. Here too, the webs 47 run between the upper flanges 48 and the lower flanges 49, which in turn form the Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 90 / 104 12 / 13 ground contact surface 40 of the base structure 11. In a portion 50, the height of the intermediate rail 33 is reduced compared to the ground contact surface 40, resulting in the formation of a traversable sill 51. Furthermore, the intermediate rail 33 has weld projections 52, which serve to weld the intermediate rail 33 to the intermediate leg 29. Additionally, the intermediate rail 33 forms the U-shaped central leg 31. The central leg 31 is formed by two flanks 53 of the intermediate rail 33, which extend towards a horizontal portion 54. The tabs 55 and a central through hole 56 are formed in the horizontal portion 54 or in the upper flanges 48.

[034] Figure 9 shows the corner leg 27 with the outer rail 32 in an assembly configuration with weld points 57 formed on the weld projections 44.

[035] Figure 10 shows the outer rail 32 with an intermediate leg 28 which, like the opposite intermediate leg 28, is formed in one piece by the base crossbar 34. Here, the weld projections 45 are connected to the intermediate leg 28 by weld spots 58.

[036] Figure 11 shows the intermediate rail 33 in an assembly configuration with the intermediate leg 29, which is formed in one piece here. Here, the weld projections 52 of the intermediate rail 33 are connected to the intermediate leg 29 by weld points 59.

[037] Figure 12 shows a mounting configuration of the intermediate rail with base 26, base 26 having the bowl-shaped intermediate leg 30 engraved on base 26. Here, a bolted connection 60 is formed between the intermediate rail 33 and the intermediate leg 30 using a bolt (not shown). In addition, base 26 is also bolted to the corner legs 27 and the intermediate legs 28 and 29.

[038] Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the intermediate rail 33 in the horizontal portion 54 together with the base crossbar 34 in a mounting configuration. The base crossbar 34 has an arc 61 facing away from the base 26. Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 91 / 104 13 / 13 Two through holes 62, into which tabs 55 are inserted, are formed in the base crossbar 34. Additionally, a screw 63 is screwed into a protrusion 64 in the center of the base crossbar 34 through the through hole 56 of the intermediate rail 33. Once the tabs 55 are inserted into the through holes 62, a form-fitting rotation lock 65 is formed.

[039] Figure 14 shows a partial cutaway view of a stack 66 of transport and storage containers 10. In particular, the outer edges 67 of the contact surface with the ground 40 are formed in such a way that the latter is inserted within an inner edge 68 of the upper profile of the structure 24. The profile of the upper structure 24 or its flattened top 69 serves here to support a lower part 70 of the main legs 27 or of the intermediate legs 28 and 29. Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pages 92 / 104

Claims

1 / 4 CLAIMS 1. Pallet-type base structure (11) for a transport and storage container (10) for liquids, wherein the base structure comprises a base (26) to support an inner container (12) housed in an outer metal casing (23), which is preferably a cage (22), corner legs (27) and intermediate legs (28, 29, 30), characterized in that the corner legs and intermediate legs are arranged on rails (32, 33) and connect the rails to the base, each rail forming a contact surface with the ground (40) and being made of sheet metal.

2. Base structure, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rails (32, 33) have reinforcing corrugations that extend along the rails (36, 46), the reinforcing corrugations forming lower flanges (39, 49) that constitute the contact surface with the ground (40).

3. Base structure, according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing corrugations (36, 46) have webs (37, 47) that extend between the upper flanges (38, 48) and the lower flanges (39, 49) of the reinforcing corrugations.

4. Basic structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that tracks (32, 33) have at least partially an edge web (41).

5. Base structure, according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tracks (32, 33) have, at least in sections, a traversable threshold (43, 51) and / or a ramp, where the height of the track in question above the contact surface with the ground (40) is reduced.

6. Base structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the corner legs, the intermediate legs and / or the base are made of metal.

7. Base structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rails (32, 33) each have weld projections (44, 45, 52) and / or through holes for a bolted connection with the corner legs and intermediate legs.

8. Base structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the corner legs (27) and / or the rails (32, 33) are cold-drawn one-piece bodies made of sheet metal.

9. Basic structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rails (32, 33) are symmetrical.

10. Base structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base structure (11) has two outer rails (32) or one intermediate rail (33) and two outer rails (32).

11. Base structure, according to claim 10, characterized in that the intermediate rail (33) forms a central leg (31) of the base structure (11).

12. Base structure, according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that two opposite intermediate legs are connected by means of a base crossbar, or the base crossbar (24) forms the two opposite intermediate legs (28).

13. Base structure, according to claim 12, characterized in that a central leg (31) of the base structure (11) is detachably connected directly to the base crossbar (24).

14. Base structure, according to claim 13, characterized by a form-fitting rotation lock (65) being formed between the central leg (31) and the base crossbar (24).

15. Base structure, according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the intermediate rail (33) is welded to an intermediate leg (29) and bolted directly to a bowl-shaped intermediate leg (30) opposite it, formed by the base (26).

16. Base structure, according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the outer rails (32) are welded to the corner legs (27) and / or to the intermediate legs (28).

17. Base structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the connections between the base (26) and the corner legs (273) and the intermediate legs (28, 29, 30) are separable connections.

18. Base structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rails form the corner legs and / or the intermediate legs of the base.

19. Base structure, according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the outer edges (67) of the ground contact surface (40) of the rails (32, 33) are configured in such a way that the corner legs (27) protrude at least partially laterally over the outer edges and the base structure (11) can be inserted with the outer edges within an inner edge (68) of an upper structure profile (24) of the outer jacket (23) of the transport and storage container (10).

20. Transport and storage container (10) for liquids, wherein the transport and storage container (10) is characterized by comprising an inner plastic container (12) with four side walls (13, 14, 15, 16), a lower and an upper bottom (17, 18), a filling neck (19) that can be closed, formed in the upper bottom, and a discharge port (20) formed in the lower part of a side wall (13) and with a tap fitting (21), and an outer metal cover, which is preferably a cage (22), to accommodate the inner container, and a base structure of the plate type (11) as defined in any of the preceding claims. Petition 870250091448, dated 07 / 10 / 2025, pp. 96 / 104

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