Modular load carrier, modular load carrier combination and modular load carrier system

Abstract

Modular load carrier (1) with at least one support plate (2), at least two longitudinal beams (6) arranged on an underside of the support plate (2), several first connecting pieces (4) connecting the longitudinal beams (6) to the support plate (2), which are connected to the longitudinal beams (6) and the support plate (2) via detachable identical connecting elements (5), wherein the connecting elements (5) are arranged on the first connecting pieces (4) in three axes orthogonally aligned to each other and each form identical fastening projections (7) accessible from the outside of the first connecting pieces (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular load carrier having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a modular load carrier assembly having the features of the preamble of claim 16 and a modular load carrier system having the features of the preamble of claim 18.

[0002] Load carriers generally serve to form a transport base for a load, on which the load can be additionally secured against slipping if necessary. For this purpose, standard load carriers or wooden pallets are commonly used, which are manufactured in large quantities in a uniform size. These standard load carriers have uniform dimensions, with the size of the load carrier limiting or defining the size and geometry of the load to be secured to them.

[0003] If loads with very large dimensions or a very complex geometry are to be transported, standard load carriers cannot be used and load carriers of individual sizes must be manufactured from wood, which must be disposed of after their one-time use in extreme cases.

[0004] Furthermore, it is known from EP 4 023 562 A1 to assemble load carriers in a modular manner from various basic components, wherein the basic components comprise a plate-shaped support element, several regularly arranged support bodies fastened to the underside of the support element and several struts connecting the support bodies to one another at their undersides.

[0005] WO 2015 / 072844 A1 discloses a modular load carrier comprising multiple support elements of identical geometry that can be connected via uniform connecting elements to form an enlarged and individually configurable geometry. The support elements are connected to the connecting elements at their lateral surfaces and, together with the connecting elements, form a flat support surface for the load to be transported. The connection is implemented using the tongue and groove principle, with the support elements having corresponding projections being inserted into lateral longitudinal grooves of the connecting elements. Depending on the number and arrangement of the interconnected support elements, this allows for the assembly of large rectangular, L-shaped, T-shaped, or even very elongated load carriers with a geometry individually adapted to the shape of the load to be transported.After use, the load carrier can be disassembled into its individual components and then reassembled into a load carrier with a different geometry. The advantage of such a solution is improved sustainability due to the reusability of the load carriers in their individual components. Furthermore, load carriers with the customized geometry can be manufactured much more quickly, as no separate manufacturing process is required other than assembling the individual components. Furthermore, the load carrier can be transported in a much more compact design after use and disassembly.

[0006] Against this background, the object of the invention is to create a modular load carrier, a modular load carrier composite and a modular load carrier system with improved variability of the geometry of the load carrier.

[0007] To achieve this object, a modular load carrier having the features of claim 1, a modular load carrier assembly having the features of claim 16, and a modular load carrier system having the features of claim 18 are proposed. Further preferred developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims, the figures, and the associated description.

[0008] To solve the problem, a modular load carrier with at least one support plate, at least two longitudinal beams arranged on an underside of the support plate, a plurality of first connecting pieces connecting the longitudinal beams to the support plate, which are connected to the longitudinal beams and the support plate via detachable identical connecting elements, in which the connecting elements are arranged in three axes aligned orthogonally to one another on the first connecting pieces and each form identical fastening projections accessible from the outside of the first connecting pieces.

[0009] The proposed modular load carrier can be assembled very quickly using the proposed basic elements and the connection with the connecting pieces and connecting elements. By using support plates with individual dimensions in a specific number and arrangement with longitudinal beams with individual dimensions in a specific number and arrangement, a modular load carrier with corresponding dimensions can be assembled. Furthermore, several, and in particular different, load carriers can be assembled into a modular load carrier of individual shape with larger dimensions using the uniform fastening attachments provided thereon.The connecting elements arranged along the three orthogonally aligned axes allow the load carriers to be connected to form a flat load carrier or a load carrier with corresponding raised side panels or support supports for supporting stacked load carriers or for laterally securing the component to be transported. The fastening attachments form uniform interfaces that enable the load carrier to be assembled into different geometries. The fastening attachments can also be used to hold additional attachments such as push-through protection, lashing eyes, other attachments for securing components, or the like.The support plate, together with the longitudinal beams, the connecting pieces, and the connecting elements, forms a modular system that allows the user to reuse the parts and assemble a modular load carrier with a customized shape to transport a component with a correspondingly customized shape. The connecting elements can be used bifunctionally: first, to connect the longitudinal beams to the support plates or to connect other parts of the load carrier itself, and second, to attach other parts, and in particular, other load carriers, to the load carrier via the created attachment points.

[0010] It is further proposed that at least one connecting element forms a fastening projection on at least one first connecting piece, accessible from the top side of the support plate. The fastening projection, accessible from the top side of the support plate, makes it possible to fasten parts directly to the support plate. These can be, for example, boundary elements, lashing eyes, side walls, or other supporting structures, e.g., for pipes, flat glass components, complex add-on components of vehicle structures, and the like.

[0011] It is further proposed that at least one connecting element on at least one first connecting piece forms a fastening attachment accessible from the underside of one of the longitudinal members. Such a fastening attachment can be used, for example, to attach a wheel to the load carrier or to attach the load carrier itself to a floor structure of a truck, an aircraft, or a ship. Furthermore, support brackets for supporting the load carrier can also be attached to this fastening attachment.

[0012] It is further proposed that at least one of the longitudinal members is formed in two parts from two half-shells, and the first connecting pieces are arranged between the half-shells, and the first connecting pieces connect the half-shells to one another via the connecting elements to form the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members themselves are thus also modularly composed of two half-shells and can thus be further disassembled into smaller individual parts for disassembly of the load carrier. Furthermore, the connecting pieces with the connecting elements are also used to connect the half-shells. Furthermore, after the longitudinal members have been assembled, the connecting pieces are additionally fixed to the longitudinal member. The connecting pieces are fixed between the half-shells in the longitudinal member.The half-shells can also be connected to one another via adhesive joints, welded joints or snap-in joints, either detachably or permanently, to form a further strengthened composite.

[0013] It is further proposed that the half-shells be constructed in a lightweight manner, each with two free spaces and a dimensionally stable stiffening section between the free spaces. This allows the longitudinal members to be designed very lightly, yet the central stiffening section ensures they are sufficiently rigid to absorb the forces.

[0014] The half-shells in the stiffening section can preferably be connected to each other via a second connecting piece. By connecting the two half-shells via the second central connecting piece, the two half-shells are connected to each other via a second central connecting piece, in addition to the connection via the first connecting pieces, to form a more rigid composite.

[0015] At least two detachable connecting elements can be provided on the second connecting piece, which are arranged along two orthogonally aligned axes, with a first connecting element forming a fastening lug accessible from the support plate, and a second connecting element forming a fastening lug accessible from the longitudinal sides of the longitudinal member. Thus, the second connecting piece can also be used to fasten the support plate to the longitudinal members and to fasten additional parts to the support plate or to laterally fasten a second modular load carrier.

[0016] It is further proposed that spacers be provided between at least two longitudinal beams. The spacers allow the longitudinal beams to be pre-fixed in a predetermined alignment relative to each other for mounting the support plate. Furthermore, the spacers serve to further stiffen the entire, fully assembled load carrier.

[0017] It is further proposed that the first and / or second connecting pieces have tubular extensions with an internal thread, and that the connecting elements are formed by receiving bushings with an external thread, with which they are each screwed into an internal thread of a tubular extension of the first and / or second connecting piece. The connecting pieces are thus subsequently connected to the connecting elements, with the tubular extensions with the internal threads determining the screwing direction and thus the fastening direction of the connecting elements.

[0018] It is further proposed that the mounting bushings each have a radially outward-facing flange, which limits the screwing movement of the mounting bushings into the tubular extensions. The flanges thus form a counterbearing for the mounting bushings, which limits the screwing movement and can also be used for clamping the support plate and the half-shells of the longitudinal members.

[0019] It is further proposed that the receiving bushings have free through-holes, each of which forms the fastening projection. The receiving bushings are thus tubular and are screwed into the tubular projections of the connecting pieces with the radially outer external thread. With their free through-holes, they simultaneously form the respective fastening projections. This allows for a very compact design of the load carrier, as the receiving bushings form the fastening projections through the through-holes without requiring additional installation space.

[0020] It is further proposed that at least two tubular projections arranged opposite one another on a connecting piece are arranged coaxially with one another, and that the receiving bushings arranged therein, with their through-openings, complement each other to form a common through-opening. The common through-opening allows the adjacent load carrier, attachment, etc., to be secured through the entire connecting piece, thus creating a particularly stable connection via the connecting piece.

[0021] It is further proposed that at least two pairs of oppositely arranged tubular projections be provided on a connecting piece, which, together with the receiving bushings arranged therein, complement each other to form a first and a second common through-opening. The common through-openings are arranged orthogonally to each other and intersect in a central section. The connecting piece thus enables a continuous connection of the connecting piece in two orthogonally aligned directions, wherein the free space formed by the central crossing section is used for both connection directions.In this case, only one of the common through-openings can be used for fastening through the central section, while the other common through-opening is not used for fastening through the central section and can instead only be used for one-sided fastening in the area of ​​the separate tubular extensions and the connecting elements provided therein.

[0022] It is further proposed that the connecting pieces be designed as plastic injection-molded parts, with the internal threads formed by threaded inserts. Plastic injection-molded parts can be produced particularly cost-effectively in large quantities, even with complex geometries, with the threads not being integrally formed but rather formed by separate threaded inserts.

[0023] It is further proposed that the threaded inserts be formed by a helically wound metal strand. The proposed design of the threaded inserts has the advantage that the threaded inserts can be connected to the connecting pieces by simply screwing or pressing them into the tubular extensions of the connecting pieces. Due to the shape of their turns, they simultaneously form the internal threads for screwing in the connecting elements.

[0024] To achieve the object, a modular longitudinal beam assembly comprising at least two modular load carriers designed according to one of claims 1 to 8, each of which is detachably connected to one another via at least one fastening projection with at least one fastening means, is further proposed. The proposed load carrier assembly is characterized by a variable geometry, which is achieved through the various fastening options for the load carriers. Furthermore, the load carrier assembly is characterized by the fact that it can be disassembled and thus reassembled in its individual components and reused.

[0025] It is further proposed that the fastening means be formed by a rod-shaped clamping element that extends through the through-openings of at least two first and / or second connecting pieces of different load carriers. The use of the proposed rod-shaped clamping element is advantageous in that the fastening of the load carriers can be achieved by simply inserting and clamping the clamping element, whereby the insertion of the clamping element is made possible by the design of the fastening projections as through-openings.

[0026] Furthermore, a modular load carrier system for the production of modular load carriers with Support plates, longitudinal beams, first connecting pieces, and connecting elements connecting the support plates and the longitudinal beams to the connecting pieces, in which the first connecting pieces have identically designed fastening lugs arranged in three axes aligned orthogonally to one another, which enable optional fastening of the support plates or longitudinal beams via the connecting elements.

[0027] The proposed load carrier system enables the assembly of load carriers into an individual geometry for transporting loads with a corresponding shape. Furthermore, the load carrier system enables the disassembly of the load carriers after use for transport in a more compact form and for reuse to assemble a new load carrier, which may also have a different shape. The identically designed fastening lugs, in their proposed arrangement, i.e., in three orthogonally aligned axes, are the core of the invention, as this enables the variability of the assembly of the load carriers in the various shapes.

[0028] It is further proposed that the longitudinal members are formed at least in two parts from two identical half-shells, and the first connecting pieces connect the two half-shells to form the longitudinal members. This allows the modular load carrier to be further disassembled in the modular load carrier system, with the connecting pieces serving as the central connecting parts to connect the two half-shells and simultaneously serve to fasten the longitudinal members to the support plates and other longitudinal members of adjacent load carriers. The half-shells can also be releasably connected to one another via snap-in connections to form a further consolidated composite. Furthermore, the two half-shells can also be connected to one another via additional adhesive or welded connections to form a further, in this case non-detachable, composite, so that the longitudinal members themselves form a modular part of the load carrier system that cannot be disassembled further but is instead consolidated.

[0029] Preferably, a plurality of identically designed support plates, longitudinal beams, and first connecting pieces are provided, which can be connected to one another to form modular load carriers with different geometries. By combining the support plates, longitudinal beams, and connecting pieces in various arrangements, the load carrier system enables the production of modular load carriers of different shapes. The load carriers can be disassembled for reuse and subsequently reassembled into a different shape as needed.

[0030] It is further proposed that the connecting elements be formed by tubular receiving bushings with a through-hole forming a fastening lug for attaching an additional support plate, a longitudinal member, or additional attachments. The connecting elements thus not only serve to connect the support plate and the longitudinal members to the connecting pieces, but also, with their through-holes, serve as fastening lugs for connecting additional longitudinal members, support plates, or attachments, thereby further increasing the variability of the load carrier system.

[0031] The invention will be explained below using preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures. Fig. 1a-1h: a modular load carrier in a first embodiment; and Fig. 2a-2h: a modular load carrier in a second embodiment; and Fig. 3a-3d: a longitudinal beam made of two half-shells of the second embodiment with two connecting pieces; and Fig. 4a-4d: a longitudinal beam made of two half-shells of the first embodiment with three connecting pieces; and Fig. 5a-5d: a second connecting piece in different views; and Fig. 6a-6d: a first connecting piece in different views; and Fig. 7a-7c: two longitudinal beams connected to one another with an eccentric clamping element and the eccentric clamping element as an individual part; and Fig. 8a-8c: two longitudinal beams connected to one another with a ball locking element and the ball locking element as an individual part; and Fig. 9a-9c: a connecting element in different views; and Fig. 10a-10g: two different load carriers according to the invention with wheels in different views; and Fig.11a-11e: a load carrier according to the invention with a push-through protection device in various views; and Figs. 12a-12f: a vehicle floor with several load carriers, and their fastening in various views; and Figs. 13a-13d: a modular load carrier assembly according to the invention with two load carriers and several support posts for connecting the load carriers; and Figs. 14a-14c: a load carrier according to the invention from a retrofitted standard pallet.

[0032] In the Figuren 1a-1h and 2a-2h Two different embodiments of a modular load carrier 1 according to the invention can be seen. Both load carriers 1 have, as basic components, a support plate 2, several longitudinal beams 6, several spacers 3, several connecting pieces 4, 12, and several connecting elements 5.

[0033] The claimed load carrier system comprises several support plates 2, longitudinal beams 6, connecting pieces 4, 12, and connecting elements 5, which can be connected to one another in the form of a modular system to form an L-shaped, T-shaped, square, or rectangular modular load carrier assembly with various dimensions and can be disassembled again. Support plates 2 and longitudinal beams 6 with different dimensions can also be connected to one another using identical connecting pieces 4, 12 and connecting elements 5 to create load carriers 1 with different dimensions.

[0034] The longitudinal members 6 of the two embodiments are available as individual parts in the Fig. 3a-3d and 4a-4d The longitudinal member 6 of the first embodiment, shown in the Fig. 4a-4c , comprises two half-shells 8 and 9, which in the assembled position are held together by first connecting pieces 4 and second connecting pieces 12. The longitudinal member 6 and the half-shells 8 and 9 each have two free spaces 10, which are separated from each other by a central stiffening section 11. The half-shells 8 and 9 of the longitudinal member 6 are plastic injection-molded parts and are therefore very light, yet dimensionally stable due to their shape as three-dimensional profile parts with the free spaces 10 and the stiffening section 11. The dead weight of the longitudinal member 6 is further reduced by the free spaces 10. The half-shells 8 and 9 are shaped such that cavities are provided in the stiffening section 11 and in the end sections, into which cavities the first and second connecting pieces 4 and 12 are inserted. The longitudinal member 6 of the second embodiment in the Fig. 3a-3d is basically constructed identically and differs only in that no second connecting pieces 12 are provided in the stiffening section 11, so that the half-shells 8 and 9 are held together only via the first connecting pieces 4.

[0035] In the end cavities there are first connecting pieces 4, which are inserted into the Figuren 6a-6d can be seen enlarged in various views. The first connecting pieces 4 have six tubular extensions 13, each with a through-opening 18, wherein two of the tubular extensions 13 are arranged coaxially to one another on different sides of the first connecting piece 4 and, with their through-openings 18, complement one another to form a common through-opening 19. The tubular extensions 13 are arranged with their through-openings 18 in three orthogonally aligned axes according to a Cartesian coordinate system.

[0036] The Figuren 5a-5d The second connecting piece 12 which can be seen and which is arranged centrally in the longitudinal member 6 in the stiffening section 11, on the other hand, has only four tubular projections 13, each with a through-opening 18, which are arranged in pairs opposite one another coaxially and with their through-openings 18 form two common through-openings 19 aligned orthogonally to one another.

[0037] Threaded inserts 20 are arranged in the tubular extensions 13 of the connecting pieces 4, 12. The threaded inserts 20 are formed by helically twisted metal wires with a round or rectangular cross-section, with the metal wires wound to an identical diameter with their turns. The outer diameters of the threaded inserts 20 are slightly larger than the inner diameters of the through-holes 18, so that they are clamped into the tubular extensions 13 by being pressed or screwed into them. The threaded inserts 20 then form an internal thread 14 in the tubular extensions 13 with their profile.

[0038] The connecting pieces 4 and 12 are formed from a dimensionally stable plastic as an injection-molded part, preferably from PE-HD or PET. If the threaded inserts 20 have a rectangular or diamond-shaped cross-section, they are aligned such that one circumferential edge is arranged radially outward and one radial circumferential edge is arranged radially inward, thus forming a thread. Thus, the circumferential outer edge of the metal strand forms a positive or frictional connection between the threaded insert 20 and the connecting piece 4 or 12 by pressing it into the inner surface of the through-opening 18 of the tubular extension 13, while the circumferential inner edge forms the internal thread 14.

[0039] The connecting elements 5 are formed by receiving bushings 16, one of which is Fig. 9a-9c can be seen enlarged. The receiving bushings 16 are tubular with a ring-cylindrical shaft 24 with an external thread 15, a through-opening 23 and a radially outwardly extending flange 17. Two openings 25 are provided in the flange 17, which openings allow the receiving bushings 16 to be handled with a tool for assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the receiving bushings 16 can also have force application surfaces, such as an external hexagon profile, a internal hexagon profile or one or more slots or steps for tool handling. The receiving bushings 16 further have a conical chamfer 32 on the front side of the through-opening 23, i.e. on the flange side of the through-opening 23, and a further conical chamfer 32 on the side of the through-opening 23 facing away from the flange 17.

[0040] To assemble the longitudinal members 6, the first connecting pieces 4 and, in the embodiment of the Fig.4a-4d The second connecting pieces 12 are also inserted into the cavities of the half-shells 8 and 9 in such a way that the through-openings 18 with the threaded inserts 20 of the tubular extensions 13 arranged therein are each aligned with an opening of one of the half-shells 8 or 9 or an opening resulting from the assembly of the half-shells 8 and 9. Subsequently, the receiving bushings 16, i.e. the connecting elements 5, are screwed from the outside through the openings of the half-shells 8 and 9 of the longitudinal member 6 with the external thread 15 into the internal thread 14 of the threaded inserts 20. The screw-in depth of the receiving bushings 16 is limited by the contact of the flanges 17 on the outer sides of the half-shells 8 and 9. Furthermore, the half-shells 8 and 9 are thereby connected to the connecting pieces 4 and connected to one another via the connecting pieces 4 and 12 to form a longitudinal member 6, as shown in the Figuren 3d and 4dcan be seen. If such are to be provided, the spacers 3 are then inserted between the longitudinal beams 6, which fix the longitudinal beams 6 at predetermined distances from one another. The support plates 2 are then placed on top, being aligned such that their fastening openings are aligned with the through-holes 18 accessible from above of the tubular projections 13 of the connecting pieces 4 and 12 in the longitudinal beams 6, into which no connecting elements 5 or receiving bushings 16 have yet been screwed. To fasten the support plates 2, the connecting elements 5, i.e. the receiving bushings 16, are then screwed in from the upper sides of the support plates 2 until the receiving bushings 16 with the flanges 17 clamp onto the upper sides of the support plates 2 and connect the support plates 2 via the connecting pieces 4 and 12 to the longitudinal beams 6 to form a modular load carrier 1, as shown in the Fig. 1a and 2a can be recognized.

[0041] The connecting elements 5 are designed as receiving bushings 16, each with a through opening 23, as shown in the Figuren 9a bis 9c can be seen, and in turn form fastening projections 7 through the through-openings 23. Since the receiving bushings 16 are aligned with one another in axes that are orthogonal to one another due to the correspondingly aligned tubular projections 13 and their through-openings 18 on the connecting pieces 4 and 12, the receiving bushings 16 with their through-openings 23, i.e. the fastening projections 7 of the load carriers 1, are also arranged in axes that are orthogonal to one another. The through-openings 23 of the receiving bushings 16 form the fastening projections 7 according to the invention. If no connecting elements 5 are screwed into the tubular projections 13, it is also conceivable to screw various additional parts with corresponding threads directly into the internal threads 14 of the tubular projections 13.

[0042] These fastening projections 7 enable the load carriers 1 to be combined with other load carriers 1 to form a modular load carrier assembly as shown in the Fig. 7a,7b and 8a,8c can be seen. For fastening the load carriers 1 to one another, a detachable fastening means 21 in the form of a rod-shaped clamping element 22 is provided, which is inserted from an inner side of a free space 10 into a through-opening 23 of a connecting element 5 of a first connecting piece 4, further pushed through the through-opening 23 of the opposite connecting element 5 on the same first connecting piece 4 and finally pushed further through the through-openings 23 of the connecting elements 5 of the first connecting piece 4 of the adjacent load carrier 1. The clamping element 22 can, as shown in the Fig. 7c can be seen, be formed as an eccentric clamping element with an eccentric clamp 26 provided at one end and an abutment element 27 arranged at the other free end with a securing element 28, e.g. in the form of a screwed-on nut. If the rod-shaped clamping element 22 has a smaller diameter in its rod area than the diameter of the through holes 23 in the receiving bushes 16, a spacer sleeve 31 can additionally be provided, which is inserted into the through holes 23 of the connecting pieces 4 or 12 to reduce the diameter before inserting the clamping element 22, as in the Fig. 7b can be seen. If the clamping element 22 is designed as an eccentric clamping element, the spacer sleeve 31 has the advantage that the clamping element 21 can be supported during clamping transversely to its longitudinal extent on an inner wall of the spacer sleeve 31 forming an abutment.

[0043] Alternatively, the clamping element 22 can also, as shown in the Fig. 8c can be seen, be formed by a ball locking element with a push button 29 and a ball locking mechanism 30 that can be actuated by pressing the push button 29. The ball locking mechanism 30 comprises a plurality of spring-loaded locking balls which are spring-loaded into a radially outer locking position by a spring force, in which position they rest against the facing conical bevel 32 of the respective receiving bushing 16, and thereby clamp the assembly of load carriers 1 to form the modular load carrier assembly. By pressing the push button 29, the locking balls are relieved of pressure and can thus escape radially inwards, so that the clamping element 22 can be pulled out of the through-opening 23 of the receiving bushing 16 and pushed back in for assembly. The clamping element 22 can additionally have a screw mechanism, via which the ball locking mechanism 30 with the locking balls can be clamped against the bevel 32.

[0044] The inventive connection option for the load carriers 1 makes it possible to create a modular load carrier assembly comprising individual load carriers 1 arranged in different positions and interconnected, which is adapted to the shape of the load to be transported. The load carriers 1 can be connected to one another both to form a flat load carrier assembly and to form a three-dimensional modular load carrier assembly with upright side walls. Furthermore, the fastening projections 7 can also be used for the releasable attachment of support rods, lashing eyes, insertion limit stops for the load carriers 1, wheels, and other load carrier structures such as holders for rod elements, glass elements, stops in general, and the like.

[0045] The fastening projections 7 are accessible from the top side, i.e. the support surface of the support plates 2, from the side surfaces of the longitudinal beams 6 or load carriers 1, and from the undersides of the longitudinal beams 6 or load carriers 1, in accordance with the orientation of the connecting elements 5 on the connecting pieces 4 and 12, which in turn is predetermined by the orientation of the tubular projections 13 on the connecting pieces 4 and 12. The second connecting pieces 12 each have first connecting elements 5a, which are screwed into the support plates 2 and form the fastening projections 7 of the support plates 2. Furthermore, the second connecting pieces 12 have second connecting elements 5b, which form the fastening projections 7, which are arranged on the long sides of the longitudinal beams 6 or load carriers 1.In addition to the first and second connecting elements 5a and 5b, the first connecting pieces 4 additionally have third connecting elements 5c, which form the fastening projections 7 on the end faces of the longitudinal beams 6 and the load carriers 1, respectively.

[0046] The common through-openings 19 of the opposing tubular extensions 13 in the connecting pieces 4 and 12 intersect centrally, thereby forming a central hollow space in the center of the connecting pieces 4 and 12. This makes it fundamentally possible to insert a clamping element 21 into the first connecting pieces 4 in three mutually orthogonal directions—that is, perpendicular to the support plate 2, in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal members 6, or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal members 6—and thereby establish a connection to an adjacent load carrier 1 or additional part. For the second connecting pieces 12, this is only possible in two mutually orthogonal directions—namely, perpendicular to the support plate 2 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal members 6.If a clamping element 22 is passed through two first or second connecting pieces 4 or 12 and the load carriers 1 connected thereto are connected via them, the centers of the two connecting pieces 4, 12 are filled. Thus, although add-on parts or additional load carriers 1 can still be attached in the remaining attachment projections 7, the attachment must be designed such that the attachment takes place solely in the attachment projection 7, i.e., in a through-opening 23 of a receiving bushing 16, i.e., of a connecting element 5.

[0047] In the Fig. 10a bis 10g The two embodiments of the load carriers 1 can be seen, in which wheels 33, each with a bolt 35, are inserted through the through-openings of the first connecting element 5 accessible from the underside of the load carriers 1, so that the load carriers 1 can be moved more easily. Furthermore, towing eyes 34 are attached to the load carriers in a third connecting element 5c on the front side, which enable the attachment of corresponding pulling elements such as pulling cables, pulling rods, or the like.

[0048] In the Fig. 11a bis 11e 1 shows a load carrier 1 according to the invention with a push-through safety device 36 and two struts 37 and 38 of a support frame, such as a high-bay warehouse. The push-through safety device 36 has a bolt 40 with several spring-loaded locking balls, which is clamped to a pivoting lever 39 of the push-through safety device 36 via a screw 41 and a washer 41. The push-through safety device 36 is inserted laterally into the through-opening 23 of a second connecting element 5b with the bolt 40 and is secured against withdrawal by the spring-loaded locking balls of the bolt 40, which come into contact with the conical bevel 32 of the second connecting element 5b. The pivoting lever 39 has two stops, a first stop limiting the rotational movement of the pivoting lever 39 relative to the load carrier 1 and a second stop limiting the insertion movement of the load carrier 1 by contacting one of the struts 37 or 38.

[0049] In the Fig. 12a bis 12f , a modular load carrier assembly comprising several load carriers 1 can be seen, which is fastened to a vehicle floor 43. Instead of the vehicle floor 43, the load carrier assembly can also be fastened to the cargo hold floor of an aircraft, a railway wagon, or the floor of any supporting structure. To fasten the load carrier assembly, a plurality of regularly arranged fastening openings are provided on the vehicle floor 43, onto which the load carriers 1 are placed in alignment with the through-openings 23 of the first connecting element 5a provided on the underside of the load carriers 1. The load carriers 1 are then fastened to the vehicle floor 43 with spring-loaded clamping pins 44. The clamping pins 44 have an actuating button 45, a compression spring 46, and a locking pin 47 with a spring-loaded locking ball mechanism modeled on the above-described pin 40 of the push-through safety device 36.The clamping pins 44 are then inserted from the underside of the vehicle floor 43 through the fastening openings and the through-openings 23 of the first connecting element 5a and are clamped by loosening the actuating button 45 and releasing the locking balls to connect the load carrier 1 to the vehicle floor 43.

[0050] In the Figuren 13a bis 13c Two different embodiments of a modular load carrier assembly, each with two load carriers 1, can be seen, which are connected to one another via several support struts 49 and clamping elements 50 to form a stacked arrangement. The clamping elements 50 can, for example, be designed according to the example of the clamping pins 44 of the embodiment of the Figur 12e The clamping elements 50 are inserted into the third connecting element 5c arranged on the end face of the load carriers 1 and clamped accordingly.

[0051] In the Fig. 14a bis 14cAn embodiment of a load carrier 1 according to the invention can be seen, which comprises a standard pallet 100, e.g., wood. The standard pallet 100 has been retrofitted to the load carrier 1 according to the invention by first and second connecting pieces 4 and 12. The first and second connecting pieces 4 and 12 are designed here as block-like solid bodies and each have connecting elements 5 arranged on axes aligned orthogonally to one another, as already described above. The standard pallet 100 can have corresponding openings for fastening the connecting pieces 4 and 12, into which the connecting pieces 4 and 12 are inserted from below with a protruding tubular extension 13.Subsequently, the first connecting elements 5a are screwed from the top side of the standard pallet 10 into the corresponding thread 20, whereby the connection of the first and second connecting pieces 4 and 12 with the standard pallet 10 is then established to form the modular load carrier 1 according to the invention.

[0052] When fastening with clamping elements 22, bolts 40, dowel pins 44, or locking bolts 47 with a locking ball mechanism, the chamfer 32 on the receiving bushings 16 or the connecting elements 5 is particularly advantageous, as it simplifies the clamping of the connection. Furthermore, it allows for additional centering of the connection.

Claims

1. Modular load carrier (1) with - at least one support plate (2), - at least two longitudinal beams (6) arranged on an underside of the support plate (2), - a plurality of first connecting pieces (4) connecting the longitudinal beams (6) to the support plate (2), which are connected to the longitudinal beams (6) and the support plate (2) via detachable identical connecting elements (5), characterized in that - the connecting elements (5) are arranged in three axes aligned orthogonally to one another on the first connecting pieces (4) and each form identical fastening projections (7) accessible from the outside of the first connecting pieces (4).

2. Modular load carrier (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that - at least one connecting element (5) on at least one first connecting piece (4) forms a fastening projection (7) accessible from the upper side of the support plate (2).

3. Modular load carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that- at least one connecting element (5) on at least one first connecting piece (4) forms a fastening projection (7) accessible from the underside of one of the longitudinal members (6).

4. Modular load carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that - at least one of the longitudinal members (6) is formed in two parts from two half-shells (8,9), and - the first connecting pieces (4) are arranged between the half-shells (8,9), and - the first connecting pieces (4) connect the half-shells (8,9) to one another via the connecting elements (5) to form the longitudinal members (6).

5. Modular load carrier (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that - the half-shells (8,9) are of lightweight construction, each with two free spaces (10) and having a dimensionally stable stiffening section (11) between the free spaces (10).

6. Modular load carrier (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that- the half-shells (8,9) are connected to one another in the stiffening section (11) via a second connecting piece (12).

7. Modular load carrier (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that - at least two detachable connecting elements (5) are provided on the second connecting piece (12), which are arranged in two axes aligned orthogonally to one another, wherein a first connecting element (5a) forms a fastening projection (7) accessible from the support plate (2) and a second connecting element (5b) forms a fastening projection (7) accessible from the longitudinal sides of the longitudinal member.

8. Modular load carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that - spacers (3) are provided between at least two longitudinal beams (6).

9. Modular load carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that- the first and / or second connecting pieces (4, 12) have tubular extensions (13) with an internal thread (14), and - the connecting elements (5) are formed by receiving bushings (16) with an external thread (15) with which they are each screwed into an internal thread (14) of a tubular extension (13) of the first and / or second connecting piece (4, 12).

10. Modular load carrier (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that - the receiving bushings (16) each have a radially outwardly directed flange (17) which limits the screwing movement of the receiving bushings (16) into the tubular projections (13).

11. Modular load carrier (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that - the receiving bushings (16) have free through openings (18) which each form the fastening attachment (7).

12. Modular load carrier (1) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that- at least two tubular projections (13) arranged opposite one another on a connecting piece (4, 12) are arranged coaxially to one another, and - the receiving bushings (16) arranged therein complement one another with their through-openings (18) to form a common through-opening (19).

13. Modular load carrier (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that - at least two pairs of oppositely arranged tubular projections (13) are provided on a connecting piece (4, 12), which are supplemented by the receiving bushings (16) arranged therein to form a first and a second common through-opening (19), wherein - the common through-openings (19) are arranged orthogonally to one another and intersect in a central section.

14. Modular load carrier (1) according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that - the connecting pieces (4,12) are designed as plastic injection-molded parts and the internal threads (14) are formed by threaded inserts (20).

15. Modular load carrier (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that - the threaded inserts (20) are formed by a helically wound metal strand.

16. Modular longitudinal beam assembly with at least two modular load carriers (1) designed according to one of claims 1 to 15, which are detachably connected to one another via at least one fastening projection (7) with at least one fastening means (21).

17. Modular load carrier assembly according to claim 16 with at least two modular load carriers (1) according to one of claims 11 to 13 or according to one of claims 14 or 15 in relation to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that - the fastening means (21) is formed by a rod-shaped clamping element (22) passing through the through openings (18) of at least two first and / or second connecting pieces (4, 12) of different load carriers (1).

18. Modular load carrier system for producing modular load carriers (1) with - support plates (2), - longitudinal beams (6), - first connecting pieces (4), and - connecting elements (5) connecting the support plates (2) and the longitudinal beams (6) with the connecting pieces (4), characterized in that - the first connecting pieces (4) have identically designed tubular projections (13) arranged in three orthogonally aligned axes, which enable optional fastening of the support plates (2), longitudinal members (6) or further attachments via the connecting elements (5).

19. Modular load carrier system according to claim 18, characterized in that - the longitudinal members (6) are formed at least in two parts from two identical half-shells (8,9), and - the first connecting pieces (4) connect the two half-shells (8,9) to form the longitudinal members (6).

20. Modular load carrier system according to one of claims 18 or 19, characterized in that- a plurality of identically designed support plates (2), longitudinal beams (6) and first connecting pieces (4) are provided, which can be connected to one another to form modular load carriers (1) with a different geometry.

21. Modular load carrier system according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that - the connecting elements (5) are formed by tubular receiving bushes (16) which have a through-opening (18) which forms a fastening projection (7) for fastening a further support plate (2), a longitudinal member (6) or further attachments.

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