Rack construction

Abstract

A cargo rack includes a frame having a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions. The lower end portion of the frame has a base with a floor providing a load holding position. A tank, vessel or tank module that is supported with the frame during use, the lower end portion of the tank, vessel or tank module resting upon the load holding position of the base. The frame includes a plurality of side walls or side panels or side trusses that attach to and extend upwardly from the base frame. Each side wall, side panel or side truss has a pair of corner columns. The frame can include at least one horizontally extending beam connecting between each pair of corner columns. Each side wall, side panel or side truss can include the pair of columns, a central plate, and a plurality of diagonal members, each diagonal member connected to a corner column and a central plate. The diagonal members include an upper pair that can form an obtuse angle and a lower pair that can form an acute angle. Specially configured fittings are fitted to each corner of the tank, each fitting held in position with a pair of tensioning members that can be in the form of bolted connections that interface each fitting with two of the side walls, panels or trusses.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a nonprovisional Patent Application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 717,489, filed 23 Oct. 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.[0002]Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 717,489, filed 23 Oct. 2012, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0003]Not applicableREFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”[0004]Not applicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]1. Field of the Invention[0006]The present invention relates to cargo racks for transferring goods between marine vessels and offshore platforms such as oil and gas well drilling and production platforms. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved cargo rack that enables a user to load the rack with multiple palletized loads (or other loads) and to then transport the entire rack using a lifting device such as a crane or a forklift from...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is an improved cargo rack apparatus that includes a frame with a front, rear, and upper and lower end portions. The lower end portion of the frame provides a structural beam that can preferably include a plurality of beams that are welded end to end to form a generally square or rectangular base. The frame also includes a plurality of side walls that attach to and extend upwardly from the base, the frame having four corners with a corner column at each corner. Each side wall comprises a pair of columns, a central plate, and a plurality of diagonal members, each connected to a corner column and a central plate. The diagonal members include an upper pair and a lower pair, with the second angle being different from the first angle. The apparatus also includes a tank module that is supported with the frame during use, and fittings that each fit a corner of the tank next to the tank upper surface, each fitting being compressed against the tank with a tensioning member that connects the fitting to the frame. The technical effects of the invention include improved load holding capacity, increased stability, and secure attachment of the tank module to the frame during use.

Problems solved by technology

Drilling and production require that an enormous amount of supplies be transported from land based storage facilities.

The storage of supplies on an offshore oil well drilling or production platform is a huge problem.

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