Pallet-type base frame for a transport and storage container and transport and storage container with an base frame of this type

Abstract

The invention relates to a pallet-type base frame (11) for a transport and storage container (10) for fluids, and a transport and storage container, with the base frame having a base (26) for supporting an inner container (12) accommodated in an outer metal casing (23) preferably in the form of a grid (22), as well as having corner feet (27) and central feet (28, 30), wherein the corner feet and the central feet are arranged on runners (32, 33) and connect the runners to the base, wherein the runners each form a contact surface of the base frame and are made of sheet metal.

Description

[0001] Pallet-like underframe for a transport and storage container and transport and storage container with such an underframe

[0002] The present invention relates to a pallet-like base frame for a transport and storage container for liquids, as well as a transport and storage container with such a base frame, wherein the base frame has a base for supporting an inner container accommodated in an outer shell made of metal, preferably designed as a grid, as well as corner feet and central feet.

[0003] EP 2 426 067 A1 discloses a pallet-like base frame for a transport and storage container. The base frame has a base for supporting an inner container of the transport and storage container, which is connected via corner and center feet to a base frame that forms a support surface for the transport and storage container. In the known pallet-like base frame, all components are made of metal, thus making the base frame particularly stable.

[0004] Furthermore, the known pallet-like base frame serves as a base frame for transport and storage containers, which have an inner container accommodated in an outer shell on the floor of the base frame and can be arranged on top of one another in a stacking arrangement, wherein the base frame designed as a tubular frame enables easy accessibility to the spaces formed between the stacked transport and storage containers despite the stacking arrangement.

[0005] The particular robustness of the known base frame, which proves to be advantageous in particular with regard to a long service life of the known pallet-like base frame, can, however, lead to increased wear in contact with conveyor devices, which are often designed as conveyor rollers, conveyor belts or the like, so that in order to reduce wear, the use of base frames made entirely of plastic or base frames which have both components made of a plastic material and components made of metal has now been adopted.

[0006] Such a composite pallet is known from WO 2007 / 087857 A1, in which a metal base is provided which is connected to a plastic base frame or runners via plastic corner and center feet. The use of the plastic enables low-wear contact between the pallet-like base frame and a conveyor device. However, the known pallet-like base frame has reduced robustness due to the plastic material used. Furthermore, it has been found that contact between the plastic material and a conveyor device can easily cause the plastic material to be abraded due to friction, so that the pallet-like base frame is subject to progressive wear when used in conveyor devices.In addition, the removed plastic material can undesirably contaminate the environment of the respective conveyor system, for example in the form of so-called microplastics.

[0007] The present invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a pallet-like base frame and a transport and storage container with such a base frame, which on the one hand has a high level of stability and robustness, and on the other hand enables conveying on a conveyor device with as little wear as possible.

[0008] This object is achieved by a pallet-like base frame having the features of claim 1 and a transport and storage container having the features of claim 20.

[0009] The pallet-like base frame for a transport and storage container for liquids has a base for supporting an inner container accommodated in an outer shell made of metal, preferably designed as a grid, as well as corner feet and center feet, wherein the corner feet and the center feet are arranged on runners and connect the runners to the base, wherein the runners each form a contact surface and are made of sheet metal.

[0010] According to the invention, the support surface of the base frame is therefore made of metal or sheet metal. Because the pallet-like base frame rests on a surface via skids, the support surface of the base frame is many times larger than would be the case with a base frame with a surrounding metal tube or a frame profile. The weight of the transport and storage container is then distributed over a large area of ​​the support surface, resulting in a comparatively lower support force per unit area and enabling low-wear conveyance of the pallet-like base frame with a conveyor system. Furthermore, unwanted abrasion of plastic material on the pallet-like base frame can be avoided. The corner feet, center feet and / or the base can in principle be made of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic or the like.

[0011] The runners can be designed with stiffening beads running along the runners, wherein the stiffening beads can form lower chords that form the contact area. The stiffening beads can, in principle, be designed with any desired shape relative to a cross-section of the respective runner and can run along the runners or in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the respective runner. One or a plurality of stiffening beads, for example three stiffening beads, can be formed. The stiffening beads can run essentially along the entire length of the respective runner or only in sections of the respective runner. The lower chords can run flat or parallel to a subsurface or the floor of the undercarriage, so that the largest possible contact area is created, which is formed by the lower chords of the runners.

[0012] The stiffening beads can be formed with webs that run between the upper chords and the lower chords of the stiffening beads. The cross-sectional shape of the upper chords is, in principle, arbitrary, since they do not primarily serve to rest on a surface. The webs can be straight or curved, running between the upper and lower chords. The upper and lower chords, together with the webs, can be trapezoidal, curved, or wave-shaped relative to a cross-section of the respective runner. A transition between the webs, the upper chords, and the lower chords can be formed with a radius. This type of shape allows the runners to be made particularly light and flexurally stable from a comparatively thin metal sheet.

[0013] The runners can be formed with an edge web, at least in sections. Longitudinal edges of the runners can be formed by bottom chords, whereby an edge web can also be formed on the bottom chords. The edge web can run along the entire length of a runner or only in sections. It can also be provided that the edge web is interrupted in sections.

[0014] The runners can be designed, at least in sections, with a crossing threshold and / or an approach slope that is reduced at a height of the respective runner above the contact surface. The height of the respective runner above a subsurface can then be reduced so that the runner can be easily driven over by a conveying device, for example a pallet truck. If the runners are designed with an edge web, this can be interrupted in the area of ​​the crossing threshold. Alternatively or additionally, an approach slope can be formed on the runner so that the conveying device can be moved more easily over the runner. The crossing threshold can also be designed, among other things, by having any stiffening beads that may be present in an area of ​​the crossing threshold so that they are comparatively low. For example, stiffening beads can be provided that have a reduced height in the area of ​​the crossing threshold.

[0015] The corner feet, center feet, and / or the base can be made of metal. If the corner feet and center feet are also made of metal, the pallet-like base frame is particularly robust and stable. The pallet-like base frame can also be constructed without any plastic material.

[0016] The runners can each be formed with welding projections and / or with through holes for a screw connection to the corner feet and the center feet. Each of the runners can have a plurality of welding projections. The welding projections can be embossed into the metal sheet of the runners. In particular, it can be provided that the welding projections are formed at the respective ends of the runners, and if necessary in a central region of the runners, for example for connecting to corner feet and / or center feet. This then also makes it possible to easily weld the runners, in particular to the corner feet and / or center feet. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to connect the corner feet and the center feet to the runners using screws. This is particularly advantageous if the corner feet and the center feet are not made of metal. The corner feet, center feet and / or the runners can be formed as one-piece deep-drawn bodies made of sheet metal.This allows the number of parts in the base frame to be reduced as much as possible. Deep-drawing metal sheets also allows the corner feet, center feet, and runners to be produced cost-effectively in large quantities.

[0017] The runners can be designed symmetrically. This makes it possible to further reduce the number of different parts of the base frame and simplify assembly. The runners can be designed axially symmetrically or point-symmetrically, allowing the positioning of a runner relative to, for example, a center leg or a corner leg. This allows the runners to be designed identically, regardless of whether the respective runner is mounted on a specific side of the base frame. Alternatively, the runners can also be designed asymmetrically.

[0018] The base frame can be designed with just two outer runners or with one center runner and two outer runners. The center runner and the two outer runners can be arranged parallel to each other. The center runner can then be positioned between the two outer runners. If the runners are symmetrical, the two outer runners can be identical. This simplifies the manufacture of the base frame.

[0019] The center skid can form a central foot of the base frame. The central foot can be formed, for example, by the central foot being embossed into the center skid. The center skid can then be formed with an arched or roof-shaped central foot in its center. For example, the central foot can be formed by two legs that deviate from a longitudinal extension of the center skid, thus forming a U- or V-shaped elevation of the center skid. Two opposing center feet can be connected to each other via a floor cross member, or the floor cross member can form the two opposing center feet. The floor cross member can be designed in the manner of a skid as a one-piece deep-drawn body made of sheet metal and have stiffening beads. The floor cross member can be designed to connect two opposing center feet, which in turn are designed as one-piece deep-drawn bodies made of sheet metal.The base cross member is then comparatively flat. Alternatively, the base cross member can form the two opposing central feet by having central foot bodies at their respective longitudinal ends, which in turn have a U-shaped or V-shaped cross-section relative to a longitudinal axis of the central runner. The respective central foot can then be formed with a base wall, an outer leg wall, and an inner leg wall. The base wall and the leg walls can be formed at axial end regions of the central foot in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the central foot and form a U-shaped edge web.

[0020] A central leg of the base frame can be directly connected to the base cross member by means of a detachable connection. A cup-like recess extending toward the central leg can be formed in the base cross member. This allows the weight of the inner container to be advantageously transferred to the central leg via the base cross member. The detachable connection can be a screw connection, for example. The screw connection can be simply implemented using a single, central sheet metal screw.

[0021] It is therefore also advantageous if a positive-locking anti-twist device is formed between the central foot and the floor cross member. This can prevent the central skid, which is screwed to the floor cross member, from moving or twisting relative to the floor cross member. The position of the central skid relative to the floor cross member can then be securely fixed so that the central skid can be pre-assembled with the floor cross member. The anti-twist device can be implemented cost-effectively, for example, by means of tabs formed in the central skid that engage in holes in the floor cross member or vice versa. The tabs can be formed by embossing and the holes by punching. If the central skid and the floor cross member are manufactured by deep drawing, the tabs or holes can be formed without any further work step during the deep drawing process.

[0022] The center skid can be welded to a center leg and directly bolted to a cup-shaped center leg formed by the floor opposite the cup-shaped center leg. The center skid can be welded to the center leg, for example, using resistance butt welding. The center leg can then be firmly fixed to one end of the center skid, so that the center skid, together with the center leg, forms a substructure of the base frame. If the floor is designed with a cup-shaped center leg, i.e., the center leg is molded into the floor, the floor or the center leg formed therein can simply be bolted to the center skid during assembly of the base frame.

[0023] The outer runners can be welded to the corner feet and / or the center feet. For example, it can be provided to weld the outer runners by resistance butt welding. The outer runners can be connected to the corner feet by means of, for example, two, preferably four weld points. The corner feet can thus be arranged securely and immovably on the outer runners. Furthermore, the center feet can also be welded to the outer runners by means of at least two weld points. If the center feet are formed by a floor cross member, a component group consisting of corner feet, center feet and outer runners can be formed, which can be formed and handled in just a few work steps as part of a manufacturing process for the subframe. Furthermore, the connections between the floor and the corner feet and the center feet can be designed as detachable connections.The subframe can then be constructed from two or three assemblies, which are combined to form the subframe in a final assembly step. One assembly can, for example, consist of outer skids with corner feet, center feet, and a base cross member; another assembly can consist of a center skid with a center foot; and a third assembly can consist of the base, with the base also forming a center foot. If the connections between the corner feet, center feet, and runners are formed by welding, the corner feet and center feet can be precisely positioned or fixed in their intended position for connection to the base. This makes it easy to screw the base to the corner feet and center feet in a final assembly step. This screw connection can also be carried out in such a way that the outer shell of a transport and storage container is screwed together with these screws at the same time.

[0024] The runners can form the corner feet and / or the center feet of the base frame. In this case, it is no longer necessary to connect the corner feet and / or the center feet to the runners. The corner feet and / or the center feet can be formed, for example, by having the corner feet and / or the center feet embossed into outer runners. The respective runner can then be formed with an arched or roof-shaped center foot in its center. For example, the corner feet can each be formed by two legs that deviate from a longitudinal extension of the runner, thus forming a U- or V-shaped elevation of the runner.

[0025] The outer edges of the support surface of the runners can be designed such that the outer edges are laterally projected over at least in sections by the corner feet and the underframe can be inserted with the outer edges within an inner edge of an upper frame profile of the outer shell of the transport and storage container. The underframe is then designed such that a transport and storage container provided with the underframe can be stacked with other essentially similar transport and storage containers. The runners can be designed such that an upper transport and storage container is centered on a lower transport and storage container or the underframe of the upper transport and storage container is centered on an upper frame profile of the lower transport and storage container.Because the skids can then be inserted, at least in sections, within the inner edge of the upper frame profile, horizontal movement of the upper transport and storage container on the lower transport and storage container can be essentially prevented. The skids thus fit within the inner edges with their outer edges in such a way that a positive fit can be achieved in a horizontal direction.

[0026] The transport and storage container for liquids according to the invention is designed with an inner container made of plastic with four side walls, a lower and an upper base, a closable filler neck formed on the upper base, and an outlet neck formed on the lower section of a side wall with a discharge fitting, as well as an outer shell made of metal, preferably designed as a grid, for receiving the inner container and a pallet-like base frame according to the invention. Further embodiments of a transport and storage container emerge from the feature descriptions of the subclaims referring back to claim 1.

[0027] A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0028] They show:

[0029] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a transport and storage container in an isometric view; Fig. 2 shows an assembly of a base frame of the transport and storage container from Fig. 1 in an isometric view;

[0030] Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the undercarriage from Fig. 1;

[0031] Fig. 4 an outer skid of the undercarriage from Fig. 3 in isometric view;

[0032] Fig. 5 shows a central skid of the undercarriage from Fig. 3 in an isometric view;

[0033] Fig. 6 a detailed view of the center skid from Fig. 5;

[0034] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the center skid of Fig. 5;

[0035] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the outer runner of Fig. 4;

[0036] Fig. 9 a detailed view of the base frame from Fig. 3;

[0037] Fig. 10 a second detailed view of the base frame from Fig. 3;

[0038] Fig. 11 a third detailed view of the base frame from Fig. 3;

[0039] Fig. 12 a fourth detailed view of the base frame from Fig. 3;

[0040] Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the base frame of Fig. 3;

[0041] Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a stacking arrangement of transport and storage containers according to Fig. 1.

[0042] 1 to 14 shows a transport and storage container 10 for liquids with a pallet-like base frame 11. The transport and storage container 10 is designed with an inner container 12 made of plastic with four side walls 13, 14, 15, 16, a lower base 17 and an upper base 18, a closable filler neck 19 formed on the upper base 18 and an outlet neck 20 formed on the lower section of a side wall 13 with a removal fitting 21 and an outer shell 23 made of metal in the form of a grid 22 for receiving the inner container 12 and the pallet-like base frame 11. The outer shell 23 is designed with an upper frame profile 24 and a lower frame profile 25, which is screwed to the pallet-like base frame 11.

[0043] Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of the base frame 11, which consists of a base 26 for supporting the inner container 12 accommodated in the outer casing 23, and of corner feet 27, center feet 28, 29, 30, a central foot 31, two outer skids 32, a center skid 33, and a base cross member 34. The base frame 11 is made entirely of metal here. Fig. 2 shows an assembly 35 that does not include the base 26.

[0044] A combination of Figures 4 and 8 shows one of the outer skids 32 which is formed with stiffening beads 36 with webs 27. The webs 37 run between upper chords 38 and lower chords 39 of the stiffening beads 36. The lower chords 39 each form a contact surface 40 of the undercarriage 11, which usually comes to rest on a surface not shown here. Furthermore, the outer skid 32 is formed in sections with an edge web 41. The height of the outer skid 32 above the contact surface 40 is reduced in a section 42. In section 42, the edge web 41 is also interrupted. Section 42 thus forms a threshold 43 for, for example, a pallet truck. Furthermore, welding bosses 44 and 45 are formed in the outer runner 32 to form a welded connection with the corner feet 27 and the center feet 28, respectively.

[0045] A combination of Figures 5, 6 and 7 shows the central skid 33, which is also formed with stiffening beads 46. Here, too, webs 47 run between upper chords 48 and lower chords 49, which in turn form the contact surface 40 of the undercarriage 11. In a section 50, the height of the central skid 33 is reduced compared to the contact surface 40, so that a drive-over threshold 51 is formed. Furthermore, the central skid 33 has welding bosses 52, which serve to weld the central skid 33 to the central foot 29. The central skid 33 also forms the U-shaped central foot 31. The central foot 31 is formed by two legs 53 of the central skid 33, which extend to a horizontal section 54. In the horizontal section 54 or the upper chords 48, tabs 55 and a central through opening 56 are formed.

[0046] Fig. 9 shows the corner foot 27 with the outer skid 32 in an assembly configuration with welding points 57 formed on the welding projections 44.

[0047] Fig. 10 shows the outer runner 32 with a center leg 28, which, like the opposite center leg 28, is formed integrally with the floor cross member 34. Here, weld bosses 45 are connected to the center leg 28 by welding points 58.

[0048] Figure 11 shows the center skid 33 in an assembled configuration with the center foot 29, which is formed as a single piece here. Weld bosses 52 of the center skid 33 are connected to the center foot 29 via weld points 59.

[0049] Fig. 12 shows an assembly configuration of the center skid 33 with the base 26, wherein the base 26 is formed with the cup-shaped center foot 30 embossed into the base 26. Here, a screw connection 60 with a screw (not shown in detail) is formed between the center skid 33 and the center foot 30. Furthermore, the base 26 is also screwed to the corner feet 27 and the center feet 28 and 29.

[0050] Fig. 13 shows the central skid 33 in a cross-sectional view at the horizontal section 54 together with the floor cross member 34 in an assembled configuration. The floor cross member 34 is formed with an arc 61 facing away from the floor 26. Two through-openings 62 are formed in the floor cross member 34, into which the tabs 55 are inserted. Furthermore, a screw 63 is screwed through the through-opening 56 of the central skid 33 into a tulip 64 in a center of the floor cross member 34. Because the tabs 55 are inserted into the through-openings 62, a positive-locking anti-twist device 65 is formed.

[0051] Fig. 14 shows a partial sectional view of a stacking arrangement 66 of transport and storage containers 10. In particular, outer edges 67 of the support surface 40 are designed such that it is inserted within an inner edge 68 of the upper frame profile 24. The upper frame profile 24 or its flattened upper side 69 serves here for

[0052] Support of an underside 70 of the corner feet 27 or the center feet 28 and 29.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Pallet-like base frame (11) for a transport and storage container (10) for liquids, wherein the base frame has a base (26) for supporting an inner container (12) accommodated in an outer casing (23) made of metal, preferably designed as a grid (22), as well as corner feet (27) and central feet (28, 29, 30), characterized in that the corner feet and the central feet are arranged on runners (32, 33) and connect the runners to the base, wherein the runners each form a contact surface (40) and are made of sheet metal.

2. Underframe according to claim 1, characterized in that the runners (32, 33) are formed with stiffening beads (36, 46) running along the runners, wherein the stiffening beads form lower chords (39, 49) which form the contact surface (40).

3. Underframe according to claim 2, characterized in that the stiffening beads (36, 46) are formed with webs (37, 47) which run between upper chords (38, 48) and the lower chords (39, 49) of the stiffening beads.

4. Underframe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the runners (32, 33) are formed at least in sections with an edge web (41).

5. Underframe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the runners (32, 33) are formed at least in sections with a crossing threshold (43, 51) and / or a starting slope which is reduced in a height of the respective runner above the contact surface (40).

6. Base frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the corner feet, center feet and / or the base are made of metal.

7. Underframe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the runners (32, 33) are each formed with welding bosses (44, 45, 52) and / or with through-openings of a screw connection with the corner feet and the center feet.

8. Underframe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the corner feet (27) and / or the runners (32, 33) are designed as one-piece deep-drawn bodies made of sheet metal.

9. Underframe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the runners (32, 33) are symmetrical.

10. Underframe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the underframe (11) is designed with two outer runners (32) or with a central runner (33) and two outer runners (32).

11. Underframe according to claim 10, characterized in that the central runner (33) forms a central foot (31) of the underframe (11).

12. Underframe according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that two opposite central feet are connected to one another via a floor cross member or that the floor cross member (24) forms the two opposite central feet (28).

13. Underframe according to claim 12, characterized in that a central foot (31) of the underframe (11) is directly connected to the floor cross member (24) by means of a detachable connection.

14. Underframe according to claim 13, characterized in that that a positive-locking anti-twist device (65) is formed between the central foot (31) and the floor cross member (24).

15. Underframe according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the central runner (33) is welded to a central foot (29) and is directly screwed to a cup-shaped central foot (30) formed by the base (26) opposite the latter.

16. Underframe according to one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the outer runners (32) are welded to the corner feet (27) and / or the central feet (28).

17. Underframe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connections of the floor (26) to the corner feet (273) and the center feet (28, 29, 30) are designed as detachable connections.

18. Underframe according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the runners form the corner feet and / or the center feet of the underframe.

19. Underframe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that outer edges (67) of the contact surface (40) of the runners (32, 33) are designed in such a way that the outer edges are laterally projected over at least in sections by the corner feet (27) and the underframe (11) with the outer edges within an inner edge (68) of a nes upper frame profile (24) of the outer shell (23) of the transport and storage container (10).

20. Transport and storage container (10) for liquids with an inner container (12) made of plastic with four side walls (13, 14, 15, 16), a lower and an upper base (17, 18), a closable filler neck (19) formed on the upper base and an outlet neck (20) formed on the lower section of a side wall (13) with a removal fitting (21) and an outer casing (23) made of metal, preferably designed as a grid (22), for receiving the inner container and a pallet-like base frame (11) according to one of the preceding claims.

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