Transport container for scaffolding elements

Abstract

A transport container (1) for scaffolding components comprises a flat base element (2) and posts (3) extending from the base element (2) on both sides of a vertical central plane (M), defining a storage space (32) for the scaffolding components between them. Each post (3) has a connection (29) for a crane sling adjacent to its upper end. The posts (3) are detachably plug-in connected to connections (9) of the base element (2) and, when plug-in connected to the connections (9), are positively locked to the base element (2) in the plug-in direction and can be fixed without play in at least one direction perpendicular to the central plane (M) by means of connecting elements (23) that are adjustable transversely to the plug-in direction.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport container for the efficient transport of scaffolding components, typically between a depot and a construction site where the scaffolding components are used.

[0002] DE 94 19 469 U1 discloses a transport container with a flat, rectangular base element and posts projecting from the corners of the base element. The scaffolding components, namely uprights, are stacked on the base element in such a way that their ends project longitudinally beyond the edge of the base element and are prevented from falling laterally by the posts flanking it on both sides. Eyelets projecting beyond the tips of the posts are attached to these eyelets, allowing a crane to be attached. This enables the transport containers to be quickly loaded onto a truck at the depot and unloaded from the truck at the construction site using a crane. Once unloaded, the transport container cannot be moved without assistance; the uprights must therefore be individually unloaded from the transport container and transported to their installation points, which are several meters apart.The same applies to other scaffolding components such as baseboards, longitudinal or diagonal struts, if these have been brought to the construction site in a transport container of this known type.

[0003] After unloading, the transport containers should be removed from the construction site so as not to be an obstruction; however, the required cargo space for this is only slightly less than that of the loaded transport containers.

[0004] From DE 195 14 136A1, another transport container is known, comprising a base element and posts extending from the edges of the base element. The posts are inserted into upwardly open sockets in the base element and, after the transport container has been unloaded, can be pulled out of the sockets and laid flat on the base element. In this state, several of these transport containers can be stacked to save space, allowing them to be transported with minimal effort or left on the construction site. Since lifting the transport container by attaching a crane sling to the posts, as known from DE 94 19 469 U1, is not possible here, such eyelets are attached to the base element. When the transport container is lifted with a crane sling attached to these eyelets, the crane's upwardly converging chains press against the scaffolding components stacked inside the transport container.Since beams and struts in particular are essentially only designed for loads in the longitudinal direction, the transverse forces exerted by the chains can bend and thus damage the scaffolding components.

[0005] If the scaffolding components are beams that are stacked horizontally and essentially fill the entire width of the transport container, they are subjected to pressure from two sides by the chains. This makes unloading the beams from the transport container while suspended impossible. However, even with narrower scaffolding components such as baseboards or struts, the tension exerted by the laterally pressing chains makes unloading the suspended transport container difficult or even dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to first lower the transport container to the ground and then, with considerable effort and physical exertion, move the scaffolding components individually from the container to their respective installation points.

[0006] One object of the invention is therefore to create a transport container for scaffolding components that can be transported in a space-saving manner when unloaded and in which the scaffolding components are safe from damage by a crane.

[0007] Another task is to create a transport container that can be safely unloaded while suspended.

[0008] The problem is solved by providing a transport container for scaffolding components with a flat base element and posts extending from the base element on both sides of a vertical central plane, defining a storage space for the scaffolding components between them, each post having a connection for a crane rigging adjacent to an upper end, in which the posts are detachably plug-in connected to connections of the base element and, in the plug-in connected state, can be fixed to the base element in the plug-in direction in a form-fitting manner and without play in at least one direction perpendicular to the central plane.The positive locking in the insertion direction ensures that the posts cannot be separated from the connections of the base element by an attached crane rigging; the freedom of play ensures that the upper ends of the posts, when suspended from the crane rigging, cannot move towards each other and thereby put pressure on scaffolding components stacked between them.

[0009] The connecting elements can be, in particular, screws that extend through overlapping holes in the posts and the base element. If the screws extend in a direction perpendicular to the center plane, the required tightness can be achieved by tightening the screws.

[0010] At least one, preferably each, connection may have at least two connecting elements to ensure that even if one of them fails, the post cannot detach from the connection.

[0011] The base elements of several transport containers, once freed from their posts, should be stackable. The base elements can be shaped such that two stacked elements define a gap providing space for the posts of a transport container, preferably lying flat and detached from their connections. In particular, the lower of the two base elements can have vertical stop surfaces that engage in or define the gap, preventing a post from slipping out.

[0012] The connections are preferably designed as upwardly open sockets into which a post can be inserted up to a stop. Since the sockets can extend essentially below the loading surface of the base element, the overall height of the base element can be kept low, which allows for good utilization of loading space when transporting both the loaded transport containers and the stacked base elements.

[0013] The stop is preferably formed by an upper edge of the bushing, on which a stop surface of the post rests. Such a stop surface can, in particular, be formed by a lower edge of one of two telescopically nested tube sections of the post.

[0014] To facilitate fixing the post to the base element by inserting the connecting element, a hole in the post and a hole in the bushing should be aligned in the stop position.

[0015] The socket of a floor element can have a horizontal upper edge on which, when stacked, the next higher floor element can be supported.

[0016] To facilitate the stacking of the floor elements, an apron extending above the top edge of the socket can be attached to one outside side.

[0017] To facilitate the installation of a screw as a connecting element, the post's bore can have a screw thread. The screw thread can be cut into a wall plate of the bushing, or formed by a nut pre-mounted on an opening of the wall plate, in particular a nut soldered or welded to the wall plate or a cage nut snapped into the opening.

[0018] When connected, the upper ends of the posts can form apex surfaces on which an identical second transport container can be stacked. To enable quick and safe stacking of the transport containers, at least some of the posts should have a skirt extending beyond the apex surface at one edge.

[0019] The base element typically comprises a rectangular frame made of horizontal profiles. To provide the connections with the necessary resistance to a bending force acting horizontally on the posts, preferably two of these profiles are attached to each connection. The profiles can include a top surface and bearing surfaces that engage below the top surface in an opening in the frame defined by the profiles, and on which a base plate filling the opening can be placed. The base plate can be omitted as long as the transport container is only used for scaffold components that project beyond the base element on two sides; it may be necessary for transporting smaller components, as explained in more detail below.

[0020] The transport container can also include at least one storage divider, which is detachably mounted on the base element at a smaller distance from the center plane than the uprights, to create compartments for different types of scaffolding components. This reduces the number of transport containers that need to be present on a construction site at any one time to erect a scaffold. Since the maximum number of scaffolding components of the same type that can be contained in the transport container is reduced, the average distance that the scaffolding components have to be transported from the transport container to their installation location on the construction site is also reduced. The number of components of different types that can be stored in the compartments should be coordinated so that the contents of one transport container are sufficient to erect a predetermined number of scaffold units without any components being left over.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1 an empty transport container in perspective view; Fig. 2 a base element of the transport container in perspective view; Fig. 3 a post of the transport container in longitudinal section; Fig. 4 a detail of the post in its secured state on the base element; Fig. 5 the floor element with detachably mounted rollers in a side view; Fig. 6 a console of the floor element made of Fig. 5 in perspective view; Fig. 7 Parts of a wall that can be mounted to the posts of the transport container; and Fig. 8 a small parts container for attachment to the post of the transport container.

[0022] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a transport container 1 for scaffolding components according to the present invention. The transport container comprises a base element 2 with a rectangular, preferably square, base area, posts 3 detachably attached to the corners of the base element 2, and upright rods 4 detachably attached to two opposite edges of the base element 2.

[0023] A loading platform 5 of the base element 2 is formed by several square tubes 6, 7, 8. The square tubes are connected to each other to form a ladder-like frame, with the square tubes 6 forming stiles and the square tubes 7, 8 forming rungs connecting the stiles of the ladder. At the corners of the frame are upwardly open sockets 9, which are welded to one of the square tubes 6 and 7 near the upper ends of two of their side walls. Fig. 1 The posts 3 are inserted into the sockets 9; Fig. 2 shows the sockets 9 without the posts 3 inside.

[0024] The loading platform 5 is held apart from the ground by four feet 10. Each foot 10 is in the form of a flat, upright cuboid with a central opening 11. A horizontal profile element 12 extends beneath the opening 11 and two columns flanking the opening 11 of each foot 10. Of the two vertical columns, one is formed by the bushing 9; the other is a tube section 13, the lower end of which rests on the profile element 12 and the upper end of which supports one of the square tubes 6.

[0025] The height of the feet 10 is dimensioned so that the forks of a conventional forklift can enter the passages 11 from a first direction to lift and transport the transport container, or they can enter between two feet 10 from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0026] The top surfaces of the square tubes 7 define a horizontal loading plane 14. Support surfaces 15 in the form of horizontal ribs on the facing sides of the square tubes 7, 8 are provided to support base plates that can fill the openings between the square tubes 6, 7, 8 if necessary. Such a base plate 16 is shown with a dashed line in Fig.1 The thickness of the base plates 16 is dimensioned such that their upper surfaces lie in the loading level 14 when the base plates 16 are placed on the support surfaces 15.

[0027] Again referring to Fig. 2 The side walls of each bushing 9 have two pairs of opposite bores 17, 18 at the same height.

[0028] As particularly in Fig. 3 As can be seen, each post 3 comprises two telescopically nested and welded square tube sections 19, 20. The lower tube section 19 has the smaller cross-section of the two; this is dimensioned such that the lower tube section 19 can be inserted into the bushing 3 with minimal play up to a stop; the stop is defined by the lower edge 24 of the upper tube section 20 abutting the upper edge of the bushing 3. The upper tube section 20 and the bushing 3 can have the same cross-section.

[0029] The lower pipe section 19, like the bushing, has pairs of opposing bores 21, 22 at the same height, which align with the bores 17, 18 of the bushing when the post 3 is inserted fully into the bushing. To secure the post 3 in the bushing 9, a screw 23 can be inserted through the two bores 18 and 22 of the bushing and secured with a nut; for safety reasons, a second screw 23 can also pass through the bores 18, 22. Alternatively, and as shown in Fig. 4 As shown, the bores 21 and / or 22 of the post 3 can be provided with an internal thread that fits an external thread 25 of the screw 20, and the length of the external thread 25 is dimensioned such that it only engages with the internal thread of the bore 18 or 19 that faces the head of the screw 23. Thus, by tightening the screw 23, the lower tube section 19 is pressed firmly and without play against a side wall of the bushing 9, and tilting of the post 3 in the bushing 9 is prevented.

[0030] To guarantee a uniform insertion depth of the posts 3 into the sockets 9 and thus a precise overlap of the bores 17, 18 and 21, 22, the welding of the pipe sections 19, 20 should not take place at the lower edge of the upper pipe section 20. Therefore, in the overlap area of ​​the pipe sections 19, 20 above the lower edge 24, several windows 48 are cut into the upper pipe section 20, and the pipe sections 19, 20 are welded together along the edges of these windows 48.

[0031] The function of further windows 49 and slots 50 in the upper part of the posts will be discussed later. A cover plate 27 is attached along a horizontal upper edge 26 of the upper tube section 20 at its upper end. The cover plate 27 lies exactly above the socket 9, so that several transport containers 1 can be stacked on top of each other by placing the sockets 9 of one of the upper transport containers onto the cover plates 27 of the next lower one. To facilitate placement, a skirt 28, projecting above the upper edge 26, is attached to each pair of edges of the cover plate 27 facing the outside of the container 1. The skirt 28 comprises two wall sections that diverge upwards at an angle, so that when a foot 10 of a transport container 1 to be stacked on top of it strikes the skirt, the foot 10 is continuously deflected to the side so that its socket 9 ultimately lies exactly above the cover plate 23.

[0032] In the parts of the walls that extend above the top edge 26, eyelets 29 are formed for hooking a crane rigging.

[0033] Referring again to Fig. 1 The rods 4 each have an inverted U-shaped retaining bracket 30 at their lower end, which in the view of the Fig. 1 is placed over one of the square tubes 7 and can be fixed by means of a screw that passes through bores 31 in the retaining bracket 30 and under the square tube 7. In the illustration of the Fig. 1 Two pairs of bars 4 divide a storage space 32, bounded by the loading platform 14 and the posts 3, symmetrically about a central plane defined by two orthogonal dashed lines M into three compartments 33. The width of each compartment is dimensioned such that one compartment 33 can accommodate, for example, beams for scaffolding, another floor planks, and the third braces and railing components in quantities that are coordinated such that the components contained in the transport container 1 are sufficient to erect scaffolding of a given size without leaving any components unused. These various scaffolding components are all longer than the square tubes 6; they therefore project beyond the square tubes 7 of the scaffolding of each transport container 1 on both sides.

[0034] Transport containers 1 can be loaded with the required quantities of various types of scaffolding components at a scaffolding company's facility and stacked in this space-saving manner before use. When scaffolding is to be erected at a construction site, transport containers with the required number of components are transferred, for example with the help of a crane, to one or more transport vehicles, typically trucks.

[0035] A crane rigging system used for this purpose typically comprises four chains of equal length, attached to the same point on the crane bridge, with hooks at their free ends for engagement with the eyelets 29. When a transport container 1 is lifted and the chains of the crane rigging system become taut, they exert a force on the posts 3 directed towards the center of the storage space 32. Due to their fixation in the bushings 9, the posts 3 cannot yield to this force to any significant extent; therefore, the scaffolding components between the posts do not become stressed.

[0036] When a transport vehicle loaded with transport containers 1 arrives at a construction site, the transport containers 1 must be unloaded. A forklift can be used for this purpose, with its forks extending under the loading platform 14; preferably, a crane sling as described above is used to attach the transport containers to a construction crane and lift them from the vehicle.

[0037] In the simplest case, the transport containers 1 can be positioned along the planned scaffolding route in such a way that the components contained in one transport container 1 are sufficient to erect the scaffolding up to the next container 1. This keeps the distances that each individual component has to travel by hand from container 1 to its point of use short, and allows the scaffolding to be erected efficiently and cost-effectively.

[0038] Since the unloading time for a transport container 1 according to the invention, which contains various types of scaffolding components, is significantly shorter than for a transport container which, with the same storage space 32, contains only components of the same type, an unloading process is also possible in which the transport container 1 remains on the forklift or crane during the unloading of the scaffolding components and is continuously moved. In this way, a transport container 1 can be unloaded in a very short time and with little effort if a set of components required for a scaffolding unit is unloaded at a stopping point, and then the steps of moving the transport container by the length of the scaffolding unit and unloading a set of components are repeated until the transport container 1 is empty.Since the eyelets 29, to which the crane gear attaches, are located above the storage space 32, and the rigidity and firm anchoring of the posts 3 in the bushings 9 protect the components in the storage space 32 from being subjected to tension, safe unloading is possible even with the transport container 1 suspended.

[0039] Application situations frequently arise where crane transport to the immediate vicinity of the planned erection site of the scaffolding is not possible. In order to be able to move the transport container 1 without mechanical assistance in such a case, 10 supports are attached to its feet as shown in the diagram. Fig. 5 The casters shown are 34 mountable. The In Fig. 5 The caster 34 shown is part of a standard swivel caster unit 35, together with a fork 36 defining the axis of rotation of the caster 34 and a base plate 37 against which the fork 36 can be rotated about a vertical axis. The base plate 37, in turn, is attached to a bracket 39 by means of screws 38, which is located in Fig. 6 shown in perspective view.

[0040] The console 39 consists of several steel plates welded together. One of these is a base plate 40, which has holes 41 at its four corners for receiving the screws 38. Parallel side wall plates 42 extend from the base plate; the distance between them is just wide enough to accommodate a foot 10. A connecting plate 43 is attached to the edges of the side wall plates 42 that are perpendicular to the base plate 40. A gap 44 is left between the connecting plate 43 and the base plate 40 to allow foreign objects to escape from the space between the side wall plates 41 when a foot 10 is inserted therein. A support plate 45 is arranged on a lower edge of the connecting plate 42, projecting horizontally into the space between the side wall plates 41 to support the foot 10 placed between them.The support plate 45 is separated from the side walls 42 by a gap 46, through which any dirt adhering to the base 10 can escape.

[0041] The bores 47 in the side wall plates 41 are positioned such that when the console 39 is positioned on the foot 10 with its socket 9 resting against the connecting plate 43 and its underside resting on the support plate 45, a cylindrical locking pin 51 inserted into the bores 47 passes through the opening 11 of the foot 10 and rests against its socket 9 and / or the profile element 12. Known means such as a cotter pin, a screwed-on nut, or the like can be used to fix the locking pin 51 in the bores 47.

[0042] If the transport container 1 needs to be placed at a different location than where it is to be unloaded, a roller 34 can be conveniently attached to each of its feet 10 using the brackets 39 before placement, and the transport container 1 can then be rolled to the unloading location.

[0043] After unloading, the screws 23 can be removed from the bores 17 and 21, 18 and 22, and 31, the posts 3 can be pulled out of the bushings 3, and the rods 4 can be detached from the square tube 7. If the posts 3 and rods 4 are then placed between the stops 68 projecting from the square tubes 6, parallel to the square tubes 7 and 8, and another base element 2 can be stacked on the now free upper ends of the bushings 9, guide elements 69 can be provided to facilitate stacking. Fig. 2 These are short angle profiles that are attached to the sides of the bushings 9 facing away from the square tubes 6, 7 and project beyond their upper edges. Stacked on top of each other, the disassembled transport containers 1 can be efficiently and cost-effectively returned to the depot.

[0044] In order to make the transport container 1 according to the invention usable for small components, not only must the openings of the loading area 5 be closed by the base plates 16 as already mentioned; side walls are also needed to prevent the components from falling out. Fig. 7 Figure 52 shows such a side wall, which consists of an upper part 53 and a lower part 54. Both enclose a surrounding frame, which here is filled with a grid; a closed-wall construction would, of course, also be possible. Two cranked arms 70 extend from the frame of the lower part 54 on both sides, shaped to engage in the windows 49 of two posts 3 flanking the lower part 54 and mounted in sockets 9 of a base element 2. Tenons 55 of two separable hinges are mounted along an upper edge of the lower part 54, the complementary sleeves 56 of which are located on a lower edge of the upper part 53. When the lower part 54 is hooked onto the post 3, the hinge allows movement of the upper part 53 between a closed position, in which it extends the lower part 54 flush upwards, and an open position, in which it hangs down in front of the lower part 54.

[0045] In order to be able to fix the upper part 53 in the closed position, at least one, preferably two, pivotable latches 58 are attached to the upper part 53, here to a hollow profile 57 of its frame. Fig. 7 Figure 58 shows such a latch 58 in a position offset from the upper part 53 along its pivot axis. The latch 58 is formed by an L-shaped bent sheet metal blank. One leg 59 of the blank is designed to be pivotally fixed to an outer side of the upper part 53 facing away from the storage space of the container 1 by a screw (not shown) running along the pivot axis; the other leg 60 extends laterally past the upper part 53 in this state to its side facing the storage space. A hook at its tip engages in the slot 50 of the adjacent post 3 in the closed position, thus securing the upper part 53 in the closed position. If the transport container 1 is fitted with side walls in this manner on all four sides, it can be loaded to the top with small parts.To unlock the latch 58 and fold down the top part 53, it is sufficient to press the distal end of the leg 59 downwards.

[0046] To unload container 1, the locking mechanism can be released by pressing down the distal end of leg 59 and the top part 53 can be folded down.

[0047] Fig. 8Figure 1 shows a small parts container 61, which can be mounted laterally projecting onto the posts 3 of the transport container 1 if required. The small parts container 61 has a prismatic, here essentially cuboid, shape. Two end walls 62 of the container 61, corresponding to the end faces of the prism, have projecting hooks 63 on one edge, shaped like the latch 59, to be engaged in windows 49 or slots 50 of two posts 3. The end walls 62 are connected to each other by two longitudinal walls 64, 65 and a base plate 66.The height of the longitudinal walls 64, 65 is dimensioned such that when the container 61 is suspended in the upper two windows 49 of a pair of posts 3, the lower windows 49 remain free and can accommodate another container 61 of the same design, but that when it is suspended in the lower windows 49, the base plate 66 does not lie lower than the lower edge of the square tube 6 or 7, so that a transport container 1 loaded with one or more small parts containers 61 can be picked up and transported with a forklift without any small parts container 61 being dislodged.

[0048] Eyelets 67, similar to the eyelets 29 of the posts, are distributed at the upper corners of the small parts container 61. These enable crane transport of the insulated small parts container 61 or the use of a crane when attaching and detaching the small parts container 61 from the transport container 1. Reference sign

[0049] 1 Transport container 2 Base element 3 Post 4 Rod 5 Loading platform 6 Square tube 7 Square tube 8 Square tube 9 Bushing 10 Foot 11 Passage 12 Profile element 13 Tube section 14 Loading level 15 Support surface 16 Base plate 17 Bore 18 Bore 19 Square tube section 20 Square tube section 21 Bore 22 Bore 23 Screw 24 Lower edge 25 External thread 26 Top edge 27 Cover plate 28 Apron 29 Eyelet 30 Retaining bracket 31 Bore 32 Storage space 33 Compartment 34 Roller 35 Swivel caster unit 36 ​​Fork 37 Base plate 38 Screw 39 Console 40 Base plate 41 Bore 42 Side wall plate 43 Connecting plate 44 Gap 45 Support plate 46 Gap 47 Bore 48 Window 49 Window 50 Slot 51 Locking pin 52 Side wall 53 Top part 54 Bottom part 55 Pin 56 Sleeve 57 Hollow profile 58 Latch 59 Leg 60 Leg 61 Small parts container 62 End wall 63 Hook 64 Longitudinal wall 65 Longitudinal wall 66 Base plate 67 Eyelet 68 Stop 69 Guide element 70 Arm

Claims

1. Transport container (1) for scaffolding components with a flat base element (2) and with posts (3) extending from the base element (2) on both sides of a vertical central plane, defining a storage space (32) for the scaffolding components between them, each having a connection (29) for a crane rigging adjacent to an upper end, characterized by the fact that the posts (3) are detachably plugged into the connections of the base element (2) and, in the plugged-in state, can be fixed to the base element (2) in the plugging direction in a form-fitting manner and without play in at least one direction perpendicular to the central plane (M) by means of connecting elements adjustable transversely to the plugging direction.

2. Transport container according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatthe connecting elements are screws (23) which extend through overlapping bores (21, 22; 17, 18) of the posts (3) and the base element (2), optionally extending in the direction perpendicular to the central plane (M).

3. Transport container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least two connecting elements (23) are provided at at least one connection.

4. Transport container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the base element (2) is a first base element (2) on which a second base element (2) identical in construction to the first base element (2) can be stacked, wherein an interval bounded by the two stacked base elements (2) is dimensioned to accommodate the posts (3) in a state detached from the connections, and wherein optionally the first base element (2) has vertical stop surfaces (68) engaging in or bounding the interval, which prevent a post (3) from escaping from the interval.

5. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the connections are designed as upwardly open sockets (9) into which a post (3) can be inserted up to a stop, the stop being optionally defined by the contact of the post (3) with an upper edge of the socket (9).

6. Transport container according to claim 5, wherein a bore (21, 22) of the post (3) and a bore (17, 18) of the bushing (9) are aligned with each other in the stop position.

7. Transport container according to claim 6, wherein the bushing (9) comprises a horizontal upper edge and a skirt (69) extending above the upper edge is attached to an outside of the bushing (9).

8. Transport container according to claim 2, 6 or 7, wherein the bore (21, 22) of the post (3) has a screw thread.

9. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the plug-connected state upper ends of the posts (3) have cover plates (27) on which a structurally identical second transport container (1) can be stacked, and wherein at least some of the posts (3) have a skirt (28) extending beyond the cover plate (27) attached to an edge of the cover plate (27).

10. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base element (2) comprises a rectangular frame made of horizontal supports (6, 7, 8), wherein optionally two (6, 7) of these supports are attached at each connection, and wherein optionally the supports (6, 7, 8) comprise a top surface (5) and bearing surfaces (15) which engage below the top surface (5) in an opening of the frame bounded by the supports (6, 7, 8) and on which a base plate (16) filling the opening can be placed.

11. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one storage divider which is detachably mounted on the base element (2) at a smaller distance from the central plane (M) than the posts (3), wherein optionally the storage divider comprises at least one, preferably two spaced-apart upright rods (4).

Images