A rack for cars in containers

Abstract

A rack for shipping cars in containers is disclosed comprising a platform 1, and lashing straps (23, Fig.3) to secure the car, the platform being raisable by lifting means, for example a forklift (FL

Description

A Car Rack for Containers In the field of shipping containers there is a large number of racks available for securing cars inside the container. The problems to yet be overcome are: > Cost of manufacture of the racks due to material weight and complexity. > Too many bits and pieces leading to losses or damage of one or more essential parts to the racks when assembling, delivering them to multiple destinations, dismantling them, packing them up for empty return, reassembling them. > Handlingof the empty racks with common small container forklift trucks (FLTs). > Handlingof the racks loaded with cars and lifting them up inside the container, manoeuvring them into place and securing them there with danger to personnel. A lightweight rack for shipping cars of any size and weight with minimal component parts, and which can be handled with FLTs would bean advantage. Prior art tends to have separate wheel frames to support the two axles of 4 wheels cars and two posts at each end of the frames to support the wheel frames. Typically, because cars are shaped as a trapezoidal box and not as rectangular box, when shipped in containers they are raised above the floor and tilted to an angle of about 20 degrees to the horizontal which allows a second carlo be slotted in underthe raised car. One pair of the four posts is thus typically lower than the other pair. The present invention offers a way to eliminate four tall heavy posts by providing a pair of anchor frames to take the major part of the longitudinal horizontal transport loads able to do this by being set at the lower height of a tilted platform, and by incorporating both wheel frames in the platform rather than having two separate wheel frames each needing strong and tall posts to support them. This technology results in not only removing heavy manual work to fit the posts but an estimate 20% of the total rack weight and thus cost. In a further embodiment the anchor frame can have built in a screwjack which does two things. It offers infinite height adjustment, and it is self-locking at any chose height due to friction within the screw thread and lift nut. With the elimination of heavy posts and being lighter weight, the invention makes the empty return packing very compact and levels of manual handlingof the parts very much easier and quicker. The present invention is as claimed in claim 1 being 1. A rack for containerising a car comprising a rectangular platform to which a caris lashed each end of the platform being raisable to above the container floor by lifting means and there be supported on supporting means characterised by there being two anchor frames fixed to the base of the container one on either side to support and engage with the platform by anchor engaging means and at the rear end of the raised platform two upright props located between the base and the platform the top ends of the props engaging with the rear end through prop engagement means to provide support of the rear end. 2. A rack as in claim 1 in which the two props provide only vertical support of the platform a. A rack as claimed in which all other support comes from the two anchor frames b. A rack as claimed in which longitudinal and vertical downward support is provided by lashing straps fixed between rack and container 3. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor engaging means includes one or more of a. Hooks on the platform engaging with a spigot on the post or vice versa to provide at least vertical support of the front end of the platform. b. height adjustable engagement position by • sliding shoe or • by bolting array of holes or • telescopic • jacking means c. engagement means including connectors as claimed in PCT / GB2023 000028 4. A rack as claimed herein in which the props include one or more a. pivotal connection at the bottom end to the base of the container b. adjustable height engagement to the platform by i. sliding shoe or ii. by bolting array of holes or iii. post being telescopic or iv. post fixed length but tilted to lower the height of the top or 5. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor frame can be located in a. At least partly the valley recess of the container side wall or b. proud of the sidewall corrugations c. blocking the path of the platform partly recessed or not 6. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor frame is fixed permanently or temporarily to the container by one or more of a. screwing or bolting to the floor, b. hooked or bolted to lashing hoops on the bottom side rail of the container, c. lashed to the top and / or bottom lashing hoops of the container by flexible ties and ratchets 7. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor engagement means can be set at chosen transport height before engagingthe platform to it, and / or be used at a lifting means wherein the lifting means for the front end of the platform is incorporated into the anchor frames 8. A rack as claimed herein in which the lifting means comprises one or other of a. jacks, screws, hydraulic, scissor lifts, chain hoists b. Purpose made trolley jack as per PCT / GB2023 000028 or 9. A rack as claimed herein in which the jack comprises a lift screw and nut driven by an electric motor hand held or installed the nut incorporatingthe anchor engagement means able to travel and / or lift the front of the platform from the container floor to a chosen height 10. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor frame incorporates jacking means comprising a screw and nut through friction or other means support the vertical loads imposed upon them by the platform during transport without loss of height 11. A rack as claimed in claim 1 in which the operation of the trolley jack with FLT tilting etc. is as claimed in PCT / GB2023 000028 12. A method of operation in which the a. anchor frames are fixed to the container b. platform is moved into the container until the engagement means engages with the anchor frame c. if required to do so the lifting means is operated to set the height of the front of the platform d. rear of the platform is raised or lowered to engage with the props e. additional lashings if required are tied between platform and / or car to the container lashing hoops. 13. A rack as claimed in claimed herein in which the anchor frame comprises two vertical posts tied to the top side rail by flexible ties to hold the top of the post in the fore and aft position and the bottom of the post being secured to the base by fixings to which the platform when raised is supported by engagement means the rear of the platform when raised being supported by props. a. Posts being flush with the container sidewall or b. Posts being recessed fully or partly in the valleys c. Posts including lifting means d. Posts including connectors as per PCT / GB2023 000028 A preferred embodiment of the rack is described herein. In Figure 1 there is seen an empty rack resting on the ground. An anchor frame 3 is stored lying down and nested within a rectangular platform 1 having longitudinal siderails 8, a front end 9 with a transverse wheel frame 25 able to support a pair of car wheels 24 (see Figure 3), a rear end 10 with a wheel frame 26 to supporta second pair of wheels 24 as in Figure 3, with props 40, 41 lying adjacent. Standing upright beside it for illustrative purposes is a second anchor frame 3. The platform has at the font end 9 a pair of rollers 7 which come into use as Figure 4 and 5 for supporting the front end 9 of the platform 1 when moving it along a floor. In this embodiment the front end 9 is seen a pair of downward facing hooks 6 whose engagement with the anchor frames will be described later. The anchor frame 3 comprises a post 37, diagonal stays 62, and beam 63. The post 37 can be any height but in the preferred embodiment it is about 1 m tall enough to suit the majority of cars to be containerised. Figure 7 shows the anchor frame in more detail. In Figure 2 there is seen a known steel container 11 cut away to show the interior use with the rack. Well known it has corrugated sidewalls 13, lashing hoops 14 located recessed in the valleys of the sidewalls welded to top rails 16 and bottom side rails 17, a closed front end wall 18 and twin doors 19 at the rear of the container. The load bearing base comprises bottom side rails 17 with a wooden floor 20 typically of plywood supported on a steel framework 33 seen in dotted line able to support 30 tonnes payload or more. Loading cargo in and out of containers is often carried out by small FLTs 21 about 1 m wide with a capacity rarely more than 3 tonnes avoiding greater loads on the FLT axles that might damage the floor 20. In Figure 3 platform 1 is seen with a car 64 indicated in dotted line loaded on it and lashed to it by known lashing straps 23 and ratchets 27 binding its wheels 24 to the wheel frames 25 and 26. Rollers 7 are seen at the front end. In Figure 4 there is seen a FLT 21 movingthe platform 1 (without a car 64) by lifting the rear end 10 of the platform so that the platform can be rolled on its rollers 7 along the floor 20 or other surface into container 11. Prior to the arrival of he platform with or without a car loaded on it, two anchor frames one on either side of the container are fixed to floor 20 and / or hoops 14. The longitudinal location of the anchor frames is calculated to optimise the number of cars that can be put in the container without them touching the front end wall 18 or other obstruction. Illustrate is the location of a screw drive 40 at the top of the post 37 the drive 40 being one means to raise or lowerthe engaging means which will engage with the hooks 6 incorporated in this embodiment when the platform 1 is moved between the anchor frames 3 as figures 5A,B,C,D. The screw 5 is suspended by the drive nut 39 which itself rests on a bearing 49 fixed to the top of the post 37 as seen in Figure 7. In Figure 5Athe platform 1 is moved in the direction of arrow A1. The post 37 has been cut away to show a nut 34 which is threaded onto a vertical lift screw 5. As the screw is rotated by a drive 40 (see Figure4) the nut 34 rises up ordown. The nut is assembled with a guide 35 which slides up and down the post 37 kept in vertical movement by rails 36 within the post 37. In Figure 5B further movement of the platform 1 has taken place indicated by arrow A2 and the hook 6 has now entered the post 37 through slot 38 to arrive hovering over the nut 34 below it. In Figure 5C once over the nut 34 the screw 5 can be rotate to draw the nut 34 in the direction of arowA3 until it enters the open hook 6. In Figure 5D further rotation of screw 5 now lifts the nut 34 in direction of arrow A4 and in doing so lifts the hook 6 and thus the front 9 of the platform 1 off the floor 20. It can keep on lifting until it reaches the transport height H1 as seen in Figure 6. By judicious selection of the pitch and design of the thread in the nut and screw, the screw will remain in hight location throughout the transport operation of the container ready to be lowered by drive action when required. It is envisaged that there be other raising means of the front end of the platform 1 as claimed in PCT / GB2023 000028 enabling the nut 34 to be lifted to a chosen transport height before the hook 6 of platform 1 comes into engagement with the nut 34. Here only one side of the platform has been described when raising the nuts 34 with the hooks 6 engaged but in practice two nuts 34 one on either side of the platform are to be operated in unison by two operations or operators. Such operations are envisage to be done manually with cranked handles as Figure 4 or hand held motor 50 as Figure 7 or built in motors and gear boxes. In Figure 6 as the screw 5 has done it work and set the front 9 of platform 1 at is transport height. HI. Once at height, the FLT can raise the rear end 10 of the platform 1 here seen with a car 64 lashing in place. The platform rotates about the pivot formed by hooks 6 resting in engagement with nuts 34. Once the rearend 10 has been raised to the transport height props 40,41 can be put in place. If the prop 40 is of the type pivoted to the floor 30 at hinge 43 then rotation of the prop 40 as arrow 47 brings the prop engaging means 46 into engagement with platform. Adjustment of the height of the platform can be achieved by more or less rotation of the prop 40. Prop 41 sows an alternative setup whereby the prop incorporates a hook 44 to engage with a hoop 14 to form a pivot about which the prop can be rotated to engage with the platform at the top of the prop 41. Alternatively, the prop 41 can be hooked to the top at the platform engagement means and rotated downwards until it abuts and comes to rest on the floor 20. Once propped, the FLT can be lowered and drive away. Further details of the prop can be seen in Figure 7 where the prop 41 includes a tongue 65 which is slotted into a slot 59 formed in the side rail 8 of the platform 1. Various ways are envisaged to set the support height of the prop 41 such as pins 61 engaging with arrays of holes 58 in the tongue 65 to slide it telescopically in and out of the hollow body of prop 41 and / or be engaged with the platform by a further pin 60. The hight of the pivot pin 43 might likewise be height adjustable. The bottom of the prop 41 is pivoted to a plate 42 which itself is fixed to the floor 20 by fixings 57 such as bolts, screws or other such known devices. The angle of the prop 41 can be adjusted by the provision of more or longer slots 59 and holes 58 in the siderail 8. Pin 61 can be used as a safety stop in case the pin 60 should fail or be absent during setting up operations. Figure 8 shows further details of the preferred screwjack operation bult into the post 37. The anchor frame is fixed to the floor 20 by fixings 57 such as bolts, screws and the like passing through foot plates 52 welded to beam 63. Thus once located and screwed to the floor the anchor frame 3 is ready to be loaded. Illustrated is an operation whereby the nut 34 is already raised to receive the hooks 6. The guides 35 are seen which slide up and down the post 37 guided by guide rails 54 incorporated within the post 37. The lift screw 5 is supported by a bearing 49 located at the top of the post 37 and terminated by a drive nut 39. The screw 5 is too slender to take any longitudinal or transverse loads and these loads are thus resisted by the hook 6 acting on the nut 34 which bear through its guides 35 onto the guide rails 54 built into the structure of the post 37. Rotation of the drive nut 39 can be by any rotational drive and is preferred to be done with a hand held electric drill 50. The structure of the anchor frame is of common truss shape with post 37 and stays 62. The stays are offset from the bulk of the post 37 to maximise the cargo space needed between them in the container and equally important remain flexible so that in service they bear on the inner peaks of the sidewall corrugations to support the platform 1 transversely in unison. Returning to Figure 7 an alternative arrangement illustrates that the anchor frame 3 could be formed as a tall post 66 tied in place at the top hooking with ratchesand straps 61 to hoops 14. The foot of the post 66 might have a foot plate 49 fixed with fixings 57 to the floor 20. The post 66 might be recessed in a suitable valley 15 of the sidewall corrugation. Engagement means might be arranged with a spigot 67 projecting inwards to receive a hook 6 or other engagement means as seen in PCT / GB2023 000028 . Returning to Figures it is envisaged that to keep the hooks 6 from rising up and possibly disengaging with the nuts 34 or spigots 67 during heaving transport situations, straps 48 with ratchets 27 or other adjustable ties can be used tying the platform 1 or car 11 or anchor frame 3 or prop 40,41 ora combination of these to hoops 14 of the container 11. Such straps 48 being orientated to a degree horizontally can in addition to holding the platform and cardownward can also assist in restraint of longitudinal transport accelerations acting on the car, platform, props, anchor frame.

Claims

1. A rack for containerising a car comprising a rectangular platform to which a car is lashed each end of the platform being raisable to above the container floor by lifting means and there be supported on supporting means characterised by there being two anchor frames fixed to the base of the container one on either side to support and engage with the platform by anchor engaging means and at the rear end of the raised platform two upright props located between the base and the platform the top ends of the props engaging with the rear end through prop engagement means to provide support of the rear end.

2. A rack as in claim 1 in which the two props provide only vertical support of the platform a. A rack as claimed in which all other support comes from the two anchor frames b. A rack as claimed in which longitudinal and vertical downward support is provided by lashing straps fixed between rack and container3. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor engaging means includes one or more of a. Hooks on the platform engaging with a spigot on the post or vice versa to provide at least vertical support of the front end of the platform.b. height adjustable engagement position by• sliding shoe or• by bolting array of holes or• telescopic• jacking meansc. engagement means including connectors as claimed in PCT / GB2023 0000284. A rack as claimed herein in which the props include one or morea. pivotal connection at the bottom end to the base of the container b. adjustable height engagement to the platform byi. sliding shoe orii. by bolting array of holes oriii. post being telescopic oriv. post fixed length but tilted to lower the height of the top or5. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor frame can be located ina. At least partly the valley recess of the container side wall orb. proud of the sidewall corrugationsc. blocking the path of the platform partly recessed or not6. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor frame is fixed permanently or temporarily to the container by one or more ofa. screwing or bolting to the floor,b. hooked or bolted to lashing hoops on the bottom side rail of the container,c. lashed to the top and / or bottom lashing hoops of the container by flexible ties and ratchets7. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor engagement means can be set at chosen transport height before engagingthe platform to it, and / or be used at a lifting means wherein the lifting means for the front end of the platform is incorporated into the anchor frames8. A rack as claimed herein in which the lifting means comprises one or other ofa. jacks, screws, hydraulic, scissor lifts, chain hoistsb. Purpose made trolley jack as per PCT / GB2023 000028 or9. A rack as claimed herein in which the jack comprises a lift screw and nut driven by an electric motor hand held or installed the nut incorporatingthe anchor engagement means able to travel and / or lift the front of the platform from the container floor to a chosen height10. A rack as claimed herein in which the anchor frame incorporates jacking means comprising a screw and nut through friction or other means support the vertical loads imposed upon them by the platform during transport without loss of height11. A rack as claimed in claim 1 in which the operation of the trolley jack with FLT tilting etc. is as claimed in PCT / GB2023 00002812. A method of operation in which thea. anchor frames are fixed to the containerb. platform is moved into the container until the engagement means engages with the anchor framec. if required to do so the lifting means is operated to set the height of the front of the platformd. rear of the platform is raised or lowered to engage with the propse. additional lashings if required are tied between platform and / or car to the container lashing hoops.

13. A rack as claimed in claimed herein in which the anchor frame comprises two vertical posts tied to the top side rail by flexible ties to hold the top of the post in the fore and aft position and the bottom of the post being secured to the base by fixings to which the platform when raised is supported by engagement means the rear of the platform when raised being supported by props.a. Posts being flush with the container sidewall orb. Posts being recessed fully or partly in the valleysc. Posts including lifting meansd. Posts including connectors as per PCT / GB2023 000028

Images