Transport pallet

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport pallet (1000), in particular for a carrier structure (2000) of a PV system, having a substantially cuboidal support structure (1100) with a longitudinal axis (A), wherein a base element (1110) is provided, which has at least two base cross members (1111) and at least two base longitudinal members (1112), and a top element (1130) which is spaced apart via at least four, preferably via six support members (1120) and is arranged substantially parallel to the base element (1110), and has at least two top transverse members (1131) and at least two top longitudinal members (1132) and at least one storage surface (1134) which is arranged substantially in the surface plane of the top element (1130), wherein the transport pallet (1000) is able to be transferred from a transport configuration into an installation configuration and preferably into an empty configuration.

Description

[0001] Transport pallet

[0002] The invention relates to a transport pallet, in particular for a support structure of a PV system.

[0003] In the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, energy generation using sunlight plays a prominent role. The installation of photovoltaic systems with photovoltaic panels on roofs, as well as on other building structures such as carports or patio roofs, is being promoted, for example, with government funding.

[0004] The installation of such systems requires, in particular, support structures into which the respective solar modules are mounted. These support structures largely consist of a multitude of tubular support sections that must be safely transported to the PV system's installation site and assembled and installed on site, where space is often limited.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a transport pallet that enables safe transport and assembly of the PV system, in particular its support structure.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by providing a transport pallet which has a substantially cuboid-shaped support structure with a longitudinal axis A. A base element is provided which has at least two base cross members and at least two base longitudinal members, as well as a cover element which is spaced apart by at least four, preferably six support members and arranged substantially parallel to the base element and has at least two cover cross members and at least two cover longitudinal members as well as at least one storage surface which is arranged substantially in the surface plane of the cover element. According to the invention, it is provided that the transport pallet can be brought from a transport configuration into an assembly configuration and preferably into an empty configuration.

[0007] A key advantage of the transport pallet according to the invention is that, thanks to its support structure consisting of longitudinal beams, cross beams, and support beams, it forms a stable receptacle for the individual elements, in particular the support structure of a PV system, enabling safe transport of the PV system to its destination. The support structure of the transport pallet is preferably covered on its sides with removable panels during transport to prevent damage and / or contamination of the pallet contents during transport of the PV system. The support structure itself is made of steel and hot-dip galvanized. This means that no packaging material is required during assembly because the transport pallet according to the invention is completely reusable.Due to the support structure of the transport pallet according to the invention, several transport pallets can be placed on top of each other and next to each other, so that, for example, the size of the transport pallet according to the invention is selected such that 2 x 2 transport pallets can be accommodated in one transport container.

[0008] In order to optimally accommodate and secure the support structure of a PV system within the support structure of the transport pallet according to the invention, a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the floor element additionally has at least one intermediate floor support. This at least one intermediate floor support can be arranged as a longitudinal support or cross support within the floor element between the two outer longitudinal floor supports and / or cross floor supports. The individual parts of the support structure of the PV system are fixed within the support structure of the transport pallet using suitable screw connections and / or plate elements. By screwing the individual parts of the PV system within the support structure, transport damage can be minimized.

[0009] Once the transport pallet has reached its destination, it can be converted from its transport configuration to an assembly configuration in just a few simple steps.

[0010] In this case, it is particularly preferred that, to form the assembly configuration, at least one first longitudinal deck support can be inserted into at least one provided receptacle of the storage surface and / or transverse deck support of the deck element, so that it is aligned essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the support structure of the transport pallet, essentially in the surface or in a surface parallel to the surface plane of the deck element. The at least one first longitudinal deck support functions as a support element for the support structure of the PV system during its assembly.

[0011] At least one second longitudinal deck support is preferably insertable into the floor element such that it is aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support structure of the transport pallet, essentially in the plane or in a plane parallel to the surface of the floor element, so that it runs substantially parallel to the at least one first longitudinal deck support. Thus, in the assembly configuration, this at least one second longitudinal deck support functions as additional support for the support structure of the transport pallet relative to the ground on which the transport pallet according to the invention is placed during assembly of the support structure of the PV system.

[0012] After the PV system has been assembled and set up at its destination, the transport pallet according to the invention is particularly preferably brought into an empty configuration. In this configuration, the support structure of the transport pallet has a minimal overall height, for example 20% of the overall height of the transport pallet in the transport configuration, with all components of the cover element and the support beams being accommodated within the base element. For this purpose, the base element has two side surfaces that are arranged essentially along the longitudinal base beams and protrude vertically from the surface plane of the base element. In particular, on these side surfaces, mounting points for a forklift truck and / or a crane device are particularly preferably provided in order to be able to easily move the transport pallet according to the invention both in its transport configuration and in its empty configuration.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail below using a non-limiting embodiment with accompanying figures.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows a transport pallet according to the invention in the transport configuration with the support structure of a PV system accommodated in the support structure of the transport pallet;

[0015] Fig. 2 the transport pallet from Fig. 1 in the assembly configuration;

[0016] Fig. 3 to Fig. 10 show the individual assembly steps for the support structure of the PV system; and

[0017] Fig. 11 the transport pallet according to the invention in the empty configuration.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows the transport pallet 1000 according to the invention, in which a support structure 2000 for a PV system is accommodated in such a way that it can be transported safely. The illustrated embodiment is a support structure 2000 designed as a carport, the roof surface of which is formed by PV modules. A corresponding support structure 2000 can be found, for example, in the applicant's PCT / AT2024 / 060075.

[0019] The transport pallet 1000 is essentially cuboid-shaped and has a support structure 1100 with a floor element 1110, which has two floor cross members 1111 on its short sides and two floor longitudinal members 1112 with two side surfaces 1113 on its long sides, which are aligned essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the support structure 1100. In addition, the floor element 1110 has intermediate floor supports 1114, which are arranged between the floor longitudinal members 1112 and the floor cross members 1111, as required.

[0020] During the intended use of the transport pallet 1000 according to the invention, the floor element 1110 is arranged on a substantially flat surface during the assembly of the support structure 2000. The two side surfaces 1114 have mounting points 1115 for a standard forklift truck as well as receptacles 1133 for a crane device, which serve to move the transport pallet 1000.

[0021] A cover element 1130 with two cover cross members 1131 and two parallel longitudinal cover members 1132 is provided parallel to and spaced from the base element 1110 by six support beams 1120 that are vertically oriented in the use position. Receptacles 1133 for a crane device are also provided on the cover cross members 1131, with the aid of which the transport pallet 1000 according to the invention can be lifted if necessary. Furthermore, the cover element 1130 has a storage surface 1134.

[0022] The use of the transport pallet 1000 according to the invention as an assembly stand for the construction of the support structure 2000 is explained below.

[0023] After the transport pallet 1000 according to the invention has been transported to its destination, the cover longitudinal beams 1132 of the cover element 1130 are removed from the support structure 1100 as shown in Fig. 2 and inserted into passages 1135 provided for this purpose in the region of the storage surface 1134 and the side surfaces 1113 of the base element 1110. Thus, in the assembly position, the cover longitudinal beams 1132 are arranged parallel to one another and substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis A of the support structure 1100 of the transport pallet 1000.

[0024] In a next step, a support column 2100 of the support structure 2000 of the PV system is pivoted from its horizontal transport position, in which the longitudinal axis of the support column 2100 is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the support structure 1100 of the transport pallet 1000, into a vertical removal position substantially normal to the support plane of the floor element 1110 within the support structure 1100 of the transport pallet 1000 by pivoting it through 90° (Fig. 3). For this purpose, a lifting plate 1116 with an eyelet 1117, for example for a crane device, is arranged at one end of the support column 2100, wherein the lifting plate 1116 fixes the support column 2100 within the support structure 1100 of the transport pallet 1000 during transport.

[0025] To pivot the support column 2100, the lifting plate is loosened from an intermediate floor support 1114 and the support column 2100 is moved into a vertical position. The support column 2100 can then be moved to its final installation location and, for example, bolted to the ground.

[0026] The support structure 2000 is then assembled according to Figures 4 to 10 from its individual parts, which are also arranged in the transport pallet 1000, using the storage surface 1134 of the cover element 1130 for this purpose. First, a main cross member center piece 2201 of a main cross member 2200 of the support structure 2000 is positioned on the storage surface 1134 of the support structure 1100 of the transport pallet 1000 in such a way that the two end regions 2202 of the main cross member center piece 2201 are freely accessible. A main longitudinal member 2300 is then arranged at each of these end regions 2202 (Fig. 5), with a main cross member end piece 2203 then being screwed to each of the end regions 2202 of the main cross member center piece 2201 via flange connections (Fig. 6).

[0027] As can be seen from Figures 7 to 10, additional main longitudinal beams 2300 are then arranged at the respective end regions of the main crossbeam end pieces 2203 (Fig. 7). This is followed by the arrangement and screwing of additional crossbeams 2204 (Fig. 8), as well as longitudinal beams 2301 (Fig. 9), and finally the arrangement of PV panels 2400 on the support structure 2000 (Fig. 10). The central region of the support structure 2000 is not yet completely covered with PV panels 2400 to enable the arrangement and screwing of the support structure 2000 onto the already erected support column 2100. For easy positioning of the support structure 2000 on the support column 2100, the main longitudinal beams 2300 also have receptacles 1133 for a crane device.

[0028] A significant advantage of the transport pallet 1000 according to the invention is that, in its function as an assembly stand, it enables a safe and space-saving assembly of the support structure 2000.

[0029] Once the support structure 2000 has been removed from the transport pallet 1000 according to the invention, the transport pallet 1000 can be folded to save space for return transport and / or storage. The receiving points 1115 for a forklift truck and the receptacles 1133 for a crane device provided in the base element 1110 allow for easy and safe movement of the transport pallet 1000 according to the invention.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Transport pallet (1000), in particular for a support structure (2000) of a PV system, with a substantially cuboid-shaped support structure (1100) with a longitudinal axis (A), wherein a base element (1110) is provided which has at least two base cross members (1111) and at least two base longitudinal members (1112), and a cover element (1130) which is spaced apart by at least four, preferably six support members (1120) and arranged substantially parallel to the base element (1110) and has at least two cover cross members (1131) and at least two cover longitudinal members (1132) and at least one storage surface (1134), wherein the storage surface (1134) is arranged substantially in the surface plane of the cover element (1130), and wherein the transport pallet (1000) can be brought from a transport configuration into an assembly configuration and preferably into an empty configuration and back again.

2. Transport pallet (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor element (1110) additionally has at least one intermediate floor support (1114).

3. Transport pallet (1000) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in order to form the assembly configuration, at least one first cover longitudinal member (1132) can be inserted into passages (1135) provided for this purpose in the region of the storage surface (1134), so that it is aligned substantially in the or in a plane parallel to the surface plane of the cover element (1130) substantially normal to the longitudinal axis (A) of the support structure (1100) of the transport pallet (1000).

4. Transport pallet (1000) according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one second longitudinal deck support (1132) for the assembly configuration of the transport pallet (1000) according to the invention can be inserted into the floor element (1110) in such a way that it is aligned substantially in the or in a plane parallel to the surface plane of the floor element (1110) substantially normal to the longitudinal axis (A) of the support structure (1100) of the transport pallet (1000).

5. Transport pallet (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the empty configuration all components of the cover element (1130) as well as the at least four support beams (1120) are accommodated within the base element (1110).

6. Transport pallet (1000) according to claim 5, characterized in that the base element (1110) has at least two side surfaces (1113) which preferably arranged substantially along the at least two longitudinal floor members (1112) and / or the transverse floor members (1111) and protrude vertically from the surface plane of the floor element (1110).

7. Transport pallet (1000) according to claim 6, characterized in that receptacles (1115, 1133) for a forklift and / or for a crane device are provided on the at least two side surfaces (1113).

8. Use of a transport pallet (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 7 for the transport and as an assembly stand of a support structure (2000), in particular a PV system.

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