Pallet container

Abstract

The present invention describes a pallet container (10) for storing and transporting fluid or flowable filling materials, having a thin-walled, rigid plastics inner container (12) made from thermoplastic plastics material, having a tubular grid frame (14) which tightly surrounds the plastics inner container (12) as a supporting covering and which comprises horizontal and vertical tubular rods (18, 20) which are welded to each other, and having a base pallet (16) on which the plastics inner container (12) is positioned and to which the tubular grid frame (14) is securely connected, wherein at least two rod-shaped transverse cross-members (22) are provided above the plastics inner container (12) and are fixed with the two ends thereof to two mutually opposite side walls in the upper region of the tubular grid frame (14). In order to protect the upper region of the tubular grid frame (14) against a disadvantageous effect of impact loads and transport impacts, there is provision for the transverse cross-members (22) to be constructed as resilient spring elements (24).

Claims

1. A pallet container for storing and transporting fluid or flowable filling materials, the pallet container comprising: a thin-walled, rigid plastics inner container made from thermoplastic plastics material; a tubular grid frame which tightly surrounds the plastics inner container as a supporting covering and which comprises horizontal and vertical tubular rods which are welded to each other; and a base pallet on which the plastics inner container is positioned and to which the tubular grid frame is securely connected, wherein two rod-shaped transverse cross-members are provided above the plastics inner container, each of the transverse cross-members being fixed at two ends thereof to two opposing side walls of an upper region of the tubular grid frame, wherein each of the two transverse cross-members comprises one or more first curved portions to thereby form a resilient spring element.

2. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of each of the transverse cross-members is greater than a straight line extending between the two ends of each corresponding transverse.

3. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the transverse cross-members, when attached to the upper region of the tubular grid frame, extends between a first pair of opposing sides of the tubular grid frame, each of the transverse cross-members, when attached to the upper region of the tubular grid frame, is curved outwardly along a horizontal plane from a central point of tubular grid frame, the central point being on the horizontal plane, and toward one of a second pair of opposing sides of the tubular grid frame, and each of the transverse cross-members is positioned flat on a top of the plastics inner container.

4. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the transverse cross-members is attached to the tubular grid frame at a corresponding pair of fixing locations, and a length of each transverse cross-member is between 1% and 5%, greater than a direct distance between the corresponding pair of fixing locations.

5. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the transverse cross-members is attached to the tubular grid frame at a corresponding pair of fixing locations, a distance between each pair of fixing locations for is approximately 960 mm, and a length each of the transverse cross-members is approximately 993 mm.

6. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the transverse cross-members has a radius of curvature between 300 mm and 700 mm.

7. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each end of each of the transverse cross-members are comprises a compressed portion and an internal thread that is at least partially located in the compressed portions, and the two ends of each of the transverse cross-members is securely screwed the tubular grid frame.

8. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each end of each transverse cross-member comprises an internal thread configured to receive a threaded screw.

9. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each end of the transverse cross-members comprises an end face that is screwed to an upper region of a vertical tubular rod.

10. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the transverse cross-members comprise a second curve that extends in a vertical direction and has a second radius that is smaller than a first radius of the one or more first curved portions, and the end of each transverse cross-member is attached to the tubular grid frame such that an end face of each end abuts an uppermost circumferential horizontal tubular rod of the tubular grid frame.

11. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the transverse cross-members has a round tubular profile, a diameter between 16 mm and 24 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm.

12. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the transverse cross-members has a square tubular profile, a side length between 14 mm and 20 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm.

13. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the transverse cross-members comprises two or more second curved portions oriented in a horizontal plane, each of the second curved portions having a radius that is smaller than a radius of the one or more first curved portions.

14. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the transverse cross-members comprises two second curved portions oriented in a vertical plane, each of the second curved portions having a radius that is smaller than a radius of the one or more first curved portions.

15. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1 further comprising one or more retaining lugs extending from the plastics inner container, each of the one or more retaining lugs being configured to at least partially receive one of the transverse cross-members to thereby guide the one of the transverse cross-members.

16. The pallet container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more hook lugs extending from the plastics inner container, each of the one or more hook lugs being configured to at least partially receive one of the transverse cross-members to thereby guide the one of the transverse cross-members.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention is explained and described in greater detail below with reference to embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet container according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the upper region of the pallet container according to the invention according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a plan view of a transverse cross-member which is configured as a resilient element,

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a transverse cross-member,

(6) FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the left end region of the transverse cross-member according to FIG. 4,

(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view with a transverse cross-member being connected to the upper region of a tubular grid frame,

(8) FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of the right end region of a transverse cross-member with a threaded nut inserted,

(9) FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view with an end-face screw connection of a transverse cross-member to the upper region of the tubular grid frame,

(10) FIG. 9 is a partial view of a hook lug (carrier pin) which is formed from the upper base of the plastics inner container and which engages over a transverse cross-member and

(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view with a conventional connection of a transverse cross-member to the upper region of the tubular grid frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) FIG. 1 illustrates a pallet container 10 according to the invention (also referred to as an IBC=Intermediate Bulk Container) for storing and transporting fluid or flowable filling materials. The pallet container 10 comprises a thin-walled, rigid plastics inner container 12 made from thermoplastic plastics material, a tubular grid frame 14 which tightly surrounds the plastics inner container 12 as a supporting covering and which comprises horizontal and vertical tubular rods 18, 20 which are welded to each other and a base pallet 16 on which the plastics inner container 12 is positioned and to which the tubular grid frame 14 is securely connected. Two rod-shaped transverse cross-members 22 are provided above the plastics inner container 12 and are fixed with the two ends thereof to two mutually opposite side walls of the upper tubular grid frame 14. In this case, the two transverse cross-members 22 are in the form of resilient spring elements 24 in an arcuately curved form. The particular constructive embodiment of the transverse cross-members 22 is distinguished in that the transverse cross-members are constructed not to be rectilinear or linear between the two fixing locations 26, 28 thereof, but instead in a curved manner and have a comparatively large curve 34. In this case, the length of the transverse cross-members 22 between their two fixing locations 26, 28 is constructed in a completely unusual manner to be greater than the direct spacing of the two fixing locations 26, 28 at the ends of the transverse cross-members 22. In the present embodiment, the fixing locations 26, 28 are arranged at the ends of the transverse cross-members 22 in each case on two vertical rods closely below the uppermost horizontally extending tubular rod 18 between two opposing side walls of the tubular grid frame 14.

(13) Specifically, the length of the transverse cross-members 22 between their two fixing locations 26, 28 is constructed to be between 1% and 5%, preferably 3% greater than the direct spacing between the two fixing locations 26, 28. For standard pallet containers having a filling volume of 600, 1000 or 1200 liters and which have the same dimension in terms of width and length, the spacing of the two fixing locations 26, 28 from each other is approximately 960 mm and the effective length of the transverse cross-members 22 is approximately 993 mm. For the same standard pallet containers, the curved transverse cross-members 22 are intended to have a large radius of curvature between 300 mm and 700 mm, preferably 500 mm.

(14) The above-described constructive embodiment of the invention can be better seen in FIG. 2 in an enlarged cut-out. In this case, it is shown that the arcuately curved transverse cross-members 22in the fitted stateare positioned flat in a horizontal plane on the upper base 38 of the plastics inner container 12, wherein the large curves 34 of the two transverse cross-members 22 are orientated so as to face away from each other.

(15) In a modified embodiment, the transverse cross-members 22 can be constructed as resilient spring elements with two or three smaller curves which are orientated in a horizontal plane and which have smaller radii in comparison.

(16) In any case, the arcuately curved transverse cross-members 22in the installed stateare each guided through a retaining lug 40 which is formed from the upper base 38 of the plastics inner container 12, wherein the retaining lugs 40 are arranged at the center of and engaging over the fitted curved transverse cross-members 22 (another form of the retaining lugs is illustrated in FIG. 9).

(17) FIG. 3 is a plan view of a curved transverse cross-member 22 which is in the form of a spring element and which has a large radius of curvature of approximately 500 mm. The transverse cross-members may be constructed as a hollow tube having a round or square cross section. In a preferred embodiment, the transverse cross-members 22, 42 have a round tubular profile with a diameter between 16 mm and 24 mm, preferably 20 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.9 mm. According to another construction type, however, the transverse cross-members 22, 42 may also have a square tubular profile with a side length between 14 mm and 20 mm, preferably 16 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.9 mm.

(18) FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a transverse cross-member with two curves 42 which have in the end regions thereofwhen viewed in the fitted statea downwardly formed small curve 36 with a comparatively small radius and upwardly directed ends and (as can be seen in detail in FIG. 8) are each screwed with their respective end faces from below against the uppermost circumferential horizontal tubular rod 18. One end of the transverse cross-member with two curves 42 with downwardly formed small curves 36 with a small radius is illustrated as an enlarged partial view in FIG. 5. A threaded nut 30 with an internal thread 44 (for example, M8 or M10) is securely inserted in the open ends of the hollow tubular profile of the transverse cross-member with two curves 42 (see also FIG. 7). The non-releasably inserted threaded nut 30 can simply be pressed in, compressed or welded.

(19) One possible fixing method, in which a threaded screw 48 is screwed at the end face into the end of the hollow tubular profile of the transverse cross-member 22 can be seen in FIG. 6. In this case, the transverse cross-member 22 is fixed closely below the uppermost horizontal tubular rod 18 by means of the threaded screw 48 which is screwed from the exterior at the end facein the horizontal directionto the upper flattened ends of two mutually opposite vertical tubular rods 20.

(20) FIG. 7 correspondingly shows the open end of the hollow tubular profile of the transverse cross-member 22 (having only one large curve) with a securely inserted screw nut 30 having an internal thread 44. The transverse cross-member with 2 curves 42 is, as described above, screwed with its end face from below against the uppermost circumferential horizontal tubular rod 18 of the tubular grid frame in a secure but re-releasable manner.

(21) Another possible method for fixing the transverse cross-member with two curves 42 with an end-face screw connection is shown in FIG. 8 as an enlarged illustration. In this case, the two ends of the transverse cross-members with 2 curves 42 are strongly compressed in the radial direction, wherein a corresponding internal thread 46 is formed directly in the compressed portions 32. In this case, the transverse cross-members with 2 curves 42 with the smaller curves at the end regions thereof are fixed at their end faces from below against the uppermost horizontal tubular rod 18 by means of a threaded screw 48 which is screwed in from abovein the vertical direction. Advantageously, the uppermost horizontal tubular rod 18 is slightly recessed at the top at the bore hole and the threaded screw 48 is configured as a flat-head, countersunk head or raised countersunk screw so that it does not project upwardly. The compressed portions 32 with a correspondingly formed internal thread 46 can naturally also be produced in the case of the transverse cross-member 22 (with only one large curve). The end-face screw connections further have the advantage that the screw tip is located completely in the hollow tubular profile of the transverse cross-members 22, 42 and is covered so that injuries can no longer thereby result, as was often the case with previously conventional open screw connections with a projecting screw tip.

(22) Previously conventional linear cross-members can be screwed directly in the center axis with screws at the end face only with difficulty. When the screws are tightened, the cross-member also rotates and it has to be fixed for assembly. This fixing is dispensed with as a result of the arcuately curved shape of the transverse cross-members.

(23) As previously mentioned, the arcuately curved transverse cross-members 22in the fitted stateare each guided through a retaining lug 40 which is formed from the upper base 38 of the plastics inner container 12. In another embodiment, the retaining lugs 40 may also be constructed as carrier pins 50 (also referred to as hook lugs) which are open at one side, as shown in FIG. 9. In this instance, the curved transverse cross-members 22 are centrally fixed by central engagement of the carrier pins 50 over the transverse cross embers from the outer side to the inner side, with the carrier pins 50 constructed in a solid manner by means of material thickening.

(24) The differently configured versions of the transverse cross-members 22, 42 enable a different configuration of the securing of the two ends of the transverse cross-members 22, 42 to the upper tubular grid frame 14. In addition to the end-face fixings described, the ends 52 of the transverse cross-members 22, 42 in a manner known per semay also be flattened, placed flat around the uppermost horizontal rod of the tubular grid frame 14 and screwed by means of a threaded screw 54 below the uppermost tubular rods 18, as can be seen in FIG. 10.

(25) In a combined form, the transverse cross-members 22, 42 may be constructed as resilient spring elements also with two smaller curves which are orientated in a vertical plane with smaller radii in comparison and one, two or three smaller curves which are orientated in a horizontal plane with smaller radii in comparison. Such a formation may be advantageous for a torque-neutral construction. The embodiments of the transverse cross-members described and the securing possibilities may in the context of the present inventionas far as technically possiblebe combined in a simple manner with each other or exchanged for each other.

(26) Conclusion: As a result of the construction according to the invention of the transverse cross-members 22, 42 as resilient spring elements, in a pallet container 10 in a comparatively simple manner the upper region of the tubular grid frame 14 can be protected against a disadvantageous effect of transport impacts and dynamic impact loads and the operational safety during the handling of filled pallet containers can be increased.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(27) 10 Pallet container 12 Plastics inner container 14 Tubular grid frame 16 Base pallet 18 Horizontal tubular rods (14) 20 Vertical tubular rods (14) 22 Transverse cross-member 24 Spring element (22) 26 Fixing location (22) 28 Opposite fixing location (22) 30 Threaded nut (22) 32 Compressed portion (22) 34 Large curve (22) 36 Small curve (22) 38 Upper base (12) 40 Retaining lug (38) 42 Transverse cross-member with 2 curves 44 Internal thread (30) 46 Internal thread (32) 48 Threaded screw (30, 32) 50 Hook lug or carrier pin (38, 12) 52 End of transverse cross-member (22, 42) 54 Threaded screw (22, 42)