Pallet for transport of drums

Abstract

The patent application concerns a drum pallet (10) suitable for positioning one drum or a plurality of drums thereon, wherein the pallet has a deck (11), skids (2) and a plurality of blocks (12), coupling the deck with the skids, thereby forming a gap (5) therebetween for receiving a lifting member. The deck and the plurality of blocks form one monolithic body (1). The skids are connected below the blocks to the blocks. The body consists of a compression molded thermoset composite. The upper surface (13) of the deck comprises vertical protrusions (14A, 14B) adapted to avoid shifting of the drum along the surface, if the drum is positioned on the deck and aligned with the protrusions.

Claims

1. A drum pallet suitable for positioning one drum or a plurality of drums, each drum having a selected diameter and a convex rim on a lower periphery thereof, wherein the pallet has a deck having an upper surface, at least one skid and a plurality of blocks, coupling the deck with the at least one skids, thereby forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member; the deck and the plurality of blocks form one monolithic body; the skids are connected below the blocks to the blocks; the body is formed of a compression molded thermoset composite; and the upper surface of the deck comprise convex protrusions and concave recesses adapted to engage with the convex rim of the one drum or the more than one drum and to restrain the drum(s) from shifting position along the upper surface, when the one drum or the more than one drum is positioned on the deck and aligned with the protrusions and recesses; wherein the protrusions and recesses are configured on the upper surface such that two or more drums with the selected diameter will engage with the protrusions and recesses in a position side-by-side on the deck and also, alternatively, one drum will engage with the protrusions and recesses at a position in a center location on the deck overlapping a position where the two or more drums are retained side-by-side, thereby avoiding shifting of the one drum or the more than one drum.

2. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet has a rectangular base and not a square base and a size that allows no more than two drums of the selected diameter to be positioned on the deck in juxtaposition with each other and aligned with the protrusions and recesses, thereby avoiding shifting.

3. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions and recesses are designed such that four drums with the selected diameter can be positioned in a shape of a square on the deck side-by-side, and also, alternatively, one single drum with the selected diameter can be positioned on the deck and aligned with the protrusions and recesses, thereby avoiding shifting of the drum or the drums, whereby the position of the one single drum is aligned in the center of the positions designed for the four drums.

4. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet has a size that allows no more than four drums of the selected diameter to be positioned on the deck side-by-side and aligned with the protrusions and recesses, thereby avoiding shifting.

5. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions and recesses are designed such that three drums with the selected diameter can be positioned in a shape of a triangle on the deck in juxtaposition with each other, and also, alternatively, one single drum with the selected diameter can be positioned on the deck and aligned with the protrusions and recesses, thereby avoiding shifting of the drum or the drums, whereby the position of the one single drum is aligned in the center of the positions designed for the three drums.

6. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet has a size that allows no more than three drums of the selected diameter to be positioned on the deck in juxtaposition with each other and aligned with the protrusions and recesses, thereby avoiding shifting.

7. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet is adapted such that the drum can be formed of plastic or metal, having a volume of 220 liters and/or a diameter of 572 mm.

8. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions and recesses are adapted such that the drum can be formed of plastic or metal, whereby the securing against shifting is provided by the interaction between the convex rim of the drum and the protrusions and recesses on the surface of the deck.

9. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions and recesses are formed by a plateau layer on the surface of the deck and have combinations of concave and convex edges fitting to a shape of the rim of the drums on which the drum will stand.

10. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions and recesses on the deck and the plurality of blocks form one monolithic body.

11. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises metal reinforcement elements extending in the deck and connecting the blocks, and the reinforcement elements are shaped as T-Profiles or extend along the four outer sidewalls of the pallet connecting the blocks.

12. The drum pallet according to claim 11, wherein the reinforcement elements are suitable for increasing of load capacity above 2000 kg.

13. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the lower side of the deck and/or the blocks comprise a technical web reinforcing the structure.

14. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet has the dimension 0.6 m1.2 m, and is designed for two drums.

15. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet has the dimension 1.2 m1.2 m, and is designed for engaging three or four drums.

16. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the skids are formed of a compression molded thermoset composite.

17. The drum pallet according to claim 16, wherein the compression molded thermoset composite is a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)recycling material.

18. The drum pallet according to claim 16, wherein the compression molded thermoset composite does not contain any wood particles.

19. The drum pallet according to claim 1, wherein the skids are screwed or welded to the blocks below the blocks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reference to the following drawings of a number of exemplary embodiments, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a pallet with a different plateau according to the invention:

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pallet from below showing the technical web;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the pallet of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention loaded with one single drum;

(7) FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of the pallet of FIG. 5A loaded with two drums; and

(8) FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the pallet of FIG. 3.

(9) FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of a pallet according to another embodiment of the invention for securing up to three pallets;

(10) FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of a pallet according to another embodiment of the invention for securing up to four pallets;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(11) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention. the drum pallet 10 suitable for positioning one drum or two drums thereon hat the dimension 1200 mm600 mm. The pallet 10 has a deck 11, two skids 2 and a plurality of blocks 12, which couple the deck 11 with the skids 2, thereby forming a gap 5 therebetween for receiving a lifting member, not being shown. The deck 11 and the plurality of blocks 12 form one single monolithic body 1.

(12) The skids 2 are connected below the blocks 12 to the blocks by screws, not being shown.

(13) The body 1 consists of a compression molded thermoset composite, here a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)recycling material not containing any wood particles.

(14) The upper surface 13 of the deck 11 comprises vertical protrusions 14A, 14B adapted to avoid shifting of a drum along the surface. Here, the pallet and the protrusions are designed so, that the drum might be a metal drum, in particular with a volume of 220 liters and/or a diameter of 572 mm. the drum with a convex shaped bottom of the drum with a rim on which the drum may stand, allows a fit between the rim of the convex shaped bottom of the drum and the protrusions on the surface of the deck.

(15) The protrusions 14A, 14B are formed by a plateau layer on the surface 13 of the deck, whereby the protrusions on the deck and the plurality of blocks form one monolithic body. Two adjacent different protrusions 14A, 14B together fit into the rim of a drum, thereby securing it against shifting on the surface. Thereby, the first protrusion 14A of the two adjacent different protrusions 14A, 14B, has one convex edge and one concave edge. The second protrusion 14B of the two adjacent different protrusions 14A, 14B, has two concave edges. Thereby, it is possible to secure two adjacent drums onto the pallet 10.

(16) If only one drum is to be secured in the middle of the pallet, it is still possible to stack a further pallet onto said pallet. Therefore, two adjacent similar protrusions 14B, 14B together fit into the rim of a drum, thereby securing it against shifting on the surface. Both protrusions 14B 146 have two concave edges. Thereby, it is possible to secure one single drum onto the pallet 10 in the middle of the pallet.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a pallet with different protrusions according to the invention. The protrusions 14A, 14B have the same convex and concave edges as the plateaus of embodiment of FIG. 1, but do not form plateaus.

(18) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pallet from below showing a technical web 19 consisting of ribs and reinforcing the structure at low weight. The technical web 19 is below the deck 11, is part of the body 1 and can be form molded in one step with the rest of the body.

(19) FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the pallet of FIG. 3 and illustrates that the web 19A might also be part of the blocks 12, resulting in reduced material and weight of the blocks.

(20) FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a pallet 10 according to the invention loaded with one single drum 3 in the middle of the surface 13 of the deck.

(21) FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of the same pallet of FIG. 5A, which here is loaded with two drums 3.

(22) FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the pallet of FIG. 3 and illustrates how the protrusions define the positions POS 1A and POS 1B for two drums with a similar certain diameter in juxtaposition with each. Alternatively, only one single drum with the same certain diameter might be positioned on the deck and aligned with the protrusions thereby avoiding shifting of the drum or the drums, whereby the position Pos 2 of the one single drum is aligned in the middle of the positions designated for the two drums.

(23) FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of a three-drum pallet 10 according to the invention. Three-drum pallet 10 is suitable for positioning one drum or no more than three drums of a certain diameter thereon. Three-drum pallet 10 has a deck with an upper surface 13, two skids 2 and a plurality of blocks 12. Upper surface 13 comprises vertical protrusions 14A and 14B adapted to engage with a bottom rim of a drum and avoid shifting of the drum along upper surface 13. Protrusions 14A are arranged so that three drums with a similar certain diameter can be positioned in a shape of a triangle on upper deck surface 13 in juxtaposition with each other. Protrusions 14B are arranged so that one single drum with the certain diameter can be positioned on the deck and aligned with, whereby the position of the one single drum is aligned in the center of the positions designed for the three drums. Protrusions 14B will engage a single centrally located drum and protrusions 14A will engage three drums in the arrangement of a triangle.

(24) FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of a four-drum pallet 10 according to the invention. Four-drum pallet 10 is suitable for positioning one drum or no more than four drums of a certain diameter thereon. Four-drum pallet 10 has a deck with an upper surface 13, two skids 2 and a plurality of blocks 12. Upper surface 13 comprises vertical protrusions 14A and 14B adapted to engage with a bottom rim of a drum and avoid shifting of the drum along upper surface13. Protrusions 14B will engage a single centrally located drum. Protrusions 14A will engage with four drums of a similar certain diameter positioned in a shape of a square on upper surface 13 side-by-side in the arrangement of a square.