US3106297A - Pallet rack - Google Patents

Description

W. SCHROEDER y PALLET RACK Ot. s, 1963 l g 16 i;

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Illllllllllllllll' 23 l [721/8 NTJ Schroeder, @y www @PWM Oct. 8, 1963 w. scHRox-:DER

PALLETRACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 21, 1960 This invention relates to the art of support Structures,

` panticularly to a collapsible shelf structure Iadapted for supporting palletized loads, of a type commonly referred to as a pallet rack. j

'Dhe use of pallets or skids secured as supports for loads of all varieties of materials has been on the increasein recent years. 'Ilhe skid or pallet not only supports the load, but it permits the forks of -a lift truck to be inserted below it in order to allow the palletized load to be con.

`veniently transported from place to place as required. Due to the increased use of palletized loads, -a definite need arose for a supporting structure which can support a number of palletized loads in a minimum space at a minimum cost.

Structures for this purpose have been developed. They are generally in the form of vertical uprightmembers joined together by horizontal side to side and front to back members which forman open type skeletal structure. The vertical membersare made long enough to support the horizontal members at vertically spaced intervals to provide a multi-tiered structure for supporting palletized loads at diierent stacked levels. Also, the ver-tical members lare spaced horizontally from each other by calculated amounts to establish bays of given length .to accommodate a lgiven number of palletizcd loads in a Irow without waste of space on the pallet rack structure. Within reason, the structures can be made of any length and lany height depending upon the particular storage spiace available.

It seems that one of the most desirable requirements for a pallet rack structure is that it should be capable of being assembled and disassembled conveniently with.- a minimum of time and etont. It mustalso be rigid when assembled and not subject to accidentaldisassembly.

Another desirable feature is to have a minimum of parts and, if possible, no extra detachable parts which can be misplaced, such. as connector pins. l

-It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an improved pallet rack which can be assembled and disassembled conveniently with .a minimum of time i ,to acci-dental disassembly, and which has a minimum of parts with no extra detachable parts, such as connector pins, which can be misplaced.

In order to achieve this objective a pallet rack structure is provided wherein there are only two basic components, `the vertical supports tor uprights and horizontal beams which ane connected thereto. There 'are not other separate detachable parts. The connections between the uprights and the beams are by lugs on sleeves telescoped for sliding movement within the beams. Ilhe sliding movement of the sleeves .enables the lugs to be withdrawn into the beam ends when the beams ends are positioned between the uprights. sliding movement also enables the lugs to be extended beyond the beam ends .and into openings provided in the uprights where the lugs can be locked into place. With such an arrangement of permitting the lu-gs "onthe beams to be fwithdnawn into the beams,there are no projections from the ends of the beams which would prevent positioning the beams between the uprights. By allowing the lugs to be extended beyond the ends of the beams 'after the beams are positioned, this enables the beams to be connected `at the sides of the uprights rather than along their front surfaces which is Vthe most customary manner' of connection in prior art devices.

United States Patent William Schroeder, Evanston, Ill., assignor to' Acme Steel Y 3,106,297 j Patented Oct. 8, 1963 ice Another object of the invenion is to provide a locking y, pin fwhich is integral with the telescoping sleeve and `which is` mounted on the sleeve along sloped slots for `be apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l shows a perspective view of a partially cutaway pallet nack structure embodying the features of this invention; Y

XFIG. 2 shows a partially cutaway enlarged sectional view of a portion of the pallet r-ack structure offFIG. il showing the region of connection between the end vof a beam and an upright member; f

FIG. 3 shows a pantiallycutaway and sectional elevational view along theline 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a partially cutaway enlarged perspective View of the portion of the pallet rack structure of FIG. 1 showing the region of a connection between the end of a beam and an upright member;

FIG. 5 shows `a sectional View along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of the end pontion of a beam.

As viewed in FIG. 1,1a typical support vstructure orpallet rack 1 consists of a pair of ladder-shapedupright frames 2 and 3` spaced apart from each `other and joined together by means ofhorizontal beams 4, 5, `6 and 7. These beams are joined at their ends to theupright frames 2 and 3 in a manner hereinafter described. Theupright frame 2 is also joined to the ends of otherhorizontal beams 8, 9, 10 and 11 which, although not shown, extend to an additional` spaced upright frame similar toframes 2 and 3. In this manner theentire pallet rack 1 can be made any length required. Just as the beams `8, 9, 10 and 1-1 extend from theframe 2, other beams can extend in the opposite direction from thetrame 3 4so that the pallet rack can be extended in length in either direction.

Each of theupright frames 2. and 3 consists of a front upright 12 and a rear upright 13 joined together by horizontal front to back members 1'4 and 15 anddiagonal braces 16 and 17. Naturally the lengths of the members V14, 15, 16 and 17 can be appropriately cut to space theuprights 12 and 13 as far apart as necessary to provide the proper span between thefront beams 4 and 5 and therear beams 6 and 7. Also, the uprights y12 and 13 can be made as tall as necessary in 'order to accommodate the required vertical spacing of :the horizontal beams, as well as to permit positioning of as many vertically spaced beams as desired. Also, additional members similar to 14, 15, 16 and 17 can be added to provide sucient rigidity and strength.

With the structure as shown in FIG. 1, thebeams 5 and 6 provide a span across which pallets 'or other auticles can span so that the beams act as their support Yat an upper level. Similarly thebeams 4 and '7 provide a spanned support for pallets or other objects at a lower level.' yA pallet l"18 is shown supported by thebeams 4 and 7 and also aboard 19. If continuous shelving is required so that objects will not fall through the spanned opening between the beams, a plurality ofVboards 19 can be positioned Vside by side along the beams to provide a continuous Vuninterrupted support for various shapes and sizes of objects. The fron/t to back members 14 and 1-5 anddiagonal braces 16 and 17 are preferably welded at their ends to theuprights 12 and 13 in order to provide the completed ladder-shapedupright frames 2 and 3. This enables theframes 2 and 3 to be shipped as integral units, thus saving erection time and also insuring a rigid structure which might not be obtained if nuts and bolts or other fastening means are used toV 4secure these members together.

Each of theuprights 12 and 13 are provided with two rows ofopenings 26 extending along the entire length of theside Walls 21 and 22 of lthe uprights. Theopenings 20 are equally spaced from each other by a xed increment. These side wal-ls 21 and 22 are positioned parallel to each other and are connected therebetween byfront Walls 23 which form the uprights into channel shapes. Theside walls 21 and 22 are provided withilanges 24 and 25 which extend toward each other in a plane parallel to eachfront wall 21 of an upright. Theflanges 24 and 25, theside walls 21 and 22 and thefront wall 23 on each upright together provide a flanged channel shaped upright with fourcorners 26, 27, 23 and 29 which impart column strength and rigidity to the upright.

Even though different number designations have been given to the horizontal beams, -they are all identical in structure and can be used interchangeably as front or back beams by merely rotating them 180 degrees end to end in a horizontal plane.

As shown in the drawings, ahorizontal beam 6 consists of a rectangularshaped tube 31 composed of twochannels 32 and 33 facing each other with theiriianges 32a, 32b and 33a, 3311, respectively, overlapping each other to form the closed tube (FIG. 3). The overlappinganges 32a, 3215, 33a and 3311 are preferably welded together to maintain thechannels 32 and 33 joined together and to impart strength to the assembled itube. Secured to the outside wall of thechannel 33 is an L-shaped flanges 34 which is welded thereto and which acts as the support means for shelf material such as boards likeboard 19 shown in FlG. l. When the beams are positioned, aflange 34 on one beam is positioned directly opposite aflange 34 on another beam so that opposite ends of theboards 19 or other similar parts can be suitably supported.

Within each end of thetube portion 31 of the beams, is aU-shaped sleeve 35 which is provided with aninside wall 35a connected between two side walls 35h and 35e to form the U-.shape of themember 35. The free ends of theside walls 35b and 35e are provided withhooks 36 and 37 which are spaced vertically from each other in the normal position of the beam on its upright. Thesehooks 36 and 37 have their shapes imparted to them by means of open slot-s 36a and 37a extending inwardly from their lower portions. Each U-shapedsleeve 35 is provided with aU-shaped pin 38 which has amiddle arm 39 connected between twoside arms 40 and 41 to impart the U-shape to it. The arms 4l) and 41 of thispin 38 project throughcanted slots 42 in thesleeve 35. There are four of theseslots 42 in each of the sleeves 315, there being :two in each of the side walls` 35h and 35a` and each of the two in a side wall are spaced vertically from each other while a slot in one side wall is positioned directly opposite a slot in the opposite side wall.

The spacing of theside walls 35b and 35C in each of thesleeves 35 is a little less than the spacing of the walls of thechannels 32 and 33 which make up thetube 31 so that these side walls 3517 and 35C are positioned close to the walls of thechannels 32 and 33 when thesleeve 35 is telescoped within thetube 31. Each U- shapedpin 38 also has its por-tions 40 and 41 passed through four longitudinally extendingslots 43 which are in the walls of thechannel members 32 and 33, two in each member. Twowashers 44 are tted over thearms 40 and 41 of thepin 38 and are secured in place by welding or other fastening means in the positions shown best in FIGS. 3 and 5 for the purpose of retaining 'thepin 38 in place within thetube 31 and thesleeve 35.

With thesleeve 35 and thepin 38 assembled as described and shown in the drawings, thearms 40 and 41 are free to travel along thelongitudinal slots 43 in thetube 31 and along theslots 42 of the sleeve 3S. The movement `of the pin portions along theslots 43 allows thesleeve 35 to be extended or retracted out of and into thetube 31 so that itshooks 36 and 37 either extend beyond theend 31a of thetube 31 or are withdrawn entirely into thetube 31. The movement of the pin in -theslots 42 in reality occurs as movement of thesleeve 35 in an angular direction relative to thepin 38 at an angle determined by the cant or slope of theslots 42.

In order to assemble ahorizontal beam 6 to an upright 12 or 13, the beam is extended horizontally with each of its ends positioned adjacent to two oppositely positionedupright members 12 or 13. The beam is temporarily supported at a level where thehooks 36 and 37 of `thesleeves 35 on each end of the beam are in alignment with therespective openings 20 in theside walls 21 and 22 of theupright members 12 and 13. The spacing of theseopenings 20 vertically from each other is the same as that of thehooks 36 and 37, although the `length of eachopening 20 is more than the width of each of thehooks 36 and 37 so that the hooks can be positioned through theseopenings 20 without any diiculty.

With the beam positioned, as stated, with its ends between positioneduprights 12 or 13 and the hooks prop erly aligned with the openings 2G, the connectingportion 39 of thepin 33 lis manually gripped and thesleeve 35 on each end of the beam or tube is moved longitudinally of the beam toward the end of the beam by movement of the pin longitudinally of the beam. By moving thepin 38 to the left as viewed in FIG. 2, this causes thesleeve 35 to move to the left and extend thehooks 36 and 37 beyond theend 31a of the beam ortube 31 and through the openings 2t) in theupright member 13. Theslots 43 limit the travel of thesleeve 35 to the left as thepin arms 40 and 41 contact the left ends of theslots 43 at which time thepin arms 40 and 41 are, in effect, stationary projections relative to the beam ortube 31. When these hooks 36 and 37 are passed entirely through theopenings 20, on both ends of the beam, support of the beam is removed so that it is allowed to drop downwardly and this allows therecesses 36a and 37a to tit down over the bottom shoulders orlips 20a `of theopenings 20. As the beam moves downwardly of its own weight the pin arms 4i) and 41 are cammed against lthe side walls of theslots 42 to urge movement of thebeam end 31a against theside Wall 21 of the upright 13 so that theend 31a of the beam rests firmly against theside wall 21 of thisupright 13. Even though the weight lof the beam is ordinarily enough to provide a high degree of rigidity in' the connection between the beam and the upright, additional weight on the beam by the loading of pallets onto the rack in its final `assembled form, creates la tighter drawing up of the beam against the upright as thepin arms 40 and 41 are wedged more tightly down the inclines of theslots 42. This is a self-energizing locking action which is enhanced in' this manner upon additional loading of the pallet rack.

Upon disassembly of the pallet rack, a force is applied upwardly from beneath the beam so that the pin -arms 40 and 41 are urged up the inclines of theslots 42 to allow thehooks 36 and 37 to project a little more out from theend 31a of the beam. This releases the wedged locking condition and allows the beam to be raised further until thehooks 36 and 37 are clear of theshoulders 20a at the bottom of theopenings 20 so that they can be withdrawn from theopenings 20 upon manipulation of thepin 38 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2.

From what has been shown yand 4described it should be apparent that la pallet rack structure has been provided having only two basic separate components, viz., beams and iuprights. The beams are readily positioned between of? A fixed spaced uprights without interference of` connecting lugs when thesleeves 35 are retracted into the beams.

its assembly and disassemblyallows erect-ion andknockdown of the rack with a minimum of labor and time.

Although only 4'a single embodiment of thevinvent-ion 4 has` been shown and described, it should be apparent that the invention can be manufactured in still other ways without departing from the true scopev of the invention as dened by the appended claim-s.

I claim:y v 1. A support structure compri-sing vertical uprights and horizontal beams, each upright beingprovided with a row of openings `extending along at `least one side wall lot the upright, thebeam having 1a sleeve, telescoped pressure on the beam, said cam means being a slanted slot in the connector engaged by van arm on the beam.

3. Ay combination of a horizontal beam, an upright, and a connection therebetween, said combination comprising, lat least one hook, said hook being on connector means slidably mounted on the 'beam yfor movement ltnom a Iposition concealed within the beam to an extended position with the hook projecting longitudinally beyond the end 'of the beam, the upright having means for engaging the hook on the connector when it is 1in its extended position to connect lthe connector to the upright, said connector having a slanted slot enga-ged by an arm on the beam, said slanted slot being so directed that downward pressure on the beam causes the arm to be guided in' the slanted slot to cause the end of the beam and the Connector. to be urged longitudinally tightly against the upright to provide a tight connection between the `beam and the upright.

4. A combination of a horizontal beam, an upright, and 'a connection therebetween, said combination comprising, connector means including hooks, said connector Vmeans 'being sl-idably mounted on the beam for movewithin it and slidably mounted tor movement longitud-if nally of the beam in tw'o directions by means of a pin engaging at least one longitudinal slot in the beam, said sleeve being provided with a hook .which projects from the end of the beam when `the sleeve is moved in one direction and which` is ooncealedin the beam when the sleeve is moved in the other direction, the projecting hoo-k extending through one of said openings the upright when the end of the beam is abutting-the upright,l said hook engaging -a marginal lip of said one of said openings .upon downward displacement of the beam, said pin also engaging at least one angular positioned yslot in the sleeve `so that downward movement of the beam urges the pin along the angular positioned slot to u-rge the hook in a direction into the beam land the end .of the beam against -the side wall of the upright to tighten the connection between the beam and the upright.

2. A combination of' a horizontal beam, an upright,

` and la connectiontherebetween, saidcombination comprising, at least one hook, said hook being on connector means slidably mounted on the beam for movement from a position concealed within the beamte an extended position with the hook projecting longitudinally beyond the end fof `the beam, the upright having means for engauging` lthe hook on the connector when it is in its exment from la position concealed within the beam to an extended position projecting longitudinally beyond the end of lthe beam, the upright having openings through which said hooks of the connector means are passed for connecting the connector to the upright, said connector means having a first slot carried by an arm movable along the first slot, said arm also being engaged in a second slot'in the beam Vextending longitudinally of the beam, -said second slot `allowing the arm to be moved longitudinally of the beam to move the connector means longitudinally of the befam between its'concealed and extended positions, said first slot being so directed and acting :as a cam sunfaoe for the arm Ito urge the end of the beam and said hooks to be clamped tightly against the upright in opposite directions to provide ya tight contended position to connect the connector to the upright, f

against the `opposite side of the upright upon downward nection between' the beam and lthe upright upon downward pressure on ythe beam. Y

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,639 Kurtzon Dec.'9, 1913 2,056,544 Vanderveld Oct. 6, 1936 2,060,760 Keil Nov. 10, 1936 2,169,138 Causey Aug. 8, 1939 2,539,933 Silverman Jan. 30, 1951 2,582,035 Hill Jan. 8, 1952 2,815,130 Franks Dec. 3, 1957 2,932,368 Schell Apr. 12, `1960 2,932,409 Wineman Apr. 12, 1960

Claims (1)

1. 3. A COMBINATION OF A HORIZONTAL BEAM, AN UPRIGHT, AND A CONNECTION THEREBETWEEN, SAID COMBINATION COMPRISING, AT LEAST ONE HOOK, SAID HOOK BEING ON CONNECTOR MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE BEAM FOR MOVEMENT FROM A POSITION CONCEALED WITHIN THE BEAM TO AN EXTENDED POSITION WITH THE HOOK PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY BEYOND THE END OF THE BEAM, THE UPRIGHT HAVING MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE HOOK ON THE CONNECTOR WHEN IT IS IN ITS EXTENDED POSITION TO CONNECT THE CONNECTOR TO THE UPRIGHT, SAID CONNECTOR HAVING A SLANTED SLOT ENGAGED BY AN ARM ON THE BEAM, SAID SLANTED SLOT BEING SO DIRECTED THAT DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE BEAM CAUSES THE ARM TO BE GUIDED IN THE SLANTED SLOT TO CAUSE THE END OF THE BEAM AND THE CONNECTOR TO BE URGED LONGITUDINALY TIGHTLY AGAINST THE UPRIGHT TO PROVIDE A TIGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BEAM AND THE UPRIGHT.

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