Patent ID: 8282325
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: B60P,B61D,B65D

Abstract:
1. A method of supporting a plurality of support cradles used in supporting coils, rolls, and other cylindrical objects, where each support cradle comprises a pair of parallel saddle elements where each saddle element comprises a bottom surface and projecting members projecting from the bottom surface, with each said saddle element comprising a concave upper surface defining a central, lower curved section, and a pair of parallel connecting elements each connecting corresponding sections of said pair of saddle elements in order to form a rectilinear-shaped structure, said method comprising: (a) affixing a pair of spaced-apart rail elements to an understructure in a spaced apart manner, where each rail element comprises an upper surface having a series of linearly-arranged holes along a portion of the length thereof; (b) loosely attaching a plurality of said support cradles in a linear series to the rail elements of said step (a) such that each support cradle is supported by the pair of rail elements; (c) said step (b) comprising inserting the respective projecting members projecting from the respective bottom surface of one parallel saddle element of each said support cradle into respective chosen holes of the series of holes of one of the pair of rail elements; (d) said step (b) further comprising inserting the respective projecting members projecting from the respective bottom surface of the other parallel saddle element of each support cradle into respective chosen holes of the series of holes of the other of the pair of rail elements; (e) said step (c) comprising inserting the respective projecting members into respective holes such that said projecting members are allowed a limited degree of movement in the holes in order to accommodate distortions induced in said support cradle under load conditions.