Abstract:
A pallet for carrying a boom of a front-end loader is constructed with spaces at one end so for receiving the corresponding end of an identical pallet, whereby the two pallets may be secured together to form a unit. When front loader booms of a type including a pair of transversely spaced arms are mounted in an upright disposition on the unitized pair of pallets, the booms overlap such that one arm of one is located between the spaced arms of the other. The dimensions of the unitized pallet are such that its length approximates the width of a standard sea-going container while its width is approximately a whole number fraction of the standard container length.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a pallet for upright transporting of a hoisting device, in particular a front-end loader. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is already known how to mount a front loader upright on an existing and standardized wooden pallet, where the front loader, when in the mounted position, does not extend out beyond the side edges of the wooden pallet. The various accessories, such as the bucket, control devices and the like are deposited in the open space between the arms of the front loader boom. This already proven transport method does not allow a space-saving shipping of many front loaders, e.g., in a sea-going container. 
     In order to achieve a greater load density, according to another method, several front loaders are placed prone, one upon the other, on one wooden pallet. The dimensions of length and of width of the front loaders located on the pallet are configured so that the load surface of a sea-going container cannot be utilized to the optimum. In addition, there is danger of paint damage to the front loaders stacked one upon the other, and the front loaders must be separated from each other during unloading so that they can be provided to the end users. 
     The problem underlying the invention can be described in that with the known methods and pallets, an optimum filling of standard sea-going containers is not possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided an improved pallet for supporting devices for being shipped in sea-going containers. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a pallet having supports constructed so as to define gaps along one side into which supports of a like pallet may be inserted to form a compact arrangement with the first pallet. 
     Another object is to provide a pallet, as set forth in the preceding object, for supporting a front-end loader boom having spaced arms, in a standing disposition. 
     Yet another object is to provide a pallet, as set forth in the immediately preceding object, wherein a pair of like loaded pallets may be slid together with one spaced arm of the loader on one of the pallets being disposed between the spaced arms of the loader on the other of the pallets. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of loaded pallets, as set forth in the immediately preceding object, wherein the pair of pallets may be secured to each other and when so secured have a length dimension approximately equal to the width dimension of a standard sea-going shipping container, and to have a width dimension which is approximately a whole number fraction of a length dimension of the shipping container. 
     These and other objects will become apparent from a reading of the ensuing description together with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pallet constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a pair of pallets, like that shown in FIG. 1, which are moved into overlapping positions and joined together. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view showing front loader booms respectively mounted in upright dispositions on the joined pair of pallets. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a pallet  10  comprising parallel, right-hand, left-hand and intermediate beams  12 ,  14  and  16 , respectively, joined together by three parallel, upper cross members  18 ,  20  and  22 , respectively, and two lower cross members  18 ′ and  20 ′, respectively, located below the beams in at least partial vertical alignment with the cross members  18  and  20 . The cross members  18 - 18 ′,  20 - 20 ′ and  22  are each disposed at right angles to the beams and are of a length equal to the distance between opposite outer sides of the right-and left-hand beams  12  and  14 . The upper cross members  18 ,  20  and  22  are here shown as being identical, with cross member  18  being located across one end region of each of the beams  12 ,  14  and  16 , with cross member  20  being located approximately half way between opposite ends of the beams, and with cross member  22  being located between the cross members  18  and  20 . The lower cross members  18 ′ and  20 ′ are approximately three times thicker than the upper cross members  18  and  20  which establishes plenty of space for the insertion of the forks of a forklift truck beneath the beams. Aiding in supporting the beams  12 ,  14  and  16  above the ground are right-hand, left-hand and intermediate blocks  24 ,  26  and  28 , respectively, that are located under those end regions of the beams  12 ,  14 , and  16  that are spaced beyond the cross members  20  and  20 ′. The ends of the beams  12 ,  14  and  16  that extend beyond the cross member  22  are not interconnected and thus are in the form of fork tines that define gaps or spaces  30  and  32 , respectively, between the middle bean  16  and the right- and left-hand beams  12  and  14 . 
     The open spaces  30  and  32  are at least as wide as one beam  12  or  14 . Even though fundamentally it is sufficient to create only one open space  30  or  32 , preferably both are created. According to the representation in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate beam  16  is located along a central line of the pallet  10  with the spaces  30  and  32  being located at opposite sides of the beam  16 . However, if necessary; the beam  16  may be positioned asymmetrical to a center line of the pallet  10  in order to achieve a different connection when connecting two pallets  10  together as described below. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, first and second pallets  10  are shown with their forked ends facing each other, with the beams  12  and  14  of one pallet being located respectively along inner and outer sides of the other pallet  10 . Four identical straps  34  are shown with a first pair respectively connecting the end regions of the beams  12  and  14  of the first pallet to the beams  12  and  14  of the second pallet; and with a second pair of straps  34  respectively connecting the end regions of the beams  12  and  14  of the second pallet to the beams  14  and  16  of the first pallet. In another design format (not shown) only one strap  34  could be used which would span across the entire width of both pallets  10 , and thus across the beams  14  and  16  of both pallets as well as the spaces  30  and  32 . In any case, the straps  34  are made of steel band or from a steel strip and have openings (not visible) to receive attachment elements  36 , e.g., wood screws. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a pair of pallets  10  on which are respectively mounted a pair of loaders  38 . The loaders  38  are of a known design including a boom constructed from a pair of parallel, transversely spaced arms  40 , that are angled between rear and front ends, as considered when the loader is in use, so as to define an intermediate knee section. The forward ends of the pair of arms  40  have an implement or tool carrier  42  mounted thereto, and mounted to at least one, but usually to each, of the arms  40  at a region near the carrier  42  is a parking stand or brace  44 . 
     The arms  40  are spaced apart a distance sufficient for permitting one arm  40  of one loader  38  to be placed between the arms  40  of the other loader  38 . Thus, as viewed in FIG. 3, the tool carrier  42  of one loader  38  is placed at the left top end region of the left-hand pallet  10 , while the tool carrier  42  of the other loader  38  is similarly placed at the right top end region of the right-hand pallet  10 . The parking stands  44  respectively of the two loaders  38  extend toward each other to the middle of the combined pallets  10 . The tool carriers  42  of the respective loaders  38  are located at opposite side regions of the combined pallets  10  and cooperate with the respective parking stands  44  to support the boom arms  40  at an inclination which ensures that the arms  40  and the tool carrier  42  do not extend out beyond the opposite sides of the two joined pallets  10 . Also, together with the pallets  10  the arms  40  do not exceed a height which corresponds to the inside loading space of a sea-going container or other container, such as a railroad boxcar, for example. A standard exterior dimension for such a container is 40′ (≈12.2 m) long×8′(≈2.44 m) wide×8′(≈2.44 m) high. A suitable joined, two pallet unit has the dimensions of 2180 mm long×1560 mm wide, with the unit fitting lengthwise across the width of the interior of the container with a small clearance at each end, with eight units fitting within the length of the container interior with a small clearance left. 
     The tool carrier  42  rests upon and may be releasably secured to the associated pallet  10  by angle irons, wire, screws, clamps, or the like. To increase the structural integrity, in the preferred design example, the parking stands  44  are likewise respectively tightly secured, e.g., screwed, nailed or wire-tied to the linked pallets  10 . 
     Accordingly, the following method for loading of the front end loaders  10  can be accomplished. Initially, one loader  38  is set upon one of the pallets  10  in the manner shown in FIG. 3 by means of a crane or similar machine, so that the tool carrier  42  rests on one end region of the pallet  10 . Next the parking stand or stands  44  are folded down and secured to the pallet  10 . Next, the tool carrier  42  is likewise secured to the pallet  10 , so that the loader  38  forms a unit with the pallet  10 . In this situation, one of the pair of arms  40  will be located upon or over one of the beams  12  or  14 , whereas the open spaces  30  and  32  are located between the loader arms  40 . In this state, the pallet  10  can be transported with the loader  38  by using a forklift or similar machinery wherein the forks project crosswise beneath the beams of the pallet. 
     For an optimum loading and unloading of several loaders  38  mounted upon respective pallets  10 , two loaded pallets  10  can be joined together in the manner shown in FIG. 2, i.e., they are positioned at an offset to each other and as mirror images (disregarding the fact that the beams  12  and  14  are different sizes) with respect to each other. In this manner, the beams  12  or  14  of the one pallet  10  are moved into the open space  30  or  32  of the other pallet  10 , whereas the arms  40  of the two involved loaders  38  overlap each other with one arm of one loader being between the two arms of the other loader. Finally, the straps  34  are set down in the region between the two loaders upon the two pallets and are fixed by using the attachment elements  36 . Consequently, a unit is formed composed of two pallets  10  and two loaders  38 , which can be jointly handled and which require the smallest possible amount of space. 
     In a slightly revised version, the pair of pallets  10  to be linked could be oriented in the same direction with the exposed ends of the beams  12 ,  14 , and  16  of one pallet inserted into the gaps between the center beam  16  and the beams  12  and  14  of the other pallet. 
     Accessories of the loaders  38  can be placed in the remaining free spaces at the top of the pallets  10   
     Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.