Patent GB-734002-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to load platforms for the transport of goods
Filed: 1951-05-04
Abstract: 734,002. Bundling. SHARP, J. R., and KAYE, E. Aug. 5, 1952 [May 4, 1951; Sept. 4, 1951] Nos. 10540/51 and 20873/51. Class 94(1). [Also in Group XXX] A cover which may be drawn down by tension means to clamp goods in position on a pallet or goods - supporting platform is held captive to the platform by the tension means. In the arrangement of Fig. 1 a wire cable 35 on each of two opposite sides of the pallet passes from an anchorage 34 on the cover 26 around guides 36, 37 on the pallet, and around a guide 38 on the cover to a winch 40 by which the cable is drawn taut. An eye 38 on the pallet holds captive a ball or head (not shown) at the end of the cable 35, when this is released from the winch 40, to prevent complete separation of the cover 26 from the pallet. When no load is carried on the pallet the cover is held against it by wrapping the cable 35 round the guides 36, 37, 38 several times before tightening it by means of the winch 40. The pallet illustrated comprises angle members 12, 13 welded at the corners and a sheet metal floor 16, Fig. 2, welded to traverse members 14, 15 which are in turn welded to the channel members 12, 13. Runners 17, 18 welded to the underside of the pallet provide for four-way entry and are stiffened by welded webs 20, 21, by welded plates 19, and, if desired, by creasing each runner upwardly along its middle. The cover 26 comprises angle members 27, 28 welded at the corners and joined by transverse sheet metal members 29, 30, 31 the outer members 29, 31 of which are adapted to receive the runners 17, 18 of a further pallet stacked above. Lifting eyes 32, 33 are welded to the cover. According to the first Provisional Specification the pallet and cover may be joined on each of two sides by two pairs of toggle links, the joints of which are drawn together by a length of cord, by a chain provided with a toggle shortening device, or by a screw-tensioning device, to collapse the cover on to the goods. The toggle links on opposite sides may be fast on common spindles. Both the pallet and the cover may comprise light alloy castings, the pallet being in the form of a surround frame cast in one piece with a floor formed with ribs by which it is divided into a number of rectangular cells over which a thin sheet of light alloy is welded to form the load platform. The pallet may rest on cast light alloy skids of a similar configuration to those shown in Fig. 1 and welded to the platform. The toggle links fold into channels along the side of the pallet. Channels on the cover overlie those on the pallet. This subject-matter does not appear in the Complete Specification. The winch 40 may comprise, Fig. 5, a flanged drum 42 fast with an axle 47 mounted in a bushing 46 welded to the frame 28 of the cover. A spring 48 urges the drum 42 towards the cover so that inserted pawls 50 in the drum engage ratchet teeth 49 on the bushing 46. The end of the cable 35 carries a ball (not shown) adapted to be inserted in a lateral passage in the head 43 of the drum 42, and radial passages 44 are provided to take a tommy bar. In an alternative construction of the winch 40, Fig. 6 (not shown), an external spring-biased pawl engages ratchet teeth on the flanges of the winch drum and is provided with a striking plate which may be struck by a hammer to release the pawl. The spindle of the pawl is carried by a U-shaped bracket welded to the cover 26 and partially enclosing the winch. Specifications 3406/04, [Class 94], 288,020, [Class 94 (i)], and 362,741, [Group XXX], are referred to.