Patent ID: 12187517

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1illustrates a pallet container10according to the invention (also referred to as an “IBC”=Intermediate Bulk Container) for storing and transporting fluid or flowable filling materials. The pallet container10comprises a thin-walled, rigid plastics inner container12made from thermoplastic plastics material, a tubular grid frame14which tightly surrounds the plastics inner container12as a supporting covering and which comprises horizontal and vertical tubular rods18,20which are welded to each other and a base pallet16on which the plastics inner container12is positioned and to which the tubular grid frame14is securely connected. Two rod-shaped transverse cross-members22are provided above the plastics inner container12and are fixed with the two ends thereof to two mutually opposite side walls of the upper tubular grid frame14. In this case, the two transverse cross-members22are in the form of resilient spring elements24in an arcuately curved form. The particular constructive embodiment of the transverse cross-members22is distinguished in that the transverse cross-members are constructed not to be rectilinear or linear between the two fixing locations26,28thereof, but instead in a curved manner and have a comparatively large curve34. In this case, the length of the transverse cross-members22between their two fixing locations26,28is constructed in a completely unusual manner to be greater than the direct spacing of the two fixing locations26,28at the ends of the transverse cross-members22. In the present embodiment, the fixing locations26,28are arranged at the ends of the transverse cross-members22in each case on two vertical rods closely below the uppermost horizontally extending tubular rod18between two opposing side walls of the tubular grid frame14.

Specifically, the length of the transverse cross-members22between their two fixing locations26,28is constructed to be between 1% and 5%, preferably 3% greater than the direct spacing between the two fixing locations26,28. For standard pallet containers having a filling volume of 600, 1000 or 1200 liters and which have the same dimension in terms of width and length, the spacing of the two fixing locations26,28from each other is approximately 960 mm and the effective length of the transverse cross-members22is approximately 993 mm. For the same standard pallet containers, the curved transverse cross-members22are intended to have a large radius of curvature between 300 mm and 700 mm, preferably 500 mm.

The above-described constructive embodiment of the invention can be better seen inFIG.2in an enlarged cut-out. In this case, it is shown that the arcuately curved transverse cross-members22—in the fitted state—are positioned flat in a horizontal plane on the upper base38of the plastics inner container12, wherein the large curves34of the two transverse cross-members22are orientated so as to face away from each other.

In a modified embodiment, the transverse cross-members22can be constructed as resilient spring elements with two or three smaller curves which are orientated in a horizontal plane and which have smaller radii in comparison.

In any case, the arcuately curved transverse cross-members22—in the installed state—are each guided through a retaining lug40which is formed from the upper base38of the plastics inner container12, wherein the retaining lugs40are arranged at the center of and engaging over the fitted curved transverse cross-members22(another form of the retaining lugs is illustrated inFIG.9).

FIG.3is a plan view of a curved transverse cross-member22which is in the form of a spring element and which has a large radius of curvature of approximately 500 mm. The transverse cross-members may be constructed as a hollow tube having a round or square cross section. In a preferred embodiment, the transverse cross-members22,42have a round tubular profile with a diameter between 16 mm and 24 mm, preferably 20 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.9 mm. According to another construction type, however, the transverse cross-members22,42may also have a square tubular profile with a side length between 14 mm and 20 mm, preferably 16 mm, and a wall thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.9 mm.

FIG.4is a side view of another embodiment of a transverse cross-member with two curves42which have in the end regions thereof—when viewed in the fitted state—a downwardly formed small curve36with a comparatively small radius and upwardly directed ends and (as can be seen in detail inFIG.8) are each screwed with their respective end faces from below against the uppermost circumferential horizontal tubular rod18. One end of the transverse cross-member with two curves42with downwardly formed small curves36with a small radius is illustrated as an enlarged partial view inFIG.5. A threaded nut30with an internal thread44(for example, M8 or M10) is securely inserted in the open ends of the hollow tubular profile of the transverse cross-member with two curves42(see alsoFIG.7). The non-releasably inserted threaded nut30can simply be pressed in, compressed or welded.

One possible fixing method, in which a threaded screw48is screwed at the end face into the end of the hollow tubular profile of the transverse cross-member22can be seen inFIG.6. In this case, the transverse cross-member22is fixed closely below the uppermost horizontal tubular rod18by means of the threaded screw48which is screwed from the exterior at the end face—in the horizontal direction—to the upper flattened ends of two mutually opposite vertical tubular rods20.

FIG.7correspondingly shows the open end of the hollow tubular profile of the transverse cross-member22(having only one large curve) with a securely inserted screw nut30having an internal thread44. The transverse cross-member with2curves42is, as described above, screwed with its end face from below against the uppermost circumferential horizontal tubular rod18of the tubular grid frame in a secure but re-releasable manner.

Another possible method for fixing the transverse cross-member with two curves42with an end-face screw connection is shown inFIG.8as an enlarged illustration. In this case, the two ends of the transverse cross-members with2curves42are strongly compressed in the radial direction, wherein a corresponding internal thread46is formed directly in the compressed portions32. In this case, the transverse cross-members with2curves42with the smaller curves at the end regions thereof are fixed at their end faces from below against the uppermost horizontal tubular rod18by means of a threaded screw48which is screwed in from above—in the vertical direction. Advantageously, the uppermost horizontal tubular rod18is slightly recessed at the top at the bore hole and the threaded screw48is configured as a flat-head, countersunk head or raised countersunk screw so that it does not project upwardly. The compressed portions32with a correspondingly formed internal thread46can naturally also be produced in the case of the transverse cross-member22(with only one large curve). The end-face screw connections further have the advantage that the screw tip is located completely in the hollow tubular profile of the transverse cross-members22,42and is covered so that injuries can no longer thereby result, as was often the case with previously conventional open screw connections with a projecting screw tip.

Previously conventional linear cross-members can be screwed directly in the center axis with screws at the end face only with difficulty. When the screws are tightened, the cross-member also rotates and it has to be fixed for assembly. This fixing is dispensed with as a result of the arcuately curved shape of the transverse cross-members.

As previously mentioned, the arcuately curved transverse cross-members22—in the fitted state—are each guided through a retaining lug40which is formed from the upper base38of the plastics inner container12. In another embodiment, the retaining lugs40may also be constructed as carrier pins50(also referred to as hook lugs) which are open at one side, as shown inFIG.9. In this instance, the curved transverse cross-members22are centrally fixed by central engagement of the carrier pins50over the transverse cross embers from the outer side to the inner side, with the carrier pins50constructed in a solid manner by means of material thickening.

The differently configured versions of the transverse cross-members22,42enable a different configuration of the securing of the two ends of the transverse cross-members22,42to the upper tubular grid frame14. In addition to the end-face fixings described, the ends52of the transverse cross-members22,42— in a manner known per se—may also be flattened, placed flat around the uppermost horizontal rod of the tubular grid frame14and screwed by means of a threaded screw54below the uppermost tubular rods18, as can be seen inFIG.10.

In a combined form, the transverse cross-members22,42may be constructed as resilient spring elements also with two smaller curves which are orientated in a vertical plane with smaller radii in comparison and one, two or three smaller curves which are orientated in a horizontal plane with smaller radii in comparison. Such a formation may be advantageous for a torque-neutral construction. The embodiments of the transverse cross-members described and the securing possibilities may in the context of the present invention—as far as technically possible—be combined in a simple manner with each other or exchanged for each other.

Conclusion: As a result of the construction according to the invention of the transverse cross-members22,42as resilient spring elements, in a pallet container10in a comparatively simple manner the upper region of the tubular grid frame14can be protected against a disadvantageous effect of transport impacts and dynamic impact loads and the operational safety during the handling of filled pallet containers can be increased.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10Pallet container12Plastics inner container14Tubular grid frame16Base pallet18Horizontal tubular rods (14)20Vertical tubular rods (14)22Transverse cross-member24Spring element (22)26Fixing location (22)28Opposite fixing location (22)30Threaded nut (22)32Compressed portion (22)34Large curve (22)36Small curve (22)38Upper base (12)40Retaining lug (38)42Transverse cross-member with2curves44Internal thread (30)46Internal thread (32)48Threaded screw (30,32)50Hook lug or carrier pin (38,12)52End of transverse cross-member (22,42)54Threaded screw (22,42)