EP1343703B1 - Pallet container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is directed to a pallet container assembly with a thin-walled rigid inner container of thermoplastic material for the storage and transport of liquid or flowable contents, including a cage-like bar frame closely surrounding as support jacket the inner plastic container, and a bottom pallet for placement of the inner plastic container and secure attachment of the support jacket, wherein there are provided, within the support area of the inner plastic container on the surface of the bottom pallet optionally on the surface of an intermediate plate, respective means (form-fitting means/frictional connection means) which-as viewed in the direction of the horizontal plane-result in a substantial increase of the slip resistance between the downwardly pointing outer surface of the bottom pallet or the intermediate plate.

Description

The invention relates to a pallet container for the storage and transport of liquid or flowable products, with a thin-walled inner container made of thermoplastic material, which has an upper filling opening and a protected at the lower lateral edge in a trough-shaped recess removal nozzle with outlet opening, with a Kunstatoff- Inner container as a support jacket tightly enclosing lattice tube frame and with a bottom pallet on which the plastic inner container rests and with which the lattice tube frame is firmly connected

State of the art :

Such pallet containers in lightweight construction with wireframe or lattice tube support jacket - without massive corner posts of angle iron - are well known, such. B. the US-A-4678373 ,

The attachment of the lattice tube frame on the bottom pallet, which may be formed as a flat pallet made of plastic, wood or steel tube frame, by means of over or through the lower horizontal surrounding frame tube cross fasteners such. As screws, clips, Klammem or claws. The fasteners are on the upper deck or the upper outer edge of the pallet z. B. nailed, donated, screwed or welded steel sheet pallets In a lattice-pipe support casing, the grid pipes can be designed as an open or closed profile with round or rectangular cross-section.

For an industrial application of the pallet containers, they must pass through an official approval sampling and fulfill certain quality criteria. Thus, e.g. Internal pressure tests as well as drop tests with filled pallet containers from certain drop heights u.a. even at extremely low temperatures (- 20 ° C) carried out Here is the worst case a diagonal case on the lower side Palettenstimseite on which the sampling nozzle is arranged with the removal of the inner plastic inner container.

In such drop tests, it has been found that the inner container tries to move against the bottom pallet during ground impact. In this case, the attachment points of the lattice casing are overloaded in particular on the impact front side and in adjacent lateral peripheral regions and partially torn off the bottom pallet. The attachment of the lower edge of the support shell on the pallet in this case represents a major problem. Since the fixation of the lattice mantle only on given a few places, the grid shell, in particular in a pipe grid, deformed very unevenly and distorted; In this case, the lower attachment points on the bottom pallet can tear and the thin-walled plastic container can be damaged by torn off lattice parts.

Problem: Pallet containers or combination IBCs (IBC = intermediate bulk container) of the type mentioned here (lightweight design) are used for the transport of liquids (such as dangerous chemicals). They are designed as pallet containers, preferably have a filling volume of 1000 liters and consist of pallet, mesh jacket and plastic inner container (PE-HD). The tightly enclosed by the grid shell inner container is usually provided with an upper filling opening and with a lower outlet fitting.

When diagonal drop test on the lower critical pallet end face (where the outlet fitting of the inner container is arranged) of the inner container with the liquid filling endeavors to slip sideways and to move in the direction of the front and lower Gitterwandung. The surge forces of the contents and the thrust of the inner container must be substantially intercepted by the front grid wall. The ground impact of a filled pallet container leads in the diagonal drop test to quite considerable elastic and plastic, d. H. permanent deformations and in the case of insufficient strength of the grille casing and pallet to devastating deformations and damage to the inner container. The area around the outlet fitting is the most endangered.

On the one hand, the test conditions in the drop test are that the inner container remains absolutely leak-free and no contents emerge from the outlet fitting or overstretched expansion regions of the plastic inner container, and that the pallet container can still be manipulated despite deformation, d. H. must be receivable and transportable with a forklift. These are essential prerequisites for obtaining official approval of the pallet container for use in hazardous liquid products.

One from the EP-A-995 698 known solution provides for such a load case (case test) that on the pallet at least in the area of the outlet tap outside stop elements are arranged, against which the inner container rests with inclined in the direction of the drain pallet and can be supported. These stop elements are ramp-shaped with a triangular or bell-shaped cross-section and have a the inner container facing steep flank and a Container facing away from flat edge. Due to their very limited spatial extent within the molding for the drain valve, the stop elements, however, can provide only a very local limited supporting action for the inner container.

in the publication US-A-5,465,885 is a stackable bulk transport container described which has a rigid construction of thick-walled cylindrical plastic inner container and thick-walled cube-shaped plastic outer container. In the bottom of the outer container four runner-like projections are formed, which allow the retraction of the forks of a forklift vehicle as in a floor pallet. In the bottom of the inner container, a sump is centrally centrally formed, which projects down into a central projection in the bottom of the outer container and to which a running between the two inner runners side leading pipe with an attached removal fitting connects.
In a diagonal case of this heavy-weight solid plastic container centrally arranged in the bottom of the outer container sump or the connection pipe with the removal fitting is heavily loaded by shearing forces and there is a great risk that cracks or break off the connection pipe.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet container of the type described above (in lightweight construction with tubular lattice frame without massive corner posts, plastic inner container with lower, laterally protected in a trough-like depression arranged withdrawal nozzle) with increased strength against mechanical stress (high fall resistance) indicate at achieved with simple design means better protection of the sensitive outlet nozzle with removal fitting and a reduction in the case of diagonal case occurring on the wall of the lattice frame transverse forces and thereby allows a corresponding official approval of the pallet container for use or for use for liquid products of the upper hazard class becomes.

Solution:

This object is achieved with the pallet container according to the invention in that a plurality of means is provided within the bearing surface of the underbody of the plastic inner container on the surface of the bottom pallet or on the surface of an inserted intermediate plate - viewed in the horizontal plane - an increase in the slip resistance between the pointing down Outside surface of the underbody of the inner container and the upward-facing surface of the bottom pallet or, effect the intermediate plate and in a diagonal case of the pallet container slipping of the inner container within the support surface in all directions is reduced.

Based on the recognition that the comparatively smooth underbody of the plastic inner container on the comparatively smooth surface of the bottom pallet or an intermediate plate arranged therebetween (eg as a damping element or as a support plate made of sheet metal or plastic, eg Styrofoam on a metal frame Pallet) in inclined position of the pallet container and in particular in a diagonal case has no significant slip resistance and the filled inner container can slide without appreciable frictional resistance to the side, is achieved by the arrangement of anti-slip or rutschmindernden means that in a diagonal ground impact filled in the falling down Plastic inner container inherent kinetic energy is consumed at least in part by these means, and not all the energy from the lower Gitterkorbwandung must be collected.

As a result, a displacement of the inner container relative to the pallet is largely prevented during the drop test and achieved a relief of the front or lower support frame. As a result, this leads to the fact that the lattice frame is less deformed in such a pallet container designed according to the invention and therefore suitable for hazardous liquid or flowable products up to class 6 (highest approval quality).

In an embodiment of the invention it is provided that inside the bottom wall of the plastic inner container outwardly (down) facing projections are formed and in the surface of the intermediate plate and / or in the surface of the bottom pallet corresponding inwardly (down) facing recesses are formed, which interlock positively.

In the from the above US Pat. No. 4,676,373 Although known pallet container is a centrally formed in the bottom wall of the inner container, the outlet valve towards recessed collecting gutter between two pallet boards of a wooden pallet sunken, this recessed collection channel is not limited within the bearing surface inner container / bottom pallet, but extends to the front edge of the bottom pallet; Since it is not formed transversely, it does not protect the outlet valve, since the inner container can slip unrestrained in the direction of the front edge of the pallet. An effective in the context of the present invention positive connection (transverse to the direction of the front edge of the pallet to protect the outlet valve) is thereby not formed or excited.

In a preferred further embodiment of the invention it is provided that inside the bottom wall of the plastic inner container inwardly (above) facing recesses and in the surface of the intermediate plate and / or in the surface of the bottom pallet corresponding outwardly (top) facing projections are formed, the form-fitting interlock and represent a positive connection. In order to develop a sufficient effect as a "slip brake", the interlocking interlocking elements (anti-slip elements) should have an engagement height of about 5 mm to 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm.

In this case, the interlocking elements may be advantageously provided with lateral chamfers to allow in extreme load cases slipping of the inner container, thus precluding tearing of the plastic bottom wall. The bevel of the interlocking elements should have an angle between about 45 ° and 85 °, preferably about 80 °.

I n further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the interlocking elements within the bearing surface plastic inner container on the bottom pallet have an outwardly limited areal extent and z. B. are formed as a circular, triangular or polygonal form-locking element. In another embodiment variant, the interlocking elements may have a linear extension and z. B. as at least to one side (to allow a residual emptying) open circular, triangular, polygonal or cross-shaped positive connection element may be formed.

The interlocking elements consist of elevations on the pallet surface and corresponding depressions in the bearing surface of the inner container bottom or elevations, d. H. Projections in the bearing surface of the inner container bottom and corresponding recesses (= depressions) in the pallet surface. Both variants could also be realized simultaneously next to each other.

With the inventive, within the support surface arranged, outwardly limited positive-locking elements slipping of the inner container in all possible directions is effectively prevented or reduced.

A form-locking element can, for. B. consist of a flat metal, plastic or wooden disc with a downwardly projecting pin (eg, diameter about 200 mm, height about 30 mm, pin diameter about 25 mm, pin height about 40 mm). In the pallet surface are z. B. four places corresponding recesses (here holes) formed, in which the pins of the form-locking elements are inserted. In the bearing surface of the inner container subfloor must then to the appropriate places the indentations or depressions may be provided.

In this simple way, any existing floor pallet made of wood, plastic or steel can be retrofitted for such pallet container when z. B. in a reconditioning of a used pallet container a new, provided with corresponding recesses in the underbody inner container is used.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that at least one outwardly (down) projecting pin projection is formed on the underbody of the inner container along the centrally extending Quetschnaht, which engages in a corresponding recess or a slot in the topsoil of the bottom pallet or intermediate plate arranged therebetween, and z. B. is attached by means of a transversely inserted pin from the bottom of the pallet deck. In this way it is also prevented that the subfloor of the inner container pulls in the usual disadvantageous manner due to shrinkage stresses in the thicker squeeze upwards and obstructs a complete emptying of the inner container.

Figur 1

einen erfindungsgemäßen Palettencontainer in Seitenansicht,

Figur 2

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Kunststoff-Bodenpalette,

Figur 3

einen schematischen Ausschnitt Innenbehälter-Bodenpalette,

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Bodenpalette,

Figur 5

einen Teil-Querschnitt durch die Bodenpalette gem. Fig. 4,

Figur 6

eine Teilansicht Innenbehälter-Bodenpalette mit Formschluß-Element,

Figur 7

eine Teilansicht Innenbehälter-Bodenpalette mit Formschluß-Element,

Figur 8

eine Teilansicht Innenbehälter-Bodenpalette mit Formschluß-Element,

Figur 9

eine Frontansicht eines Innenbehälters mit Formschluß-Elementen,

Figur 10

eine Seitenansicht des Innenbehälters mit Formschluß-Elementen,

Figur 11

eine Teilansicht Innenbehälter-Bodenpalette mit Formschluß-Element und

Figur 12

eine Querschnittsansicht des Formschluß-Elementes aus Fig. 11

The invention will be explained and described in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. Show it :

FIG. 1

a pallet container according to the invention in side view,

FIG. 2

a longitudinal section through a plastic floor pallet,

FIG. 3

a schematic section of inner container floor pallet,

FIG. 4

a plan view of a floor pallet according to the invention,

FIG. 5

a partial cross section through the bottom pallet gem. 4,

FIG. 6

a partial view of inner container floor pallet with positive locking element,

FIG. 7

a partial view of inner container floor pallet with positive locking element,

FIG. 8

a partial view of inner container floor pallet with positive locking element,

FIG. 9

a front view of an inner container with form-fitting elements,

FIG. 10

a side view of the inner container with positive locking elements,

FIG. 11

a partial view of inner container floor pallet with positive locking element and

FIG. 12

a cross-sectional view of the positive-locking element of FIG. 11

The pallet container 10 shown in Figure 1 consists of a thin-walled rigid inner container 12 made of thermoplastic material for storage and transport of liquid or flowable products, from a plastic inner container 12 as a support jacket tightly enclosing lattice frame 14 and a bottom pallet 16, on which the plastic inner container 12 rests and with which the grid frame 14 is firmly connected. The drawn circles in the area underbody of the inner container and topsoil of the bottom pallet 16 are intended to illustrate the point of use of the positive locking elements 18 of the present invention. In the event that between inner container 12 and bottom pallet 16, an additional intermediate plate, for. B. steel or plastic to cover an open tubular frame pallet or styrofoam as a damping element is arranged, the measures of the invention such. B. provided several form-fitting elements between these three parts, in any case, they are in direct operative contact with the underbody of the inner container.

In Figure 2 , the form-locking means 18 are also marked by circles drawn there. In a schematic representation of a positive connection according to the invention in Figure 3 by a molding 22 in the lower bottom of the inner container 12 and a corresponding survey or a projection 20 on the top floor of the bottom pallet 16 is realized. The bulge or the projection 20 on the pallet upper floor can also be realized by means of separate slip-on or insert elements if necessary. With predetermined breaking point (see Fig. 6 and 7).

The plan view in Figure 4 shows the bottom pallet 16 with four round form-locking elements 20in the corner areas. The inner container must then have in the subsoil at the appropriate places the upwardly molded recesses.

Furthermore, two Velcro strips 48 and two adhesive pads 50 are shown in addition or as an alternative solution. The adhesive pads can z. B. be realized by a double-sided adhesive film or by surface applied adhesive sites. Likewise, the Velcro strips are glued to the bottom pallet and the bottom of the inner container. These frictional / adhesive elements can be used in an advantageous manner and subsequently in each existing pallet container.

The surface of the bottom pallet 16 is - as well as the bottom of the inner container 12 quite easily or flat funnel-shaped inclined to the middle, leading to the outlet fitting center trough 52. Within this middle channel 52, a plurality of slots 38 are formed, in which - with the inner container 12 - corresponding pin-like projections 30 engage the bottom of the inner container 12 in a form-fitting manner.

FIG. 5 shows a partial section through the lower right-hand form-locking element 20 (marked by dashed lines in the reference circle).

A positive connection element 18 can, as shown in Figure 6, is shown, for. B. from a flat metal, plastic or wooden disc with a downwardly projecting pin 26 consist (eg Duchmesser about 200 mm, height about 30 mm, pin diameter about 25 mm, pin height about 40 mm). In the pallet surface are z. B. four places corresponding recesses formed, here they are designed as holes 24, in which the pins 26 of the form-locking elements 18 are inserted. In the subfloor of the inner container 12 then the recesses 22 and depressions must be provided at the appropriate locations. The pins 26 may be provided with a predetermined breaking point, which breaks off when overloaded, so that the underbody of the inner container can not be damaged.

A somewhat different solution is shown in FIG . This attacks a z. B. round positive engagement element 18 at the same time up into the indentation 22 of the inner container 12 and down into a corresponding indentation 28 in the bearing surface of the bottom pallet 16 and establishes an effective positive connection in the horizontal plane direction.

In Figure 8 , a piece of the lower bottom of the plastic inner container 12 is shown in fragmentary form with two pin-like projections 30 which engage positively in corresponding recesses 28 and slots 38 in the surface of the bottom pallet 16.

The projections 30 may be round or narrow in length; they are formed during the blow molding process as an integral piece in the squeeze of the lower Butzenstück the inner container 12 and can also be provided with a corresponding predetermined breaking point 44. In FIG. 9 , these projections 30, which are formed along the crimp seam on the underfloor of the inner container 12, are shown in front view and in FIG. 10 in a side view. The projections 30 engage positively in the corresponding slots 38 of the bottom pallet 16 (see Fig. 4).

The partial sectional view in Figure 11 shows a particular embodiment with a pin projection 36 along the Quetschnaht 34 on the lower bottom of the inner container 12. The pin 36 is inserted into a slot 36 in the upper deck of the bottom pallet 16 and is inserted through a through a correspondingly provided bore 40 Locking pin 42 fixed from below firmly against the pallet upper deck. The pin 36 is illustrated in Figure 12 in side view and also provided with predetermined breaking points 44 and / or 46. The predetermined breaking points 44, 46 should exclude overuse of the inner container subfloor in the extreme load case with certainty. .

Particularly important in the form-locking, frictional and adhesive elements is that they reduce slippage of the inner container on the pallet surface in any direction and in particular on the front edge of the pallet, where the outlet fitting of the inner container is located or on noticeably reduce the front grid wall acting shear forces of the inner container and are effective by their particular "retaining effect".

By the measures shown, any existing range of wood, plastic or steel can be retrofitted according to the present invention for all pallet containers.

References list

10

pallet container

12

inner container

14

Spaceframe

16

bottom pallet

18

Form-fitting elements

20

Projection (16)

22

Indentation (12)

24

Bore (16)

26

Tenons (18)

28

Indentation (16)

30

Pin projection (12)

32

outlet opening

34

pinch seam

36

Pin projection (12/34)

38

Slot (16)

40

Bore (36)

42

safety pin

44

Breaking point

46

Breaking point

48

Velcro strips

50

Adhesive pads

52

Middle gutter (16)

Claims (14)

1. Pallet container (10) for storing and for transporting liquids or free-flowing contents, having a thin-walled rigid inner container (12) which is made of thermoplastic material and has a top introduction opening and a removal neck, with outflow opening (32), which is protected in a hollowed depression along the bottom lateral periphery, having a tubular lattice frame (14) which tightly encloses the inner plastic container (12) as a supporting casing, and having a base pallet (16), on which the inner plastic container (12) rests and to which the tubular lattice frame (14) is fixed, characterized in that provided within the bearing surface of the base of the inner plastic container (12), on the top surface of the base pallet (16) or on the top surface of an intermediate panel, are a plurality of means which - as seen in a horizontal-plane direction - increase the slip resistance between the downwardly directed outer surface of the base of the inner container (12) and the upwardly directed top surface of the base pallet (16) or of the intermediate panel.
2. Pallet container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the means for increasing the slip resistance are designed as friction-fitting elements and/or adhesive elements (= adhering elements).
3. Pallet container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the means for increasing the slip resistance are designed as form-fitting elements (18).
4. Pallet container according to either of the preceding Claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the base wall of the inner plastic container (12) and the top surface of the base pallet (16), or an intermediate panel arranged therebetween, contains suitable means (18) which - as seen in the horizontal-plane direction - interengage in a form-fitting manner.
5. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1, 3 and 4, characterized in that outwardly (downwardly) directed material protrusions (30, 36) are provided within the base wall of the inner plastic container (12) and corresponding inwardly (downwardly) directed shaped recesses or slots (38) are provided in the top surface of the intermediate panel and/or in the top surface of the base pallet (16), and these interengage in a form-fitting manner.
6. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1, 3 and 4, characterized in that inwardly (upwardly) directed shaped recesses (22) are provided within the base wall of the inner plastic container (12) and corresponding outwardly (upwardly) directed protrusions or attachments (18) are provided in the top surface of the intermediate panel and/or in the top surface of the base pallet (16), and these interengage in a form-fitting manner and provide a form-fitting connection.
7. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1, 3 and 4, characterized in that inwardly (upwardly) directed shaped recesses (22) are provided within the base wall of the inner plastic container (12) and corresponding inwardly (downwardly) directed shaped recesses (28) are also provided in the top surface of the intermediate panel and/or in the top surface of the base pallet, the shaped recesses (22, 28) having positioned in them a form-fitting element (18) which engages in a form-fitting manner in the two corresponding shaped recesses (22, 28) and thus provides a form-fitting connection.
8. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1 or 3 to 7, characterized in that the engaging form-fitting elements (18) have an engagement height of approximately 5 mm to 50 mm, preferably approximately 20 mm.
9. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1 or 3 to 8, characterized in that the form-fitting elements (18) have a lateral bevel with an angle between 45° and 85°, preferably approximately 80°.
10. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1 or 3 to 9, characterized in that the form-fitting elements (18) are bounded in the outward direction within the inner container/base pallet bearing surface and have a two-dimensional extent, that is to say they are designed, for example, as circular, triangular or polygonal form-fitting elements.
11. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1 or 3 to 10, characterized in that the form-fitting elements (18) are bounded in the outward direction within the inner container/base pallet bearing surface and have an essentially linear extent, that is to say they are designed, for example, as annular, triangular, polygonal or cross-shaped form-fitting elements which are open at least on one side.
12. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that friction-fitting elements or adhesive elements (= adhering elements) are provided between the top surface of the base pallet (16), and/or an intermediate panel arranged thereon, and the base of the inner container (12), these friction-fitting elements preferably being adhesive pads (50), adhesive strips, touch-and-close fastener elements (48) or areas of adhesive which have a very pronounced adhering/adhesive action in the horizontal-plane direction, but can easily be detached in the vertical direction (for easy exchange of the inner container).
13. Pallet container according to one of the preceding Claims 1 and 3, characterized in that at least one outwardly (downwardly) projecting peg-like protrusion (36) is formed on the base of the inner container (12), along the central pinch-off weld seam (34), and engages in a corresponding recess or a slot (38) in the top of the base pallet (16), or of the intermediate panel arranged therebetween, and is fastened therein.
14. Pallet container according to Claim 13, characterized in that the projecting and/or engaging form-fitting elements (18, 26, 30, 36) are provided with at least one predetermined breaking location (44, 46).

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