FR2646391A1 - AUTONOMOUS PALLET WITH REMOVABLE WHEELS FOR THE TRANSPORT OF LOADS - Google Patents

Abstract

Pallet for transporting loads provided with independent displacement means, comprising a plate 1 consisting of two horizontal parallel flat surfaces 2, 3, mutually braced. According to the invention, this pallet is characterized in that it comprises a rod 6 mounted to slide relative to the upper surface 2 of the plate and joined to a link arm 10, 11 controlling the rotation about a first transverse axis 13 two balances 14 fixed to the ends of this axis, each balance being provided to cause around a second axis 17 carried by the plate of a support 16 of counterweight 21, terminated by a yoke 18 provided with a roller 19, of such that a force exerted on the rod to cause its relative displacement with respect to the plate, determines the pivoting in one direction of each rocker and, consequently, in the opposite direction, of the support of the corresponding counterweight, bringing the wheel carried by the screed in contact with the ground on which the pallet rests, ensuring, by reaction thereon, the lifting of this pallet and giving it the ability to move on the ground.

Description

Z646391

  The present invention relates to a pallet for the transport of various loads resting on it, this pallet being provided with means ensuring its displacement on the ground, without having in particular to implement a

classic forklift.

  Support and load transport pallets are well known in the art. Generally, they consist of a plate, usually made of wood, having on a parallel upper face and a lower face, kept at constant spacing by spacers suitably arranged between these faces, providing lateral openings for the engagement of the forks a forklift truck capable of lifting one or more pallets of this

  kind, if necessary stacked on top of each other.

  Such pallets are provided to support loads of variable origins, which may in particular be constituted by boxes or similar containers, in which are arranged stacks of mail, sorted or not, that should be moved from one point to another of a local, for example to process the mail, especially to store or ship according to the destinations indicated. However, with conventional pallets, it is precisely essential to use heavy and bulky handling means, to lift the pallets and move them, or to place them on mobile supports, to bring them from a post

  to another, possibly separated by a not insignificant distance.

  These means are impractical and expensive, and therefore not very justified if

  the number of pallets to be moved is relatively small.

  The subject of the present invention is a transport pallet which comprises its own means of displacement, without however modifying its general structure and especially its load carrying capacity, as well as its ability to stack or stack with other analogous pallets, to form a stack allowing them to be moved together by a conventional

lifting forks in particular.

  For this purpose, the pallet considered, comprising a plate consisting of two horizontal parallel flat surfaces, mutually braced, is characterized in that it comprises a rod slidably mounted relative to the upper surface of the plate and connected to a connecting arm the rotation about a first transverse axis of two rockers fixed at the ends of this axis, each beam being provided to cause pivoting about a second axis carried by the plate of a counterweight support, terminated by a yoke provided with a wheel, so that a force exerted on the rod to cause its relative movement relative to the plate, determines the pivoting in one direction of each beam and, consequently, in the opposite direction, the support of the corresponding counterweight, bringing the wheel carried by the yoke into contact with the ground on which the pallet is resting, ensuring, by reaction on it, the lifting of this palette and giving it a

  ability to move on the ground.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, each counterweight support is extended, opposite the yoke, by a proper extension to come into contact with a fixed stop carried by the plate, to limit the pivoting stroke of the support and the balance wheel to the position where the wheel is supported on the ground, the extension of the support then being practically

arranged vertically.

  Advantageously, the end of the rod, opposite to the connecting arm, comoorte a slide provided with an eyelet or similar housing in which is adapted to engage a ball joint provided at the end of a rod, integral with a carriage of maneuver mounted on two wheels and provided with a pivoting lever about the axis of these wheels, so that the cooperation of the ball with the eyelet, following a rotation of the lever, determines a traction on

  the slider, driving the rod and the pivoting of the rockers.

  According to another characteristic also, the operating carriage comprises a stop, able to come into contact with one side of the pallet to serve as a fulcrum during the rotational movement of the pivoting lever making the ball joint cooperate with the eyelet of the slider of the rod, for

  displacement of the latter relative to the plateau.

  Preferably, the abutment of the carriage has a contact edge with the side of the tray, rounded in a circular arc, in order to facilitate the positioning of the carriage relative to the plate, in particular during the movements of the pallet on

floor.

  In a particular embodiment of the invention, the sliding rod is secured to the end of a return spring, whose other end is connected to the plate, so that the movement of the rod under the effect of the rotation of the lever, causing the pivoting of the rockers, exerts a pull on the spring which, after releasing the lever, recalls the

  rod and rockers in initial position, or the platform rests on the ground ..

  Advantageously also, the lever comprises, opposite the carriage, a transverse control bar, facilitating its pivoting about the axis of the

  wheels and drive the pallet on the ground.

  Other features of a load pallet, established

  according to the invention, will still appear through the description which follows

  an exemplary embodiment, given by way of indication and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of the pallet transport of loads considered, respectively shown in support of the ground and lifted from it by means of a maneuvering carriage, also allowing

to ensure his displacement.

  - Figure 3 is a bottom view, slightly lower scale,

  of the pallet according to Figures 1 and 2.

  - Figure 4 is an elevational view, on a smaller scale, of

maneuvering trolley.

  As shown in these figures and in particular in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1 and 2, the pallet under consideration comprises, in a way that is conventional for this type of object, a plate i comprising an upper surface 2, which is flat and horizontal, on which rest the loads to be transported (not shown), and a lower surface 3 ground support, parallel to the surface 2 and extending at an appropriate distance from the latter by means of spacers 4, distributed between these two surfaces, transversely and longitudinally. These spacers 4 are in particular made so as to arrange in the pallet, under the upper surface, recesses 5 allowing, in a known manner, the engagement therein of the forks of a forklift truck (not shown) for the lifting and moving the palette, the case

  appropriate of a set of such pallets stacked on each other.

  According to the invention, the pallet is provided, independently of the provisions indicated above suitable for authorizing its handling by a conventional lift, means ensuring its autonomous movement on the ground with the aid of a simple carriage, operated manually, likely to cause a slight lifting of this pallet and, during this, the ground support of

26469 1

  casters, thus allowing, in combination with the trolley, the training of

this palette.

  For this purpose, the pallet comprises, mounted under the upper surface 2 of the plate 1, a longitudinal rod 6, preferably arranged in the middle part of the pallet (FIG. 3), this rod being guided in its movement under the surface 2 by 7. At one of its ends, the rod 6 comprises a slider 8 for its connection with an operating carriage 30, the details of the realization will be explained later, this trolley allowing in particular to exercise on this rod a suitable tensile stress. At its opposite end, the rod 6 is connected by a hinge 9 to an arm of

  connection in two parts 10 and 11, joined together by a hinge 12.

  The second part 11 of the connecting arm is also articulated at its opposite end on a first transverse axis 13, mounted in a fixed position on the pallet and capable of pivoting on itself following the relative rotation of the two parts 10 and 11 of the arm of connection, following a traction force exerted

on the rod 6.

  At its two ends, in the vicinity of the lateral sides of the plate 1 of the pallet, the axis 13 comprises two rockers 14, mounted in recesses 15, arranged in these sides, each of these rockers 14, pivoting with the axis 13 , being provided to control the rotation of a support 16 mounted movably about a second transverse axis 17, carried by the pallet. Each support 16 comprises on one side a clevis 18 for mounting a wheel 19 about an axis 20 and on the other side a counterweight extension 21, the mass thereof being such that it normally causes the support 16 is positioned substantially horizontally, where the wheel 19 is raised and retracted into the recess 15 corresponding, so without support thereof on the ground. A stop 22 is by

  elsewhere provided in the recess 15 to stop the counterweight 21 when the latter

  it is raised by the associated balance 14, as a result of the pivoting of the support 16

as described below.

  At its end opposite to that linked to the transverse shaft 13, the rod 6 is provided with a finger 23 extending downwards and on which is fixed a hook 24, provided at the end of a spring 25 whose another end is joined to a fastener 26 integral with a suitable spacer 4 of the pallet, this spring making it possible to exert on the rod a permanent return force, tending to bring the rod back to the position illustrated in FIG. balanqiers 14 do not act on the supports 16 of the counterweight 21, the rollers 19 being retracted in the recesses 15. A stop 36 limits the return stroke of the

rod 6 vis-à-vis the pallet.

  The slider 8, mounted at the end of the rod 6, comprises an eyelet 27 or similar housing, in which is engageable a ball 28, provided at the end of a rod 29 carried by the operating carriage 30, this being shown in front view in Figure 4 and in side views in Figures 1 and 2, respectively before and after it exerts a tensile force on the rod 6. This carriage 30 has two wheels side 31 and a pivot lever 32 about the axis of these wheels. In contrast, the lever 32 is provided with a transverse control and guide bar 33. Finally, the carriage 30 comprises a stop 34 whose outer edge 35 preferably has a profile

rounded in an arc.

  The operation of the transport pallet thus described is therefore easy to deduce: in the storage position, the pallet is supported on the ground as shown in FIG. 1 and can receive on its tray 1 various loads that are suitable at a given moment. given to move the pallet from one place to another, without using a heavy lift, possibly unavailable. For this, it is sufficient, with the pallet according to the invention, to have the carriage 30, brought with its pivoting lever 32 in a substantially vertical position, the rod 29 then being slightly inclined so that it can be introduced into the corresponding side of the pallet to bring the ball 28 under the eyelet 27. The rotation of the lever 32 (see Figure 2) around the fixed point formed by the axis of the wheels 31, then allows this ball joint s' engage in the eyelet at the same time as the abutment 34 abuts against a fixed projection 37, causing on the slider 8 and consequently on the rod 6 which is connected thereto, a traction force from right to left on the

Figures 1 and 2.

  The displacement of the rod thus controlled in turn causes the rotation of the link arm by its two articulated parts 10 and 11, the pivoting of the axis 13 and consequently that of the rockers 14. These then determine the raising the counterweight 21 by pivoting the supports 16 around their axes 17, until contact with the stop 22. In this movement, the rollers 19 are gradually brought into contact with the ground, determining by reaction thereon a slight uplift of the pallet as shown in Figure 2, the support 16 then being substantially in a vertical position. The palette can then be driven by. the carriage 30, rolling with it on its wheels to the desired location or, by a reverse operation, the carriage 30 is disengaged from the rod 6. At this time, the return spring brings the rod in position initial, with pivoting in the opposite direction of the rockers and bearing of the rollers 19 in the recess 15 under the effect of the counterweight 21. Finally, it will be noted that, during the movement of the pallet by the carriage 30, the outer edge 35 of the stop 34 allows, thanks to its rounded profile, the

  necessary changes of direction, as shown in Figure 3.

  Thus, a transport pallet of simple design can result from an easy and inexpensive adaptation of a conventional pallet. The improvement according to the invention does not change the strength under load of the pallet but gives to it, a perfect mobility, joined to a very large

speed of implementation.

  Of course, it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown above; it embraces on the contrary

all variants.

Claims (6)

CLAIM   1 - Pallet for transporting loads provided with autonomous displacement means, comprising a plate (1) consisting of two parallel horizontal plane surfaces (2, 3), mutually braced, characterized in that it comprises a rod (6) slidably mounted relative to the upper surface (2) of the plate and connected to a connecting arm (10, 11) controlling the rotation about a first transverse axis (13) of two rockers (14) fixed to the ends of this axis, each rocker being provided to cause around a second axis (17) carried by the plate of a support (16) counterweight (21), terminated by a clevis (18) provided with a wheel (19), so a force exerted on the rod to cause its relative movement relative to the plate, determines the pivoting in one direction of each beam and, consequently, in the opposite direction, the support of the corresponding counterweight, bringing the wheel carried by the yoke in contact with the ground on the what is the pallet resting, by ensuring, by reaction on it, the lifting of this pallet and conferring on it   a faculty of displacement over the self.   2 - transport pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that each support (16) counterweight (21) is extended, opposite the yoke (18), by a clean extension to come into contact with a fixed stop (22) carried by the plate (1), to limit the pivoting stroke of the support and the rocker (14) to the position where the roller (19) bears on the ground,   the extension of the support being then arranged vertically.   3 - transport pallet according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the end of the rod (6), opposite to the connecting arm (10, 11) comprises a slide (8) provided with an eyelet (27?) or similar housing, in which is adapted to s' engaging a ball joint (28) provided at the end of a rod (29) integral with an operating carriage (30) mounted on two wheels (31) and provided with a pivoting lever (32) around the axis of these wheels, so that the cooperation of the ball with the eyelet, following a rotation of the lever, determines a traction on the slide, causing the rod and the pivoting of the rockers.   4 - transport pallet according to claim 3, characterized in that the operating carriage comprises a stop (34), adapted to come into contact with one side of the plate (1) to serve as a fulcrum during the rotational movement the pivoting lever (32), causing the ball (28) to cooperate with the eyelet (27) of the slider (8) of the rod (G), in order to move the latter by supplying the plate. - Transport pallet according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop (34) of the carriage (30) has a contact edge (35) with the side of the   plateau (1), rounded in an arc.   6 - transport pallet according to any one of claims i & 5,   carcatérisée in that the sliding rod (6) is integral with the end of a return spring (25), the other end is connected to the plate (1), so that the movement of the rod under the the effect of the rotation of the lever (32), causing the pivoting of the rockers (14>, exerts a traction on this spring which, after releasing the lever, recalls the rod and the   rockers in initial position, o the plateau rests on the ground.   7 - transport pallet sselon claim 3, characterized in that the lever (32) comprises, at the opposite of the stop (34), a transverse bar control (33).