Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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FLAT RACK COIL CARRIER CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to flat racks used in the storage and transportation of goods
and, more particularly, to a flat rack which is adapted to carry coils and which may be stacked
one on top of the other when it has a rigid headboard and tailboard.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There has always been a need for an improved system of shipping goods more efficiently
over long distances. The transportation of goods has been made easier in recent years with the
introduction of the pallet and the shipping container. Once a shipping container is filled with
pallets it can be stored in a stacked fashion at a storage facility then loaded onto flat bed railway
cars or truck trailers or on ships for transport.
Several shipping containers can also be tied down onto a flat rack, whereas greater
efficiency can be achieved.
The transportation of coils is hardly made any easier by the above improvements due to
the cumbersome nature of coils and the difficulties encountered in tying them down securely.
These coils also occupy a large space area making it difficult to carry a large number of them
at one time.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for the easy transportation of coils. One of the
5 advantages of the present invention is that it retains the advantages seen in the case of loading
and unloading of present flat racks while also providing for a mechanism by which flat racks
show wells for securing and transporting the coils.
One object of the present invention is to provide a flat rack which is adapted to carry
coils securely and efficiently.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flat rack which can, not only be
used to transport coils, but also be used just like any other flat rack.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for a stackable flat rack.Yet another object of the present invention is to provide for an easily engaged system of
covering the load placed on the flat rack.
According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flat rack for
use in the storage and transportation of goods comprising: a) an upper surface, a first end and
a second end, and lateral edges intermediate of said first end and said second end; b) panels
hingedly connected to the flat rack upper surface, forming a well when said panels are lowered;
and c) tie down spools cont~ining tie down straps located in the lateral edges; whereby coils or
other goods can be securely attached and transported.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better
understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a flat rack embodying the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the flat rack shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a flat rack with the panels in a down position;
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Figure 4 is a perspective view of a flat rack with the panels in an up-open position;
Figure 5 is an exploded view of a flat rack lateral edge;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a flat rack with a sliding tarp system incorporated
onto said rack in a semi-extended position;
Figure 7 is an exploded view of a sliding tarp roller system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention 10 which displays
a flat rack 11 incorporating a plurality of tie down spools 12 spaced along the lateral edges 13
of the flat rack 11. The flat rack 11 also displays along its lower surface a plurality of pegs 14
in order to facilitate securement of the flat rack 11 upon a flat bed railway car, truck trailer or
other similar transport device.
A headboard section 15 is shown at the front end 16 of the flat rack 11 and a tailboard
section 17 is shown at the rear end 18 of the flat rack 11. The headboard section 15 is made
up of an end wall 19 which projects up from the front end 16 of the flat rack 11 and spans the
width of the flat rack 11. At the upper edge of end wall 19 is a roof 20 which projects back
over the upper surface 21 of the flat rack 11 and which lies parallel to upper surface 21 of flat
rack 1 1.
Tailboard section 17 is constructed in a similar manner to headboard section 15.Alternatively, the flat rack 11 may be without end walls 19 or with folding end walls 19
therefore making it a more flexible option.
Also, a sliding tarp system composed of a canvas (or other similar material) covered
canopy can be used to cover the upper surface 21 of the flat rack 11 in the case where end walls
19 are provided.
Alternatively, sectional well 30 covers may be used to protect the load.
Tie down spools 12 located within the lateral edges 13 of the flat rack 11, and
accordingly protected, can be used to hold the load on the upper surface 21 of the flat rack 11.
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Figure 2 illustrates a preferred embodiments of the present invention which displays a
flat rack 11 without a roof thereby showing hingedly connected panels 25 in a closed position
and handles 26, for easy opening, connected as to be able to rotate on their own axis leaving the
upper surface 21 flat and unobstructed and ready to function as any regular flat rack would. The
5openings 27 spaced along the lateral edges 13 of the flat rack 11 will provide access to the tie
down spool straps needed for securement of the load.
Figure 3 illustrates the well 30 created by lowering on its hinges 31 the panels 25.
Preferably the panels 25 once lowered will be at a 35 angle relative to the horizontal plan of
10the flat rack 11 upper surface 21.
Figure 4 illustrates the panels 25 in an up position and displays the hingedly connected
legs 40 which serve to support the panels 25 when the well 30 is not open to receive a load of
coils for instance and leaving the flat rack 11 ready to function as any regular flat rack would.
Figure 5 (a blow up cross section of Detail A of Figure 1) illustrates one of the tie down
spools 12 spaced along the lateral edges 13 of the flat rack 11. A ratchet-like spool 12 is used
in combination with tie down straps in order to secure the load onto the flat rack 11.
20Figure 6 illustrates a flat rack 11 incorporating a sliding tarp system used to cover the
coils or other cargo. The tarp 99 is in a semi-extended position and can stretch across the
complete rack completely enclosing the cargo area. The tarp is securable at both end by various
attachment means 98.
25Figure 7 illustrates a blow up cross section of Detail B of Figure 2. It includes tie down
spool 12, sliding tarp rollers 97 and 96 incorporated into flat rack 11.
Flat rack 11 is preferably constructed of steel or some other strong metal which is able
to withstand the rigours experienced by shipping containers. The thickness of the metal will
30ideally not only be sufficient enough to support the weight of the flat rack 11 itself, but will also
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be sufficient to withstand the weight of stacking several flat racks one upon the other.
Flat rack 11 may be constructed to have any exterior/interior dimension to match that of
the load to be carried, however, it will be clear that, in order to be able to stack several flat
5 racks one upon the other, it is necessary that the flat racks be of the same exterior dimensions.
A further embodiment of the present invention involves a flat rack coil system of
dimensions as stipulated in Table 1.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit
or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range
of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
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TABLE 1
Nominal Dimensions 8~ Ratings
MGW 35000 Kg 77160 Ib
TARE 3400 Kg 7500 lb
PAYLOAD 31600 Kg 69650 Ib
CUBE 3o.o m3 1060 ~3
ENDWALLSTRENGTH 0.4 P 04 p
STACKING TEST LOAD 86400 Kg 190500 Ib
EXTERNAL LENGTH 6058 mm19' 10'/S"
EXTERNAL WIDTH 2591 mm 8' 6~
EXTERNALHEIGHT 2591 mm 8' 6"
INTERNAL LENGTH 5925 mm19' 55/16"
INTERNALWIDTH 2460mm 8' 0'/,"
INTERNAL HEIGHT 2100mm 6' 10'/,"
WIDTH Bk l Wkk~ POSTS 2270 mm 7' 5~
LENGTHBklw~-NPOSTs 5700mm 18' 8'/."
COILWELLLENGTH 2000 mm 6' 6'/,"
COILWELL WIDTH 1350 mm 4~ 51/,~
COILWELL DEPTH 410 mm 1' 4'/,"
INCLUDED ANGLE 110 110
MAXIMUMCOILDIAMETER 1960mm 6' 5'/""
MINIMUM COILDIAMETER 565mm 1' 10'/,"
