GB2165204A

GB2165204A - Bundling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2165204A
Application number: GB08524909A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anton Muller; Karl Herdeg; Frank Meyer; Richard Kimmit; Burghard Halfmann
Original assignee: Eisen und Drahtwerk Erlau AG
Current assignee: Erlau AG
Priority date: 1984-10-10
Filing date: 1985-10-09
Publication date: 1986-04-09
Also published as: FR2571341B1; FR2571341A1; GB2165204B; GB8524909D0; DE3437109A1

Abstract

A bundling apparatus, in particular for long pipes with terminal flanges, bars or the like, comprises a retaining part (3), which surrounds the long goods (5,5') to be conveyed and bundles them together in a closed position. It consists of a lower and upper U-shaped frame part (1,2) each with a U-shaped cross section and comprises a clamping device, by which the frame parts (1,2) are held together in the closed position and braced with respect to the long goods (5,5'). For bundling and conveying, the long goods (5,5') are first of all placed in the lower frame part (1) and stacked therein, until it is completely full. Then the upper frame part (2) is placed from above on the lower frame part (1), due to which the goods (5,5') to be conveyed are surrounded on all sides by the frame parts (1,2) and bundled together. After this the frame (3) can be closed simply and quickly by way of the clamping device (33), (34), (35) and held together securely, so that none of the goods (5,5') to be conveyed may slide out of the bundle during transportation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bundling apparatus The invention relates to a bundling apparatus for conveying long goods, having a retaining part which in use surrounds the goods and bundles them together in a closed position.

For transporting long pipes, bars or the like, the latter are bundled together by a belt or a chain as retaining parts of the bundling apparatus, in which the belt or the chain is wrapped tightly around the bundle of pipes or bars or the like. Due to this the pipes are held together over their entire length and can then be raised and conveyed as a whole. However, in this case it is a disadvantage that the pipes or the like must be secured during bundling together, in order that they do not fall apart again.

During the bundling operation, the belts must be held together constantly, so that the bundling operation is awkward and time-consuming. Therefore, the belts frequently cannot be braced tightly, so that the pipes are not held together securely.

There is then a danger that during conveyance, in particular when the pipes are lifted obliquely or parallel to their longitudinal axis, the pipes may fall out of the bundle.

It is the object of the invention to construct a bundling apparatus of this type so that long goods to be conveyed can be bundled and braced simply and quickly with the latter.

The invention provides a bundling apparatus for conveying long goods, with at least one retaining part, which in use surrounds the goods and bundles them together in a closed position, wherein the retaining part comprises two frame parts, whereof at least one partly surrounds the goods and which parts can be detachably connected to each other to form a frame surrounding the goods and are held together in the closed position by a clamping device.

For bundling and conveying long goods, they are first of all laid in one frame part and then stacked, until the frame part is completely full. Since this frame part partly surrounds the goods, the bundle is held together by the frame part during stacking.

It is then only necessary to place the other frame part from above on the lower frame and the goods stacked therein, so that the goods to be conveyed are surrounded on all sides by the frame part. The frame parts are then closed by the clamping device, in which case the goods to be conveyed are held together very securely under the clamping force of the clamping device. Since the goods are held together by the frame in their bundled or stacked position, there is no need for the bundle to be held together by the clamping device during lashing or clamping.Therefore, with the bundling apparatus according to the invention, the goods to be conveyed can be bundled together simply and quickly and held together extremely firmly and securely, so that during transportation, the bundled goods can also be held obliquely or even vertically, so that there is no danger of individual goods being able to slide out of the bundle.

For bundling and conveying, preferably several bundling apparatuses according to the invention, spaced in the longitudinal direction of the goods, are used. However, at least two bundling apparatuses arranged at the ends of the goods may be used.

The invention is described in detail hereafter with reference to one embodiment illustrated in the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the bundling apparatus in the open position and in elevation according to arrow I of Figure 2, Figure 2 shows the bundling apparatus in side view according to arrow II of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the bundling apparatus in the closed position, in which it surrounds a bundle of pipes, Figure 4 shows the detail A of Figure 1, to an enlarged scale and in section with a suspension member suspended in a stop point, Figure 5 is an elevational view on line V-V of Figure 4.

The bundling apparatus according to Figures 1 and 2 consists essentially of a lower and an upper frame part 1, 2, which in the closed position and the position for use are fitted together to form a frame part 3 (Figure 3) and held in the closed position by a clamping device 4. Goods 5, 5' to be conveyed which are stacked in the form of bundles (Figure 3), preferably long pipes with flanges or long bars, sectional parts, masts or the like can be held together and conveyed with this bundling apparatus. Preferably in the case of long goods to be conveyed, at least two bundling apparatus arranged in the region of the ends are used, so that the goods to be conveyed are held together securely over their entire length and can be conveyed without problems as a whole, in which case there is no need to pay attention to a certain position of the bundle.

In the side view according to Figure 1, the frame part 1 has a U-shape and U-shaped cross section (Figure 2). It consists of three rail-like sectional parts 6 to 8 of approximately equal length, preferably with the same U-shaped cross section. The sectional part 6 forms the crossbar and the sectional parts 7, 8 form the sides of the frame part 1. The sectional parts 6, 7, 8 are connected to each other so that their sectional openings 9, 10 (Figure 2) point outwards. The sectional parts 7, 8 are each welded by their lower U-shaped end face 11, 12 to the crossbar 13 of the sectional part 6, so that its end faces 14, 15 align with the vertical longitudinal edges 17, 18, 19 of the sides 26, 27 of the sectional parts 7, 8 and lie in a common vertical plane, so that the frame part 1 comprises uninterrupted, flat boundary edges and surfaces without projecting edges and corners.

In the side view according to Figure 1, the sides 20, 21 of the sectional part 6 comprise congruent terminal recesses 23, 24, 25, which extend from the end faces 14, 15 in the longitudinal direction of the sectional parts 6 virtually over the entire width of the sectional parts sides 26, 27, 28. As will be described hereafter, the recesses serve to receive bolt-like stacking members of the upper frame part of a lower frame, when the frame 3 is positioned for stacking on an identical frame located there below.

In their lower third, the sectional parts sides 26, 27, 28 are each penetrated at right angles by a retaining bolt 29, 30, which serves for the attachment of the free ends 31, 32 preferably of a lashing belt 33, 34. The retaining bolts 29, 30 lie at the same height, in which case their bolt head 36 (Figure 2) bears against the outside 37 of the sectional part side 26.

Furthermore, approximately halfway along their height, the sectional parts 7, 8 each comprise a stop part 38, 39, which has the same construction.

One stop part 38 is illustrated in detail in Figures 4, 5. A lifting and support part 40, 40', preferably a lifting belt or the like, shown in broken lines in Figure 1, is attached to the stop parts 38, 39, by which lifting belt the goods 5, 5' to be conveyed pressed firmly one against the other and bundled together by way of the bundling apparatus can be lifted and conveyed.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, the stop part 38 consists of a stop plate 41 with a bearing opening 48 for an insertion pin 42, in which an annular connection member 43 is attached.

The stop plate 41 has a rectangular contour, in which case its length is equal to the inside spacing of the sectional parts sides 26, 27, 28. The bearing opening 48 is arranged centrally. It has a square shape and passes by way of a shoulder surface 49 in the form of a circular disc at right angles to its axis A into an enlarged circular opening section 50.

The insertion pin 42 has a terminal annular flange 42' with a circular outer diameter, which is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the opening section 50. In the region outside the annular flange 42', the insertion pin 42 has a rectangular cross section adapted to the bearing opening 48. In the assembled state according to Figure 4, the insertion pin 42 lies with its annular flange 42' positively in the opening section 50, so that the rear side 51 of the insertion pin 42 lies in one plane with the associated side of the plate 52. As a result of the positive connection with the rectangular bearing opening 48, the insertion pin 42 is held in the latter so that it is not able to twist. It is thus ensured that even the connecting member 43 with the suspended support part 40 cannot be twisted accidentally and thus damaged.The stop member 43 is constructed as an oval annular member, which is suspended in an insertion opening 42a extending perpendicular to the insertion pin. The swivelling attachment of the lifting and support part 40, 40' on the lower frame part 1 ensures that the support part is able to align itself when the bundling apparatus is lifted.

The stop plate 41 comprises two insertion openings 44, 45 lying symmetrically with respect to its longitudinal central plane E and at the same distance diametrically adjacent to the bearing opening 48. They serve for receiving screws 46, 47, which bear by their screw heads 46', 47' on the plate side 54 of the stop plate 41 lying opposite the plate side 52.

The stop parts 38, 39 are attached at the same height approximately halfway along the length between the opposite sectional part sides 26, 27, 28.

For this purpose, their stop plate 41 can be welded by their associated plate edges to the sectional part sides 26, 27, 28 (Figures 1, 2). However, the stop parts may also be screwed to an additional securing plate (not shown) welded between the sectional part sides 26, 27, 28, for which purpose the securing screws 46, 47 (Figure 4) are provided in the stop plate 41 (Figures 4, 5). The screws 46, 47 are screwed into associated threaded bores (not shown) in the securing plate, so that the stop part 38 lies with its stop plate 41 and the rear side 51 of the flange 42' of the insertion pin 42 over its entire surface and reliably on the securing plate.

Like the frame part 1, the upper frame part 2 consists of three rail-like sectional parts 55, 56, 57 (Figures 1, 2), which form the crossbar and the sides of the frame part. The sectional parts 55, 56, 57 each have a U-shaped cross section. The sectional parts 56, 57 are relatively long, but only approximately half as long as the sectional part 55 connecting them, which has the same length as the sectional part 6 of the frame part 1 parallel thereto in the assembled position of the frame parts 1, 2 (Figure 3). The great length of the sectional parts 56, 57 ensures that the frame parts 1, 2 can be adjusted over a large range, since the sectional parts 56, 57 are inserted in the sectional parts 7, 8 in the assembled position of the frame 3 and can be moved longitudinally in the latter.

Corresponding to the sectional parts 7, 8, the sectional parts 56, 57 are welded with one end face 58, 59 upright on the crossbar 60 of the sectional part 55, so that their side longitudinal edges 61, 62, 63 align with the associated end faces 64, 65 of the sectional part 55.

As shown in Figure 2, the sectional part 55 is wider than the sectional parts 56, 57 of the same construction so that is projects beyond both sectional part sides 66, 67, 68 respectively by approximately one quarter of its width. The larger width of the sectional part 55 ensures that the sectional part of an upper frame forming the crossbar of the lower frame 1 can be inserted in the sectional part opening 70 between the sides 78, 79, which upper frame is stacked on the frame 3. The inside width of the sectional part 55 is thus slightly greater than the width of the frame part 6.

The sectional part 55 also has a slightly greater width the the sectional parts 6, 7, 8 of the frame part 1, which have a slightly greater width and height than the sectional parts 56, 57. Due to this, for connection to the frame part 1, the frame part 2 can simply be inserted by its sectional parts 56, 57 from above (arrow P) in the openings 10 of the sectional parts 7, 8 of the lower frame part 1, in which case the sectional parts 56, 57 slide downwards essentially in a form-locking manner into the sectional parts 7, 8, until the sectional part 55 with its crossbar 60 rests on the upper pipe 5' of the pipes 5, 5' stacked in the lower frame part 1 (Figure 3) or on the sides 7, 8 of the lower frame part 1. The frame parts 1, 2 are then secured against transverse displacement in a trouble-free manner.

The frame parts 1, 2 can then be clamped by the lashing belts 33, 34 securely around the pipes 5, 5'.

The lashing belts 33, 34 are guided inside the sectional part openings 10 of the sectional parts 7, 8 and the sectional part opening 69 of the sectional parts 56,, 57 as far as the sectional part opening 70 of the upper sectional part 55. One of the lashing belts 33, 34 is provided with a ratchet 35, which lies inside the sectional part opening 70 between the sides 78, 79 of sectional part 55 and by which the lashing belts can be lashed in known manner.

The lashing belts 33, 34 and the ratchet 35 are protected from damage in the sectional part openings 10, 69, 70 of the sectional parts. The frame can be closed simply and quickly by the ratchet 35 and braced with respect to the goods 5, 5' to be conveyed so that the goods lie very securely and in a stationary manner in the frame 3.

As Figures 1 and 2 also show, at its ends 73, 74 projecting beyond the crossbar 71, 72 of the sectional parts 56, 57, the crossbar 60 has an openedge recess 75, which extends over the entire width between the sectional parts sides 66, 67, 68.

Seated on the edge 76 of the recess 75 set back with respect to the end face 64, 65 of the sectional part 55 is an approximately semi-circular, curved sliding member 77, in the deflection region of the lashing belts 33, 34, which member is welded to the crossbars 60 and 71 of the sectional parts 55, 56. During clamping, it prevents the lashing belts 33, 34 from rubbing against the edge 76 of the recesses 74, 75 and from being damaged.

A transverse bolt 80, 81 is preferably welded in each of the free ends in the corner regions of the sides 78, 79 of the sectional part 55, by which bolts the support parts 40, 40' connected to the stop parts 38, 39 and extending upwards along the sectional parts 7, 8 and 56, 57 can be guided inwards in opposite directions (Figure 1). The transverse bolts 80, 81 ensure that the lifting means 40, 40' are kept at a distance from the clamping device 33, 34, 35 and cannot come into contact with the latter or rub on the free longitudinal edges of the sectional part sides 26, 27, 28, 66, 67, 68 and due to this the lashing belts or the lifting means themselves are damaged.

The transverse bolts 80, 81 also ensure that the lifting means 40, 40' are guided with the least possible friction.

The transverse bolts 80, 81 also serve as stacking members or drop-in members for stacking individual bundling apparatus, which have the same construction as the above described bundling apparatus. If a further bundling apparatus is placed vertically from above on a lower bundling apparatus, the transverse bolts 80, 81 of the lower bundling apparatus engage in the associated recesses 23, 24 or 25 of the ends of the sides of the sectional part 6 of the upper bundling apparatus, which likewise form stacking members or drop-in openings. Due to this the uppermost bundling apparatus is reliably prevented from moving longitudinally with respect to the lower bundling apparatus.

For conveying excessively long goods, two lower frame parts 1 at a distance apart are preferably provided. The spacing of the frame parts depends on the length of the goods to be conveyed; it is preferably approximately ten per cent shorter than the length of the goods to be conveyed. The latter are then inserted beside each other and one above the other in the frame parts 1 and up to a height at which they project slightly upwards beyond the sectional parts 7, 8. Then the upper frame parts 2 with their sectional parts 56, 57 are inserted from above and vertically in the sectional part openings 10 of the sectional parts 7, 8, until they rest by their sectional part 55 on the goods 5' to be conveyed. Then the lashing belts 33, 34 are clamped by the ratchet 35, in which case the pretensioning force of the ratchet is fully utilised. The frame 3 is closed by the clamping device 33, 34, 35 and clamped around the goods 5, 5' to be conveyed, so that the latter lie braced one with respect to the other. The goods to be conveyed are thus held together very securely, so that none of the goods can fall out of the bundle and not even if the bundle is conveyed not horizontally, but obliquely or vertically. For securing the entire bundle, the bundle size is preferably selected so that three bundles fit one beside the other on the normal size of lorry platform body. It is thus ensured that the bundles cannot slide to and fro and be damaged during transportation.

Claims

1. Bundling apparatus for conveying long goods with at least one retaining part, which in use surrounds the goods and bundles them together in a closed position, wherein the retaining part comprises two frame parts, whereof at least one partly surrounds the goods and which parts can be detachably connected to each other to form a frame surrounding the goods and are held together in the closed position by a clamping device.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the frame parts are inserted positively one in the other.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame parts each have a U-shaped construction.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the frame parts each have a U-shaped cross section.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the frame parts are each formed from three sectional members, which form the sides and crossbars of the frame parts.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the lower frame part is provided with means adapted to receive the upper frame part and has the same cross section over its entire periphery.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the sides of the upper frame part have a smaller cross section than the sides of the lower frame part so that the sides of the upper frame part can be inserted in the sides of the lower frame part for closing the bundling apparatus.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the crossbar of the upper frame part has a greater width than the crossbar of the lower frame part so that the former crossbar engages between the sides of the latter crossbars

9. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the frame parts comprise drop-in members for securing the positions of two identical bundling apparatuses arranged one above the other.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein some drop-in members are formed by open-edged recesses in the sides of the crossbar of the lower frame part.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein the other drop-in members are formed by transverse bolts, which are provided in the corner regions of the sides of the crossbar of the upper frame part and lie substantially perpendicular thereto.

12. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 11, wherein the clamping device comprises lashing belts.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the clamping device comprises a ratchet.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the lashing belts and the ratchet are located between the sides of the frame parts and the crossbar of the upper frame part.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein the free ends of the lashing bolts are attached to retaining bolts attached transversely between the sectional members sides of the sides of the lower frame part.

16. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 13 to 15, wherein a sliding member is respectively provided in the deflection region of the lashing belts.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the sliding member is substantially of semi-circular shape.

18. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 17, wherein at least one lifting device is attached to the sides of the lower frame part.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein the lifting device comprises lifting belts and stop members by which the lifting belts are attached to the lower frame part so that they are able to tilt.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein the stop members comprise a stop plate which is attached between the sectional member sides of the sides of the lower frame part, with an insertion pin held so that it is not able to twist therein and with a connecting member.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein the connecting member is an oval annular member, which is suspended in a through hole in the insertion pin.

22. Apparatus according to Claim 21, wherein the connection member is able to tilt about an axis of rotation parallel with the sides of the lower frame part in the through hole of the insertion pin.

23. Apparatus according to Claim 21 or 22, wherein the insertion pin has an enlarged annular flange, by which it lies in an enlarged opening section of a bearing opening of a stop plate.

24. Apparatus according to Claim 23, wherein in the region outside its annular flange, the insertion pin has an angular cross section which is adapted to the shape of the bearing opening of the stop plate.

25. Apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein said angular cross-section is square.

26. Bundling apparatus for conveying long goods substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.