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(11) | EP 0 078 176 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Load support arrangement |
| (57) In a load support arrangement providing a cantilever arm for use in racking or as
a shelf or like load support, an upright is provided by a rolled steel "I" beam (1)
to the flanges (4 and 6) of which is clamped the cantilever arm (3) provided by two
connected U-section steel channels (7 and 8). A firm connection between the cantilever
arm (3) and the I beam (1) is provided by two U-shaped members (11 and 12) welded
to the steel channels and having V-shaped notches clamped into biting engagement with
the flanges (4 and 5) by means of a clamping bolt (20). |
[0001] This invention relates to a load support arrangement and is particularly, though not exclusively, applicable to shelf storage systems based on a cantilever support.
[0002] In the provision of shelving systems for storage, in order to impart flexibility to the system, -there are provided upright members to which a cantilever unit is secured so as to be adjustable. With a cantilever system, it is necessary for the cantilever arms to be secured at the support end and the arms have been made adjustable by providing either a finite number of different positions at which the cantilever arms can be fixed or, where completely variable adjustment is required, the fixing has relied upon simple clamping arrangement to hold it in place.
[0003] The first system has the disadvantage of only relatively small numbers of adjustment positions while the latter system has the disadvantage of requiring the use of relatively strong clamps to avoid any slipping of the cantilever arm or in requiring set screw- like arrangements, whereby slipping is prevented by the fact that the screw makes a dent into the vertical support.
[0004] Even then, the security of the cantilever arm depends upon the tightness of the clamp or screw and the weight of the load which is placed thereon.
[0005] In our copending Application No. 82303280.0 we have proposed an arrangement in which the weight of the load has been used to increase security of the arm and additionally a clamping arrangement for the arm has been incorporated in the _system.
[0006] While the construction proposed in our prior Application has proved eminently satisfactory for use in the storage of relatively large and heavy loads, the cost of such an arrangement is only justified where loads to be stored are above a minimum size or weight.
[0007] The present invention seeks to provide a load support arrangement which provides an infinitely adjustable support arrangement which is of high security but at the same time is nevertheless adapted to the economic needs of lighter storage.
[0008] According to the invention, a support arrangement comprises an upright having a pair oppositely extending flanges along its longitudinal length, a pair of elongate elements connected together to form a cantilever arm and provided with recesses engageable with the flanges on opposite sides of the upright and means for advancing the recesses towards each other such that the upright is gripped between the two elements, the recesses being shaped to bite into the flanges of the upright when the recesses are advanced towards each other, and means for engagement with the upright so as to cause the cantilever arm to take up an approximately horizontal position when assembled.
[0009] Preferably, the recesses have a substantially "V"-shape, the width of the "V" at the open end being larger than the thickness of the flange of the upright and the thickness of the "V" at its other end being less than the thickness of the flange, whereby a biting action of the recess on the flanges of the upright is achieved when the recesses are advanced towards each other.
[0010] The means for holding the cantilever arm approximately horizontal may comprise a second pair of recesses, one recess on each element, which engage the flanges of the upright at a spacing from the first recesses. The second recesses may, if desired, be also of a shape to bite into the flange, but this is not essential.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upright comprises an "I" beam, the flanges of which are provided for attachment of the cantilever arm. The cantilever arm suitably comprises a pair of U-section longitudinal elements connected together at one end and being provided at the other end with a pair of U-shaped brackets, the arms of the brackets being cut to form a pair of V-shaped recesses and the brackets being orientated so that the recesses engage the flanges of the "I" beam. The U-shaped elements are suitably connected, adjacent the recess carrying elements, by means of a nut and bolt arrangement whereby the spacing between the elements can be reduced to advance recesses on to the flanges of the upright so that they bite into the upright and provide a high security for the cantilever arm.
[0012] The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:- .
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of support arrangement in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the arrangement of Figure 1, and
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment part of the arm.
[0013] Referring particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a perspective view of a load arrangement in accordance with the invention. This comprises an "I" section upright 1 which is supported on a base member, which may be a similar "I" beam extending horizontally at the bottom of the beam 1 and not shown here.
[0014] A steel cantilever arm 3 is supported on this "I" section upright 1 (suitably a rolled steel beam) by means of the two flanges 4 and 5 which are adjacent to each other and provide guide elements for the cantilever arm 3.
[0015] The cantilever arm 3 suitably comprises two arm elements 7 and 8 which, as shown, are of channel form or "U"-shaped in cross-section. These arm elements 7 and 8 are connected together at one end by a nut and bolt arrangement 10.
[0016] At the upright end, each arm element 7 or 8 is provided with a pair of U-shaped bracket members 11 and 12, each of which is suitably welded to its associated arm element 7 or 8.
[0017] As can be seen particularly from Figure 3, these U-shaped bracket members 11., 12 have a rectangular base portion 14 and two upstanding substantially triangular members 15 and 16. The centre or apex portions of these triangles have a V-shaped recess 18 therein into each of which a flange 4 or 5 is to seat. (Figure 2). The two arm elements 7 and 8 are connected together at their upright end by means of a nut and bolt arrangement 20.
[0018] As can be seen from Figure 2, the dimensions of the V-shaped recesses 18 are such that they have wider mouths than the width of the appropriate flange 4 or 5 but they narrow as they proceed inwardly to a dimension in which they are narrower than the width of the flange 4 or 5. Thus, when the opposing pairs of brackets 11 and 12 are brought together around the flanges 4 and 5 of the I beam, the sides of each V-shaped recesses 18 will bite into a flange 4 or 5 and thus secure the arm 3 in place. Additionally to this gripping feature, due to the fact that there are two V-shaped recesses in each bracket, spaced apart vertically of the upright, the weight of the cantilever arm 3 and any load which is placed thereon will cause a skewing of the brackets 11 and 12 so that engagement of the back slope of the V of the upper V slot 18 and the front slope of the lower V-shaped slots 18 with the flanges 4 and 5 will be increased, thus providing initial location of the cantilever arm 3 as will be described hereafter. The operation of assembling a cantilever arm to an upright will now be described:
With the upright 1 located in the correct position, i the nut and bolt arrangement 20 is removed from the arm and the nut and bolt 10 is located to allow the necessary parting of the arms 7 and 8. These arms are then pushed around the I beam so that the flanges 4 and 5 are seated in the V-shaped grooves 18. With the arrangement held in position in this way, the nut and bolt arrangement 20 is threaded through the appropriate apertures in the arms 7 and 8 (and the brackets 11 and 12) and is finger tightened to initially hold the arms 7 and 8 against upright 1. At this time, the nut and bolt arrangement 10 may also be tightened. With the arrangement in this position, the arm 3 may be moved up and down the upright 1 for final adjustment to the correct position. When it has arrived in its correct position, the arm 3 will be located here by the action of the weight of the arm acting to skew the brackets 11 and 12 as described above. All that then remains is to tighten up the nut and bolt 20 thoroughly so as to force the flanges 4 and 5 hard into the grooves 18, the sides of the grooves 18 biting into the ends of the flanges 4 and 5 and providing a lock for the cantilever arm of high security. The nut and bolt arrangement 10 can be tightened at this time if it has not been carried out previously.
[0019] It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, if desired one or other of the V-shaped slots may be replaced by a rectangular slot or even by an appropriately located edge, one V-shape slot being sufficient for securing the arm to the upright in most cases, the other slot or surface being required purely to maintain the orientation of the arm in a substantially horizontal position and also to provide initial location of the arm on the upright before tightening procedures have been carried out. Furthermore while a V-shaped slot has been proposed, it is not essential that the base of the V be pointed providing that suit- able slanting of the sides is achieved. In certain circumstances, this slanting of the sides could be used even with a curve rather than straight edge to the "V".
[0020] While the brackets have been indicated as being welded to the arm elements, they may of course be fixed by other means such as nuts and bolts or rivets. The sloping slides of the brackets 11 and 12 adjacent to the "V"-shape slot 18 are not essential and could be replaced by straight edges parallel to the elements 7 and 8. Alternatively other configurations can be used to provide the V-shaped slot in the appropriate position. It will of course be appreciated that the invention is not limited to use with an "I" beam upright, the only requirement being that the upright has suitable parallel flanges extending on opposite sides thereof. Thus, for example, a "T" shaped beam could be used. The arm elements 7 and 8, while shown of U-shaped construction, could be of any other suitable form desired, for example "L"-shaped or tubular. The securing of the elements 7 and 8 at their free ends could be achieved, instead of by means of the nut and bolt 10, by means of a hinge arrangement so that assembly of the beam on the upright is somewhat simplified. While the material is proposed for the construction, have been described as been steel, any other suitable material could be used, provided that the dimensions and the relative hardnesses of the materials of the upright support and the U-shaped elements 11 and 12. It should be particularly noted, in connection with the specifically described embodiment, that the U-shaped members 11 and 12 are made of a material that is relatively thin in relation to to the thickness of the flanges-4 and 5 of the "I" beam, and that is also harder than the material of the "I" beam in order to enable the appropriate biting action to take place.
1. A support arrangement comprising an upright having a pair of oppositely extending
flanges along its longitudinal length, a pair of elongate elements connected together
to form a cantilever arm and provided with recesses engageable with the flanges on
opposite sides of the upright and means for advancing the recesses towards each other
such that the upright is gripped between the two elements, the recesses being shaped
to bite into the flanges of the upright when the recesses are advanced towards each
other, and means for engagement with the upright so as to cause the cantilever arm
to take up an approximately horizontal position when assembled.
2. A support arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said recesses have a substantially
"V" shape, the width of the "V" at the open end being larger than the thickness of
the flange of the upright and the thickness of the "V" at its other end being less
than the thickness of the flange, whereby a biting action of the recess on the flanges
of the upright is achieved when the recesses are advanced towards each other.
3. A support arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for holding
the cantilever arm approximately horizontal comprises a second pair of recesses, one
recess on each element, which engage the flanges of the upright at a spacing from
the first recesses.
4. A support arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims I - 3, wherein the said upright
comprises an "I" beam the flanges of which are provided for attachment of the cantilever
arm, and the cantilever arm comprises a pair of U-section longitudinal elements connected
together at one end and being provided at the other end with a pair of U-shaped brackets,
the arms of the brackets being cut to form a pair of V-shaped recesses and the brackets
being orientated so that the recesses engage the flanges of the "I" beam.
5. A support arrangement as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the U-shaped elements are
connected, adjacent the recess carrying elements, by means of a nut and bolt arrangement
whereby the spacing between the elements can be reduced to advance recesses on to
the flanges of the upright so that they bite into the upright and provide a high security
for the cantilever arm.