[0001] The present invention relates to a longitudinal bearer for forming shelving designed
for palletized loads, consisting of a metal profile terminating in end heads provided
with fixing elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] More particularly, the longitudinal bearer of the invention is designed for forming
shelving made of vertical posts, longitudinal bearers and cross members, which are
connected and linked together by means of screws, and elements for fixing the longitudinal
bearers. Due to the heavy weights which such shelving has to support, all of the component
parts must be extremely robust and connected solidly together.
[0003] The longitudinal bearers for making this shelving consist of a metal profile with
square angle bars welded perpendicularly to each of ends by means of one of their
branches or wings, the free wing or branch of said angle bars being provided with
kinked tabs, obtained by means of cuts, which constitute the fixing means.
[0004] This constitution requires that the profiles be cut into sections of the right length,
that the end heads be cut from square angle bar profiles, and that these heads be
welded to the ends of the profile. All of these operations, in particular the that
of welding, imply a considerable increase in cost of the manufacturing process. Furthermore,
the welding process eliminates any protective coating which the metallic parts may
have.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the present invention is a longitudinal bearer of the type described
above, but constituted in such a way that the manufacturing operations or phases can
be reduced, eliminating the welding operations, with all of the advantages that this
implies.
[0006] Firstly, the most costly operation is eliminated and as a result the longitudinal
bearer can be obtained at a lower cost.
[0007] Secondly, as there are no welding operations, they can be used to make longitudinal
bearer profiles provided with a protective coating without the risk of said coating
being destroyed.
[0008] One advantage of the invention is that the risk of possible welding defects are eliminated
which otherwise could cause the longitudinal bearers to break, allowing the load supported
to collapse.
[0009] The longitudinal bearer of the invention consists of a single profile which means
it is possible to reduce the stocks of materials required as well as the number of
cutting operations, and form the longitudinal bearer by means of a process which may
be almost entirely automated, since the longitudinal bearer of the invention consists
of a single piece at the ends of which the setting elements are formed by means of
system of presses, unlike the case of traditional longitudinal bearers where the end
heads have to be welded to the profile which constitutes the longitudinal bearer.
[0010] According to the invention, the longitudinal bearer for forming shelving consists
of a metal profile, preferably of open cross section, on which the end heads consist
of flattened end portions of the profile, said end portions defining as many equal,
flat, transverse strips on which the fixing elements are situated, said fixing elements
being obtained from the strips themselves.
[0011] Preferably, the profile of the longitudinal bearer is of C-shaped cross section,
partially closed by means of opposing prolongations of the lateral wings, the external
surface of the central wing being partially sunken.
[0012] The fixing elements consist of intermediate kinked lugs and end tabs.
[0013] The lugs are obtained by making U-shaped cuts in the flattened end portions of the
profile, perpendicular to the axis of said profile. These cuts define tongues which
are pressed towards the concave side of the profile to form the kinked lugs, the end
sections of said lugs running approximately parallel to the flat strip of the profile.
[0014] The tabs protrude perpendicularly from the transverse edges of the profile at each
flattened end portion, said tabs being L-shaped and pointing towards the concave side
of the profile. The end sections of the tabs are orientated in the same direction
as the end sections of the intermediate lugs.
[0015] In this way, the ends of the longitudinal bearer are provided with different fixing
elements, the intermediate lugs and the end tabs, all of them designed to be introduced
into openings made in the posts. The longitudinal bearers and the posts of the shelving
can thereby be fixed together with maximum solidity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In order that the characteristics and advantages described be better understood,
the accompanying drawings show by way of non-limiting example one practical embodiment
of the invention.
[0018] Figure 1 is an upper plan view of a longitudinal bearer according to the invention.
[0019] Figure 2 is a lateral view of the longitudinal bearer of figure 1.
[0020] Figure 3 is a profile view of the longitudinal bearer of figure 1.
[0021] Figure 4 shows the detail A of figure 1 on a larger scale.
[0022] Figure 5 is a section taken along the line V-V of figure 4.
[0023] Figure 6 is a cross section of the longitudinal bearer taken along the line VI-VI
of figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] The longitudinal bearer shown in the drawings consists of a profile 1 which, as can
be seen in figure 6, has an open, approximately C-shaped cross section, partially
closed by means of prolongations 2 of its lateral wings and with an intermediate depression
3 in its central branch. The ends of the profile terminate in flattened portions 4
which define as many flat strips 5 of approximately the same width. The flattenings
may be obtained by pressing.
[0025] The end strips 5 of each profile are approximately coplanar and constitute the end
heads of the longitudinal bearer. The setting elements of these end heads consist
of intermediate lugs 6 and end tabs 7.
[0026] The intermediate lugs 6 are obtained by making U-shaped cuts 8 in the strips 5 and
then stamping them towards the concave side of the profile 1 in order to give them
the kinked shape shown clearly in figure 5, the end sections 9 running approximately
parallel to the strip 5.
[0027] The tabs 7, also obtained by stamping, protrude from the free edge of the strips
5, perpendicular to the axis of the longitudinal bearer 1. These tabs 7 extend perpendicularly
towards the concave side of the profile 1 and are L-shaped, their end sections pointing
in the same direction as the end sections 9 of the intermediate lugs.
[0028] The longitudinal bearer of the invention may be manufactured automatically, for example
from a strip or band that is formed transversely into the shape of the profile shown
in figure 6. The profile is then cut into sections of the required length and the
end portions are flattened by means of a press to obtain the flat strips 5. Finally,
the intermediate lugs 6 and tabs 7 are obtained by stamping.
[0029] The welding operations are totally eliminated from the process, such that if the
profile is made with a pre-lacquered or pre-galvanized layer, the longitudinal bearer
can come straight off the production line without having to be painted or touched
up.
[0030] In summary, the manufacture of the longitudinal bearers with the constitution described
considerably reduces the number of operations as well as the time of manufacture and
makes the product much more competitive.
1. A longitudinal bearer for forming shelving designed for palletized loads, consisting
of a metal profile (1), preferably of open cross section, which terminates in end
heads provided with fixing elements, characterized in that said heads consist of flattened
end portions (4) of the profile that define as many equal, flat, transverse strips
(5) on which the fixing elements are situated, said fixing elements being obtained
by the stamping of the strips (5) themselves.
2. A longitudinal bearer according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing elements
consist of intermediate kinked lugs (6), obtained by making U-shaped cuts in the flattened
end portions (5), and end tabs (7), which protrude perpendicularly from the straight
transverse edges of the profile (1), said lugs (6) pointing in a direction perpendicular
to axis of the profile (1) and all of them towards the concave side thereof, such
that their end sections are parallel to the flattened end portion (5); and said tabs
(7) being L-shaped with their end sections pointing in the same direction as the end
sections (9) of the intermediate lugs (6).