OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] As is expressed in the title of the present specification, the present patent consists
of a two-level pallet-holder container, the container being to transport merchandize
of the type that, having standard measurements, can be transported by sea, rail or
highway, and all of the surfaces thereof are closed.
[0002] The container includes two pairs of longitudinally positioned brackets, that define
a false intermediate bottom, in such a way that upon having two pairs of guides, on
the bottom itself, of the container, as well as on said false intermediate bottom,
four compartments are defined for placement of the different pallets with the merchandize
to be transported.
[0003] On the other hand, in the center and longitudinal to the bottom of the container,
there is a vertical plate that delimits the two bottom compartments and that in turn
serves as a guide separating the goods placed in the different pallets and as a support
of the center brackets of the false intermediate bottom.
[0004] Hence, the loading and unloading of the container is done by the rear part of the
same and the pallets can be loaded by means of the known trolleys or "bull-type" lifting
devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In numerous conventional containers used to transport merchandize, no compartment
is defined therefore the entire surface thereof remains smooth along the entire height
in order to allow insertion and stacking of the goods to be transported.
[0006] Hence, certain containers have on their bottom two pairs of guides on which the respective
shoes are located on which the pallet is placed with the goods stacked on it, in order
to subsequently push it with the minimum effort towards the inside, the pallets remaining
abutted to each other, taking up the entire space thereof.
[0007] Upon transporting certain goods, or materials, there is the possibility of stacking
several pallets, taking up the entire height of the container with the corresponding
goods or materials, without them being damaged at all.
[0008] On the contrary, in transporting certain goods, there is no possibility to stack
them according to the entire height of the container.
[0009] In this case the container has 50% of its capacity taken up, whereby transportation
becomes considerably more expensive, since for a certain amount of goods to be transported
twice as many trips have to be made than if the container were 100% full.
[0010] On the other hand, in those containers that have an intermediate bottom, this takes
up the entire surface of the same and it is loaded at the two free side surfaces thereof,
which will remain closed by the respective sheets.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The improvements introduced in containers for transporting merchandize that are described
in the present specification are based on including a false intermediate bottom, in
the container, with which four compartments can be defined.
[0012] The false intermediate bottom is formed by some longitudinal strips or brackets in
which some guide-type recesses are defined, in which the corresponding shoes will
be located to facilitate displacement of the pallets, placed on them, towards the
inside of the container.
[0013] Hence, in relation to the false intermediate bottom two pairs of guides will remain,
for the corresponding shoes, that will define two compartments for placement of the
successive pallets with the goods placed in them, abutted to each other until the
entire length thereof is occupied.
[0014] On the other hand, in relation to the bottom of the container, two other pairs of
guides have been defined for the corresponding shoes upon which the pallets will move
and that will, likewise, define two other bottom compartments.
[0015] In short, four compartments that will permit placement of those pallets whose goods
that cannot be stacked according to the entire height of the container, have been
defined in the container, permitting the same to be entirely occupied, in transporting
certain goods.
[0016] In relation to the bottom of the container, and in a center longitudinal position
there is a vertical plate upon which the two center brackets are fastened, that delimit
the two bottom compartments serving as a guide and stop of the goods.
[0017] In this way, the loading and unloading of the container can be done by means of the
known trolleys or "bull-type" lifting devices that will enter the container itself
to deposit the pallets on the corresponding brackets, not using shoes in this case.
[0018] In order to complete the description that is going to be made hereinafter, and for
the purpose of providing a better understanding of its characteristics, a set of drawings,
in whose figures, the most significant details of the invention, described in the
present specification are represented in an illustrative and non-limiting way, is
attached hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Figure 1 shows a front raised view of the container, in which the false intermediate
bottom is observed, comprised by the two pairs of brackets, with their respective
guides, as well as the two pairs of guides likewise existing in the bottom of the
container, defining four compartments or hollow spaces for abutting the successive
pallets located in them.
[0020] Figure 2 shows a plan view of the false intermediate bottom of the container, in
which the two pairs of brackets, upon whose guides the shows will move with the corresponding
pallets, with the goods stacked thereon, are observed.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] In view of the figures commented on and in accordance with the numbering used, we
can see how on the inside surface of the container (1) four compartments are defined
as the same includes a false intermediate bottom, in which just like the bottom itself,
of the container (1) two pairs of guides for displacement of the corresponding shoes
upon which the pallets with the goods placed in them are located, have been provided.
[0022] Hence, in the bottom (4) itself of the container (1), two pairs of guides (2) and
(3), along which the shoes that will carry the pallets with the goods placed in them
move, have been made, in such a way that said conventional shoes are capable of adopting
two positions, one for displacement of the pallets and another in which they remain
free, allowing displacement thereof without pulling the corresponding pallet. These
shoes may remain ready once again to pull a new pallet.
[0023] In the center position longitudinal to the bottom (4) of the container (1), a plate
(5) that defines the two bottom compartments (9) and (10) has been provided for. The
plate is very thin so that the pallets of both contiguous compartments can fit perfectly
and so that it can in turn act as a guide for the goods placed on the pallets.
[0024] The plate (5) must be thin given that the measurements of the container and of the
pallets are standard and adapt to the width of the container.
[0025] The false intermediate bottom is formed by a pair center strips or brackets (14)
abutted against and integral with the bottom plate (5) and a pair of side strips or
brackets (13), so that each one of the side strips with their corresponding center
strip defines a top compartment (11) and (12), upon being provided with some guides
(7) and (8) along with respective shoes upon which the pallets have been placed with
the goods placed in them, move.
[0026] In this way, when certain goods are to be transported, the successive pallets with
the boxes stacked in them, will be placed on the shoes provided in the guides of the
different compartments until the entire length of the same is occupied, thus the container
is filled to 100 % of its capacity.
[0027] The conventional shoes upon which the pallets will move can be substituted upon providing
some bearings that likewise permit the displacement of the pallets by simple pushing
in a simple and convenient way in the guides of the different compartments.
[0028] In short, possessing a container with a false intermediate bottom for transporting
certain merchandize represents a large saving, since in conventional transport, 50%
of the capacity of containers is occupied, while with the false intermediate bottom
that we have described, the container is transported with a load of 100% of its capacity.
[0029] In other words, to transport the load that can be conveyed in one trip by means of
the described container, it would be necessary to make two trips with a conventional
container, this representing a large saving, in the time used, as well as in the lower
fuel cost.
[0030] On the other hand, the arrangement of the brackets (13-14) permits the conventional
trolleys or "bull-type" lifting devices to enter the "passages" facilitating loading
and unloading through them. Hence, the trolley can enter the container along the passages
(6) to leave the pallets on the corresponding brackets, that form the false intermediate
bottom.