A transport unit and a method for lifting such a transport unit

Abstract

 A transport unit comprising a mineral wool plate package with at least two mineral wool plates (2), the mineral wool plate package having a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposed side surfaces extending in a width and a height of the mineral wool plate package, and two separate feet (3, 4)positioned at a distance from each other, manufactured from an insulating material and arranged at the bottom surface, forming ground supports adapted to carry and support the package when the transport unit is positioned on the ground (5), the feet in that position keeping the mineral wool plates at a distance from the ground such as to make it possible for a fork of a fork-lift or like lifting device to be inserted between the feet to lift up the transport unit, each foot (3, 4) comprises a lower part (8) and an upper part (7), the lower part extending shorter towards the closer of the side surfaces such as to form a step (9a, 9b) between the lower part and the upper part, which step extends in the width direction of the mineral wool plate package to form a lifting strap space adapted to accommodate a respective lifting strap (10, 11) for lifting up the transport unit.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the general technical field of packaging of mineral wool building insulation plates for transportation thereof. More specifically the invention relates to a transport unit comprising:

a mineral wool plate package with at least two mineral wool plates, the mineral wool plate package having a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposed side surfaces, the side surfaces extending in a width and a height of the mineral wool plate package, and

two separate feet positioned at a distance from each other, manufactured from an insulating material and arranged at the bottom surface, the feet forming ground supports adapted to carry and support the package when the transport unit is positioned on the ground, the feet in that position keeping the mineral wool plates of the package at a distance from the ground such as to make it possible for a lifting device, such as a fork of a fork-lift, to be inserted between the feet to lift up the transport unit.

[0002] It is well-known to position feet in the form of so-called MIWO feet (MIneral WOol feet) to support a package of mineral wool plates stacked upon each other to form a parallelepiped shape, see for example DE 42 18 354 A1 or WO 98/23497 A1. The plates of the mineral wool plate package are typically manufactured on a manufacturing line and immediately at the end of the line stacked upon each other to reach a desired height of typically six to ten mineral wool plates stacked upon each other. The stack may be stacked directly upon and be attached to the MIWO feet, i.e. with the lowermost plate positioned directly on the feet when the feet are positioned on the ground (or floor), or the feet may be attached to the stack after stacking, for example while lifting up the package.

[0003] Together with the MIWO feet the mineral wool plate package forms a transport unit, which may be transported for example from the factory to a storage facility or from the latter to a point of sale or application, e.g. a building site. The transport units can be transported on the floor of a truck or lorry or stored while resting on the MIWO feet. The entire transport unit is often wrapped in wrapping foil during manufacture, typically plastic foil, such as to attach the plates and feet to each other and to protect them from the environment, specifically against moisture and damage. The plastic foil may e.g. be a stretch foil or a heat shrinkable foil.

[0004] MIWO feet are typically mineral wool plates, for example consisting of glass wool or stone wool, that in size have been cut to be significantly smaller in width and length than the package they are supporting. In the transport unit a first MIWO foot is attached to a bottom surface of the package near one side surface of the package while a second foot is attached to the bottom surface at a distance from the first foot near a second side surface of the package. Hereby a fork of a fork-lift may be inserted from a front or a back surface of the package into a space established between the feet beneath the transport unit to subsequently lift up the transport unit from the ground and drive it on the fork-lift from one position to a desired different area or position, such as from a position of manufacture of the transport unit to a storage facility.

[0005] The transport unit can also be lifted by means of two straps, each strap being inserted beneath the package at different ends to extend along the front and back surfaces and along the bottom surface of the package. This is often advantageous to provide more freedom in the moving of the transport unit, for example when the transport unit is to be lifted by a craneto a roof of a building at a building site from a position on the ground or on the floor of a truck or lorry. The straps may be positioned between the MIWO feet or, more commonly, abutting the package bottom surface on the outside of the feet while the latter are attached to the bottom surface of the package at a distance from the package sides. In the latter case the straps may also abut an outwardly facing side surface of the respective foot, whereby it can be ensured that the straps do not slide inwards towards a center of the package, which could lead to instability when the transport unit is lifted from the ground by means of the straps. The straps can be attached at their respective ends to a crane or the like above the transport unit, the straps forming a loop enclosing the transport unit or more specifically the mineral wool plate package.

[0006] When the transport unit has been transported to a site of application of the plates, such as a roof of a building site, the wrapping is unwrapped and the plates are applied to their intended use as building insulation. The MIWO feet can be used to fill out holes, corners and edges of the building insulation where there is often a need for adjusting the insulation.

[0007] In order to save material costs it is generally desired to use MIWO feet as small as possible; however, the feet should be large enough to provide the required or desired strength and stiffness to be able to support the weight of the package, preferably without being destroyed.

[0008] The plates of the mineral wool plate package are often roof insulation plates of relatively high-density mineral wool. In this case the MIWO feet are often cut from the same plates as those that are within the package, which bears the advantage that only plates from one manufacturing line are used to manufacture the transport package.

[0009] The mineral wool plates of the package may also be made of relatively low-density mineral wool, and the MIWO feet are then cut from a mineral wool plate having higher compression strength. The mineral wool plates may be in the form of mineral wool lamellae, i.e. roof plates in which the fiber orientation extends generally in a height, i.e. substantially at a right angle to a main plane of the plate. Lamellae typically have relatively low density and high compression strength due to the fiber orientation and may comprise a pressure distribution plate at the top surface used as pressure resistant layer. However, even though the lamellae have high compression strength in the up-down direction, if point pressure is exerted on lamellae in the direction of the fiber orientation, the plate will have a tendency to become frayed, deformed or destroyed.

[0010] When the package comprises such insulation plates having characteristics making them unsuitable to absorb larger forces exerted in the height direction, problems often arise when the straps are used to lift the transport unit up from the ground. When the straps lift on the bottom surface of the lowermost plate, due to the weight exerted on the mineral wool by the straps this plate tends to be destroyed, become frayed, and/or be deformed by the straps. The straps specifically cut into the lowermost plate, often so severely that this plate might no longer be suitable for the intended use as an insulation plate. In the prior art the lowermost plate of the mineral wool plate package has due to this often been disposed of or it has been cut up to be used to fill in holes and corners of the space to be insulated similarly to the use of the MIWO feet.

[0011] In order to solve or alleviate this the transport unit according to the introduction is characterized in that each foot comprises a lower part and an upper part, the lower part extending shorter towards the closer of the side surfaces such as to form a step between the lower part and the upper part, which step extends in the width direction of the mineral wool plate package to form a lifting strap space adapted to accommodate a respective lifting strap for lifting up the transport unit.

[0012] When lifting the transport unit by means of straps these features make it possible to position each strap in the lifting strap spaces created at the corner between the two parts of the respective foot. Hereby the weight from the mineral wool plate package is primarily exerted on a bottom surface of the upper part of the foot, whereby the lowermost plate of the package is much better protected. Experiments have shown that after lifting a typical package of mineral wool plates of typical characteristics by means of straps as described above, the lowermost plate will be so intact that it can be used as a building insulation plate along with the remaining plates of the stack.

[0013] At the same time the properties and advantages of the prior art transport units are maintained, for example required material use, i.e. the amount of mineral wool plate necessary to manufacture feet of suitable size, and cost of manufacture. Also, the lower parts of the feet prevent the straps from sliding inwards towards a centre of the transport unit so as to maintain the straps in an optimal position as regards lifting the transport unit by means of the straps.

[0014] The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment each part takes the form of one layer, the two layers of each foot being stacked upon each other, the two layers preferably being of substantially the same height. This establishes a low cost and efficient way of manufacture. Each layer is further preferably in the form of a mineral wool plate or a piece of a mineral wool plate, preferably parallelepiped-shaped, the two plates preferably being of mineral wool of same type and/or density. Alternatively the step of each foot may be cut from one thick plate, i.e. one plate comprises both levels of the foot, the step having been cut into one side of the foot.

[0015] A density of mineral wool of the plates of the mineral wool plate package is preferably in the range of 45 to 250 kg/m³, preferably 75 to 190 kg/m³, and a density of mineral wool of the feet is preferably in the range of 60 to 250 kg/m³, more preferred 100 to 190 kg/m³. Often the density of the mineral wool plates and the feet are the same, but the feet may comprise mineral wool plates of higher density than the mineral wool plates of the mineral wool plate package.

[0016] In another embodiment the lower of the two parts of each foot extents at least 50 mm, preferably at least 100 mm, shorter than the upper part towards the closer of the side surfaces. This will in most circumstances provide sufficient space for an ordinary strap to be optimally positioned in the lifting strap space. The optimum width or extent of the lifting strap space may depend on the width of the strap, but generally longer is better.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment the height of each foot is substantially equal to that of each of the mineral wool plates of the mineral wool plate package.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment the distance between the feet is large enough to allow for a standard fork of a fork-lift to be inserted between the feet to abut the bottom surface of the mineral wool plate package, preferably the distance is at least 630 mm, more preferred at least 700 mm, most preferred at least 800 mm.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment each step is formed with substantially right angles such as to form a lifting space in the form of a rectangular, inwards corner in which the lifting strap can be accommodated. Alternatively the corner may have a shape different from rectangular, for example curved or inclined.

[0020] In another preferred embodiment each step extends in the width direction of the mineral wool plate package substantially in parallel to the side surfaces.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment the upper part of each foot is positioned at a distance from the closer of the side surfaces, said distance preferably being at least 50 mm, more preferred at least 100 mm, most preferred at least 200 mm. This enables optimum positioning of the feet with minimal material use.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment the mineral wool plate package further comprises opposed front and back surfaces extending in a length and in the height of the mineral wool plate package preferably substantially at right angles to the side surfaces, the lower level extending shorter towards the front and back surfaces such as to form a step between the lower part and the upper part, which step extends in the length of the mineral wool plate package, preferably in parallel to the front and back surfaces, to form a lifting strap space adapted to accommodate a respective lifting strap for lifting up the transport unit. This makes it possible to alternatively position straps in lifting strap spaces extending along the front and back surfaces of the transport unit. Hereby lifting straps can either be positioned extending along the side surfaces or along the front and back surfaces, i.e. a further, similar option for positioning of lifting straps is provided.

[0023] In another preferred embodiment the mineral wool plates of the mineral wool plate package are parallelepiped-shaped, i.e. rectangular cuboids, stacked upon each other to form a substantially parallelepiped-shaped stack of mineral wool plates. In this context it is noted that as used in terms of the present specification the term mineral wool plate comprises for example plates, batts, boards, strips and mats manufactured primarily from mineral wool. The plates may as a further example be rolled up to form rolls of plates with one or more plate in each roll, the rolls being positioned beside and/or above each other such as to form the mineral wool plate package. If stacked upon each other, several plates may be positioned besides each other in the package. The rolls of a package may be stacked upon each other and/or positioned beside each other. Besides being rolled the plates may be deformed and shaped in other ways when packaged in the package, e.g. each being folded upon itself to form a double plate.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment the mineral wool plate package comprises at least four, preferably at least six, more preferably at least eight, mineral wool plates of substantially equal size stacked upon each other such as to form substantially plane side surfaces extending in a width and a height of the mineral wool plate package as well as substantially plane front and back surfaces extending in a length and a height of the mineral wool plate package, the side surfaces extending at right angles to the front and back surfaces.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment the plates of the mineral wool plate package and the feet are assembled, preferably by means of a wrapping foil wrapped around the mineral wool plates and the feet.

[0026] In another preferred embodiment each plate of the mineral wool plate package comprises a layer of lamellar low-density mineral wool, with fiber orientation mainly directed in an up-down direction, and a pressure distribution layer of high-density mineral wool, the layers being stacked upon each other and attached to each other, preferably the pressure distribution plate is positioned upwards in the mineral wool plate package.

[0027] In another aspect the invention relates to a method for lifting a transport unit as described above, comprising the steps of:

providing two straps, each attached to a strap lifting device positioned above the transport unit,

guiding each strap to extend around a bottom of the transport unit,

positioning each strap to be accommodated in a respective of the lifting strap spaces, and

lifting the transport unit in the straps by means of the strap lifting device.

[0028] In the enclosed drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of a transport unit according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a view of a detail II of Fig. 1,

Figs 3a to 3c show a bottom view, a side view and a front view, respectively, of the transport unit according to Fig. 1,

Figs 4a to 4c show views similar to those of Figs 3a to 3c of another embodiment of the transport unit according to the invention,

Figs 5a to 5c show views similar to those of Figs 3a to 3c of another embodiment of the transport unit according to the invention,

Figs 6a to 6c show views similar to those of Figs 3a to 3c of another embodiment of the transport unit according to the invention,

Figs 7a to 7c show views similar to those of Figs 3a to 3c of another embodiment of the transport unit according to the invention,

Figs 8a to 8c show a bottom view, a front view and a side view, respectively, of another embodiment of a transport unit according to the invention, and

Figs 9a to 9c show views similar to those of Figs 8a to 8c of another embodiment of the transport unit according to the invention.

[0029] The embodiments of the transport unit according to the invention as described in the following are examples of modifications according to the invention of the above described prior art transport units. The above description of the prior art transport units and their use generally also applies to the embodiments described in the following unless differences are explicitly noted.

[0030] Figs 1, 2 and 3a to 3c show different views of one embodiment of the transport unit according to the invention. The remaining figures show views of alternative embodiments, the figures denoted Xa to Xc, X being a number from 4 to 9, corresponding to Figs 3a to 3c, respectively. In all figures the transport unit is shown positioned on a ground surface from which it may be lifted for being transported or moved to a different position.

[0031] In the following, common features of all embodiments of the figures will be described with reference to the embodiment of Figs 1, 2 and 3a to 3c. For convenience Figs 2, 3b and 3c only show the lowermost plate 2a of the plates 2 of the package 1. This is also true for the equivalent figures of the alternative embodiments shown in the remaining drawings.

[0032] Referring to Fig. 1 the transport unit comprises a mineral wool plate package in the form of a stack 1 of a total of eight mineral wool plates 2. The stack 1 has a top surface at the top of Fig. 1, a bottom surface at the bottom of Fig. 1 and two opposed side surfaces at the lateral sides of Fig 1, the side surfaces extending in a width and a height of the package 1.The package 1 further comprises opposed front and back surfaces extending in a length and in the height of the mineral wool plate package at right angles to the side surfaces. The front surface is the only one of the surfaces visible in Figs 1, 2 and 3c. In Fig. 3a the front surface faces upwards, and the bottom surface downwards in the drawing plane. The bottom surface of the package 1 is shown in Fig. 3a and the left (in Figs 1 and 3c) side surface is shown in Fig. 3b. The side surface, top and bottom surfaces as well as the front and back surfaces are all substantially plane surfaces.

[0033] The mineral wool plates 2 are parallelepiped-shaped, i.e. rectangular cuboids, of substantially equal size stacked upon each other to form the substantially parallelepiped-shaped stack 1 of mineral wool plates. The dimensions of each plate are about 2 x 1.2 x 0.1 m. The plates 2 may each comprise a layer of lamellar low-density mineral wool with fiber orientation mainly directed in an up-down direction, and a pressure distribution layer of high-density mineral wool, the layers being stacked upon each other and being attached to each other, the pressure distribution layer being positioned upwards in the mineral wool plate package. However, this is not shown in the figures, since the invention is suitable for other conventional mineral wool plates as well. The plates may be suitable for use in flat roof insulation.

[0034] Two separate feet 3, 4 made of mineral wool (MIWO feet) are positioned at a distance from each other in the length, i.e. the longitudinal direction, of the package 1 below the package 1, more specifically abutting the lowermost 2a of the plates 2. The plates 2 are stacked on each other, and the feet are arranged and attached to the package in a conventional manner by means of a plastic wrapping foil (not shown) wrapped around the entire transport unit. The wrapping foil is wrapped around the transport unit several times from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction, i.e. from one of the side surfaces towards the other, around the entire transport unit. In other embodiments the package can be wrapped around the package 1 without the feet while the feet 3, 4 subsequently are attached to the package 1 by means of other means such as glue, nails or the like.

[0035] The feet 3, 4 form ground supports adapted to carry and support the package 1 when the transport unit is positioned on the ground (or floor) 5, the feet 3, 4 in that position keeping the package 1 (i.e. the lowermost plate 2a) at a distance from the ground 5 level.

[0036] For all the embodiments shown in the drawings each foot 3, 4 comprises two parts, namely an upper layer 7 and a lower layer 8 stacked upon each other. Each layer 7, 8 is in the form of a parallelepiped-shaped mineral wool plate (a piece cut out from a larger plate). The layers 7, 8 are of mineral wool which may be of same type and density as the mineral wool plates 2 in the stack. In the shown embodiment the two layers 7, 8 are of substantially the same height; albeit preferred, this is not essential. Further, density, and other material characteristics may vary between both the layers 7, 8 and feet 3,4.

[0037] Of each foot 3, 4 the lower layer 8 extends shorter than the upper layer 7 towards the closer of the side surfaces of the package 1 such as to form respective steps 9a, 9b between the lower layer 8 and the upper layer 7. This is seen best in the detail II of Fig. 1 as shown in Fig. 2 showing step 9a.

[0038] The steps 9a, 9b extend in the width direction of the package 1 substantially in parallel to its side surfaces, see especially Fig. 3a and the similar figures (denoted Xa) of the other embodiments shown. The lower layer 8 is about 120 mm shorter than the upper layer 7 towards the closest of the side surfaces of the package 1. The height of each foot 3, 4 is substantially equal to that of each of the mineral wool plates of the mineral wool plate package, this height suitably being about 100 mm, meaning that each of the layers 7, 8 is accordingly about 50 mm in height.

[0039] The width of the plates 2 may be about 1.2 m and the length about 2 m. These dimensions may however vary to a large degree according to how and where the plates are intended to be put to use. Density of the mineral wool of the plates 2 may be about 85 kg/m³; the mineral wool of the layers 7, 8 may have a density about 160 kg/m³.

[0040] Referring especially to Fig. 2 it is clear that since the layers 7, 8 are parallelepiped-shaped, each step 9a, 9b of each foot 3, 4 is formed with substantially right angles, the upper surface of the lower layer 8 abutting the lower surface of the upper layer 7. This forms a lifting space "within" the step 9a, 9b in the form of a rectangular, inwards corner in which respective lifting straps 10, 11 can be accommodated as is shown in Figs 1, 2 and 3a, see also Fig. 8a. These lifting straps 10, 11 are attached at their two respective ends to a suitable strap lifting device (not shown) positioned above the transport unit for transportation of the transport unit when lifted above the ground 5. One typical type of suitable strap lifting device is a crane, the strap ends being collectively held at a single point, e.g. in a hook or like attaching means, of the crane. The hook can be moved up and down in order to lift the transport unit up from the ground or floor. When lifted up the crane can move the transport unit, for instance to a flat roof area at a building site.

[0041] In Figs 1, 3a and 8a the straps 10, 11 are schematically shown, i.e. with no deformation; in reality the straps will to some degree be deformed. Specifically, the straps 10, 11 preferably rest upon a bottom surface 7a of the upper layer 7 and a side surface 8a of the bottom layer 8, e.g. as shown in Fig. 2. Since the strap 10 is pulled upwards at an inwardly inclined angle, the strap 10 will be fixed in the position as shown in Fig. 2.

[0042] Alternatively, the steps 9a, 9b may have a cross-sectional shape different from rectangular (i.e. a right-angled corner); it may for example have a curvature. In some embodiments a separate piece of mineral wool plate or other material with a length corresponding to the width of the step 9a, 9b and with a cross section shaped as a rectangular triangle can be positioned in the lifting space corner, the right angles coinciding. Hereby deformation of the straps 10, 11 can to some degree be avoided. The same can be achieved if the layers 7, 8 are cut from a larger plate with an inclined angle.

[0043] In the context of the present specification the term "strap" includes all kinds of flexible, strap-like means suitable for lifting a transport unit of a type as that according to the invention, including slings and strings, and may be manufactured of any suitable material such as textile and/or polymeric material. The dimensions of the straps are such as to be suitable for their purpose; a suitable strap may have a width of e.g. 50 to 150 mm (typically 60 or 90 mm, but may be up to 300 mm) and a length of 8 to 20 m. In the shown embodiments the straps 10, 11 are in the form of polyester straps having a width of 60 mm.

[0044] In all embodiments shown the distance between the upper layers 7 of the feet 3, 4 is decisive for whether the fork-lift will be able to position the fork properly between the feet. In some embodiments (not shown) the MIWO feet may be asymmetrical, i.e.the lower layer 8 of one foot 3, 4 may extend further towards the other foot 4, 3 and may thus be decisive as regards a desired distance between the feet 3, 4, depending on the height of the two layers 7, 8. Albeit preferred, it is not essential for the transport unit according to the invention that it is suitable for being lifted by means of an ordinary fork-lift, see further below the description of the embodiments of Figs 8a to 9c.

[0045] While the above description of a transport unit and lifting elements fits all the embodiments of the drawings, in the following the variations from embodiment to embodiment will be described in detail.

[0046] For the embodiments of Figs 1 to 7c, alternatively to lifting the transport unit as shown in the drawings by means of the lifting straps 10, 11 a lifting device in the form of a fork-lift fork may be introduced from the front or back surface beneath the lowermost plate 2a between the feet 3, 4 to lift up the transport unit and drive it to a different position by means of the fork-lift where it can be repositioned to ground level (or on a storage shelf or the like). For that reason the feet 3, 4 are positioned in the embodiments of Figs 1 to 7c at least 630 mm (typical outer dimensions of a fork of a fork-lift) from each other. Fork arms 6 of a fork of a fork-lift inserted between the feet 3, 4 are shown schematically in Fig. 1. Typically the distance between the feet 3, 4 can be made somewhat larger which can save material costs. In the embodiments of Figs 1 to 7c the distance between the feet 3, 4 is about 700 mm.

[0047] In the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3c the lower layers 8 of the feet 3, 4 are somewhat shorter than the upper layer 7 towards the center of the transport unit in the longitudinal direction of the transport unit. This creates a further respective step 9c, 9d on the inside of each foot 3, 4, this step being of a size comparable to the steps 9a, 9b on the opposing sides of the respective feet 3, 4. Having steps 9a to 9d on each of these sides of the feet 3, 4 has the advantage that each foot 3, 4 can be orientated the opposite way in the longitudinal direction when being attached to the package 1 while still maintaining a suitable step 9a, 9b on the outside for positioning of the straps 10, 11. These inwardly facing steps 9c, 9d can also be used for lifting straps (not shown), specifically if the straps each extend to two different points above the transport unit so that the straps will be inclined in a longitudinally outwards direction when extending upwards from the bottom of the transport unit so that the straps do not slide horizontally.

[0048] In the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3c as well as in the embodiments of Fig. 5a to 9c the upper layer 7 of each foot 3, 4 projects about 120 mm farther in the longitudinal direction in each side than the lower layer 8. The upper layers 7 are further positioned at a distance of about 300 mm from the respective closest one of the side surfaces of the package 1. The length (in the longitudinal direction) of the upper layer 7 is about 360 mm. The similar length of the lower layer 8 is about 120 mm.

[0049] In the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3c as well as the embodiments of Figs 7a to 9c the lower layer 8 of each foot 3, 4 extends about 100 mm shorter at each side facing the closer of the front and back surfaces of the package 1. Comparatively to the steps 9a to 9d this forms two front steps 9e and two back steps 9f, respectively, between the lower layer 8 and the upper layer 7 of each foot. In the embodiments of Figs 1 to 7c the upper layer 7 of each foot 3, 4 on each side extends all the way to the front and back surfaces, respectively. The steps 9e, 9f extend in the length of, i.e. the longitudinal direction of, the package 1 in parallel to the front and back surfaces to thereby, similar to the steps 9a, 9b, form respective lifting strap spaces adapted to accommodate respective lifting straps 10a, 11a (only shown in Fig. 3a) for lifting up the transport unit. These straps 10a, 11a extend similar to the straps 10, 11 along the bottom of the transport unit, but in contrast to the straps 10, 11 along the longitudinal direction of the transport unit. Hereby it is possible to position lifting straps 10, 11, 10a, 11a both in the width direction, the straps 10, 11 extending from the bottom along each of the side surfaces of the package 1 to reach the crane above the transport unit, as well as in the length direction, the straps 10a, 11a extending from the bottom along each of the front and back surfaces of the package 1.

[0050] Note that in the context of the present specification whereas terms such as width, length and height are used to define dimensions, such terms are not to be understood as defining relative extent; i.e. a width or height of an object are for example not necessarily shorter than a length of that object. Thus, in the embodiments of Figs 1 to 3c as well as 7a to 7c, according to the invention the width of the package 1 could also be considered the length and vice versa.

[0051] The embodiment of Figs 4a to 4c is similar to the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3c in all aspects except for the following modifications. The upper layer 7 of each foot 3, 4 has been extended in the length direction of the package 1 to extend all the way to the closer of the side surfaces of the package 1, i.e. to the edge of the lowermost plate 2a, and that both layers 7, 8 have been extended in the width direction to extend all the way to the lower edge of the lowermost plate 2a at the closer of the front and back surfaces of the package 1. Furthermore, the lower layer 8 has been extended in the length direction towards the center of the transport unit to extend to the lower edge of the inwards-facing side of the upper layer 7. Compared to the previous embodiment this provides a larger foot, which will be able to absorb a larger amount of weight from above, i.e. it is suitable for heavier packages 1. No lifting spaces extending along the front and back surfaces of the package 1 are provided in this embodiment.

[0052] The embodiment of Figs 5a to 5c is similar to the embodiment of Figs 4a to 4c in all aspects except for the following modification. The upper layer 7 extends with an extent similar to that in the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3c to the closer of the side surfaces of the package 1. Compared to the previous embodiment this provides feet 3, 4 of strength similar to the embodiment of Figs 4a to 4c although the upper layer 7 is somewhat shorter in length, which saves material, but somewhat more precise positioning of the straps 10, 11 is required.

[0053] The embodiment of Figs 6a to 6c is similar to the embodiment of Figs 5a to 5c in all aspects except for the following modification. The lower layer 8 has not been extended in the length direction of the package 1 to extend to the inwards-facing side of the upper layer 7, which corresponds to the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3c.

[0054] The embodiment of Figs 7a to 7c is similar to the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3c in all aspects except for the following modifications. A central piece of the lower layer 8 of each foot 3, 4 has been cut out so as to leave two separate, substantially parallelepiped-shaped layer portions 8a, 8b with a distance between them of about 560 mm in the width direction of the package 1. This saves further material, but of course also weakens the lower layers of the feet 3, 4. Each of the layer portions 8a, 8b extends about 220 mm in the width direction.

[0055] To further illustrate that in terms of the present specification and claims width, length and height are not to be understood as defining relative extent, reference is made to the embodiments of Figs 8a to 8c and 9a to 9c, respectively.

[0056] The embodiment of Figs 8a to 8c is similar to the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3c in all aspects except for the following modifications. The width of the package 1 of this embodiment is longer than the length of the package 1, i.e. the length extends in the up-down direction in the drawing plane, the front surface of the package 1 being to the left in Figs 8a and 8c. More specifically, in this embodiment the length of the package 1 is about 1,2 m, the width being about 2 m (i.e. opposite to the length and width of the previous embodiments).

[0057] Similar to the embodiment of Figs 4a to 4c and Figs 5a to 5c the lower layer 8 of each foot 3, 4 extends all the way to that side of the upper layer 7, which faces the opposite foot 4, 3. In contrast to the previous embodiments the upper layer 7 does not extend all the way to the front and back sides of the package 1 (the front and back surfaces of the package 1 in the present embodiment being positioned at the left and right sides, respectively, of Figs 8a and 8c, i.e. the front surface is shown in Fig. 8b).

[0058] In the embodiment of Figs 8a to 8c each of the layer portions 8a, 8b extends about 220 mm in the length direction (up-down in the drawing plane in Fig. 8a). The feet 3, 4 are furthermore positioned at a distance from each other of about 560 mm in the length direction. This distance is shorter than the space necessary to insert usual forks of a fork-lift so a different lifting device is required. Such a lifting device may be in the form of a fork of a type of fork-lift, wherein the distance between the legs of the fork is adjustable, so as to allow for it to be inserted between the layer portions 8a, 8b. Other lifting devices of suitable shape and size enabling such to be inserted between the feet 3, 4 in order to lift the transport unit are also conceivable. However, the balance of the transport unit might be compromised, which may be alleviated for example if fewer plates 2 or plates of smaller height are packaged in the transport unit. The upper layers 7 are each positioned about 300 mm from the front and back surfaces of the package 1. The length (in the up-down direction of the drawing plane) of each of the upper layers 7 is about 320 mm, the length of each of the lower layers being about 220 mm so as to leave about 100 mm step size in length for the lifting straps 10, 11, which are shown in Fig. 8a. The width of each of the upper layers 7 is about 1400 mm. The width of each of the lower layers 8 is about 1200 mm, leaving a step with a width of about 100 mm on each outwardly facing side such as to create the lifting space for the secondary lifting straps 10a, 11a that are also shown in Fig. 8a.

[0059] The embodiment of Figs 9a to 9c is similar to the embodiment of Figs 8a to 8c in all aspects except for the following modification. Similar to the embodiment of Figs 7a to 7c a central piece of the lower layer 8 of each foot 3, 4 has been cut out so as to leave two separate layer portions 8a, 8b with a distance between them in the width direction of the package 1. In this embodiment this distance is about 300 mm, the length of each of the layer portions 8a, 8b being about 220 mm, and the width about 450 mm.

[0060] A method according to the invention for lifting the transport unit according to any one of the embodiments of the drawings involves guiding two strap, i.e. either straps 10 and 11 or 10a and 11a, to extend around the bottom of the transport unit, specifically so that a lower part of the respective strap 10, 11, 10a, 11a is accommodated in a respective of the lifting strap spaces, the straps 10, 11 extending along the front and back surfaces of the package 1, and/or the straps 10a, 11a extending along the respective surfaces of the package 1, to reach the crane above the transport unit. The crane then lifts the transport unit in the straps 10, 11; 10a, 11a and moves the transport unit to a different, desired position where it is put down again. Note that all four straps 10, 11, 10, 11 can in principle be attached at the same time, which provides improved attachment.

[0061] Generally, in a transport unit according to the invention preferred dimension ranges of the plates of the mineral wool plate package are 1.5 to 4 m, preferably 1.8 to 2.2 m, in length, 0.5 to 1.5 m, preferably 0.8 to 1.2 m, in width, 50 to 200 mm, preferably 80 to 150mm, in height. Preferred dimension ranges of each of the upper layers of the feet are 200 to 600 mm in length, more preferred 250 to 400 mm, and 0.5 to 1.5 m in width (the width preferably being similar to the width of the plates) and/or 0.1 to 0.3 times the length of the plates. Preferred dimension ranges of each of the lower layers of the feet are 100 to 500 mm, more preferred 200 to 400 mm, in length and/or 0.1 to 0.3 times the length of the plates and/or 0.4 to 0.9 times the length of the upper layers. The preferred width of the upper layers is 0.5 to 1.5 m, preferably 0.8 to 1.2 m, and/or 0.1 to 0.4 times the width of the upper layers and/or that of the plates. The lower layers are preferably substantially centrally positioned on the upper layers measured in the length direction. The lower layers are preferably 50 to 500, more preferred 80 to 200 mm shorter than the respective upper layers to allow for the formation of steps of suitable sizes for forming the lifting strap spaces.

Claims

1. A transport unit comprising:

a mineral wool plate package with at least two mineral wool plates, the mineral wool plate package having a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposed side surfaces, the side surfaces extending in a width and a height of the mineral wool plate package, and

two separate feet positioned at a distance from each other, manufactured from an insulating material and arranged at the bottom surface, the feet forming ground supports adapted to carry and support the package when the transport unit is positioned on the ground, the feet in that position keeping the mineral wool plates at a distance from the ground such as to make it possible for a lifting device, such as a fork of a fork-lift, to be inserted between the feet to lift up the transport unit,

characterized in that

each foot comprises a lower part and an upper part, the lower part extending shorter towards the closer of the side surfaces such as to form a step between the lower part and the upper part, which step extends in the width direction of the mineral wool plate package to form a lifting strap space adapted to accommodate a respective lifting strap for lifting up the transport unit.

2. A transport unit according to claim 1, wherein each part takes the form of one layer, the two layers of each foot being stacked upon each other, the two layers preferably being of substantially the same height.

3. A transport unit according to claim 2, wherein each layer is in the form of a mineral wool plate, preferably parallelepiped-shaped, the two plates preferably being of mineral wool of same type and/or density.

4. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein an average density of mineral wool of the plates of the mineral wool plate package is in the range of 45 to 250 kg/m³, preferably 75 to 190 kg/m³, and a density of mineral wool of the feet is in the range of 60 to 250 kg/m³, preferably 100 to 190 kg/m³.

5. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the lower of the two parts of each foot extents at least 50 mm, preferably at least 100 mm, shorter than the upper part towards the closer of the side surfaces.

6. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the height of each foot is substantially equal to that of each of the mineral wool plates of the mineral wool plate package.

7. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the distance between the feet is large enough to allow for a standard fork of a fork-lift to be inserted between the feet to abut the bottom surface of the mineral wool plate package, preferably the distance is at least 630 mm, more preferred at least 700 mm, most preferred at least 800 mm.

8. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each step is formed with substantially right angles such as to form a lifting space in the form of a rectangular, inwards corner in which the lifting strap can be accommodated.

9. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each step extends in the width direction of the mineral wool plate package substantially in parallel to the side surfaces.

10. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the upper part of each foot is positioned at a distance from the closer of the side surfaces, said distance preferably being at least 50 mm, more preferred at least 100 mm, most preferred at least 200 mm.

11. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the mineral wool plate package further comprises opposed front and back surfaces extending in a length and in the height of the mineral wool plate package preferably substantially at right angles to the side surfaces, the lower part extending shorter towards the front and back surfaces such as to form a step between the lower part and the upper part, which step extends in the length of the mineral wool plate package, preferably in parallel to the front and back surfaces, to form a lifting strap space adapted to accommodate a respective lifting strap for lifting up the transport unit.

12. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the mineral wool plates of the mineral wool plate package are parallelepiped-shaped or rectangular cuboids stacked upon each other to form a substantially parallelepiped-shaped stack of mineral wool plates.

13. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the mineral wool plate package comprises at least four, preferably at least six, more preferably at least eight, mineral wool plates of substantially equal size stacked upon each other such as to form substantially plane side surfaces extending in a width and a height of the mineral wool plate package as well as substantially plane front and back surfaces extending in a length and a height of the mineral wool plate package, the side surfaces extending at right angles to the front and back surfaces.

14. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the plates of the mineral wool plate package and the feet are assembled, preferably by means of a wrapping foil wrapped around the mineral wool plates and the feet.

15. A transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each plate of the mineral wool plate package comprises a layer of lamellar low-density mineral wool with fiber orientation mainly directed in an up-down direction, and a pressure distribution layer of high-density mineral wool, the layers being stacked upon each other and being attached to each other, preferably the pressure distribution layer is positioned upwards in the mineral wool plate package.

16. A method for lifting a transport unit according to any one of the previous claims, comprising the steps of:

providing two straps, each attached to a strap lifting device positioned above the transport unit,

guiding each strap to extend around a bottom of the transport unit,

positioning each strap to be accommodated in a respective of the lifting strap spaces, and

lifting the transport unit in the straps by means of the strap lifting device.

Drawing