Background of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a support arrangement for supporting load in a transportation unit, such as container or vehicle for transporting load, the support arrangement comprising a rod-like support member to placed set against the load to support it, the rod-like support member comprising a first support end for fastening to a first support point in the transportation unit and a second support end opposite to the first support end for fastening to a second support point in the transportation unit so that the rod-like support member is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the transportation unit and in a locked position, in which its movement in the longitudinal direction of the transportation unit is prevented, the support arrangement also comprising two rails parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transportation unit, which comprise longitudinal grooves, the wall structures of which form the support points for the support ends of the rod-like support member when the rod-like support member is in its locked position.

[0002] This type of support arrangement is known from publication DE 3331348 A1. A problem with the support arrangement is that the rod-like support member cannot be placed and locked against a load in such a manner that the load is supported against the support member. This is due to the fact that the support member can only be locked at certain points of the rails and, more specifically, to the grooves of the rails. Even a small clearance between the support member and load causes high stresses on both the support member and load, if the load is able to move back and forth in rough seas.

[0003] It is known to support a load being transported in transportation units by using so-called tightening bars, the lengths of which are adjustable so that they can be tightened against opposite walls of the transportation unit. The "locking" of these tightening bars to the transportation unit is based on friction force that is created between the support ends of the tightening bars and walls of the transportation unit, when the tightening bars are tightened in place. The tightening bars provide the advantage that they can be set against the load, but their problem is that the obtained friction force is not very high and is not sufficient to hold the load to be transported in place, if the load is heavy and high acceleration forces act on the vehicle when decelerating, for instance. The locking force of the tightening bars may of course be increased by tightening the tightening bars firmly, whereby the friction force increases, but this requires that the transportation unit have very robust support points, against which the support ends of the tightening bars are tightened. The walls of the transportation spaces of vehicles usually do not offer a robust support point but yield, which means that the tightening bars cannot be tightened firmly and the locking and support of the load remains quite poor.

[0004] The transportation and supporting of a high, narrow and heavy load with known support arrangements has proven to be especially problematic. Examples of such a load are narrow metal reels having a large diameter. Their transport and supporting has proven difficult especially in lorries, but also in trains, ships and airplanes, in which the reels are typically transported in containers.

Brief description of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a support arrangement that eliminates the above-mentioned prior-art problems and permits good support for high and narrow loads when the loads are transported in different transportation units, such as different vehicles and transportation means.

[0007] To implement this, the support arrangement of the invention is characterised in that

- the wall structure of the rail grooves comprises smooth walls that form said support points for the support ends, whereby the first and second support ends of the rod-like support member each comprise two gripping edges arranged diametrally to each other and arranged to wedge into the smooth walls of the longitudinal grooves of the rails by biting into them, when the rod-like support member is in its locked position,

- the rod-like support member is arranged to move steplessly along the grooves so as to place it, when the rod-like support member is in its shift position, against the load to be supported, and that

- the support arrangement comprises an elongated flexible member for turning the rod-like support member and its support ends in such a manner that the gripping edges of the rod-like support member wedge into the smooth walls of the rail grooves by biting in to them to put the rod-like support member into its locked position against the load to be supported, whereby the rod-like support member comprises power transmission brackets that cooperate with the elongated flexible member and are arranged to transmit a torque to the rod-like support member for said turning, when the elongated flexible member is tightened with tightening means connected thereto and arranged to keep the rod-like support member in its locked position so that its free movement relative to the transportation unit is prevented.

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the support arrangement of the invention are disclosed in attached claims 2 to 13.

[0009] A great advantage of the support arrangement of the invention is that it makes it possible to securely support different loads, even a high and narrow load, in different types of transportation units so that the load cannot move in the transportation unit. Thanks to the fact that the support member of the support arrangement can be placed against the load so that no clearance exists between the load and the support member supporting it, there will be no high blow-like stresses caused by the movement of the load to the support members or load. Any movement of the load causes to the elongated flexible member of the support arrangement a force that endeavours to tighten the elongated flexible member. This, in turn, makes the gripping edges of the rod-like support member to lock even tighter to the support points in the transportation unit, that is, to the grooves that receive the gripping edges. Thus, the support arrangement may be called self-tightening. The support arrangement also provides the advantage that it is easy and quick to arrange around the load to be transported to support it. When the elongated flexible member is also arranged around the load to be supported, the load to be supported can be pressed between the support member and elongated flexible member when the elongated flexible member is tightened with the tightening means. This ensures that the gripping force of the gripping edges to the smooth walls prevails even if slight changes occurred in the outer dimensions of the supported load during transportation. The outer dimensions of the load may slightly change due to the fact, for example, that the packaging material of the load compresses slightly when stresses are directed to it during transportation. Thus, the tightening rope ensures that the support rod and load to be supported remain stationary in all situations. Because the support provided by the support arrangement is extremely secure, the load may be heavy; an example of which is large-diameter narrow metal reels. Brief description of figures

[0010] In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by means of an example and by referring to the attached drawing, in which

Figure 1 is a top view of a known support arrangement for supporting load in a transportation unit

Figure 2 shows a section along line M-Il of Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is a top view of an arrangement of the invention for supporting reels in a transportation unit,

Figure 4 shows a section along line IV-IV of Figure 3,

Figures 5 and 6 are end and side views, respectively, of a support rod used in the support arrangement of Figures 3 and 4,

Figure 7 is an end view of an alternative support rod embodiment to that of Figure 6,

Figure 8 illustrates a rail and groove for receiving a support rod, which belong to the support arrangement of Figures 3 and 4,

Figure 9 illustrates how the support rod of Figures 3 and 4 locks into the transportation unit,

Figures 10 and 11 show in more detail than Figures 3 and 4 how a reel is supported in a transportation unit, as seen from the end and side, respectively,

Figure 12 is an alternative embodiment to that of Figure 3 for supporting a reel in a transportation unit,

Figures 13 and 14 show in more detail than Figure 12 how a reel is supported in a transportation unit, as seen from the end and side, respectively,

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate how a reel is supported in the cargo space of a lorry by using the support arrangement of the invention, as seen from the end and side, respectively,

Figure 17 is a side view of a support rod used in the support arrangement of Figures 15 and 16, and

Figure 18 illustrates a rail and groove for receiving a support rod, which belong to the support arrangement of Figures 15 and 16.

Detailed description of the invention

[0012] Figure 1 illustrates a known arrangement for supporting cargo 1A or load in a transportation unit 2A. The cargo 1A is at one end sup- ported against the wall 3A of the cargo space of the transportation unit 2A. The opposite end of the cargo 1A has a longitudinally adjustable tightening rod 4A that is tightened to press against the walls 5A and 6A of the transportation unit 2A. The firmness of the support arrangement is based on friction force that is provided between the support ends 14A of the tightening rod 4a and the walls 5A and 6A of the transportation unit. The friction force and support cannot be made strong, if the walls 5A and 6A yield and do not offer a good support. Figure 2 shows a section along line M-Il of Figure 1.

[0013] Figures 3 to 18 illustrate the support arrangement of the invention for supporting cargo in a transportation unit.

[0014] Figure 3 is a top view of a container 2, in which five metal reels 1 have been loaded. The container 2 is not loaded full of reels, because its strength would not be sufficient to carry a large number of reels. The diameter of the reels 1 is approximately 190 cm and their width is approximately 30 cm. As shown in the figure, the reels are arranged at a distance from each other, whereby they load the container evenly.

[0015] Figure 4 shows a section along line IV-IV of Figure 3. Figures 3 and 4 show that the reels 1 are arranged in a chute 7 that extends from one end of the container to the other. The chute 7 comprises oblique support surfaces 8, to which the mantle surface of the reel is supported.

[0016] Each reel 1 is supported with a support arrangement that comprises a support rod 4 and rope 9. The support rod 4 supports the reel 1 on one side and the rope 9 is wound around the reel 1 such that it supports the reel on the opposite side. The rope 9 is fastened to a first bracket 10a on one end of the support rod 4, then guided on the outside behind the reel 1 and through the hole 11 in the reel to a bracket 10b in the middle of the support rod, then back behind the reel and through the hole 11 of the reel back to a bracket 10c on the other, opposite end of the support rod, and the rope 9 ends in the bracket 10a. A tightening means, for instance rigging screw 12, is arranged to the rope 9 to tighten the rope 9. The purpose of the tightening is to lock the support rod into rails 13 on walls 5, 6 of the transportation unit. Because the brackets 10a, 10b, 10c act as lever arms to turn the support rod 4, the brackets 10a, 10b, 10c may be called power transmission brackets or moment transmission brackets. [0017] Figures 5 and 6 show the support rod 4 in more detail. The number of brackets 10a, 10c, 10d, 10e in the support rod may vary. When there are several brackets, the rope may be fastened/guided to more than one point of the support rod 4, which increases the suitability of the support rod in supporting loads of different type and also makes it possible to support the load in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the transportation unit, that is, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the transportation unit. The total length L1 of the support rod 4 is selected such that it extends between the opposite walls 5, 6 of the transportation unit. The length L1 is approximately 2300 mm when the transportation unit 2 is a container. At the opposite ends of the support rod 4, there are support ends 14 that are rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Figure 6.

[0018] Figures 3 to 9 show that the diametrically opposite corners of the support end 14 form gripping edges 15a, 15b, 15c and 15d that lock into the rails 13 on the walls 5, 6 of the container. The gripping edges lock by wedging to the rails 13, as illustrated in particular in Figure 9 showing that the gripping edges 15b and 15d of the support end 14 are locked onto the smooth inner walls 17a, 18a of the top 17 and bottom walls 18 of the rail 13. The more the rope (see rope 9 of Figures 3 and 4) is tightened, the more the support rod 4 turns in the turning direction of arrow A in Figure 9, and the more the gripping edges 15b and 15d bite into the inner walls 17a, 18a of the walls 17, 18 and prevent the movement of the support rod in the longitudinal direction of the rail 13. In a way, the gripping edges 15b, 15d cut into the inner walls 17a, 18a and lock the support rod 4 in place so that it is in its locked position. When the tightening rope (rope 9 in Figures 3 and 4) is also wound around the load to be supported (that is, reels 1 , 1', 1" in Figures 3, 4, 10 to 16), the support rod 4 is made to press against the load to be supported so that there is absolutely no clearance between the support rod 4 and load, and the load is also pressed between the support rod and tightening rope. In addition, thanks to the yield of the tightening rope (the rope yields in practice and is not completely rigid), the biting force of the gripping edges 15b, 15d into the smooth inner walls 17a, 18a prevails even if slight changes occurred in the outer dimensions of the supported load (that is, reels 1 , 1\ 1" in Figures 3, 4, 10 to 16) during transportation. The outer dimensions of the load may slightly change due to the fact, for example, that the packaging material of the load compresses slightly at some points when repeated stresses are directed to it during transportation. Thus, the tightening rope ensures that the support rod 4 and load to be supported remain stationary in all situations.

[0019] The rail 13 is made of a steel sheet that is edged. The hardness and strength of the steel sheet are smaller than the hardness and strength of the gripping edges 15a, 15b, 15c and 15d of the gripping end 14. The thickness of the steel sheet is 4 mm, for instance, and its yield strength is 355 MPa. The gripping end 14 of the support rod 4 is preferably made of steel. The yield strength of the gripping edges 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d of the support end is in the range of 1000 MPa. When the hardness and strength of the gripping edges 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are greater than the hardness and strength of the rail, the gripping edges bite and cut well into the smooth walls 17a, 18a of the rail. It is thinkable that the rails are made of aluminium, because it is light and relatively soft. Other metals may also be considered as the manufacturing material of the rail.

[0020] The diameter d1 of the support end 14 of the support rod 4 is slightly smaller that the width W of the rail groove 16, whereby the gripping end 14 of the support rod 4 may freely move in the groove 16 of the rail 13 in the longitudinal direction. For example, d1 = 30 mm and W = 35 mm. The diameter d2 of the support end 14 is 35 mm, for instance. The largest diameter d3 of the support end 14 is larger than the width W of the rail groove 16, whereby the gripping edges 15b, 15d of the support end 14 may grip and bite into the inner walls 17a, 18a of the rail 13. When the rail 13 is turned, see Figures 6 and 9, the length of the support end 14 is 50 mm. The diameter D of the support rod 4 is approximately 70 mm.

[0021] Figure 7 shows an alternative to the round shape of the support rod 4'". The support rod 4"' of Figure 7 is rectangular in shape. The support rod 4"' of Figure 7 provides the advantage over the support rod of Figure 6 that its strength and rigidity can be made great relative to its weight, whereby it is lighter than a round support rod and thus easier to handle when mounted in place or detached. Figure 7 shows that the plane of the support end 14'" is preferably at a small angle θ to the plane of the support rod 4'". The angle θ is preferably 2 to 10 degrees. Thanks to the angle θ, the plane of the support rod 4'" settles completely perpendicular to the load to be supported when the sup- port end 14'" is in its locked position and slightly obliquely (see Figure 9) in the groove 16 of the rail 13.

[0022] Figures 10 and 11 show the solution of the invention in more detail than in Figure 4. Figures 10 and 11 use the same reference numbers as Figure 4. Figure 10 shows that the transportation unit is a container that comprises an opening roof 20. The fastening points of the container to the base (not shown) are indicated by reference number 21. The figure also shows that the support ends 14 of the support rod 4 are arranged in the groove 16 in the rail.

[0023] Figures 12 to 14 show an alternative support arrangement for supporting a reel 1 to that shown in Figures 3, 12 and 13. The arrangement of Figures 14 to 16 differs from that shown in Figures 3, 12 and 13 in that on both sides of the reel 1 , support rods 4' are arranged and the rope 9' is guided in a different manner than in Figures 3, 10 and 11. The rope 9' is guided to brackets 10' at the ends of the support rods 4', thus connecting them operationally to each other. When the rope 9' is tightened with tightening means 12', the support rods 4' turn in such a manner that the gripping edges of their support ends lock into the inner walls 17a', 18a' of the groove 16' of the rail 13'.

[0024] Figures 15 to 18 show a support arrangement of a load, which in the figures is a reel 1 , in the cargo space of a lorry or the like.

[0025] Figures 15 to 18 use the same reference numbers as Figures 3 to 16 for the corresponding components.

[0026] The arrangement of Figures 15 to 18 differs from that of Figures 3 to 14 in that the support ends 14" of the support rods 4" have locking tongues 30" that are arranged to lock into the rails 13" in such a manner that the rails 13" on the opposite walls 5" and 6" of the transport unit 2" cannot in use move away from each other so that the support ends 14" of the support rod 4" would detach from the rails 13". Thus, the support rods 4" stiffen the transportation unit. The support end 14" of the support rod 4" may be arranged inside the groove 16" of the rail 13" by turning its locking tongue 30" parallel to the groove 16" of the rail 13, after which the support end 14" of the support rod 4" may be pushed inside the groove 16'. After this, the support rod 4" is turned approximately 90 degrees so that the locking tongue 30" settles behind the top wall 17" of the rail in a locked position, whereby the edge of the top wall 17" forms a locking stopper 31". [0027] The arrangement of Figures 15 to 18 further differs from that of Figures 3 to 14 in that it uses two pairs of support rods 4" arranged at different heights in the cargo space to support the reel 1. The arrangement provides the load a more even support and strains less the wall structure of the transportation unit 2" and its rails 13".

[0028] Above, the invention is described only by means of examples. Therefore, it is remarked that the invention may in many ways differ in detail within the scope of the attached claims. To use a wider expression, the support rod may be a rod-like support member, the geometry of which may differ from that of a rod. Thus, the design of the support rod and its support end may vary. The number of power transmission brackets in the support rod may vary, and the number of gripping edges in the support end may be only two, whereby these are arranged diametrially to each other. Instead of a rope, some other long flexible member may be used, such as tightening belts or chain, to tighten the support rod into its locked position. The profile of the rails may vary from what is stated herein. It is thinkable that the support rods are arranged vertically in the transportation unit instead of or in addition to the presented horizontal positioning.