The invention also relates to a method for carrying a vehicle without wheels on a cargo pallet.

As car factories are located far from the customers and the market, goods needs to be carried over long distances. Cars are transported from the factory to importers and retail dealers by ship, train and car. During their transport, cars are handled as running vehicles, in other words, their transfer is most frequently performed by driving in intermediate storages, harbours and transport vehicles. Depending on the length of the delivery chain, the number of transfers during the transport of the car from the factory to the customer is in the range from 10 to 20.

The transfer of cars by driving in the transport chain involves several drawbacks.

Each intermediate handling step requires the presence of the driver, i. e. labour. The car is carried in open railway wagons and truck trailers, where they are exposed to mischief. During railway transport, sparks from the wagon wheels during braking and also sparks originating from electric conductors of electrified railway lines may cause damage to the painted surface of the car. Also, especially in Central Europe.\' acid rains and polluted air may cause corrosion and damage of the painted surface, Protective wax and polymer coatings are used to protect the paint surface during transport. However, conventional protective wax is flammable, and the removal of the wax causes strains on the environment.

The transfer zones in shunting yards and harbours are often narrow and busy, so that the cars may be damaged in collisions. In harbours and storage centres, the cars are parked in open fields, where watchmen are required to prevent mischief and theft, involving a great deal of labour. Each car requires a space of 18-20 m, and hence large numbers of cars call for a ground area that is actually very large. In crowded harbours, it is often difficult to find sufficient space for the cars. In addition, tens of persons are needed to transfer the cars in large storage areas.

US patent specification 5, 706, 738 discloses a planar, rectangular pallet for transporting cargo, which is usable for carrying especially cars and transport vehicles running on wheels. The cargo, such as cars, is placed on the pallet so as tci

remain within a range delimited by the outer edges of the pallet. The pallet comprises plate-like extension members, by means of which the pallet length is adjustable to match the length of the cargo it will carry each time. The extension members are attached to bars, which penetrate into the bottom plate of the pallet.

The pallet described in this specification has been devised for the transport of relatively heavy loads, such as cars, and hence the pallet bottom plate must be fairly thick in order to achieve adequate structural durability. Moreover, the bars supporting the pallet extension members are adapted to move into the pallet bottom plate, resulting in a further increase in the bottom plate thickness. This, again, results in a large overall height of the pallet and the car loaded on the pallet. A large overall height is a drawback when loaded pallets are piled on top of each other. in transport vehicles or storehouses, where they require much space. Pallets can be hoisted and moved by forklift trucks, yet they are at risk of turning over during transfer, as the have no fork tubes matching the truck forks.

US patent specification 6, 006, 676 discloses a rectangular packaging platform or pallet, which is intended to carry especially bodies running on wheels, such as motorcycles. The pallet is made of light metal profiles bent from thin metal sheets.

The pallet edges have two U-shaped support profiles in the longitudinal direction of the pallet, the support profiles being mutually connected by several horizontal binding profiles. A groove extends between the support profiles in the longitudinal direction of the pallet, and in this groove, supports have been fitted for the wheels of the vehicle to be fastened on the pallet.

Due to its structure, this pallet is rather weak, and is thus suitable only for the transport of light vehicles, such as motorcycles. The figures of the reference show that the pallet comprises one single groove for fastening the wheels of the vehicle, and hence only two-wheeled vehicles can be fastened to this. In addition, the wheel supports in the pallet are such as require the wheel of the vehicle to be lifted on top of the support. Consequently, light-weight products alone can be fastened on the pallet. What is more, this pallet is not well suitable for the transport of other piece goods than two-wheeled vehicles, given its very uneven upper surface formed by the transverse binding profiles and the longitudinal groove.

The object of this invention is to provide a new transport apparatus and method, which allow a reduction of the shortcomings and inconveniences of current methods for transferring and carrying cargo, especially cars.

The transport apparatus and method of the invention are characterised by the features defined in the independent claims. A number of preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

The transport apparatus of the invention comprises a cargo pallet having a bottom plate. The bottom plate comprises edge strips in the longitudinal direction of the pallet, and load platforms with a substantially plane surface between the edge strips.

The pallet also comprises extension members which move on extension bars and which serve to adjust the overall length of the pallet to match the length of the cargo on the pallet. The pallet bottom plate has fork tubes to match the forks of a forklift truck or any other loading device. The fork tubes make the pallets easy to handle at different stages in the transport chain.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pallet bottom platforms are equipped with grate plates on their surface, which can be used for the fastening of the cargo on the pallet. Thus, for instance, a vehicle placed on the pallet can be fastened with load cables from the wheels to the grate plates.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the pallet bottom platforms have recesses, into which the wheels of a vehicle placed in the pallet fit. Owing to the recesses, the overall height of a vehicle placed on the cargo pallet and the actual pallet will be small, even if the platforms would require a relatively large thickness for strength-technical reasons.

In a third preferred embodiment of the invention, support devices are fastened to the cargo pallet to enable the transport of vehicles without wheels on the cargo pallet.

Instead of wheels, support bars with a shaft journal protruding from the vehicle are fastened to the vehicles. While the vehicle is lowered onto the cargo pallet, the shaft journals engage loops in the support devices.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a vehicle fastened on the cargo pallet is covered with a protective cover. The protective cover acts as protection of the vehicle during the transport, and it also serves to fasten the vehicle to the cargo pallet.

The invention yields several advantages. The cargo pallet of the invention is versatile, because both vehicles equipped with wheels and vehicles without wheels can be carried on the pallet. If necessary, the pallet can be readily extended with movable extension members, and thus vehicles with varying lengths can be loaded on the pallet. Vehicles can be carried on the cargo pallets with their gas tank empty,

yielding increased transport safety. In addition to vehicles, also other cargo can be carried on the pallet, for instance electronic components or automobile parts. f The invention has the additional advantage of saving transport and storage costs.

The overall height of the cargo pallet and the vehicle placed on this is very small, and consequently loaded pallets can be piled on top of each other in a very small space in vehicles or storehouses. Empty cargo pallets can be piled in a very small bundle, and hence the return transport of empty pallets is economical.

The invention has the further advantage of easy handling of the pallets. The pallet is previously equipped with fork tubes intended for truck forks, allowing rapid and reliable transfer of the pallets by forklift trucks. The lower surface of the cargo pallet is even, allowing the pallet to be transferred by roller trains, chains, belts or wheel gears. The pallets can be equipped with a portable memory, so that the handling of the pallets in storehouses and transport systems equipped with identification gates is simple.

The invention has the further advantage of allowing vehicles or other cargo to be shielded with a protective cover, which prevents the cargo from being damaged in transport vehicles or storehouses by mischief, acid rains, air pollution, loose pebble, 4 or the like. When the vehicles are protected during the transport with a cover for instance, no protective waxing is needed, which would entail excess work and involve a fire risk and an environmental hazard.

The invention is explained in detail below. The explanation refers to the accompanying drawings, in which figure la shows an example of the cargo pallet of the invention, viewed obliquely from above, figure 1b shows an example of the cargo pallet of the invention, viewed obliquely from below, figure 2a shows a preferred embodiment of the bottom plate of an example of the cargo pallet of the invention, < \' figure 2b shows a second preferred embodiment of the bottom plate of an example of the cargo pallet of the invention, figure 3 a shows an example of the edge structure of the cargo pallet of the invention in cross-section,

figure 3b shows an example of the edge structure of the extension member of the pallet of the invention in cross-section, figure 3c illustrates an example of the fastening of the wheel of a vehicle to the cargo pallet, figure 4a is a side view of an example of a cargo pallet of the invention with a vehicle placed on it, figure 4b shows an example of empty cargo pallets piled on top of each other, figure 4c shows an example of a cargo pallet of the invention with baskets containing parts placed on it, figure 4d shows an example of a vehicle container containing cargo pallets of the invention in cross-section, figure Sa, Sb and 5c show examples of the support device fastened to the cargo pallet of the invention, viewed from different directions, figure 6a shows an example of a cargo pallet of the invention in cross-section, with support devices for transporting a vehicle without wheels on the pallet, figure 6b is a front view of an example of a cargo pallet of the invention, to which a vehicle without wheels has been fastened, figure 6c shows an example of a cargo pallet of the invention viewed obliquely from above, in which support devices have been mounted for trans- porting a car without wheels, figure 6d is a side view of an example of a cargo pallet of the invention, in which a vehicle without wheels has been placed, figure 7a is a side view of an example of the invention, with the vehicle placed on it covered by a protective cover, and figure 7b is a front view of an example of a cargo pallet of the invention, with the vehicle without wheels placed on it covered with a protective cover.

Figure la shows an example of a cargo pallet of the invention viewed obliquely from above. The cargo pallet has a rectangular plate-like bottom plate 10a, having an upper surface and a lower surface, two substantially aligned sides, a first side and

a second side, and two substantially aligned ends, a first end and a second end. The upper surface of the base plate is the surface on which the cargo is placed on the pallet, i. e. the surface that can be seen in figure la, while the lower surface means the surface opposite to this. The bottom plate material is preferably metal, but it can also be made of any other resistant material.

Edge strips 12 forming the edge of the bottom plate are provided on the first and the second side of the bottom plate. The edge strips are made of profiled metal bars and they extend along the bottom plate edges from the first end of the bottom plate to the second end of the bottom plate. The edge strips acts as structural parts that rigidify the cargo pallet in the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate. The upper surface of the edge strips have recesses 18, intended to act as part of a locking mechanism when empty cargo pallets are piled on top of each other. The locking mechanism operates with projections 20 (figure lb) from the lower surface of the edge strips matching approximately the recesses 18 in shape and size, which engage the recesses 18 when the cargo pallets are placed on top of each other. Owing to the recess and the projections, the pallets engage mechanically and prevent the cargo pallets from sliding relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the edge strip. The cross-sectional shape of the edge strip is such that the profile shape of its upper and lower surfaces form guide surfaces, which guide the edge strips to fit exactly on top of each other in the transverse direction of the cargo pallet. It is thus easy to pile the cargo pallets on top of each other. The shape of the edge strip and the shape of the recesses 18 and projections 20 are described in further detail in connection with the description of figure 3 a.

In the central area of the bottom plate, two fork tubes 14 are provided, which are rectangular in cross-section and substantially aligned with the bottom plate, and which extend from the first to the second side of the bottom plate, forming a continuous tubular cavity. The fork tubes are open at both ends and have a size allowing to receive the forks of a forklift truck or an automatic loading device penetrating into the fork tube. The fork tubes are rigid tubes that withstand bending well, and thus they simultaneously rigidify the cargo pallet efficiently in the transverse direction of the pallet. The fork tubes divide the bottom plate l0a into three platforms 16 with even surface.

The cargo pallet shown in figure 1 has an extension member 22 at both ends of the bottom plate. The extension members are movable and easily detachable parts, serving to extend the cargo pallet length if necessary. There may be extension members at one or both ends of the cargo pallet, or the cargo pallet may be totally

devoid of extension members. The extension member 22 is a plate-like part with rectangular outer edges, which has two opposite sides, a first side and a second side, and two opposite ends, a first end and a second end. At the first end of the extension member, an elongated front plate 34 extends over the entire end, and at the other end, an end beam 26 having a length substantially equal to that of the front plate is provided. Extension bars 26 made of L-shaped metal profile are provided on both sides of the extension member. The extension member is positioned as an extension of the bottom plate l0a of the cargo pallet, so that the extension bars of the extension member form extensions of the edge strips of the bottom plate. In the vicinity of the first and second side of the extension member, wheel bases 30 made of perforated metal sheet or mesh are provided. The rectangular wheel base extends at its first side to the front plate 34, at its second side to the extension bar 26, and at its third side, to the end beam 28. The fourth side of the wheel base is supported by an edge support 31 made of L-shaped metal profile, which extends from the end beam to the front plate. The wheel planes form a load-bearing platform, on which the vehicle can be driven over the extension member onto the cargo pallet.

The extension bars 26 of the extension member 22 extend parallel to the edge strips onto the bottom plate 10a of the cargo pallet, beyond the edge of the front plate. The extension bars have been fitted between the edge trips 12 such that the surface of the extension bar facing the edge strip is fitted against the surface of the edge strip facing the central part of the cargo pallet. The surfaces facing each other are separated by a play allowing relative movement of the surfaces. The movement of the extension member is controlled and limited by an elongated plate-like guide bar 24, which is fastened to the end beam 28 and the front plate 34, and points towards the central part of the bottom plate. The guide bar is substantially in the same plane as the front plate 34 and its end part has been disposed to move within an annular stopper 32 in the central area of the platform 16. The annular shape of the stopper equals the cross-sectional shape of the guide bar with fairly high precision, yet leaving plays necessitated by movement between the parts. The stopper and the guide bar guide the extension member to move continuously in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cargo pallet in order to avoid excess friction caused by oblique direction of movement between the extension bars 26 and the edge strips 12. The guide bar end can be provided with a pin or any other projection (not shown) bearing against the stopper edge when the extension member has been pulled out into its extreme position. By these means, one can prevent the extension member of the stopper to be unintendedly detached as the extension member is being extracted.

Figure 1 shows the extension members in their most extended position. The extension bars 26 have a length such as to extend at one end partly onto the platform even when the extension members are pulled into their extreme position extending the cargo pallet. On its surface, the platform has locking bars 36 at the extension bars, allowing the extension bars to be fastened to these when the extension member has been shifted to the desired extension length. The locking bar used may consist of any bar suitable for the purpose, for which suitable fastening means are available for the fastening of the extension bar. The locking bar is advantageously a"Douglas bar"commonly used in air cargo. When the extension member is extracted into extended position, it is supported at its first end via the front plate by the bottom plate end of the platform, and at its second end, via the end beam 28 by the support on which the cargo pallet is located. The end beam has a rounded edge in order to avoid damage to the wheels of the vehicle, as the vehicle is being driven over the edge of the end beam.

Figure lb shows an exemplifying cargo pallet of the invention viewed obliquely from below. The bottom plate l0a of the cargo pallet has a substantially plane lower surface, allowing the cargo pallet to be, easily transferred for instance on wheel gears or roller trains in intermediate storages or at other stages of the transport chain. On its sides and at its ends, the pallet has serrated locking profiles 42, by means of which the pallet can be fastened to the structures of the transport vehicle or the storehouse. The locking profiles may be arranged in a continuous row or in a discontinuous array. In figure lb, the extension member 22 is in an extracted extended position. Unless the extension member is needed, it can be detached altogether or pushed into inner position, and then the front plate 34 and the wheel bases 30 move onto the platform 16 and the end beam 28 bears against the end of the bottom plate 10a.

Figure 2a shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the bottom plate l0a of the cargo pallet of the invention. The bottom plate l0a is otherwise similar to the bottom plate described in connection with figures la and lb, however, in this embodiment, grate plates 38 have been fastened to the surface of the bottom plate platform 16 at the locations of the wheels of the vehicle to be fastened to the cargo pallet. The grate plates can be fixed to the platform either solidly or by some detachable mechanism. The grate plates are preferably metal sheets, which have been corrugated into trapezoid shape and have perforations at least at the protruding ridges of the plate. Owing to the grate plate, vehicles can be readily fastened by their wheels to the cargo pallet, using for instance load cables as described below.

The grate plate allows also fastening means of other kinds to be used. The vehicle can be fastened for instance with wheel wedges having fastening members matching the holes in the grate plate.

Figure 2b shows another preferred embodiment of the bottom plate of the cargo pallet of the invention. In this embodiment, the platforms 16 of the bottom plate 10b are clearly thicker than in the bottom plates described above. For this reason, the bottom plate 10b is more resistant and rigid than the bottom plate 10a, and it can carry heavier loads. The platforms may have a closed structure, or preferably a cellular structure. A cellular structure allows a notable increase in the rigidity of the platform, without, however, increasing the weight of the platform unduly. The platforms 16 have recesses 40 at the locations of the wheels of the vehicle when it is driven onto the cargo pallet. The recesses have the aspect of rectangular cavities with a substantially planar bottom plane. The length and width dimensions and he mutual distances of the recesses have been selected such that the pallet can carry as large a variety as possible of different vehicles, having varying wheelbases, bar gauges and wheel sizes. At the same time, the invention has aimed at a minimum recess size, for the recesses not to reduce the strength properties of the pallet bottom plate excessively. Owing to the recesses, the overall height of the cargo pallet and a vehicle placed on the pallet is exceeds the height of the vehicle only slightly, even if the pallet platforms would have relatively large thickness.

The grate plates 38 mentioned in the description of figure 2a have been fastened to the base plane of the recesses in order to facilitate the fastening of the vehicle and to increase the rigidity and load-bearing capacity of the base plane of the recess. The platform can be made extremely thin at the base plane of the recess 40, preferably with a thickness of just a few millimetres. A corrugated grate plate fastened to the base plane of the recess allows the rigidity and resistance of the recess base plane to be enhanced. A corrugated grate plate has good bending resistance, and hence it can be used to distribute the loads of the vehicle and shift them to the edges of the recess base plane. The grate plates can be positioned on the recess base plane as shown in figure 2b, where the ridges of the folds in the grate plate are aligned with the long side of the recess 40, or with the ridges of the folds in the grate plate aligned with the short side of the recesses 40. fa The bottom plate 10b of the cargo pallet shown in figure 2b can be made also without recesses 40. This preferred embodiment of the invention, comprising a relatively thick bottom plate with very rigid structure and a substantially even

surface, is suitable for the transport of particularly heavy-weight unit loads, such as paper rolls.

Figure 3a shows an exemplifying cargo pallet of the invention in cross-section, having a bottom plate lOb. For the sake of space economy, the figure shows only half of the cross-section of the cargo pallet. The figure shows a recess 40 in the platform 16, with a corrugated grate plate 38 fastened to its base plane. The ridges of the folds in the grate plate have holes 39, whose edges have been bent up to

enhance the rigidity of the grate plate. A load cable can be fastened in the holes of ; the grate plate for tying the wheel of the vehicle standing on the cargo pallet to the pallet. In figure 3a, the ridges of the folds in the grate plate are aligned with the longer direction of the recess 40 : The grate plates may also be positioned transversely, and then the ridges of the folds in the grate plate are aligned with the short dimension of the recess 40. In strength-technical terms the transverse position of the grate plate is preferable. The folds in the grate plate have a small height in order to minimize the total height of the recess base plane and the grate plate. The folds preferably have a height of approx. 10 millimetres.

The edge strip 12 of the cargo pallet has a side flange 44 protruding from the side of the edge of the pallet and having an upper surface 46 and an end surface 48. The side flange can prevent the cargo pallet from turning over or tilting unduly during the transport when the anti-tilting flange (not shown in the figure) of the fastening means of the transport means are fitted against the upper surface 46 of the side flange. The end surface of the side flange, in turn, forms a counter-surface for the guide wheels (not shown in the figure), which steer the movement of the pallet for instance on automatic roller beds or automatic storehouses. A locking profile 42 has been fastened to the lower surface of the side flange for locking the cargo pallet to the base of the transport vehicle or the storage structure.

On its upper surface, the edge strip has recesses 18 which are triangular in cross- section, and on its lower surface, it has projections 20 which are approximately equal in shape and size to the recesses. When empty cargo pallets are piled on top of each other, the projections 20 engage the recesses 18, preventing the subjacent pallets from sliding relative to each other. In this manner, the pallets are easy to handle and transfer as complete bundles for instance with a forklift truck. A guide groove 50 is further provided in alignment with the edge strip on the lower surface of this. The guide groove steers the movement of the cargo pallet when it is moved on a surface or base equipped with a guide matching the guide groove. A locking

bar 36 has been additionally embedded in the upper surface of the edge strip, and will be described in detail in connection with the explanation of figure 3b.

Figure 3b shows a cargo pallet equipped with the extension member of the invention, in cross-section and in the vicinity of the pallet end. Figure 3b shows the extension bar 26 forming the edge of the extension member of the pallet and located on top of the locking bar 36 embedded in the upper surface of the edge strip 12. The surfaces of the extension bars and the edge strips facing each other have a substantially opposed profile design, i. e. the edge strip has a directional groove 60, which the beaded edge 62 of the extension bar engages. Thus the edge strips of the cargo pallet act as guide bars, on which the extension bars 26 and the extension member can be moved in alignment with the edge strips. ¢$ A locking bar 36 is needed for fastening the extension member in immobilised position in the bottom plate lOb of the pallet. The cross-section of the locking bar in figure 3b resembles a rectangular tube profile, whose upwardly directed side comprises a groove 52 passing through the profile wall and having flanges 54 at its edges. The extension bar is fastened by fitting a fastening means 56 into the hole 58 in the extension bar, the fastening means extending through the groove 52 into the locking bar. With the use of the fastening means, the extension bar is pressed against the surface of the flanges 54, and then the extension member is locked in position. The locking bar may also be used for fastening other parts than the extension member of the pallet. The locking bar can be provided with fastened support structures, for instance, allowing various components of the electronic industry or the automobile industry to be carried on the cargo pallet. The locking bar may be similar to the tubular profile shown in figure 3b, or any bar-like member, to which other parts can be fastened with suitable fastening means. A "Douglas bar" is preferably used as a locking bar.

Figure 3c shows an illustrating example of how a vehicle can be fastened to the cargo pallet. The fastening of the vehicle is performed by binding the vehicle by its wheels 64 with load cables 66 to the grate plates 38, which are attached to the platform 16 of the cargo pallet. The surface of the platform may be even or comprise recesses 40 for the wheels of the vehicle. First, the vehicle is transferred on the cargo pallet with its wheels positioned on the grate plates. Then the first end of the load cable is fastened in the holes in the grate plate on the first side of the wheel 64. Next, the load cable is wound above the wheel and fastened by its other end in a similar manner in holes in the grate plate on the other side of the wheel.

Finally the load cable is tightened strongly with a tightening device 68, so that the

wheel is locked in position. Auxiliary loops 69 attached to the grate plate can bp used to steer the direction of the load cable.

Figure 4a shows an example of a cargo pallet of the invention, a vehicle 300 having been fastened by binding the wheels 64 of the vehicle with load cables 66 to the cargo pallet. The overall length of the vehicle exceeds the length of the bottom plate lOb of the cargo pallet, and for this reason the pallet length has been increased with extension members 22. Owing to the extension members, the overall length of the pallet has been made longer than the length of the vehicle. This yields an advantage when the cargo pallet is transferred e. g. by a forklift truck, because in this situation, the pallet edges will first hit any obstacles occurring during each transfer, and thus the vehicle standing on the pallet remains undamaged. It is obvious that, when the pallet carries vehicles that are shorter than the length of the bottom plate, there will be no need for an extension member. Then the extension members may be in a retracted position at the end of the pallet, or they can be removed altogether.

Figure 4b shows an example of cargo pallets of the invention piled on top of each other to form a bundle. Should no suitable return cargo be found for the pallets, they must be returned empty to the place of departure. In accordance with the invention, the cargo pallets can be piled as a tight bundle, where the pallets are well retained on top of each other owing to the recesses and projections mentioned in the explanation of figure 3a. Owing to the small height of the pallet, they require very small space, and consequently return transport costs will be low. Pallets piled on top of each other can be additionally tied together for instance by load cables, and then the bundle of pallets is easy to handle.

Figure 4c shows an exemplifying cargo pallet of the invention, on which standard- sized baskets 70 for product parts have been loaded for their contents to be assembled on production lines. The baskets may contain for instance car parts, which are carried as return transport back to the factory from where the finished vehicles were first transported to the customers on the cargo pallets. : Figure 4d shows a longitudinal cross-section of a vehicle container 200, which contains two cargo pallets of the invention loaded with baskets 70. The pallets can be transferred to the container either through the rear end or the sides of the container.

Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c show examples of a support device 72 viewed from different directions, which can be used to fasten a vehicle with its wheels detached to the

cargo pallet of the invention. The support device has a plate-like rectangular base plate 74, which has a first side and a second side and an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface denotes the surface bearing against the locking bar of the cargo pallet, and the upper surface, in turn, the surface opposite to this surface. At both ends of the base plate, there are projections 76 at substantially right angles too the base plate, having a first end and a second end. The first end of the projection is positioned in substantially the same plane as the first side of the base plate, but the second end of the projection extends beyond the plane defined by the second side of the base plate, forming a projection-like part. The lower surface of the base plate has pin-like locking members 78 in the vicinity of the ends of the base plate, and a locking nut 80 in the central area of the base plate. With the use of the locking nut and the locking members, the base plate can be immobilised in the locking bar of the cargo pallet.

In addition, the support device comprises a triangular vertical frame 82, which consists of shaped plate-like parts and comprises a vertical tube 86, which is rectangular in cross-section and points from the base of the triangle to the apex of the triangle. A vertical shaft 88 has been provided inside the vertical tube so as to be movable upwards and downwards within the vertical tube. The vertical play for the vertical tube is preferably of the order of 80 to 150 millimetres, but it may be lar or smaller than this. The wall of the vertical tube has holes 92, into which locking pins (not shown in the figure) can be inserted to lock the vertical shaft into the desired vertical position. The upwardly directed end of the vertical shaft comprises in addition a U-shaped loop 90.

The vertical frame has been disposed in the base plate 74 with its triangular base substantially aligned with the base plate and bearing against this. The ends of the vertical frame base bearing against the base plate comprises lugs 94, which are turned against the projections 76 in the base plate. The vertical frame is rotatably fastened by the lugs 94 to the projections 76 in the base plate by means of joint pins 84 provided in the projections. The lugs 94 have an oblong hole 85 (figure 5c), through which the joint pin 84 passes. The base of the joint pin is wider than the diameter of the hole 85, so that the shape of the hole 85 does not appear in figures 5a and 5b. The projections 76 comprise blockers 96 on both sides of the lugs 94j f which prevent the vertical frame 82 from tilting when the lugs 94 are in the gap between the blockers. The vertical frame also comprises a plate-like back support 95. With the vertical frame in its vertical position shown in figures 5a-Sc, the edge

of the back support contacts the upper surface of the base plate 74, thus preventing the vertical frame from tilting in a direction from the central part of the cargo pallet.

Owing to the joint fastening, the vertical frame 82 of the support device fastened to the cargo pallet can be tilted about the joint pins 84 against the surface of the cargo pallet when the support device is not needed. The tilting is performed by lifting the vertical frame up from the plane of the base plate 74 high enough to lift the lugs 94 from the gap between the blockers 96. The oblong shape of the holes 85 allows the vertical frame to rise. After this, the vertical frame is turned towards the inside oJf the cargo pallet, against the platform of the cargo pallet.

A vehicle without wheels is supported on the support device by means of the support shaft 97. The support shaft comprises a shaft journal 98 made of square tubular profile, to the first end of which a plate-like circular flange 100 having holes 102 has been fastened. The support shaft is fastened at the free location of the removed wheel of the vehicle as described below, so that the other end of the shaft journal points away from the vehicle. The vehicle is supported on the vertical frame of the support device by fitting the second end of the shaft journal into the loop 90 provided at the end of the vertical shaft 88. The vertical walls of the loop comprise fitting screws 104, by means of which the shaft journal end in the loop is locked into position laterally. The ends of the fitting screws have been given a sharp shape so as to grip the side of the shaft journal, thus preventing the shaft journal from sliding between the ends of the fitting screws. A given tolerance can be allowed fox the position of the second end of the shaft journal in the loop, because tulle inner width of the loop 90 is clearly wider than the outer diameter of the second end of the shaft journal. By adequately tightening or loosening the fitting screws, the end of the shaft journal will still always be firmly fixed in the loop. The adjusting margin achieved with the loop width and the fitting screws is preferably at least 13 millimetres. The adjusting margin is useful especially when the locking bar 36 used in the cargo pallet is of a type to which the support device can be fastened only at specific, mutually spaced locking points.

Figure 6a shows an example of a cargo pallet of the invention in cross-section, to which a support device 72 has been fastened. To save space in the figure, only half of the cross-section of the cargo pallet is shown. The support device is fastened to the edge strip 12 of the cargo pallet by fitting the second end 12 of the projections 76 in the cargo pallet in a directional groove 60 provided in the edge strip and by locking the support device to the locking bar 36 by means of locking members 7g ; and locking nuts 78 provided in the base plate. When a vehicle is supported on ta

support device, the vertical frame 82 is in the vertical position drawn with a dotted line in the figure. If the cargo pallet is not used to transport a vehicle, the vertical frame can be turned in the direction of the arrow A on top of the recess 40, into the horizontal position drawn with an unbroken line in figure 6a. The oblong shape of the hole 85 can be seen in figure 6a, which allows the vertical shaft to be removed from between the blockers 96 and the vertical frame to be tilted. The horizontally positioned vertical frame requires very little space in the vertical direction, and thus cargo pallets can be piled on top of each other, even if a support device 72 has been fastened to them.

Figure 6b is a front view of an example of the cargo pallet of the invention, to which a vehicle 300 without wheels has been fastened by means of support devices 72.

First the support devices 72 are fastened to the cargo pallet as explained in connection with figure 6c, at the locations intended for the wheels of the vehicle.

Instead of the wheels of the vehicle, support shafts 97 are fastened to the vehicle loaded on the cargo pallet, with the shaft journal 98 of the support shafts pointing away from the vehicle. The fastening is performed by screwing the flanges 100 of the support shafts to the drum plate of the vehicle by means of screws or nuts. In this context, a drum plate denotes the part to which the rim of the wheel of the vehicle is fastened. Given the different sizes of the drum plates of vehicles and the different positioning of fastening bolts and nuts, the support shafts 97 are products specific for each vehicle type and mark, and they are suitable for specific vehicles alone. The support shafts are preferably inexpensive mass products made of recyclable material. After the support shafts have been fastened, the vehicle is lowered onto the cargo pallet with the one ends of the support shaft engaging the loops 90 at the end of the vertical shafts 88. The other ends of the support shaft are locked into the loops by tightening the fitting screws 104.

Figure 6c shows an example of a cargo pallet of the invention viewed obliquely from above, to which support devices 72 have been fastened for the fastening of a vehicle without wheels to the cargo pallet. The figure also shows the support shafts 97 which are fastened at the location intended for the wheels of the vehicle. In figure 6c, the platforms 16 of the base plate lOb of the cargo pallet has recesses 40 for the wheels of the vehicle. The support devices can also be fastened to a cargo pallet whose base plate has no recesses.

Figure 64 shows a side view of an example of a cargo pallet of the invention, to which a vehicle 300 without wheels has been fastened by means of support devices 72. Owing to the removal of the wheels, the vehicle can be lowered very close to the

upper surface of the cargo pallet on vertical shafts moving upwards and downwards, and thus the overall height of the vehicle and the cargo pallet is minimise. The small overall height is useful in the transport and storage of cargo pallets.

Figure 7c is a side view of and example of a preferred embodiment of the cargo pallet of the invention. In this embodiment, a vehicle 300 with wheels has been fastened, with a protective cover 108 fitted over it. The protective cover protects the paint surface of the car from scratches and other damages during transport, and it thus replaces other protective treatments of the car, such as protective wax or polymer coatings. The protective cover is made of a light and durable material, so that it resists mechanical and chemical strains to which it is exposed without breaking. The edges of the protective cover comprise fastening strips 110, by means of which the cover is fastened to the edges of the cargo pallet. The fastening strips may have fastening members (not shown in the figure), allowing the strips to be ; rapidly and reliably fastened to the locking bars in the cargo pallet. The protective cover is easy to remove at the end of the transport, so that the car is made ready for sale quickly.

The primary function of the protective cover 108 is to protect the surface of the car from damage, however, the protective cover can also be used for fastening the vehicle to the cargo pallet. Then the protective cover is fastened over the vehicle with the fastening strips 110 firmly enough for the cover to prevent the vehicle from moving on the cargo pallet. Thus the protective cover makes at least partly a replacement for other methods of fastening the vehicle. The material of the protective cover used for fastening the vehicle should be strong enough to resist the mechanical strains caused by the fastening without rupturing.

Figure 7b is a front view of an example of a cargo pallet of the invention, on which a vehicle 300 without wheels has been fastened by means of support devices 72 and support shafts 97. A protective cover 108 has also been fastened over the vehicle ; The protective cover can be equally well used to protect both vehicles to be carried with wheels and without wheels. In transport without wheels, the protective devices prevent the vehicle from moving-on the cargo pallet, and in that case, the requirements on the strength properties of the protective cover are lower than for a protective cover acting as part of a fastening mechanism. Under the protective cover, between the protective cover and the car body, protective plastic films equipped with small air pockets or flexible polyethene plates, such as commonly used in the packaging industry, can preferably be used as supplementary protection.

Such supplementary protection acts as a dampening layer under the protective cover to provide additional protection for the vehicle against buckles and impacts.

The cargo pallet described above can be used to carry cargo, such as vehicles. or electronic components, in all types of transport vehicles, such as trains, ships and trucks. The cargo pallet can also be used locally, for instance for storing cars on top of each other in high storehouses. One preferred embodiment of the invention is a parking building, where the vehicles are placed on a pallet when transferred into and stored in the parking building. In parking house concepts, the handling and steering of the cargo pallets can be automised, so that cars can be readily brought to and fetched from the parking house.

A number of preferred embodiments of the cargo pallet of the invention have been described above.

The invention is not restricted precisely to the solutions described here, but the inventive idea can be applied in many ways within the scope defined by the claims.