BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pallets on the market are designed to be loaded with thereon secured goods and are commonly used for truck transport. For optimal use of space in truck transport or the like, pallets are modular in a fixed grid dimension, like e.g. 600 x 600 mm, 600 x 900 mm, 600 x 1200 mm, 800 x 1200 mm (EURO pallet) or 1200 x1200 mm.

The majority of the pallets on the market have a smooth deck on their upper surface and intended for regular transport of any goods, not specifically for drums. Other pallets have an upper deck consisting of a plurality of wooden slats, extending parallel with gaps in between. The decks of the slats are all in the same layer and carry the goods.

These smooth decks have the drawback that goods may shift on the decks during transport and therefore need much effort to execute an efficient transport safety and load securing for transport.

Pallets are either made of wood, plastic or mixed materials. Multi component pallets are unstable and/or unresistant against high mechanical stress. The durability of such pallets is very limited. Very critical is the fact that serious damages of such pallets are not always visible and could cause serious damages to the drum and its content. Depending on the content of the drum, hidden damages could lead to EHS-incidents as well as accidents.

A pallet on the market of Ahrma Holding B.V., The Netherlands, is designed for the specific use of drums and is made of multi components. The pallet consists of a wooden body which is partially coated and glued with PU parts. If for any reason a part of the pallet gets lost or breaks off, often fine wooden particles are set free. This has to be strictly avoided in any highly sensitive production area, like in the pharmaceutical industry.

The above mentioned applies similarly to any “Explosion Proof Production Area” (or ExProof Area). Therefore, the mentioned pallet is not suitable for use in any ExProof Area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a new and improved drum pallet suitable for positioning one drum or a plurality of drums thereon, wherein the pallet has a deck, a skid and a plurality of blocks, between coupling the deck with the skids, thereby forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member; the deck and the plurality of blocks form one monolithic body; the skids are connected below the blocks to the blocks; the body consists of a compression molded thermoset composite.

The drums are cylindrical containers for liquids or chemicals. They are mostly composed of metal or plastic, preferably metal.

The process of manufacturing such pallet is the compression moulding, what generates a very stable and durable product. Compression Moulding is a method of moulding in which the moulding material, generally preheated, is first placed in an open, heated mould cavity. The mould is closed with a top force or plug member, pressure is applied to force the material into contact with all mould areas, while heat and pressure are maintained until the moulding material has cured. The process employs thermosetting resins in a partially cured stage, either in the form of granules, putty-like masses, or preforms. Compression molding is a high-volume, high-pressure method suitable for molding complex, high-strength fiberglass reinforcements. Also, it is one of the lowest cost molding methods compared with other methods such as transfer molding and injection molding; moreover it wastes relatively little material, giving it an advantage when working with expensive compounds. With its ability to create complex parts with a huge variety of applications while keeping part cost and turnaround time a priority, compression molding is an advantageous process for manufacturers the pallet for drums.

If the deck and the plurality of blocks form one monolithic body, the mounting of a pallet needs less working steps. An accidental removal of a block becomes less likely.

Preferably, the skids consist of a compression molded thermoset composite.

Thus, the skids and the body might be manufactured in one single mold and by one single pressing act. Preferably the compression molded thermoset composite is a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) -recycling material.

Preferably the compression molded thermoset composite does not contain any wood particles.

Therefore, no wooden particles may be set free if parts of the pallet break. This allows safe us of the pallet in any highly sensitive production area, like in the pharmaceutical industry or “Explosion Proof Production Area”.

Preferably, the skids are screwed or welded below the blocks.

Preferably, the upper surface of the deck comprises vertical protrusions adapted to avoid shifting of a drum along the surface, which is positioned on the deck and aligned with the protrusions.

This results a perfect nestable fitting of the drum or drums on the pallet. The necessary measurements in case of transport safety and load securing are reduced. The pallet, in particular as described below, fulfills the aspects of “Load Securing” according to DIN/EN 12642.

Preferably, the protrusions are designed so that two drums with a similar certain diameter might be positioned on the deck in juxtaposition with each other. Thereby the protrusions are designed so that as an alternative only one single drum with the same certain diameter might be positioned on the deck and aligned with the protrusions thereby avoiding shifting of the drum or the drums. Thereby, the position of the one single drum is aligned in the middle of the positions designated for the two drums.

Therefore, this single pallet might be used for positioning, handling and transporting of one or two drums, being hold in a perfect nestable fitting on the pallet. The next pallet can be positioned on top of the exactly aligned and centered single drum or the two drums of the pallet below. It is important that the two positions for the two drums are in juxtaposition with each other, so that the position in between for the single drum has to be overlapping with the two positions of the two drums. So, a pallet designed to carry not more than two drums in juxtaposition with each other, might also be loaded with only one single drum and still is perfectly nestable. Therefore, in one embodiment, the pallet has a rectangular base and not a square base and a size that allows that no more than two drums might be positioned on the deck in juxtaposition with each other and aligned with the protrusions thereby avoiding shifting. The similar concept is claimed for a pallet for three or four drums being positioned side- by-side in a shape of a triangle (tree drums) or a square (four drums): These drums might also be loaded with one single drum positioned in the center of the triangle or square.

Preferably the pallet is designed so, that the drum might be a metal or plastic drum, in particular with a volume of 220 liters and/or a diameter of 572 mm. Generally, the pallet might be designed so, that the drum might be a metal or plastic drum, in particular with a volume of 20 to 250 liters

Preferably the protrusions are designed so, that the drum might be a metal or plastic drum, with a convex shaped bottom of the drum with a rim on which the drum may stand, whereby the securings against shifting is provided by the interaction between the rim of the convex shaped bottom of the drum and the protrusions on the surface of the deck.

Preferably, the protrusions are formed by a plateau layer on the surface of the deck and have combinations of concave and convex edges fitting to the shape of the rim of the drum on which the drum may stand.

Preferably, the protrusions on the deck and the plurality of blocks form one monolithic body.

Thereby, the protrusions which might be formed by a plateau on the surface, can be formed in one single step during the compression molding. Any accidental removal of a protrusion or plateau layer becomes less likely.

Preferably, the body comprises reinforcement elements, like metal profiles, extending in the deck and connecting the blocks.

These elements might be added after compression molding or preferably, might be inserted into the mold before the step of compression molding resulting in a strong bond between the elements and the body. If the reinforcement element is inserted into the mold before molding, the manufacture is easy to preform, gives a strong bond and protects the reinforcement element against environmental influences, like acids, if the element is totally covered by the body.

Preferably, the reinforcement elements, e.g. metal profiles, are shaped as T-Profiles, extend along the four sidewalls connecting the blocks. Based on the design of the production tool the pallet can be equipped additionally by metal profiles in longitudinal or transverse direction to reinforce the level of stability. For instance, such stability is necessary if the good will be long stored in high rack warehouses w/o intermediate floors.

Preferably, the reinforcement elements can be designed suitable for increasing of load capacity above 2000 kg. In order to reinforce the stability of the pallet, the reinforcement elements can be implemented each on the sides of the length and width thereby connecting the blocks. Any standard grid or dimension of a pellet might apply, for example the pallet dimension might be 600 x 600 mm, 600 x 900 mm, 600 x 1200 mm, 800 x 1200 mm (EURO pallet) or 1200 x1200 mm, suitable to place 4 or 3 instead of 2 drums. For example, in case of 0.6 m x 1.2 m pallet, the element might be implemented on the sides with the length of 0.6 m and on the sides with the length of 1.2 m,

Preferably, the lower side of the deck and/or the blocks might comprise a technical web reinforcing the structure at low weight. The web is part of the body and can be form molded in one step with the rest of the body. The web might also be part of the blocks.

Preferably, the pallet has the dimension 0.6 m x 1.2 m for optimal use of space in truck transport or the like. However, any standard grid or dimension of a pellet might apply, for example the pallet dimension might be 800 x 1200 mm (EURO pallet) or 1200 x1200 mm, suitable to place 4 or 3 instead of 2 drums.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reference to the following drawings of a number of exemplary embodiments, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a pallet with a different plateau according to the invention:

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the pallet from below showing the technical web;

Fig. 4 shows a bottom view of the pallet of Fig. 3; Fig. 5A shows a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention loaded with one single drum;

Fig. 5B shows a perspective view of the pallet of Fig. 5A loaded with two drums; and Fig. 6 shows a bottom view of the pallet of Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention, the drum pallet 10 suitable for positioning one drum or two drums thereon hat the dimension 1200 mm x 600 mm. The pallet 10 has a deck 11, two skids 2 and a plurality of blocks 12, which couple the deck 11 with the skids 2, thereby forming a gap 5 therebetween for receiving a lifting member, not being shown. The deck 11 and the plurality of blocks 12 form one single monolithic body 1.

The skids 2 are connected below the blocks 12 to the blocks by screws, not being shown.

The body 1 consists of a compression molded thermoset composite, here a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) - recycling material not containing any wood particles.

The upper surface 13 of the deck 11 comprises vertical protrusions 14A, 14B adapted to avoid shifting of a drum along the surface. Here, the pallet and the protrusions are designed so, that the drum might be a metal drum, in particular with a volume of 220 liters and/or a diameter of 572 mm. the drum with a convex shaped bottom of the drum with a rim on which the drum may stand, allows a fit between the rim of the convex shaped bottom of the drum and the protrusions on the surface of the deck.

The protrusions 14A, 14B are formed by a plateau layer on the surface 13 of the deck, whereby the protrusions on the deck and the plurality of blocks form one monolithic body. Two adjacent different protrusions 14A, 14B together fit into the rim of a drum, thereby securing it against shifting on the surface. Thereby, the first protrusion 14A of the two adjacent different protrusions 14A, 14B, has one convex edge and one concave edge. The second protrusion 14B of the two adjacent different protrusions 14A, 14B, has two concave edges. Thereby, it is possible to secure two adjacent drums onto the pallet 10. If only one drum is to be secured in the middle of the pallet, it is still possible to stack a further pallet onto said pallet. Therefore, two adjacent similar protrusions 14B, 14B together fit into the rim of a drum, thereby securing it against shifting on the surface. Both protrusions 14B 14B have two concave edges. Thereby, it is possible to secure one single drum onto the pallet 10 in the middle of the pallet.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a pallet with different protrusions according to the invention. The protrusions 14A, 14B have the same convex and concave edges as the plateaus of embodiment of Fig. 1 , but do not form plateaus.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the pallet from below showing a technical web 19 consisting of ribs and reinforcing the structure at low weight. The technical web 19 is below the deck 11 , is part of the body 1 and can be form molded in one step with the rest of the body.

Fig. 4 shows a bottom view of the pallet of Fig. 3 and illustrates that the web 19A might also be part of the blocks 12, resulting in reduced material and weight of the blocks.

Fig. 5A shows a perspective view of a pallet 10 according to the invention loaded with one single drum 3 in the middle of the surface 13 of the deck.

Fig. 5B shows a perspective view of the same pallet of Fig. 5A, which here is loaded with two drums 3.

Fig. 4 shows a bottom view of the pallet of Fig. 3 and illustrates how the protrusions define the positions POS 1A and POS 1B for two drums with a similar certain diameter in juxtaposition with each. Alternatively, only one single drum with the same certain diameter might be positioned on the deck and aligned with the protrusions thereby avoiding shifting of the drum or the drums, whereby the position Pos 2 of the one single drum is aligned in the middle of the positions designated for the two drums.