Composite pallet for the transport and long-term storage of barrels

Abstract

A pallet for long-term storage of barrels, comprising a base comprising one or more support element holders and a upper surface comprising one or more depositing areas configured for holding one or more barrels; one or more support inserts which are inserted into support element holders; one or more bars which are inserted into support element holders; one or more openings configured to hold one or more supporting rods which, once inserted in said one or more openings, are mechanically coupled with said one or more bars and transmit vertical load from said one or more depositing areas, through said one or more bars into said one or more supporting rods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet for long-term storage of barrels, comprising:
 a. a base comprising one or more support element holders and a upper surface comprising one or more depositing areas configured for holding one or more barrels;   b. one or more support inserts which are inserted into support element holders;   c. one or more bars which are inserted into support element holders;   d. one or more openings configured to hold one or more supporting rods which, once inserted in said one or more openings, are mechanically coupled with said one or more bars and transmit vertical load from said one or more depositing areas, through said one or more bars into said one or more supporting rods.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more support inserts and said one or more bars are arranged in support areas, which are at least partially located underneath said one or more depositing areas. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said support inserts absorb a load deposited in said one or more depositing areas. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet according to  claim 3 , wherein said load is from said one or more barrels. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said pallet is a composite pallet comprising a base element and a deck element. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 5 , wherein said base element comprises:
 a. a base element top side,   b. a base element under side and   c. base element support projections formed projecting from the base element top side.   
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 5 , wherein said deck element comprises:
 a. a deck element top side, on which a deck for storing the barrels is formed,   b. a deck element under side and   c. deck element support projections formed projecting from the deck element under side, which lie on the base element support projections or are connected thereto, whereby the deck element is supported against the base element, and the deck element under side is at a distance from the base element top side.   
     
     
         8 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said pallet is made of plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet according to  claim 8 , wherein said one or more support inserts and said one or more bars are made of a material with a creep modulus which is higher over a period than a creep modulus of said plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet according to  claim 8 , wherein said one or more support inserts and said one or more bars are made of a material with a decrease of creep modulus which is less over a period than a decrease of creep modulus of said plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more support inserts and said one or more bars are connected to the support element holders by friction locking or positive locking. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet according to  claim 5 , wherein said support element holders are formed on the deck element under side and on the base element top side. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet according to  claim 9 , wherein said creep modulus is calculated for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet according to  claim 13 , wherein said predetermined period of time is 20 years. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet according to  claim 10 , wherein said decrease of creep modulus is calculated for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet according to  claim 15 , wherein said predetermined period of time is 20 years. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more support inserts and said one or more bars have supports insert and bar top sides on which said barrel can be stored in a depositing area of said one or more depositing areas, and said support inserts and bars have support insert and bar under sides, with which said pallet can be stored on a base or on rims of barrels. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more depositing areas are circular or is formed as an indentation with a rim edge for holding a barrel by positive locking. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet according to  claim 7 , wherein each of said one or more support inserts and each of said one or more bars have a support insert and a bar top side, the deck element top side in the area of each of said one or more support areas define a recess, and support insert and bar top side lies in a plane with the deck element top side or said one or more depositing areas, or, if the at least one of said one or more depositing areas is formed as an indentation, in a plane between the deck element top side and said at least one depositing area formed as an indentation. 
     
     
         20 . The pallet according to  claim 18 , wherein a first partial quantity of said one or more support inserts are arranged underneath said rim edge of said one or more depositing areas, with at least three support inserts per depositing area, wherein, said one or more depositing areas are formed as an indentation, and the contour of said rim edge of the indentation is emulated on the support insert top sides of several support inserts of the first partial quantity. 
     
     
         21 . The pallet according to  claim 7 , wherein said support element holders for said one or more support inserts and for said one or more bars are incorporated into the deck element support projections and the base element support projections. 
     
     
         22 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a plurality of bearing elements each with a bearing element top side and a bearing element under side, and   snap locks for a friction-locking or positive-locking connection of the bearing elements on the bearing element under side to the deck element on its deck element top side,   wherein the bearing element top side of each bearing element is provided with a first concavely cambered surface with a first concave curve for storing a horizontal barrel.   
     
     
         23 . The pallet according to  claim 22  with at least two depositing areas, wherein a first concavely cambered surface of each bearing element has a second concave curve perpendicular to the first concave curve to store a barrel with a bulge. 
     
     
         24 . The pallet according to  claim 22 , wherein the bearing element top side of each bearing element is provided with a second concavely cambered surface which has a combined curved edge with the first concavely cambered surface. 
     
     
         25 . The pallet according to  claim 22 , where informed on the bearing element under side of each bearing element are bearing support element holders for holding further support inserts. 
     
     
         26 . The pallet according to  claim 25 , wherein the bearing support element holders are arranged above support element holders of the deck element top side, and the further support inserts have support insert under sides which rest against support insert top sides of the support inserts inserted into the deck element. 
     
     
         27 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more support inserts and said one or more bars are made of concrete, wood, stainless steel or stone. 
     
     
         28 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more supporting rods connect to a further pallet and for support against same,
 wherein the ends of the inserted supporting rods or height-adjustment elements connected to the ends of the supporting rods are in direct contact with said one or more bars, whereby the loading of the pallet with a weight of the further pallet is reduced.   
     
     
         29 . The pallet according to  claim 28 , wherein said one or more supporting rods are made at least partially from metal and at least at one end said one or more supporting rods have an internal screw thread matching an external screw thread. 
     
     
         30 . The pallet according to  claim 6 , wherein the deck element or the base element are manufactured individually and can be nested with other deck elements or base elements. 
     
     
         31 . The pallet according to  claim 6 , wherein the deck element and the base element are constructed identical and arranged minor-symmetrical relative to a mirror plane which lies parallel to the deck element top side and to the base element under side and is at a same distance to both. 
     
     
         32 . The pallet according to  claim 6 , wherein the deck element is manufactured in one piece with the base element. 
     
     
         33 . A kit for a pallet according to  claim 1 .