Lightweight low profile floor structure

Abstract

Longitudinal beams span between torque boxes located at each end. The beams attach to the torque boxes to prevent vertical movement or rotation about their horizontal axis, or a fixed end condition. The longitudinal beams cover the width of a platform used to support pallets, and the ends may have wheels for transport of the pallets. The torque box attaches to a moment beam to prevent rotation between the two members about the lateral axis. The torque box has a high strength to transmit all of the moment generated by the end condition through it and into the moment beam. This fixed end condition has the advantages of light weight, low deflection, and low beam depth.

1 . A floor structure comprising:
 a plurality of longitudinally extending beams;   at least a pair of longitudinally spaced, and transversely spaced torque boxes;   at least one moment beam vertically spaced from said torque boxes, and extending between said transversely spaced torque boxes; and   attachment means attaching said moment beam to said torque boxes.   
   
   
       2 . A floor structure according to  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprise plates extending longitudinally and vertically between said moment beam and said transversely spaced torque boxes. 
   
   
       3 . A floor structure according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending supports extending between said longitudinal beams. 
   
   
       4 . A floor structure according to  claim 3  including a plurality of vertically extending, laterally spaced vertical supports attached to the outermost of said longitudinal beams. 
   
   
       5 . A floor structure according to  claim 4  including a plurality of vertically extending, laterally spaced, vertical supports attached to the outermost of said longitudinal beams. 
   
   
       6 . A floor structure according to  claim 5  including a plurality of vertically extending, laterally spaced, vertical supports attached to the outermost of said longitudinal beams. 
   
   
       7 . A floor structure according to  claim 6  including a plurality of transversely extending, longitudinally spaced upper supports attached to the upper portion of said vertical supports. 
   
   
       8 . A floor structure according to  claim 6  wherein said upper supports include means for interconnecting opposite ones of said upper transversely extending supports. 
   
   
       9 . A floor structure according to  claim 8  wherein said upper vertically extending and transversely extending supports are retractable.