Storage rack beam

Abstract

A storage rack beam includes top and bottom flanges and at least one web that interconnects the flanges. The web includes at least one stiffening formation arranged to stiffen an intermediate region of the web along at least a substantial portion of its length so as to resist lateral loading applied to the beam. The racking beam may take various forms, including first and second U-shaped sections in opposed abutting relationship, or formed as a closed S-shaped profile. Also disclosed is a storage rack beam that has a vertical loading capacity and a horizontal loading capacity, wherein at least part of the horizontal loading capacity is independent of the vertical loading capacity applied to the beam.

1 . A racking beam having vertical loading as its primary loading condition and comprising top and bottom flanges, at least one web interconnecting the flanges, and at least one stiffening formation arranged to stiffen an intermediate region of the at least one web along at least a substantial portion of its length such that the at least one stiffening formation enables the racking beam to provide resistance to lateral impact loading at any level of primary loading up to the full vertical loading capacity of the beam. 
   
   
       2 . A racking beam that has a vertical loading capacity as its primary loading condition and a horizontal loading capacity, wherein at least part of the horizontal loading capacity is independent of the level of vertical loading applied to the beam so that the racking beam can still provide resistance to horizontal impact loading whilst the beam is supporting its full vertical load. 
   
   
       3 . The racking beam according to  claim 2 , wherein at least 20% of the horizontal loading capacity is independent of the vertical loading capacity loading applied to the beam. 
   
   
       4 . The racking beam according to claim, wherein the racking beam comprises top and bottom flanges, at least one web interconnecting the flanges, and at least one stiffening formation operative to stiffen an intermediate region of the at least one web along at least a substantial portion of its length. 
   
   
       5 . The racking beam according to  claim 4 , wherein the racking beam is formed as a hollow section having two spaced apart webs interconnecting the flanges, the at least one stiffening formation being arranged to stiffen at least one of the webs. 
   
   
       6 . The racking beam according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more stiffening formations is arranged to stiffen both the webs. 
   
   
       7 . The racking beam according to  claim 4 , wherein the racking beam is formed from first and second members that are disposed one on top of the other and are joined together, the at least one web of the racking beam comprising a first part formed from the first member and a second part formed from the second member, and wherein the at least one stiffening formation is formed at the joint between the first and second members. 
   
   
       8 . The racking beam according to  claim 7 , wherein the two members are joined by one or more stitch welds or a continuous laser weld. 
   
   
       9 . The racking beam according to claim, wherein the first and second members are U sections, each section having a flange, first and second webs projecting from the flange, inwardly extending lips at the distal end of the respective webs, and a lip return disposed at a distal end of the lips, and wherein the two U sections are in opposed abutting relationship with the flanges of the sections forming respectively the top and bottom flanges of the racking beam, and respective ones of the webs of the sections being aligned so as to form the first and second webs of the beam. 
   
   
       10 . The racking beam according to  claim 9 , wherein the lips of the webs of the respective sections form respective stiffening formations of the racking beam which are disposed intermediate the top and bottom flanges. 
   
   
       11 . The racking beam according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one stiffening formation is in the form of a diaphragm which interconnects the spaced apart webs. 
   
   
       12 . The racking beam according to  claim 11 , wherein the racking beam is formed from first and second members that are disposed one on top of the other and are joined together, the at least one web of the racking beam comprising a first part formed from the first member and a second part formed from the second member, and wherein the at least one stiffening formation is formed at the joint between the first and second members and wherein the first member is in the form of a rectangular or square hollow section, and the second member is in the form of a U section having a flange, including first and second webs projecting from the flange, inwardly extending lips at the distal ends of the respective webs, and a lip return disposed at a distal end of the lips, and wherein the respective lips of the U section being disposed in abutment with one side of the hollow section, which side forms the diaphragm of the racking beam. 
   
   
       13 . The racking beam according to  claim 11 , wherein the racking beam is configured generally as a closed S shape having two generally square or rectangular hollow sections that share a common wall, with the common wall in turn forming the diaphragm of the racking beam. 
   
   
       14 . The racking beam according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stiffening formation is in the form of a dimple or rib of sufficient depth in the web to provide adequate stiffening. 
   
   
       15 . The racking beam according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stiffening formation is continuous along at least a substantial portion of the length of the beam. 
   
   
       16 . The racking beam according to  claim 4 , wherein the stiffening formation is formed from a plurality of sections that function in a similar manner as a continuous stiffening formation. 
   
   
       17 . The racking beam according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stiffening formation is positioned from 20% of the beam depth down to 80% of the depth of the web. 
   
   
       18 . The racking beam according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one stiffening formation is positioned approximately 40% to 45% of the beam depth. 
   
   
       19 . The racking beam according to  claim 4 , when made from metal. 
   
   
       20 . The racking beam according to  claim 19 , wherein the metal is steel. 
   
   
       21 . The racking beam according to  claim 20 , wherein the gauge of the steel is between 1.2 mm to 2.5 mm.