Integral stop rail device to align pallets on end to end pallet racks and establish boundaries for flues between pallet racks

Abstract

An elongated integral stop rail device extending the length of a row of pallet racks and carried from the racks by means of hangers which space the rail device at a desired distance from the lateral extent of the racks. The method involves a determination of the length of the row of racks, assembling a stop rail device to extend that length and mounting the stop rail device from the respective racks above the height and the desired distance lateral of the racks.

1 . A pallet rack system for storing pallets comprising:
 a plurality of rows of individual end-to-end pallet racks extending collectively over respective predetermined distances and having respective horizontal pallet support beams disposed in a predetermined number of horizontal planes for supporting pallets;   elongated, integral, stop rail devices extending the predetermined distances along one side of the respective rows of racks deposed above the levels of the respective horizontal planes and spaced a selected distance lateral of respective one sides of the respective racks to limit shifting of the pallets in the direction of the respective one sides;   a plurality of transversely projecting rail hangers carried on their respective one ends from the respective racks and formed with openings spaced the selected distance from the respective one sides of the respective racks; and   the elongated integral stop rail devices including rail sections connected together.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet rack system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the racks include respective vertical posts formed with vertically spaced apart first mounting elements; and 
 the hangers include respective second mounting elements mounted to the respective first mounting elements. 
 
     
     
         3 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The pallet rack system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hangers are formed with the openings defining bores; and 
 the integral stop devices are constructed of wire. 
 
     
     
         9 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A pallet rack system with a pair of first and second flanking rows of end to end discrete pallet racks spaced laterally apart to form there between a flue area and comprising:
 first and second rows of end-to-end pallet racks extending a combined predetermined overall longitudinal distance and including respective pallet support beams for supporting pallets with vertical loads thereon, the pallets and loads having respective first and second pallet and load proximate sides;   respective first and second elongated integral stop rail devices interposed between the respective first and second rows of pallet racks in the flue area and spaced a selected distance apart to cooperate in forming there between a vertical flue and arranged to be engaged by respective ones of the respective first and second pallet and load proximate sides to cooperate in stopping the respective proximate sides from encroaching into the flue, the first and second integral rail devices cooperating to extend the predetermined overall longitudinal distance along the respective first and second rows of racks;   the integral stop rail devices being constructed of discrete segments coupled together; and   hangers mounted from the racks of the respective first and second rows of racks, including respective sets of first and second integral stop rail openings spaced the selected distance apart for receiving the respective first and second integral stop rail devices whereby the integral stop rail devices may be constructed to extend continuously the overall distance along the respective first and second rows of racks and mounted from the respective hangers to block the proximate sides of the loaded pallets from encroaching into the flue.   
     
     
         23 . The pallet rack system of  claim 22  wherein:
 the integral stop rail device includes wires. 
 
     
     
         24 . The pallet rack system of  claim 23  wherein;
 the wires are of single strand construction. 
 
     
     
         25 . The pallet rack system of  claim 22  wherein.
 the integral stop rail device includes one piece wires.