Vehicle Stacking Crate

Abstract

A system and method that provides for a crate consisting of main flooring section and additional side supports and horizontal beam bracing, that when assembled give the crate the rigidity to be stacked vertically, with multiple units on top of each other, with no other supporting structure. Safe lifting is ensured by fully enclosed fork pockets across the crate base. Safe stacking is ensured by using ISO shipping container casting, as part of the crate design along with top lug assembly to provide positive lateral restraint when stacked.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crate for rolling stock comprising:
 a floor having a length and width that is sufficient to support the rolling stock wherein the floor is supported by a floor beam at the underside of the floor;   a forklift tine passage that is attached to the bottom side of the floor beam;   a base frame assembly that is attached to a front end of the floor beam and a back end of the floor beam, the base frame assembly having an ISO corner casting at a bottom corner of the base frame assembly;   a plurality of load-bearing vertical members having a first end and a second end, the vertical load-bearing member attached at the first end to the base frame assembly, the second end comprises a top lug assembly;   a long horizontal bracing member on a long side of the crate, the long horizontal bracing member having a first end that attaches to the vertical load-bearing member at an upper location below the top lug assembly and a second end that attaches to an opposing vertical load-bearing member on a long side of the crate at an upper location below the top lug assembly;   an end horizontal bracing member on an end side of the crate, the end horizontal bracing member having a first end that attaches at an upper location on the vertical load-bearing member below the top lug assembly and a second end that attaches at an upper location below the top lug assembly of an opposing vertical load-bearing member;   a vertical bracing member having a first end attached to the floor beam and a second end attached to the long horizontal bracing member; and   a diagonal bracing member having a first end attached to the base frame assembly and a second end attached to the long horizontal bracing member.   
     
     
         2 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the floor is a plurality of floor plates. 
     
     
         3 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the floor is perforated to accept anchors or hooks along the length and width of the floor to attach a tie down strap for securing rolling stock when located within the crate. 
     
     
         4 . The crate of  claim 1  having a detachable ramp. 
     
     
         5 . The crate of  claim 4  wherein the ramp is made of a plurality of ramp panels. 
     
     
         6 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein the diagonal bracing member and the vertical bracing member attach to the long horizontal bracing member through a mounting plate. 
     
     
         7 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the diagonal bracing member is positioned on either side of the vertical bracing member. 
     
     
         8 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the end horizontal bracing member is attached with the vertical load-bearing member through an assembly bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the vertical bracing member is attached to the floor beam through a plate. 
     
     
         10 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein when stacked with a second crate, the second crate being the same as the crate of  claim 1 , the ISO corner castings on each corner of the base assembly of the second crate mates with the top of the top lug assembly on each vertical load-bearing member of the crate of  claim 1  when the crate of  claim 1  is below the second crate. 
     
     
         11 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the forklift tine passage is the entire width of the floor. 
     
     
         12 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of load-bearing vertical beams, long horizontal bracing members and end horizontal bracing members define a space there between for storing rolling stock. 
     
     
         13 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of load-bearing vertical members, a long horizontal bracing member, an end horizontal bracing member, a vertical bracing member and a diagonal bracing member are detachable when interconnected. 
     
     
         14 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the top lug assembly comprises a lug and a lug assembly guide flange. 
     
     
         15 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the floor attaches to the floor beam via a stacking tab. 
     
     
         16 . The crate of  claim 1  further comprising a winch attached to a winch mounting bracket attached to the base frame assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the diagonal bracing member attaches to the long horizontal bracing member on either side of the vertical member. 
     
     
         18 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the vertical bracing member attaches to an outer most longitudinal floor beam at about the midpoint of the longitudinal side of the crate. 
     
     
         19 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal bracing member is connected to the load-bearing vertical member through an assembly bracket via pins or bolts. 
     
     
         20 . The crate of  claim 2  wherein the floor plates are bolted to the top side of the floor beams. 
     
     
         21 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the floor beams are positioned longitudinally under the floor. 
     
     
         22 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the on each end of a floor beam is a floor stiffener support. 
     
     
         23 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the forklift tine pocket is secured to the longitudinal floor beams through fins on the forklift tine pocket. 
     
     
         24 . A method of securing a crate to a surface comprising:
 attaching the crate of  claim 1  to a twist lock or a lug anchored to a surface via the ISO corner casting of the crate.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the surface is selected from a ship deck, a trailer bed, a truck bed, a rail car bed, a carriage frame that rides on rails, and a ground. 
     
     
         26 . A method of stacking two or more crates, the method comprising:
 positioning a first crate of  claim 1  over a second crate of  claim 1  wherein the second crate is positioned beneath the first crate;   mating the ISO corner casting of the first crate with the top lug assembly of the second crate such that each ISO corner casting of the first crate overlays each top lug of the second crate; and   resting the first crate on the second crate such that the second crate supports the first crate.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the first crate or the second crate contains rolling stock. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein a lug assembly guide flange of the top lug assembly guides the alignment of the ISO corner casting over the top lug. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of position is with a forklift.