WORK BASKET
Embodiments provide a work basket having an open cargo well for carrying a load, the work basket including a substantially rectangular bottom wall panel forming a floor of rectangular shape, a set of four sidewall panels cooperating with the bottom wall panel to define the cargo well, the sidewall panels being joined along pairs of aligned abutting edges by respective full penetration weld seams.
The disclosure relates to work baskets.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONWork baskets are used to transport loads for various purposes. Work baskets often are used in petroleum exploration, for example, to transport loads of supplies to offshore rigs. Loads transported in work baskets are diverse. Loads transported in work baskets can include, for example, loose cargo, cargo organized on pallets, bulk materials, and materials held in containers of various sizes. In the specific context of offshore petroleum exploration, for example, cargo loads such as drilling equipment components to be delivered to an offshore rig typically are loaded into work baskets at a port facility. The loaded work baskets are moved onto a supply boat and transported by sea from the port facility to the offshore rig, and hoisted from the supply boat to the deck of the offshore rig. Aboard the offshore rig, the cargo loads are removed from the work baskets using suitable lift or hoist equipment, or by hand. Typically, the empty work baskets to be returned to the port facility are loaded with unwanted materials such as scrap, debris, or garbage, before making a return trip to the port facility on a supply boat.
For reasons stated above and below, and for other reasons which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present specification, there is a need in the art for improved work baskets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTIONThe disclosure provides improved work baskets. Various shortcomings, disadvantages and problems of work baskets are addressed herein, which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which can be practiced. The embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments can be utilized and that logical, mechanical and other changes can be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
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Each sidewall panel 120 has an inner surface 191 adjacent bottom wall panel 156. Each sidewall panel 120 has an outer surface 189 disposed in spaced opposing parallel relationship to the inner surface 191. Between the second bend 242 and third bend 246 each sidewall panel 120 at the inner surface 191 is joined in fixed integral relationship with a respective abutting bottom wall terminal edge 206 of bottom wall edge portion 198 by a respective fillet weld seam 210. Fillet weld seam 210 is located at and extends the full length of the respective bottom wall terminal edge 206 at a respective intersection formed between upper surface 164 of bottom wall panel 156 and intersecting inner surface 191 of sidewall panel 120.
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Embodiments provide improved work baskets 100. According to embodiments, a work basket 100 includes no essential frame members formed of tube. According to embodiments, a work basket 100 is formed of four (4) sidewall panels 120 and one (1) bottom wall panel 156 each formed of plate steel material 108. According to embodiments, a work basket 100 is formed of four (4) sidewall panels 120 and one (1) bottom wall panel 156 each formed of plate steel material 108 and having no frame members formed of tube. According to embodiments, a work basket 100 is of simplified construction. According to embodiments, a work basket 100 of simplified construction complies with at least one accepted offshore service certification standard selected from the following: DNV 2.1-1, API RP2A, and BSEN 12079. According to embodiments, a work basket 100 has increased cargo well capacity per overall footprint.
Although specific embodiments are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations. For example, although described in terms of the specific embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that implementations can be made in different embodiments to provide the required function. In particular, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the names and terminology of the apparatus are not intended to limit embodiments. Furthermore, additional apparatus can be added to the components, functions can be rearranged among the components, and new components to correspond to future enhancements and physical devices used in embodiments can be introduced without departing from the scope of embodiments. The terminology used in this application is intended to include all environments and alternatives which provide the same functionality as described herein.
Claims
1. A work basket having an open cargo well for carrying a load, the work basket comprising:
- a substantially rectangular bottom wall panel formed of steel plate material, the bottom wall panel extending generally in a horizontal direction, the bottom wall panel supported above the supporting floor in substantially parallel relation thereto, the bottom wall panel having a substantially continuous upper surface defined by the steel plate material, the bottom wall panel having a substantially continuous lower surface defined by the steel plate material, the lower surface disposed in opposed spaced relationship to the upper surface, the bottom wall panel having a substantially rectangular periphery defined by four intersecting bottom wall edge portions, the periphery having four 90° bottom wall corners defined at respective intersections of adjacent bottom wall edge portions; and
- a set of four adjoining sidewall panels each formed of steel plate material, each sidewall panel having a lower terminal edge located opposite an upper terminal edge in generally parallel relation thereto, the lower terminal edge being disposed in spaced parallel relation to a respective bottom wall edge portion, the lower terminal edge abutting the lower surface of the bottom wall panel, the lower terminal edge being joined in fixed integral relationship with the bottom wall panel by a lower terminal edge weld seam extending along the lower surface in spaced parallel relation to a respective bottom wall edge portion, the lower terminal edge supporting the bottom wall panel above the supporting floor, each sidewall panel having a first vertical edge, each sidewall panel having a second vertical edge opposite from the first vertical edge, the upper terminal edge extending from the first vertical edge to the second vertical edge in parallel relation to the lower terminal edge;
- each sidewall panel having a series of spaced bends disposed in spaced parallel relation to the upper terminal edge, each bend having a bend angle defined relative to a respective bend axis, the bend angle determined in the direction of the first vertical edge relative to the respective bend axis, each bend extending parallel to the upper terminal edge along a full width of the sidewall panel from the first vertical edge to the second vertical edge, each sidewall panel extending downward from the lower terminal edge to a first bend, each sidewall panel at the first bend turning outward in a generally horizontal direction, each sidewall panel extending outward from the first bend to a second bend, each sidewall panel from the first bend to the second bend defining a base configured to rest on the supporting floor, each sidewall panel at the second bend turning upward from the base in the vertical direction, each sidewall panel extending upward from the second bend to a third bend, each sidewall panel at the third bend turning inward at a first corrugation angle, each sidewall panel extending from the third bend to a fourth bend, each sidewall panel at the fourth bend turning outward at a return angle, each sidewall panel extending from the forth bend to a fifth bend, each sidewall panel at the fifth bend turning upward in the vertical direction at a second corrugation angle, the return angle complimenting a sum of the first corrugation angle with the second corrugation angle, from the third bend to the fifth bend each sidewall panel defining a stiffening corrugation, each sidewall panel having an upper terminal edge spaced above the fifth bend, each sidewall panel extending from the fifth bend upward in the vertical direction to the upper terminal edge;
- each sidewall panel having an inner surface adjacent the bottom wall panel, each sidewall panel having an outer surface disposed in spaced opposing parallel relationship to the inner surface, between the second bend and third bend each sidewall panel at the inner surface being joined in fixed integral relationship with a respective abutting bottom wall edge portion by a respective sidewall weld seam, the sidewall weld seam extending along the upper surface of the bottom wall panel; and
- four corners being defined between adjacent of the sidewall panels, at each corner the first vertical edge of a sidewall panel abutting the second vertical edge of an adjacent sidewall panel in intimate parallel relation thereto, each sidewall panel being joined in fixed integral relationship with the adjacent sidewall panel by a respective corner weld seam, each corner weld seam being a full penetration weld seam, each corner weld seam extending along the first vertical edge from the lower terminal edge to the upper terminal edge, cooperation of the four sidewalls with the bottom wall defining the open cargo well.
2. A work basket according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a plurality of intermediate supports spaced apart in parallel relationship beneath the bottom wall panel, each intermediate support extending between a pair of oppositely located sidewall panels, each intermediate support having spaced oppositely located ends, each end abutting the outer surface of a respective sidewall panel between the respective lower terminal edge and the respective first bend, each end being joined in fixed integral relationship with the respective sidewall panel at the outer surface thereof by a weld seam, each intermediate support along a length thereof being joined in fixed integral relationship with the lower surface of the bottom wall panel by a respective weld seam.
3. A work basket according to claim 2, further comprising:
- each intermediate support being a three dimensional member formed of shaped plate steel material, each intermediate support having a V-shaped cross-sectional shape.
4. A work basket according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a rim member joined in fixed integral relationship with each sidewall panel at the upper terminal edge thereof, each rim member being a three dimensional member formed of shaped plate steel material, each rim member terminating at a rim member first edge spaced below the upper terminal edge, the rim member first edge extending in parallel relationship to the upper terminal edge, the rim member being joined in fixed integral relationship with the panel sidewall at the upper terminal edge by an exterior rim weld seam, the exterior rim weld seam extending along the rim member first edge, the exterior rim weld seam joining the rim member at the rim member first edge with the outer surface of the sidewall panel.
5. A work basket according to claim 4, further comprising:
- the rim member extending upward from the rim member first edge to adjacent the upper terminal edge, above the upper terminal edge the rim member turning inward towards the cargo well at a rim member first bend, the rim member extending in a generally horizontal direction from the rim member first bend to a rim member second bend, the rim member at the rim member second bend turning downward towards the bottom wall panel, the rim member extending downward from the rim member second bend to a rim member third bend, the rim member at the rim member third bend returning towards the inner surface of the sidewall panel, the rim member terminating at a rim member second edge spaced from the rim member third bend, the rim member extending from the rim member third bend to the rim member second edge, the rim member at the rim member second edge being joined in fixed integral relationship with the sidewall panel at the inner surface thereof by an interior rim weld seam, the interior rim weld seam extending along the rim member second edge, the interior rim weld seam joining the rim member at the rim member second edge with the inner surface of the sidewall panel.
6. A work basket according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a pair of fork housings spaced apart in parallel relationship beneath the bottom wall panel, each fork housing extending between a pair of oppositely located sidewall panels, each fork housing having spaced oppositely located fork housing ends, each fork housing end abutting a respective sidewall panel between the respective lower terminal edge and the respective first bend, each fork housing end being aligned with a respective fork opening, each fork opening extending generally in a transverse direction through the sidewall panel, each fork opening being aligned with a respective fork housing end, each fork housing end being joined in fixed integral relationship with the sidewall panel by a respective weld seam, each fork housing along a length thereof being joined in fixed integral relationship with the lower surface of the bottom wall panel by a respective weld seam.
7. A work basket according to claim 6, further comprising:
- each fork housing being a three dimensional member formed of shaped plate steel material, each fork housing having a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
8. A work basket according to claim 1, further comprising:
- each sidewall panel at the first bend defining about a 45° angle.
9. A work basket according to claim 1, further comprising:
- the cargo well having a generally rectangular floorplan.
10. A work basket according to claim 9, further comprising:
- the sidewall panels including a front sidewall panel spaced opposite a rear sidewall panel, the sidewall panels including a right end sidewall panel spaced opposite a left end sidewall panel, each of the right end sidewall panel and the left end sidewall panel extending intermediate the front sidewall panel and the rear sidewall panel at opposite ends of the generally rectangular cargo well.
11. A work basket according to claim 9, further comprising:
- a set of four lifting ears spaced about the sidewall panels, each lifting ear having a lifting eye defined therein for receiving hoist rigging.
12. A work basket according to claim 11, further comprising:
- each lifting ear being formed of plate steel material, the lifting eye being defined by an aperture extending in transverse direction through the plate steel material between opposing surfaces of the lifting ear.
13. A work basket according to claim 12, further comprising:
- a lifting ear support member joined in abutting fixed integral relationship with an inner surface of a respective sidewall panel by a weld seam, the lifting ear support member having defined therein a lifting ear aperture, the lifting ear being received in the lifting ear aperture, the lifting ear being joined in integral fixed relationship with the lifting ear support member by a full penetration weld seam.
14. A work basket according to claim 1, further comprising:
- the work basket being constructed in compliance with at least one accepted offshore service certification standard, the at least one offshore service certification standard being selected from the following: DNV 2.1-1, API RP2A, and BSEN 12079.
15. A work basket having an open cargo well for carrying a load, the work basket lacking a frame, the work basket comprising:
- a substantially rectangular bottom wall panel forming a floor of rectangular shape;
- a set of four sidewall panels cooperating with the bottom wall panel to define the cargo well;
- each sidewall panel having a lower terminal edge supporting the bottom wall panel, each sidewall panel having an upper terminal edge spaced above the lower terminal edge, the upper terminal edge extending generally in parallel relation to the lower terminal edge, the sidewall panel having a pair of spaced oppositely disposed first and second vertical edges, the upper terminal edge extending intermediate the first and second vertical edges, the lower terminal edge extending intermediate the first and second vertical edges;
- the sidewall panels being joined together in fixed integral relationship by respective full penetration weld seams extending along abutting pairs of aligned vertical edges; and
- the work basket being constructed in compliance with at least one accepted offshore service certification standard, the at least one offshore service certification standard being selected from the following: DNV 2.1-1, API RP2A, and BSEN 12079.
Type: Application
Filed: May 1, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 3, 2011
Inventor: Eric P. Marcel (Mamou, LA)
Application Number: 12/772,195
International Classification: B65D 90/02 (20060101);