Storage rack system with fire extinguishing device

• US 5,386,917 A
• Filed: 04/06/1994
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unarco Industries, LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: UNR Industries, Inc. (Thornhill Investments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clark, William L., Guiher, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAN, KO HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/223,970
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 211/183, 211/191, 211/192, 40/642, 40/299, 169/5, 169/16, 169/64
• US Class Current: 211/183
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/00 Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture doors E06B
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/1441 Horizontal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/00 Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00 ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/58 Pipe-line systems
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/60 wet, i.e. containing extinguishing material even when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/02 Storage devices furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1375 the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/94 against fire fire protection of partitions E04B2/7403, E04B2/7409; supporting constructions for ceilings having the capability of expansion in case of fire E04B9/08; fire-fighting A62C, e.g. fire prevention or containment A62C2/00; impregnation of wood or similar materials B27K; fireproof paints C09D5/18; fireproofing materials C09K21/00; flame-resistant papers D21H5/0002; coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings, in general E04F13/00; fireproof doors E06B5/16; firebreak devices for pipes or the like passing through walls F16L5/04; protection of pipes by means of non-inflammable material F16L57/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like

Abstract

A support beam for a storage rack has a tubular profile, which defines a ledge opening upwardly and inwardly, and which defines a generally flat, indicia-receiving surface facing outwardly and either downwardly or upwardly at an angle from about 20° to about 70° relative to a vertical plane. Alternatively, the tubular profile may define two such surfaces defining an obtuse angle relative to each other, namely an upper surface at an angle from about 20° to about 45° relative thereto and a lower surface at an angle from about 45° to about 70° relative thereto, or a generally arcuate, indicia-receiving surface having a suitable measurement. The indicia-receiving surface enables a person who is standing, or who is sitting on a lift truck, to have a generally perpendicular line of sight to such surface. The support beam may also be used in combination with a properly positioned fire extinguishing device to extinguish a fire in a supported load. When the fire extinguisher is activated, the fluid that is discharged impinges off the indicia-receiving surface, which may be inclined or curved, and onto the load.

Claims

1. A storage rack system comprising:

(a) a storage rack including a support beam for supporting a load, said support beam being located in a fixed position and at a predetermined elevation above a support surface, the support beam being tubular and including an outer wall defining a generally flat, inclined surface facing outwardly and downwardly, said inclined surface being inclined at an angle in a range from about 10°

to about 80°

relative to a vertical plane and constituting a means for deflecting fluids, said support beam having a lowermost edge, said inclined surface having a lower edge which defines the lowermost edge of said support beam; and

(b) a fire extinguishing device arranged to discharge a fluid, spaced horizontally from said inclined surface, and located in a fixed position relative to the storage rack, and above the lower edge of said inclined surface, such that when the fire extinguishing device is discharging a fluid in a direction toward the inclined surface, the discharged fluid impinges upon said inclined surface, and said inclined surface deflects the impinging fluid downwardly and inwardly beyond the lowermost edge of said support beam.

2. The storage rack system of claim 1 wherein the inclined surface and the fire extinguishing device are located at generally the same elevation.

3. A storage rack system comprising:

(a) a storage rack positioned on a substantially horizontal surface, said storage rack comprising an upright frame and means including a support beam made of steel and connected to the upright frame for supporting a pallet load, said support beam being located in a fixed position and including at least four integral, generally flat walls, said integral, generally flat walls including an upper, substantially horizontal wall defining a generally flat, substantially horizontal, load-supporting surface, said integral, generally flat walls further including an outer, substantially vertical wall and two substantially vertical walls extending below the upper wall, being substantially parallel, and being spaced horizontally from each other by at least the width of the upper, substantially horizontal wall, the substantially horizontal and substantially vertical walls forming an inverted channel opening downwardly, said integral, generally flat walls further including a wall facing outwardly and downwardly, extending below one of the outer, substantially vertical walls and being inclined at a fixed angle in a range from about 10°

to about 80°

relative to a vertical plane, said support beam having a lowermost edge, said inclined surface having a lower edge which defines the lowermost edge of said support beam; and

(b) a fire extinguishing device arranged to discharge a fluid, spaced horizontally from said inclined surface, and located in a fixed position relative to the storage rack, and above the lower edge of said inclined surface, such that when the fire extinguishing device is discharging a fluid in a direction toward the inclined surface, the discharged fluid impinges upon and is deflected by and below said inclined surface, and said inclined surface deflects the impinging fluid downwardly and inwardly beyond the lowermost edge of said support beam.