Damage to the item itself is not the only risk caused by the movement of a cylinder-shaped item during transport. It may also represent a serious risk to the means of transport and the driver as well as outsiders. On one occasion, for example, a one ton axle came loose during transport, rolled sideways and caused a truck to tip over. In another case, the fastenings of a pipe consignment loaded in a container came loose during sea transportion from Scandinavia to the United Kingdom and the whole cargo moved freely inside the container. During road transport, the pipes moved across the container and the unexpected shift in the center of gravity caused the truck to swerve off the road and tip over.
Long cylinder-shaped items must be placed in a means of transport in the direction of travel, that is, the direction in which the acceleration and G-forces affecting the cargo are at their strongest. In road and sea transport this force is equal to the weight of the cargo, whereas in rail transport it may be as much as four times the weight of the cargo. For example, if the vehicle brakes sharply when in traffic, the load continues to move forward at the force of its weight. Acceleration forces affecting the load sideways-on are half the weight of the load.
When packing a roller or a cylinder, the longitudinal movement of the bearing axles must be blocked and the axle ends must be properly locked. The only safe transportation method for a cylinder-shaped object is a transportation cradle to which the object is secured properly, while ensuring that the cradle will not overturn. Pipes, axle bars and the like must be bundled into larger units using steel banding as well as end shields that prevent single bars from protruding. Sideways-fastening strength can only be achieved through loops fastened around the items. The –forward movement of large cylinders must be prevented by hooks drawn by belts or chains backwards to the sides of the trailer or a transportation unit. The nominal strength of belts must be observed, and is defined as half their breaking strength.
Ilkka Kalpio
