Originally published 6/21/09
Most of us have experienced trying to fit an oversized painting or crate through doorways of a building, truck or airplane. As much as we try to pre-plan for such a move we realize there is geometry involved that brings back memories of grade school math class and the Pythagorean Theorem. There is a way to determine what size painting or crate will fit into any doorway by utilizing this math principle as well as methods of building various slant frames in order to hold the object at a diagonal while it gets transported.
The first step in the process is to determine the size of the smallest doorway that the painting or crate must pass through on its journey from points A to B. Knowing the exact dimensions of the height and width of that doorway is crucial in determining the maximum height and width of the crate or painting that can fit through that doorway.
For example, say our doorway is 118 x 96. To get the diagonal dimension of that door we need to do the following math: A2 + B2 = C2. A and B represents the doorway height and width and C represents the length of the hypotenuse, which we need to get the square root of C in order to get the diagonal of the doorway.
So using our doorway size of 118 x 96 we do the following math:
1182 + 962 or 13,924 + 9,216 = 23,140 and square root of 23,140 is 152.11837
So our diagonal is just over 152, but now we need to consider the width of the crate we want to move through the doorway. Say our crate is 20 wide, we subtract that number from 152 and we get the maximum crate height of 132. The wider the crate gets the shorter the height it can be. If the same crate was 25 wide, the maximum height can only be 127.
A slant frame must needs to support the weight of the crate, be able to maneuver through hallways and turns and function with pallet jacks and/or dollies. The slant frame does not need to be as long as the crate since that would create a wider foot print and cause issues with turns in a building.
Photo above: Slant frame for oversized Travel Box. Note the added 2x6 at the top of the frame to support the Travel Box as well as the angle iron at the bottom. The double 2x6s at either end allow pallet jacks or dollies for mobility.
E-track is installed for strapping the crate to the slant frame.
The angle iron supports the crate off the floor and allows maximum height of the crate at the diagonal.
Mark Wamaling
Artex Fine Arts Services
Thanks for the images of excellent designs dealing with this common problem. Even more useful it seems to me is how he provides the mathematic equation that we may vaguely remember but cant quite bring to consciousness when we actually need it. This seems like one of those things that it would be wise to print or copy and put aside for future reference.
Good stuff Mr. Wamaling!
For all the rest of you out there how about some variations on the theme?
Please send pictures and comments to: ashley@pacin.org
Note: I am especially interested in designs for slant frames that can be re-used and/or adjusted to fit different sized crates, temp walls, oversized signage etc...Please send pictures and comments to: ashley@pacin.org
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