AU2006100168A4 - Freight restraint - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): KRUEGER TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT PTY LTD A.C.N. 005 296 515 Invention Title: FREIGHT RESTRAINT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2- SFREIGHT RESTRAINT Ct The present invention relates to freight restraints for ND use with trailers or containers and in particular to restraint gates for use in open sided trailers or containers.

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The background of the present invention relates to the disclosure of the applicant's accepted Australian Patent ND 10 Application No. 2003262467, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

Restraint gates are used on open sided trailers. The side of the trailer can be open on one side or on both sides.

The open sides are usually closed by coverings such as plastics, nylon or canvass curtains. On their own curtains are not sufficiently strong to prevent loads from sliding laterally off the trailer as the trailer negotiates a turn or bend. Restraints are used to restrain the loads on the trailers from lateral displacement.

The restraints are usually gates spaced along the length of the open side of the trailer. On loading and unloading the trailer the restraints may be removed by lifting the restraint out of pockets in the side coaming rails of the trailer. A recent alternative involves sliding the restraint gate along an upper side railing of the trailer to collect the restraint gates at one end of the trailer and allow access for loading and unloading to the remaining side of the trailer.

Even with installation of restraint gates problems with movement of load or damage from overloading still occur.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved restraint gate.

H,\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 3 According to one aspect of the present invention there is ;provided a restraint gate for an open sided trailer or Scontainer having a roof and a floor, the gate comprising a NO rigid gate frame supported by a post, the post having an upper end that is adapted to be hung from the roof at an open side of the trailer, the restraint gate being movable 00 perpendicularly relative to the side of the trailer to

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move between an inner position and an outer position, wherein a locking means locks the restraint gate in the NO 10 inner and outer positions, and a lower end of the post is adapted to engage the trailer or container floor such that c the gate acts as a restraint against lateral displacement of loads on the trailer or container.

Preferably, the post is adapted to slide along an overhead rail at the open side of the trailer as a unit towards an end of the trailer or container to provide access to load the trailer or container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment, incorporating aspects of the invention, will now be described further by reference of the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a trailer having restraint gates in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a restraint gate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the top of a post of the restraint gate taken along section C-C of Figure 1; Figure 4(a) is a cross sectional view of the trailer of Figure 1 taken at section A-A showing the restraint gates H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 4 O positioned for narrow freight; Figure 4(b) is a cross sectional view of the trailer of IND Figure 1 taken at section A-A showing the restraint gates 0 5 positioned for wide freight; 00 Figure 5 is an enlarged view of area B of Figure 1 Sillustrating a means of attaching a lower end of the restraint gate to the trailer floor or coaming; ND Figure 6(a) is a sectional upper view of a post of a C1 restraint gate in an outer position; Figure 6(b) is a sectional view of a post of the restraint gate in an inner position; Figure 7 is a side elevation of an upper part of the restraint gate; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the top of a post of a restraint gate according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a sectional view of the post of Figure 8 in an inner position; Figures 10(a) and 10(b) illustrate sectional views of yet another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the upper components shown in Figure Figures 12(a) and 12(b) illustrate sectional views of still another embodiment of the invention; Figures 13(a) and 13(b) illustrate sectional views of still another embodiment of the invention; H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 IND

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Figure 14 is an enlarged view of one embodiment of the Slower end of a post;

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O 5 Figure 15 is an elevational view of the bottom of the post viewed along arrow A of Figure 14 in a locked 00 configuration; and

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Figure 16 is an elevational view of the bottom of the post ND 10 viewed along arrow A of Figure 14 in an unlocked configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The accompanying Figures illustrate a curtain sided trailer 10 for use in freight transport. The characteristics and features of the trailer 10 are similar to the trailer described in the applicant's accepted Australian application no. 2003262467 and reference is made to that specification for further information on the trailer.

Essentially, the trailer 10 comprises a trailer base, or floor, 11 surrounded by coaming 12 and supported on a wheel structure 15. The trailer 10 has a closed front wall 16 at a front end of the trailer and either closed rear wall 17 or rear doors at a rear end of the trailer.

The trailer sides 18, 19 are open in this embodiment and can be closed by drawing curtains (not shown) across the side openings. While the illustrated embodiment shows a trailer with both sides open, the trailer can be made with only one side open and the opposite side closed by a fixed side wall or doors. A roof structure 22 is supported along the length of the trailer by the end walls and specifically by corner posts 23.

Load restraint gates 25 are provided along the length of H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 6 the trailer at the open trailer's sides 18, 19 to prevent ;the lateral displacement of loads in the trailer. In use it is expected that an open side of the trailer will be fitted with a number of gate restraints depending on the O 5 length of the trailer and width of the restraints. Figure 1 illustrates an open sided trailer fitted with six gate 0restraints side by side. It is also expected that typically both sides of a trailer will be open and fitted with restraint gates.

IND The restraint gates 25 comprise a gate frame 40 supported c centrally on a post 30 and are suspended from an overhead rail 27 that runs the length of each side 18, 19 of the trailer. In the preferred embodiment described herein the restraint gates are slidable along the overhead rails 27 to overlap and stack at either end of the trailer to provide a large access opening when loading and unloading freight. However, it is understood that the restraint gates 25 can be immovably fixed to the overhead roof structure 22 and the trailer base 11. In this case access to freight could be achieved by hinging the gate frame to the post 30 such that the gate on either side of the post 30 can be swung outward of the trailer.

Figure 2 and 3 illustrates a first embodiment of a restraint gate 25 having a gate frame 40 centred on post Post 30 is suspended from the overhead rail 27 (not shown in Figure 2) by pairs of spaced rollers 47, 48 mounted onto a carriage 35. A U-shaped bracket 45 on the underside of carriage 35 pivotally supports the top of post 30 by way of hinge 34. A releasable knee joint 31, (described later in greater detail) and a spring loaded latch 32 at the lower end of post 30 locks the post end 33 into a pocket in the coaming 12 of the trailer.

Releasable side latches 60, 61 at each side of the lower end of gate frame 40 extend into corresponding pockets (not shown) in the coaming 12 to lock the bottom of the H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 7 Q)gate to the trailer coaming.

Ct The restraint gates illustrated in the drawings are N repositionable to provide effective restraint of freight where the freight does not occupy the full width of the trailer or is a little wider than the standard maximum 00 width. In other words, the restraint gates 25 can be

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repositioned to suit and effectively restrain loads of varying widths.

NO Hinge 34 at the top of post 30 permits the post to swing C laterally of the overhead rail 27 and inwards of the side of the trailer. The restraint gate can be locked in this inner position to provide a variable restraining surface that is closer to the freight when the freight does not extend the entire width of the trailer.

Figure 4(a) is a cross sectional view of a trailer carrying narrow freight 50. This Figure illustrates posts 30 of restraint gates 25 on both open sides 18, 19 of the trailer where both posts are arranged in an inner position to abut against the narrow freight 50. Inner pockets 52 are provided in the floor 11 inboard of the coaming 12.

Inner pockets 52 are provided for each of the releasable latches 60, 61 on the gate frame 40 and the spring latch 32 at the end of the post 30. Depending on the width of the freight one or both opposite restraint gates 25 can be adjusted to an inner position.

Figure 4(b) illustrates an embodiment where a large freight 55 is loaded on the trailer 10. To accommodate the large freight 55 the posts 30 of restraint gates are swung and locked into an outer position where latches 32, 60, 61 are inserted into outer pockets 57 in the coaming 12. In this position restraint gates 25 provide a vertical restraint against a wide freight.

H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 8 The distance between the inner and outer positions is about 70mm-95mm and more preferably 80mm-85mm. With restraint gates provided on both sides of the trailer, in ND the preferred embodiment, a difference of 160mm-170mm can be achieved for load restraint.

0 Figure 5 illustrates spring loaded latch 32 contained in the lower end of post 30 to release and move the post end 33 into its respective inner or outer pocket. The spring ND 10 bias of latch 32 is released by lifting up pin 36 which allows post end 33 to swing out of its pocket and allows the post end to be swung inwards or outwards of the side of the trailer as well as longitudinally of the trailer along rails 27.

Figures 14 to 16 illustrate one embodiment of the lower end of the post 30, which has a leg 26 that is located within the cross section of the lower end of the post and is pivoted to the post at a knee joint 31. The lower end of the leg 26 to terminates at the post end 33 in a spade that engages a slot in the coaming 12 to locate the post 30. The lower end of the post 30 has a spring loaded latch 32 that engages the leg 26 to hold the post and leg co-axial as shown in Figures 14 and 15. In this position the post 30 supports the roof. As shown in Figure 16, release of the latch 32 allows the post 30 to pivot away from the leg 26 thus shortening the effective length of the post 30 and allowing release of the spade 33 from the coaming 12. The post 30 is now free to be slid along the rail 27.

Knee joint 31 facilitates in locking the post 30 in a vertical position by application of a horizontal pushing force to click knee joint 31 into a locked position. Knee joint 31 acts as a jack forcing the post upwards against the weight of the roof in order to securely position the end of the post in the slot. When it is desired to move H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 9 Q) post 30 out of its position in the coaming 12 or floor 11 ;latch 32 is released to break the vertical post 30 at leg 26 and allow post end 33 to be removed from the pocket.

The lateral force imparted by pushing the knee joint 31 into a locked configuration creates a moment that 00 overcomes the weight of the roof in order for the post to adopt the inner or outer position.

Figures 3, 6(a) and 6(b) illustrate the top of post Swhen viewed from section C-C of Figure 1. Figures 3 and 6a illustrate the post 30 positioned in an outer position while Figure 6(b) illustrates the post arranged in an inner position of the trailer.

To effect a near vertical restraint post 30 includes a link 38 which is hinged at hinge 34 to U-shaped bracket at an upper end and at a lower end is hinged at pin 37 to straight section 39 of post 30. The bottom of link 38 inserts into the top of straight section 39, which is hollow, where it is pinned by pin 37. Figures 6a and 6b best illustrate this pinned arrangement. The maximum inward and outward swing of post 30 can be controlled by adjusting the spacing between a side surface 42 of link 38 and an inner wall 43 at the top of straight section 39.

As shown in Figure 6(a) the maximum outer position of post is reached when side surface 42 contacts wall 43 at a first contact point 64 below pin 37.

Figure 6(b) shows that the maximum inner position to which the post extends is reached when the side surface 42 contacts wall 43 at a second contact point 65 above pin 37. Accordingly, lateral movement of post 30 is constrained between an extreme outer position and an extreme inner position while still maintaining the gate frame 40 in a near vertical alignment.

H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 10 The drawings illustrate rotation of link 38 relative to

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;straight section 39 of post 30 being effected by a lower Shinge pin 37. However, it is understood that other forms Iof rotational connections can be used between link 38 and straight section 39. For example, pin 37 may be replaced by a ball or other spherical joint, by a universal joint, 00 or by any other suitable joining means. Similarly, the top of link 38 which, in the embodiments shown, is pin hinged at 34 to U-shaped bracket 45 of roller carriage N 10 can be hinged to bracket 45 by other joining means such as by spherical, universal or other conventional joints.

c Alternatively, the post 30 may be fixed directly to the roller carriage without any moveable connection. Lateral movement of the post could instead be achieved through rotational movement of the roller carriage 35 in overhead rail 27, if this is allowable by the relationship between carriage 35 and extended rail 27.

Figures 3 and 7 illustrate a first arrangement for locking post 30 in the inner or outer position. Locking rods 71 mounted on opposite sides of an upper end of straight section 39, are used to lock the post in the inner or outer positions. Locking rods 70, 71 are long rods slidably mounted on opposite sides of straight section 39 and slide parallel to straight section 39. The bottom of the rods are turned at right angles into a handle.

Locking rods 70, 71 are adapted to slide upwards into corresponding apertures 72, 73 provided in flanges 74, mounted on opposite sides of the link 38 just above the top of the straight section 39. Flanges 74, 75 are fixed to the sides of link 38 at different inclinations such that one locking rod is used to lock the posts in the outer position while the other locking rod is used to lock the post in the inner position. The need to incline the flanges is brought about because, as illustrated in Figure 3, the locking rods remain substantially vertical while the orientation of the apertures in the flanges change H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 11 Qwith the movement of link 38.

Ct Figure 3 illustrates the example where the post is locked in an outer position and locking rod 71 extends freely

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into aperture 73 in flange 75. The angle between link 38 and straight section 39 is thereby fixed.

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Figure 7, on the other hand, illustrates a part side 0 elevation view of the restraint gate 25 locked in an inner \1 0 position where the left locking rod 70 extends up through aperture 72 in left flange 74.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate another arrangement for locking post 30 in the inner and outer positions. Rather than using lockable rods, the locking arrangement in this embodiment replaces the rods 71 with spring loaded pins located on either side of post 30 and mounted thereto by frame 85. Stop plates 83 welded to opposite sides of link 38, similar to flanges 75 in the previous embodiment, provide a surface against which pins 80 contact.

The upper ends of pins 80 are formed to have a contacting face 86 that bears against respective stop plate 83 to securely lock the angle between link 38 and straight section 39. Similar to flanges 74, 75 in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 7, stop plates 83 are detents fixed to the exterior of link 38 at an angle appropriate for the plates 83 to make full contact with pins 80. Springloaded pins 80 are held in position by frame 85 and slide between an engaged position against respective stop plates 83 and a disengaged position within the limitations allowed by a boss and slot connection 81 between each spring-loaded pin and a slot in frame A cable 84 tied to a lower end of each pin 80 extends down along post 30 to a position where an operator can appropriately and manually lever the cable to pull pin H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 12 Q) down against the bias of the pin spring 82 and to a

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;disengaged position.

The post may be locked at the link 38 by means other than the above discussed locking rods or spring-loaded pins.

Additionally, there is scope for a locking arrangement 00 that allows post locking in not only the wide load and narrow load positions, but also positions inbetween the wide and narrow positions. Locking the post 30 at the N 10 link 38 as well as the bottom end 33 provides a stronger and more stable restraining structure against loads.

The top of the post 30 contains a spring loaded latch 67 which is adapted to engage with a bracket 68 containing a recess (not shown). Brackets 68 are located along and are riveted to the overhead rail. Bracket 68 assists the operator in locating gate 25 in the correct position along rail 27 and ensures the gate is positioned accurately over the corresponding pockets in the coaming 12 or floor 11.

When the gate is slid into position across rail 27, latch 67 engages the recess in bracket 68. To by pass a particular bracket, ie. position, the gate is swung upward as it is moved along the railing such that latch 67 clears bracket 68.

Modifications to the present restraint gate are possible while keeping within the spirit of the invention. One modification is illustrated in Figures 10(a), 10(b) and 11. In this embodiment link 38 forms a rigid part of post 30 and post 30 is attached to carriage 35 by a non-pivotal connection. Therefore, to enable perpendicular movement of restraint gate 25 relative to trailer 10, the restraint gate 25 is constructed so as to slide laterally of the side of the trailer between an outer position and an inner position.

This is effected by providing a short lateral track H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 13 between post 30 and roller carriage 35. Figure ;illustrates this embodiment of the restraint gate fixed in an outer position of the trailer 10 while Figure ND illustrates the restraint gate fixed in an inner position.

Figure 11 illustrates more closely the overhead mechanisms 00 of the restraint gate and more particularly a slip joint \O head 91 at the top of post 30 slideably located within track 90, which is in turn fixed to the underside of ND 10 roller carriage 35. Figure 11 illustrates the slip joint between post 30 and carriage 35 when the gate is in an c inner position as illustrated in Figure To move the restraint gate 25 to an outer position, post 30 is moved laterally of roller carriage 35 such that head 91 slides to the left of track 90 as illustrated in Figure 11 to assume an outer gate position as illustrated in Figure 10(a). A locking mechanism, while not shown, is provided to lock the slip joint at the inner and outer positions or, as applicable, in a position therebetween.

Additionally, a hinge (not shown) is provided between post and head 91 to allow the post to hinge perpendicular to the side of the trailer to facilitate the sliding and stacking of gates to either end of the trailer.

In the outer position as illustrated in Figure 10(a) post locates in coaming pocket 57 while in the inner position of Figure 10(b) the post 30 locates in inner pocket 52. Pocket location of post 30 in this embodiment is similar to the previously described embodiments.

Figure 11 also illustrates roof track 92 which supports sliding curtains which may be installed across each open side of the trailer.

Figures 12(a) and 12(b) illustrate yet another embodiment HI\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 14 Sof the restraint gate 25. The post 30 is illustrated hinged to the roller carriage 35 although in this embodiment the post may be rigidly connected to roller IDcarriage 35 at a fixed connection. As discussed previously, lateral movement of post to enable insertion into floor pockets and stacking of gates at ends of the 00 00trailer may be achieved by rotating carriage 35 relative to overhead rail 27.

In this embodiment post 30 is always placed in an outer position whereby post end 33 is inserted in a coaming pocket 57. This is the position illustrated in Figure 11(a) and which is the gate restraint position designed to accommodate a wide load.

In this embodiment the gate structure 40 is not rigidly attached to post 30 but is instead connected to post 30 by short links 94. The figures illustrate two links although more links may be used. To accommodate a narrow load gate structure 40, which in the wide load position is in line and in the same plane as post 30, is swung inwards and downwards of the trailer to the position illustrated in Figure 11(b). Foot 95 at the lower end of gate structure is inserted and locked into a corresponding inner pocket 52 in the floor of the trailer. Accordingly, the effective restraint in this embodiment has shifted inwards in order to restrain a narrow load even though post remains locked in the outer position.

Another embodiment illustrated in Figures 13(a) and 13(b) is similar in principle to the embodiment of Figures 12(a) and 12(b) whereby the gate structure 40 is not rigidly fixed to post 30 but is relatively moveable. In this embodiment gate structure 40 is pivotally hinged at 97 to post 30 at a lower end and is connected at an upper end to the post 30 by way of short links 94. Accordingly, as illustrated in Figure 13(a), when restraining a wide load H\annette\keep\peci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 15 Q)post 30 is placed in the outer position by inserting post

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;end 33 into coaming pocket 57. Gate structure 40 remains in line with post 30 and in the same plane.

For restraining a narrow load post 30 is swung inwards such that post end 33 locates into an inner pocket 52. At 00 this point post 30 is not vertically oriented but displacement of gate structure 40 by swinging the gate structure inwardly of the trailer about pivot hinge 97 N 10 produces a vertical restraint suitable for restraining narrow loads as illustrated in Figure 13(b). Gate C structure 40 is locked in the position illustrated in Figure 12(b) by a locking means (not shown).

In the embodiments of Figures 13(a) and 13(b) post 30 is a rigid section and is shown in the illustrations as having a bend 98, but not requiring an additional linkage such as link 38 in previous embodiments. Post 30 is, however, pivotally hinged at an upper end to roller carriage This structure of post 30 also applied to the embodiment of Figures 12(a) and 12(b) where the post may or may not be pivotally connected to roller carriage The present restraint gate has been described as being capable of locking at an inner position and an outer position relative to a side of a trailer. This has been achieved by several methods including providing a link between the main, straight section of the post which is hinged to the roller carriage. Alternatively, the post may not be hinged but may be movable relative to the roller carriage by way of a slip joint mechanism. In yet another alternative the post does not include a link but is rigid, while the gate structure is linked and/or hinged to the post so to provide a movable restraint relative to the side of the trailer.

It is understood that intermediate locking positions may H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 16 also be provided by providing additional sets of pockets Sin the trailer floor between the outer pockets in the Scoaming and the innermost pockets in the floor inboard of IND the coaming. This would provide users with more options for restraining varying widths of freight loaded on a trailer. Similarly, the degree of inclination of link 38 00 is variable to straight section 39, and therefore the distance of displacement of the post 30 inboard of the side of the trailer can be modified to extend as far into the trailer as practicable. It is understood that, unless additional supports are placed outboard of the coaming, "c the outermost position of the restraint gates will generally be placed at the coaming.

In the preferred embodiment this restraint gate is movable in a lateral direction to the side of the trailer in board and outboard to restrain varying widths, but is also slidable along the length of the trailer such that a number of restraint gates can be stacked at the end of the trailer to allow access for loading and unloading.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

H;\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06

Claims (3)

1. 2. A restraint gate for an open sided trailer or container having a roof and a floor, the gate comprising a rigid gate frame supported by a post that is hung from a carriage mounted to slide along a track on the underside of the roof, the post including a hinge dividing the post into an upper portion and a lower portion, the gate frame being mounted on the lower portion, the upper portion being capable of pivoting relative to the track, such that a bottom end of the post can be moved to engage the floor in an inner position and an outer position causing the upper portion to pivot about the hinge and relative to the track whereby the gate frame remains in a substantially vertical position.
2. 3. The restraint gate claimed in claim 2, wherein a locking means locks the hinge in the inner position and the outer position.
3. 4. The restraint gate claimed in claim 3 wherein the locking means are rods mounted on opposite sides of the lower portion near the hinge, the rods being H:\annetteg\keep\peci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06 18 axially slidable to engage a corresponding detent on Sthe upper portion, wherein each rod locks the hinge Sin either the inner or outer position. O 5. The restraint gate claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the post is provided with a 00 knee joint at the lower portion. NO NO SDated this 6 t h day of March 2006 C 10 KRUEGER TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H;\annetteg\keep\speci\P59806 Freight Restraint.doc 6/03/06