AU2006100271A4 - Trailer support posts - 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: TRAILER SUPPORT POSTS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2- TRAILER SUPPORT POSTS The present invention relates to support posts for supporting mezzanine decks in open sided trailers or containers.

Referring specifically to open sided trailers used in transporting freight, one option in loading trailers is to install a mezzanine deck in the trailer to provide a second raised platform on which freight and/or pallets may be loaded. Mezzanine decks can be subjected to significant loads, sometimes up to 6 tonnes, and therefore require substantial support posts to support a loaded mezzanine deck.

The support posts are generally square tube posts fixed at intervals along the open side(s) of a trailer between the trailer floor and roof. The posts are mounted in pairs whereby each post is aligned with another post on the opposite open side of the trailer. Horizontal cross members may be mounted to span between a pair of posts under the trailer floor or across the underside of the roof. Adjustable support saddles are mounted on each post for supporting the mezzanine decking.

The weight adapted to be supported by the mezzanine deck requires the support posts to be quite substantial and therefore large which have the effect of encroaching on the usable opening of an open side of a trailer. This creates problems with restrictions in loading pallets and affects the efficiency of space used in the trailer.

The present invention addresses the need to maximise the usable opening at the side of a trailer or container and overcomes the problems of inefficiencies faced with known trailers containing mezzanine decks.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06 3 there is provided a support post for supporting a mezzanine deck in a trailer or container comprising: a narrow post adapted to be fixed at an open side of the trailer between a trailer floor and trailer roof, the post being adapted to receive adjustable support saddles for supporting mezzanine decking; and a reinforcing member connected to the narrow post for reinforcing the support provided by the narrow post, wherein the reinforcing member is movable relative to the narrow part to increase the usable side opening of the trailer or container during loading or unloading.

The narrow post is preferably T-shaped where the vertical leg of the is adapted to face inwardly of the trailer.

The reinforcing member is preferably hinged to a head of the T-shaped post. There are preferably two reinforcing members, both symmetrically hinged to the head of the narrow post. The reinforcing members lie along the side of the trailer and are pivotable to swing open relative to the side. The reinforcing members are made of a rectangle section tube.

The narrow post may optionally structurally support the roof of the trailer. Preferably, a lock is provided to lock the reinforcement members in a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment, incorporating all aspects of the invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure l(a) is a side elevation of a trailer incorporating an embodiment of the support posts in accordance with the present invention; Figure l(b) is a cross sectional view taken at A-A of Figure l(a); H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06 4 Figure 2(a) is a side elevation of the support post; Figure 2(b) is a section view taken at B-B of Figure 2(a); Figure 3(a) is a plan sectional view of the support post in a closed position; Figure 3(b) shows the support post illustrated in Figure 3(a) opened on one side; Figure 3(c) shows the support post illustrated in Figure 3(a) opened on the other side; Figure 4 is an exploded side view of a portion of the support post showing hinge connections; Figure 5(a) is a part side sectional view of the support post showing a lock; Figure 5(b) is a plan sectional view of Figure Figure 6(a) is an enlarged view of area C in Figure 2(a); and Figure 6(b) is an enlarged view of area D in Figure 2(b); Figure 7(a) is a side sectional view of a portion of the support post showing a staggered saddle installation; and Figure 7(b) is a side sectional view of a portion of the support post showing a level saddle installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The support posts 10 of the present invention are for use in freight trailers or storage containers where a mezzanine deck is mounted to provide a second loading H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06 5 platform elevated from the floor of the trailer or container. Reference in this detailed description is made specifically to mezzanine decks used in trailers but it is understood the same principles apply to containers.

Figures l(a) and l(b) illustrate support posts 10 mounted in a freight trailer 11 to support mezzanine deck 12. In this embodiment two pairs of support posts 10 are spaced at intervals along open sides of trailer 11 between the front 13 and rear 14 of the trailer. The spacing between support posts 10 may be determined according to pallet size and/or if the posts are also used to support the roof of the trailer, according to the optimum spacing for maximum roof support. As suggested the supports posts may be mounted to support the roof 15 in addition to supporting the mezzanine deck. However, the support posts need not be roof supporting.

As illustrated in Figure l(b) a pair of support posts is located opposite each other across the width of the trailer 11. The posts are located at the trailer side openings and are mounted into a channel 17 recessed into the coaming 18 in the trailer floor 16. Figure illustrates more closely the lower end of support post mounted in coaming 18.

Turning back to Figure horizontal cross members 19 are provided between opposing pairs of support posts under the roof 15 and under the floor 16 to create a supporting frame between posts 10. A further vertical cross post 20 may be provided between the floor 16 and roof 15 midway between opposing support posts 10 to create an internal support for the roof.

An extruded roof track 21 along the outside edge of roof is used for hanging sliding gates and/or side curtains for restraining freight and for closing the open side of the trailer. Roof track 21 is seen more clearly in Figure H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06 6 Figures 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate a support post 10 in full length. Support post 10 includes a T-post 23 in the form of a vertical narrow post that is shaped in cross section. The T-post has a main web 24 forming the leg of the T-post. The web 24 is aligned in a direction transverse of the length of the trailer 11. The head of the T-post is short in comparison to the main web 24 and aligns in a direction along the length of the trailer and is positioned at or close to the open side of the trailer such that main web 24 points inwardly. These features are more clearly seen from Figure 3(b) and 3(c) which illustrate support T-post 10 in plan cross section.

A hinge 27 attached to head 25 of the T-post 23 supports on opposite sides of the hinge two reinforcing, or hinged posts, 30 which have the effect of reinforcing the narrow T-post to be able to withstand large mezzanine loads without buckling or bending. Hinged posts 30 are each rectangular box tubes of dimensions 100 nm x 50 mm and provide strength for the T-post in supporting a loaded mezzanine deck 12 and/or the trailer roof 15. Together the hinged posts and T-post form the basic structure of the support post 10 and provide the required strength to support a fully loaded mezzanine deck without bending or buckling.

Figure 3(a) illustrates the support post in a closed position which is adopted during transportation of the trailer to provide strength and also to restrain freight.

In loading and unloading freight the support post adopts the semi-open position of either Figure 3(b) or Figure 3(c) wherein one or the other hinged post 30 is open, or a fully open position where both hinged posts 30 are open.

Freight is loaded, generally on pallets, through the trailer side opening on either side of support posts Ht\annetteg\keep\peci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06 7 and onto the mezzanine deck or floor. Figure 3(b) illustrates the front hinged post 30a closest to the front of the trailer, in an open position. This hinged post is opened when freight to the front side of that support post 10 is desired to be loaded or unloaded. Similarly, the rear hinged post 30b is opened when freight to the rear of that support post 10 is loaded or unloaded, as shown in figure 3(c).

By opening one hinged post 30 the usable side opening of a trailer increases by approximately 25 nmm. With both hinged posts opened the opening of the side area between posts 10 increases by approximately 50 mm, which is significant particularly as this allows larger pallets to be loaded onto the mezzanine deck and/or floor and thereby a larger load to be carried by the trailer or stored in a container. The present support posts have the advantage of providing the required structural strength to support the mezzanine deck when fully loaded (up to 6 tonnes) while allowing maximum usage of the trailer side opening without the posts encroaching on the usable side opening.

Figure 4 illustrates the hinging assembly of the support post 10. A section of the T-post 23 is illustrated as are part sections of the hinged posts 30. The assembly of hinge 27 comprises upper and lower hinge bosses 31 fixed to the head 25 of T-post 23. Smaller hinge bosses 33 are fixed one to each of the hinged posts 30 and include an internal bush 34. A hinge pin 37 extends through the hinged post bushes 34 and through the T-post bosses 31 which are coaxially lined, and is then fixed in position by a collar and roll pin 38 locked onto each end of the hinge pin 37. The hinged posts 30 are then able to freely swing between the closed and open positions. Posts 30 when closed engage at a lower end thereof two pins 41, which are welded to channel 17. The two pins will restrict the racking movement of posts 30 in use.

H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06 8 Figures 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate a lock 50 that locks the hinged posts 30 in a closed position. Lock 50 includes an upper block and a lower block, 51, attached to a swinging arm 52 which swings from a pivot point 53 mounted on a C bracket 54 where the C bracket 54 is fixed to a side edge of one of the hinged posts Blocks 51 are adapted to swing into a space 55 between the opposite hinged posts 30 and closed on the third side by the head 25 of the T-post. At certain sections along the length of the support post 10 space 55 is occupied by hinge 27. Thus lock 50 is positioned such that blocks 51 clear hinge 27.

Illustrated in Figures 5(a) and 5(b) blocks 51 each contain a through hole 56 for receiving a spring biased padbolt 57 which is biased to extend through at least one through hole 56 to lock the swinging arm 52 and blocks 51 in the closed position. Keeping blocks 51 locked in space 55 prevents any swinging movement from hinged posts To unlock lock 50 padbolt 57 is pulled downwards to release the padbolt from through holes 56 and thereby allow swinging arm 52 to swing outward and away from hinge posts 30 as illustrated in ghost lines in Figure 6(b).

Hinge posts 30 are then free to swing open as desired.

Figure 6(a) illustrates another locking mechanism to lock hinged posts 30 against movement. A locking bar or handle 40 locks the hinged posts 30 in a closed position by locating through holes 42 coaxially aligned at a lower end of the hinged posts 30. Holes 42 are adapted to receive locking bar 40 to fix the hinged posts 30 against rotation in the closed position. In addition to the above examples other forms of locks, such as levers or handles, may be incorporated here to lock the hinged posts in the closed position.

H.\annetteg\keep\speci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06 9 Figure 6(b) illustrates the top of support post 10 in an enlarged view of area D of Figure The hinged posts terminate short of the trailer roof 15 whereas the fixed T-post 23, in this embodiment, continues towards the roof, and is welded to a U-shaped bracket, which in turn is riveted to the horizontal cross member 19 running under the roof.

Figures 7(a) and 7(b) illustrate the saddle arrangement for supporting the mezzanine deck. Saddles 45 are a form of angle bracket designed to support each mezzanine deck 12 at its corners. To vary the height of the deck 12 the position of saddles 45 is adjustable along the vertical length of T-post 23 by locating pins 46 through the saddle and through one of a vertical row of apertures 48 in the main web 24 of the T-post 23. Figure 2(b) illustrates more clearly apertures 48 in web 24. Accordingly, the saddles may be adjusted anywhere along the length of the T-post.

Figure 7(a) illustrates a staggered saddle installation used where the decks supported on either side of the support post are at uneven heights. This is seen for example in Figure l(a) where the support post 10 closest to the front 13 of the trailer supports staggered mezzanine deck levels.

Figure 7(b) illustrates level saddle installation similar to that shown with the rearward support post illustrated in Figure In this arrangement pins 46 locate through the T-post 23 and through saddles on either side of the main web. A doubler plate 47 is provided for use in the staggered saddle installation where a backing plate is needed to secure one saddle with a longer pin against the main web.

The present invention frees up the side opening of a trailer or container to allow the maximum possible loading H,\annetteg\keep\peci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06 10 space into the trailer or container while still providing sufficient structural strength to support a large load without bending and/or buckling. Increasing the usable side opening of a trailer allows users to more easily load freight into the trailer without awkward manoeuvring or rearranging freight inside the trailer. With the wider opening, larger pallets may be used thereby providing a larger footprint for loaded freight which in turn leads to a greater pay load to be transported. The present invention is simple to use requiring only one person to unlock the support posts and open and close the hinged posts.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

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Claims (3)

1. 2. The support post claimed in claim 1 wherein two reinforcing members are moveably connected to the narrow post with one to each lateral side of the narrow post to reinforce the narrow post against bending.
2. 3. The support post claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the reinforcing member(s) is hinged to the narrow post and is capable of swinging between a closed position where the reinforcing member(s) is aligned to partially close the side opening and an open position where the reinforcing member(s) is aligned to open the side opening.
3. 4. The support post claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the narrow post is T-shaped and a hinge at a head of the T-shaped narrow post connects with the reinforcing member(s). The support post claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the reinforcing member(s) is locked in the closed position by a lock. Dated this 7th day of March 2006 KRUEGER TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H,\annetteg\keep\speci\P60497 Trailer Support Posts.doc 7/04/06