AU2010201629A1 - Curtain-sided vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A curtain-sided vehicle, such as a curtain-sided truck or trailer, has a body having an interior in which cargo is transportable and a side curtain system at one longitudinal 5 side of the body and including a rail secured at, or adjacent to, a longitudinal side of a roof portion of the body, with the rail extending along at least a major part of the length of the body between fore and aft ends of the body. The system includes a side-curtain and, attached to the curtain at intervals spaced along an upper edge of the curtain, a series of roller assemblies engaged with and moveable longitudinally of 1o the rail. The roller assemblies enabling the curtain to be pulled to or towards at least one or other of the ends to enable loading or unloading of the body, or to be extended to cover the one longitudinal side of the body. The system also includes a rail extension which is moveable to and away from a receiving position in which it provides an in-line continuation of one end of the rail such that, with the rail extension 5 in the receiving position, the curtain is able to be pulled beyond that one end of the rail, onto the rail extension, for enabling access to the interior of the body substantially free from obstruction by the side curtain. (-9D -~ (%j ( VA (9

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL) Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Transtech Research Pty Ltd Actual Inventor(s): David Gordon Thomas, Nicholas Anthony Perrin Hill, Hugh John Lees Address for Service and Correspondence: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: CURTAIN-SIDED VEHICLE Our Ref: 884763 POF Code: 487964/467763 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- 2 This invention relates to a curtain-sided vehicle, such as a curtain-sided truck or trailer. Curtain-sided vehicles are in wide use for transporting cargo comprising goods and 5 produce. They may have a side curtain at one longitudinal side of the vehicle body or a respective curtain at each of those sides. At or adjacent to a longitudinal side of the roof of the body, a rail system extends between the fore and aft ends of the body. The curtain is suspended from the rail by means of a series of roller assemblies attached to the curtain and engaged with the rail system for longitudinal movement. o The arrangement is such that the curtain is able to be pulled to or towards the fore or aft end of the body to enable loading or unloading of the body, or to be extended to cover its side of the body. When a side-curtain is pulled fully to one end of the body it folds to a compacted form. 5 Substantially the full length of the corresponding side of the vehicle then is able to be accessed for loading and unloading. However, despite the compacted form, the curtain still obstructs part of the length of the body at the end to which the curtain is drawn. That part of the body length may for example, be sufficient to prevent loading or unloading of at least one stack of cargo-carrying pallets, or other cargo of similar !0 width, unless the curtain is drawn back towards the other end sufficiently to enable access to that part of the body length. For this, the full length of the curtain needs to be moved back from the obstructed part of the body to or towards the other end, but thereafter the curtain needs to be extended again to each end, with these movements adding to the time involved. However, at least in some jurisdictions, the driver of a 25 vehicle is required by health and safety regulations to vacate a loading/unloading site after pulling the side-curtain to one end, until a loading/unloading operation has been completed, with the fork-lift or other device moving on to the next vehicle in a line. In this context, an opportunity to load/unload the part of the vehicle body obstructed by the pulled back side-curtain is lost, as the driver is expected to drive his vehicle from 30 the loading/unloading site, rather than lose time required to pull the side-curtain back to or towards the other end and wait for the fork-lift or other device to return. C:1po word\Curtain-ided vehice.doc 3 Obstruction by the pulled back curtain presents a problem where the cargo to be loaded or unloaded is of elongate form and of a length corresponding substantially to the internal length of the body. Such cargo, for example, lengths of timber, steel or aluminium, can be loaded or unloaded by careful manoeuvring, at least in some 5 instances, but this is time consuming and can result in damage to the vehicle or the cargo, or even injury to an operator. The present invention seeks to provide a curtain-sided vehicle having a curtain suspension arrangement which enables the problems in loading and unloading of the 0 vehicle body to be minimised or overcome. A curtain-sided vehicle according to the invention, such as a curtain-sided truck or trailer, has a body having an interior in which cargo is transportable and a side curtain system at one longitudinal side of the body. The system includes a rail secured at, or 5 adjacent to, a longitudinal side of a roof portion of the body, with the rail extending along at least a major part of the length of the body between fore and aft ends of the body. The system further includes a side-curtain and, attached to the curtain at intervals spaced along an upper edge of the curtain, a series of roller assemblies engaged with and moveable longitudinally of the rail. The roller assemblies enable !0 the curtain to be pulled to or towards one or other of the ends to enable loading or unloading of the body, or to be extended to cover the one longitudinal side of the body. The system further includes a rail extension which is moveable to and away from a receiving position in which it provides an in-line continuation of one end of the rail. The arrangement is such that, with the rail extension in the receiving position, the 25 curtain is able to be pulled beyond that one end of the rail, onto the rail extension, for enabling access to the interior of the body substantially free from obstruction by the side curtain. The vehicle may have a respective side-curtain system at each longitudinal side of 30 the body. This applies to all forms of the vehicle described in the following but, for each of description, a system at only one side of the vehicle is described in much of the following. C:fword\CCwtan-sided vehicle doc 4 The side-curtain system can be of at least two general forms. In a first one of those forms, the rail extension is moveable from a storage position which it occupies when the side of the body is closed by the side-curtain, such as during storage of the vehicle or when the vehicle is being moved. When it is required to load or unload the 5 vehicle body, the rail extension is moved from the storage position to the receiving position. With the first form of the side-curtain system, the rail extension most preferably provides an extension of the rail beyond an end of the body. Thus, the rail may 10 extend to, or close to, that end of the body, such as from or close to the other end of the body. In each case, the length of the rail extension is such that the curtain is able to be pulled beyond that end to enable access to the interior of the body along the full distance between the fore and aft ends. To enable movement of the rail extension between the receiving and storage positions, the rail extension may be pivotably 15 mounted on, or in relation to, the body such as at or adjacent to the one of opposite ends of the rail extension by which the side-curtain passes to or from the rail. The rail extension may be pivotable by actuation of a hydraulic piston-cylinder device. The rail extension may be pivotable from a storage position in which the rail extension is disposed across the exterior of the adjacent end wall of the body or down along a side !0 edge of that end wall. In those cases, the pivoting may be substantially through an angle or about 90* in movement of the rail extension between its receiving and storage positions. Alternatively, the rail extension may have a storage position in which it extends along an external side face of the rail. In that alternative, the rail extension is pivotable through an angle of substantially about 1800 in moving between 25 its receiving and storage positions. In another arrangement for the first form of the side-curtain system, the rail extension may be moveable between the receiving and storage positions other than by being pivotally mounted at one end. Thus, the rail extension may be mounted on a linkage 30 system which is mounted on the body, and moveable between the storage and receiving positions by a drive device operable to adjust the linkage system. The link system may, for example, comprise a pair of link members each pivotably mounted at one end on the body and each pivotably mounted at the other end to a respective one CApononCutainsded vehcle doc 5 of locations spaced along the rail extension. The storage position for the rail extension may be similar to any one of the three storage positions detailed above for a pivotable rail extension. 5 In each arrangement for the first form of the side-curtain system, the rail extension preferably is braced when in the receiving position. Thus, the side-curtain system may include a strut member which is able to be secured in a triangular arrangement with the rail extension and the adjacent end wall of the body. 10 In a second form of the side-curtain system, the rail extension is moveable between a receiving position and a holding position beyond an end of the vehicle body. The rail extension is held in the receiving position when the side of the body is closed, such as during transportation. When in the receiving position, the rail extension provides a continuation of the rail to that end, and an end section of the curtain when extended is 5 suspended from the rail extension by at least one of the roller assemblies. Also, the curtain can be pulled so that its full extent is suspended form the rail extension. Thus, the rail has length shorter than the longitudinal extent of the body between those ends. The rail may be shorter than that extent by an amount such that the combined length of the rail and the rail extension is substantially equal to that extent. !0 In the second arrangement the rail extension, when in the receiving position, may be releasably held by at least one holding device. In one arrangement the holding device includes a clamping member pivotably mounted on one of the rail extension and the roof of the body, and a cam member moveable to pivot the clamping member 25 and cause the clamping member to force the rail extension laterally against an abutment surface defined by the roof of the body. The rail extension of the second arrangement may be moveable to the holding position by longitudinal movement beyond and substantially along the line of the rail. 30 In that case, movement may be provided by a linear drive device, such as a hydraulic piston and cylinder device. Also, a second hydraulic piston and cylinder device, acting between pivot connections to the rail extension and the body may be operable to function as a strut supporting the rail extension in the holding position. However, CAi d\Cutain-sded vetce.doc 6 while the holding position for the rail extension is beyond an end of the body, it preferably also is spaced laterally outwardly from the line of the rail and the body. For movement of the rail extension laterally outwardly and beyond an end of the body, the rail extension may be pivotally mounted at each of at least two longitudinally spaced 5 locations to a respective link arm having its other end pivotally mounted on the body. A drive device may be operable to adjust the link arms to move the rail extension laterally outwardly and beyond the end of the body. The link arms may be such as to retain the rail extension substantially parallel with the rail during such movement, and during return to the receiving position, although this need not be the case. 0 With the second form of the side-curtain system, the curtain is able to be pulled fully onto the rail extension when the extension is in the receiving position. The curtain then is able to be moved with movement of the rail extension to the holding position, such that access to the interior of the body is available over the full length between 5 the fore and aft ends. Obviously the or each holding device for releasably holding the rail extension in the receiving position needs to be actuated to release the rail extension for movement from the receiving position to the holding position. In each form of the side-curtain system, the rail extension may have a detent device !0 which, with the side curtain fully received onto the rail extension, is operable to prevent the side-curtain from moving off the rail extension. The detent device may be such that it can be actuated to move to a position for obstructing unintended movement of the side-curtain from the rail extension. Similarly, the device may be able to be actuated to retract to a position enabling the side-curtain to be extended 25 back along the rail, when the rail extension returns to the receiving position. In order that the invention may more readily be understood, reference now is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 30 Figure 1 shows a plan view of one end section of the body of a curtain-sided vehicle, showing a first embodiment of the invention in a first condition; C Apoord\Curtainsided veticle.oc 7 Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows the first embodiment in a second condition; Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows the first embodiment intermediate 5 of the first and second conditions; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the first embodiment, in the first condition; Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 4, but with the embodiment in the second 0 condition; Figure 6 is a partial plan view of one side of an end section of a curtain-sided vehicle, showing a second embodiment of the invention in a first condition; 5 Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 6, but shows the second embodiment in a second condition; Figure 8 corresponds to Figure 6, but shows the second embodiment intermediate of the first and second conditions; .0 Figure 9 shows on an enlarged scale part of the second embodiment as viewed in Figure 6; Figure 10 shows on an enlarged scale a further part of the second embodiment as view in Figure 6; 25 Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on line XI-XI in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on line XII-XII of Figure 10 showing the cross-section of a rail as used in the second embodiment of Figures 6 to 11; 30 Figure 13 shows a sectional view on line XIII-XIII of Figure 10 showing the cross-section of a rail extension used in the second embodiment of Figures 6 to 11; and CWA vrd\Curtain-sided veidcle.doc 8 Figure 14 shows an end elevation of a roof skin securement member used with the rail extension of Figure 13. 5 With reference to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown one end of a vehicle body 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The body 10 has respective side walls 12, fore and aft end walls 14 (of which only one is shown), a roof 16 and a base or floor (not shown). The body is supported on a trailer or tray of a truck of a wheel mounted vehicle, although these components are not illustrated. 0 Each side-wall 12 comprises a respective side-curtain 21 of a side-curtain system 20. In addition to side-curtain 21, system 20 further includes a rail 22 which extends between the end wall 14 of body 10 shown and a similar wall (not shown) at an end of body 10 remote from wall 14. The side-curtain system 20 also includes a plurality of 15 roller assemblies (not shown). The roller assemblies are arranged in a series spaced along the top edge of the side-curtain 21 to which each is attached, while rollers of the assemblies are mounted in and able to roll along the rail 22. The arrangement is such that the side-curtain is able to extend between end wall 14 and the similar remote wall at the other end of body 10, or drawn or pulled along rail 22 to or toward !0 the end wall 14 (or to the similar remote end wall). Each side-curtain system 20 also includes a rail extension 24, mounted by a hinge 26 at one end, on an exterior region of end wall 14. The end of extension 24 is mounted adjacent to a corner of body 10 defined by wall 14, top wall 16 and side wall 12. The 25 hinge 26 is disposed so that extension 24 is pivotable between a storage position shown in Figures 2 and 5, through an intermediate position shown in Figure 3, to a receiving position shown in Figures 1 and 4. In the storage position, the rail extension 24 extends across, and just below the upper edge of, end wall 14. The respective hinges 26 for the two side wall systems differ slightly in form and location, as shown in 30 Figure 3, to enable the extension 24 on the left hand side of body 10, as viewed in Figures 1 to 3, to be disposed between end wall 14 and the other extension 24, when each extension 24 is in its storage position. C:mfAord\CtAin-sided veieid.doc 9 The rail extension 24 of each side-curtain system 20 may be braced or held in its receiving position by opening of a linkage system 28 connected between end wall 14 and a mid-region of the extension 24, and disposed substantially in a plane swept by extension 24 in pivoting on hinge 26. Also, extension 24 is braced from below by a 5 relatively rigid elongate member 30 which, with extension 24 in its receiving position, extends from the end of extension 24 remote from hinge 26 to a bracing block 32 mounted exteriorly on end wall 14 and spaced below hinge 26 by a distance about equal to the length of extension 24. Member 30 may be pivotally mounted on block 32. Member 30 may be moveable, from a position in which it hangs below block 32, 0 to the upwardly inclined orientation shown in Figure 4 in which its free end is locatable in a recess (not shown) defined in the underside of the remote end of member 24. When in its receiving position, in which it is braced by linkage system 28 and elongate member 30, rail extension 24 provides a continuation of rail 22. The arrangement is 5 such that side-curtain 21 is able to be pulled or drawn from rail 22, onto rail extension 24. The length of extension 24 is such that the full longitudinal extent of side-curtain 21, in a suitably compact folded condition for side-curtain 21, is able to be received onto rail extension 24. When so received, the weight of the side-curtain 21 able to be accommodated by rail extension 24, as braced by elongate member 30, having !0 sufficient levels of strength and resistance to bending. Adjacent to hinge 26, rail extension 24 preferably has a releasable detent member (not shown) which enables side-curtain 21 to be received onto extension 24 but which then adjusts to prevent side-curtain 21 from moving or being moved back onto rail 22 25 until this is required. With side-curtain 21 fully received onto rail extension 24, the body 10 is able to be loaded or unloaded along the full length or longitudinal extent of body 10 between end wall 14 and the similar remote wall at the other end of body 10. If required, cargo to 30 be loaded or unloaded can be of a length almost equal to that length or extent. With a similar side-curtain system 20 at each longitudinal side of body 10, loading or unloading can be from either side. However, a vehicle having a side-curtain system 20 may having this on only one side, with the other side of the body 10 being closed C:\pofword\CurtaNsked vehicledoc 10 by a conventional arrangement, whether this be rigid panelling or a side-curtain not able to move onto a rail extension. Whether the body 10 has only a single side curtain system 20, or a respective side-curtain system at each side, the one system 20, or one or both of the two systems 20, may have a respective rail extension 24 at 5 only one end, or at each end, of the body 10. Turning now to Figures 6 to 15, the second embodiment shown therein shows one corner of the body 110 of a vehicle not otherwise shown. The body 110 has some features corresponding to those of the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 and, where 0 this is the case, the same reference numeral plus 100 is used. The vehicle body 110 has a parallel pair of elongate side walls 112, of which only a short part of the length of one is shown in the drawings. The body 110 also has an end wall 114 at each end which extends between the pair of side walls 112, with only 5 a part of one wall 114 shown in the drawings. Also, the body 110 has a base or floor (not shown) which, at its perimeter, extends to each of the side walls 112 and end walls 114. The body 110 is completed by a roof 116 having a peripheral frame and a covering skin 40. The peripheral frame has a side member 42 along each side wall 112 and an end member 44 along each end wall 114. A number of transverse beams !0 46 extend between and are joined to the side members 42, and provide support for skin 40 and strengthening of the peripheral frame. Again, the body 110 is supported on a trailer on the tray of a truck of a wheel mounted vehicle, but with these components not illustrated. 25 As with the side walls 12 of body 10 of Figures 1 to 3, each side wall 112 of body 110 comprises a side-curtain 121 of a side-curtain system 120. Again, the system 120 includes a rail 122 which forms part of the main longitudinal extent of the respective side member 42, a plurality of roller assemblies (not shown) and a rail extension 124. The roller assemblies are attached to the side-curtain 121 top edge along which they 30 are in a spaced series, while their rollers are engaged in and able to roll along rail 122. C:ofAwonCurtain-sided veNde.doc 11 As shown, the rail 122 terminates short of the one end wall 114 shown, and the rail extension 124 extends between the end of rail 122 and that wall 114. The form of the rail 122, and the side member 42 of which rail 122 forms a part, is shown in Figure 12, while the form of the rail extension 124 is shown in Figure 13. 5 With reference to Figure 12, there is shown in end elevation the form of an extrusion which comprises a side member 42 of the roof 116. The member 42 defines a hollow, rectangular beam section 48 which, relative to the roof 116, has a top flange 50 and a lower, upturned flange 51 which extend laterally inwardly from the inner side of beam 10 section 48. On the outer side, beam section 48 has a flange 52 which projects laterally outwardly from the upper side of section 48 and, intermediate of the top and bottom of section 48, there is a downwardly open square-section channel which comprises rail 122. The beam section 48 and flanges 50, 51 and 52 terminate at the end of rail 122. 15 The beam section 48 of the member 42 at each side of body 110 adds to the structural strength to the body 110. The end members 44 and the transverse beams 46 also add to that strength, as do posts (not shown), at least at each corner of body 110, which support the roof 116. Overall strength is enhanced by the connection !0 between respective ends of transverse beams 46 with each side member 42. All but the or each transverse beam 46 located beyond the end of rail 122 are supported on and secured to the top flange 50 of each side member 42. Also, further strengthening is provided by a structural member 57 against which extension 124 is located when positioned to provide a continuation of rail 122. The member 57 is secured to rail 25 122, some transverse beams 46 and the end wall 14 at the end shown. The skin 40, which may be thin metal sheet, is applied over the roof frame structure and secured. At least along side members 42, the securement may include an edge margin of the skin being 40 folded around and located under the flange 52 of side 30 member 42. Also, secured to structural member 57, there is an elongate member 42a under which rail extension 124 is located when against member 57 and providing a continuation of rail 122. As can be recognised from Figure 14, member 42a corresponds to the upper part of beam section 48 of section 42 and has flanges 50a CaoftworUCurtatsided vehicle.oc 12 and 52a which correspond to flanges 50 and 52 of section 48. Below flange 52a, member 42a has a flange 43 which corresponds to the top wall of rail 122. The member 42a substantially is in line with the upper part of section 48 of member 42, but raised slightly to enable extension 124 to fit below flange 53. The adjacent part of 5 skin 40 is able to extend over member 42a and wrap around flange 52a. The rail extension 124 has the same cross-sectional form as the part of side member 42 comprising the rail 122. At a location adjacent to the end of the rail extension 124 which is nearer to the rail 122, and at a further intermediate location spaced from that 0 end, a respective spacer block 53 and 54 is secured to the inner face of the rail extension 124. By a pivotable connection to each of blocks 53 and 54, rail extension 124 is mounted on one end of a respective pivot arm 55 and 56. The other end of each arm 55 and 56 is mounted so as to be pivotable on a respective vertical pivot axis A and A' which is fixed relative to body 110 and extends through the fixed 15 structural member 57. The arrangement is such that, with pivoting of arms 55 and 56 on axes A and A', the rail extension 124 is able to be reversibly moved between a receiving position shown in Figure 6, in which rail extension 124 provides a continuation of rail 122, and a holding position shown in Figure 7, through intermediate positions such as the one shown in Figure 8. 20 When in the receiving position of Figure 6, the rail extension 124 is in line with rail 122. The side-curtain 121 then is able to be drawn from rail 122 onto rail extension 124. Indeed, with the side-curtain 121 fully extended between the end walls 114, an end section of side-curtain 121 is suspended from rail extension 124 by at least one 25 roller assembly. The length of rail extension 124 is such that the entire side-curtain 121 is able to be pulled fully onto the rail extension 124 in a folded, compact form. With the side-curtain 121 fully suspended from the rail extension 124, and retained thereon, the extension 124 is able to be moved from the receiving position to the holding position, such that the side-curtain 121 is moved beyond the end wall 114. 30 With side curtain 121 fully suspended from extension 124, and extension 124 in the holding position, access to the interior of body 110 is available for loading or unloading of body 110 along the full length of the interior between the two end walls 114. C:\pof*MrdCurtaisided veNe.doc 13 While desirable if not essential, the arms 55 and 56 and the rail extension form links of a parallelogram linkage system. That is, for arms 55 and 56, a line from axis A to an axis on which arm 55 pivots at spacer block 53 is parallel to a line from axis A' to 5 an axis on which arm 56 pivots at spacer block 54, while extension 124 is parallel with a line between axes A and A' and in a plane in which arms 55 and 56 move between the receiving and holding positions. The fixed structural member 57 is connected between end wall 114 and the end of 0 beam section 48 of member 42. Member 57 also is connected to the ends of those transverse beams 46 located between end wall 114 and the end of rail extension 124 remote from wall 114. The member 57 is of a somewhat triangular form in plan view and carries drive devices 58 operable to hold rail extension 124 in the receiving position and to release extension 124 for movement to the holding position. The 5 member also carries a drive device 59 for pivoting arms 55 and 56 between the receiving and holding positions. A respective drive device 58 is located on structural member 57 so as to be adjacent each end of rail extension 124 when extension 124 is in the receiving position. As !0 shown in Figures 7 and 11, the rail extension 124 carries a pair of longitudinally spaced brackets 60 adjacent each end, and a latch bar 61 which extends between the pair of brackets 60. The bar 61 is parallel to but spaced from extension 124, so that fingers can be received between the bar and extension to hold the rail extension 124 in the receiving position. Each drive device 58, in the arrangement shown, is a fluid 25 pressure operated drive device, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic device, although other forms of drive device can be used. The drive device 58 has a rod 62 able to be extended laterally towards the bar 61 and retracted. The free end of rod 62 carries a transverse pin 63 which has each end slideable in a laterally extending, substantially horizontal slot 64 formed in a respective one of two parallel, spaced brackets 65 30 secured on structural member 57. Between rod 62 and each bracket 65, there is a respective clamping member 66 which is rotatable on a pin 67 journalled in brackets 65. The pin 67 is parallel to pin 63, but spaced from pin 63 in a direction perpendicular to the line of movement of rod 62. Each member 66 defines an C:pWordCurtain-sided veNce. doc 14 elongate slot 68 through which pin 63 extends. The members 66 are rotatable under the influence of gravity to pivot on the axis of pin 67 so that the slots 68 are inclined downwardly and laterally outwardly, to locate pin 63 at the end of each slot 68 that is remote from rail extension with rod 62 retracted. As rod 62 is advanced to move pin 5 63 laterally outwardly along slots 64, engagement of pin 63 in slots 68 causes members 64 to rotate on the axis of pin 67, causing an upwardly directed finger 69 defined by each member 66 to rise and locate between latch bar 61 and the rail extension 124, locking the extension 124 in the receiving position. The extension 124 is able to be released for movement from that position by reversal of fluid pressure to 0 drive device 58 to retract rod 62, and cause members 66 to rotate on pin 65 to withdraw fingers 69. In the arrangement shown, the device 59 also is a fluid pressure operated drive device, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic device, although other forms of drive device 5 can be used. Device 59 is between the respective device 58 at each end of extension 124 in the receiving position, but adjacent to the one of devices 58 near to end wall 114 of body 110. Device 59 also has a rod 70 able to advance and retract laterally. Device 10 is operable to pivot arms 55 and 56 by means of a sprocket and chain drive 71. For this, the leading end of rod 70 carries a bracket 72 secured to a link of a !0 chain 73 of drive 71. The chain 73 is disposed horizontally around smaller and larger sprockets 74 and 75 which are rotatable anti-clockwise or clockwise with rod 70 advancing or retracting, respectively. The larger sprocket 75 is rotatable on the axis A' and is directly connected to arm 56 on an axle (not shown) journalled in structural member 57. The smaller sprocket 73 is rotatably mounted on an axle (not shown) 25 journalled in member 57. The smaller sprocket 74 is spaced laterally from sprocket 75 so as to be nearer to the leading end of rod 70 when rod 70 is retracted. As rod 70 is advanced, bracket 72 pulls chain 71 anti-clockwise, causing anti-clockwise rotation of sprockets 74 and 75, and anti-clockwise pivoting of arm 56, and hence arm 55, to move rail extension 124 from the receiving position towards the holding position. 30 Conversely, with retraction of rod 70, bracket 72 draws chain 71 clockwise, with clock wise rotation of sprockets 74 and 75, and clock-wise pivoting of arms 55 and 56 to return extension 124 to the receiving position. In each case, the anti-clockwise and C:m\ord\Curtain-sided vehice.doc 15 clockwise rotation and pivoting is relative to the illustrated arrangement as viewed from above. The arrangement of the second embodiment of Figures 6 to 14 is facilitated by the 5 nestable arrangement for arms 55 and 56 when rail extension 124 is in the receiving position. As shown, axis A is located intermediate of the ends of extension 124, with axis A' close to the end of extension 124 nearer to the adjacent end wall 114, when extension 124 is in the receiving position. To enable extension 124, and curtain 121 when suspended on extension 124, to move fully to a holding position beyond wall 0 114, the arms 55 and 56 need to be relatively long and able to be housed on the inner side of rail extension 124 when in the receiving position. To enable the arms 55 and 56 to be of sufficient strength, they increase in cross-section towards axes A and A'. Due to the increase in cross-section, arm 56 has a dog-leg form, with its shallow V shaped length 56a from axis A' to axis A being received within the structural member 15 57. Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. C:\pofeornCurtal esi de .doc

Claims (23)

1. A curtain-sided vehicle, such as a curtain-sided truck or trailer, has a body having an interior in which cargo is transportable and a side curtain system at one 5 longitudinal side of the body and including a rail secured at, or adjacent to, a longitudinal side of a roof portion of the body, with the rail extending along at least a major part of the length of the body between fore and aft ends of the body; wherein the system further includes a side-curtain and, attached to the curtain at intervals spaced along an upper edge of the curtain, a series of roller assemblies engaged with 0 and moveable longitudinally of the rail, the roller assemblies enabling the curtain to be pulled to or towards at least one or other of the ends to enable loading or unloading of the body, or to be extended to cover the one longitudinal side of the body; and wherein the system further includes a rail extension which is moveable to and away from a receiving position in which it provides an in-line continuation of one end of the 15 rail such that, with the rail extension in the receiving position, the curtain is able to be pulled beyond that one end of the rail, onto the rail extension, for enabling access to the interior of the body substantially free from obstruction by the side curtain.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rail extension is moveable between a !0 storage position and the receiving position.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the rail extension is movable from a storage position to a receiving position in which the extension provides an extension of the rail beyond one end of the body. 25

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the rail extends to, or close to, the one end of the body, and the length of the rail extension is such that the curtain is able to be pulled beyond the one end of the body to enable access to the interior of the body along the full distance between the fore and aft ends. 30

5. The vehicle of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the rail extension is pivotably mounted on, or in relation to, the body such as at or adjacent to the one end of the rail extension by which the side-curtain passes to or from the rail. C.poftword\CurtaIl-sded vehlde doc 17

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the rail extension is pivotable by actuation of a hydraulic piston-cylinder device. 5

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the rail extension is pivotable from a storage position in which the rail extension is disposed across the exterior of the adjacent end wall of the body or down along a side edge of that end wall, such as with pivoting substantially through an angle or about 90* in movement of the rail extension between its receiving and storage positions. 0

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the rail extension has a storage position in which it extends along an external side face of the rail, and is pivotable through an angle of substantially about 1800 in moving between its receiving and storage positions. 5

9. The vehicle of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the rail extension is mounted on a linkage system which is mounted on the body, and moveable between the storage and receiving positions by a drive device operable to adjust the linkage system. !0

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the link system comprises a pair of link members each pivotably mounted at one end on the body and each pivotably mounted at the other end to a respective one of locations spaced along the rail extension. 25

11. The vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the rail extension is braced when in the receiving position, such as by a strut member able to be secured in a triangular arrangement with the rail extension and the adjacent end wall of the body. 30

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rail extension is moveable between a receiving position and a holding position beyond an end of the vehicle body, with the rail extension held in the receiving position when the side of the body is closed by the side-curtain, and the rail extension providing a continuation of the rail to that end. C:\ponwarnCurtaIn-sided veNido dc 18

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the rail extension, when in the receiving position, is releasably held by at least one holding device.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the holding device includes a clamping 5 member pivotably mounted on one of the rail extension and the roof of the body, and a cam member moveable to pivot the clamping member and cause the clamping member to force the rail extension laterally against an abutment surface defined by the roof of the body. 0

15. The vehicle of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the rail extension is moveable to the holding position by longitudinal movement beyond and substantially along the line of the rail, such as with movement of the rail extension provided by a linear drive device, such as a hydraulic piston and cylinder device. 5

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein a hydraulic piston and cylinder device, acting between pivot connections to the rail extension and the body is operable to function as a strut supporting the rail extension in the holding position.

17. The vehicle of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the rail extension is pivotally !0 mounted at each of at least two longitudinally spaced locations to a respective link arm having its other end pivotally mounted on the body for movement of the rail extension laterally outwardly and beyond an end of the body.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the link arms are operable to retain the rail 25 extension substantially parallel with the rail during movement between the receiving position and the holding position.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the arms are pivotable for moving the rail extension between the receiving and holding positions by a chain and 30 sprocket drive.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the chain is movable to rotate at least one sprocket by the action of a hydraulic device. C:poftwrf\Curtinsided veNde doc 19

21. The vehicle of any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the curtain is able to be pulled fully onto the rail extension when the extension is in the receiving position, and the curtain then able to be moved with movement of the rail extension to the holding 5 position such that access to the interior of the body is available over the full length between the fore and aft ends.

22. The vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the rail extension has a detent device which, with the side curtain fully received onto the rail extension, is 0 operable to prevent the side-curtain from moving off the rail extension.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the detent device is able to be actuated to move to a position for obstructing unintended movement of the side-curtain from the rail extension, and able to be actuated to retract to a position enabling the side-curtain 5 to be extended back along the rail, when the rail extension returns to the receiving position. C:\po~oCurtainsided vehide.doc