AU608312B2 - Retractable cover arrangement for road vehicle platforms - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 6ft08,3,312 COMPLMT SPECIFICATIOXR

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Thleits nide ntisde SCC110ozi 49 4nd is correct for printing. is eetI( Related Art: APPLICANT'S REFERENCE.* P/D26A ,,Name(s) of Applicant(s): Phillip Peter Davis 11"Address(es) of Applicant(s): WDodhurst, 69 The Street, Brundall, Norwich, Norfolk, UNITED KINGDOM.

Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMtNDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Hark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: RETRACTABLE COVER ARRANGEMENT FO)R RO)AD VEHICLE PLATFORMS Our Ref :89931 POF Code: 1516/83436 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 6003q/1-1 I -1- Retractable Cover Arrangement for Vehicle Platforms This invention relates generally to vehicles having a loadcarrying platform and more especially to an arrangement which comprises a collapsible framework supporting a retractable flexible cover for protecting the load on such a platform.

The invention finds application both in the field of railway wagons and in the field of road transport vehicles.

10 A known retractable cover arrangement for vehicle platforms employs a collapsible framew rk in the form of a plurality of arched framework sections slidable along rails fixed to the vehicle platform. The individual frzamework sections are articulated, one to the next, by crossed arms or scissors, which impart vertical stability to the framework. Each arched framework section carries, at the bottom on each side, a single wheel or roller which runs on the top of the corresponding rail.

t c 20 In a proposed modification of this known arrangement, the collapsible framework, for supporting a retractable cover for a load on a vehicle platform, comprises a framework structure having a plurality of arched framework sections each having mounted thereto at the bottom of each side a 2 5 wheeled trolley, which wheeled trolleys when in engagement with the rails on the vehicle platform act to maintain vertical stability of the arched framework sections individually, -2- According to the present invention, a collapsible cover arrangement for a load on a vehicle platform comprises a framework structure having two end framework sections and a plurality of intermediate framew;ork sections which are not articulated together and each having mounted thereto at the bottom of each side a wheeled trolle.,. which wheeled trolleys when in engagement with guide rail structures attached to or integrally formed with the side edge structure of the vehicle platform act to maintain vertical stability of the arched framework sections individually whilst enabling the framework sections to collapse against one anc~ther, and a flexible cover carried by the framework structur. and forming the sides and roof of the cover arrangement for the load, wherein each wheeled trolley has pair of peripherally grooved or radiused wheels engaging with an upwardly directed surface of the rail structure for supporting the trolley with laterally restricted freedom of movement, the wheels of the pair having sufficient longitudinal spcing therebetween along said rail for maintaining stability, and a part of the trolley is located beneath a downwardly directed surface of the rail structure for preventing lift to an extent which would cause derailment.

4 In one arrangement, said part of the trolley comprises a t 25 second pair of wheels engaging the underside of the rail.

#1 C The wheels of said second pair are preferably in vertical alignment with the wheels of the first-mentioned pair.

In another arrangement, said part of the trolley comprises 4(30 a single wheel longitudinally positioned between the two first-mentioned wheels and laterally displaced relative to the vertical plane through said first pair of wheels, the single wheel being in engagement with the underside of the rail or engaging beneath part of the rail structure of which the rail forms part.

-3- In general, the wheels, or at least the wheels of the firstmentioned pair, may be V-grooved for engagement with a boxsection rail, or concavely radiused for engagement with a circular-section rail.

In one embodiment, the first pair of wheels form a bogey, for example with wheels concavely radiused around their circumference for running on a circularly cross-sectioned rail, and the anti-lift wheel is carried by a bracket depending generally from the centre of the bogey at one side thereof, to engage beneath a horizontal flange forming part of the rail structure. The said anti-lift wheel may S, have a flat surfaced circumference, Pnd is preferably adjustably mounted to the bracket to enable its height or 15 level relative to the bogey to be adjusted.

In use, when the cover or hood is retracted, the trolleys *i.Q are moved towards one another, and the cover carried by the framework structure collapses in concertina fashion, S 20 with bulges and/or folds forming in the cover between the framework sections to which the cover is secured. The framework structure may be made of steel, or alternatively of structural aluminium, e.g. rolled aluminium tube, so as 't to be adequately strong but light enough readily to enable manual retraction and closure. If desired, however, a I geared drive or winch, acting on the framework or the cover, may be provided. The cover itself is preferably made of PVC coated polyester fabric and may be equipped with long-

I

t itudinally extending webbings in order to give a tight and t30 strong closed profile. Across each arched framework section is provided a chafe or wear protector with buckles and straps for holding the cover in position.

In accordance with another preferred feature, in a goodscarrying vehicle of the kind having a load-bearing floor 1 0 f e oo '2 a 0 4 4 2 S Ii 4 4 -4spanning side edge structures which carry rail structures extending along the longitudinal edges of said floor to enable the vehicle to carry the longitudinally retractable hood for covering the load, as hitherto described, the platform edge structures are each formed with a part having a U-shaped cross-section open laterally outwards of the side of the vehicle, and the longitudinally extending wheelnupportive rail is fixedly carried by the edge structuro within the U-shaped cross-section thereof.

0 The above-described preferred feature of the invention enables the wheels supporting the hood to be mounted to th2 inwardly facing sides of brackets dependent from the base of the arch-shaped collapsible framework structure, no that the wheels are wholly accommodated within the U-rhaped cross-section of the platform edge structure, Preferably, the upper outwardly facing limb of the U-shaped cross-section of the platform edge structure is at least 0 approximately level with the vehicle floor. The wheelsupportive rail is preferably fixed, as by welding, to the lower outwardly facing limb of said U-shaped cross-section.

In one arrangement, the complete platform edge structure 5 comprises a wholly integral structure comprising the Ushaped part and a dependent flange at the outward edge of thL lower outwardly facing limb. In an alternative arrangement, the edge structure comprises an integrally formed Z-structure, with an outwardly facing flange fixed, 0 as by welding, 1 -o said structure so as to constitute the lower limb of the U-shaped cross-section.

Within the U-shaped cross-section of the platform edge structure, the upper outwardly facing limb may fixedly carry 9 an anti-lift member for preventing the wheels from lifting clear of the wheel-supportive rail.

In the closed condition of the cover or hood, it is important for it to be longitudinally tensioned. In the case of a cover which is open ended to close against end bulkheads forming part of the road vehicle, the end framework section may be equipped on each side with a catch member which, as the cover closes towards the bulkhead, engages a latch member forming part of an over-centre latch carried by the bulkhead, whereby, when the over-centre latch is operated, the end framework section is drawn into and miintained in a condition of tight closure with the bulkhead in which the cover is longitudinally tensioned. Analogous latching and tensioning means, for example pillar mounted, may be employed when the cover ic provided with end cover «oe« pieces for protecting the load on a road yehiclo platform B not provided with end bulkheads.

In general, therefore, the cover or hood may be opened from either the front or the rear or both, fastening being effected by means of a spring loaded latch bolt at the front e and an over-centre tensioning device at the rear, the latter device acting when the cover assembly is closed to give a taut appearance and prevent billowing when the road vehicle is moving.

The cover may include arch-shaped end panels, which preferably zip-fasten to the longitudinally extending main part of the cover and can be rolled up upwardly to enable retraction and closure and to provide access to the load.

Preferably, pre-rolled (pre-stressed) plastics strips are inserted in pockets in the end panels to assist the rolling-up action.

-6- Weather sealing along the bottom of the sides of the cover, e.g. against the vehicle platform edge structure, is preferably enabled by a polypropylene or like plastics biassing strip, again pre-stressed, together with a stiffening cord along the bottom edge of the cover which is inwardly biassed by the biassing strip. Eyelets cooperating with lockable 'D'-rings may be provided to seal the bottoms of the end panels, or alternatively a tube inserted in a bottom hem of the end panel and retained at each end with a spring loaded bolt may be employed.

Biascing means may also be provided, connected between adjacent framework sections to act on the cover, when the cover or hood ic retracted, to cause said cover to bulge and/ 15 or fold laterally outwardly. In thic way, the cover is Sprevented from fouling the load, with the possibility of resultant damage to the load and/or cover, when the cover is retracted.

A preferred biassing means is a plastics strip, for example a polypropylene strip, secured to each pair of adjacent arched framework sections on each side thereof at an intermediate level in the height thereof, and pre-creased to fold outwardly when the adjacent framework sections move together.

The plastics strip, as it folds outwardly, engages the cover S to cause the latter to bulge and/or fold outwardly.

As an alternative to use of plastics biassing strips, each Sct arched framework section may be formed in two similar parts articulated to one another at the top of the arch, and means such as hydraulic rams may be provided, possibly operable automatically on retraction of the cover, to pivot the two sides of each framework section further apart, thereby biassing the cover sides outwardly from the load.

sra~- -ccpr~- r r- -7- The collapsible cover arrangement in accordance with the invention is exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side view, with the cover broken away, showing a road vehicle trailer equipped with a cover assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the vehicle trailer; Figure 3 if an enlarged side view showing the trolley or bogey assembly appertaining to an intermediate framework section; 15 Figure 4 in a longitudinal cros--cocticnrl view of the trolley najemhly cf Figure 3; Figure 5 is a correspondingly enlarged side view showing the trolley or bogey assembly appertaining to an enj framework section; Figure 6 shows in elevation a rear end over-centre locking and tensioning device; Figure 7 shows in plan a front end locking latch; Figures 8, 9 and 10 show differing embodiments of vehicle i rave incorporating a wheel-supportive rail; Figure 11 shows a modified support for the rear end locking and tensioning device; and Figure 12 shows a cover biassing means connected between adjacent framework sections.

(w* 0 rC i -8- Referring to Figures 1 to 7, a road vehicle trailer with chassis 110 supporting a load carrying platform or floor, road wheels 112, stationary front end support 114 and platform edge structure 116, hereinafter referred to as the rave, is equipped with a cover assembly comprising cover 120 (having longitudinal reinforcement webbings 122) supported by and attached by means of internal buckles and straps to a supporting framework which has intermediate framework sections 124 and end framework sections 126.

Each framework section 124, 126 is generally dome-shaped (see Figure 2) and ic supported by a trolley assembly 128 or 130 later described with reference to Figures 3 to The trolleys 128, 130 run on a rail structure 132 extending along each side of the vehicle, being secured between the rave 116 and the road vehicle floor 134 (see Figure 4).

Alternatively, in the case of a newly manpfactured road vehicle to be equipped with the cover assembly, the rail structure could be integrally formed with the rave.

The cover includes end panels 140, which, as shown in Figure 2, secure by zip fastenings 142 to the longitudinally extending main part of the cover and, when unzipped, roll up upwardly with the aid of pre-rolled plastics strips 144 inserted in vertical pockets in the end covers. Bottom fastening of the end covers is by means of eyelets 146 which cooperate with lockable D-rings. Alternatively, a rigid tube extends through sleeves welded to the end covers, the tube being adapated for securing at its opposite ends.

In Figure 2, reference 150 denotes one of a pair of spring- -q loaded latch bolts, shown in detail in Figure 7, which releasably secure the front end trolley to the front bulkhead 196 or the like of the road vehicle trailer. In Figure 2 the bolts 150 are horizontal but could alternatively be vertical. Reference 152 in Figure 1 denotes a rear end trolley over-centre latch, also shown in Figure 6.

Moreover, Figure 2 serves to indicate at 154 a typical load, e.g. a large steel coil, which is to be conveyed by the road vehicle under weather protection by the cover assembly. The «0r floor of the vehicle may be provided with a shallow curved a, well in which the coil is seated and which well can be filled in to provide a flat bed for carrying other goods.

15 Making reference also to Figures 3 and 4, each intermediate 0 08 SUa° framework section 124, preferably made of rolled aluminium D 00 0 tube, is mounted on a trolley 128 having two circumferentially, concavely radiused wheels 160 running on a round rail 162 e OS forming part of the rail structure 132. The wheels 160 are longitudinally spaced on a trolley frame 164 which has a central depending bracket 166 on which a circumferentially flat wheel 168 is adjustably mounted in a position to engage under a flange 170 forming a part of the rail structure 132 laterally displaced relative to the wheels 160. The arrangement of the trolley is thus such that each framework section 126 is independently supported in a substantially vertical orientation, and cannot lift free of the rail structure fixed to the road vehicle floor.

The trolleys 130 for the end framework sections 126 are generally similar, but as double interconnected frameworks are employed at the ends, together with longer trolleys, the latter incorporate a pair of adjustably mounted antilift wheels 172.

I_ The rail structure 132 is preferably made of steel, the trolley frame 164 of mild steel, and the wheels of machined aluminium with plain non-lube bushed bearings. The cover is preferably made of PVC coated polyester fabric.

Figure 4 also shows the manner in which weatherproofing is effected at the bottom of the sides of the cover. Prestressed plastics strips 180 are secured to the cover and bias the cover inwardly against the outside of the vehicle rave, the bottom hem of the cover 120 being stiffened by cord 182.

The latch bolt of Figure 7 will be clear without deccriptiro as, in general, will be the over-centre tensioning latch of 15 Figure 6. However, with reference to the latter, it will be noted that the tension to be achieved is adjustable by means of the bottom stop bolt 190 and the effective length -o of the latching element 192. Spring loaded latch member 194 is so formed as also to act as a safety catch.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, reference 210 denotes the load-bearing floor of a goods-carrying road vehicle, and reference 212 denotes part of a retractable hood for coveringthe load. The hood comprises a collapsible arch-shaped framework supporting a flexible weatherproof cover, as hitherto described.

The road vehicle floor 210 spans the raves which extend longitudinally at both sides of the vehicle. The two raves, one at each side of the road vehicle, are identically formed, and Figures 8 and 9 show one embodiment of one such rave, generally referenced 214.

In Figure 8, the rave is formed as a generally Z-shaped -11integral structure 216 having an L-bracket welded thereto to create a horizontal flange 218, thereby with the upper limb 220 of the Z-structure to form a part of U-shaped cross-section open laterally outwards of the side of the vehicle.

A longitudinally extending whee3-supportive rail 222 is welded to the flange 218 on the inside of the U-shaped cross-section.

Figure 8 also shows one of the wheels 224 on which the retractable hood is supported. This wheel 224 is accommodated within the U-shaped cross-section to run on the rail 222 in the lonaitudinal direction thereof. An 1 anti-lift member 226 is provided on the underside of the upper limb of the U-shaped cross-section.

.t is alternatively possible tr turn down the outer end of p" the upper limb of the U-shaped cross-section, to form a dependent flange in line with the wheels 224 and .or serving as an anti-lift member, as shown in Figure 10 at 250.

It can also be seen that the vehicle wheel 224 is mounted tc 2F the inside face of an L-bracket 228 fixed to the base of the arch-shaped hood framework.

It is to be noted that the U-shaped part of the rave is located with its upper limb substantially at floor level, so that the wheel-supportive rails and wheels running thereon are advantageously disposed below this level, protectively accommodated within the U-shaped cross-section.

Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment, differing from Ci r~3UI -12the embodiment of Figure 8 in respect of the structure of the rave. The same references as in Figure 8 are employed for parts not specifically referred to.

In this alternative embodiment, the rave is a wholly integral structure comprising the U-shaped part 230 and a dependent flange 232 at the internal edge of the lower limb 234 of the U-section to which the wheel-supportive rail 236 is welded on the inside of said U-section. An anti-lift rail 238 is welded to the underside of the upper limb 240 of the U-shaped cross-section. This alternative structure provides substantially the same advantages as those referred to in connection with the embodiment of Figure 8.

In Figure 11 is shown a modified rear corner pillar I" supporting the rear end locking and tensioning device. In this drawing, the latch is generally referenced 300, and the associate( stop bolt 302. Reference 304 denotes part of T the end framework section, mounted to a trolley 306 running on a wheel-supporting rail 308 accommodated within a road vehicle rave 310.

The rear corner pillar 312 carrying the latch 300 is pivotally mounted at 314 to a bracket 316 bolted to the rear end of the rave str'icture. When the cover assembly is retracted to the front end of the vehicle platform, the pillar 312 is releasable to enable it to pivot laterally outwards from the mounting bracket 316, thus clearing the space above the rear end of the platform to assist ease of loading.

Additionally, however, the bracket 316 is fully detachable by releasing its securing bolts, whereby, if desired, the whole cover assembly can be rolled off the back of the iiiiijimi--iin[niir-if-rtii -13vehicle platform on to slave rails, on which the cover assembly can remain parked while the road vehicle is in temporary use as an open flat bed truck or trailer.

Figure 12 shows a biassing means interconnecting adjacent framework sections 124. The biassing means comprises a plurality of nolypropylene strips 60, say 3 mm thick and 100 mm wide, fixed as by bolting at their ends between adjacent framework sections 124 and pre-creased as indicated at 62 to fold outwardly when the framework sections are collapsed towards one another during retraction of the cover assembly. The biassing strip 60 thereby act to bias the outer cover 120 outwardly during retraction, causing said cover to bulge or fold outwardly and not inwardly, thereby to prevent the cover fouling the load. Biassing strips are provided on each side of the framework structure. The drawing shows a single line of biassing strips at an intermediate level in the height of the framework structure, but two or more such lines thereof may be p:'ovided if preferred.

2C In place of the above-described plastics biassing strips, each framework section may be in two parts hinged at its top point. When the cover assembly is retracted, power means such as hydraulic rams may act to pivot the two 2E parts of each framework section slightly further apart, thereby to bias the outer cover outwardly away from the load.

Various modifications of the above-described and illustrated embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A collapsible cover arrangement for a load on a vehicle platform, comprising a framework structure having two end framework sections and a plurality of intermediate framework sections which are not articulated together and each having mounted thereto at the bottom of each side a wheeled trolley, which wheeled trolleys when in engagement with guide rail structures attached to or integrally formed with the side edge structure of the vehicle platform act to maintain vertical stability of the arched framework sections ~0 individually whilst enabling the framework sections to collapse against one another, and a flexible cover carried t" by the framework structure and forming the sides and roof Sof the cover arrangement for the load, wherein each wheeled trolley has a pair of peripherally grooved or radiused wheels engaging with an upwardly directed surface of the rail structure for supporting the trolley with laterally I restricted freedom of movement, the wheels of the pair Shaving sufficient longitudinal spacing therebetween along said rail for maintaining stability, and a part of the ,0 trolley is located beneath a downwardly directed surface of the rail structure for preventing lift to an extent which would cause derailment.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each rail structure includes a part having a U-shaped cross- section forming part of the side edge structure of the vehicle platform and open laterally outwards of said platform, and a longitudinally extending wheel-supportive rail fixedly carried by the side edge structure within the U-shaped cross-section thereof.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, IC'I wherein said part of the trolley comprises a further wheel or a second r of wheels engaging the underside of the rail structure, said further wheel or second pair thereof being either in vertical alignment with the wheels of the first-mentioned pair or laterally displaced from the latter,

4. An arrangement according to claim I or claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at least the wheels of the first pair are either V-grooved for engagement with a box-Rection rail or radiused for engagement with a circular-section rail forming part of the rail structure.

An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, r" including biassing means connected between adjacent framework sections for acting on the cover, when the cover assembly is retracted, to cause said cover to bulge and/or fold laterally outwardly.

6. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein each arched framework section is formed in two similar parts articilated to one another at the top of the arch, and power means are operable, on retraction of the cover assembly, to pivot the two sides of each framework section further apart, thereby biassing the cover sides outwardly from the load.

7. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cover closes against a platform end structure of the vehicle and wherein the end framework section is equipped on each side with a catch member which, as the cover assembly closes towards the end structure, engages a latch member forming part of an over-centre latch carried by the end structure, whereby, when the over-centre latch is operated, the end framework is drawn into and maintained iLLsC -1a~to I I -16- in a condition of tight closure with the platform end structure in which the cover assembly is longitudinally tensioned.

8. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the vehicle platform has an end structure in the form of a corner pillar pivotably and/or detachably mounted to the vehicle platform at one end thereof, whereby it can be pivoted out of the loading path when the cover assembly is retracted to the other end of the platform and/or be detached to allow the cover assembly to be wheeled off the vehicle platform onto parking rails. G*t

9. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 8, 15 wherein the cover includes arch-shaped end panels, which S can be rolled up upwardly relative to the main portion of the cover to provide access to the load apd rolled down and secured to the main cover portion to complee clocure of the cover assembly around the load. A collapsible cover arrangement substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 14 DECEMBER, 1990 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys For: PHILIP PETER DAVIS J k