DE102014013726B4 - tarpaulin structure - Google Patents

Abstract

Tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle, such as a truck, trailer, semi-trailer, railway wagon or container, comprising a folding top frame, a tarpaulin (14) made of weather-resistant material, and a belt (16'), the tarpaulin (14) being attached to at least one displaceable beam (12; 12') of the folding-top frame, with the belt (16') running transversely to the beam (12; 12'), with the belt (16') being designed to be expandable, and with the belt (16') in the closed state of the tarpaulin (14) is at least partially expanded, characterized in that the strap (16') is secured in a portion of each raised beam (12').

Description

The invention relates to a tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

Various tarpaulin structures are known from practice, in which a tarpaulin, in particular a side tarpaulin or a roof tarpaulin, is connected to a folding top frame, for example an openable roof top or an openable side tarpaulin arrangement. The tarpaulin material protects the load from the weather, but it can happen that the load is not sufficiently secured and presses against the tarpaulin. Dynamic forces can continue to be introduced into the tarpaulin when cornering. In order to reinforce the tarpaulin, it is known to connect straps, which are more resistant than tarpaulin material, to the tarpaulin in order to increase its stability. As a rule, several straps are arranged in the two main directions of the tarpaulin in a corresponding receptacle of the tarpaulin and are partially sewn there, partially welded; the belt is often connected directly to the tarpaulin. The tarpaulin is then attached to a pillar of the top frame via leather straps which are sewn to the tarpaulin, preferably to the strap located therein. A disadvantage of the known solutions is, on the one hand, the great effort involved in assembly, since each strap has to be tied around the spar in the manner of a belt. Furthermore, the connection of the straps to the tarpaulin is complex, since each strap has to be individually adjusted to the corresponding spar in order to avoid play. Furthermore, the load that is introduced into the tarpaulin by the load is now introduced via the belt into the spar, with the tarpaulin also being able to be connected to the top frame at other ends. As a result, the belt is subjected to an excessive load and tends to tear, which means that the connection, in particular of flexible spars, to the tarpaulin is lost.

Various tarpaulin structures are known from practice, in which a tarpaulin, in particular a side tarpaulin or a roof tarpaulin, is connected to a folding top frame, for example an openable roof top or an openable side tarpaulin arrangement. Even if the top frame has carriages with bars that can be moved along longitudinal beams on rollers, opening the tarpaulin structure is difficult because the movement of the mass of the moving parts of the top frame and the tarpaulin, which must be folded against gravity, especially in the case of one-sided introduction the opening force is difficult to achieve. There is also a disadvantage with motor-driven opening mechanisms in that the force required for opening is significantly higher than the force required for closing.

EP 0 379 821 A1 describes a tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle, in which a tarpaulin designed as a roof tarpaulin made of weather-resistant material is supported on a folding top frame and can be opened. In this case, the roof tarpaulin is supported on spars designed as bows and connected to them. A strip-shaped band of elastic material is also connected to the displaceable bows by being fixed to the bows via a fitting, the rounded fitting contributing to the bending of the band. In this case, the band runs transversely to the bows, with the band at least partially clinging to the bows due to its curvature when the tarpaulin is open. The area of the band between two adjacent bows raises the tarpaulin when the bows are pushed together, in that the sufficiently rigid band lies in an upward fold and lifts the tarpaulin lying thereon. Here, however, the tape is not connected to the tarpaulin. The strap tends to move back into the closed position of the tarpaulin, but the strap does not change length when doing so. Since the band cannot change its length, it is not designed to be expandable. In addition, the strap that is relaxed when the tarpaulin is closed is not partially expanded. A particular disadvantage is that the steel strip is pretensioned to such an extent that the roof tarpaulin closes itself. As a result, the weight of the tarpaulin acting in the closing direction of the tarpaulin is not compensated for, but intensified. Furthermore, the roof tarpaulin wears out quickly due to the relative movement of the steel strip.

GB 2 327 450A describes a tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle, in which a folding top frame carries a tarpaulin made of weather-resistant material designed as a side tarpaulin, the tarpaulin being connected to a longitudinal beam of the folding top frame via straps designed as tension belts. The straps run essentially vertically and are equipped with hooks at their end opposite the side member, the straps having an expandable zone. A tensioning member is connected to each tensioning strap via a connecting means, the tensioning member being displaceable transversely to the extension of the tensioning straps, as a result of which the hooks are displaced upwards against a counterpart arranged in the area of a loading platform, so that the side curtain is tensioned overall, and the straps are also at least partially stretched when the tarpaulin is closed. The straps are each accommodated in a receptacle in the tarpaulin, which has a recess in which the tensioning element is connected to the straps. Spars are not connected to the tarpaulin. The Actuation of the tarpaulin is cumbersome since the opening process and the closing process of the tarpaulin itself must be connected to a separate release process and tensioning process of the hooks.

FR 2 105 765 A5 shows a tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle. The tarpaulin structure includes a top frame to which a weather-resistant tarpaulin is connected via a plurality of displaceable U-shaped struts. Areas between adjacent spars are spanned by straps. The ends of the straps are each connected to the outermost of the spars by means of expandable straps attached to the straps, after which the straps are made expandable. Furthermore, the straps run transversely to the spars. Furthermore, the straps with the straps are at least partially expanded when the tarpaulin is closed.

U.S. 3,160,436A shows a tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle, which includes a hood frame, a weatherproof tarpaulin, and a plurality of belts. The tarpaulin is connected to displaceable brackets of the top frame in the longitudinal direction with respect to the utility vehicle. The straps that connect the movable stirrups run across the stirrups. Furthermore, the straps are designed to be expandable, after which the straps are at least partially expanded in the closed state of the tarpaulin.

FR 1 469 581 A shows a tarpaulin structure for a utility vehicle, in which a tarpaulin made of weather-resistant material is connected to a folding top frame made up of a number of displaceable U-shaped bars. When the tarpaulin is in a closed state, a number of expandable straps running transversely to the spars are stretched in such a way that the straps can open the tarpaulin structure by relaxing it by being displaced along a guide rail by means of carriages. As a result, the straps are at least partially expanded when the tarpaulin is closed.

DE 20 2011 100 333 U1 shows a tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle, comprising a folding top frame, a tarpaulin made of weather-resistant material and a belt. The tarpaulin is connected to spars by means of the strap, with the strap running across the spars.

U.S. 6,183,036 B1 describes a tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle. The tarpaulin structure includes a hood frame, a tarpaulin made of weather-resistant material and straps that are sewn to the tarpaulin. Furthermore, the tarpaulin is connected to movable U-shaped bars.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved tarpaulin structure in which, in particular, the assembly of the tarpaulin on the folding top frame is simplified, loads introduced into the tarpaulin are better transferred to the folding top frame or the opening movement of the tarpaulin is supported.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a tarpaulin structure having the features of independent claim 1 .

According to the invention, a tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle is created, which includes a folding top frame, a tarpaulin made of weather-resistant material and a belt, wherein the belt can, but does not have to, be accommodated in a receptacle in the tarpaulin. In this case, the tarpaulin is connected to at least one pillar of the folding-top frame, with the belt running transversely to the pillar. Here, the belt is designed to be expandable and is at least partially tensioned in the closed state of the tarpaulin. The tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle is characterized in that the strap is fixed in an area of each raised beam. The expandable design of the belt can be implemented both by an elastic, length-adjustable belt like an expander and by a belt that is connected to an expandable part such as a spring, in particular a helical spring or the like. The expandable design of the belt, which is stretched when the tarpaulin is closed, creates an opening aid for the tarpaulin structure, since the expandable belt tends to contract and thus move adjacent spars towards one another, making it less stretched when the tarpaulin is open is.

According to one aspect it is provided that a loop of the belt is placed around at least one pillar of the top frame and that a securing member is arranged between the pillar and the tarpaulin as a deflection member for the belt and fixes the pillar with respect to the belt by friction. As a result, loads acting on the tarpaulin are introduced directly into the spar, making the convertible top frame/tarpaulin system more stable and eliminating a weak point, namely the connection of the tarpaulin to the spar via a strap. In addition, the tarpaulin structure is easy to manufacture, since the loop of the belt can easily be penetrated by a spar, and thus unnecessary play is removed from the tarpaulin by tightening the belt at the end of the tarpaulin; therefore, the belt is expediently slidably accommodated in the receptacle. The securing element ensures that the belt is guided or deflected in a friction-locked manner, so that after the belt has been pulled taut, the loop encloses the bar and tightens it tightens, and furthermore, two belt sections of the loop, which are opposite with respect to the spar, pass through the securing element, which has a—preferably central—opening. This results in a low-backlash connection between the tarpaulin and the spar of the top frame, which can also be readjusted if there is tolerance due to aging. Next, the belt sections are deflected over the securing member.

The spar is expediently a bow of a folding top frame of an openable roof of a commercial vehicle body or a container or the stanchion of a side wall of a commercial vehicle body, which is preferably designed as a sliding stanchion, so that the sliding stanchion or bow can be moved along the tarpaulin corresponding guides can be opened.

The locking member is expediently designed as a circular or oval locking ring, which is made of steel, for example, but alternatively also made of plastic. Here, the loop of the belt passes through the opening of the safety ring, which in turn is arranged on the side of the spar facing the tarpaulin. The safety ring also serves as strain relief and thus prevents the seat belt from tearing under tensile stress.

The maximum width of the securing ring is expediently not smaller than the width of the strap, so that the strap is guided around the corresponding segment of the securing ring at least with almost its entire width. Furthermore, it is expediently provided that the outer dimension of the bar running in the direction of the belt, i.e. its diameter in the case of a cylindrical cross-section or its thickness in the direction of the course of the belt in the case of a rectangular cross-section, is not larger and preferably corresponds approximately to the inner dimension of the safety ring, so that the loop can be essentially U-shaped in cross-section, which enables particularly simple assembly, since the belt between the spar and the securing ring does not have to assume an S-shape. Alternatively, it is possible to choose the inner dimension of the safety ring smaller than the outer dimension of the spar, whereby the introduction of the forces from the belt into the spar is further improved by an S-shape.

Expediently, the width of the receptacle is adapted to the width of the belt transversely to the direction in which the belt extends, so that lateral play of the belt is advantageously avoided. In this case, the receptacle has a plurality of recesses facing away from the outside of the tarpaulin, through which a loop of the belt can be led out in each case. In the direction of extension of the belt, the recess is preferably approximately adapted to the dimension—in the direction of extension—of the securing ring.

According to a particularly favorable embodiment, the spar is designed with a rounded, in particular cylindrical, cross-section. However, the cross section can also be only semi-cylindrical, with a flat upper edge (U-shape, closed at the top) or have other polygonal cross sections. It is possible that the handlebar has a slight constriction in the area where it connects to the belt, which prevents the belt from moving in the direction of the axis of the handlebar. Furthermore, the spar can have indentations on its side surface facing the tarpaulin, in which the securing member can be fitted and thus has a good, temporary seat during assembly.

The securing member preferably has a larger circumference or diameter than the at least one spar. Both the spar and the securing element can be designed in several parts, so that in addition to an assembly step in which the loop first passes through the securing element and then the spar passes through the loop and the belt is then pulled taut, assembly is also possible in which the Holm is pushed between the belt and tarpaulin and then the multi-part, in particular two-part securing member between the spar and tarpaulin is placed around the loop to secure Holm against tarpaulin. This version is particularly suitable for retrofitting.

According to one aspect, there is provided a tarpaulin assembly made by a method comprising the steps of inserting at least one strap into a receptacle of a tarpaulin; spanning a top frame containing spars with the tarpaulin in such a way that the at least one belt is arranged perpendicularly to the extension of the spars; forming loops of the strap at positions where spars abut the tarpaulin; inserting the loop into an opening of a securing member; reaching through the loop below the securing link with a bar; and tightening the strap and optionally connecting at least one of the ends of the strap to a fixed or movable part of the top frame. The tarpaulin structure produced by the method enables the tarpaulin to be quickly connected to the folding top frame and also allows forces introduced into the tarpaulin via the belts to be introduced directly onto the bars of the folding top frame, with the tightening of the belt also causing the belts to become less are more flexible than the tarpaulin and thus essentially introduce loads of the load into the frame. The one arranged between the spar and the tarpaulin Securing link serves as a deflection link for the belt in the area of the loop and at the same time relieves the load. The belt, which is tightened in relation to the tarpaulin, absorbs the loads of the load and guides them into the hood frame without stressing the tarpaulin as a result. so that the strap or straps relieve the tarpaulin.

The seat for the strap is conveniently connected to the inside of the tarpaulin by a method such as welding, gluing or sewing. Since the receptacle preferably extends over the entire length of the tarpaulin, the receptacle can also be a section of planar material that is connected, in particular welded, to the tarpaulin on the inside.

The securing member, which is designed as a ring, for example, is expediently designed with a rounded cross section, so that no edges are pressed into or cut into the tarpaulin material or the material of the receptacle.

It is possible to design the securing member as a part that is different from the tarpaulin and receptacle on the one hand and the spar on the other hand, which makes assembly easier. It is alternatively but advantageously possible to firmly connect the securing member in the area of the recesses of the receptacle to the receptacle or to the tarpaulin, which ensures that the securing member always assumes the correct position with respect to the tarpaulin and the spar.

If the belt, as described above, is fixed to the spar, in particular by the securing element explained above, a force that pretensions the intermediate area in a defined manner occurs between adjacent spars to which the belt is fixed, so that the expandable belt can be targeted to a specific area of the tarpaulin is assigned, and accordingly the force can be adjusted precisely to this area. This avoids a total opening force being introduced into the top frame or into the tarpaulin structure, which is discharged in a pulse-like manner and which has to be overcome with the corresponding energy when the tarpaulin is closed.

Advantageously, a belt can be used over the entire length of the tarpaulin structure, transverse to the spars, since the frictional or clamping connection of the belt to the spar allows the erection force to be distributed evenly over the tarpaulin, i.e. over the several resulting intermediate areas . In particular, it is avoided that the belt relaxes halfway with some tarpaulin areas being fully raised while other tarpaulin areas are not raised.

It is possible that the belt is also partially tensioned when the tarpaulin or the partial area of the tarpaulin is open between two adjacent rails. The advantageous result of this is that the force support for setting up the tarpaulin is sufficient to set up the entire tarpaulin or the partial area of the tarpaulin between the adjacent bars without a particular horizontal force component having to be introduced into the bars guided on the longitudinal beams. Preferably, however, it is provided that the expandable belt is already relieved when the tarpaulin or a partial area of the tarpaulin is open between directly adjacent bars, since the main force to be applied occurs when the tarpaulin is flat, while the remaining force is low when the tarpaulin is already largely in place. This also ensures that the force to be overcome when closing the tarpaulin or the partial area of the tarpaulin between two directly adjacent bars that are guided on the longitudinal beam does not become too great. A different closing sequence is also achieved by selecting the appropriate pre-tensioning of the expandable belt: while with conventional tarpaulin structures without power assistance, the tarpaulin sections are set up one after the other when the tarpaulin is opened, namely from the frontmost section (that is the section moved first) to the rearmost Section, due to the power assistance, all sections of the tarpaulin stand up approximately at the same time as soon as the tarpaulin is relaxed and the otherwise increasing resistance to setting up the tarpaulin sections is eliminated. Even when the tarpaulin is closed, it slowly expands like an accordion while the expandable straps are tensioned, while in known tarpaulin structures the front tarpaulin section in the closing direction usually flattens first, and correspondingly high forces have to be introduced in the last part of the closing movement in order to lower the rear section of the tarpaulin.

It goes without saying that tarpaulin structures are possible in which an expandable belt is not provided over the entire extent of the tarpaulin, but only over partial areas, for example the front half. This takes account of the fact that it is often not necessary to open the tarpaulin completely and avoids unnecessary work.

It is also possible to stop or brake the raising movement of the tarpaulin by means of bolts which are arranged, for example, on the longitudinal beams on which the bars are guided. In particular, the releasable latches the tarpaulin lock in desired positions. These latches are also advantageous when, instead of an expandable strap, a spring-loaded buckling rod (such as a knee or angle that can be biased in both angular positions) is used, which biases the tarpaulin in both the opening and closing directions, i.e. towards an intermediate position is biased, and thus supports the opening movement and the closing movement.

The belt is preferably designed in such a way that it supports at least 30% of the opening path of a tarpaulin section of two directly adjacent rails, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably more than 2/3.

According to an expedient embodiment, it is provided that the belt has a plurality of sections, at least some of which are designed as spring means or as an expandable belt. This makes it particularly easy to set the travel path of the tarpaulin structure, since the expandable belt section is adapted to the required or desired power support. The further belt sections can advantageously be designed to be tension-resistant, preferably that area which is connected to the spar. The advantage of a continuous expander, on the other hand, is that it is effective over its entire length and that there is a particularly long spring deflection.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the receptacle has a slot through which the relaxed and thus shortened strap can exit when the tarpaulin is in the open state. Since the power assistance in an expandable belt essentially takes place by shortening the belt, the power assistance can become effective if the shortened belt does not completely follow the opening movement of the tarpaulin and thus slides out of the receptacle in the area of the slot. As a result, the relaxed strap is shortened compared to the length of the tarpaulin and does not reach completely as high as the folded tarpaulin.

The slot is expediently provided in an area which is approximately in the middle between two connections of the belt on an adjacent spar in each case, i.e. in the middle between two directly adjacent spars, with the spars usually being connected to one another via folding aids in the form of joints. It is possible that a lifting bar supports the raising of the tarpaulin in the maximum raised area of the joints, but then it must be ensured that the expandable belt runs below the lifting bar so that the expandable belt can move away from the lifting bar when the tarpaulin is opened. When the tarpaulin is open, the belt is arranged at a distance in the region of the slot from the receptacle and thus from the tarpaulin and thus also from any lifting beam that may be provided.

In a preferred embodiment, the belt is fixed in the area of each non-raised spar and each raised spar, the belt only biasing an area between two directly adjacent spars in the opening direction.

In a further preferred embodiment, the belt only pretensions an area between two raised bars in the opening direction. In this case, the belt can optionally be arranged partially in a receptacle of the tarpaulin or preferably below the tarpaulin in an area spaced apart from the attachment to the raised spar.

In the above statements, it is found that the strap between adjacent spars when the tarpaulin is closed is approximately equal to the length of the connections between two spars, while the strap is shorter than the length of the connections between the two spars when the tarpaulin is open. The articulated connections can be designed as two articulated links connected to one another, the ends of which facing away from the connection are each connected in an articulated manner to the spar; alternatively, however, it can also be a folding plate which is connected in an articulated manner to a respective spar at both ends and which moves or folds in the central region and is therefore also referred to as an articulation.

According to one aspect, a belt and a plurality of rings are used to fix a tarpaulin to a top frame, in particular a top frame having a spar.

According to a further aspect, an expandable strap is used as an opening aid for a tarpaulin or a part of a tarpaulin.

Further properties, features, developments and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claims and from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment.

• 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht von unten auf einen Planenaufbau eines Containers.
• 2 zeigt einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus 1.
• 3 zeigt schematisch eine Seitenansicht eines Ausschnitts eines Planenaufbaus vergleichbar 1 im geschlossenen Zustand der Plane.
• 4 zeigt schematisch den Ausschnitt aus 3 im geöffneten Zustand der Plane.
• 5 zeigt schematisch eine Seitenansicht eines Ausschnitts eines Planenaufbaus vergleichbar 1 im geschlossenen Zustand der Plane.
• 6 zeigt schematisch den Ausschnitt aus 5 im geöffneten Zustand der Plane.
• 7 zeigt schematisch eine Seitenansicht eines Ausschnitts eines Planenaufbaus vergleichbar 1 im geschlossenen Zustand der Plane.
• 8 zeigt schematisch den Ausschnitt aus 7 im geöffneten Zustand der Plane.
• 9 zeigt schematisch eine Seitenansicht eines Ausschnitts eines Planenaufbaus vergleichbar 1 im geschlossenen Zustand der Plane.
• 10 zeigt schematisch den Ausschnitt aus 9 im geöffneten Zustand der Plane.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings using a preferred exemplary embodiment.

• 1 shows a perspective view from below of a tarpaulin structure of a container.
• 2 shows an enlarged section 1 .
• 3 shows a schematic side view of a section of a tarpaulin structure in a comparable manner 1 when the tarpaulin is closed.
• 4 shows the section schematically 3 when the tarpaulin is open.
• 5 shows a schematic side view of a section of a tarpaulin structure in a comparable manner 1 when the tarpaulin is closed.
• 6 shows the section schematically 5 when the tarpaulin is open.
• 7 shows a schematic side view of a section of a tarpaulin structure in a comparable manner 1 when the tarpaulin is closed.
• 8th shows the section schematically 7 when the tarpaulin is open.
• 9 shows a schematic side view of a section of a tarpaulin structure in a comparable manner 1 when the tarpaulin is closed.
• 10 shows the section schematically 9 when the tarpaulin is open.

1 shows a tarpaulin structure 10 for a container in a perspective view from below, one end of which is indicated by 11 . The tarpaulin structure 10 can be opened and closed by moving spars 12 of a top frame along lateral guides (not shown) of the container, with a tarpaulin 14, which is connected to spars 12 of the top frame, being taken along to release a loading opening.

The tarpaulin 14 extends from one end 11 to an opposite end (not shown) of the container, and is spanned by a plurality of spars 12 . A central strap 16 and two lateral straps 18, of which only the rear sections can be seen, are each guided in a receptacle 20, which is connected to the side of the tarpaulin 14 facing the beam 12, with the receptacle 20 and the strap 16 essentially perpendicular to the spars 12 .

In the area of the spars 12, a reinforcement 21 is provided on the inside of the tarpaulin 14, which is made of the same material as the receptacle 20, and which additionally protects the particularly stressed joint between the spars 12 and the tarpaulin 14. As in particular in 2 As can be seen, the belt 16 exits through a corresponding recess in the receptacle 20 and forms a loop in the area of the spar 12 which loops around the spar 12 .

Between the strut 12 and the tarpaulin 14 or receptacle 20 there is a securing member in the form of a securing ring 30 made of steel, through the opening of which the loop of the belt 16 passes and around the rounded cross section of which the belt 16 is deflected. If the belt 16 is tightened, the spar 12 is precisely fixed with respect to the tarpaulin 14, as a result of which loads introduced into the tarpaulin 14 are transmitted via the belt 16 to the spar 12 of the top frame and thus into the container.

One recognizes in 2 that the securing ring 30 is formed approximately oval and the long axis of the oval is dimensioned sufficiently large that the belt 16 can be deflected substantially without being folded. It can also be seen that the narrow inner spacing of the retaining ring 30 is greater than the outer diameter of the spar 12, which has a circular cross-section. If the belt 16 is selected appropriately, the securing member 30 can also be designed as a ring with a cylindrical cross section, in which case the inner diameter of the ring is at least as large as the outer diameter of the spar 12.

• Zunächst wird ein Gurt 16, 18 in eine Aufnahme 20 der Plane 14 eingeführt, wobei die Plane 14 mehrere Aufnahmen 20 aufweisen kann und vorzugsweise in jeder der Aufnahmen 20 jeweils ein Gurt 16, 18 vorgesehen ist. Die Aufnahmen 20 reichen zweckmäßigerweise von einem Ende der Plane 14 zum anderen Ende der Plane 14, und der Gurt 16, 18 ist dann entsprechend auch von einem Ende der Plane 14 bis zum anderen Ende der Plane 14 durchgehend ausgebildet. Mit der Plane 14 wird dann ein Holme 12 enthaltendes Verdeckgestell derart überspannt, dass der wenigstens eine Gurt 16, 18 senkrecht zu der Erstreckung der Holme 12 verläuft. Davor oder danach werden an den Kreuzungspositionen von Holmen 12 und Gurt 16, 18 Schlaufen des Gurts 16, 18 gebildet, die aus der Plane 14 einschließlich der Aufnahme 20 vortreten. Die Schlaufe wird dann durch die Öffnung eines Sicherungsglieds 30, das zwischen Holm 12 und Plane 14 anzuordnen ist, hindurchgeführt, wobei das Sicherungsglied 30 als Umlenkglied für den Gurt 16, 18 im Bereich der Schlaufen dient, und anschließend wird die Schlaufe durch beziehungsweise mit einem Holm 12 durchsetzt, wobei der Holm 12 auch mehrteilig ausgebildet sein kann, so dass nur ein kurzes Holmstück durch die Schlaufe geführt sein muss. Schließlich wird der Gurt 16, 18 im Bereich aller Schlaufen und an seinen Enden gestrafft und an zumindest einem der Enden mit einem festen oder beweglichen Teil des Verdeckgestells oder des zu überbauenden Fahrzeugs verbunden, beispielsweise mit einem verschiebbaren Endlaufwagen einerseits und mit einer Ladebordwand oder Containerwand andererseits. Zweckmäßigerweise wird der Gurt 16, 18 dabei so gestrafft, dass bei geschlossenem Endlaufteil die Plane 14, jedenfalls aber der Gurt 16, 18 relativ straff gespannt ist, so dass die Plane 14 keine Mulden bildet, in denen Regenwasser oder Schnee liegen bleiben könnten. Ferner wird hierdurch ein mögliches Flattern im Fahrtwind reduziert.

The production of the tarpaulin structure then works as follows:

• First, a belt 16, 18 is inserted into a receptacle 20 of the tarpaulin 14, the tarpaulin 14 being able to have a plurality of receptacles 20 and preferably one belt 16, 18 being provided in each of the receptacles 20. The receptacles 20 expediently extend from one end of the tarpaulin 14 to the other end of the tarpaulin 14, and the belt 16, 18 is then correspondingly also continuously formed from one end of the tarpaulin 14 to the other end of the tarpaulin 14. A folding top frame containing spars 12 is then spanned with the tarpaulin 14 in such a way that the at least one belt 16 , 18 runs perpendicular to the extension of the spars 12 . Before or after that, loops of the belt 16, 18 are formed at the crossing positions of bars 12 and belt 16, 18, which protrude from the tarpaulin 14, including the receptacle 20. The loop is then passed through the opening of a securing member 30, which is to be arranged between the spar 12 and the tarpaulin 14, with the securing member 30 serving as a deflection member for the belt 16, 18 in the area of the loops, and the loop is then passed through or with a Holm 12 interspersed, the spar 12 can also be constructed in several parts, so that only a short spar piece is guided through the loop have to be. Finally, the belt 16, 18 is tightened in the area of all loops and at its ends and at least one of the ends is connected to a fixed or movable part of the convertible top frame or the vehicle to be built over, for example with a movable end trolley on the one hand and with a tail lift or container wall on the other hand . The belt 16, 18 is expediently tightened in such a way that when the end section is closed, the tarpaulin 14, or at least the belt 16, 18, is relatively taut, so that the tarpaulin 14 does not form any troughs in which rainwater or snow could lie. Furthermore, this reduces possible fluttering in the wind.

Once the belt 16, 18 has been tightened, the bars 12 are reliably fixed at the corresponding crossing positions with the belts 16, 18 or with the tarpaulin 14, and even when the top frame is opened and closed several times, there is no creeping slipping.

In 3 and 4 , 5 and 6 , 7 and 8th as well as FIGS. 9 and 10, a special embodiment with an expandable belt 16' is explained in each case in a schematic view from the side instead of the belt 16 which is tension-resistant in the previous drawings. In order to be able to better distinguish between the elements shown in the views, it is not a realistic or true-to-scale representation, because in the closed state according to 3 the belt 16' is under tension and is thus maximally applied to the other parts of the tarpaulin structure. The same reference numbers as in 1 and 2 designate the same or structurally comparable parts.

One recognizes in 3 two adjacent bars 12, which can be displaced along a longitudinal beam (not shown) via carriages (not shown) attached at the end, with a folding aid arrangement 40 supporting the erection of the tarpaulin 14 when the bars 12 are pushed together. The folding aid arrangement 40 comprises a first link 41 and a second link 42, which are connected to one another in a joint 43, the joint 43 presently being designed as a conventional pivot joint with a joint pin and joint eye. Arranged in the extension of the joint 43 is a lifting bar (not shown), which is connected to the tarpaulin 14 and connects the folding aid arrangement 40 made up of links 41 and 42 to a mirror-symmetrical folding aid arrangement on the opposite side with respect to the bisecting line of the tarpaulin structure. Also shown are joints 44 with which the links 41, 42 are pivotally connected to carriages to which the bars 12 are connected.

It can be seen that the folding aid arrangement 40 in the closed position according to FIG 3 builds up a very flat triangle, which allows the tarpaulin 14 to lie flat on the bars 12 and any lifting bar. If the two bars 12 are now pushed together, the triangle that the two links 41, 42 build on an imaginary connecting line of the two bars 12 causes the two links 41, 42 to migrate upwards in the area of their articulated connection 43 and thus the Raise tarpaulin 14. It can also be seen that on the side of the tarpaulin 14 facing the vehicle interior, receptacles 20 are provided, in which the elastic belt 16' is guided in sections.

As already described, the belt 16' is fixed to the bars 12 by means of an annular securing member 30. This ensures, among other things, that the belt 16 ′, which also continues outside the two bars 12 shown, does not slide through the securing element and does not change its position with respect to the bars 12 .

It can also be seen that the belt 16' is guided in the area of the joint 43 under the lifting bar arranged as an extension of the joint 43; in the area of the joint 43, an elongated slot 20a is formed, which provides a passage to the interior of the vehicle, i.e. in 3 viewed downwards, allowing the strap 16' to emerge from this slot 20a. Next is in 3 an opening 20b of the housing 20 is shown, which allows entry and exit of the loop of the strap 16'. In contrast to the schematic representation, however, it should be noted that the slot 20a is at least twice as long as the opening 20b, usually even three to ten times as long, preferably four to seven times as long. In this respect, the schematic representation only serves to explain the location at which the slot 20a or the opening 20b is arranged. It is further understood that the slot 20a or opening 20b should also have a width matching the width of the strap 16' to allow the strap to pass through without twisting or pinching.

In 3 the expandable belt 16' is under a significant pretension, ie the belt strives for a position in which it has contracted. The force thereby transmitted to the bars 12 results from the properties of the expandable belt 16', in particular its modulus of elasticity or the spring constant. It is easy to see that the central area of the belt 16' is actually approximately at the height of the gepunk bottom line of the slot 20a when no lift beam is provided.

If one end of the tarpaulin structure is now opened, for example by releasing a portal or an in 3 with the locking device 50 shown schematically, the belt designed as an expander 16' contracts, as a result of which the two adjacent bars 12 come closer together. As a result of the approaching movement along the (not shown) longitudinal beam, the folding aid arrangement 40 is lifted, that is to say the tarpaulin 14 is laid in a fold in the region of the joint 43 . Because the movement of the in 3 left Holms 12 towards the in 3 right spar at the same time requires a shortening of the belt 16 ', the belt 16' does not follow the complete folding movement of the tarpaulin 14, but remains connected to the tarpaulin only in the areas in which it is guided in the receptacle 20 while it is out of the Slot 20a exits, so that the drape of the belt 16' is significantly less high than the drape of the tarpaulin 14. In 4 this is shown schematically, with the two bars 12 not being moved completely together for better illustration. The shortening of the path of the belt 16' has thus reduced or fully provided the force required to erect the tarpaulin 14 in the area of the joint 43, so that the weight of the tarpaulin structure advantageously does not have to be overcome manually in this area.

One recognizes in 5 and 6 again two adjacent bars 12, which can be displaced along a longitudinal beam (not shown) via carriages (not shown) attached at the end, with a folding aid arrangement 40 supporting the erection of the tarpaulin 14 when the bars 12 are pushed together. The folding aid arrangement 40 comprises a first link 41 and a second link 42, which are connected to one another in a joint 43, in the present case the opposite joints 43 being designed in such a way that a lifting bar 12' is arranged between the joints 43 and is connected to the tarpaulin 14 is connected and the folding aid arrangement 40 of links 41 and 42 connects to a mirror-symmetrical folding aid arrangement on the opposite side with respect to the bisecting line of the tarpaulin structure. Also shown are joints 44 with which the links 41, 42 are pivotally connected to carriages to which the bars 12 are connected.

It can be seen that the folding aid arrangement 40 in the closed position according to FIG 5 forms a very flat triangle which allows the tarpaulin 14 to lie flat on the bars 12 and the lifting bar 12'. If the two non-liftable bars 12 are now pushed together, the triangle that the two links 41, 42 build on an imaginary connecting line of the two bars 12 results in the two links 41, 42 in the area of their articulated connection 43 with the lifting bar 12 'Emigrate upwards and thus raise the tarpaulin 14. It can also be seen that on the side of the tarpaulin 14 facing the vehicle interior, receptacles 20 are provided, in which the elastic belt 16' is guided in sections.

The belt 16' is here--comparable to the connection to the spar 12 in the previous embodiment--an annular connecting member 30 fixed to the spar 12' designed as a lifting spar. The bars 12 are also connected to the belt 16' via connecting members 30. In this embodiment it is achieved, among other things, that the belt 16', which also continues outside the two bars 12 shown, does not slide through the securing member 30 and does not change its position with respect to the bars 12, 12'. This has the advantageous effect that the belt designed as an expander, which can also be in the form of a band, but does not have to be, achieves the lifting of the connecting rods 41, 42 by contracting them.

It can also be seen that in the area of the joint 43 there is a short opening 20b which allows the loop of the belt 16' to enter and exit the receptacle 20 on both sides of the securing ring 30. On the other hand, a slot 20a is provided in the area of the non-liftable bars 12, which is significantly longer than is required for connecting the tarpaulin 14 to the bar 12 and than the opening 20b.

In contrast to the schematic representation, however, it should be noted that the slot 20a is at least twice as long as the opening 20b, usually even three to ten times as long, preferably four to seven times as long. In this respect, the schematic representation only serves to explain the location at which the slot 20a or the opening 20b is arranged. It is further understood that the slot 20a or opening 20b should also have a width matching the width of the strap 16' to allow the strap 16' to pass through without twisting or pinching.

In 5 the expandable strap 16' is under a significant pretension, ie the strap 16' strives for a position in which it has contracted. The force thereby transmitted to the bars 12 results from the properties of the expandable belt 16', in particular its modulus of elasticity or the spring constant.

If one end of the tarpaulin structure is now opened, for example by releasing a portal or an in 5 with 50 shown schematically Locking, the belt designed as an expander 16' contracts, as a result of which the two adjacent bars 12 come closer together. The approaching movement along the (not shown) longitudinal beam raises the folding aid arrangement 40, that is to say the tarpaulin 14 is laid in a fold in the area of the joint 43 with the lifting beam 12'. Because the movement of the in 5 left Holms 12 towards the in 5 right rail by shortening the pretensioned belt 16', and the belt 16' is held in the securing ring 30 of the lifting bar 12', the part of the belt 16` connected to the bar 12 pushes under its pretension in the direction of the adjacent lifting bar 12 '. In contrast to the opening 20b in the area of the lifting beam 12', from which the belt 16' has practically no room to exit, the slot 20a is sufficiently long that the point at which the belt 16' emerges from the receptacle 20, from from the central portion of the slit 20a to the extremity thereof. The result of this is that the length of the receptacle 20 over which the belt 16' is accommodated is shortened, with the tarpaulin 14 being thrown into one or more folds in a section above the spar 12 and folded up. This creates at least a small mountain of folds, which is pushed together above the beam 12 and is part of the fold of the tarpaulin 14 . In this case, the belt 16' does not follow the complete folding movement of the tarpaulin 14, but remains connected to the tarpaulin only in the areas in which it is guided in the receptacle 20, while it emerges from the slot 20a. In 6 the two bars 12 are not fully retracted for better illustration. The shortening of the path of the belt 16' has thus reduced or fully provided the force required to erect the tarpaulin 14 in the area of the joint 43, so that the weight of the tarpaulin structure advantageously does not have to be overcome manually in this area.

The execution according to 7 and 8th forms the exemplary embodiment according to FIG 5 and 6 , whose reference symbols are used further to avoid repetitions, further to the effect that an elongatable belt 16' is connected only to the lifting bars 12' via an annular securing ring 30. Correspondingly, the bars 12 are no longer assigned a securing ring 30 .

The belt 16' in turn runs in receptacles 20 of the tarpaulin 14, which in turn have an opening 20b in the area of the lifting beam and an elongated slot 20a in the area of the beam 12. On the other hand, the belt 16' is not guided around the bars 12, but lies above the bar 12 in the plane of the slot 20b in the tarpaulin 14 or in alignment with the receptacle 20. This is in 7 indicated by the dotted line for the elongated slot 20a and belt 16` running horizontally almost in the same plane. In the position according to 7 the elastic strap 16' is stretched, substantially between two adjacent lift bars 12', and the strap 16' attempts to pull the adjacent lift bars 12' together to relax.

In 8th it can be seen that due to the arrangement of the belt 16' separate from the beam 12, it is raised by the beam 12, to which there is no longer a direct connection of the belt 16' or tarpaulin 14, when the top frame or tarpaulin structure is pushed together. This also raises the tarpaulin 14, with the shortening of the length of the belt 16′ due to its relaxation leading to the tarpaulin 14 being folded up in the area of the slot 20a and appearing as a small hill above—compared to the raised position of the lifting beam 12′ of the spar 12 is formed. If the rigidity of the tarpaulin 14 allows it, it is possible to dispense with the slot 20a, so that the elastic belt 16' remains in the tarpaulin in the area of the spar 12. Furthermore, it can be provided that the tarpaulin 14 is still connected to the spar 12 in the edge regions of the spar 12 in order to prevent the tarpaulin 14 being lifted overall.

If the tarpaulin structure is closed again, this tensions the elastic belt 16', whereby--as a result of the lowering of the lifting beams 12'--the tarpaulin 20 is also tensioned downwards in the area of the beams 12 at the same time.

The execution according to 9 and 10 forms the exemplary embodiment according to FIG 7 and 8th , whose reference symbols are used further to avoid repetitions, further to the effect that the extendable belt 16' is no longer guided in receptacles 20 of the tarpaulin 14, but outside of the connection to a lifting beam 12' via a securing ring 30 and preferably entirely below the tarpaulin 14 is arranged. As a result, a receptacle 20 can be dispensed with, as can its slots 20a and openings 20b.

Thus, the elastic strap 16' is allowed to relax over its entire length outside the locking ring 30, and the tarpaulin 14 is lifted a little further above the spar 12 by the strap 16' as it folds.

If the tarpaulin structure is closed again, the belt 16' tightens again. The tarpaulin 14, which is then stretched again, also comes into contact with the bars 12 again. In order to take the tarpaulin 14 along again when the lifting bar 21' is lowered, then the tarpaulin be connected to the lifting beam 12', for example in that in the area of the lifting beam 12' a very short receiving section in the manner of the receptacle 20, but rather the length of a strap, is traversed by the belt 16'.

It should be noted that the effect of an elastic strap is particularly beneficial when the distance between the hinge 43 and the linkage 44 is significantly greater than the length of the strap. this is in 6 indicated by way of example with the dotted articulation 44 'of a U-shaped bracket, the base of which is the spar 12, and also applies to the other exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that the links 41, 42 are unnecessary in this and in other constellations, so that they are not provided. It should also be noted that the graphic representation of the lengthening or shortening of the elastic belt was primarily chosen to explain the movement and arrangement, and must be adapted to the actual conditions of the tarpaulin structure during implementation.

When the tarpaulin structure is closed, the weight of the parts of the top frame or the tarpaulin structure supports the closing movement, so that overall the tarpaulin structure can be manipulated particularly easily and simply.

You can still see in 3 or. 5 , 7 or 9 that a bolt arrangement 50 is formed with a one-sided ramp, realized by a one-sided wedge shape, and is arranged under pretension in the closing direction. If the locking arrangement 50 is held manually in the release position, the tarpaulin structure opens at least partially by itself, while the carriage runs over the ramp section in the closing direction and the locking arrangement 50 is thus pushed back against the pretension of the spring, so that a self-locking system is created . At the same time, the latch arrangement creates a locking of the carriage, which prevents it from slipping back and forth under the pretension of the expandable belt 16' or under overstretching of the same. The locking arrangement 50 can be triggered by an external operator via a loop.

It is readily apparent that instead of the belt designed as a continuous expander 16`, the expandable belt can also be designed by arranging elongatable springs between belt sections, which then, however, perform a fairly long spring deflection to pull the bars 12, 12' together can have to.

A number of exemplary embodiments have been described above as to how an elastic belt 16' can be used as an erection aid for a folding-top frame. It goes without saying that two or more of these exemplary embodiments can also be used next to one another in the case of a common top frame, and in particular can be assigned to parts of the top frame over the longitudinal extent of the top frame. Various configurations of positioning aids can also be arranged on a folding top frame at the same time, for example other spring means with the elastic straps 16' explained above. It is further understood that an elastic strap 16` may be connected to a spar 12 or lift spar 12' other than by a retaining ring 30.

From the comparison of 3 and 4 on the one hand and 5 until 10 on the other hand, it can be seen that the elastic belt 16' can be fixed either to one of the bar 12 or the lifting bar 12'--correspondingly, other features of the exemplary embodiments described above can also be adapted or combined with one another.

The invention has been described above using an exemplary embodiment in which the tarpaulin structure is built over a container; it goes without saying that a sliding roof top of a truck or a railroad car can be built over in the same way, or a side tarpaulin can then be connected to vertical bars, for example designed as sliding stanchions. Furthermore, the tarpaulin structure can also be designed as a push bar top, in which the tarpaulin is connected to the brackets or auxiliary brackets via the belt.

The invention has been described above in terms of spars 12 which are circular in cross-section and which are particularly well suited to being encircled with a belt; it goes without saying that spars with a polygonal cross section, for example a sliding stanchion, can also be used.

The invention has been explained above using a retaining ring 30 made of steel. It goes without saying that locking rings made of plastic or other materials can also be considered.

The invention has been described above using a loose retaining ring 30 . It goes without saying that the securing ring 30 can also be firmly attached to the tarpaulin 14 together with the receptacle 20, so that assembly is simplified and accelerated even further.

The invention has been explained above using an exemplary embodiment in which a one-piece continuous belt 16 runs over the entire length of the tarpaulin 14 . It goes without saying that the belt can also be composed of several partial belts. It also goes without saying that the strap or the partial straps can also be composed of expandable parts and non-expandable parts.

The invention has been explained above by means of an expandable belt which spans a section between two adjacent non-liftable beams, whereby advantageously the belt emerges substantially from the receptacle only when the tarpaulin is raised and does not fall down into the loading area. It goes without saying that instead of the expandable belt, another spring element can also be integrated into the belt, for example a helical spring, which is arranged in the area of the slot and is connected to the belt at both ends or at one end.

The invention has been explained above on the basis of exemplary embodiments in which the articulated coupling of bars and lifting bars takes place by means of links 46, 42. It goes without saying that these do not have to be connected to the bars 12, 12' in a common joint, nor that the coupling of the bars 12, 12' requires links 41, 42 at all. Thus, the bar 12 can be designed as the base of a substantially inverted U-shaped bracket, which is arranged non-pivotably, for example, on a displaceable carriage, while the lifting bar 12' can be designed as the base of a substantially inverted U-shaped auxiliary bracket, which is attached to the Carriage or is articulated to the bracket.

Claims (10)

Tarpaulin structure for a commercial vehicle, such as a truck, trailer, semi-trailer, railway wagon or container, comprising a folding top frame, a tarpaulin (14) made of weather-resistant material, and a belt (16'), the tarpaulin (14) being attached to at least one displaceable beam ( 12; 12') of the top frame, the belt (16') running transversely to the beam (12; 12'), the belt (16') being designed to be expandable, and the belt (16') in the closed state of the tarpaulin (14) is at least partially expanded, characterized in that the belt (16') is fixed in a region of each raised beam (12'). tarpaulin construction claim 1 , characterized in that the belt (16') is at least partially tensioned even when the tarpaulin (14) is in the open state. tarpaulin construction claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the belt (16 ') comprises a plurality of sections, at least some of which are designed as spring means. Tarpaulin construction according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the belt (16 ') comprises a plurality of sections, of which at least some are designed to be tension-resistant. Tarpaulin construction according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the belt (16') is accommodated in a receptacle (20) of the tarpaulin (14), and that the receptacle (20) has a slot (20a) through which the relaxed and thus shortened belt (16' ) can emerge in an open state of the tarpaulin (14). tarpaulin construction claim 5 , characterized in that the slot (20a) is provided in an area which is approximately in the middle between two connections of the belt (16') to an adjacent spar (12; 12'), and in that the belt (16') is arranged at a distance from the receptacle (20) and thus from the tarpaulin (14) in the region of the slot (20a) when the tarpaulin (14) is open. Tarpaulin construction according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the strap (16') is also fixed in an area of each unraised spar (12), and in that the strap (16') includes an area between adjacent raised spar (12') and unraised spar (12) biased in the opening direction. Tarpaulin construction according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the strap (16') only biases an area between two raised beams (12') in the opening direction. tarpaulin construction claim 8 , characterized in that the belt (16 ') runs below the tarpaulin (14), and that in the open state of the tarpaulin (14) the tarpaulin (14) through the belt (16') above the non-raised beam (12). is raised above. Tarpaulin structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a loop of the belt (16; 18; 16') is placed around at least one spar (12; 12') and that a securing element (30) between the spar (12; 12') ) and tarpaulin (14) as a deflection element for the belt (16; 18; 16'). is arranged and the spar (12; 12') is frictionally fixed with respect to the belt (16; 18; 16').

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