EP0136351A1

EP0136351A1 - Method and device for covering with tarpaulin particularly vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP0136351A1
Application number: EP84901359A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antoine Matussiere
Original assignee: ATELIER DE BACHAGE DU CENTRE Antoine MATUSSIERE et Fils Sarl
Current assignee: ATELIER DE BACHAGE DU CENTRE Antoine MATUSSIERE et Fils Sarl
Priority date: 1983-03-22
Filing date: 1984-03-22
Publication date: 1985-04-10
Also published as: FR2543082B3; FR2543082A1; OA07870A; WO1984003667A1

Abstract

La présente invention est du domaine du bâchage, c'est-à-dire la pose ou le retrait d'une feuille souple sur des constructions fixes ou mobiles dont la partie à bâcher est une surface réglée. Selon l'invention, le procédé consiste: pour débâcher, ladite bâche étant à la partie supérieure d'une dite surface réglée au moins, enroulée autour d'un arbre auquel l'un des bords de ladite bâche est fixée, on la laisse se dérouler le long de ladite surface, et pour rebâcher, on fait tourner ledit arbre sur lui-même, ce qui a pour effet d'enrouler la bâche autour de l'arbre et de faire monter le rouleau ainsi formé jusqu'à la partie supèrieure de ladite surface; ce procédé est mis en oeuvre par un dispositif d'entraînement (6) en rotation de l'arbre sur lequel s'enroule et se déroule la bâche (4), et se déplaçant par l'intermédiaire d'un chariot (10) sur des rails (11). Application au bâchage des véhicules, constructions fixes telles que couvertures et auvents de tribunes, salles de sport, serres, etc...The present invention relates to the field of tarpaulin, that is to say the installation or removal of a flexible sheet on fixed or mobile constructions whose part to be covered is a ruled surface. According to the invention, the method consists of: to release, said tarpaulin being at the upper part of at least one said ruled surface, wound around a tree to which one of the edges of said tarpaulin is attached, it is left to stand unwind along said surface, and to relaunch, said shaft is rotated on itself, which has the effect of winding the tarpaulin around the shaft and raising the roll thus formed to the upper part of said surface; this method is implemented by a drive device (6) in rotation of the shaft on which the tarpaulin (4) is wound and unrolled, and moving by means of a carriage (10) on rails (11). Application to the covering of vehicles, fixed constructions such as covers and canopies of stands, sports halls, greenhouses, etc ...

Description

"METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COVERING, ESPECIALLY VEHICLES"

The present invention is in the field of tarpaulin, that is to say the laying or removal of a flexible and generally waterproof sheet, applied either to fixed constructions or to mobile constructions (vehicles), and more particularly to those of these constructions whose part to cover is a regulated surface, that is to say that can be generated by a straight line.

In the field of fixed constructions, there are known for example awnings intended to house coffee terraces for example; such awnings, to be able to be deployed or folded essentially comprise a winding shaft supported by the fixed construction by means of bearings allowing its rotation on itself, a bar passed in a hem of the outer edge of the tarpaulin constituting the awning and arms connected on the one hand to the ends of the bar and on the other articulated on the construction; a worm gear makes it possible to turn the shaft on itself either manually using a crank, or by means of an electric motor which is often placed inside the shaft itself. It will be noted that in such an installation, the shaft is fixed relative to the construction except for its rotational movement on itself and that it is the arm and the cover which move.

In the field of vehicle tarpaulin, the manual deployment of a tarpaulin on arches above a vehicle platform has been practiced for a long time, the tarpaulin being for example rolled up or folded in accordion at one end of the platform and being moved , to be deployed or folded, in the longitudinal direction of the tray. It has also been proposed that the tarpaulin be fixed to the hoops which are themselves translatable from one edge to the other of the vehicle, thus allowing the tarpaulin to be folded in accordion.

Manual tarpaulin, due to the increasing dimensions of the tarpaulin trays, poses delicate handling problems, and requires the simultaneous work of several men in conditions of relative insecurity which are the cause of frequent accidents. More recently, a patent application FR 2 487 739 (ROCHE, MODAI) has proposed a device essentially consisting of a winding shaft mounted on a gantry under which the vehicle can be engaged; it is thus possible, thanks to the shaft, to form a roller on which or from which the tarpaulin is wound or unwound. This eliminates manual intervention to some extent. The disadvantage of such a device resides in the fact that it is permanently located in a place sometimes far from the place where it is necessary to cover or unblock the vehicle.

The object of the present invention is to propose a covering method and devices (debarking-repacking) which can be adapted both to fixed constructions and to vehicles and by means of which the covering operations can be carried out with a minimum of handling, see automatically, in minimal time.

According to the present invention, a method of tarpaulin (unblocking-repogging) of a fixed or mobile construction whose volume is limited by regulated surfaces is generally characterized in that, for unblocking, said tarpaulin being part upper of said at least set surface, wrapped around a tree to which one of the edges of said tarpaulin is fixed, it is allowed to unwind along said surface, and to put back in place, said shaft is rotated on it -same, which has the effect of winding the tarpaulin around the tree and making the roll thus formed up to the upper part of said surface. Still according to the present invention, a device for implementing the method described above is generally characterized in that at least at one of its ends, said tarpaulin winding shaft is coupled to a member for driving said shaft in rotation, said member being connected to means, called prime means, preventing it from turning substantially on itself while allowing it to be moved in translation. It follows from this general arrangement that it is the roller of the sheet which moves, either when winding, or when unwinding along said surface which can of course be planar, planar-broken, curved or any other regulated surface. .

According to a first variant, said first means incorporate a reduction and angle gear mechanism with pinion and screw included in a housing; this first variant corresponds to a possibility of manual drive by crank of the tarpaulin roller, but also to the possibility of motorized drive from a fixed point in the construction.

According to a second variant, said first means incorporate an electric geared motor assembly provided with an output shaft. According to a third more particular variant embodiment, said first means further incorporate a carriage and a rail disposed along an edge of said adjusted surface, said rail being intended to guide said carriage in translation while preventing it from turning on it. -same and one of the elements of the group of elements constituted by said housing, said motor-reduction unit and said output shaft, is integral with said carriage.

According to a fourth more specific variant, said first means further incorporate a telescopic rod articulated at one of its ends at a point known as a hinge fixed with respect to the plate, while one of the elements of the group of elements constituted by said box , said gearmotor assembly and said output shaft is integral with the other end of said rod; in the latter embodiment, and advantageously, said telescopic rod further constitutes a drive shaft of said reduction and angle gear mechanism, intermediate between this mechanism and a second angle gear forming said articulation point .

Still according to the present invention, a vehicle tray comprising tarpaulin hoops, this tray being further provided with a device for tarpaulin comprising any of the characteristics described above, is characterized in that it further comprises at its front part a profile, forming a hoop, or coupled to such a hoop, said profile having a U-shape whose the edge of the wings is folded inwards, the front wing of the profile being higher than the rear wing, the bottom of the profile comprising a plurality of equidistant loops, the height of said loops being substantially equal to the height of said wing anterior. It follows from this arrangement that the profile prevents, even at high vehicle speed, the air from rushing under the front edge of the sheet.

Still according to the present invention, a vehicle tray mounted above a chassis and comprising tarpaulin hoops, said tray being further provided with a tarpaulin device comprising any one of the above-mentioned characteristics is furthermore characterized in that, said tarpaulin being provided along its edge fixed to the winding shaft with a plurality of notches, closing hooks intended to engage, through said notches, on said winding shaft when in the low position, are connected to said platform frame by a toggle mechanism comprising a lever arm. I1 results from this arrangement that are constituted by means for tensioning the tarpaulin perfectly over the hoops and this by a single manipulator remaining on the ground.

According to another secondary characteristic of the aforementioned embodiment, said hook and said lever arm each comprise an eyelet so that, in the closed position, said hook prevents the raising of said shaft, and that a guarantee member, generally a TIR cable, can be passed through each of said eyecups.

The present invention will be better understood and details will be apparent from the description which will be given of devices implementing the method of the invention, or perfecting it in a particular field of application, in relation to the figures of the attached plates in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a vehicle provided with a tray equipped with a tarpaulin device of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a similar illustration on a larger scale of a vehicle platform comprising a covering device according to a first embodiment, FIG. 3 illustrates a detail of the preceding figure,

- Fig.4 is a representation similar to that of Fig.2 of a tarpaulin device according to a second embodiment, - Fig.5 and 5a illustrate means of tensioning the sheet on the arches a vehicle tray,

- Fig. 6 and 6a illustrate in elevation and in section a profile intended to receive the front edge of the sheet on a vehicle platform,

- Fig.7 illustrates a means of fixing a fixed edge of the sheet,

- Fig.8, a, b, c, illustrate another means of tensioning the sheet on the hoops of a tray.

In fig.1, a vehicle 1 comprises a plate 2 provided with a plurality of arches 3; the application targeted by the process of the invention consists in placing a tarpaulin 4 on the hoops; according to the method of the invention, the roller 5 consisting of the tarpaulin wound on a shaft not visible in the figure is unwound transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the platform of the vehicle. The winding or unwinding movement is controlled by a member 6 for driving the shaft in rotation; the rotation of the shaft causes on the one hand the rotation of the roller on itself and its translation in the transverse direction, either horizontal (roof of the tray) or vertical (lateral sides of the tray); the tension of the tarpaulin, on the poles is ensured either by the weight of the roller (lateral sides), or by means of elastic straps or springs (roof of the platform); these means are not represented in the figure, any more than is represented the driving source of the member 6, no more than is represented the anchoring point of the tarpaulin, no more than are represented means said first prohibiting the member 6 from turning on itself while allowing it to be moved in translation; these means will be described later. Thus, in fig.2, there is shown a first embodiment of the aforementioned first means; we recognize in this figure a certain number of elements of the previous figure referenced with the same numbers; the means for preventing the rotation of the member 6 comprise a carriage 10 (see also fig. 3) and a rail 11 serving as a guide path for the rollers 12 of the carriage and supported by the front panel 9.

In the case of fig. 2 and 3, the device of the invention is in a way doubled: a first carriage and a first raceway are associated with a first roller intended for covering the roof and on a lateral side of the plate while a second carriage and a second raceway are associated with a second roller intended for covering the second lateral side only. In this case, the anchoring of the two tarpaulins is achieved by means of profiles 15 (see also fig. 7) arranged along the generative intersection of the roof and the second lateral side.

Returning to FIG. 3, the member 6 intended to drive a winding shaft 8 in rotation incorporates an electric geared motor assembly, the output shaft of which is connected to the winding shaft 8.

As a variant, the electric motor-reducer assembly can be housed as is known per se in the shaft 8 at its end, the member 6 then serving as a bearing for the output shaft of the motor-reducer; it will be noted that from the functional point of view, this variant is entirely equivalent to the previous one. We could also imagine that the member 6 is only a simple gear reduction gearbox and toothed wheel provided with an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft receiving its movement from a crank hand turned. Thus again, in FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the above-mentioned first means has been shown; we recognize in this figure a number of elements of fig.l with the same numbers; the primary means for preventing the rotation of the member 6 comprise a telescopic rod 20 articulated at a point of articulation 21 situated in the plane of the front panel 9 (plane perpendicular to the covering surface), this point of articulation being ultimately secured to the plate.

As in the previous form, the device of the invention is to some extent doubled and reference will be made to the explanations given previously on this subject.

The member 6 is connected to the telescopic rod 20 in a more or less rigid manner according to the variant embodiments. For example if an electric geared motor is housed in the winding shaft, the member 6 may be only a single bearing fixed at the end of the rod 6. For example again, if the member 6 is a simple gear reduction gearbox and toothed wheels receiving its movement from a crank via an input shaft, it will still be fixed to the end of the rod 20; as a third exemplary embodiment joining the previous example, the member 6 being a gear reduction gearbox, it may by its input shaft integral with the rod 20 receive its movement from the rod 20 which will itself receive it from the articulation point 21 which may then have the functional structure of a bevel gear; in the latter case the rod 20 may be formed by the interlocking of two square tubes.

In the variants described above, each roller is provided with drive members at only one of its ends, namely the front end; it should however be understood that the drive members and their guiding means could be as well arranged at the rear end of the rollers, see at each end. Tests have however shown that a single member was sufficient for each roller and that it was more practical for the member or members to be arranged on the panel. anterior, which is generally a fixed panel.

In fig.5 and 5a, the sheet 4 is provided along its edge fixed to the winding shaft 8 with a plurality of notches such as 22 (fig.5a); these notches are intended to allow the passage of hooks such as 23 fixed transversely under the plate 2 when the winding shaft is in the low position as shown in the figures; to stretch the sheet, it suffices, after having introduced each hook into a corresponding notch in the sheet, to actuate the winding members 6 in the winding direction; the roller shafts then take hold on the inside of the hooks and can no longer be released (fig. 5).

In fig.6 and 6a, a section 25 provided with a folded wing 26.is intended to be arranged along an anterior arch 3 '(fig.4) or to itself constitute this arch. The profile is provided with rings such as 27 around which can be engaged eyelets of the sheet such as 28. The rings 27 are intended to allow the passage of a TIR cable for example or any other means of securing the edge from the tarpaulin to the profile. The folded wing 26 normally disposed in front of the edge of the cover 4 in the direction of movement of the vehicle, prevents air from rushing under this edge and creates an overpressure under the cover.

In fig.7 a Y-shaped section 30 with closed wings consists of a flat fixing wing 31 and a groove-shaped portion 32 in which can be engaged a hem from the edge of the sheet, said hem containing a cord 33 of diameter greater than the opening of the grooved part, such an arrangement secures the cover 4 of the section 30 against a transverse pull (arrow 34). A couple of such profiles constitutes the anchoring means 15 of fig. 2 and 4.

On fig.8a, b, and c which will be better understood by also referring to fig.5, 5a, are shown other means of closing and tensioning the sheet on the arches. The hooks 23 of fig.5 are no longer in this case fixed hooks relative to the plate but hooks 23 'articulated at the end of a lever 35 articulated itself on a rod 36 whose first end 37 has a shape fork and the other end 38 of which is engaged in a cylinder 39 which is itself integral with the plate 2 or its crosspieces, the rod 36 being permanently urged by a spring 40 in the direction of the interior of the plate. Figs. 8b, 8c illustrate how, after the hook has been introduced through a notch 22 of the cover 4, the shaft 8 can be brought back below the plate 2 after rotation of the lever arm in the direction of the arrow 41 (fig.8a). The spring 40 then provides traction on the sheet. Several similar devices can be arranged along and under the frame opposite the notches of the sheet. An eyelet 43 at the end of the hook allows the passage of a TIR cable and guarantees the covering, it being understood that the lever 35 is longer than the hook 23 '.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described or shown above but that it extends to all their functional equivalents implementing the general method defined above.

It should also be understood that, although the invention is applicable in a particularly advantageous manner to the covering of vehicles, other fields, in particular that of fixed constructions can come within its scope: covers and awnings of stands, sports, greenhouses and generally any construction incorporating a flexible sheet as a removable wall.

Claims

1.- Method of tarpaulin (uncovering-repogging) of a fixed or mobile construction whose volume is limited by regulated surfaces, characterized: in that, - for uncovering, said tarpaulin being at the upper part of a said surface set at least, wrapped around a tree to which one of the edges of said sheet is fixed, it is allowed to run along said surface, and

- To patch up, the said shaft is rotated on itself, which has the effect of winding the tarpaulin around the tree and making the roll thus formed up to the upper part of said surface;

2. - Device for implementing the method according to claim 1, characterized: in that at least at one of its ends, said cover winding shaft is coupled to a member for rotating said shaft, said member being connected to means, called prime, prohibiting it from turning substantially on itself while allowing it to be moved in translation;

3.- Device according to claim 2, characterized: in that said first means incorporate a reduction and angle gear mechanism with pinion and screw included in a housing;

4.- Device according to claim 2, characterized: in that said first means incorporate an electric motor-reducer assembly provided with an output shaft;

5.- Device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized:

- in that said first means further incorporate a carriage and a rail disposed along an edge of said adjusted surface, said rail being intended to guide in translation said carriage while preventing it from turning on itself, and

- in that one of the elements of the group of elements constituted by said housing, said motor-reduction unit and said output shaft, is integral with said carriage;

6.- Device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized:

- in that said first means further incorporate a telescopic rod articulated at one of its ends at a so-called point of articulation fixed relative to the plate, and

- in that one of the elements of the group of elements constituted by said housing, said motor-reducer assembly and said output shaft, is integral with the other end of said rod;

7.- Device according to one of claims 3 and 6, characterized: in that said telescopic rod further constitutes a drive shaft of said reduction mechanism and of angular gear, intermediate between this mechanism and a second gear of angle forming said articulation point;

8.- vehicle tray, comprising tarpaulin hoops, said tray being further provided with a tarpaulin device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized: in that it further comprises in its part anterior a profile, forming an arch. or paired with such an arch, said profile having a U-shape whose edge of the wings is folded inwards, the front wing of the profile being higher than the rear wing, the bottom of the profile comprising a plurality of loops equidistant, the height of said loops being substantially equal to the height of said front wing;

9. Vehicle tray mounted above a chassis and comprising tarpaulin hoops, said tray being further provided with a tarpaulin device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized: in that said cover being provided along its edge fixed to the winding shaft with a plurality of notches, closing hooks intended to engage, through said notches, on said winding shaft when it is in low position, are connected to said platform chassis by a toggle mechanism comprising a lever arm;

10.- Tray according to claim 9, characterized: in that said hook and said lever arm each comprise an eyelet so that, in the closed position said hook prohibits the ascent of said shaft, and that a guarantee member can be passed through each of said eyecups.