EP1007387A1

EP1007387A1 - Spring lock systems for posts etc

Info

Publication number: EP1007387A1
Application number: EP99928310A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claes Laxo Mekan AB PERSSON
Original assignee: Laxo Mekan AB
Current assignee: Laxo Mekan AB
Priority date: 1998-06-26
Filing date: 1999-05-17
Publication date: 2000-06-14
Also published as: SE9802300L; SE511841C2; AU4540599A; WO2000000364A1; SE9802300D0

Abstract

Spring lock system for posts, pillars (13) and similar objects which can be subjected to varying loads in at least two opposite directions, and comprising a mounting means (12, 14) for the post (13) and a spring (1) adapted to force the post (13) outwards against an embracing clamp (14) of the mounting means, and in which the spring is arranged loosely and displaceable in the mounting means (12) between an upper stationary nut (10) and a lower vertical support (18) and is arranged for being secured in a clamp position using a pin (11) having a threaded portion (16) adapted to be screwed into the nut (10), and a conical pin portion (17) adapted to cooperate lockingly with a corresponding conical bore (5) of the spring (1). The spring (1) is plane parallel and is formed as an integral part having two integral spring clamps, namely an outer spring clamp (2) and an inner spring clamp (3) presenting a little space (8⇔9) between said spring clamps (2, 3) at non-loaded or only medium loaded spring (1).

Description

SPRING LOCK SYSTEM FOR POSTS ETC.

The present invention generally relates to a system for resiliently securing posts etc. in relation to an anchoring place, and the invention is more specifically directed to a spring lock system for poles, posts and similar support means which are subjected to varying loads in at least two opposite directions, and eventually also to shocks and vibrations.

The invention has especially been developed as the solution of the problem of resiliently anchoring poles and posts on trucks, railway wagons, timber wagons, tractor trailers etc. which poles or posts are intended to secure a load of goods in the transversal direction, for instance timber, planks, boards, tubes and other preferably elongated objects. The invention is not restricted to said specific purpose but can be used in many kinds of apparatus in which the same problem might occur as in timber posts etc. for trucks, railway wagons etc.

In previously known arrangements the post, in many cases, is dropped down loosely in a carrier at the side of the load platform. If the post is not secured in said position it may happen that the post jumps out of its carrier when passing uneven road parts or the post is subjected to shocks for other reasons. Normally it has been usual to make use of any type of locking means, for instance bolts passing through bores both of the carrier and of the post. Such mounting, however, is time consuming to establish, and if the post is damaged, for instance becomes curved, it can be difficult to release the locking means and pull the post out of the carrier.

In other cases there has been used some type of wedge locking means, in which a wedge is introduced between the post and a wedge groove at the inner side of the post, between the post and the carrier therefore. At uneven roads or in case of shocks it may happen that the wedge is vibrated down so that it is difficult to release the wedge when the post is to be removed; in other cases it may happen that the wedge becomes hanging so that is does not slide down as intended, and in such cases there may be a play between the post and the carrier.

Normally the post should lock the load in the direction outwards, and it may thereby be possible to foresee an immovable anchoring. It happens, however, that the post is acted on in the opposite direction, that is inwards to the load space. This may happen if the post comes into engagement with an object when the vehicle or the trailer is moved too close to a fixed object, or the post may be subjected to an extreme load by being acted on from outside depending on false manoeuvring of a timber crane or another loading or unloading assistance means. It has therefore been considered very desirable that the post be mounted in its anchoring device, for instance in a clamp means or a wrap means aside of a timber support apparatus, a securing beam or a similar means, so that it has a possibility of moving resiliently slightly in the direction inwards to the load platform, and so that it regains its normal position as soon as the side force against the post is removed. There are great demands on the spring part of the mounting system, and for many purposes it is necessary that the spring can stand side forces of 2-3 tons or more. A helical spring or a leaf spring does not normally stand such loads, and it often can be difficult and time consuming to clamp a helical spring or a leaf spring so as to force the post outwards in a play free connection. The basis of the invention therefore has been the problem of providing a mounting means for a spring lock system for a post or a pillar,

- which provides a resilient mounting of the post or the pillar,

- which provides a resilient actuation of the post in the direction against the load platform without the risque that the post becomes curved or is damaged in another way,

- in which the spring lock means can be quickly and easily mounted at a place providing a play free mounting of the post,

- which spring means can also quickly and simply be released,

- in which the spring means is capable of withstanding forces of several tons directed inwardly,

- which spring means can be mounted without the use of any clamping tool and without using strong mounting'forces,

- and which spring means can be quickly and simply released when the post is to be removed from the load platform. According to the invention the spring lock system comprises a spring having a preferably conical, vertically through lock bore, in which a corresponding conical pin can be introduced and can be secured to as to keep the spring in place, a nut which is fixed in the load platform or the timber support, and into which the pin can be threaded so as to engage the locking bore of the spring, and a spring allowing a certain limited spring movement inwards with a very strong spring counter force, and which in fully compressed position provides a fixed stop, and which return the post or pillar to a play free normal position as soon as the force, directed inwardly against the post, is ceased.

In a special embodiment of the invention the spring is formed as a mainly Ω- shaped double spring clamp having a central mounting seat for the connection pin. The spring is plane parallel, and at the outwards facing side thereof the spring is even and is adapted to engage a planar side of the post (or for use in connection to round posts it is bow formed with the same radius as that of the post), and said outwards facing side of the foot part and the corresponding inwards facing side of the spring clamp are even so as to provide vertical, co-operating planar surfaces adapted to provide a stop for the spring movement.

Further characteristics and advantages with the invention will be evident from the following detailed specification in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of a spring lock system according to the invention. In the drawings figure 1 shows a spring included in the spring lock system according to the invention, as seen in non-loaded condition, whereas figure 2 shows the same spring loaded against the load platform of the truck. Figure 3 shows the entire spring lock system according to the invention in a vertical cross section view, as seen along line Ill-Ill of figure 1, and figure 4 shows the same spring lock system in a vertical cross section along line IV-IV of figure 2. Figure 5 diagrammatically shows the function of the spring included in the spring lock system in non-loaded condition, and figure 6 correspondingly shows the function when the post is loaded with an inwards directed force. Figure 7 shows the entire spring lock system released from the connection means for the post in the truck. The spring 1 shown in figures 1 and 2, which is a part of the spring lock system according to the invention, can be said to consist of a double Ω-shaped spring having an outer spring clamp 2 which substantially encloses an inner spring clamp 3 acting as a foot of the spring. The outer and inner spring clamps 2 and 3 are integral at transition areas 4 located at the inwardly facing part of the outer spring clamp 2. The inner spring clamp 3 or the foot has a central cone bore 5 in the foot 3, which preferably tapers in the direction downwards. From said bore 5 the inner spring clamp 3 is formed with a slot 6 dividing the inner clamp to get its Ω-shape.

The said parts of the spring are integral with each other, whereby said spring provides an integral unit, and the spring has even and parallel upper and lower surfaces. The spring is made of spring steel and can be formed with any spring force, as desired. For use in connection to timber posts it can be suitable to form the spring with a spring force of 2-3 tons, eventually more. The outer spring clamp 2 has an even, vertical outer side 7 and a corresponding even, vertical inner side 8. The inner spring clamp 3 correspondingly has an even, vertical outer side 9. The spring is intended to be mounted so that the sides 7, 8 and 9 are facing the post. In unloaded condition of the spring the slot 6 has substantially parallel sides, and the even vertical sides 8 and 9 of the outer and inner clamps 2 and 3 facing each other are located on a certain distance from each other. In fully loaded condition, which is shown in figure 2, the side 8 of the outer spring clamp 2 is pressed into engagement against the side 9 of the inner spring clamp 3. At the same time the inner spring clamp 3 is also slightly compressed to the effect that the sides of the slot 6 become more or less tapering each other.

The through bore 5 of the inner clamp 3 can be cylindrical, but for making it possible a forcing inwards and a guiding of the spring 1 , which is loosely positioned in the system, the bore 5 preferably can be formed conically tapering in the direction downwards, so that the spring is displaced to the exactly desired position when moving the stationary mountable pin down into the bore 5. This is most clearly illustrated in figures 3 and 4 which disclose the spring lock system according to the invention as a whole.

In figures 3 and 4 are shown that the spring lock system comprises the above mentioned spring 1, a stationary nut 10, a pin 11 which can be tightened in said nut 10 thereby providing a locking of the spring 1 in a desired position. The spring lock system is shown connected to a timber cross support means 12 at the end of which a timber post 13 can be connected duly locked by a clamp means 14 which is fixed to said cross timber support 12.

The nut 10 is fixed mounted against the upper side of the timber support 12, and it is formed with a threaded bore 15. The timber support 12 has a corresponding through bore or an opening for introducing the pin 11 which has a threaded portion 16 with an inner hexagonal bore for screwing the pin 11 into the nut bore 15, and a preferably conical pin portion 17 adapted to be introduced in the central bore 5 of the pin 1. As mentioned above the spring bore 5 and the pin portion 17 preferably has a conical tapering shape, so that the spring by cone action can be pressed into engagement with the timber post 13 when the pin portion 17 is tightened in the nut 10.

The spring 1 is arranged loosely and displacably mounted in the timber support 12 but is kept in place in the vertical direction by being located on top of a vertical support 18 which is welded between the sides of the timber support.

By the action of the spring 1 the timber post 13 is stably pressed against, and is clamped in the embracing clamp means 14, and it is thereby quite sufficient that the post is fixedly located in the vertical direction at the bottom end thereof, and this can be accomplished by a bolt joint 19. Thus the spring 1 is pressed against the post 13 which in the illustrated case is square, but which may as well be circular cylindrical or may have another cross section shape, and the post is thereby pressed against the outer surface of the clamp means 14 by a force which is determined both by the mounting position of the nut 10 and by the screw length of the pin 17. A suitable clamping is thereby obtained by screwing the threaded portion 16 of the pin 11 to a suitable depth of the stationary nut 10. If the post, by mistake, should happen to be pressed inwards the load platform, for instance depending on careless handling of a timber hoisting machine, it has a possibility to resiliently bow inwards around the mounting place at the bolt joint 19, as indicated with the dotted lines of figure 4. The spring thereby is compressed, as indicated in figure 2. As soon as the force inwards against the post is ceased the spring 1 forces the post 13 back into engagement with the outer side of the clamp means 14. Neither the post, nor the spring, the embracing clamp means or any other part of the apparatus is therefore damaged depending on the careless handling and the forcing inwards of the post.

The mounting of the spring lock means according to the invention is made by:

- welding the nut 10 in a desired position against an upper part of the timber support means 12;

- welding the vertical support 18 between the sides of the timber support means 12;

- introducing the spring 1 between the nut 10 and the vertical support 18:

- loosely screwing the pin 11 into the nut, so that the spring can not slide out;

- moving the post 13 down in the embracing clamp means 14; - screw connecting the post 13 by means of a bolt joint 19 and the lower end thereof;

- tightening the pin 11 so that the spring 1 forces the post 13 to a desired press engagement against the outside of the embracing clamp 14.

The post 13 is simply released by screwing the pin 11 slightly up of the nut 10, preferably only so that the spring 1 is untightened but is not completely released, the bolt joint 19 at the bottom of the post is removed, and the post can now simply be pulled right up through the embracing clamp 14, or may alternatively be let down through said clamp 14.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 spring

2 outer spring clamp

3 inner spring clamp

4 transition area

5 cone bore

6 slot

7 outer side (of 2)

8 inner side (of 2)

9 outer side (of 3) 0 nut 1 pin 2 timber support means 3 timber post 4 embracing clamp 5 bore 6 threaded portion 7 pin portion 8 vertical support 9 bolt joint

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Spring lock system for posts, pillars (13) and similar objects which can be subjected to varying loads in at least two opposite directions, and comprising a mounting means (12, 14) for the post (13) and a spring (1) adapted to force the post (13) outwards against an embracing clamp (14) of the mounting means, characterized in that the spring is arranged loosely and displacably mounted in the mounting means (12) and is arranged for being secured in a clamp position using a stationary mounted pin (11).

2. Spring lock system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the system comprises an inner threaded nut (10) which is stationary mounted in the system, and in which th nut (10) the pin (11) is adapted to be screwed for securing the spring (1) in the desired position.

3. Spring lock system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pin (11 ) is formed with a threaded portion (16) for co-operation with threads in the nut

(10), and a pin portion (17) for co-operation with a parts (5) of the spring (1).

4. Spring lock system according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring (1) is formed with a vertical through bore (5) which tapers conically in the direction downwards, and in that the pin portion (17) has the same conical shape.

5. Spring lock system according to any of claims 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that the spring (1) is loosely positioned and is dispiacable between the nut (10) and a vertical support (18) in the mounting means (a timber cross support 12).

6. Spring lock system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring (1) is formed with two integral spring clamps, an outer spring clamp (2) and an inner spring clamp (3), which spring clamps are integral over a transition part (4), and where there is, at non-loaded spring, a small space (8 =>9) between said spring claims at the part thereof facing the post (13) to be clamped.

7. Spring lock system according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that each of the two spring clamps (2, 3) has a shape similar to the letter ╬⌐ (omega), and in that the inner spring clamp (3) is formed with a through conical bore (5) coinciding with the shape or the conical pin portion (17).

8. Spring lock system according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner spring clamp (3) has a slot (6) extending from the conical bore (5) inwards towards the mounting means (the timber support 12). 9. Spring lock system according to claims 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the spring is plane parallel and is formed en even vertical contact surfaces (7, 8,

9) facing the post (13) to be clamp mounted.

10. Spring lock system according to any of claims 6 - 9, characterized in that the spring is made of spring steel and is formed to provide a press counter force of at least 2 - 3 ton when the post is pressed inwards.