EP1331153A1 - Tarpaulin system for covering and uncovering, especially for a freight vehicle such as a railway wagon - Google Patents

Abstract

The system, comprising a series of tarpaulin supporting arches (3) that slide along lengthwise rails (4), and intermediate arches (6) between them pivoted to the main arches, has flexible strips (7) connecting the intermediate arches on adjacent pairs of main arches. The strips occupy a contracted position when the intermediate arches are folded, and an extended position when the intermediate arches are deployed and the main arches are in position to support. Each flexible strip has a curved middle section and two rolled ends to fit round the intermediate arches, and is made from an elastically deformable metal such as stainless steel with a plastic coating.

Description

The present invention relates to a tarpaulin / uncovering system in particular for a freight vehicle such as a railway wagon.

It is known to equip a railway wagon with a tarpaulin protection of transported goods, in order to protect these goods against the weather, and to provide a tarpaulin / uncovering system allowing to quickly and easily put this tarp in place or fold this tarp just as quickly and easily for loading or unloading the wagon.

• une série d'arceaux de support de la bâche, disposés parallèlement, transversalement à l'axe longitudinal du wagon, auxquels la bâche est reliée ;
• deux rails longitudinaux, situés au droit des extrémités inférieures des arceaux, et
• des coulisseaux ou chariots engagés sur ces rails et déplaçables le long de ceux-ci, auxquels sont reliées les extrémités inférieures des arceaux.

Such a system includes:

• a series of tarpaulin support arches, arranged parallel, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the wagon, to which the tarpaulin is connected;
• two longitudinal rails, located to the right of the lower ends of the arches, and
• slides or carriages engaged on these rails and movable along these, to which are connected the lower ends of the arches.

Thanks to these slides, the poles can be moved between the tarpaulin position, in which the hoops are mutually distant and keep the cover more or less taut during transport, and the unclogging position, in which the hoops are mutually close together and in which the tarpaulin is folded between them in the manner of a accordion, forming folds commonly called "tarpaulin drop".

The loading or unloading of goods takes place while the system is in the unblocking position. The folds formed by the tarpaulin do not must in no way be hung during the movement of goods, which could cause irreversible damage to this tarp.

The tarpaulin must also be supported between the poles so as not to risk rubbing against the goods during transport, which would subject to repeated friction leading to rapid wear.

These problems arise in particular in the upper and intermediate of the arches, these intermediate zones being those connecting the substantially rectilinear lateral uprights of each arch to the part more or less arcuate of this arch. These areas are in effect opposite the upper faces and upper angles of a loading in parallelepiped shape.

To limit the height of the "cover drop" and to support the tarpaulin, it was imagined to foresee, and it is known by the document FR-A-2 807 990, intermediate arches between the support arches tarpaulin, pivotally mounted on these tarpaulin support arches or on the slides supporting these tarpaulin support arches; two hoops intermediaries are located between each pair of support poles one of these intermediate hoops being pivotally mounted on one support poles of this pair of support poles or on the slides comprising this support arch while the other arch intermediate is pivotally mounted on the other support hoop of this pair support hoops or on the slides comprising this hoop support; these two intermediate arches are pivotable between a position of folding, in which each intermediate hoop is placed close to the adjacent support arch, and an unfolding position, in which each intermediate hoop is inclined towards the other hoop intermediate.

However, these pivoting intermediate hoops are not found perfectly effective in properly limiting the height of the "cover drop", in particular at the level of said intermediate areas of the arches.

For the same purpose of limiting the height of the tarpaulin fallout, it has also been imagined to provide arms placed between the arches of support, having the function of operating a lateral discharge of the sheet in position of uncovering.

These existing "reject arms" are however relatively difficult to put and do not have perfect efficiency. Also, they don't support the tarp perfectly in the covering position.

It has moreover been envisaged by document EP-A-0 379 821, a industrial vehicle roof opening device such as a truck, comprising poles on which the cover is fixed, and one or two elastic bands, in particular spring steel, suitable for push the cover up when the poles are close together. This or these flexible bands serve only to facilitate the folding / unfolding of the tarpaulin, and this document does not refer to an arch system intermediaries as mentioned above or to deal with the specific problem of "tarpaulin fallout" at said intermediate areas of the arches. In addition, the blade (s) come into contact with the sheet in the position of tarpaulin and cause damage to it due to friction repeated generated by transport.

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the systems existing, providing a system to minimize "tarpaulin fallout", particularly in said intermediate areas hoops, while ensuring, in the covering position, support for the tarpaulin suitable for avoiding any risk of rubbing of this sheet against goods, while remaining simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and being reliable in use and quick to operate.

• une série d'arceaux de support de la bâche, disposés parallèlement, auxquels la bâche est reliée ;
• deux rails longitudinaux, situés au droit des extrémités inférieures des arceaux ;
• des coulisseaux ou chariots engagés sur ces rails et déplaçables le long de ceux-ci, auxquels sont reliées les extrémités inférieures des arceaux, et
• des arceaux intermédiaires situés entre les arceaux de support de bâche et montés pivotants sur ces arceaux de support de bâche ou sur les coulisseaux supportant ces arceaux de support de bâche, deux arceaux intermédiaires étant situés entre chaque paire d'arceaux de support consécutifs, l'un de ces arceaux intermédiaires étant monté pivotant sur l'un des arceaux de support de cette paire d'arceaux de support ou sur les coulisseaux comportant cet arceau de support tandis que l'autre arceau intermédiaire est monté pivotant sur l'autre arceau de support de cette paire d'arceaux de support ou sur les coulisseaux comportant cet arceau de support, et ces deux arceaux intermédiaires étant pivotants entre une position de repliage, dans laquelle chaque arceau intermédiaire est placé à proximité de l'arceau de support adjacent, et une position de dépliage, dans laquelle chaque arceau intermédiaire est incliné en direction de l'autre arceau intermédiaire.

The system concerned comprises, in a manner known per se,

• a series of tarpaulin support arches, arranged in parallel, to which the tarpaulin is connected;
• two longitudinal rails, located to the right of the lower ends of the arches;
• slides or carriages engaged on these rails and movable along these, to which the lower ends of the arches are connected, and
• intermediate poles located between the tarpaulin support poles and pivotally mounted on these tarpaulin support poles or on the slides supporting these tarpaulin support poles, two intermediate poles being located between each pair of consecutive support poles, the one of these intermediate hoops being pivotally mounted on one of the support hoops of this pair of support hoops or on the slides comprising this support hoop while the other intermediate hoop is pivotally mounted on the other support hoop of this pair of support hoops or on the slides comprising this support hoop, and these two intermediate hoops being pivotable between a folding position, in which each intermediate hoop is placed near the adjacent support hoop, and a unfolding position, in which each intermediate hoop is inclined towards the other intermediate hoop.

According to the invention, the system comprises flexible bands connecting the intermediate hoops of the same pair of consecutive support hoops, fixed at the areas of the intermediate arches extending between the substantially straight lateral uprights of these arches and the parts more or less arched upper of these arches; each flexible strip has a longitudinal curvature and is arranged so that its face is convex towards the outside of the intermediate arches which include, this flexible band can adopt a configuration of longitudinal contraction when the intermediate hoops are in position folding, in which it projects widely beyond the arches, on the outer side of these, and a longitudinal extension configuration when the intermediate hoops are in the unfolded position, in which the flexible strip extends between the two intermediate arches, set back from the tarpaulin.

The flexible bands thus shaped and associated with arches intermediaries make it possible to reduce "tarpaulin fallout" as much as possible at the level of the areas of the intermediate arches at which they are fixed. In the covering position, they provide tarpaulin support suitable for avoiding any risk of rubbing of this sheet against goods, and do not bear against the tarpaulin, thus preventing any risk wear of the tarpaulin by friction. These flexible strips also remain simple and inexpensive structure to manufacture, while being reliable in use and quick to operate.

Preferably, each flexible strip is made of a metallic material elastically deformable.

Each flexible strip thus adopts either of the configurations of aforementioned contraction and extension by simple elastic deformation.

Each flexible strip may include at least one element ensuring a non-injurious contact of this strip with the sheet, for example a cladding total or partial flexible plastic material.

• une partie principale médiane ayant la courbure précitée,
• deux portions d'extrémité présentant des formes courbes inversées par rapport à la courbure de ladite partie principale médiane,

   la bande étant conformée et dimensionnée de telle sorte que la face convexe de ladite partie principale médiane soit, dans la position de bâchage, située en retrait du plan passant par les axes des portions d'arceaux intermédiaires auxquelles la bande est fixée, donc nettement en retrait de la bâche.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each flexible strip has:

• a main central part having the aforementioned curvature,
• two end portions having curved shapes inverted relative to the curvature of said central main part,

the strip being shaped and dimensioned so that the convex face of said central main part is, in the covering position, set back from the plane passing through the axes of the portions of intermediate arches to which the strip is fixed, therefore clearly in removal of the tarpaulin.

These shapes give the flexible strip a "wavy" appearance, which eliminates the risk of fatigue of the material constituting the level strip of the ends of it fixed to the arches, and which, above all, allows perfectly release, in the covering position, said main central part of the strip compared to the tarpaulin. The end portions also allow, by their deformation, to increase the amplitude of projection of the strip on the side outside of the hoops in the folding position of these hoops.

• longueur en configuration d'extension : environ 400 mm ;
• rayon générant la partie principale médiane : environ 528 mm ;
• rayon générant chaque portion d'extrémité : environ 70 mm ;
• point d'inflexion entre chaque portion d'extrémité et la partie principale médiane situé à environ 60 mm, en distance rectiligne, de l'extrémité correspondante de la bande.

The strip can have the following dimensions:

• length in extension configuration: approximately 400 mm;
• radius generating the middle main part: about 528 mm;
• radius generating each end portion: approximately 70 mm;
• point of inflection between each end portion and the main central part located approximately 60 mm, in rectilinear distance, from the corresponding end of the strip.

• chaque arceau intermédiaire présente une forme qui correspond sensiblement à celle des arceaux de support ;
• les extrémités inférieures des arceaux intermédiaires sont montées pivotantes sur lesdits coulisseaux ;
• l'inclinaison des arceaux intermédiaires en position de dépliage est telle que ces arceaux intermédiaires permettent de diviser la portion de bâche s'étendant entre deux arceaux de support consécutifs en trois parties de bâche de largeurs sensiblement égales au niveau de la partie supérieure des arceaux de support et des arceaux intermédiaires.

Advantageously, the system comprises the following characteristics, independently or in combination:

• each intermediate hoop has a shape which corresponds substantially to that of the support hoops;
• the lower ends of the intermediate arches are pivotally mounted on said slides;
• the inclination of the intermediate hoops in the unfolding position is such that these intermediate hoops allow the tarpaulin portion extending between two consecutive support hoops to be divided into three tarpaulin parts of widths substantially equal at the level of the upper part of the hoops support and intermediate arches.

These intermediate arches make it possible to form three folds, the height is reduced to about one sixth of the length of said portion of tarpaulin.

La figure 1 est une vue de côté d'un wagon de chemin de fer qui en est équipé, le système étant en position de bâchage et la bâche ayant été omise pour montrer ce système ;

la figure 2 est une vue similaire à la figure 1, en position de débâchage ;

la figure 3 est une vue de détail du système, à échelle agrandie et en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 1 ;

la figure 4 est une vue en coupe du wagon selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 2, et

la figure 5 est une vue de détail du système à échelle agrandie et en coupe selon la ligne V-V de la figure 4.

For a good understanding, the invention is again described below with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, a preferred embodiment of the system which it concerns.

Figure 1 is a side view of a railway wagon which is equipped, the system being in the covering position and the tarpaulin having been omitted to show this system;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, in the uncovered position;

Figure 3 is a detail view of the system, on an enlarged scale and in section along line III-III of Figure 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the wagon along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the system on an enlarged scale and in section along the line VV of FIG. 4.

Figures 1 and 2 show a railway wagon 1 fitted with a tarpaulin / uncovering system 2.

• une série d'arceaux 3 de support de la bâche, disposés transversalement à l'axe longitudinal du wagon 1, auxquels cette bâche est reliée ;
• deux rails longitudinaux 4, situés au droit des extrémités inférieures des arceaux 3 ;
• des coulisseaux ou chariots 5 engagés sur ces rails 4 et déplaçables le long de ceux-ci, auxquels sont reliées les extrémités inférieures des arceaux 3 ;
• des arceaux intermédiaires 6 groupés par paires, auxquels la bâche est également reliée, et
• des bandes souples 7 reliant les arceaux intermédiaires 6 d'une même paire l'un à l'autre.

This system 2 includes

• a series of arches 3 for supporting the tarpaulin, arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the wagon 1, to which this tarpaulin is connected;
• two longitudinal rails 4, located to the right of the lower ends of the arches 3;
• slides or carriages 5 engaged on these rails 4 and movable along these, to which are connected the lower ends of the arches 3;
• intermediate arches 6 grouped in pairs, to which the cover is also connected, and
• flexible bands 7 connecting the intermediate arches 6 of the same pair to each other.

Thanks to these slides 5, the poles 3 and 6 can be moved between the covering position shown in Figure 1, in which the hoops 3 and 6 are mutually distant and provide support for the tarpaulin during transport, and the clearing position shown in Figure 2, in which these arches 3 and 6 are reconciled and in which the cover is folded together like an accordion, forming folds commonly known as "tarpaulin fallout".

The wagon 1 also includes, at its ends, structures 8 connected to the poles 3 located at the end of the series of poles 3 and 6, allowing the solid attachment of these two hoops 3 to the rest of the wagon 1.

System 2 includes two poles 6 between each pair of poles 3 consecutive. The lower ends of the arches 6 form yokes which are engaged around gussets integral with the slides or carriages 5, these yokes and gussets being pierced with holes in which are engaged pins forming pivot axes.

The lower ends of one of these arches 6 are mounted pivoting on the slides 5 of one of the arches 3 of this pair of arches 3, while the two lower ends of the other arch 6 are mounted pivoting on the slides 5 of the other hoop 3 of this same pair hoops 3.

The lower ends of the hoops 6 and the slides 5 are shaped so as to constitute stops limiting the pivoting of these hoops 6 between the folding position shown in Figure 2, in which each hoop 6 is placed near the adjacent hoop 3, and the position of unfolding shown in Figure 1, wherein each hoop 6 is inclined in direction of the other hoop 6. As it appears in this figure 1, this inclination is such that the arches 6 make it possible to divide the portion of tarpaulin extending between two consecutive arches 3 in three tarpaulin parts of substantially equal widths at the level of the upper part of the hoops 3 and 6.

It appears in Figures 1 and 4 that each flexible strip 7 connects the intermediate hoops 6 of the same pair of support hoops 3 consecutive, and that it is fixed at the level of the areas of the arches 6 extending between the substantially straight lateral uprights of these arches 6 and the more or less arched upper parts of these arches 6.

As shown in Figure 3, this flexible strip 7 has a part main curved median 7a, two end portions 7b having curved shapes inverted with respect to the curvature of part 7a, and zones 7c for fixing to the poles 6.

Each strip 7 is arranged so that the convex face of its part 7a is turned towards the outside of the intermediate arches 6 which behave. The strip 7 is however shaped and dimensioned in such a way so that this convex face is, in the covering position shown on the Figure 3, set back from the plane passing through the axes of the portions of arcs 6 to which the strip 7 is attached, as appears in Figure 3, so clearly behind the cover.

This flexible strip 7 is made of an elastically metallic material deformable, such as stainless steel, and part 7a has a sheathing 8 made of flexible plastic.

As can be seen from the figures, each flexible strip 7 can adopt a longitudinal contraction configuration when the hoops intermediate 6 are in the folded position (see Figures 2, 4 and 5) and a longitudinal extension configuration when the intermediate arches 6 are in the unfolding position (see Figures 1 and 3), in which the flexible strip 7 extends between the two intermediate arches 6.

It appears in Figure 4 that in the longitudinal contraction configuration, the strips 7 project widely beyond the hoops 6, on the outside of these, and thus make it possible to minimize the "fallout from tarpaulin 10 "in the corresponding areas of the poles 6. In the position of tarpaulin, the strips 7 provide support for the tarpaulin to prevent any risk of this sheet rubbing against the goods transported 11. In addition, the tarpaulin is kept perfectly taut around the bands 7 thanks to the intermediate arches 6, and the aforementioned shape of these strips 7 keeps these strips clearly set back from the sheet, this which eliminates any risk of friction between the bands 7 and the tarpaulin.

The aforementioned inclination of the hoops 6 in the unfolded position allows as for it to form three tarpaulin fallout having substantially the same length, and therefore reduce the height of each fallout accordingly of tarpaulin, at the top of hoops 3 and 6, about one sixth of the length of the tarpaulin portion extending between two arches 3 consecutive.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above as an example but that it embraces on the contrary all variants. Thus, the system 2 according to the invention can comprise a plurality of consecutive bands 7, each independent another, or a single band, the successive portions of which extend between the pairs of arches 6 are shaped to form "bands 7" such as above. In addition, the system 2 according to the invention is not only applicable to freight vehicle and could also be used on an area of storage, for example.

Claims (9)

Covering / uncovering system, in particular for a freight vehicle such as a railway wagon (1), comprising a series of arches (3) for supporting the tarpaulin, arranged in parallel, to which the tarpaulin is connected; two longitudinal rails (4), located to the right of the lower ends of the arches (3); slides or carriages (5) engaged on these rails (4) and movable along these, to which the lower ends of the arches (3) are connected, and intermediate poles (6) located between the tarpaulin support poles and pivotally mounted on these tarp support poles (3) or on the slides (5) supporting these tarpaulin support poles (3), two poles intermediate (6) being located between each pair of consecutive support poles (3), one of these intermediate poles (6) being pivotally mounted on one of the support poles (3) of this pair of poles support (3) or on the slides (5) comprising this support hoop (3) while the other intermediate hoop (6) is pivotally mounted on the other support hoop (3) of this pair of support hoops (3) or on the slides (5) comprising this support hoop (3), and these two intermediate hoops (6) being pivotable between a folding position, in which each intermediate hoop (6) is placed near the adjacent support bar (3), and an unfolding position, in which each intermediate bar area (6) is inclined towards the other intermediate hoop (6); system (2) characterized in that it comprises flexible bands (7) connecting the intermediate arches (6) of the same pair of consecutive support arches (3), fixed at the areas of the intermediate arches (6) extending between the substantially rectilinear lateral uprights of these arches and the more or less arched upper parts of these arches;
each flexible strip (7) has a longitudinal curvature and is arranged so that its convex face faces the outside of the intermediate arches (6) which comprise it, this flexible strip (7) being able to adopt a configuration of longitudinal contraction when the intermediate poles (6) are in the folded position, in which it projects widely beyond the poles (6), on the outside of the latter, and a configuration of longitudinal extension when the intermediate poles (6) are in the unfolding position, in which the flexible strip (7) extends between the two intermediate arches (6). System according to claim 1, characterized in that each flexible strip (7) is made of an elastically deformable metallic material. System according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that each flexible strip (7) comprises at least one element (8) ensuring non-injurious contact of this strip with the sheet. System according to claim 3, characterized in that each flexible strip (7) comprises a total or partial sheathing (8) made of flexible plastic material. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each flexible strip (7) has: a main central part (7a) having the aforementioned curvature, two end portions (7b) having curved shapes inverted with respect to the curvature of said main central part (7a), the strip (7) being shaped and dimensioned so that the convex face of said main central part (7a) is, in the covering position, set back from the plane passing through the axes of the portions of arches (6) to which the strip (7) is fixed, therefore clearly set back from the cover. System according to claim 5, characterized in that each flexible strip (7) has the following dimensions: length in extension configuration: approximately 400 mm; radius generating the middle main part (7a): about 528 mm; radius generating each end portion (7b): approximately 70 mm; point of inflection between each end portion (7b) and the main central part (7a) located approximately 60 mm, in rectilinear distance, from the corresponding end of the strip (7). System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each intermediate hoop (6) has a shape which corresponds substantially to that of the support hoops (3). System according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lower ends of the intermediate arches (6) are pivotally mounted on said slides (5). System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inclination of the intermediate arches (6) in the unfolded position is such a tarpaulin of substantially equal widths at the upper part of the support arches (3) and intermediate hoops (6).

Images