EP1870070A2 - Hearse with plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The hearse (1) has a loading floor (2) for accommodating at least one coffin and a plate (4) with a supporting surface for accommodating at least one foot of the coffin. The plate is guided to move longitudinally on the loading floor and is pivotable about a vertical axis from a normal or transport position into a loading position. The plate has a guide (6) that limits motion of the foot on the plate in both lateral directions and in at least one longitudinal direction. An independent claim is also included for a plate for a hearse.

Description

The invention relates to a funeral vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

When talking about "sliding" or "pulling" in connection with the movable loading floor, this usage of language is based on manual activities. The plate and / or the loading floor can, however, also be moved by machine, eg. B. mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically, so that a "sliding" referred to movement, such as the insertion of the loading floor in the funeral vehicle, possibly actually executed as a train, z. B. when the loading floor is pulled by means of a cable, which is wound onto an electric motor driven drum. This also applies to split loading floors, which have one or more movable sections, so-called tracks, which can be moved independently or together.

As the "foot" of a coffin in the present proposal, the deepest ground contact surface is referred to, with which the coffin on a substrate - such. B. also on the plate - gets up. Usually, a coffin has four feet that protrude below the rest of the coffin bottom down. In special cases, two such feet can be combined to form a single baseboard so that such a coffin has two "feet" within the meaning of the present proposal.

Designations used hereinafter, such as "forward" and "rearward", are oriented in the direction of travel of the burial vehicle so that a "front" foot of the coffin is provided at the end of the coffin which represents the front end of the coffin located inside the burial vehicle.

From practice it is known to facilitate the loading process of a funeral vehicle in that a coffin can be inserted by means of a displaceable plate in the cargo compartment of the vehicle or can be pulled out of the vehicle on the loading floor. For this purpose, the coffin with at least one front foot - in practice usually with two front feet - on the plate, which is mounted longitudinally movable in the vehicle. To load the plate is located in the rear of the loading floor, near the rear opening of the funeral vehicle. In this position of the plate, the coffin can be placed with his front foot or with his two front feet on the plate. Subsequently, the coffin can be inserted with relatively little effort in the vehicle, the plate usually runs in a rail guide, which is provided in the loading floor.

Alternatively, it may be provided with a pull-out loading floor to pull the empty loading floor of the funeral vehicle. In this case, for loading the plate can be comparatively far ahead on the loading floor: the casket can be held by two undertakers approximately parallel to the loading floor and then placed with its front end on the plate. Subsequently, the loading floor is inserted into the funeral vehicle and possibly also pushed the plate on the loading floor even further forward.

In order to facilitate the loading and unloading of the coffin, it is known to store the plate about its vertical axis pivoting in the loading floor. This pivoting movement can lead to the sliding movement of the coffin that the plate unintentionally moves during its longitudinal movement at the same time about its vertical axis. For example, if the plate is loaded unevenly and therefore rests more strongly on one side on the loading floor and is therefore braked on this side:

The plates are removable from their guide rails and although there is this possibility at the rear end of the guide rail. When pulling out of the coffin, this can lead to the previous unintentional rotational movement of the plate is in a rotational or pivotal position in which he is due to the design of the guide rail removable. If now the coffin the plate unevenly loaded and almost completely pulled out of the hold of the funeral vehicle, depending on the pivot position of the plate and depending on how the plate is loaded by the coffin, not be ruled out that the plate may be unintentionally out of the Guide rail passes.

Regardless of this potential danger situation, the handling of the coffin is difficult if the plate unintentionally twisted during the longitudinal movement of the coffin.

The invention has for its object to improve a gattungsgemä-βes funeral vehicle to the effect that this allows a simple and easy handling of the coffin during loading and unloading.

This object is achieved by a funeral vehicle with the features of claim 1 and by a correspondingly designed plate according to claim 12.

In other words, the invention proposes to provide a guide device on the plate, which limits the mobility of the feet of the coffin on the plate, ie relative to the plate. The mobility of the coffin in both lateral directions is limited, as well as in at least one of the two longitudinal directions in which the coffin can be moved back and forth, for example when it is pushed into the funeral vehicle or pulled out of this. This can be done in a conventional manner by means of guide rails which extend on or in the loading floor in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

By this guide device, the rotational mobility of the plate is limited or even excluded below the coffin. However, the plate can be pivoted together with the coffin, as is intended for particularly easy loading and unloading of the coffin. By virtue of the limited or completely excluded relative mobility proposed, the plate can thus be controlled by means of the coffin, in that the movements of the coffin inevitably determine the movements of the plate.

In order to achieve the most individual adaptation of the guide device to different coffin models, the guide device of the plate can advantageously form two stops for the two feet, these stops in the form of a curved curve or similar to a V from a central region of the plate to the rear and to the side run. This causes that when pulling the coffin out of the hold, it should come to a relative movement between the plate and coffin, the two feet of the coffin, which stand up on the plate, automatically abut these two inclined stops, so that from that point It is ensured that due to the plant of the feet on the stops another relative movement between coffin and plate is excluded and rather the coffin controls the further movements of the plate inevitably.

Advantageously, the guide means for both longitudinal movements of the coffin, so both when inserted into the funeral vehicle and when pulling out of the load compartment stops on the plate form, which thus limit a displacement of the coffin feet on the plate in both longitudinal movement directions.

Basically, the appropriate contouring of the plate surface can be done in a variety of ways. In structurally particularly simple and practical design, a frame may be provided on the plate surface, which can also be retrofitted easily and which forms the stops for the coffin feet. In this way, the casket seating area is not increased, leaving the usable space within the hold unchanged, with the frame provided on the plate surface forming the stops for the coffin feet.

Advantageously, the frame may have a front in the vehicle longitudinal direction traverse, which serves as a stop for the coffin feet when the coffin is placed on the plate and then pushed into the vehicle. Two struts of the frame extending obliquely backwards and outwards towards the edge of the plate form the stops for the opposite direction of movement, namely, when the coffin is pulled out of the vehicle.

Thus, for example, in addition to a traverse already widely present in practice on the plates, the frame may have a triangle widening towards the rear. In contrast, with newly made plates, the frame can be configured in a simple manner as a cross, which is arranged lying flat, so a larger width corresponding to the plate width has as its length in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is.

Alternatively to the formation of a frame, the guide device may advantageously be formed by a plurality of holding elements, which are arranged distributed over the surface of the plate, and which are individually vertically movable. They allow the formation of a height relief, which is individually adapted to the respective coffin feet, this optimally fits tight and therefore optimally secures them against unwanted longitudinal and transverse movements on the plate. The raised holding elements thus surround the foot of the coffin and form the guide means which limits its displaceability on the plate. The coffin base can therefore be easily positioned on the plate without having to target a special, limited by a frame footprint, so that a particularly simple handling of the coffin when loading the loading floor or a single loading floor track is made possible.

In height-adjustable holding elements can be provided that the holding elements are basically in a lowered normal or rest position, so that advantageously a flat surface of the plate is made possible, on which let the feet of the coffin back and forth, so that the feet, when the coffin is supported on the plate, first can be brought into a desired position. If the feet are in this desired position on the plate, then the unloaded by the feet, so "free" holding elements can be raised to a raised use or functional position. The holding elements are thus selectively moved between their normal or rest position on the one hand and their use or functional position on the other hand.

According to a first variant can be provided to drive all the holding elements equally, but only the unloaded by the feet, so "free" holding elements are able to perform the movement. For this purpose, the lifting force which acts on the holding elements, so weakly dimensioned that only the unloaded by a foot holding elements can be raised. Despite these weak driving forces, which also allow a depression of the holding elements with little effort, a reliable backup of the foot can be achieved on the plate by the lifting height of the holding elements is dimensioned so large that any inclined surfaces on the feet do not slip on raised holding elements and then they can depress them.

Assuming that the holding elements initially form a continuous flat plane, determines the lifting height by which the individual holding elements can be raised, the height, which have the raised holding elements with respect to the footprint of the plate on which the plate rests. In practice, a lifting height of already about 10 - 20 mm is sufficient, advantageously a safety height of about 30 mm or even more can be provided for safety.

The holding elements may, for example, be driven mechanically by means of rams, wherein a respective slip clutch is provided between a drive shaft and the respective ram, so that a holding element loaded by a coffin base is not raised. Or the holding elements can be raised, for example, by means of magnetic, in particular switched on and off electromagnetic forces, or by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure fluid, wherein also the lifting force is correspondingly weak dimensioned to ensure the aforementioned selective lifting.

According to a second variant, it may be provided selectively to drive only those holding elements which are unloaded from the feet are. Therefore, advantageously high drive forces can be used, which firstly allow rapid movement of the holding elements and secondly allow depression of the holding elements only by applying a large amount of force. In this case, the lifting force, which acts on the holding elements, be sized so strong that even the loaded by a foot holding elements can be raised. Sensors on the individual holding elements, together with a control, prevent these loaded holding elements from being driven.

In contrast to the aforementioned arrangement, in which the holding elements lowered to assume their normal or rest position, it can be provided that the holding elements can be lowered from a raised normal or rest position into a lowered use or functional position. This has the advantage that no "activatable" holding elements are required, which must therefore be actively raised to form the guide means for the foot. Rather, the holding elements can be kept in a simple manner, for example by means of elastic springs, basically in its raised rest position. It is immediately apparent if a malfunction should be present, because then the relevant holding element does not occupy its raised rest position but recognizable is arranged deeper, so that even before the desired use of the plate whose need for repair is recognizable.

Advantageously, the holding elements by means of such a weakly sized lifting force -. As the spring force of the aforementioned springs - are held in its raised rest position, that the holding elements are each automatically lowered against the action of the lifting force when they are charged by a Sargfuß. Thus, the holding elements are "passive" lowered without the need for a dedicated control and power supply to move the holding elements. Because of the longitudinal displaceability and rotational mobility of the plate and the ability to remove the plate completely from the loading floor, the supply of the holding elements with control signals, as well as with electrical energy or with pneumatic or hydraulic pressure can be complicated, so that the "passive" movable, only by placing or lifting the coffin leg height-controlled holding elements allow a particularly simple and economical design of the plate.

In the abovementioned terms, where the longitudinal or transverse direction of the vehicle is indicated, it is always assumed that the plate is on the loading floor in a position which is referred to as the normal or transport position and which differs from one position, which can be referred to as a loading position. In the normal or transport position, the plate supports the coffin, which is pushed into the vehicle. Based on this orientation of the coffin and the corresponding orientation of the plate, the directions are to understand. Compared to this normal or transport position of the plate, especially when the loading floor is pulled out of the funeral vehicle to be pivoted about its vertical axis in a certain of possibly several different loading positions, for example, either to the right or to the left to the loading and unloading of Vehicle with a coffin to facilitate.

The guide device limits the relative movement of the coffin on the plate in both lateral directions and in one or advantageously both longitudinal directions, so that a particularly simple handling of the plate is possible in that the movements of the plate are controlled by the coffin. The movements of the coffin - more precisely: his feet - are inevitably transmitted to the plate due to the limited relative movement possible. In addition, there is a optimal protection for the casket during the journey, since the coffin during transport can not move from the plate but its movements on the plate in several directions, advantageously in all directions, and in any case are limited in both lateral directions.

Fig. 1 bis 3

in jeweils perspektivischer Ansicht auf das Heck eines Bestattungsfahrzeuges jeweils einen teilweise herausgezogenen Ladeboden mit einem Teller.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the purely schematic representations. Show

Fig. 1 to 3

in each case in perspective view of the stern of a funeral vehicle each a partially drawn loading floor with a plate.

In the drawings, 1 each a funeral vehicle indicated and shown in fragmentary form, which has a loading floor 2 as a loading area for two coffins. The loading floor 2 has in each case on the outside, above the two wheel arches of the funeral vehicle, each a fixed path, and in its central region two independently from the funeral vehicle 1 pull-out tracks 3, which can also be lowered or raised to different heights. On the raised, right movable path 3 and on the right fixed path, so in total on the right half of the loading floor, a first coffin is recognizable, which rests directly on the loading floor 2 with two L-shaped rear feet. The front end of this coffin can stand up on a plate 4, as will be explained in more detail below:

In the illustrated embodiments, each of the left movable path 3 is lowered and shown partially moved out of the funeral vehicle 1, so that it is in an optimal loading position and loading height, which allows comfortable loading and unloading of this web 3. On this unladen web 3 is a plate 4, which also is called a turntable, since it is pivotable about its vertical axis. This pivot axis does not pass through the center of the surface of the plate 4 but eccentrically, said pivot axis is formed by a pin.

The pin is - not visible from the illustration - arranged on the underside of the plate 4 and runs in one of two guide grooves 5 of the web 3. The plate 4 is detachable together with this pin from the web 3, so that the plate 4 depending on the loading situation can be positioned differently on the two tracks 3, and within a track 3 optionally in one of the two guide grooves 5. Along the guide grooves 5, the plate 4 can be moved longitudinally on the web 3 with very little effort.

The loading process for a second coffin can therefore proceed as follows: first, the front end of the casket is placed on the plate 4 in a comfortable for the staff loading height. Due to the width of the plate 4, the coffin with his two feet on the plate 4. Subsequently, the web 3 is raised to the level of the rest of the loading floor 2 and inserted into the funeral vehicle 1. Now, the coffin on the web 3 can be pushed forward, with the plate 4 is partly above the movable path 3 and partly protrudes beyond the left fixed path, and held for this sliding the coffin at its rear end and pushed forward is, so that the plate 4 with the front coffin easily along the guide rail 5 slides forward.

On the plates 4 of all three embodiments, a guide device 6 is provided in each case, which is formed in each of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 by a frame 7: the frame 7 has a front cross member 8 and two adjoining the cross member 8 and extending both to the rear and obliquely outward to the edge of the plate 4 Struts 9, so that two lateral, approximately triangular footprints are created on which the feet of a coffin can be placed. The guide device 6 limits the relative movement of the coffin on the plate 4 in both lateral directions and in both longitudinal directions, so that on the one hand a particularly simple handling of the plate 4 is made possible by the fact that the movements of the plate 4 can be controlled by means of the coffin. In addition, there is an optimal transport protection, since the coffin during transport can not move from the plate 4.

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment, in which the guide device 6 is designed as a cross-shaped frame 7. While in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the two lateral, approximately triangular contact surfaces between the cross member 8 and the struts 9 are created, they result in the embodiment of FIG. 2 between the two struts 9 of this cross.

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment in which the guide means 6 is formed of a plurality of holding elements 10. The holding elements 10 are each configured approximately mushroom-shaped, with a lower support 11 and an upper cap 12. The holding elements 10 are shown in their raised normal or rest position, wherein spring elements push the caps 12 upwards. The spring strength is dimensioned so that the caps 12 are pressed down against the spring action on the supports 11 when a coffin is placed with one foot on a holding element 10. In this way, the respective holding elements 10 are lowered into a use or functional position, whereby the non-depressed holding elements 10 surround the foot of the coffin and limit the displacement of the foot on the plate 4.

Claims (12)

Hearse,
with a loading floor for receiving at least one coffin,
and with a plate that Is dimensioned as a footprint for receiving at least one foot of the coffin, ■ is longitudinally displaceable on the loading floor, ■ And from a normal or transport position to at least one side in a loading position about its vertical axis is pivotally characterized,
in that the plate (4) is provided with a guide device (6) which, starting from the normal or transport position of the plate (4), delimits a displaceability of the foot on the plate (4) in both lateral directions and in at least one longitudinal direction , Funeral vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (4) is dimensioned as a footprint for receiving two feet of the coffin. Funeral vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide device (6) forms two stops for the foot or the feet, wherein the stops each from the central region of the plate (4) both laterally to the edge of the plate (4) extend in the longitudinal direction of the plate (4). Funeral vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide device (6) has stops which the displaceability of the foot or the feet on the plate (4) in both Limit longitudinal directions. Funeral vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide device (6) by a over the surface of the plate (4) upwardly projecting frame (7) is formed. Funeral vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the frame (7) has a front in the vehicle longitudinal direction Traverse (8) and two obliquely backwards and outwards to the edge of the plate (4) extending struts (9). Funeral vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guide device (6) by a plurality of over the surface of the plate (4) arranged distributed, individually height-adjustable holding elements (10) is formed. Funeral vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding elements (10) can be raised from a lowered normal or rest position into a raised use or functional position, wherein the intended lifting force is so weak that only the unloaded by a foot holding elements ( 10) are liftable. Funeral vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the holding elements (10) by means of electrical or magnetic forces or by means of a pressurized fluid can be raised. Funeral vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding elements (10) can be lowered from a raised normal or rest position into a lowered use or functional position, wherein the holding elements (10) are held by means of a lifting force in its raised rest position, and wherein this lifting force is dimensioned so weak that the loaded by a foot holding elements (10) are each lowered against the action of the lifting force. Funeral vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the holding elements (10) are held by means of springs in its raised rest position. Plate (4) of a burial vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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