ES2382433A1 - Automatic and autonomous procedure to cover and unlock through a canvas a container transported by an automobile vehicle and associated mechanism. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Autonomous and automatic procedure to cover and uncover a container transported by a motor vehicle and associated mechanism by means of a tarpaulin. The method comprises automatically raising a portal assembly (8), comprising the canvas (7) wound around an extensible tree (27), and fixed at one end to the chassis (2), to exceed the height of the container (4) ; automatically separating rails (5) arranged parallel in the longitudinal direction substantially in the same plane until exceeding the width of the container (4); automatically moving the portal assembly (8) with respect to the rails (5), longitudinally towards the rear of the container (4), above said container, while said canvas (7) is unrolled, covering said canvas (7) the upper part of the container (4); closing the upper rear part of the container (4) by means of the automatic tilting of the portal assembly (8) with respect to the rails (5); and deploying canvas sides (15) (7) intended to laterally close the container (4) and tie said canvas sides (15) (7) to said container (4). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be included in the field of freight transport on motor vehicles. More specifically, the invention focuses on fixing or covering the load on vehicles.

The object of the invention is an automatic and autonomous mechanism to cover and uncover by means of a tarp a container transported by a motor vehicle, as well as a method to cover and uncover said container using the mentioned mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, road transport of goods is very frequent, by means of trucks or articulated vehicles, whose trailers have an extensible tarp to cover the load, preventing the load from falling off the vehicle, deteriorating or even the possibility of theft . Said tarpaulin is removed to proceed with the loading of the vehicle more easily, and subsequently extended, covering the load.

The extension and removal of the canvas manually forces the driver or operator to get on the trailer, with the consequent physical effort and the consequent risk of falling.

In cases where the load has a toxic, corrosive or, in general, dangerous nature, the risk of contact with the load is added.

 Additionally, there is a risk of injury due to the handling of generally dirty, rusty, sharp elements, etc.

Finally, it involves an excessive expenditure of time.

On some occasions, the drivers of the trucks, to avoid some of these inconveniences, opt for the transport of the uncovered merchandise, which facilitates the fall of the cargo and its spillage on the public roads, with the consequent risk of accidents, Smells and toxicity.

Different solutions have been devised for the extension and removal of the canvas, which are discussed below:

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 Some systems include a telescopic mast with an electric canvas reel located at the rear of the cabin, which is manipulated by the driver by operating a knob that rolls and unrolls the canvas, while the driver pulls a guide rope . The drawback of such systems is that the driver must support the weight of the tarp, which further hinders the task in atmospheric conditions of rain or wind, which can result in injuries to the upper limbs of the driver.

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 Other systems propose a combination of pinions, chains and ropes, by means of which the driver extends and removes the tarp through a crank. These systems reduce but do not eliminate the necessary physical effort.

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There are devices that use hand-movable porches, which take up a lot of space in the front, which greatly hinders the loading in said front part.

The aforementioned devices, with the exception of the one that uses sprockets, chains and ropes, are designed for containers that are always assembled in vehicles, and are not suitable for vehicles that transport non-fixed containers in vehicles called self-supporting.

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The solution of incorporating to each of the containers an automatic system of closing and opening the upper and lateral part of said containers is economically unfeasible.

The applicant knows the specific existence of devices marketed by the competition for the automatic coverage of truck containers by means of canvases, as described above:

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In the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CxZmcsjQfs, there is a device of Workshops Robles, called Toldo Flip Flap, which is a mechanism that contains a motor that deploys a rolled canvas and a connecting rod connected to said tarpaulin, which extends the tarp to the rear of the truck, leaving the top of a dump truck, trailer, or container transported in a truck covered. The device of Talleres Robles is not part of the truck, but of the trailer.

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 In the link http://www.cramaro.com/home_transport.html, a Cramaro device is shown, which includes a mast by which a rolled canvas is lifted above the height of the container. A teleactive motor unwinds the tarp, while an operator, by means of a bar and a rope, can direct the tarp to cover the upper part of the container with it. The end of the canvas has a counterweight to ensure its adjustment by gravity. When the tarp is adjusted, the operator lowers the mast and the container is covered. The drawback of this device, as already mentioned above, is that it does not allow an automatic adjustment of the canvas to the particular dimensions of each container, in addition to the fact that it requires active intervention by an operator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the aforementioned drawbacks by means of a method for covering and uncovering by means of tarps a container transported by a motor vehicle, in particular rigid, articulated truck, trailer or semi-trailer, as well as an automatic and autonomous mechanism for covering and uncovering by tarpaulins. a container transported by a motor vehicle, using the aforementioned procedure.

The mechanism object of the present invention distinguishes the dimensions of height, width and length of any type of container transported by a motor vehicle, its operation being adapted to work with any of said containers, regardless of their dimensions, provided they do not exceed maximum dimensions contemplated by legal requirements, that is, a maximum width of 2550 mm. and a height of 4000 mm.

All safety measures, both of the operator and third parties, are complied with the use of the mechanism and procedure described in the invention.

The mechanism of the invention has the following advantages:

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 prevent the operator from having to access the top of the container

or towing, which prevents injuries due to cargo handling and handling of dirty, sharp, or rusty elements, as well as falls, and intense muscular efforts that can lead to fatigue, tears, dislocations, etc .;

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  time saving, since the present invention provides a mechanism to cover the containers automatically and autonomously;

The devices comprising the invention are powered by oil pressure circuits by means of a pump preferably located in the gearbox of the vehicle, or, in the case where the vehicle does not have a power take-off in the gearbox, by an electric pump powered by the truck's batteries (12 or 24 V).

The invention is commanded by an automaton or a printed electronic circuit card or relay programmer or the like, preferably fed at 12 or 24 V., which transmits the orders from the user and the automatic orders to a pressure oil distributor , giving the assembly of the mechanism a precision adequate to the speed that is wanted to cover and uncover the container with a tarp.

In the following, the longitudinal dimension will be considered to be that associated with the direction of travel, the cabin being the front.

The mechanism and method of the invention are described below.

The mechanism comprises means of remote operation by means of which a user (an operator or the driver himself) can activate the operation of said mechanism.

The motor vehicle has a hook system, which is a hydraulic system for the collection of the container, used to take the container from the ground to the vehicle and from the vehicle to the ground.

The activation of the mechanism causes the blocking of said vehicle hook equipment by means of a blocking solenoid valve, to prevent said hook equipment from being operated while the container is being covered with the tarp or while the container is covered. While the mechanism for covering and uncovering the invention is working, the hook kit is voided for safety. Until the canvas is uncovered, service to such hydraulic systems is not restored.

The mechanism of the invention comprises a base structure integral to the chassis of the motor vehicle carrying the mechanism of the invention and of a container or trailer. Said base structure is preferably located at the rear of the cabin, between the cabin and the container.

After activating the mechanism of the invention and blocking the vehicle mentioned above, the mechanism is adapted to the particular dimensions of height and width of the container, from a reference position.

In order to carry out the adaptation to the height, the invention has a lifting gantry that is displaced with respect to the base structure in a vertical direction upwards, until a height sensing means detects that the height of the container has been exceeded, moment in which the displacement of the lifting gantry ceases.

The lifting gantry comprises two first arms. In the upper part of the lifting gantry there is a portalona assembly, which contains the rolled canvas.

The vehicle has a windshield arranged in front of the portalona assembly to avoid loss of energy due to turbulence due to strong winds.

To carry out the adaptation in width, the invention has rails arranged in a longitudinal direction, one on each left and right side, arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane. Said rails are operated to separate, opening in parallel until width detection means detect that their separation has exceeded the width of the container. The movement of separation of the rails drags the first arms of the lifting gantry, which also separate together.

Once the adaptation of the mechanism of the invention to the dimensions of height and width of the container occurs, the displacement of the assembly formed by the gantry and the portalone assembly occurs. Indeed, the portal moves longitudinally, with the first arms of said portal guided on the rails, from the front to the rear of the container, dragging along the portalona assembly. While the longitudinal displacement occurs, the canvas located in the portalone assembly is unwound, so that by means of said longitudinal displacement the cover of the upper part of the container with the canvas is produced. Some springs arranged in the portalona assembly produce a recovery force that tenses the canvas, facilitating its unwinding. The longitudinal displacement ends when length detecting means detect that the gantry has reached the end of the length of the container.

Next, the gantry tilts with respect to the rails until it is in a substantially horizontal position, thus covering the upper rear part of the container.

Next, there is a movement of approaching the rails, hiding under the container, in order to avoid breaking the legal provisions of maximum width.

At this point, the container is already, at its top and back, covered by the canvas by an automatic, fast and risk-free procedure for the operator. The next step consists in the deployment of the sides of the canvas and its subsequent fixation to the sides of the container by means of extendable ropes, without having to get on the truck or the container. The deployment of the sides of the canvas is carried out automatically by means of a few second arms placed on the windshield and two gearmotors. Initially, the sides of the canvas are in a horizontal position, fully deployed, as are the second arms.

The deployment of the canvas sides implies a rotation of the second arms, which take the canvas sides from their initial horizontal position to a position parallel to the sides of the container.

The procedure to uncover the canvas of a container is described below:

First, the operator releases the side tarps from the fixing to the sides of the container. Next, the automatic collection of the canvas sides takes place, in the opposite way as explained for the deployment of said canvas sides.

Next, the operator indicates the order to start the maneuver of uncovering the container, preferably through the command located on the first arm on the left side, thereby blocking the hook equipment. The vehicle has two emergency stop devices (mushrooms) located on each side of the mechanism of the invention.

Next, the rails separate and the gantry swings over the rails, uncovering the rear of the container.

Next, the porch moves along the rails in a longitudinal direction from the rear of the container to the cabin, uncovering the canvas of said container, while the springs wind said canvas.

Next, there is the pick-up of the rails and the descent of the porch, returning to the original position.

Finally, the hydraulic elements of the hook equipment are unlocked, all being arranged to be able to unload the material contained in the container, whereby said vehicle is again ready for circulation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of a motor vehicle where the mechanism of the invention and an operator are mounted.

Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view of the mechanism of the invention.

Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view of the portal team.

Figure 4.- Shows the final position after tilting, with the gantry in a horizontal position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in Figure 1, the mechanism of the invention is fixed to the chassis of a motor vehicle (3) carrying a container (4).

The vehicle (3) car has a hook kit, which is a hydraulic system for the collection of the container (4), used to carry the container (4) from the ground to the vehicle and from the vehicle to the ground.

An operator (13) operates the mechanism by means of a control (6), arranged on the left side of the vehicle (3), to carry out the function of covering the container (4) with a tarp (7). At that time, the hook device is locked for safety. It is additionally included in each of the right and left sides of the mechanism of the invention two safety automatic stop devices (mushrooms) to stop the mechanism of the invention in case of danger.

Next, the mechanism is adapted to the particular dimensions of height and width of the container (4), from a reference position.

Figure 2 shows the components of the mechanism involved in height adaptation. To perform the height adaptation, a gantry (17) formed by first vertical telescopic arms (28) is raised until a height sensing means (not shown) detects that the height of the container (4) has been reached, at which time that stops the lifting movement. A portalone assembly (8) is connected to the gantry (17) by means of a bracket (12) and is jointly and severally moved with said gantry (17). Figure 3 shows that the portalone assembly (8) comprises a canvas (7) wrapped around an extensible tree (27). Also, the portalona assembly (8) includes a housing (10) that houses the canvas

(7)

and that contains springs (11) that help to wind and unwind the canvas (7). The vehicle incorporates a windshield (18) located in front of the portalona assembly (8), in order to avoid energy losses due to turbulence with strong winds.

Figure 3 shows the components of the mechanism involved in the width adaptation. Longitudinal rails (5), to which the first arms (28) are attached with the help of sleeves (14), move parallel to their longitudinal direction, separating until width detecting means (not shown) detect that has reached the width of the container (4). In the separation movement, the rails (5) drag the sleeves (14) and, in solidarity with said sleeves

(14)

also the porch (17). The first arms (28) of the gantry (17) are connected through the bracket (12) with a tree (27) located in the assembly

portalona (8). Said tree (27) comprises stems (29) at the ends, said stems (29) being laterally movable by means of which stems (29) said tree (27) is attached to the first arms (28), so that the joint displacement of the gantry (17), the bracket (12) and the portalone assembly (8) with the tree (27) occurs.

Once the adaptation of the mechanism of the invention to the dimensions of height and width of the container takes place, the longitudinal displacement towards the rear of the container (4) of the gantry (17) takes place, which moves with respect to the rails (5) Guided by the sleeves (14). This longitudinal displacement occurs until length detection means (not shown) detect that the gantry (17) has reached the rear of the container (4). In its longitudinal movement, the gantry (17) drags the portalone assembly (8). In this way, the canvas (7), which has an end fixed to the chassis of the vehicle (3), is unwound covering the upper part of the container (4). The springs (11) exert a recovering force that tensiones the canvas (7) during its unwinding.

Next, the gantry (17) tilts, driven by cylinders (20), with respect to the rails (5), through a joint between the sleeves (14) and the first arms (28), being placed in the final position, substantially horizontal, covering the upper rear part of the container (4). Figure 4 shows the final position after tilting, with the gantry (17) in a horizontal position.

Then, the rails (5) are moved inwards, in order to avoid breaking the maximum width standards of the container.

At this point, automatic deployment of the sides (15) of the canvas (7) takes place, by means of two second automatic arms located at the top of the windshield (18) and the operator (13) proceeds to fix said sides (15) to the container (4) by means of elastic ropes.

The sequence of steps necessary to uncover the container (4) of the canvas (7) is explained below:

The hook equipment, for safety reasons, is locked whenever the container (4) is clogged or the mechanism of the invention is in operation. First, the elastic ropes that fix the sides (15) of the canvas (7) to the container (4) are untied and said sides (15) of the canvas (7) are automatically collected by means of the second arms, of Reverse way as explained for deployment.

By means of the command (6), the operator activates the mechanism of the invention to start the automatic phase of uncovering the canvas (7).

The rails (5) are separated until the width of the container is found

(4) to avoid interference and then the gantry (17) tilts from the substantially horizontal end position to a substantially vertical position at the rear end of the container (4). In the tilting movement, the gantry (17) drags the portalone assembly (8).

Next, the gantry (17) moves with respect to the rails (5) towards the front part of the container (4), together with the portalone assembly (8). During the movement of movement, the canvas (7) is rolled up with the help of the springs (11).

Once the porch (17) has reached the front of the container (4), the reference position is returned. For this, the rails (5) are joined and the first arms (28) are collected.

Claims (7)

 R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S 1.- Procedure to cover with a tarp (7) a container (4) transported by a vehicle (3) automobile provided with chassis and a hook kit for the collection of the container (4), characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

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 automatically raising a portal portal assembly (8), comprising a canvas (7) wrapped around an extendable shaft (27), and fixed at one end to the chassis, until it exceeds the height of the container (4);

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automatically separating rails (5) arranged parallel in longitudinal direction substantially in the same plane to exceed the width of the container (4);

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automatically move the portal assembly (8) with respect to the rails (5), in a longitudinal direction towards the back of the container (4), above said container, while said canvas (7) is unwound, covering said canvas (7) the upper part of the container (4);

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close the upper rear part of the container (4) by automatically tilting the portal assembly (8) with respect to the rails (5);

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unfolding canvas sides (15) (7) intended to laterally close the container (4) and tie said canvas sides (15) (7) to said container (4).

2. Procedure for covering with a tarp (7) a container (4) transported by a motor vehicle (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a previous step of blocking the hook equipment for safety reasons. 3. Procedure for uncovering a canvas of a container transported by a motor vehicle, by means of the mechanism described in claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

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unravel the canvas sides (15) (7) of the container (4) and collect said canvas sides (15) (7);

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uncover the canvas (7) of the upper rear part of the container by means of a tilting movement of the portalone assembly (8);

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automatically move the portal assembly (8) with respect to the rails (5), in a longitudinal direction towards the front part of the container (4), above said container, while said canvas (7) is rolled, discovering said canvas (7) the upper part of the container (4);

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automatically approach the rails (5);

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automatically lower the portalone set (8).

4. Procedure for uncovering with a tarp (7) a container (4) transported by a motor vehicle (3) according to claim 3, characterized in that it includes a previous stage of blocking the hook equipment for safety reasons. 5. Automatic and autonomous mechanism to cover and uncover by means of a tarp (7) a container transported by a vehicle (3) car provided with a chassis, according to the procedure described in claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises:

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rails (5) arranged in longitudinal direction substantially in the same horizontal plane, adapted to be able to move parallel within said plane in order to adapt to the width of the container,

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a gantry (17) provided with first arms (28), adapted to move longitudinally according to the direction of the rails (5), the first arms (28) being adapted to move vertically up and down, in order to adapt to the height of the container (4), and the gantry (17) being adapted to swing with respect to the rails (5);

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a portal portal assembly (8) located at the top of the porch (17) and

5 supported by said gantry (17), which in turn comprises a carcass (10), in said carcass (10) is housed the canvas (7) rolled and fixed to the chassis, the canvas (7) being able to be rolled and unrolled with respect to an extendable shaft (27) during the movement of the gantry (17) in the longitudinal direction of the container (4) to cover and uncover said container. 6. Automatic and autonomous mechanism to cover and uncover by means of a tarp (7) a container transported by a motor vehicle (3) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises sleeves (14) attached to the first arms (28) ) and that move relative to the rails 15 (5) causing the longitudinal displacement of the gantry (17). 7. Automatic and autonomous mechanism to cover and uncover by means of a tarp (7) a container transported by a vehicle (3) automobile according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the tree 20 (27) comprises stems (29) laterally movable ends by means of which stems (29) said tree (27) is attached to the first arms (28). SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 200930376 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 06.29.2009 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: B60J7 / 06 (2006.01) B60P7 / 04 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

TO

JP 9226450 A (KANKYO JIGIYOU KK) 02/09/1997, Figures 1-5 & Database Summary 1,3,5-7

EPODOC Recovered from EPOQUE; Accession number JP-9226450-A.

TO

EP 1512568 A1 (TRIO DESIGN & ENGINEERING LTD) 03/09/2005, the whole document. 1,3,5-7

TO

GB 2288581 A (BOUGHTON T T SONS LTD) 10/25/1995, the entire document. 1,3,5

TO

US 4023857 A (KILLION DONALD C) 05/17/1977, the entire document. 1,3,5

TO

US 2811321 A (LA BARRE LEO L) 10/29/1957, the whole document. 1,3,5,7

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 28.05.2012

Examiner D. Hermida Cibeira Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 200930376 Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) B60J, B60P Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, WPI State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200930376 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 05.28.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-7 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-7 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200930376 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

JP 9226450 A (KANKYO JIGIYOU KK) 02.09.1997

D02

EP 1512568 A1 (TRIO DESIGN & ENGINEERING LTD) 09.03.2005

D03

GB 2288581 A (BOUGHTON T T SONS LTD) 10/25/1995

D04

US 4023857 A (KILLION DONALD C) 05/17/1977

D05

US 2811321 A (LA BARRE LEO L) 10/29/1957

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The present invention relates to an automatic and autonomous method for covering and uncovering a container transported by a motor vehicle and associated mechanism by means of a tarp. Document D01 is considered to be the closest in the state of the art to the object of claims 1, 3 and 5. In said document, to which the following alphanumeric references belong, a mechanism (200) is disclosed (Figure 5). to cover and uncover by means of a tarp (6) a load (5) mounted on the platform (2) of a truck (1). Said mechanism (200) comprises longitudinal rails (10) through which carriages (20) that support articulated arms (210) driven by an actuator (220) whose ends hold the coil (50) in which it is wound are moved the said canvas (6). In the procedure to cover the load (5) with the tarp (6), the articulated arms (210) start from a position A on the truck cabin (1), rotate until they are vertical in a position B on the load (5) ), and then they move longitudinally moved by the carriages (20), the canvas (6) being unrolled on said load (5) until they reach position C and, finally, they are moved by the actuator (220) until they reach the position D. In the procedure for uncovering the load (5) an inverse process is followed to which it has just been referred. There are quite a few differences between the invention disclosed in document D01 and the object of independent claims 1, 3 and 5. In particular, it is noted that, in the invention of document D01, the longitudinal rails (10) cannot be moved to adapt to the width of the load (5) and that the articulated arms (210) cannot move vertically to adapt to the height of the load (5). Due to these differences that have been found, independent claims 1, 3 and 5, and their dependent claims 2, 4, 6 and 7 are considered new (Art. 6, LP 11/1986). As regards the inventive activity of the independent claims 1, 3 and 5, it is considered that a person skilled in the art starting from document D01 could not clearly develop the object of said claims. On the other hand, in the second closest document, document D02, to which the following reference numerals belong, is also disclosed (paragraphs [0012] - [0027]; figures) a mechanism (10) for covering and uncovering by means of a canvas (24) a container (8) loaded on the chassis (4) of a vehicle (2). Said mechanism (10) is similar to that of document D01 and has a vertical lifting system (12) of the coil (22) where the said canvas (24) (paragraph [0013]) is wound. It also has an articulated system (18) that allows varying the cross-sectional separation of the vertical telescopic arms (20) that hold the bar (26) that pulls the canvas (24) (paragraphs [0015], [0016], [0022 ], [0023], [0027]), but the longitudinal rails (14) through which the carriages (16) that move said vertical telescopic arms (20) run are, however, fixed (paragraph [0013], [0014 ]). Nor is it considered, then, that one skilled in the art could clearly combine documents D01 and D02 in order to reproduce the object of the aforementioned claims 1, 3 and 5. Therefore, it is estimated that independent claims 1, 3 and 5, and its dependent claims 2, 4, 6 and 7 involve inventive activity (Art. 8, LP 11/1986). The rest of the cited documents simply reflects the state of the art. State of the Art Report Page 4/4