ES2584453B1

ES2584453B1 - Mechanical opening mechanism for open-box tipping containers

Info

Publication number: ES2584453B1
Application number: ES201530388A
Authority: ES
Inventors: Ricardo ALONSO PÉREZ
Original assignee: Ricardo ALONSO PÉREZ
Priority date: 2015-03-24
Filing date: 2015-03-24
Publication date: 2017-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-24
Also published as: ES2584453A1

Abstract

Mechanical opening mechanism for open-box tipping containers, in particular open-box containers (1), with a ring (3) for hoisting on the truck chassis, with two parallel guides (4) and casters (20) and a door (5) upper hinge (6), which comprises two hooks (7), installed on both sides of the lower part of the box, so that its crowned ends (7a) are susceptible to locking in mooring projections (8) provided on the door (5), said hooks (7) being fixed to an axis (9) that links them together and in which an inclined plate (11) facing a pushing means is provided, means which is actuated to through the container's own drag to the cabin, and that forces the rotation of the shaft (9) and the two hooks (7) to release the projections (8).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as stated in the present specification, refers to a mechanical opening mechanism for open-box dump bins, which contributes to the function to which it is intended, advantages and novelty characteristics, which will be described in detail below, which represent an improvement in the state of the art.

More particularly, the object of the invention is centered on an opening mechanism applicable to the rear door of the open-box tipping containers, known in the sector as the Ampliroll® type, and having a single rear door with a top hinge, which, based on a mechanical system, free of hydraulic systems (pumps, hoses, oil ...), is intended to allow such opening without the operator having to get off the truck cab to operate it and being designed in such a way that the subsequent closing of the said door is also carried out autonomously and mechanically, without the need for the truck driver to get out of the cabin to perform the operation.

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The field of application of the present invention is part of the industry sector dedicated to the manufacture of containers and transport boxes for trucks, focusing particularly on the scope of the accessory devices, devices and mechanisms applicable to said containers, in particular the open box swingarm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within facilities that generate bulk by-products or rejections, truck transport of these products is usually necessary.

For those products that, once loaded onto a truck, must be tilted for unloading, Ampliroll® open box containers are usually used. These containers carry on the front front a ring or grab through to catch by hook, and on the back of the base two bearings for sliding on the ground, so that a truck can take the container on the ground by introducing its hook on the container catch ring, and by means of a lifting twist of the hook arm, lift the front part of the container while dragging it towards it, sliding on its wheels until the base or bottom of the container rests on the truck chassis

From this moment on, the container loading maneuver is carried out, in which the container is mounted on guides provided at its base and in the chassis of the trailer or container loading area on the truck.

Once horizontally on the truck, the container is dragged on the mentioned guides towards the driver's cabin until it stops at its closest point to it, finishing the loading maneuver.

Subsequently, in the unloading maneuver, the operator opens or releases the door from the back of the container, and by means of a lifting rotation of the hook system, the front part of the container is raised, all the material falling by gravity. the rear area with its consequent discharge.

Once the container is unloaded, the hook system flies into place, and the operator closes the doors.

Well, in this type of container, the rear door opening system, or is a hydraulic system that obviously complicates the construction of the container and its incorporation into the truck, or is simply a manual opening and closing mechanism that the operator opens before starting the inclination of the container and closes once the unloading is finished, for which he must get out of the cabin or count on the collaboration of a third party.

The objective of the present invention is therefore to develop an improved opening and closing mechanism of the container door which, without using hydraulic or pneumatic systems, is operated without the need for the operator to get out of the cabin.

On the other hand and as a reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, at least on the part of the applicant, the existence of any other mechanism or invention of similar application that has similar technical and constitutive characteristics to those presented by the applicant is unknown. which is recommended here, as claimed.

5 EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the mechanical opening mechanism for open-box tipping containers that the invention proposes is configured as a remarkable novelty within its field of application, and according to which implementation objectives are satisfactorily achieved.

10, being the characterizing details that characterize it, conveniently set out in the final claims that accompany the present description.

Specifically, what the invention proposes, as mentioned above, is a mechanism for opening and closing the rear door with a top hinge of the container,

15 being essentially formed from two hooks that, installed on both sides of the lower part of the box, are locked in separate projections of the lower part of the door.

Both hooks are fixed to an axis that makes them integral with each other. This axis is

20 mounted on the bottom of the container on some supports on which it rotates, preferably on bearings. Said supports, preferably, are welded to the lower area of the container, incorporated so as not to hinder the loading and unloading maneuvers of the container.

25 In the central area of the shaft there is an inclined and reinforced plate, whose thrust forces the rotation of the shaft and consequently of the two lateral hooks attached to the respective ends thereof.

In addition, in the lower area of the container, a pusher system is arranged in front of said plate and at its same height.

This pusher system is preferably formed by a hollow tube that is welded to the bottom of the container and inside which a rod will slide, preferably consisting of an iron bar. This rod moves inside the hollow tube 35 that guides it, with the function of pushing the inclined plate welded to the shaft, having, at

at the same time the quality of being fuse, that is, being constituted so that the rod can be broken before the opening system due to overloads or embedments. Therefore, the rod is preferably designed so that it is easy and cheap to replace.

At the same time, the mechanism contemplates that a metal stop in a certain position be arranged in the truck chassis so that it is located at the height of the actuator rod when the container is incorporated on said chassis. Logically, the placement of this stop must not affect any maintenance or operation of the truck itself. In any case, it is housed between the guide and support rails of the container, and at the rear, being positioned so that it does not interfere with the container loading and unloading maneuver.

With all this, the operation of the mechanism is as follows:

Once the truck has performed the container loading maneuver, and its approach to the driver's cabin begins as described above, the push rod of the lower area of the container will approach the stop installed in the chassis of the container. truck . The approach of the container to the cabin should end when there is still a certain distance to the maximum point, specifically when there is about 10 cm of distance between the rod of the container and the top of the truck, to leave a margin of movement of the container during transport, so that the pusher does not act during it.

From here, the container will be moved to the unloading area. It is important that there is a sufficient distance between rod and stop, so that the play of the container in brakes or rises does not cause the stop to act on the actuator, so the operator or truck driver must have knowledge of this point. For this, for example, a mark can be made on the chassis that the truck driver sees through the rear-view mirror, although, optionally, it is also contemplated the incorporation of some inductive or limit switch system that gives light or acoustic warning. to the truck driver in the cabin.

Once in the unloading zone, the truck driver will finish the route of the container on the chassis to bring it closer to the cabin, so that the container rod

crash against the stop installed in the truck chassis.

As the container approaches the cabin, there will be a thrust of the stop on the rod, which will slide inside the guide tube and, at its opposite end, will produce a push on the shaft plate, causing it to rotate and, consequently, the rotation of the hooks which, in turn, determine the release of the lower part of the door.

At this time the truck driver can now perform the container tilt maneuver to empty the load, since the door will be released. When the door has the upper hinges, the material falls by gravity and will push the door, while it will swing by letting the material out during the container lifting process.

It should be noted that if the approach of the container to the cabin exceeds the maximum distance to open the hooks, an overexertion may occur that will break the pusher rod or break the weld of the guide tube that houses the pusher rod. Therefore, the point of maximum approach of the container to the cabin must be warned to the driver, either by inductive sensors, markings, any badge on the hook so that through the rearview mirror it is seen, for example a small flag on the hook , or color on the container's own hook.

Continuing with the particularities of the mechanism, it should be noted that, in addition, the two side hooks are made up of elongated pieces and are welded and joined to the shaft by its middle part, existing, at the opposite end of the hook itself, a spring attached to the hook and to the container itself that forces the hook to recover its original closing position in which the door projections lock.

Likewise, the pusher rod has a spring at its built-in tip so that its normal position is always that of rest, that is, "do not push" on the axis of rotation of the axle, unless the top of the truck chassis pushes on The stem. In this way it is favored that the hooks tend to their "closed" position, helping the action of the springs of the hooks themselves "

Thus, when the cargo has left the container and it flies to its horizontal position, the hooks that close the door will be in their original or "closed" position, due to the spring, and, when the door is closed to recover its position with the horizontality of the container, the hooks will collide with the grip projections of the container, so the hooks have a rounded exterior configuration that allows a smooth transition so that the weight of the door itself causes the protrusion to slide towards the bottom of the hook causing it to rise little by little until it enters the grip area and recesses it thanks, again, to the action of the spring, which causes the hook to tend to the grip or catch position.

If in the movement of lowering the container to its horizontal position on the truck, the door itself has not made the necessary push to be picked up by the closing hooks, it will be enough for the truck driver to give a small brake to the catch from the door slide under the hook and be grabbed by it, leaving the door closed.

In case the transported material is very heavy (fine grain size, due to the presence of moisture ...), and when the container is loaded at the time of loading the container back and push on the back door , it is possible that the door hooks have a lot of friction with the moorings of the door, so that the release of the door can be difficult. For this purpose, optionally, the placement of a small bronze bushing on the door's own moorings, where it takes the hook, so as to facilitate the rotation or release of the door itself is contemplated.

Finally, and given that, in general, containers of this type are often found next to each other, in order to defend the opening mechanism of lateral blows, the incorporation of a protective wing is provided to prevent the breakage of the hooks.

System wear parts are limited to the spring of the door catch hooks. The pieces of breakage are the push rod and the tube that supports it.

In this way, the discharge maneuver can be done more quickly, the operator has greater comfort, since he does not have to go down and get out of the cabin at each discharge, and greater security, since the presence of the operator is avoided at the time of opening of doors so that the risk of knocks, entrapments is reduced. If the discharge is in a landfill, the presence of the operator over the waste zone is also limited, which is also advantageous with respect to the health and safety point of view of Workers.

The described mechanical opening mechanism for open-box dump bins represents, therefore, an innovation of structural and constitutive characteristics unknown until now, reasons that together with its practical utility, endow it with

sufficient basis to obtain the privilege of exclusivity that is requested.

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, this descriptive report is attached, as an integral part thereof, of a set of drawings, in which with character Illustrative and not limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure number 1.- Shows a perspective view of the front part of a container to which the mechanical opening mechanism object of the invention has been incorporated, there being appreciated, the ring for its grip.

Figure number 2.- Shows a perspective view of the rear side part of the container, where one of the side hooks contemplating the mechanism, according to the invention, is locked in the corresponding projection of the lower part of the door.

Figure number 3.- Shows a schematic view of a side elevation in section of the container, where the main parts and elements of the mechanism of the invention are observed, having been represented in a closed position.

Figure number 4.- It shows an enlarged view of the detail A indicated in figure 3, showing more clearly the connection between the hook, the shaft, the inclined plate and the pushing rod.

and figure number 5. - Shows a sectional view of the container, similar to that shown in figure 3, represented in this case with the mechanism in the open position.

and figure number 6. - It shows a bottom perspective view of the container, the pushing means which rotates the axis of the hooks, according to the preferred example of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, a preferred, but not limiting, example of the mechanical opening mechanism for tilt open box containers can be observed, which comprises the parts and elements that They are indicated and described in detail below.

Thus, according to figures 1 and 2, it can be seen how the container (1) to which the mechanism (2) in question is applied is a top-open box that, in its front part, has a ring (3) to facilitate its hoisting on the chassis of the truck and being dragged towards the cabin, in its lower part, has two parallel guides (4) and, in its rear part, with a rear door (5) joined by an upper hinge (6).

Similarly, in figures 1 to 5 the parts of the mechanism (2) are appreciated, which essentially comprises the two hooks (7), installed on both sides of the lower part of the box, so that its ends Corvos (7a) are locked in the mooring projections (8) provided for this purpose on both sides of the lower part of the door (5).

The hooks (7) are fixed to an axis (9) that links them together and that is mounted on the bottom of the container (1), on supports (10) on which it rotates and that, preferably, are welded to the lower area of the container without being hindered during loading and unloading maneuvers.

In the central area this axis (9) is provided with an inclined and reinforced plate (11) that is joined in solidarity with it and whose thrust forces the rotation of the shaft (9) and the two hooks (7).

Furthermore, in front of said inclined plate (11) And at the same height, the mechanism has a pusher means formed, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, by a rod

(12) inserted in a hollow tube (13) that is welded to the bottom of the container, for example in a holder (21).

This rod (12) is preferably an easy and inexpensive bar to replace, since it is provided that it may break before the projections (8) of the opening system due to overloads or embedments.

In parallel, the mechanism (2) contemplates the existence, in the chassis (19) of the truck, of the metal stop (14) that pushes the rod (12) when the container is dragged towards the cabin, since said stop is located in a position coinciding with that of said rod (12), preferably housed between the guide and support rails of the container since the rod (12), preferably, is located between the parallel guides (4), in the lower part of the container.

In addition, the incorporation of a spring (22) at the end end of the rod (12) is also preferably contemplated to soften the thrust thereof with the stop (14) and keep the rod in the rest position, that is, not to push .

Optionally, the mechanism (2), contemplates the incorporation of some warning means, such as a mark on the chassis that the truck driver sees through the rear-view mirror, or an inductive or limit switch sensor (not shown) that acts as a warning light or acoustic to the truck driver in the cabin of the maximum position in which the container (1) is to be placed before and after the actuation of the pushing means of the mechanism, that is, the push of the rod (12) with the stop (14) ).

Figure 2 shows how the side hooks (7) are formed by two elongated pieces and are welded and joined to the shaft (9) by its middle part existing, at the rear end (7b) thereof, the opposite of the crows (7a) that are locked in the mooring projections (8) of the door (5), a spring (15) to which they are attached and which, fixed at its opposite end to a point of the container, for example an upper rod (16), tends to lift said rear end (7b) forcing the corvo end (7a) to maintain its closed position in which it locks the projections (8).

In addition, to facilitate the closing of the hooks (7) by themselves when recovering the door (5) its position with the recovery of the horizontality of the container (1) after emptying its contents, the crowned ends (7a) have a rounded exterior configuration that allows a smooth transition to achieve that end.

Optionally, the mooring projections (8) incorporate a bronze bush (17) or the like that rotates on them to facilitate the described locking and release of the crowned ends (7a) of the hooks (7).

Finally, in the same figure 2 the protection wing (18) is contemplated, which contemplates the mechanism on each side of the container (1), in its lower part, to avoid the breakage of the hooks (7) produced by eventual blows with other containers

In short, the mechanism (2) of the invention is applicable to open-box containers (1) of which, in its previous part, have a ring (3) to facilitate its lifting on the chassis of the truck and drag it towards the cabin, in its lower part, have two parallel guides (4) and drive wheels (20) and, in its rear part, with a rear door (5) joined by an upper hinge (6), essentially comprising two hooks (7), installed on both sides of the lower part of the box, so that its crowned ends (7a) are susceptible to locking in respective mooring projections (8) that are provided on both sides of the lower part of the door (5), said hooks (7) being fixedly attached to an axis (9) that links them together and in which an inclined plate (11) facing a pushing means is provided, which is operated through the own drag of the container (1) towards the cabin to a certain extent, a v ez incorporated on the chassis of the truck, and that, once reached this point, forces the rotation of the axle (9) and the two hooks (7) to release the projections (8).

Describing sufficiently the nature of the present invention, as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any person skilled in the art understands its scope and the advantages that derive from it, stating that, within its essentiality, it may be carried out in other embodiments that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example, and to which it will also achieve the protection that is sought provided that it does not alter, change or modify its fundamental principle .

Claims

1.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR OPEN-BOX TILTING CONTAINERS, in particular open-box containers (1) that, in their previous part, have a ring (3) to facilitate their lifting on the truck chassis and being dragged towards the cabin, in its lower part, has two parallel guides (4) and casters (20) and, in its rear part, with a door (5) connected by an upper hinge (6), characterized in that it comprises two hooks (7 ), installed on both sides of the lower part of the box, so that its crowned ends (7a) are susceptible to locking in mooring projections (8) provided in the door (5), said hooks (7) being fixed to an axis (9) that links them to each other and in which an inclined plate (11) is provided facing a pushing means, means that is driven through the container's own drag towards the cabin, and that forces the rotation of the shaft (9) and of the two hooks

(7) to release the highlights (8).

2.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR OPENING BOX TILTING CONTAINERS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the inclined plate (11) is reinforced and joined together with the shaft (9).

3.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR OPENING BOX TILTING CONTAINERS, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shaft (9) is mounted on the bottom of the container (1), on supports (10) on which it rotates .

4.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR OPENING BOX SWING CONTAINERS, according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the pushing means is formed by a rod (12) inserted in a hollow tube (13) in which it travels, of which one end is located in front of the inclined plate (11) and the opposite in front of a stop (14) provided in the truck chassis.

5.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR TILTING CONTAINERS

OPEN CASE, according to claim 4, characterized in that the rod (12) is a bar that breaks before the projections (8) of the opening system in case of overloads or embedments.

6.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR OPENING BOX TILTING CONTAINERS, according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the inclined plate (11) is located in the center of the axis (9).

7.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR OPENING BOX SWING CONTAINERS, according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that it incorporates a warning means, to the truck driver in the cabin, of the maximum position in which the container is to be located ( 1) before and after the actuation of the pushing means of the mechanism.

8.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR TILTING CONTAINERS

OPEN BOX, according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that it has two springs (15) that are attached to the hooks (7) and to the container and that tend to maintain their closed position in which the projections (8) ).

9.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR TILTING CONTAINERS

OPEN CASE, according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the rounded ends (7a) of the hooks (7) have a rounded exterior configuration that allows a smooth transition to facilitate the closing of the door (5).

10.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR OPENING BOX TILTING CONTAINERS, according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the mooring projections (8) incorporate a bronze or similar bushing (17) that rotates on them to facilitate locking and release of the crow ends (7a) from the hooks (7).

11.-MECHANICAL OPENING MECHANISM FOR OPENING BOX SWING CONTAINERS, according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that it incorporates a protective wing (18) on each side of the container (1) to prevent the breakage of the hooks (7 ).