FR2480203A1 - FOLDING AND SLIDING HOOD, PARTICULARLY FOR UTILITY VEHICLES AND TRAILERS - Google Patents

Abstract

A FOLDING AND SLIDING HOOD CONSISTS OF TWO GUIDE RAILS 2 EXTENDING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE LOAD COMPARTMENT 1 AND A MULTITUDE OF ARCLES 7 CARRYING A COVER 6, RELYING ON THE GUIDE RAILS BY THE INTERMEDIATE OF SPACERS 3, 4 AND WHEEL CARTS 5, ONE OF THE END ARMS FIXED ON THE GUIDE RAILS. THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HOOD ARE PROVIDED BY AT LEAST ONE CONTROL CABLE 8, 9 CURRENT AROUND A RETURN PULLEY 18, ACTUATED FROM THE GROUND, BOTH ENDS OF WHICH ARE ANCHORED IN A WINCH 12, 13 PROVIDED ON THE FRONT WALL 11 OF THE LOAD COMPARTMENT OPPOSED TO THE MOBILE END ARROW 10. EACH STRAND 15, 16 OF THE said CONTROL CABLE IS BOLT HORIZONTALLY, THEN VERTICALLY BY RETURN PULLEYS 2021, 2223.

Description

The present invention relates to a folding and sliding hood,

  in particular for utility vehicles and trailers, which consists of two guide rails extending over the entire length of the vehicle, carried by uprights, and a multitude of arches carrying a tarpaulin, resting on the rails of guiding by means of spacers articulated one on the other and of rolling carriages, the distance between the poles

  being variable; one of the end poles is fixed on the guide rails

  dage while the other hoops are pushed successively close

of the fixed end hoops when the hood is opened.

Folding and sliding hoods of this type are used to cover the

  cargo compartment for utility vehicles and trailers and present

  have the advantage of being able to be slid into an open position

  hitting up almost the entire length of the load compartment

  to allow the vehicle to be loaded. These hoods are particularly

  Rely suitable for vehicles with a fixed load compartment, for example in the shape of a trough, for loading bulk materials, since they allow regular loading of the vehicle over the entire length of the load compartment and protect against loads sensitive to humidity against bad weather. However, the known hoods of the type described above have the disadvantage of a considerable weight so that the opening and closing of the hood implies a certain force on the part of the operator. In addition, the operator must operate the hood from the vehicle loading surface, which often causes difficulties, especially when the vehicle is loaded. For some

  security reasons, it is desirable to be able to open and close the

buddy from the ground without having to climb onto the loading surface.

  Consequently, the subject of the present invention is a device for

  folding and sliding canopies of the type described above, in particular

  guide for utility vehicles and trailers, which opens and

close the hood - partially or completely from the ground, either manually -

either with an auxiliary motor, so that the soft top can be locked not only in the two extreme opening positions and

  closed, but still in an intermediate open position some-

  conch and is controlled exclusively by the operable device from

shot from the ground.

To achieve these objectives, the present invention proposes that at least one control cable is provided, ensuring opening and closing -2-

hood, operated from the ground, forming a loop, each ex-

end is anchored in a winch disposed at breast height on the front wall of the load compartment opposite the movable end hoop which is fixed on said control cable in the middle zone thereof relative to all its length. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two strands of the control cable are arranged on

  the winch with a two-wire winding so that they can be un-

rolled and wound regularly and synchronously, independently of the direction of rotation of the winch. The soft top is therefore exclusively controlled by the control cable and can be locked securely in one position

any opening.

  When the folding and sliding hood is controlled by a single cable, the winch is arranged medially and symmetrically with respect to the cable loop extending over the entire length of the load compartment, the

two strands of the cable being arranged in a vertical plane. On the front wall

  of the load compartment carrying the winch, the cable is deflected at least vertically by a pair of deflection pulleys as it runs around a deflection pulley with horizontal axis of rotation arranged on the opposite front wall of the charge. This arrangement allows easy control of the cable with high operational safety, at

from a central point. According to another detail of realization of the invention-

  tion, each end of the control cable is fixed to the flange of one of the cheeks facing the winch, by means of a cable collar disposed on said flange. The movable end bar is connected to the upper strand of the

control cable by a cable clamp.

  In certain cases, it may be necessary for the winch arrangement to be offset from the vertical plane of the part of the cable extending over the entire length of the load compartment. In this case it is provided according to the invention that on the front wall of the chagre compartment carrying the winch, each strand of the control cable is deflected horizontally, then vertically by a pair of deflection pulleys whose axes of rotation are perpendicular l 'one relative to the other winch is then laterally offset from the vertical plane in which the parts of the strands of the control cable extending are located

  along the length of the load compartment, and is arranged centrally and sy-

metrically to the extreme point of contact of the cable on the pulleys

  of return to horizontal axis of rotation.

- 3 - In order to block the convertible top in any open position, the winch is provided with a locking device which is made up,

  in the simplest case, a latching pin disengaging around the

  against the pressure of a spring, arranged on one of the lateral faces of the winch support, cooperating with recesses provided in the external face of the edge of the winch cheek, The winch can be controlled either by a crank which can be mounted on the trunnion, either by an auxiliary motor, in particular an electric motor, driving the winch by means of clutch and

as long as a coupling is needed.

In the case of vehicles with a very large load compartment

  in length, it sometimes happens that the part of the guide rails located between the uprights flexes more or less downwards, which can cause the rolling carriages to jam, which ensure that the hoops slide in the guide rails, and consequently make more delicate handling of the convertible top with a single winch arranged in the center. In accordance with one of the essential characteristics of the invention, there is provided, along each guide rail, a control cable actuated from the ground , the two ends of each of which are anchored in the winch disposed at breast height on the front wall of the load compartment opposite the movable end hoop which is fixed by a cable collar on said control cables in their

  median zone in relation to their total length, the two winches being

  placed on a common tree at a certain distance from each other. As

  the two winches are placed on a common tree. Their control is syn-

chrone, and as the two strands of each control cable are arranged on the corresponding winch with two-wire winding, the control of the two cables is synchronous in the two directions of rotation of the winch so that

  the force produced by the control cables is transmitted absolutely

even on the movable end hoop. Obviously, the movable end hoop can be blocked by the winches in a balanced way

in any open position of the soft top.

  In accordance with this preferred embodiment of the invention, the loop of each control cable runs around a deflection pulley with a horizontal axis of rotation, arranged on the front wall of the load compartment opposite the front wall carrying the winches. andtheir advance strand in the direction of closing of the hood is arranged above and their recoil strand below the corresponding guide rail, in the 4 -

<2480203

  longitudinal vertical median plane of the latter.In accordance with another

  detail of embodiment of the invention, the two strands of the communication cables

are deflected on the front wall of the load compartment

  both the winches, first horizontally by a pair of pulleys

  track with vertical axis of rotation, then vertically by a pair of return pulleys with horizontal axis of rotation. The winches are arranged on the front wall medially and symmetrically with respect to the extreme point of contact of the strands of the control cables on the idler pulleys

  with horizontal axis of rotation. Insofar as additional constructions

nelles-on the front wall of the load compartment make it necessary for one of the winches to be offset further towards the longitudinal vertical median plane of the load compartment, there is provided according to the invention a

extension of the horizontal deflection of the two strands of the communication cable

  mand cooperating with the winch which is offset more or less towards the middle of the front wall of the load compartment. By extending the deviation

  horizontal of the strands of the two control cables, it is possible -

  place the two winches in the middle area of the front wall of the comparator

  load, the two winches can even form a single piece.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the deflection pulleys arranged on the front wall of the load compartment are offset from one another, in the longitudinal direction of the load compartment, by an amount corresponding to the diameter of the winches so that in lateral projection, the strands of the control cables are wound and unwound vertically. As the two strands of the control cables are

  arranged with two-wire winding on the corresponding winch, their part

  tie winding on the winch and their part unwinding therefrom

move between the two cheeks of the winch, axially with respect to the latter

  deny, when opening or closing the hood, so as to pre-

  feel, in the two extreme positions of the hood, an inclined position

  born between the extreme contact point of the strands of the control cable on the return pulley with horizontal axis of rotation and the edge of the winch cheeks. More particularly, the distance between each winch and the extreme contact point of the strands on said pulleys of corresponding references

is at least 150 cm. The total length of each control cable is

  advantageously corresponds to approximately three times the length of the load compartment added to the distance between the winch and the extreme contact point of the strands of the control cable on the idler pulleys

horizontal rotation.

  The invention will be explained in a purely indicative way using

of the attached drawings by way of nonlimiting example.

  Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the load compartment of a utility vehicle provided with a folding and sliding hood according to the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic front view in the direction of the arrow

A in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic top view in the direction of the arrow.

che B of figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged and detailed representation of a winch

according to the invention.

  We will ultimately find a nomenclature of the different benchmarks used

during the description.

Above the load compartment (1) of a vehicle not shown

  in the drawing, a folding and sliding hood is arranged which

  installation of two guide rails (2) extending over the entire length of the vehicle

cule, carried by uprights, and, of a multitude of arches (7) carrying a tarpaulin (6) and resting on the guide rails by means of spacers (3), (4) articulated the on each other and on rolling carriages (5), the distance between the arches being variable. One of the end hoops is fixed on the guide rails while the other hoops (7) are pushed successively very close to the fixed end hoop

when the hood is opened.

  According to the embodiment presented, the opening and closing of the hood are ensured by two control cables (8), (9) actuated from the ground, the two ends of each of which are anchored in a winch.

(12), (13) arranged at home height on the front wall (11) of the compar-

  load structure opposite the movable end arch (10) which is fixed

  by a cable clamp (14) on the advance strand (15) in the direction of rail-

structure of the hood, of each control cable (8), (9), in the central region of the cable with respect to its total length. The strands (15), (16) of each of the control cables (8), (9) are, as regards their part extending over the length of the load compartment, superimposed one relative to the other in a vertical plane, the advance strand (15) in the direction of closing of the hood being arranged above and the recoil strand below the guide rail so that the vertical plane in which the two strands are located ( 15), (16) of each control cable coincides with - 6 -

  the longitudinal vertical median plane of the guide rail. The loop of cha-

  that control cable (8), (9) runs around a deflection pulley (18) movable around a horizontal axis, disposed on the front wall (17) of the load compartment, opposite the front wall (11 ). According to the embodiment shown, the return pulleys (18) are arranged on an extension of the carrier part (19) of the guide rail (2). Sure

  the front wall (11) of the load compartment, on which are

  the winches (12), (13), the two strands of each of the control cables

are first deflected horizontally by a return pulley (20), (21) movi-

it around a vertical axis, then vertically by a return pulley (22), (23) movable around a horizontal axis. Each strand (15), (16) of the control cables (8), (9) is fixed by a cable clamp (26) on the

  rim (24), (25) of one of the cheeks facing the winch (12), (13) cor-

  respondent. The strands (15), (16) of the control cables are arranged on

the winches (12), (13) with a two-wire winding so that they can

  feels to be unwound and wound regularly, synchronously, independently

especially the direction of rotation of the winch.

  When the hood is opened or closed, the part of the strands (15), (16) of the control cables (8), (9) which unwinds from the winch (12),

(13) moves together with the part of said strands which winds on the-

  said winch, from the rim (25) of one of the cheeks towards the rim (24) of the other

plays on said winch (12), (13), as shown more particularly in FIG. 2.

In order to avoid an excessively inclined position of the strands (15), (16) unwinding

of the winch or winding on it, the winches are arranged median-

  ment and symmetrically with respect to the extreme contact point (27) of the strands on the deflection pulleys (22), (23) with horizontal axis of rotation. As shown more particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the winches (12), (13) of the

  control cables (8), (9), arranged on a common shaft (28), are required

  actuated simultaneously and regularly, for example thanks to a

removable crank.

  In order to lock the convertible top securely in an open position

ture any, there is provided a locking device of at least one of the winches (12), (13), which is constituted according to the embodiment shown, a series of recesses (30) provided in the outer face of the -35 rim (25) of the winch cheek (12), and of a locking pin (33) disposed on one of the lateral faces (31) of the support (32) of said winch and

engaging in the locked position in one of the recesses (30).

-7 24-0

- - 2 480G203

  To ensure an exact winding and unwinding of the two strands (15), (16) of the control cables (8), (9), it is provided, as can be seen more particularly in the figure, that the return pulleys (20 to 23) are arranged, in the longitudinal direction of the load compartment, at a distance from each other corresponding to the diameter of the winches (12), (13) so that in lateral projection, the two strands of the control cables are unwound from the winch and are wound on it exactly vertically. Figure 2 further shows that the distance between

the extreme contact points of the strands on the one hand on the pulleys

  see (22), (23) and on the other hand on the winches (12), (13) is at least cm. In addition, in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 2, it can be provided, when necessary due to additional constructions on the front wall (11) of the load compartment, that one of the two winches is offset more or less compared to the middle of

  said front wall (11), which implies an extension of the deviation

horizontal position of the two strands of the corresponding control cable, by

example of the control cable (8).

-: 4 - 8 -

NOMENCLATURE

  load compartment guide rail articulated spacer trolley tarpaulin roll bar control cable movable end roll bar front wall of the load compartment (1) winch cable clamp strands of the control cables (8), (9) front wall of the load compartment load (1) deflection pulley bearing part of guide rails (2) deflection pulley with vertical axis of rotation deflection pulley with horizontal axis of rotation edge of winch cheeks (12), (13) cable clamp point of contact end of the strands (15), (16) on the pulleys (22), (23) removable crank shaft recess in the flange (25) external lateral face of the support (32) winch support locking pin 3.4 8.9 12.13, 16, 21 22.23 24.25 -9 -

Claims (15)

1. Folding and sliding hood, in particular for commercial vehicles   res and trailers, which consists of two guide rails extending over   the entire length of the vehicle, carried by uprights, and, of a multiple   titude of arches carrying a tarpaulin, resting on the guide rails by means of spacers articulated one on the other and of rolling carriages, the distance between the arches being variable, o one of the arches end is fixed on the guide rails while the other arches are pushed successively very close to the fixed end hoop when the hood is opened, characterized by at minus a control cable (8), (9) ensuring the opening and closing- res of the convertible top, actuated from the ground, forming a loop, each end of which is anchored in a winch (12), (13) disposed at breast height on the front wall (11) of the load compartment opposite to the movable end cap (10) which is fixed on said control cable   of in the middle zone thereof relative to its entire length. 2. Plant and sliding hood according to claim 1 characterized in that the two strands (15), (16) of the control cable are arranged on the winch with a two-wire winding so that they can be unwound   strips and wound regularly and synchronously, independently of the direction of rotation of the winch.   3. Folding and sliding hood according to claims 1 and 2 characters. 'i-   sed in that each end of the control cable is fixed to the flange (24), (25) of one of the cheeks facing the winch, thanks to a cable collar (26) disposed on said flanges.   4. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 1 to 3   characterized in that the control cable runs around a pulley   deflection (18) with horizontal axis of rotation, arranged on the front wall plate (17) of the load compartment, opposite the front wall (11) and in that on the front wall (11) of the load compartment bearing   the winch, the two strands of the control cable are deflected at least ver-   tically by a pair of deflection pulleys (22), (23) and in that the winch is arranged medially and symmetrically with respect to the point   extreme contact (27) of the cable strands on said deflection pulleys.   5. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that on the front wall of the load compartment   carrying the winch, the two strands of the control cable are deflected ho-   horizontally, then vertically by idler pulleys (20/21), (22/23) whose axes of rotation are perpendicular relative to each other and in that the winch is offset laterally-   relative to the vertical plane in which the parts are located   strands of the control cable extending over the length of the compartment charge. 6. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 1 to 5   characterized in that at least on one of the lateral faces (31) of the support (32) of the winch is provided a locking device (33) cooperating with recesses (30) in the edge of the winch cheek.   7. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 1 to 6   characterized in that the winch is actuated by a crank (29) can be engaged on one of its journals.   8. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 1 to 6   characterized in that the winch is actuated by an auxiliary motor, for example an electric motor, driving said winch through the   medium of a clutch and a coupling.   9. Folding and sliding hood according to one of the preceding claims.   tes characterized in that along each guide rail is provided a control cable (8), (9) actuated from the ground, the two ends of each of which are anchored in a winch (12), (13) arranged at breast height on the front wall of the load compartment opposite the movable end hoop (10) which is fixed by a cable collar (14) on said control cables in their median zone with respect to their length total, the two winches being arranged on a tree   common (28) at a certain distance from each other. 10. Folding and sliding hood according to claim 9 characterized in that the loop of each control cable runs around a pulley deflection (18) with horizontal axis of rotation, arranged on the front wall plate (17) of the load compartment opposite the front wall carrying the winches and in that their advance strand / e (n Closing direction of the hood is arranged above and their recoil strand (16) below the corresponding guide rail, in the vertical median plane longitudi- nal of the latter.   11. Folding and sliding hood according to claims 9 and 10 character-   in that on the front wall (11) of the load compartment carrying the winches, the two strands of the control cables are first deflected horizontally by a pulley. return (20/21) - 11- 2480203 with vertical axis of rotation, then vertically by a deflection pulley (22/23) with horizontal axis of rotation and in that the winches are arranged on the front wall (11) medially and symmetrically with respect to the point of extreme contact (27 ) strands of the control cables on the pulleys (22/23) with axis of rotation horizontal tion.   12. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 9 to I1   characterized in that one of the winches is shifted further towards the middle   instead of the front wall (11) of the load compartment and by an extension of the horizontal deflection of the two strands of the cable corresponding command. 13. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 9 to 12 characterized in that the return pulleys (20 to 23) arranged on the front wall (11) are offset from each other, di- longitudinal section of the load compartment, of a corresponding amount   dant to the diameter of the winches so that in lateral projection, the two strands of control cables are wound and unwound vertemnt. 14. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 9 to 13   characterized in that the distance between each winch and the extreme point of contact of the strands of the control cables on the pulleys reference (22), (23) with horizontal axis of rotation is at least 150 cm.   15. Folding and sliding hood according to each of claims 9 to 14   characterized in that the total length of each control cable   approximately triple the length of the addi- tional load compartment   the distance between the winch and the extreme contact point of the strands of the control cable on the idler pulleys (22), (23) with horizontal axis of rotation.