GB2083417A

GB2083417A - Cargo restraint system

Info

Publication number: GB2083417A
Application number: GB8124782A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: YORK TRAILER TEES Ltd
Current assignee: YORK TRAILER TEES Ltd
Priority date: 1980-08-13
Filing date: 1981-08-13
Publication date: 1982-03-24
Also published as: GB2083417B

Abstract

A van body comprising a side wall (2) and bottom rail (3) in which the inner surface (7) of the bottom rail is substantially flush with the inner surface of the side wall. The bottom rail (3) is provided with one or more apertures (13 or 28) which do not intrude into the load space and to which cargo restraint members (14) may be located. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cargo restraint system This invention relates to the provision of cargo control anchorage points in a van type body.

Currently, there are a wide range of cargo carrying vehicles in which the cargo storage area is totally enclosed in a van type body.

Such bodies may have side walls which are constructed with sheets or panels of wood, plywood, G.R.P. or similar material. It is important to adequately restrain cargo in these bodies, particularly when the vehicles are only partially loaded, to prevent movement of the cargo during transportation which could lead to both damage of the cargo and the body of the vehicle. The normal methods of cargo restraint used in such vehicles is to attach members, e.g. hooks or eyes, to the sidewalls to which the cargo control equipment may be secured.However, this method of cargo restraint suffers from three main disadvantages: (i) when the member is attached by screws into the side panel, e.g. of plywood, the strength of the attachment is fairly low and the labour content in fitting such attachments is high, (ii) when the attachment is made by bolts or similar means through the side wall, then a potential water leak exists with every aperture through the side panel, and (iii) when the side panel is constructed of wood, passage of water into the wood may in time cause degradation. Furthermore the external appearance of the vehicle is also marred by the protrusion of bolts or the like.

The attachment of members to the side walls of the body almost inevitably requires that the member intrudes into the load space thereby reducing the cargo carrying capacity of the body and providing a series of projections against which the cargo may be damaged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative means of restraining cargo in such van type bodies.

Therefore according to the invention there is provided a van body in which the side walls are supported on and secured to a bottom rail, the bottom rail having an inner surface substantially flush with the inner surface of the side wall, which inner surface of the bottom rail is provided with one or more apertures into which cargo restraint members may be located.

Preferably, the bottom rail is formed in two parts, an outer part which is substantially parailel to the exterior surface of the panels forming the side wall, having a portion which overlaps and contacts the outer portion of said panels, so that the panels may be secured to the bottom rail, and an inner part having a surface substantially flush with the inner surface of the side wall.

In one embodiment, the inner part of the bottom rail includes an aperture extending substantially along the length of each side wall into which the cargo restraint members may be located. Preferably, the inner part comprises an upper member including the aperture extending substantially along the length of the side wall and forming a support for the side wall, and a lower member which has portions at the top and bottom which are turned outwardly towards and welded to the outer part. Furthermore, the aperture may comprise a plurality of projections extending across the aperture.

In an alternative embodiment the inner part preferably has portions at the top and bottom which are turned outwardly at right angles and welded to the outer part, the top turned over portion forming a ledge upon which the side wall panels may be supported. In this embodiment the bottom rail has a series of aperture or holes into which hooks, poles or the like which form part of a cargo restraint system may be inserted, the apertures preferably comprising recesses formed in the bottom rail to restrict further access behind the bottom rail.

In either embodiment the bottom rail also acts as an integral kick strip thereby reducing the damage to the side walls during loading, particularly pallets and the like. The attachment points for cargo control are of high strength, which do not require any form of fixing to the panels of the body and do not intrude into the load space. Furthermore, it is possibie to use simple, quick release type attachments for the cargo control system, enabling it to be removed entirely from the vehicle if required during loading or unloading, and thus not impeding the movement of cargo.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the bottom rail on either side of the van type body is provided with one or more apertures, the apertures in one bottom rail being aligned with those in the opposite rail.

A series of poles may be provided each having ends adapted for insertion into said apertures, at least one of the ends being sprung to allow each pole to be positioned across the vehicle body with each end located in an aperture in a respective bottom rail in a similar manner to the sprung pins used in fastening watch straps. This type of cargo restraint system may be tailor made for each size of body. The poles themselves may additionally be provided with suitable attachment means such as eyes or hooks in order for straps or nets to be secured from the poles to other points of attachment, e.g. at a top rail or to the roof of the body.

According to one embodiment of the invention the van type body is additionally provided with a top rail having a portion which is attached to the panels forming the side of the vehicle, the top rail including means adapted for the attachment of cargo restraint systems, which means do not project into the van body beyond the inner surface of the side wall. The means for attachment may comprise a series of holes, apertures in a similar manner to the bottom rail, a slot, channel or track adapted to accommodate the fixing means of a cargo restraint system. In a simple embodiment the top rail may be connected to an angle to which may be welded hooks extending from one arm of the angle to the other.

The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 represents a section through a side wall of a van type body showing a top and bottom rail, Figure 2 shows an alternative top rail to that shown in Fig. 1, Figure 3 shows a modified bottom rail to that shown in Fig. 1, and Figure 4 shows an alternative bottom rail to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The van body is constructed of a floor 1, side panels 2 supported on a bottom rail 3 and a top rail 4 supporting the roof 5.

The bottom rail is formed of two major parts, an outer part 6 and an inner part 7.

The outer part 6 includes a portion 8 which overlaps with the side panels 2 and is secured to said side panels by means of bolts 9 or similar securing means. The inner part 7 of the bottom rail includes turned over portions 11 which are welded to the outer part 6 of the bottom rail. The bottom rail may be strengthened by the presence of internal bracing members 1 2 which are secured to the inner or outer parts.

The uppermost member 1 2 is located beneath an aperture 1 3 in the inner part of the bottom rail to prevent debris which may have entered through the hole, from falling into the bottom of the cavity between inner and outer members 7 and 6.

The inner surface of the inner part 7 is substantially flush with the inner surface of the side panels 2. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the inner part 7 of the bottom rail is provided with a series of apertures 13, to provide points or attachment for cargo control equipment. These apertures 1 3 may simply be formed by drilling or punching out a hole. In order to prevent access to the space between the inner and outer parts of the bottom rail a cup portion or recess shown in dotted lines may be welded to the inner part or the apertures 1 3 may be made by pressing or stamping the metal forming the inner part of the bottom rail such that access to the space between the two parts of the bottom rail is not possible.These latter embodiments are particularly desirable for those vehicles intended for international travel in order to comply with various customs requirements.

Fig. 1 shows the positioning of a pole member 14 having an end portion 1 5 which is located in the aperture 1 3 of the bottom rail. The pole member extends across the width of the van body and has a second end located in the aperture of a bottom rail on the opposite side of the vehicle. The pole may additionally comprise means 1 6 into which cargo control equipment such as slings and nets may be secured.

The top rail 4 has an angle 1 7 bolted to it (see Fig. 1) and is secured to the top of the side panels 2 by means of bolts or the like. A series of eyelets 1 8 are secured to the angle, spaced along its length, which eyelets do not project beyond the inner surface of the side panels 2. Fig. 1 shows cargo control means in the form of a sling 1 9 having a hook 20 at one end which is located within eyelet 1 8. In order to facilitate attachment of the sling to the eyelet 1 8 the sling is provided with a rigid portion 21, e.g. a metal strip attached to the sling. so that the operator may readily hold the end of the sling aloft to located the hook 20 within the eyelet 1 8.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative arrangement for a top rail which includes a cargo control track 22, this track lying within the internal width of the side panel 2. There are various proprietory cargo control tracks commercially available for use with cargo control systems, e.g.

by Package Control Limited and Ancra International Limited.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of bottom rail which includes a single reinforcing element 1 2 and holes 1 3 for cargo control equipment.

In an alternative embodiment for the bottom rail (see Fig. 4) the inner part 7 of the bottom rail comprises an upper member 24 and a lower member 26, the upper member comprising a single aperture 28 welded to the outer part 8 and extending along the length of the side wall, the aperture being formed by a channel member 30 and a plurality of means 32 in the form of projections extending across the channel to which the cargo control devices are secured. The top surface 34 of the upper member further supplies support for the side panels 2. The lower member 26 is welded or bolted to the outer part 8 of the bottom rail and has a top and bottom portion 11 turned outwardly toward the outer part 8.

The top turned portion 11 provides additional support for the upper member 24. This arrangement provides an alternative means of compliance with customs regulations, and is simpler to construct than drilling holes. If desired, this arrangement can be used in addition to the holes 1 3 in the inner kick strip.

Claims

1. A van body in which side walls are supported on and secured to a bottom rail, the bottom rail having an inner surface sub stantially flush with the inner surface of the side wall, which inner surface of the bottom rail is provided with one or more apertures into which cargo restraint members may be located.

2. A van body as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom rail is formed in two parts, an outer part which is substantially parallel to the exterior surface of panels forming the side wall, having a portion which overlaps and contacts the outer portion of said panels, so that the panels may be secured to the bottom rail, and an inner part having a surface substantially flush with the inner surface of the side wall.

3. A van body as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner part of the bottom rail includes an aperture extending substantially along the length of each side wall into which cargo restraint members may be located.

4. A van body as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inner part comprises an upper member including the aperture extending substantially along the length of the side wall and forming a support for the side wall, and a lower member which has portions at the top and bottom which are turned outwardly towards and welded to the outer part.

5. A van body as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4 which comprises a plurality of projections extending across the aperture to which cargo restraint members may be secured.

6. A van body as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the inner part has portions at the top and bottom which are turned outwardly towards and welded to the outer part, the top turned over portion forming a support for the side wall.

7. A van body as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 6 wherein the apertures comprise a series of holes.

8. A van body as claimed in claim 7 wherein the apertures comprise recesses formed in the bottom rail to restrict further access behind the bottom rail.

9. A van body as claimed in any preceding claim wherein two opposite sides of the van type body are provided with a bottom rail the one or more apertures in in one bottom sail being aligned with those in the opposite rail.

10. A van body as claimed in claim 9 which further comprises one or more cargo restraint members having ends adapted for insertion into the one or more apertures, at least one of the ends being sprung to allow each member to be positioned across the van body with each end located in an aperture in a respective bottom rail.

11. A van body as claimed in any preceeding claim which further comprises a top rail having a portion which is attached to the side wall, the top rail including attachment means adapted for attachment of cargo restraint systems, wherein the attachment means do not project beyond the inner surface of the side wall.

1 2. A van body substantially as herein described and with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A van body substantially as herein described and with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.