GB2085816A

GB2085816A - Goods vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2085816A
Application number: GB8130498A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TIDD STRONG BOX Ltd
Current assignee: TIDD STRONG BOX Ltd
Priority date: 1980-10-08
Filing date: 1981-10-08
Publication date: 1982-05-06

Abstract

A goods vehicle for delivering consignments to a plurality of consignees during one trip carries each consignment on one or more pallets 5 arranged in two rows on the vehicle deck. Each consignment is protected against movement during travel and against pilferage during unloading of other consignments by divider panels 11 suspended from cross members 8 and further divider panels 12 hinged to the panels 11. The lower edges of the panels 11 and 12 can be secured to the relevant pallets by hooks 16 and buckled straps 17. When not in use, the panels are stowed above the load carrying space where they may be retained by pegs 21. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Goods vehicle This invention relates to goods vehicles for carrying a plurality of consignments of goods.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle body comprising a deck for supporting a plurality of consignments of goods, and a divider panel for separating each pair of consignments, the divider panel being supported from a structure above the load-carrying space within the body and being movable between a stowed position, in which it is supported above the load-carrying spaces, and an operative position in which it hangs down to separate the two consignments. Where the consignments are carried on conventional pallets having pockets to receive the fork of a fork-lift truck, the lower edge of the divider panel is preferably securable to the pallet, the weight of the consignment and pallet then holding the panel firmly in position.

Where consignments are made up from standard pallets arranged in two rows on the deck, each transverse divider may comprise two panels, each of width corresponding to that of a pallet, the panels being hinged together at their adjacent vertical edges, one of the panels being permanently supported from the structure so as to hang downwards in a predetermined place in its operative position whereas the other panel is detachable secureable to the structure to hang downwardly in at least two different mutually perpendicular planes.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a goods vehicle body according to the invention, and Figure 2 is an oblique perspective view as seen from above of the divider panel arrangement shown in Figure 1.

The vehicle body shown in the drawings is of the closed van type having a timber floor deck 1, vertical side walls 2 and a roof 3. The side walls 2 have conventional horizontal load securing rails 4 (only the uppermost of which is shown).

The van body is to carry a set of standard wooden pallets 5 arranged in two rows extending along the length of the deck 1. The pallets carry goods forming a plurality of consignments. The van is to deliver one such consignment, which may consist of one or more loaded pallets, at each of a plurality of destinations.

To prevent the goods of the different consignments becoming jumbled together in transit and to prevent unauthorised removal of goods from consignments to be delivered at later delivery stops of the vehicle, a system of divider panels is arranged within the van body.

For this purpose, a supporting structure 7 comprises a set of transverse rails 8 each of which extends across the vehicle interior and has its two ends secured to the uppermost load securing rails 4 of the vehicle. The spacing of the rails 8 is such that the rails 8 overlie the transverse edges of two adjacent pallets 5. The structure 7 further includes short longitudinal rails 9 arranged in a continuous line over the central longitudinal edges of the pallets 5.

The rails 8 and 9 are formed from box-section tubing. The ends of the rails 9 conveniently have flanges 10 welded to them for bolting to the sides of the transverse rails 8.

Each transverse rail 8 supports a pair of divider panels 11 and 12 each consisting of a rectangular heavy-gauge wire frame 13 carrying a panel of mesh for example that available under the Trade Mark "Weldmesh". Alternatively, each rectangular panel may be of insulated sandwich construction so as to reduce thermal conduction and convention between the goods and the ambient atmosphere and having impervious skin layers. Each panel 11 is permanently supported from its transverse rail 8 by means of a pair of webbing straps 14 having loops at their upper end engaged around the rail 8, the straps 14 being threaded through the mesh of the panel 11 and suitably secured to the panel 11, for example by riveted clamps 15.The lower end of each strap 14 passes through a pallet engaging hook 16 (capable of engaging the underside of the top surface of the pallet 5) and returns to a conventional tensioning buckle 17 which is capable of being locked or secured by a plastic or wire seal.

Successive panels 11 are supported on opposite sides of the longitudinal rails 9. The divider panels 12 have one vertical edge oftheirframe 13 hinged to the frame 13 of the panel 11 by means of a pair of tubular hinges 18. Each panel 12 has a pair of webbing straps 19 which are identical to the straps 14 with the exception that at their upper ends the straps 19 are secured to hooks 20 which are shaped to be engageable over the rails 8 or the rails 9.

With the hook 16 disengaged, the panels 12 can be folded flat against the panels 11 and the assembly thus formed can be swung upwards and engaged on the top surfaces of the two adjacent transverse rails 8. In this position, they lie outside the normal load-carrying space within the van. By providing pegs 21 on the transverse rails 8, which engage through the mesh of the two panels, the latter will be held in position during transit.

During loading at a warehouse, each consignment consisting of one or more pallets is wheeled into the van body in the normal manner with the aid of a pallet truck. The panels 12 and 13 can then be swung downwards to isolate the consignment of pallets, with the pallet 12 extending either transversely or fore and aft of the vehicle as appropriate. In either position, it is supported from the structure 7 by engaging its hooks 20 with the appropriate rail 8 or 9.

All four pallet hooks 16 are then engaged with pallets of the consignment and are tensioned and locked or sealed as appropriate. Conveniently, each consignment has a different colour of seal associated with it.

1. A vehicle body comprising a deck for supporting a plurality of consignment of goods, and a divider panel for separating each pair of consignments, the divider panel being supported from a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Goods vehicle This invention relates to goods vehicles for carrying a plurality of consignments of goods. According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle body comprising a deck for supporting a plurality of consignments of goods, and a divider panel for separating each pair of consignments, the divider panel being supported from a structure above the load-carrying space within the body and being movable between a stowed position, in which it is supported above the load-carrying spaces, and an operative position in which it hangs down to separate the two consignments. Where the consignments are carried on conventional pallets having pockets to receive the fork of a fork-lift truck, the lower edge of the divider panel is preferably securable to the pallet, the weight of the consignment and pallet then holding the panel firmly in position. Where consignments are made up from standard pallets arranged in two rows on the deck, each transverse divider may comprise two panels, each of width corresponding to that of a pallet, the panels being hinged together at their adjacent vertical edges, one of the panels being permanently supported from the structure so as to hang downwards in a predetermined place in its operative position whereas the other panel is detachable secureable to the structure to hang downwardly in at least two different mutually perpendicular planes. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a goods vehicle body according to the invention, and Figure 2 is an oblique perspective view as seen from above of the divider panel arrangement shown in Figure 1. The vehicle body shown in the drawings is of the closed van type having a timber floor deck 1, vertical side walls 2 and a roof 3. The side walls 2 have conventional horizontal load securing rails 4 (only the uppermost of which is shown). The van body is to carry a set of standard wooden pallets 5 arranged in two rows extending along the length of the deck 1. The pallets carry goods forming a plurality of consignments. The van is to deliver one such consignment, which may consist of one or more loaded pallets, at each of a plurality of destinations. To prevent the goods of the different consignments becoming jumbled together in transit and to prevent unauthorised removal of goods from consignments to be delivered at later delivery stops of the vehicle, a system of divider panels is arranged within the van body. For this purpose, a supporting structure 7 comprises a set of transverse rails 8 each of which extends across the vehicle interior and has its two ends secured to the uppermost load securing rails 4 of the vehicle. The spacing of the rails 8 is such that the rails 8 overlie the transverse edges of two adjacent pallets 5. The structure 7 further includes short longitudinal rails 9 arranged in a continuous line over the central longitudinal edges of the pallets 5. The rails 8 and 9 are formed from box-section tubing. The ends of the rails 9 conveniently have flanges 10 welded to them for bolting to the sides of the transverse rails 8. Each transverse rail 8 supports a pair of divider panels 11 and 12 each consisting of a rectangular heavy-gauge wire frame 13 carrying a panel of mesh for example that available under the Trade Mark "Weldmesh". Alternatively, each rectangular panel may be of insulated sandwich construction so as to reduce thermal conduction and convention between the goods and the ambient atmosphere and having impervious skin layers. Each panel 11 is permanently supported from its transverse rail 8 by means of a pair of webbing straps 14 having loops at their upper end engaged around the rail 8, the straps 14 being threaded through the mesh of the panel 11 and suitably secured to the panel 11, for example by riveted clamps 15.The lower end of each strap 14 passes through a pallet engaging hook 16 (capable of engaging the underside of the top surface of the pallet 5) and returns to a conventional tensioning buckle 17 which is capable of being locked or secured by a plastic or wire seal. Successive panels 11 are supported on opposite sides of the longitudinal rails 9. The divider panels 12 have one vertical edge oftheirframe 13 hinged to the frame 13 of the panel 11 by means of a pair of tubular hinges 18. Each panel 12 has a pair of webbing straps 19 which are identical to the straps 14 with the exception that at their upper ends the straps 19 are secured to hooks 20 which are shaped to be engageable over the rails 8 or the rails 9. With the hook 16 disengaged, the panels 12 can be folded flat against the panels 11 and the assembly thus formed can be swung upwards and engaged on the top surfaces of the two adjacent transverse rails 8. In this position, they lie outside the normal load-carrying space within the van. By providing pegs 21 on the transverse rails 8, which engage through the mesh of the two panels, the latter will be held in position during transit. During loading at a warehouse, each consignment consisting of one or more pallets is wheeled into the van body in the normal manner with the aid of a pallet truck. The panels 12 and 13 can then be swung downwards to isolate the consignment of pallets, with the pallet 12 extending either transversely or fore and aft of the vehicle as appropriate. In either position, it is supported from the structure 7 by engaging its hooks 20 with the appropriate rail 8 or 9. All four pallet hooks 16 are then engaged with pallets of the consignment and are tensioned and locked or sealed as appropriate. Conveniently, each consignment has a different colour of seal associated with it. CLAIMS

1. A vehicle body comprising a deck for supporting a plurality of consignment of goods, and a divider panel for separating each pair of consignments, the divider panel being supported from a structure above the load-carrying space within the body and being movable between a stowed position, in which it is supported above the load-carrying spaced, and an operative position in which it hangs down to separate the two consignments.

2. A vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the consignments are carried on conventional pallets having pockets to receive the fork of a fork-lift truck, and the lower edge of the divider panel is securable to the pallet, so that the weight of the consignment and pallet hold the panel firmly in position.

3. Avehicle body according to claim 1 or2 wherein the consignments are made up from standard pallets arranged in two rows of the deck in each transverse divider comprises two panels, each of width corresponding to that of a pallet, the panels being hinged together at their adjacent vertical edges, one of the panels being permanently supported from the structure so as to hang downwards in a predetermined place in its operative position whereas the other panel is detachable securable to the structure to hang downwardly in at least two different mutually perpendicular planes.

4. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims wherein the divider panels are of metal mesh.

5. A vehicle body according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the divider panels are of thermally insulating solid construction.

6. Avehicle body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.