GB2200601A

GB2200601A - Load restraining in insulated vehicle bodies

Info

Publication number: GB2200601A
Application number: GB08702956A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley William Ayres
Original assignee: York Trailer Co Ltd
Current assignee: York Trailer Co Ltd
Priority date: 1987-02-10
Filing date: 1987-02-10
Publication date: 1988-08-10
Also published as: FR2610577A1; GB8702956D0

Abstract

The side wall 2 of a refrigerated van body has attachment means 6 for cargo restraint members secured to its interior surface in a recess 4 so that the attachment means does not extend above the inner surface of the remainder of the van body. The full cargo storage area of the insulated van body is therefore available for goods. The attachment means 6 is preferably a cargo control track, the depth of the recess being equal to the height of the cargo control track. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CARGO CONTROL ANCHORAGE PDINTS This invention relates to the provision of cargo control anchorage points in a refrigerated van type body.

Vehicles for the transport of forzen goods in which the cargo storage area is totally enclosed in a van type body and wherein thetbody isformed from a composite material are well known. Commonly the body is formed from panels of an insulating material sandwiched between aluminium sheets. It is important to adequately restrain cargo in these bodies, especially 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 method of cargo restraint in such vehicles is to attach cargo control tracks to the sidewalls or roof, to which cargo restraint equipment may be attached.

However, this method of cargo restraint results in decreased load carrying capacity since the cargo control tracks intrude into the cargo storage area. Furthermore, the cargo control track provides a series of projections against which the cargo may snag and be damaged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of restraining cargo which will overcome these problems.

A refrigerated van body, at least part of which is formed from a composite material, according to the present invention has at least one attachment means secured to the interior surface thereof whereby cargo restraint members may be attached thereto, the thickness of the body being narrower at the point of securement of the attachment means, such that the attachment means does not substantially intrude into the load space of- the body.

Preferably the attachment means comprises a cargo control track with extends substantially along the length of the body.

Suitably the composite material comprises a first layer and a second layer separated from the first layer by a layer of insulating material.

Suitably the thickness of the body at the point of securement is such that the attachment means is flush with the load space area of the body.

In a preferred embodiment the first layer defines at least part of the interior surface of the body and is formed from plywood. The plywood layer is coated with a reinforced plastics material on the opposite side to that attached to the insulating material. A strip of metal is positioned between the insulating material and the plywood layer in the region of the point of securement of theattachment means. The second layer is formed from plywood coated with a reinforced plastics material on the opposite side to that attached to the insulating material. Alternatively the second layer may be formed from a metal or a metal alloy.

In another embodiment the first layer defines at least part of the interior surface of the body and is formed from a metal or a metal alloy, as is the second layer.

Alternatively the second layer may be formed from plywood coated with a reinforced plastic material on the opposite side to that attached to the insulating material.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanyins drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a section through a side wall of one embodiment of refrigerated van body according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a section through a side wall of a second embodiment of a refrigerated van body according to the invention.

The side wall 2 of the refrigerated van body is formed from a composite material, the thickness of which is rarrower at one point to form a recess 4. The depth of the recess 4 is such that an attachment means 6 which is secured to the interior surface of the regrigerated van body does not substantially intrude into the load space of the van. The attachment means is secured by, for example,self tapping screws (not shown). The attachment means 6 provides points of attachment for cargo restraint members,and is preferably a cargo control track of the type commonly available and shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cargo control track preferably extends along the whole length of the van.

The composite material from which dt least the side walls of the refrigerated van body is formed comprises a first layer 8 and a second layer 10 which is separated from the first layer 8 by insulating material 12. The insulating material may be, for example, polyvinyl chloride foam.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1,the first and second layers, 8 and 10, are formed from a metal or a metal alloy, for example, aluminium. The metal is preferably coated with a plastics material to render the body impervious to the effects of water.

In a second embodiment shown in-Figure 2, the first layer 8 which forms part of the interior surface of the refrigerated van body is formed from plywood which is coated with a layer of reinforced plastics material 14. A metal plate 16 is provided between the plywood layer and the insulating material 12 in the region of the point of attachment of the cargo control track 6. This metal plate is necessary since the plywood layer is insufficiently strong to support the cargo control track. The second layer, 10, is formed from a metal or a metal alloy, for example, aluminium and is coated with a plastics material.

In a third embodiment the arrangement is as shown in Figure 2 except that the second layer is formed from plywood coated with a plastics reinforced material on the side not attached to the insulating material.

In a further alternative arrangement the first layer is formed as shown in Figure 1, however, the second layer is formed from plywood coated on its exterior side with a plastics reinforced material.

In all these embodiments a refrigerated van body is provided which, while maintaining the cargo at a suitable temperature, has both maximum load carrying capacity and means whereby cargo restraint members may be attached.

Claims

1. An insulated van body having at least one attachment means secured to the interior surface thereof whereby cargo restraint members may be attached thereto, a recess being provided in the region of the or each attachment means so that the attachment means does not substantially extend above the interior surface of the remainder of the van body.

2. An insulated van body as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a cargo control track which extends the length of the body.

3. An insulated van body as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the depth of the recess is equal to the height of the cargo control track.

4. An insulated van body as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least that part of the van body to which the attachment means is secured comprises a layer of insulating material, the thickness of which is reduced in the region of the attachment means.

5. An insulated van body as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the layer of insulating material forms part of a composite material which further comprises a first layer, one side of. which defines at least part of the interior surface of the body and a second layer separated from the first layer by the layer of insulating material.

6. An insulated van body as claimed in Claim 5 the first layer is formed from plywood and is coated on that side which forms part of the interior surface of the body with a reinforced plastics material.

7. An insulated van body as claimed in Claim 6 wherein a strip of metal is positioned between the first layer and the layer of insulating material in the region of the attackllest means.

8. An insulated van body as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the first layer is formed from a metal or a metal alloy.

9. An insulated van body as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein the second layer is formed from a metal or a metal alloy.

10. An insulated van body as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein the second layer is formed from plywood and is coated with a reinforced plastics material on the opposite side to that adjacent the insulating layer.