GB2219976A

GB2219976A - Stowable bulkhead for van or container body

Info

Publication number: GB2219976A
Application number: GB8909826A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Gerald Broadbent
Original assignee: BOALLOY Ltd
Current assignee: BOALLOY Ltd
Priority date: 1988-05-03
Filing date: 1989-04-28
Publication date: 1989-12-28
Also published as: ES2013479A6; WO1989010857A2; AU3557089A; WO1989010857A3; GB8810377D0; GB8909826D0

Abstract

A van body comprises an internal bulkhead (20) adapted to divide the interior of the van body into compartments (21) and (22) and to be stowable into a roof-adjacent position to provide an unimpeded van body interior. The van body is preferably of insulated construction having operatively associated therewith a refrigeration unit (15). The internal insulated bulkhead is insulated and the refrigeration unit can deliver refrigerated or chilled air into one of the compartments. Means is provided in the insulated bulkhead to permit a controlled flow of refrigerated air from the refrigerated compartment into another compartment to provide a chilled atmosphere. The bulkhead is movable fore-an-aft to permit variation in the size of the compartments, and is pivotal to a roof-adjacent position for loading purposes or to provide an unimpeded storage space through the entire van body.

Description

VAN BODIES This invention relates te van bodies.

The term "van body" used herein and in the claims is to be construed as meaning a structure defining a cargoholding space on a road vehicle (trailer or selfpropelled), or on a railway wagon, or constituting a container transportable by road, rail, sea or air, i.e. a structure having a floor and a roof supported thereabove by enclosing walls, one of which at least is constituted by an openable door or doors.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a van body which is adapted to be compartmentalised, and which can be compartmentalised to provide regions of different operating temperature, for example a refrigerated region, a chilled region, an ambient temperature region and combinations thereof.

A main object is to provide a van body which can be divided internally into a refrigerated (frozen) compartment and a chilled compartment.

According to the present invention there is provided a van body comprising an internal bulkhead adapted to divide the interior of the van body into compartments and being stowable in a roof-adjacent position to provide an unimpeded van body interior.

Also according to the present invention there is provided a van body of insulated construction adapted to have operatively associated therewith a refrigeration unit and comprising an internal insulated bulkhead adapted to divide the van body interior into compartments into one of which refrigerated or chilled air is delivered by the refrigeration unit and means being provided in the insulated bulkhead to permit a controlled flow of refrigerated air into another compartment to provide a chilled atmosphere.

Preferably, the bulkhead is adjustable along the length of the van body to permit variation in the size of the compartments.

Preferably means is provided to lock the bulkhead in its adjusted compartmentalising position.

Preferably the bulkhead is pivotal about its upper end to lie against and parallel with the van body roof to render the van body interior unimpeded, i.e. fully open.

Preferably the locking means is used to secure the bulkhead in its raised position face-to-face with the van body roof.

Preferably the locking means comprises upper and lower lateral shoot bolts.

Preferably the bulkhead is pivoted to its roof facing position by lateral gas struts or springs.

Preferably the bulkhead is pivotally supported at each side by a carrier plate movable along a lateral overhead track, each carrier plate and the respective side of the bulkhead being interconnected by one of the gas struts.

Preferably, the bottom of the bulkhead is provided with floor-engaging rollers to facilitate movement of the bulkhead along the van body.

Preferably the shoot bolts are releasably engageable in selected holes in tracks running along the length of the van body, or part thereof.

Preferably the bulkhead is peripherally sealed by flexible sealing means such, for example, as a brush or bristle seal.

Preferably, the means in the insulated bulkhead for provided the controlled inter-compartmental air flow is an openable passage with which is preferably associated a fan unit.

Preferably another passage is provided in the insulated bulkhead for return of air to said one compartment.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded diagrammatic perspective view of a van body according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view of an upper corner of the bulkhead and the adjacent structure of the van body; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bulkhead; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a locking track (upper or lower); Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the van body; Fig. 6 is a side view of the bulkhead; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear view of the bulkhead; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of one side of the bulkhead at an upper corner; Fig. 9 is a detail view of an upper shoot bolt arrangement; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the lower rack-andpinion mechanism; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the upper rack-andpinion mechanism.

The van body is generally indicated at 10 and comprises, as is well known to those skilled in the art, a floor 11, and a roof 12 supported above the floor 11 by side walls 13 and a fixed front bulkhead 14, the rear of the van body 10 being open but closable by a door or doors (not shown) (usually two doors, one hinged to each side wall 13), all of which van body constituent components are of insulated construction.

A refrigerator unit 15 is mounted externally of the van body 10 on the front bulkhead 14 and, again as is well known to those skilled in the art, communicates with the interior of the van body 10 via the fixed front bulkhead 14 to supply refrigerated or chilled air as required to the van body interior.

The side walls 13 of the van body 10 each have secured thereto adjacent the roof 12 a runway track 16 secured in position to the respective side wall 13 and the roof 12 by angle brackets 17.

The runway tracks 16 may extend the full length of the side walls 13 but are preferably shorter, their ends being inboard of the front bulkhead 14 and the rear doors with their front ends being spaced further from the front bulkhead 14 than their rear ends are from the rear doors.

Also the securing angle brackets 17 may be of the same length as the runway tracks 16 or be discrete in nature, i.e. two or more spaced securing angle brackets 17 per runway track 16.

The runway tracks 16 are of open-bottomed channel configuration with the lower ends 16A of the limbs 16B inturned towards one another to define a slot 16C.

Also secured to each side wall 13 spatially below the runway track 16 is a pair of vertically-spaced locking tracks 18 and 19.

The runway tracks 16 and the locking tracks 18 are of the same length with the lower locking track 19 being longer, the tracks 16, 18 and 19 are parallel with each other, and the locking tracks 18 are above the locking tracks 19 and consequently nearer to the runway tracks 16.

The locking tracks 18 and 19 are secured to the side walls 13 in any convenient manner, for example riveting, are of flattened channel configuration with the limbs outturned to provide securing flanges 18A and 19A for rivets, and their bases 18B and 19B are parallel with and spaced from the side walls 13 and are provided, along the length of the locking tracks 18 and 19, with a series of equispaced holes 18C and 19C.

Within the van body interior is an insulated bulkhead 20 which divides the interior into a fore compartment 21 and aft compartment 22.

The insulated bulkhead 20 is constituted by a panel or panels of plastics foam material sandwiched between external fore-and-aft walls of GRP (glass reinforced plastic) with a peripheral wall of a.luminium plate.

The insulated bulkhead 20 is both movable fore-and-aft to vary the respective sizes of the compartments 21 and 22 and pivotal about its upper region to lie adjacent the roof 12 of the van body 10.

At each side of the insulated bulkhead 20, adjacent its top, there is provided a triangular-shaped plate 23, of stainless steel for example, which mounts at its upper end and at each side fore-and-aft spaced rollers 24. The plates 23 extend through the slots 16C of runway tracks 16 and the rollers 24 run on the inturned ends 16A.

The plates 23 are apertured at 25, which aperture 25 is alignable with a selected hole 18C, of the locking track 18.

A tube 26 of stainless steel for example, is welded to each plate 23 in alignment with the plate aperture 25 and extending inwardly of the plate 23, a supporting collar 27, also preferably of stainless steel, surrounding the tube 26 and being welded thereto and to the plate 23.

A pair of transversely-spaced bushes 28, of nylon for example, are secured by a U-bracket 28A to the front face of the insulated bulkhead 20 at each side adjacent the top thereof and rotatably embrace the respective tube 26. An adjustable locating collar 29 also surrounding the tube 26 abuts the outer end of the outer bush 28.

Thus, the insulated bulkhead 20 can be moved fore-andaft of the van body interior due to the interaction of the carrier plate/roller assemblies 23, 24 and the runway tracks 16, and can be pivoted relative to these assemblies 23, 24 due to the interaction of the bushes 28 and the tubes 26.

Fore-and-aft movement of the insulated bulkhead 20 is assisted by a pair of transversely-spaced plastics rollers 30 rotatably mounted to the bottom edge of the insulated bulkhead 20 by angle members 31, the rollers 30 making running contact with the floor 11 of the van body 10.

Pivotal movement of the insulated bulkhead 20 is assisted by a pair of gas struts or springs 32, each of which, at one end, is secured by an end lug 33 or similar to a location at the lower end of the respective plate 23 while, its other end, is fixed to a lug 34 or similar on the front face cf the insulated bulkhead 20.

Upper and lower shoot bolt mechanisms are provided to secure and hold the insulated bulkhead 20 in its selected compartmentalising position and its roof-adjacent position.

The upper shoot bolt mechanism comprises a shoot bolt 35 slidable in each tube 26 with the outer end 35A of the shoot bolt 25 being adapted to plug into the aperture 25 in the carrier plate 23 and an aligned hole 18C. The inner end of the shoot bolt 35 mounts a plate 35B abutted by one end of a spring 36, whereof the other end abuts a collar 37 at the inner end of the U-bracket 28A. The spring 36 serves the urge the shoot bolt 35 into its plugged-in position, i.e. its aperture 25 and hole 18C engaging position.

The inner end of each shoot bolt 35 is connected by a wire rope 38 to a plate 39 connected by a rod 40 to a rack 41, the wire rope 38 following a 900 path around a pulley 42 mounted on a plate 43 secured to the front face of the insulated bulkhead 20.

The rack 41 is slidably mounted in a guide 44 also secured to the front face of the insulated bulkhead 20 and is engaged by a pinion 45 mounted on a spindle 46 which is rotatable by a handle 47 at the rear face of the insulated bulkhead 20. The handle 47 is inset in a recess 48 in the rear face of the insulated bulkhead 20.

Movement of the handle 47 in one direction withdraws the shoot bolts 35 from the apertures 25 and holes 18C through the action of the rack-and-pinion 41, 45 and wire ropes 38 against the bias of the springs 36. If necessary, the handle 47 may be releasably secured in this withdrawing position by any convenient means. Release of the handle 47 permits the springs 36 to act and engage the shoot bolts 35 in apertures 25 and aligned holes 18C.

The lower shoot bolt mechanism comprises shoot bolts 49 slidable in collars 50 fixed by U-brackets 50A to the front face of the insulated bulkhead 20 and engageable in holes 19C of the lower locking tracks 19. Each shoot bolt 49 is connected by a rod 51 to a respective rack 52 slidably mounted in a guide 55 on the front face of the insulated bulkhead 20. The racks 52 mesh with a rotatable pinion 54 carried by a spindle 55 to each end of which is secured an operating handle 56, 57. The operating handle 56 is at the rear side of the insulated bulkhead 20 and is inset in a recess 58. The operating handle 57 is at the front side of the insulated bulkhead 20 and may be inset in a recess.

It will be manifest that to move the insulated bulkhead 20 fore-and-aft along the van body interior it is only necessary to release the shoot bolts 35 and 49.

The sequence of operations is that the lower shoot bolts 49 are released first by operating the handle 56, and as a result the gas struts or springs 32 act to cause lifting movement of the insulated bulkhead 20 clear of the floor 11. The top shoot bolts 35 are then released thus freeing the insulated bulkhead 20 for fore-and-aft movement along the van body interior. When in the desired position, the handle 47 is released and the springs 36 act to engage the shoot bolts 35 in the apertures 25 and aligned holes 18C. Reverse operation of the handle 56 drives the shoot bolts 49 into aligned holes 19C.

To pivot the insulated bulkhead 20 into its roofadjacent position only the lower shoot bolts 49 are released and the gas struts or springs 32, assisted if necessary by upward pushing by an operator, act to pivot the insulated bulkhead 20 about the tubes 26. When in the roof-adjacent position, the operating handle 57 is actuated to drive the shoot bolts 49 into aligned holes 18C of the locking track 18.

To return the insulated bulkhead 20 to its compartmentalising position, the shoot bolts 49 are released from the locking track 18 and the insulated bulkhead 20 is pulled, i.e. pivoted, downwards against the action of the gas struts or springs 32 and the shoot bolts 49 are re-engaged in holes 19C in the locking tracks 19.

The insulated bulkhead 20 is traversed by two passages 58 and 59. The passage 58 is closable by a flap or louvre 60 at one side of the insulated bulkhead 20. A fan unit 61 is provided on the insulated bulkhead 20 and has operatively associates with it a control unit 62 which, when actuated, opens the flap or louvre 60 and operates the fan unit 61 to suck air from compartment 21 into compartment 22. The construction and operation of such a flap/louvre and fan arrangement is well known to those skilled in the art and consequently is not described in detail.

The passage 59 is a freely open passage but may, if necessary, be closable by a flap or louvre.

The periphery of the insulated bulkhead 20 is provided with a sealing means to seal the gaps between the insulated bulkhead 20 and the floor 11, roof 12 and side walls 13.

In this example, the sealing means, is a pair of longitudinally-spaced brush or bristle seals 64 mounted in channels 65 disposed around the periphery of the insulated bulkhead 20.

With refrigerated air being supplied to the fore compartment 21 by the refrigerator unit 15, operation of the flap/louvre and fan unit arrangement 60 to 62 permits a controlled flow of air from compartment 21 into aft compartment 22 to provide a chilled atmosphere. A return flow of air from compartment 22 to compartment 21 occurs through the passage 59.

The present invention thus permits a subdivision or compartmentalisation of a refrigerator van body into different temperature freight carrying zones or regions, namely refrigerated (-200C) for example and chilled (+6 C) for example.

More than one insulated bulkhead 20 may be provided.

For example two longitudinally insulated bulkheads may be provided to divide the van body interior into three zones or compartments, for example a refrigerated compartment, a chilled compartment and an ambient temperature compartment.

To ensure that the ambient temperature compartment is not provided with chilled air for example, the flap/louvre and fan unit arrangement will not be operated. The passage 57 may be closed, but in practice it is considered that any leakage of chilled air therethrough will be insufficient to harm or cause deterioration of any freight carried in the ambient temperature compartment or zone.

It will be manifest that with the present invention perishable goods requiring refrigerating or chilling can be carried and delivered in the same van body, and of course the van body can, as aforesaid, be adapted to carry nonperishable goods in their own compartment (ambient temperature compartment).

The roof-adjacent location of the insulated bulkhead (or bulkheads) facilitates loading of the van body, but also permits the van body interior entirely to be used to transport refrigerated freight, or chilled freight, or nonperishable (ambient temperature) freight.

The van body may of course be used to transport in one compartment chilled freight and in another compartment nonperishable freight.

The present invention also takes within its scope the general proposition of providing a van body which can be subdivided into compartments by one or more bulkheads (not necessarily insulated) which are adjustable fore-and-aft to vary compartment sizes and which can be pivoted into a roof adjacent location to provide an unimpeded van body interior.

It will be manifest that, in the general proposition of the present invention, the van body does not need to be of insulated construction and that a refrigeration unit does not require to be fitted to the van body.

While reference has been made hereinbefore to foreand-aft compartmentalisation there may alternatively or additionally be side-by-side compartmentalisation provided the van body interior is dimensionally suitable for the latter.

Claims

1. A van body comprising an internal bulkhead adapted to divide the interior of the van body into compartment and being stowable in a roof-adjacent position to provide an unimpeded van body interior.

2. A van body of insulated construction adapted to have operatively associated therewith a refrigeration unit and comprising an internal insulated bulkhead adapted to divide the van body interior into compartments into one of which refrigerated or chilled air is delivered by the refrigeration unit and means being provided in the insulated bulkhead to permit a controlled flow of refrigerated air from a refrigerated ,compartment into another compartment to provide a chilled atmosphere.

3. A van body as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the bulkhead is adjustable along the length of the van body to permit variation in the size of the compartments.

4. A van body as claimed in claim 3 in which means is provided to lock the bulkhead in its adjusted compartmentalising position.

5. A van body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the bulkhead is pivotal about its upper end to lie against and parallel with the van body roof to render the van body interior unimpeded, i.e. fully open

6. A van body as claimed in claim 5 when dependent on claim 4 in which the locking means is used to secure the bulkhead in its raised position face-to-face with the van body roof.

7. A van body as claimed in claim 6, in which the locking means comprises upper and lower lateral shoot bolts.

8. A van body as claimed in claim 7 in which the upper shoot bolts are spring urged into holes in first locking tracks secured to side walls of the van body.

9. A van body as claimed in claim 7 in which the upper shoot bolts are withdrawable from the locking tracks by a rack-and-pinion mechanism, whereof the rack is connected to the upper shoot bolts by wire ropes or similar.

10. A van body as claimed in claim 9 in which the wire ropes pass over pulleys connected to the bulkhead on which the rack-and-pinion mechanism is also mounted.

11. A van body as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which an operating handle is connected to the pinion for rotation purposes.

12. A van body as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 in which the lower shoot bolts are engagable in holes in second locking tracks secured to the side walls of the van body below the first locking tracks.

13. A van body as claimed in claim 12 in which each lower shoot bolt is connected by a rod to a rack-and-pinion mechanism mounted on the bulkhead.

14. A van body as claimed in claim 13 in which each lower shoot bolt rod is connected to an individual rack, both racks meshing with a common pinion.

15. A van body as claimed in claim 14 in which the pinion is provided with an operating handle at each side of the bulkhead.

16. A van body as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15 in which the lower shoot bolts engage in holes in the first locking tracks when the bulkhead is in its roofadjacent position.

17. A van body as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 16 in which the bulkhead is pivoted to its roof-adjacent position by lateral gas struts or springs.

18. A van body as claimed in claim 17 in which the bulkhead is pivotally supported at each side by a carrier plate movable along a overhead runway track, each carrier plate and the respective side of the bulkhead being interconnected by one the gas struts.

19. A van body as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 18 in which the bottom of the bulkhead is provided with floor-engaging rollers to facilitate movement of the bulkhead along the van body.

20. A van body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19 in which the bulkhead is peripherally sealed relative to the van body floor, roof and side walls by flexible sealing means such, for example, as a brush or bristle seal.

21. A van body as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 20 in which the means in the insulated bulkhead for provided the controlled inter-compartmental air flow is-an openable passage with which is preferably associated a fan unit.

22. A van body as claimed in claim 21 in which another passage is provided in the insulated bulkhead for return of air to said one compartment.

23. A van body, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.