GB2268127A

GB2268127A - Securing loads in vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2268127A
Application number: GB9213429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Frank Steel
Original assignee: M & G Tankers & Trailers Ltd
Current assignee: M & G Tankers & Trailers Ltd
Priority date: 1992-06-24
Filing date: 1992-06-24
Publication date: 1994-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-24
Also published as: GB9213429D0; GB2268127B

Abstract

A trailer has a track 20 in its roof from which, a strap 36 hangs, the free end of the strap being connectable to a bar extending along the floor to restrain cargo from movement. The strap is supported in track 20 via a member 30 having a limb 31. When the strap is tightened the member 30 pivots and limb 31 moves into one of a number of slots 24 on a further track 22, thus locking the strap in position. <IMAGE>

Description

RESTRAINT OF LOADS It is known to load cargo in rows e.g. pallets, along the length of a trailer. Each row may comprise more than one layer of the pallets. The trailer may have curtain side walls so that the articles can be loaded and unloaded from the sides in addition to from the rear. There is often a need to remove one or more pallets, e.g. when making a local delivery, without disturbing the others. The pallets on the sides of the gap defined by the removed pallets can then become free to move, and there is a need to restrain those pallets to prevent such movement.

It is one object of the invention to provide means for the restraint of loads; more-specifically it is an object as defined in which restraint means is permanently connected to the trailer and can readily and reliably be used by unskilled labour with little or no risk of detachment.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a goods trailer including a load receiving compartment defined by a floor, a roof and side walls; a track extending along the underside of the roof, at least one load restraint means being movable along the track and to restrain goods against movement, the restraint means being connectable to an anchor on the floor; and locking means adapted to lock the restraining means in a predetermined position along the track.

Preferably the restraint means comprises a strap or the like having at its upper end pivotally movable means which in one condition allows the restraint means to move along the track and in a second condition prevents such movement. Preferably the movable means is adapted to be engaged with the wall of the track or associated therewith; most preferably the means is caused to pivot to the engaging position by a pulling movement on the strap.

The track may be a single track located in the longitudinal centre of the roof or two such tracks may be present each adjacent the-longitudinal sides.

The strap may be releasably anchored to the floor by engaging a buckle at the end of the strap with slots in an elongate bar (or bars) extending along the floor.

According to the invention in a more specific aspect there is provided an elongate trailer having a floor and a roof for use in the transport of cargo comprising a plurality of containers, at least one upstanding wall extending along the length of the floor of the trailer, sockets or holes being spaced apart along the wall, a downwardly facing channel section track extending along the length of the trailer in the roof thereof, spaced apart slots extending along the length of the channel; at least one strap having at its upper end a connector which can travel along the track, the connector including a displaceable member arranged to be received in and engaged by any one slot, the strap having at its lower end a clip to be received in a selected slot in the wall on the floor, tension means to tension the strap, whereby the strap may be moved along the track and the web to engage a selected container and then the clip engaged with a selected slot and the web tensioned to restrain the selected container against movement with respect to the floor of the trailer.

Preferably the trailer includes a plurality of straps which are arranged to be stored at either or both ends of the trailer and movable along the track.

Most preferably the trailer has curtain side walls, so that the trailer may be loaded and unloaded from either side as well as from the rear end. Because the transported articles can tend to tear the curtain, e.g. by outwardly bent or torn mesh walls, it is preferred to provide the curtains with an inner lining of tear resistant material.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trailer of this invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the top of one strap drawn to an enlarged scale, Figure 3 is a view as Figure 2 taken at right angles to the view of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an elevation showing the lower clip of the strap connected to the floor.

The trailer comprises an elongate body having frame members which define a floor 1 and a roof 2 which are spaced apart by corner posts or columns 3. The trailer has end doors 4 and side curtains 5. The trailer may be formed as an integral part of a vehicle or it may be detachable from a tractor unit in the manner of a semi-trailer. The trailer has the usual wheels 6, The trailer is dimensioned to contain at least two rows of pallets P each row comprising one or more layers. For example, the trailer may be about 13.5 metres long and arranged to accommodate 96 pallets to hold mail bags in the rows, each having two layers of 24 pallets.

The floor 1 may be made of wood or the like. Two elongate bars 7 extend the length of the floor 1 adjacent each side. Slots or holes 8 are present along the length of the bars. The roof members contain a track 9 to receive hangers 10 by which the side curtains 5 may be hung. Each side curtain comprises longitudinal portions spaced apart along the trailer in the usual way. The exterior of the side curtains has depending straps 11 which can be looped on to hooks 12 or the like on the outside wall depending from the floor.

An auxiliary track 20 extends the length of the roof of the trailer generally parallel to the curtain-track 9. The track 20 is of channel section having a downwardly facing mouth 21. A bracket 22 of inverted L shape is present and secured to one side of the track, the bracket extending the length of the track. The vertical wall 23 of the bracket has spaced apart narrow slots 24.

The track contains a number of connectors 25 which may be stored at one end of the track 20, ideally adjacent the end doors. Each connector 25 comprises a ball shaped head 26 from which depends a leg 27 extending through the mouth 21 and terminating in a yoke 28. A bridge member 29 extends across the yoke 28. An L shaped bracket 30 is pivotally mounted on the bridge member 29. One limb 31 of the bracket 30 is dimensioned to be received in any slot 24. A hole 32 is present towards one end of the other limb 33, and a ring 34 extends through the hole. This is turn is connected to a buckle 35 at one end of a strap 36 formed of stretchable webbing material or the like. The other end of the strap also has a buckle 37 which can be hooked or otherwise engaged with any slot 8 in the bar 7 on the floor 1.Because of the ring 34 the strap may be pivoted about the leg 27 even though the head 26 travels axially along the track 20.

A strap includes a tensioned device by which the strap may be shortened to apply tension. The straps may be disposed for storage at the end of the track adjacent the doors and or front bulkhead and tensioned so that they are not likely to be damaged.

In use, a connector 25 is moved from its storage position adjacent doors 4 along the track 20 to a position alongside any pallet which, because of the removal of its neighbours, is likely to move during transit. The connector strap 36 is pulled by hand to contact at least a side wall of the pallet and to engage the buckle 37 at the free end of the strap in the opposite bar 7 by reception of the clip 37 in the appropriate slot 8. The pulling action pivots the bracket 30 about the bridge member 29 so bringing the respective limb 31 into locking engagement with a slot 24 in the wall 23 of the track 20. As a result the connector 25 cannot be moved longitudinally along the track 20 and the respective pallet is locked in position. The strap may be used to restrain a number of pallets or a plurality of straps may be used each to engage an individual pallet. The strap may engage the pallet by urging it into abutting relation with its neighbours. The strap may also be passed through a wall of the pallet. The strap is released merely by unclipping the buckle 37 from the bar 7. The strap cannot be detached from the track, so there are no parts to be lost.

In practice, the walls ofopallets tend to be of wire mesh or the like, and with time breakages occur exposing sharp ends which tend to tear the inside surface of the curtains. According to a further feature of the invention pads or lengths of reinforcing or expendable material are attached e.g. stitched or welded to the inside wall of the curtain especially in the areas most at risk of damage.

Claims

1. A goods trailer including a load receiving compartment defined by a floor, a roof and side walls; a track extending along the underside of the roof, at least one load restraint means being movable along the track and to restrain goods against movement, the restraint means being connectable to an anchor on the floor; and locking means adapted to lock the restraining means in a predetermined position along the track.

2. A trailer according to Claim 1, wherein the restraint means comprises a strap or the like having at its upper end pivotally movable means which in one condition allows the restraint means to move along the track and in a second condition prevents such movement.

3. A trailer according to Claim 2, wherein the movable means is adapted to be engaged with the wall of the track

4. A trailer according to Claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the restraint means is caused to pivot to the locked position by a pulling movement on the strap.

5. A trailer according to any preceding Claim wherein the track is a single track located in the longitudinal centre of the roof or two such tracks may be present each adjacent the longitudinal sides.

6. A trailer according to any preceding Claim, wherein the strap is releasably anchored to the floor by engaging a buckle at the end of the strap with slots in an elongate bar (or bars) extending along the floor.

7. A trailer according to any preceding Claim, including a plurality of straps arranged to be stored at either or both ends of the trailer.

8. A trailer according to any preceding Claim, having at least one curtain side wall, the curtain having an inner lining of tear resistant material.

9. An elongate trailer for use in the transport of cargo comprising a plurality of containers, the trailer having a floor and a roof, at least one upstanding wall extending along the length of the floor of the trailer, sockets or holes being spaced apart along the wall, a downwardly facing channel section track extending along the length of the trailer in the roof thereof, spaced apart slots extending along the length of the channel; at least one strap having at its upper end a connector adapted to be retained in and move along the track, the connector including a displaceable member arranged to be received in and engaged by any one slot, the strap having at its lower end a clip to be received in a selected slot in the wall on the floor, tension means to tension the strap, whereby the strap may be moved along the track and the web to engage a selected container and then the clip engaged with a selected slot and the web tensioned to restrain the selected container against movement with respect to the floor--of the trailer.