GB2290068A

GB2290068A - Assembly arrangement for bridge plates of bridging devices

Info

Publication number: GB2290068A
Application number: GB9511341A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kurt Alten
Original assignee: Alten Geraetebau GmbH
Current assignee: Alten Geraetebau GmbH
Priority date: 1994-06-07
Filing date: 1995-06-05
Publication date: 1995-12-13
Also published as: DE9409223U1; FR2720731B1; GB9511341D0; FR2720731A1

Abstract

An assembly arrangement for bridge plates 5 of dock bridges uses a carrying harness 7 - 9 having flat, endless bands 7 which are held by bars (13, Figs 3 - 6), pass through apertures (11) in lateral walls of the plate 5 and are thinner than the gap between the plate and the dock walls 4. The harness is used to lower the plate into position and the bands 7 are removed, e.g. cut, once the plate is secured to its hinge. Preferably the bar (13) is attached to the lateral walls only at one end of the recess to allow the bands to be slipped into place. <IMAGE>

Description

ASSEMBLY ARRANGEMENT FOR BRIDGE PLATES OF BRIDGING DEVICES The present invention relates to an assembly arrangement for bridge plates of ramp bridging devices, which bridge plates have lateral side walls, said arrangement having two or more carrying members for the attachment of a carrying harness.

Problems arise when assembling such bridge plates because, in its assembled state, the bridge plate is only separated from the lateral walls of thf ramp recess, which accommodates it, by as small a gap as possible.

For such reasons, attempts have been made to provide the top cover plate of the bridge plate with openings in order to permit the carrying harness to be fastened therein. However, these openings not only weaken the bridge plate, but they are also dangerous.

it is an object of the invention to provide an assembly arrangement including a bridge device which permits carrying members to be disposed laterally on the bridge plate.

To achieve this object according to the invention, belts are used as the carrying members, and such belts are secured beneath the cover plate of the bridge plate, extend through the lateral plates and have a wall thickness which is smaller than the gap between the ramp edge and the bridge plate. For assembly purposes, therefore, it is possible to lower the bridge plate so far into the ramp recess that the surface of the bridge plate forms a continuation of the ramp surface without the carrying members having to have been previously removed.

The belts, which serve as the carrying members, may have an annular configuration, that is to say they form closed rings; however, it is also possible to provide the ends of a single-layer belt body with loops or eyelets. In addition, it is advantageous to use carrying members which are slightly resiliently flexible. They are capable of absorbing the carrying forces between a plurality of carrying members to a certain extent. This action is important, because four carrying members are generally used in order to permit a stable suspension of the bridge plate to be achieved.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention and in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a bridging device during the assembly of a bridge plate; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a carrying member for an assembly arrangement; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the bridge plate in the region of the point of engagement for a carrying member; Fig. 4. illustrates the point of engagement of the region shown in Fig. 3 with a carrying member attached; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V - V of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the point of engagement taken along the line VI - VI of Fig. 3.

A recess 3, having covering 4, is provided in a platform or ramp 1 having a vehicle lolding/unloading region area 2. A bridge plate 5 must be so inserted in said recess that surface 6 of this plate forms a continuation of the area 2 (inoperative position of the bridging device). At its ends adjacent the platform, the bridge plate 5 is pivotably mounted on the platform 1 in order to permit it to be adjusted to the level of the vehicle to be loaded or unloaded, so that the gap between the front edge of the platform and the rear edge of the vehicle is thus bridged.

Four carrying members 7, which are formed from a thin, endless belt, are provided for retaining and lowering the bridge plate 5, and said carrying members are substantially disposed in the corners of the bridge plate 5. The carrying members 7 are retained in hooks 8, which form part of a carrying harness 9 associated with a crane or the like.

In order to permit the carrying members 7 to be securely connected to the bridge plate 5, a window-like recess 11 is provided in vertical lateral plates 12, which laterally terminate the bridge plate 5 and are mainly provided for safety reasons, at the points of engagement directly beneath the cover plate 10 of the bridge plate 5, which cover plate forms the surface 6. A bar 13, which extends parallel to the cover plate 10, but which is only connected to the lateral plate 12 at one end adjacent the recess 11 and initially extends at an acute angle relative to the lateral plate L2, is situated behind these recesses 11. Moreover, the bar 13 is so long that it protrudes beyond the recess 11 at both ends.

For the securement of the carrying members on the bridge plate 5, the carrying members 7 are drawn over the bar 13 and drawn through the recess 31 so that an upwardly orientated loop 14 is produced above the cover plate 10, so as to permit the hook-type connection with the carrying harness 9 to be produced.

The bridge plate 5 is now brought into the position shown in Fig. 1 and lowered intc the recess 3.

This lowering is possible, because the carrying member 7 is thinner than the gap x between the bridge plate 5 and the platform 1.

If the bridge plate 5 has assumed its prescribed position, and if it is securely connected to the platform 1 via a hinge, for example, the carrying members 7 can easily be cut so that the carrying harness 9 can be removed.

It should be mentioned that the bar 13 may become deformed permanently or resiliently in a direction towards the lateral plate 12 by the effect of the carrying load; however, these deformations are not detrimental, because the carrying member 7 has already been brought into the carrying position. The strength of the point of engagement is additionally increased by the bar 13 being in abutment at each end under load.

It is advantageous for the carrying member 7 not to be necessarily configured as a virtually expansionfree element, e.g. as a solid steel belt, but for it to be slightly resiliently flexible, e.g. when it is formed from plastics material filaments. This flexibility distributes the tension evenly throughout the various component parts of the carrying harness 9.

Claims

1. An assembly arrangement for bridge plates of ramp-like bridging devices for platforms or ramps, which bridge plates have lateral plates, said arrangement having two or more carrying members for the attachment of a carrying harness to the bridge plate, wherein the carrying members are belts (7), which are secured beneath the cover plate (10) of the bridge plate (5), extend through the lateral plates (12) of the bridge plate (5) and have a wall thickness which is smaller than the gap (x) between the bridge plate and the loading platform or ramp (1) which is to receive the bridge plate

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying member (7) is secured by a bar (13), which is disposed behind a window-like aperture (11) in the lateral plate (12), the carrying member being guided around said recess.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein both ends of the bar (13) protrude beyond the recess.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein one end of the bar (13) is disposed at a spacing from the lateral plate (12), so that the carrying member (7) can be drawn over the bar.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bar (13) is deformable in a direction towards the lateral plate (12) when the arrangement is in use or its operative position.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying members (7) have an end Less, annular configuration.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying members (7) are elastically resilient.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein only one end of the bar (13) is securely connected to the bridge plate (5).

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bar (13) is substantially disposed in the corner region between lateral plate (12) and cover plate (10).

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the double belt (7) also has a wall thickness which is smaller than the gap (x).

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securement is effected on the underside of the cover plate (10).

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securement is effected on the inner surface of the lateral plate (12).

13. An arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A bridging device for platforms or ramps comprising a bridge plate having two lateral plates extending therefrom, at least one aperture in each lateral plate and a cantilever projection on the inward side of each lateral plate in the region of each aperture and over which a lifting belt is engageable to permit lifting of the device and location in a receiving recess of a loading/unloading platform for vehicles.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 and any of claims 1 to 13.

16. A method of location of a bridge device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15 in a receiving recess of a loading/unloading platform, in which two lifting belts are partially inserted through apertures in lateral plates and looped over securing means or cantilever projections under the bridge plate, and then connected to a carrying harness, lifted and lowered into location in a receiving recess in said platform with said belts extending between edges of the device and the sides of the recess.