GB2291095A

GB2291095A - Curtain-sided vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2291095A
Application number: GB9514107A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Leonard Berridge
Original assignee: MONTRACON Ltd
Current assignee: MONTRACON Ltd
Priority date: 1994-07-14
Filing date: 1995-07-11
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-11
Also published as: GB9514107D0; GB2291095B; GB9414201D0

Abstract

A curtain 2 is suspended by hangers 42 which move along a generally upwardly directed supporting surface 27, the track 10. Each hanger 42 carries two or more rollers spaced, longitudinally of the track and rotating about a respective axis extending generally transversely of the track. The efficiency of the apparatus is largely unaffected by tilting of the hangers due to movement of the lower part of the curtain in a direction transverse of its principal movement during drawing. The track can have a retention formation which prevents removal of the rollers from the supporting surface by transverse movement. <IMAGE>

Description

CURTAIN-SIDED VEHICLES The present invention relates to curtain-sided vehicles.

In a curtain-sided vehicle, a load carrying space is formed by a rigid frame supported on a load carrying platform, the frame defining the extremities of the load carrying space. The frame supports a roof, which may be fixed or lifting, and rear access doors are typically provided. The vehicle may comprise a unitary lorry, a lorry and trailer or a semi-trailer.

The sides of the load carrying space are closed by a curtain. The curtain comprises a sheet of tough, flexible material which is suspended from a longitudinal frame member at the upper part of the load carrying space. The curtain is suspended such that it may be drawn between a closed condition in which it extends to cover and close a side of the load carrying space, to an open condition in which it is folded at one end of the load carrying space, such that cargo to be carried by the vehicle can be loaded or unloaded through the side of the load carrying space.

Traditionally, drawing of the curtain, which in a large vehicle is very heavy, has required much effort, sometimes more than can be applied by one person. An attempt has been made to reduce the effort required by suspending the curtain from a multiplicity of brackets, each bracket having an axle extending transversely of the direction of movement of the curtain, each axle carrying a pair of rollers, disposed on opposite sides of the bracket. The brackets run in an inverted channel section mounted at the upper part. of the frame, the channel having inwardly directed, longitudinal flanges on which the rollers are supported. It has, however, been found that considerable effort is required to draw curtains suspended on such apparatus, despite the provision of low-friction rollers.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus for suspending a curtain on a curtain-sided vehicle that offers less resistance to drawing of the curtains than apparatus hitherto available.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle comprising a track extending longitudinally of the vehicle and having a generally upwardly directed supporting surface and a multiplicity of hangers, each having means for attachment to an upper part of the curtain and each carrying two or more rollers spaced, in use, longitudinally of the track and each adapted for rotation about a respective axis extending generally transversely of the vehicle, the rollers being supported by the supporting surface of the track for movement along it.

It has been found that the apparatus of the invention allows the curtain to be drawn with remarkably little effort. It is believed that this is due to the efficiency of the apparatus being largely unaffected by tilting of the hangers due to movement of the lower part of the curtain in a direction transverse of its principal movement during drawing, this transverse movement being the inevitable result of the curtain being pulled from a position to one side of the vehicle. Thus it may be of importance that the rollers are not spaced transversely on the hangers.

It has been found, in practice, that each hanger may suitably be provided with two rollers, although more may be provided where particular load requirements demand.

Each roller may comprise a tyre, typically of plastic material, carried on a rolling-element bearing. The bearing may conveniently be mounted upon a projecting spigot of a hanger.

The roller preferably has an outer running surface which has a convex profile. The supporting surface of the track is preferably concave.

The track may conveniently be formed as an aluminium extrusion. It may comprise a retention formation whereby removal of the rollers from the supporting surface may be achieved only through their being removed from one or other end of the track, and not from the track by transverse movement intermediate of the track ends. This arrangement ensures that the curtain is not pulled off the vehicle if subjected to strong transverse forces.

According to a second of its aspects, the invention provides a hanger for suspending a curtain of a curtainsided vehicle, comprising a bracket, and two or more rollers each being secured to the bracket for rotation in a common plane on spaced-apart parallel axes, such that the hanger is arranged for travel along a supporting surface supported on its rollers while carrying the load of a curtain.

The bracket may conveniently be formed as a pressing of metal (e.g. steel) plate. The attachment means may comprise an aperture extending through the bracket through which a portion of the curtain or a supporting member thereof may be passed.

Preferably, the bracket is arranged such that a load suspended from the attachment means is carried swithin or close to the plane of rotation of the rollers. This ensures, as far as possible, that loads are transmitted through the bracket in such a manner that adverse loading on the bearings of the rollers is minimised.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of apparatus embodying the invention; and Figure 2 shows a hanger, being part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown an upper part of a curtain 2 and a frame of a curtain-sided vehicle, the frame having an upper longitudinal member 10 of inverted channel section, and being of conventional construction. A longitudinal track member 12 is secured to the upper longitudinal member 10 and extends the length of a side opening of a load carrying space of the vehicle. The track member 12 has a flange portion 14 which extends transversely to partially overlap an upper, horizontal surface of the upper longitudinal member 10, the flange portion 14 being secured thereto by spaced fasteners 16. An abutment portion 18 of the track member 12 extends perpendicularly downwardly from the flange portion 14 to abut an outwardly facing surface of the upper longitudinal member 10.At the lower extremity of the track member 12, there is a horizontally extending formation 20, an end portion 22 of which abuts a lower part of an outer wall of the upper longitudinal member 10. Intermediate its ends, the horizontally extending formation 20 is connected to the abutment portion 18 by an upwardly diagonally extending member 24. The horizontally extending formation 20 is thus rigidly connected to the upper longitudinal member 10, for support of downwardly-direction loads.

A portion of the horizontally extending formation 20 which projects outwardly from the member 24 constitutes a track 26 on which the curtain is carried. The track 26 has a generally upwardly directed surface 27 which is concave, this forming a supporting surface of the track.

The track member 12 additionally comprises a curved formation 30 which extends from the member 24 above the track 26, curved to have a concave lower surface. The curved formation 30 may comprise a downwardly projecting portion 32 which extends downwardly therefrom outwardly of the track 26, shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines. A flange portion 34 of the back member 12 extends horizontally outwardly from the flange portion 14 and the abutment portion 18, an outer end portion 34' of the flange portion 34 being angled downwardly. The curved portion 30 extends to join the flange portion 34 between its end portion 34' and the abutment portion 18. A groove 36, having a broadened, T-shaped inner extremity, is formed between the curved portion 30 and the flange portion 34. The groove 36 receives and retains a complimentarily shaped retaining portion of a valance 38 of tough, resilient material which extends downwardly therefrom, with a lower end portion being curved inwardly, to contact the curtain 2.

The curtain 2 is of conventional form and is suspended from a plurality of hangers 42. Each hanger 42 comprises a metal bracket 44 and two rollers 46. The hangers 42 and an upper part of the curtain 2 are covered by the valance 38, the valance 38 making contact with the curtain 2 to effect a weather-resistant seal.

The bracket 44 is formed from steel plate and has a broad head portion on which the rollers 46 are disposed and a narrower lower portion. A slot 48 extends through the lower portion and serves to receive a loop of material 50 formed at an upper portion of the curtain 40 from which the curtain 40 is suspended.

Two spigots 54,56 extend through the bracket 44 to project, parallel to one another, from a first surface thereof. A first portion of each spigot 54,56 extends through an aperture in the bracket 44 and is secured therein, for example, by welding, as shown at 58. Each spigot 54,56 has an intermediate portion 60 of larger diameter than its first portion which extends from the said first surface of the bracket 44. An outer portion 62, of diameter less than the intermediate portion 60, projects from the intermediate portion 60.

Each roller 46 comprises an inner element 64 which is carried, with an interference fit, on the outer portion 62 of the corresponding spigot 54,56. An outer element 66, an outer portion of which constitutes a tyre of the roller 46, surrounds the inner element 64, and is supported for rotation thereon by a multiplicity of steel balls 66. The balls 66 are packed with lubricant and sealed by seals 68. Thus, each roller 46 is formed as a ball-bearing with a tyre carried on its outer race. The outer element 66 may be formed with a tyre of hard plastics material with an inner hub of steel which makes contact with the balls 66. The tyre has an outer surface of arcuate, convex cross-section of radius less than that of the supporting surface 27 of the track 26.

In use, each hanger 42 is supported, by its rollers 46, on the track 26. The track member 12 is shaped and dimensioned such that the hangers 47 must be introduced into place by sliding from an open end of the track member 12, and, in particular, such that they cannot be removed from the track member 12 in a direction perpendicular to their normal travel during drawing of the curtain 2. The curved portion 30 and, if it is provided, the downwardly-projecting portion 32, prevent, respectively, upward and outward movement of the hangers 42.

In cross-section, the bracket 44 is cranked such that its lower portion is displaced from its upper portion in the direction of projection of the spigots 54,56 such that the load of the curtain 2 transmitted through the bracket 44 acts in a line passing close to the point of contact between the tyres of the rollers 46 and the track 26.

As the curtain 2 is drawn from a condition in which it closes the load carrying area, the hangers travel along the track 26, and the curtain folds in a concertina-like manner. If, as it is drawn, the curtain is pulled transversely outwardly from the vehicle, then the hanger 42 may rotate about an axis generally parallel to its travel to a position as shown at 42'm in Figure 1, without a substantial increase in resistance to its movement. Such pivoting movement is limited by contact between end faces of the spigots 54,56 and the upwardly diagonally extending member.24 of the track member 12.

Claims

:LAIMS.

1. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle comprising: a track extending longitudinally of the vehicle and having a generally upwardly directed supporting surface; and a multiplicity of hangers, each hanger having means for attachment to an upper part of the curtain and each hanger carrying two or more rollers spaced, in use, longitudinally of the track, adapted for rotation about a respective axis extending generally transversely of the vehicle, the rollers being supported by the supporting surface of the track for movement along it.

2. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to claim 1 in which each hanger is provided with two rollers.

3. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which each roller comprises a tyre of plastics material, carried on a rolling-element bearing.

4. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to claim 3 in which the bearing is mounted upon a projecting spigot of a hanger.

5. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to any preceding claim in which each roller has an outer running surface which has a convex profile.

6. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to claim 5 in which the supporting surface of the track is concave.

7. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to any preceding claim in which the track comprises an aluminium extrusion.

8. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to any preceding claim in which the track comprises a retention formation whereby removal of the rollers from the supporting surface may be achieved only through their being removed from one or other end of the track, and not by transverse movement intermediate of the track ends.

9. Apparatus for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A hanger for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle, comprising a bracket, and two or more rollers each being secured to the bracket for rotation in a common plane on spaced-apart parallel axes, such that the hanger is arranged for travel along a supporting surface supported on its rollers, while carrying the load of a curtain.

11. A hanger for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to claim 10 in which the bracket is formed as a pressing of steel plate.

12. A hanger for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the attachment means comprises an aperture extending through the bracket through which a portion of the curtain or a supporting member of the curtain may be passed.

13. A hanger for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the bracket is arranged such that a load suspended from the attachment means is carried within or close to the plane of rotation of the rollers.

14. A hanger for suspending a curtain of a curtain-sided vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 having brackets in accordance with any one of claims 10 to 14.