GB2292965A - Curtain sided vehicles - Google Patents

Curtain sided vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2292965A
GB2292965A GB9513286A GB9513286A GB2292965A GB 2292965 A GB2292965 A GB 2292965A GB 9513286 A GB9513286 A GB 9513286A GB 9513286 A GB9513286 A GB 9513286A GB 2292965 A GB2292965 A GB 2292965A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
curtain
roof
track
vehicle according
sealing element
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9513286A
Other versions
GB9513286D0 (en
GB2292965B (en
Inventor
Hector Tidd
Trevor Edward Rawling
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TIDD TRAILERS PLC
Original Assignee
TIDD TRAILERS PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB9418264A external-priority patent/GB9418264D0/en
Application filed by TIDD TRAILERS PLC filed Critical TIDD TRAILERS PLC
Priority to GB9513286A priority Critical patent/GB2292965B/en
Publication of GB9513286D0 publication Critical patent/GB9513286D0/en
Publication of GB2292965A publication Critical patent/GB2292965A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2292965B publication Critical patent/GB2292965B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00—Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/10—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane
    • E05D15/1065—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track
    • E05D15/1081—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track specially adapted for vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J5/00—Doors
    • B60J5/04—Doors arranged at the vehicle sides
    • B60J5/06—Doors arranged at the vehicle sides slidable; foldable
    • B60J5/062—Doors arranged at the vehicle sides slidable; foldable for utility vehicles or public transport
    • B60J5/065—Doors arranged at the vehicle sides slidable; foldable for utility vehicles or public transport with non-rigid elements, e.g. side curtains
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00—Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/10—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane
    • E05D15/1065—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track
    • E05D2015/1071—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track the track being directly linked to the fixed frame, e.g. slidingly
    • E05D2015/1076—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track the track being directly linked to the fixed frame, e.g. slidingly swinging transversely, e.g. on arms
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/10—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof
    • E05Y2900/13—Type of wing
    • E05Y2900/146—Shutters
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/50—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles
    • E05Y2900/53—Type of wing
    • E05Y2900/531—Doors

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)

Abstract

A curtain sided vehicle having a load carrying aperture defined by support means and a roof means, the roof means further comprising a roof portion (10), a pelmet portion (14) extending downwardly from the roof portion and a roof track (16) for carrying a curtain (30), wherein a sealing element (34) is attached to the inside of the pelmet or lip portion (14) and the roof track (16) is displaceable outwardly and upwardly, such that in use movement of the roof track (16) urges the top of the curtain held in the roof track into tight engagement with the sealing element (34) and tensions the curtain (30) in a vertical direction. Movement of the roof track is preferably achieved by a ram (26). The sealing element (34) may be hook shaped, substantially u-shaped, or substantially v-shaped. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Curtain Sided Vehicles Field of invention This invention generally relates to curtain sided vehicles, ie single unit lorries equipped with closure curtains or twin unit vehicles having a trailer equipped with closure curtains, and more especially relates to means for tensioning the curtains, when closed, in the vertical direction.
Background to the invention Conventionally, the curtains of curtain sided vehicles are tensioned in the vertical direction by means of coupling buckles, each of which secures together two straps one a reinforcement strap secured to the curtain downwardly from the upper edge thereof, and one a second strap which can be pulled upwardly from a fixing to the vehicle floor. Once the straps have been secured together, the buckle can be tightened to tension the straps, whereby the upper strap secured to the curtain vertically tensions the curtain substantially over its full height. Typically the tensioning straps and buckles are provided at 60cm intervals along the length of the curtain, so that tensioning in the curtain in the vertical direction is a laborious task.
Moreover, at the top of the curtain, the curtains, when vertically tensioned, are intended to seal against pelmets fixed to the edge of the roof. In practice, this seal is very inefficient, and substantial leakage occurs in wet weather.
It is also necessary to understand that, in curtain sided vehicles, it is normal practice to provide tracks below the side edges of the roof in which can run rollers or sliders attached to the top of the curtains. These tracks are referred to herein as the roof tracks.
The invention According to one aspect of the invention, in a curtain sided vehicle, having a roof track for carrying a curtain, and a pelmet portion extending downwardly to cover the roof track, there is provided a sealing element attached to the inside of the pelmet or lip portion, and the roof track is displaceable outwardly and upwardly, to-urge the top of a curtain, held in the roof track, into sealing engagement with the sealing element. This also acts to tension the curtain in a vertical direction.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a curtain sided vehicle having roof tracks for carrying a curtain, and pelmet portions dependent from the side edges of the roof, wherein there is provided sealing elements placed on the interior of the pelmet portions, a curtain suspended by rollers from the roof tracks, fixing means for holding down the bottom of the curtain, and means for reversibly displacing the roof tracks firstly outwardly and upwardly to effect vertical tensioning of the curtains and to urge the top of the curtains against the sealing element, and secondly downwardly and inwardly to disengage the curtain from the sealing element and untension the curtain.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle is provided, comprising a pelmet portion extending downwardly from the vehicle roof and a roof track for carrying a curtain, wherein a sealing element is attached to the inside of the pelmet or lip portion and the roof track is displaceable outwardly and upwardly to urge the top of a curtain held in the into sealing engagement with the sealing element. This also tensions the curtain in a vertical direction.
In another aspect of the invention, a curtain support system for curtain sided vehicle is provided, comprising pelmet portions dependent from two side edges of the roof portion and moveable roof tracks for carrying a curtain, wherein there is provided sealing elements placed on the interior of the pelmet portions, a curtain suspended by rollers from the roof tracks, fixing means for holding down the bottom of the curtain and means for reversibly displacing the roof tracks firstly outwardly and upwardly in order to effect vertical tensioning of the curtains and to urge the top of the curtains against the sealing element, and secondly to disengage the curtain from the sealing element and untension the curtain.
Preferably, the sealing element is an elastic or flexible element which is compressible or deformable when the curtain is urged against it. One possible form of sealing element is a hook shaped element, or an element of substantially U or Vshape.
A preferred means for displacing the roof track is a ram which preferably acts on a pivotally mounted arm carrying the track.
The ram may be a hydraulic ram operable by power derived from the vehicle hydraulics. However, means such as an electric motor may be used instead of a ram. Whatever source of motive power is employed for displacing the track, it is preferably controllable from within the vehicle cab. It is to be noted, however, that the invention does not exclude the possibility of manual tensioning, for example by means of a handle driving the track through a transmission affording a substantial mechanical advantage.
Most preferably, the tracks on opposite sides of the vehicle are independently controllable, since when loading and unloading the vehicle, it will sometimes be necessary to release and draw back onlv the curtain on one side.
It will be understood that in use, the track or tracks will be lowered and retracted inwardly to enable ready release of the buckle or other fasteners on securing straps which hold down the bottom of each curtain, whereafter the curtain can readily be opened and closed. When a loaded vehicle is to be driven, the buckles and other fasteners at the bottoms of the curtains are secured, and the tracks are lifted and automatically displaced to effect vertical tensioning of the curtain and sealing at the upper edges of the curtain.The conventional vertical straps secured to the curtains from the upper edges to near the bottoms thereof are preferably retained to ensure maximum tensioning efficiency, and it is especially advantageous, in the present invention, if the rollers or slides from which the curtains are suspended are attached to the curtain at the tops of those reinforcement straps.
Description of Embodiments Curtain tensioning means for a curtain sided vehicle in accordance with the invention is now further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of vertical tensioning means in the retracted condition; and Figure 2 shows the tensioning means in the operative condition.
Referring to the drawings, reference 10 denotes the roof of the curtain sided vehicle (lorry or trailer), reference 12 denoting a roof girder. The roof 10 has an overhanging pelmet or lip 14 on each side. The drawings depict the arrangement only on one side of the vehicle, but the arrangement at the other side is similar.
A curtain or roof track 16 would normally be fixed to the roof 10 or roof girder 12. However, in the present invention, the curtain track 16 is pivotally attached to lugs 18 fixed to rotatable shaft 20 mounted in position preferably to extend from end to end of the vehicle. Lugs 18 project from the shaft 20 at distributed positions along the length thereof, and runs along the length of the curtain track 16.
The shaft 20 is rotatable by an arm 22 fixed to it, which arm at its end remote from the shaft is articulated to the driving member 24 of a hydraulic ram 26, articulated at its other end to a lug 28 welded to an extension of the roof girder 12 (see Figure 2).
The drawings also show the upper part of the curtain 30, suspended from rollers 32 running in the track 16.
Attention is now drawn to the roof lip 14. At the bottom axis lip 14, on its inside face, has fixed to it a rubber or like elastomeric hook-shaped sealing element 34.
Figure 1 shows the track 16 in its retracted position, wherein the curtain 30 is untensioned, so that securing buckles near its bottom can be released to enable the curtain to be opened and closed.
Figure 2 shows the track 16 in its curtain tensioning position.
The track is lifted and outwardly displaced both to tension the curtain 30 in the vertical direction and to urge the upper edge of the curtains against the electronic seal 34, which is deformed by the pressure acting upon it.
Operation of the ram 26, which effects the displacement of the track 16, is preferably controlled from the vehicle cab, power for the ram being tapped from the vehicle hydraulics.
It will be appreciated that various modifications of the abovedescribed and illustrated arrangement are possible within the scope of the invention hereinbefore described. For example, the hydraulic ram which drives the track may be replaced by an electric motor, or possibly even a manual drive having a transmission affording a large rational advantage.

Claims (26)

Claims
1. A curtain sided vehicle having a roof track for carrying a curtain, and a pelmet portion extending downwardly to cover the roof track, wherein a sealing element is attached to the inside of the pelmet portion, and the roof track is displaceable outwardly and upwardly, to urge the top of the curtain held in the roof track, into sealing engagement with the sealing element.
2. A curtain sided vehicle having roof tracks carrying a curtain and pelmet portions dependent from the side edges of the roof, wherein there is provided sealing elements placed on the interior of the pelmet portions, a curtain suspended by rollers from the roof tracks, fixing means for holding down the bottom of the curtain, and means for reversibly displacing the roof tracks firstly outwardly and upwardly to effect vertical tensioning of the curtains and urge the top of the curtains against the sealing element, and secondly downwardly and inwardly to disengage the curtain from the sealing element and untension the curtain.
3. A curtain sided vehicle according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the sealing element is a flexible element which is deformable when the curtain is urged against it.
4. A curtain sided vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the sealing element is a hook shaped element.
5. A curtain sided vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the sealing element is a substantially U-shaped element.
6. A curtain sided vehicle according to claim 3, wherein sealing element is a substantially V-shaped element.
7. A curtain sided vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for displacing the roof track is a ram which acts on a pivotally mounted arm carrying the track.
8. A curtain sided vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the ram is a hydraulic ram operable by power derived from the vehicle hydraulics.
9. A curtain sided vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for displacing the roof track is an electric motor which acts on a pivotally mounted arm carrying the track.
10. A curtain sided vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for displacing the roof track is operable actuated manually.
11. A curtain sided vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the motive power employed for displacing the track is controllable from within the vehicle cab.
12. A curtain sided vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein tracks on opposite sides of the vehicle are independently controllable, so that in use for loading and unloading the vehicle, release and drawing back of individual curtains on either side is permitted.
13. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle, comprising a pelmet portion extending downwardly from the vehicle roof and a roof track for carrying a curtain, wherein a sealing element attaches to the inside of the pelmet portion, and the roof track is displaceable outwardly and upwardly, to urge the top of the curtain held in the roof track into sealing engagement with the sealing element.
14. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle, comprising pelmet portions dependent from two side edges of the vehicle roof and mcveable roof tracks for carrying a curtain, wherein there is provided sealing elements placed on the interior of the pelmet portions, a curtain suspended by rollers from the roof tracks, fixing means for holding down the bottom of the curtain, and means for reversibly displacing the roof tracks firstly outwardly and upwardly in order both to effect vertical tensioning of the curtains and to urge the top of the curtains against the sealing element, and secondly downwardly and upwardly to disengage the curtains from the sealing element and untension them.
15. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to claims 13 or 14, wherein the sealing element is a flexible element which is deformable when the curtain is urged against it.
16. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the sealing element is a hook shaped element.
17. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the sealing element is a substantially U-shaped element.
18. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to claim 15, wherein sealing element is a substantially V-shaped element.
19. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to any of claims 13 to 18, wherein the means for displacing the roof track is a ram which acts on a pivotally mounted arm carrying the track.
20. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the ram is a hydraulic ram operable by power derived from the vehicle hydraulics.
21. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to any of claims 13 to 18, wherein the means for displacing the roof track is an electric motor which acts on a pivotally mounted arm carrying the track.
22. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to any of claims 13 to 18, wherein the means for displacing the roof track is operable manually.
23. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to any of claims-13 to 21, wherein the motive power employed for displacing the track is controllable from within the vehicle cab.
24. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle according to any of claims 13 to 23, wherein tracks on opposite sides of the vehicle are independently controllable, so that in use for loading and unloading the vehicle, release and drawing back of individual curtains on either side is permitted.
25. A curtain sided vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
26. A curtain support system for a curtain sided vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB9513286A 1994-09-10 1995-06-29 Curtain sided vehicles Expired - Fee Related GB2292965B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9513286A GB2292965B (en) 1994-09-10 1995-06-29 Curtain sided vehicles

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9418264A GB9418264D0 (en) 1994-09-10 1994-09-10 Curtain sided vehicles
GB9513286A GB2292965B (en) 1994-09-10 1995-06-29 Curtain sided vehicles

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9513286D0 GB9513286D0 (en) 1995-09-06
GB2292965A true GB2292965A (en) 1996-03-13
GB2292965B GB2292965B (en) 1997-10-29

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9513286A Expired - Fee Related GB2292965B (en) 1994-09-10 1995-06-29 Curtain sided vehicles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2292965B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2311087A (en) * 1996-03-12 1997-09-17 Southfields Coachworks Ltd Tensioning the curtain of a curtainsided vehicle

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1118482A (en) * 1966-02-15 1968-07-03 Armetal Soc Improvements in or relating to a suspension device for a sealed rolling door and the applications thereof
EP0115604A1 (en) * 1983-01-07 1984-08-15 Hetal-Werke Franz Hettich GmbH &amp; Co. Sliding element system

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1118482A (en) * 1966-02-15 1968-07-03 Armetal Soc Improvements in or relating to a suspension device for a sealed rolling door and the applications thereof
EP0115604A1 (en) * 1983-01-07 1984-08-15 Hetal-Werke Franz Hettich GmbH &amp; Co. Sliding element system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2311087A (en) * 1996-03-12 1997-09-17 Southfields Coachworks Ltd Tensioning the curtain of a curtainsided vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9513286D0 (en) 1995-09-06
GB2292965B (en) 1997-10-29

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Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19990629