GB2293144A

GB2293144A - Curtain sided trailers

Info

Publication number: GB2293144A
Application number: GB9418524A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Frank Steel
Original assignee: M & G Tankers & Trailers Ltd
Current assignee: M & G Tankers & Trailers Ltd
Priority date: 1994-09-14
Filing date: 1994-09-14
Publication date: 1996-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-14
Also published as: GB9418524D0; GB2293144B

Abstract

A vehicle trailer body includes an end wall 2 with corner posts 8 around which a curtain C may extend to be secured in sockets 7. Flaps F1, F2 are pivoted to the corner posts. The flaps may either lie behind the curtain when it is in its extended position, or, when the curtain is retracted, be moved to an out of the way position to allow full access to the area behind the front wall 2. <IMAGE>

Description

CARGO TRANSPORT The invention relates to the transport of cargo and in particular to curtainsider freight transporting road trailers.

A curtainsider trailer is a van body having at least one, usually both, open sides closable by a curtain. At one end the curtain is connected to a reel fixed at one end of the trailer, and the other end of the curtain is connected to a rod which is receivable in a socket at the other end of the trailer. When extended the curtain passes from one end wall to the other along a side of the trailer and is tensioned by connectors both longitudinally and vertically. It is a requirement that the comers of the trailer be curved and arcuate corner posts are present and extend a short distance along the side or rave of the deck. This defines a dead space to loading of freight or cargo on to the deck, e.g. from a forklift vehicle and such cargo must be moved into the dead space as an extra operation if all the available space is to be filled.Conversely the load must be removed from the dead space first before it can be unloaded from the trailer. It is one object of this invention to solve that problem.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a vehicle trailer body comprising an elongate base having side walls, at least one end wall being present and including a corner post at its sides, a curtain being extendable about the corner post to cover the respective side wall and a flap pivotally mounted on the corner post, the flap being arranged to move between a curtain closed condition in which the curtain is extended and the flap extends in the plane of the side wall generally behind the curtain and an open condition in which the side of the trailer is open and the flap projects outwardly of the body to allow access to the area adjacent the end.

Typically the end wall will be a forward end wall constituting part of the bulkhead of the trailer.

Preferably the curtain is fixed at one end of the trailer, typically the rear, and is detachably connected to a position at the other end of the trailer.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partial plan of view of the bulkhead of a curtainsider trailer of the invention, parts being cut away showing above one side covered by a curtain and below the side open for loading or unloading; Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of the corner post with the curtain in extended condition; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the trailer with one side open for loading.

The trailer has a deck 1 above which is a roof. At its front end the trailer has a forward end wall 2 which forms a bulkhead for the trailer. Beneath the bulkhead is a connector, not shown, for the tractor, and at the rear end not shown, the trailer has the usual set of wheels 3. A frame 4 is present at the rear end of the trailer and contains closable doors. The side walls of the body are closable by slidable curtains C. One end of each curtain is connected on a reel 5 upstanding on the trailer at the rear frame 4. The other end of the curtain is connected to rod 6 receivable in a socket 7 therefor in front of the forward wall 2. When a curtain C is extended it is tensioned both longitudinally and vertically in known manner for road travel.

A corner post 8 is present at each end of the forward end wall 2. The post 8 is a hollow tube containing a pivot pin 9. A flap extends from one side of the tube at an angle and includes an inner web F1 attached to which is an integral outer web F2; these being at an obtuse angle. The angle is selected so that when in the closed condition (as explained below) the outer web F2 is in line with the side rave 10 or edge of the deck.

When the curtain C is retracted, i.e. wound about the reel 5 with the rod 7 detached from the socket 6, the flap F may be moved to the condition shown in the lower part of Figure 1 and in Figure 3 in which case access can easily be gained to the area of the deck immediately behind the forward wall 2. When the trailer is loaded and the curtain C is to be extended along the sidewall the flap is first pushed back so that the outer web F2 lies in line with the respective side rave 10, the inner web F1 forming a relatively gentle incline. The flap then protects the contained cargo. The curtain is extended over the flap, and then secured as shown in Figure 2.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The curtain may be secured to the front of the trailer and be detachably connected to the rear end.

Claims

1. A vehicle trailer body comprising an elongate base (1) having side walls (10), at least one end wall (2) being present and including a corner post (8) at its sides, a curtain (C) being extendable about the corner post (8) to cover the respective side wall (2) and a flap (F1,F2) pivotally mounted on the corner post, the flap (F1,F2) being arranged to move between a curtain closed condition in which the curtain is extended and the flap extends in the plane of the side wall generally behind the curtain and an open condition in which the curtain is retracted and the flap (F1,F2) projects outwardly of the body to allow access to the area adjacent the end wall (2).

2. A body according to Claim 1, wherein the end wall (2) is present at the forward end of the trailer.

3. A trailer according to Claim 2, wherein the end wall (2) is part of the bulkhead of the trailer.

4. A trailer according to any preceding Claim, wherein the curtain (C) is fixed at the rear end of the trailer and is detachably connected to a connector (7) at the forward end of the trailer.

5. A trailer according to any preceding Claim, wherein a corner post (8) comprises a hollow tube (8) containing a pivot pin (9), with a flap (F1) extending from one side of the tube at an angle the flap including an inner web (F1) attached to which is an integral outer web (F2), the webs being at an angle selected so that when in the closed condition the outer web (F2) is in line with the side edge (10) of the trailer.