GB2350822A

GB2350822A - End connector for a load restraint beam

Info

Publication number: GB2350822A
Application number: GB9913525A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Mccann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-10
Filing date: 1999-06-10
Publication date: 2000-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-10
Also published as: GB9913525D0; GB2350822B

Abstract

An end connector for a load restraint beam 30, has rollers 13, arranged to move along a rail 3, in a substantially friction free manner. The connector further comprises means (16, Fig 1), for restraining movement of said connector away from the rail, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail. Means 22 and 23, for releasably locking the connector against movement along the rail, are also provided. The rollers may be mounted on axles 12, which run on bearing races B. In another embodiment of the invention, the load restraint beam, with said connector, is for use in the cargo compartment of a road vehicle, in a horizontal orientation, running between two of said rails.

Description

2350822 LOAD RESTRAINT The invention relates to a load restraint and in

particular to a beam arranged to extend across the width of the cargo compartment of the vehicle (typically a road vehicle), to restrain the load from movement when the vehicle is moving. For this purpose the opposite inside walls of the compartment have horizontal rows of tracks, and the beam is releasably engageable with the tracks. These tracks usually consist of rails having longitudinal flanges which are engaged by complementary flanges on connectors at the ends of the beam to hold the connectors to the rail as the beam moves along the track. The connectors can have bolts which can be shot out to engage in holes in the rail to prevent the beam from moving along the track. The connectors are held at the ends of the beam either rigidly or by a pivotal joint.

Because of its size and the internal fittings the beam can be heavy to move. Indeed the weight of the beam can bind the connectors to the rail so that it cannot easily slide along the track. It is one object of this invention to reduce or eliminate this problem.

In one aspect the invention provides an end connector for a load restraint beam, comprising a plate having at one side means for connection to one end of the beam, and on the other side at least two rollers to run along opposite sides of an elongate rail, the rollers being arranged to run in substantially friction free manner, the plate having means to prevent the plate from being moved away from the rail in a direction across the longitudinal axis of the rail, and means for releasably locking the plate to the rail.

2 In another aspect the invention provides a road vehicle having a cargo compartment, rails extending substantially horizontally along the opposite side walls of the compartment in substantially parallel relation, and a load restraint beam arranged to be moved along the rails, the beam having a rail connector at each end, the connector having complementary engaging means for engaging the rail to restrain the beam from moving away from the rail in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail, releasable locking means for locking the beam against movement along the rail, the connector having rollers for movement along the rail and arranged so that the connector may be moved along the rail in substantially friction free manner.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of moving a beam along a track, as disclosed herein.

It is a feature of the invention that the- runs in bearings, whereby the connector can be moved in substantially friction-free manner. The bearings may take any convenient form, such as a ball race or the like. The bearings may be located at any convenient point.

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 side elevation of one connector of the invention; Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the connector of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the connector of Figure 1 engaged With a track.

3 The cargo compartment of a road vehicle has two longer walls 1, only one of which is shown. Tracks 2 are mounted horizontally on the inside surface of the wall 1. Each track is an elongate rail 3 having two outer base portions 4 and a T-shaped central head 5. Holes 6 are spaced apart longitudinally of the rail.

The connector 10 comprises a generally rectangular metal plate 11. An axle 12 projects from one side of the plate at each corner and carries a bobbin like wheel or roller 13. The inner end of the axle is housed in a circular turret 14 and is located in a ball race B, and is held in place by a C-shaped spring clip 15. Because of the bearings the connector will move in friction free manner. An overhang 16 formed by bending the plate 11 is present along each longer side wall of the plate between the adjacent rollers 13. The flanges 17 of the bobbin like rollers 13 are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the head 5 of the rail T and so that the rollers can move freely along the rail. The overhangs 16 project from the plate by a distance so that they can overlie the rail flange in a non-binding way.

A yoke 20 is welded to one end of the plate on the side opposite the rollers 13. The yoke has side arms 21 by which it may be mounted, e.g. using a pin not shown to one end of a square section elongate beam 30 having spring loaded handles 22. These are connected to bolts 23 which can pass through holes 24 in the plate 11 to enter the hole 6 of the rail 1.

In use the connectors 10 are slid from one end on to a rail 3 on each wall 1 so that the beam is mounted in the cargo compartment. The beam 30 is moved along the rail to an appropriate position, the rollers 13 allowing the connector to move in substantially friction free manner along the rail 3. Because the overhangs 16 do not contact the rail as the beam moves they do not cause friction either. The beam is 4 thus free moving. The beam is engaged or released from the track using the bolts which are moved using the handles 22.

In some vehicles the horizontal tracks are joined at cross over points so that a beam may be moved from one horizontal rail to another or along vertical tracks. An advantage of a connector of the invention is that the connectors of the invention allow the beam to be moved freely even when there is a change in direction, as in such a case.

LSMWIl 0.6.99 P02593GB.DES

Claims

An end connector for a load restraint beam, comprising a plate having at one side means for connection to one end of the beam, and on the other side at least two rollers to run along opposite sides of an elongate rail, the rollers being arranged to run in substantially friction free manner, the plate having means to prevent the plate from being moved away from the rail in a direction across the longitudinal axis of the rail, and means for releasably locking the plate to the rail.
2. A beam according to Claim 1, wherein the rollers are mounted on axles which run on bearings.
3. A beam according to Claim 2, wherein the bearings comprise a ball race.
4. In another aspect the invention provides a road vehicle having a cargo compartment, rails extending substantially horizontally along the opposite side walls of the compartment in substantially parallel relation, and a load restraint beam arranged to be moved along the rails, the beam having a rail connector at each end, the connector having complementary engaging means for engaging the rail to restrain the beam from moving away from the rail in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail, releasable locking means for locking the beam against movement along the rail, the connector having rollers for movement along the rail and arranged so that the connector may be moved along the rail in substantially friction free manner.