GB2364295A

GB2364295A - Raisable garment rail for vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2364295A
Application number: GB0016330A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Mccann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-03
Filing date: 2000-07-03
Publication date: 2002-01-23
Also published as: GB0016330D0

Abstract

A raisable/lowerable garment rail for a vehicle comprises a rail R from which garments G may be hung. The rail sits in a slipper 5 atop a piston rod (13, fig. 2) which is raised or lowered via the action of an air piston cylinder PC by operation of a control handle 15. The slippers run on vertical tracks V and have a series of spaced holes (3, fig. 2) into which springlock catches (4, fig.4) latch. The rail may be raised one side at a time, or both sides may be raised simultaneously. Once loaded and raised further goods B may be loaded onto the vehicle. Pre-loaded rails may be hung on the slippers.

Description

2364295 TRAILERS The invention relates to trailers and in particular to

trailers for transporting goods arranged in two levels, one above the other, within the goods compartment.

It is known to place a raised floor in a trailer so that goods can be put on the main floor and on the raised floor. This increases the quantity of goods that can be transported but it adds to the capital expense of the trailer.

It is one object of this invention to provide a trailer which can optimise the quantity of goods transported without an extra floor or increasing the time for loading and unloading the goods and offending the work regulations.

The invention is based upon the realisation that goods may be suspended from a rail which may be raised to an upper level of the trailer using mechanical power.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a vehicle trailer having longitudinally spaced apart vertical tracks and at least one cross member from which goods may be suspended, and power means associated with the trailer for raising the cross member to an elevated condition and for lowering the cross member from that elevated condition.

The power means may take a variety of forms. Preferably the power means is selected to be reliable and cheap and for this purpose we have found a gas piston cylinder is effective. Preferably the gas is air. The trailer will usually have a supply of compressed air but if there is none a compressor can easily be fitted to a trailer. Preferably the cylinder body includes means by which it may be engaged in releasable fashion with the vertical track.

Typically the cross member is a rail which has end connectors each of which may be so-called 'slipper'. Preferably the free end of the piston rod has means or is shaped to contact or engage the slipper. Preferably the end connector has a releasable catch and the free end of the piston is arranged to release the catch when elevating the rail or lowering the rail. While one piston/cylinder may be provided for each vertical track this is not necessary. Preferably one or two air cylinders are provided and may be moved from track to track as circumstances require.

The goods on the rail are typically garments. They may be loaded on to the rail to a high density so that a loaded rail could weigh anything up to 280 kg. This loading can increase the carrying capacity of the trailer by up to 30% compared to a trailer having a raised floor. The rail may be loaded while low down and then raised, or a loaded rail may be brought to the trailer and elevation to the upper part of the trailer.

The invention includes a method of loading and unloading the trailer using the power means to raise and lower the rail. Preferably the rail is raised one side at a time, stepwise, or if appropriate both ends are raised simultaneously using power means at each end.

The invention also includes a kit of parts for use in the method. The kit comprises the piston/cylinder and means for lifting the apparatus, e.g. a handle, optionally with means to releasably secure the apparatus to a vertical track.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure I is an end view of one trailer of the invention with doors having been opened; Figure 2 is a side elevation of one track with the rail raised to mid height for loading of the rail; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the rail in Figure 2 but in the fully raised condition; and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the slipper and piston head.

The trailer T has a main floor F. Vertical tracks V are present on the inside longer walls W and spaced apart along the length of the trailer. Each track is a length of metal and has a raised centre portion I having spaced apart holes 3 to receive a springlock catch 4 in the lower half of a slipper 5 the upper part of which is connected to one end of a garment rail R. The components described so far are conventional.

An air piston cylinder PC comprises a cylinder 10 having two side handles I I and runners 12 to engage the sides of the raised section of a vertical track V. A piston rod 13 is present and the head has a vertical wall 14 shaped to abut the lower end of a slipper 5. The cylinder has a control handle 15 by which the piston rod 13 may be extended or retracted in known manner. The supply of compressed air is via pipeline 16 from a dedicated compressor or the supply already present on the trailer T. A wall 17 is mounted to one side of the piston rod head, parallel to wall 14 and carries a small air cylinder 18, the rod 19 of which can be extended forward. The free end of the rod 19 has a side extension to under-line the lip 4A of the catch 4 of the slipper 5.

In use, the cylinder is mounted at the lower end of the track V on which the rail R is to be mounted. The garments G on hangers H are loaded on the rail R which has end stops (not shown) to prevent the garments slipping off the rail R while the rail is at a lower level (Fig.2). The rail is raised one end at a time by raising the piston 13 to push the respective slipper 5 up from below, the catch 4 being urged by the piston 19 away from the track so that the slipper can pass over the track holes 3. The process is repeated stepwise until the rail R is at the top hole. The air pressure in the cylinder 10 is then released (or the piston may be kept raised while the rail itself is in the upper position). Two such cylinders may be provided, one for each longer side of the trailer. In this way one operator will have lifted over 280 kg of clothes to the top of the trailer singlehanded. Typically the garments will occupy 1.70m of the total 3.70m height of the trailer. The operator then loads boxes B or other goods (or another rail) in the clearance between the garments G and the floor F.

To unload the trailer the operator removes the boxes B and then reapplies the cylinder PC to the slipper 5 at one side of the rail R. Using the cylinder he raises the rail slightly to release the catch and lowers the rail, one side at a time, using the power of the cylinder to prevent the rail from falling to the floor.

The rail may be transported in or out of the trailer preloaded with clothes or the rail may be lowered to a convenient height for loading, raised and then lowered for unloading of the garments.

There are many advantages of the invention, The capital cost of the trailer is reduced because there is no raised floor. The power cylinder is cheaply available and reliable. The carrying capacity of the trailer is optimised, Only one driver/operator is needed.

Claims

1 A vehicle container having at least one vertical track on opposite inside walls of the container, at least one cross member engaged with the tracks and from which goods may be suspended, and power means associated with the container for raising and lowering the cross member to and from an elevated position adjacent the ceiling of the container.

2. A vehicle container according to Claim 1, wherein the power means comprises at least one gas piston cylinder device mounted at one side near the entry point of the container.

3. A vehicle container according to Claim 1, wherein the cross member comprises a rail having a connector at both ends for engagement with the vertical tracks.

4. A vehicle container according to Claim 3, wherein the track has vertically spaced apart holes and a connector is received in a hole at each end.

5. A vehicle container according to Claim 4, wherein the piston has a rod having a free end shaped to engage each connector whereby the connector may be released from the respective hole.

6. A vehicle container according to Claim 5, wherein each connector has a releasable catch in engagement with a hole in the track and the free end of the piston rod is arranged to release the catch when elevating or lowering the cross member.

7. A method of loading and unloading a vehicle container, the vehicle container having at least one vertical track on opposite inside walls of the container, at least one cross member engaged with the tracks and from which goods may be suspended, and power means associated with the container for raising and lowering the cross member to and from an elevated position adjacent the ceiling of the container, the method comprising the steps of:

0 operating the power means to lower the cross member to a loading height;

suspending the goods to be loaded from the cross member; 0 operating the power means to raise the cross member to the elevated position within the container; 0 loading further goods onto the floor of the container beneath the goods suspended from the cross member; 9 transporting the goods to the point of delivery; 0 unloading the goods from the floor of the container; 0 operating the power means to lower the cross member and goods suspended from the cross member; and 0 unloading the goods from the lowered cross member.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the cross-member is raised and lowered using at least one gas piston cylinder.

9. A method according to Claims 7 or 8, wherein the cross member is raised one side at a time in a stepwise fashion.

10. A method according to Claims 7 or 8, wherein both ends of the cross member are raised simultaneously.

11. A kit of parts for use in the method according to Claims 7 to 10, the kit comprising a cross member and at least one piston/cylinder device having means for engagement with end of the cross member, and handle control means for releasing the piston cylinder device to raise or lower the cross member.