GB2492143A - Deck pole for supporting livestock laden decks and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A deck pole (10, Figure 1) and method of manufacturing said deck pole. The deck pole (10) comprises an extruded profile having an inner compartment 130 for receiving one or more strengthening members 140â . The method comprises forming a common extrusion profile for use as a deck pole (10). When a lower strength deck pole is required, the extrusion profile can be used independently therefore saving weight. When a higher strength deck pole is required, one or more strengthening members 140â , 140â â , 140â â â may be inserted in to an inner compartment 130 of the extrusion profile. Because the compartment is inside the extrusion profile, the strength can be adapted without changing the external size of the deck pole (10). The strengthening components are preferably elongate standard extrusions, for instance solid or hollow tubes, bars or the like. A single extrusion profile can be adapted for different strengths to suit the required strength of the specific application of the deck pole (10). Moreover, the extrusion profile provides a protective cover to the strengthening members 104â .

Description

Improved Deck Pole for Supporting Livestock Laden Decks and Method thereof The present invention relates to deck poles for supporting decks within a transporter, and in particular, although not exclusively to a livestock transporter.

A known livestock transporter has one or more moveable decks within the transporter to enable the moveable deck to be arranged in different positions. For example, the decks can be closer together when transporting sheep than when transporting cattle. In one known transporter, each moveable deck is supported when in position by a plurality of deck poles.

The deck poles are anchored at either end to sides of the transporter. The anchors fix the deck poles in place and transfer the weight of the deck into the body of the transporter.

Consequently, the deck poles support the deck in place. The deck can be moved by raising the deck from the deck poles and subsequently releasing the anchors and repositioning the deck pole at a new position. The deck can then be lowered back onto the deck poles and supported in the new position. Often the decks in themselves can be a substantial weight, but the weight of the cargo or livestock means that the deck poles have to withstand a substantial downwards force.

Known deck poles are fabricated from steel box section. The strength of the poles has been increased when needed by increasing the size of the box section. However, it is preferable to keep the intrusion of elements within the inside space of the transporter as minimal as possible as any intrusions reduces the load carrying ability of the transporter. Furthermore, it is advantageous to reduce the number of assembly elements within a factory in order to reduce stock control and overheads such as tooling. In addition, steel suffers from inherent problems of being heavy and requiring additional coating to withstand corrosion. Whereas, in contrast, it is advantageous to reduce the weight of the transporter as it can lead to an increase in fuel economy. Moreover, the inside of a transporter is often cleaned with liquid and chemicals which increases the danger to erosion prone materials. This is particularly acute for livestock transporters which require frequent cleaning with chemicals to remove the animal detritus.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a deck pole that has increased versatility and I or corrosion resistance.

According to the present invention there is provided a deck pole for use in supporting a moveable deck within a transporter and a method of using the deck pole as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims,

and the description which follows.

According to the exemplary embodiments, a method of manufacturing a deck pole is provided. The method comprises forming a common extrusion profile for use as a deck pole.

When a lower strength deck pole is required, the extrusion profile can be used independently therefore saving weight. When a higher strength deck pole is required, one or more strengthening members may be inserted in to an inner compartment of the extrusion profile.

Because the compartment is inside the extrusion profile, the strength can be adapted without changing the external size of the deck pole. Also, advantageously the strengthening components are elongate standard extrusions, for instance solid or hollow tubes, bars or the like. Consequently, a single extrusion profile can be adapted for different strengths to suit the required strength of the specific application of the deck pole. Moreover, the extrusion profile provides a protective cover to the strengthening members. There is therefore also provided a deck pole comprising an extruded profile having an inner compartment for receiving one or more strengthening members.

Preferably, the inner compartment is specifically adapted to receive more than one strengthening member, for instance two or three or more strengthening members. This increases the adaptability of the deck pole. Also, the extrusion profile of the deck pole is able to be used elsewhere in the construction of the transporter. This allows a uniform look to the transporter to be achieved and also reduces the assembly components.

Preferably, at least one area of the inner compartment for receiving a strengthening component is also suitable for receiving a nut or bolt head in a fixed rotational arrangement.

That is, the nut or bolt head is held within the area in a fixed rotation relative to the thread.

Advantageously, this allows a member to be attached to the deck pole and subsequently tightened or loosened without needing to hold the inner part.

Preferably, the extrusion profile includes a receiving section on its outside profile for receiving a damping member. This allows a damping member to be easily fitted thereto in order to be arranged between the deck and deck pole which reduces operational noise. It will be appreciated that the noise reduction advantages of arranging a damping member between the deck and deck pole will be achieved with any deck pole, and that therefore the outer profile having a receiving area for a damping member may be applicable to any deck pole and not solely limited to the deck pole as herein described.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a deck pole in accordance with a first embodiment; Figures 2 to 6 show end views of the deck pole of the first embodiment shown in a number of exemplary configurations; Figure 7 shows an end view of the deck pole of the first embodiment shown in a further exemplary configuration; Figure 8 is a perspective view of Figure 7; Figure 9 shows an end view of the deck pole of the first embodiment in a yet further exemplary configuration.

Referring to Figure 1; a deck pole 10 is shown. The deck pole 10 is formed from an extruded profile 100 having an elongate length, an outer surface 120 and at least one inner compartment 130. As shown in Figure 2, the inner compartment 130 is configured for receiving at least one strengthening member 140. Consequently, the strength of the extruded profile 100 and therefore deck pole 10 can be increased by inserting the strengthening member 140. Advantageously, this does not increase the external size of the deck pole 10 whilst allowing a lighter weight deck pole to be used where the higher strength is not required.

Preferably, the strengthening member is a standard size component such as a standard size bar. Consequently, a deck pole having a first strength characteristic and a second deck pole having a second, higher strength characteristic, can be formed from the same extrusion tooling. That is, whereas to increase the strength by changing the shape and I or size of the deck pole, as is the case in the known prior art, two extrusion profiles and associated tooling are required, in the exemplary embodiment only one extrusion is required.

In the exemplary embodiments, the deck pole 10 is formed from a corrosion resistive material, such as aluminium. This is advantageous as it provides a protective covering to the strengthening component 140. Thus, the component 140 can be selected based on strength and 1 or weight characteristics without having to be concerned with corrosion resistance and any restrictions that may otherwise apply to material selection. For example, the strengthening component 140 may be a steel bar, which is prone to rusting and would usually require protection and maintenance, one or both of which can be reduced by protecting the steel inside the extruded profile. The need to coat the strengthening member 140 may not be eliminated, however, maintenance of the protective coating can be reduced as the coating is protected by the extruded profile 110, which can prevent damage to the coating, for instance by being chipped or eroded off from collisions or during cleaning. In one exemplary embodiment, after inserting the strengthening components 140, distal ends of the extruded profile may be sealed or covered, for instance with end caps (not show). This further enhances the protection provided to the strengthening profile and may prevent the inner compartment from becoming soiled.

In the exemplary embodiments the outer surface 120 is substantially bar shaped having four orthogonal sides forming a square cross-section. It will though be appreciated that the outer surface may be any suitable dimension or cross-sectional shape. As shown in the figures, suitably, at least one of the surfaces of the outer surface 120 is provided with a channel 122. For instance, spaced protrusions 124, 126 may be provided. Suitably the 1 0 protrusions are parallel and run the length of the extruded profile. Also, the protrusions may extend away from said surface of the outer surface at distal edges of said surface. The advantage of providing a channel is that the channel may be adapted to receive a damping member 150 (as shown in Figure 9). The damping member 150 may be an anti vibration membrane and allows the decks to rest thereon. The damping member 150 therefore reduces noise of the transporter when moving due to the decks rattling or moving on the deck pole.

The damping member 150 may be a suitable resilient member and may be glued, adhered or otherwise fixed in the channel.

As described, it is important that the inner compartment 130 is specifically adapted to receive the strengthening member 140. As shown in Figure 2, the strengthening member 140 may be a central bar. Here the inner compartment may be sized to received the strengthening bar.

However, in the exemplary embodiment, the strengthening bar is only supported by the inner compartment at distal edges. Thus the inner compartment includes a first channel 132a on one surface and an opposed second channel 132b on a second surface. This the compartment is larger than the strengthening member. Suitably the channels may be formed by two opposed surfaces that extend perpendicularly away from said first and second surfaces. In Figure 2, the first and second channels are shown supporting the strengthening bar in a central area. However, as shown in Figure 5, the bar may be arranged on a periphery of the inner compartment or in other configurations. Thus the area of the first and second opposed channel may be configured to provide the strength required.

In the exemplary embodiments, the inner compartment is shown as being adapted to receive more than one strengthening member. Thus a second set of opposed channels (134a and b) is provided in a spaced second area and a third set of opposed channels (136a and b) are provided in a third spaced area. This advantageously allows a number of alternative strength characteristics to be selected still using the single extruded profile and standard size strengthening components. Thus as shown in Figures 3 and 4 a number of alternative, and user selectable configurations using two or three strengthening members is shown. However, it will be appreciated that the extruded profile may be adapted to receive more than these strengthening members. Moreover, the adaptability of the extruded profile may be increased by forming one or more areas to receive a different sized bar to another. Also, although the exemplary embodiments show the strengthening bars being inserted in the same place, the orthogonal plane may also be selected such that the orthogonally opposed faces of the inner compartment are adapted to receive a different configuration of strengthening members. That is one plane may be adapted to receive a different number or configuration, or sizes of strengthening members than the opposed plane.

As mentioned, the inner compartment is divided into one or more areas for receiving strengthening members. It is preferable if the areas do not extend fully across the extruded profile. That is, it is preferably if the inner compartment remains a single compartment rather than being provided as a plurality of discrete, separate compartments. This is advantageous, as it allows a large strengthening member to be fitted across multiple areas. For instance, as shown in Figure 6, a single strengthening component such as a rod, can be fitted within the compartment and covering a number of areas. In this case, it is preferable if faces between the respective channels are arranged to support a standard rod size. That is, it is preferable if the faces between the spaced discrete areas are angled to the plane in which the strengthening member is arranged or curved.

Figure 7 and 8 shows a further advantage of the exemplary embodiments. Here a plate or other body is shown as being bolted to one of the external faces. Here a nut 162 is arranged on the inside of the compartment to receive a bolt 164 attaching the plate to the deck pole. Advantageously, the channel for receiving the strengthening member is also sized so as to receive a standard nut. Consequently, the bolt can be loosened or tightened without having to hold the inner nut. It will be appreciated that the nut and bolt may be swapped around.

When used in conjunction with a strengthening member, the strengthening member may include a recess or may not extend the full length of the deck pole.

An advantageous deck pole has been described. In addition to providing an adaptable deck pole able to save weight and space, the extruded profile also provides a construction element that may be used elsewhere in the construction of the transporter. This is advantageous as it reduces again the number of components and also reinforces the standard design element and standard look of the transporter.