GB2512189A

GB2512189A - Transport device for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2512189A
Application number: GB1401224.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mahaganesh Rajakutty; Manish Sexena; G Udayakanth
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2014-01-24
Filing date: 2014-01-24
Publication date: 2014-09-24
Also published as: GB201401224D0

Abstract

A transport container 20 for carrying cargo and goods 48 has a device for generating an air curtain 38 over the open cargo door of the container 20 where the air curtain device 38 is movably mounted on the container 20. The location of the air curtain device 38 can be moved longitudinally down the container so that as goods 48 are unloaded the air curtain can be kept close to the remaining cargo (A, B, C, D) to reduce energy consumption. The cargo door may be a sliding door and the air curtain generating device may be located in the vicinity of the container roof so that the curtain extends from the roof to the floor. The air curtain device 38 blows a curtain of air to separate the cargo load area 50 from the empty load area 52. A cooling unit 40 cools the load area which may be on a commercial vehicle such as a lorry.

Description

Transport Device for a Vehicle, in particular a Commercial Vehicle The invention relates to a transport device for a vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a transport device for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, is known from ER 1 068 973 Al. The transport device comprises a container having a cargo space for receiving goods to be transported. The container further has at least one access for loading and unloading the cargo space with the goods. The transport device also comprises at least one door being movable between a closed position and at least one open position. For example, the door is pivotable in relation to the container. In the closed position at least a portion of the access is blocked by the door. In the open position, the portion is unblocked so that the cargo space can be loaded or unloaded. In the closed position, the door prevents the goods arranged in the cargo space from falling out of the container.

Furthermore, the transport device comprises at least one air curtain device for, at least in the open position of the door, generating an air curtain. For example, in the case of refrigerator trucks such an air curtain generated by the air curtain device obstructs air flow which could result in a considerable temperature increase in the cargo space.

It is an object of the present invention to further develop a transport device of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1 in such a way so that the energy consumption of the transport device can be kept particularly low.

This object is solved by a transport device having the features of patent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

In order to further develop a transport device of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1 in such a way that the energy consumption of the transport device can be kept particularly low, according to the present invention the air curtain device is movably mounted on the container. This means the air curtain device and, thus, the air curtain generated by the air curtain device can be moved in relation to the container, and, thus, the access and the door. Thereby, the position of the air curtain device and the air curtain can be adapted to the amount of goods arranged in the cargo space in a need-based matter.

For example, the container is designed as a reefer container which is also referred to as a "reefer". Such a reefer is a refrigerated container for cooling or refrigerating the goods arranged in the cargo space. By moving the air curtain device in relation to the reefer container a space inside the container or a portion of the cargo can be adapted to the amount of goods arranged in the cargo space, said space or portion serving for receiving the goods and being subjected to cooling. The fewer goods are arranged in the cargo space, the less space for receiving the goods is actually needed. Thus, by moving the air curtain device in relation to the container, the cargo space can be divided into a first space or portion and a second space or portion, wherein the goods to be transported are arranged in the first portion only. Thus, only the first portion needs to be cooled and separated from the atmospheric air outside the container by means of the air curtain. This means that by moving the air curtain device in relation to the container the space for receiving the goods and subjected to cooling can be adjusted in a need-based manner so that the energy consumption of the transport device can be kept particularly low.

In other words, the cargo space can be divided into the first portion and the second portion by means of the air curtain, the first portion being subjected to cooling and smaller than the overall cargo space. Thus, the system space subjected to cooling can be reduced. As a consequence, the load on a cooling unit for cooling the cargo space is reduced. This results in reducing the energy consumption of the transport device and, thus, the fuel consumption of the vehicle.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a commercial vehicle, comprising a transport device which comprises a container and at least one air curtain device movably mounted on the container; Fig. 2 part of a schematic and perspective rear view of the container; Fig. 3 a schematic and perspective rear view of the commercial vehicle; Fig. 4 part of a schematic and perspective rear view of the container; and Fig. 5 schematic side views of the commercial vehicle with different loading conditions.

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle in the form of a commercial vehicle 10. The commercial vehicle 10 is designed as a truck having a frame 12 and a driver's cab 14 mounted on the frame 12.

Moreover, the commercial vehicle 10 comprises a front axle 16 and a rear axle 18 arranged on the frame 12.

The commercial vehicle 10 also comprises a transport device 20. The transport device 20 comprises a container 22 which is designed as a reefer container. As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 3, the container 22 comprises a floor panel 24, side walls 26 and 28, a roof 30 and a front panel 32. The container 22 has a cargo space 34 which is bounded in the transverse direction of the vehicle by the side walls 26 and 28. The cargo space 34 is bounded by the front panel 32 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the front.

In the vertical direction of the vehicle towards the top, the cargo space 34 is bounded by the roof 30. Moreover, the cargo space 34 is bounded in the vertical direction of the vehicle towards the bottom by the floor panel 24. The cargo space 34 serves for receiving goods to be transported by means of the transport device 20. Moreover, the container 22 has an access 36 via which the cargo space 34 can be loaded and unloaded with the goods. As can be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the access 36 is a through opening which faces towards the rear of the commercial vehicle 10.

The transport device 20 further comprises at least one door not shown in the Figs. The door is movably mounted on the container 22 and movable between a closed position and at least one open position in relation to the container 22. For example, the door is configured as a sliding door capable of being slid in relation to the container 22.

In the closed position of the door the access 36 is blocked by the door. Thereby, goods arranged in the cargo space 34 are prevented from falling out of the cargo space 34 via the access 36. In the open position at least a portion of the access 36 is unblocked so that the cargo space 34 can be loaded or unloaded with goods.

The transport device 20 comprises at least one air curtain device 38 shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

The air curtain device 38 generates, at least in the open position of the door, an air curtain. As can be seen from Figs. 2 to 4, the air curtain device 38 is arranged in the vicinity of the roof 30 so that, when the air curtain device 36 is actuated, the air curtain extends from the vicinity of the roof 30 towards the floor 24.

For example, the transport device 20 comprises at least one sensor by means of which the movement of the door from the closed position into the open position can be detected.

If such a movement of the door is detected by the sensor, the air curtain device 38 is activated thereby generating the air curtain. The air curtain device 38 blows air which separates air inside the container 22 from atmospheric air outside the container 22.

Furthermore, the transport device 20 comprises a cooling unit 40 for cooling the cargo space 34 thereby cooling or refrigerating the goods arranged in the cargo space 34.

In order to keep the energy consumption of the transport device 20 particularly low, the air curtain device 38 is movably mounted on the container 22. As can be seen from Figs. 2 and 4, lateral guide rails 42 are mounted on the side walls 26 and 28. Moreover, lateral rollers 44 are rotatably mounted on the air curtain device 38 so that the air curtain device 38 is supported on the lateral guide rails 42 via the rollers 44. The rollers 44 can roll along the lateral guide rails 42 so that the air curtain device 38, together with the rollers 44, can be moved, in particular slid, in relation to the container 22. As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 5, the container 22 has a longitudinal extension which coincides with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The guide rails 42 extend in the longitudinal direction of the container 22 and, thus, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the air curtain device 38 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the container 22 and the vehicle.

The lateral rollers 44 and the lateral guide rails 42 form a sliding arrangement by means of which the air curtain device 38 can be slid in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in relation to the container 22 and the access 36.

By moving the air curtain device 38, the position of the air curtain device 38 in relation to the container 22 can be adapted to the amount of goods arranged in the cargo space 34 thereby adjusting a portion of the cargo space 34 in a need-based manner, the portion serving for receiving the goods to be conveyed and subjected to cooling effected by the cooling unit 40.

From Figs. 2 to 4, lateral synthetic sheets 46 can be seen, the synthetic sheets 46 being arranged besides the air curtain device 38. For example, the synthetic sheets 46 are at least indirectly fixed to the container 22. Alternatively, the lateral synthetic sheets 46 can be part of the sliding arrangement so that the synthetic sheets 46 can be moved along with the air curtain device 38.

Fig. 5 shows the commercial vehicle 10 in four different loading conditions. A first one of said loading conditions is designated with reference sign A. In the first loading condition A, a high amount of goods 48 to be conveyed is arranged in the cargo space 34. As can be seen from Fig. 5, in the first loading condition A the whole cargo space 34 is needed for transporting the goods 48. Thus, the air curtain device 38 is moved or slid in its rear most position. Thus, the complete cargo space 34 is cooled by the cooling unit 40.

Preferably, If the cargo space 34 is fully loaded and the door is closed, the air curtain device 38 is switched off.

For example, some of the goods 48 are delivered at a first delivery station so that the first loading condition A is changed into a second loading condition B. In comparison with the first loading condition A, less goods are arranged in the container 22 in the second loading condition B. Thus, the air curtain device 38 can be slid towards the front panel 32 into a first intermediate position. Thereby, the cargo space 34 is divided into a first portion and a second portion 52 by means of the air curtain device 38 or the air curtain generated by the air curtain device 38. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the first portion 50 serves for receiving the remaining goods 48 to be conveyed. No goods are arranged in the portion 52 anymore.

Moreover, with respect to the portions 50 and 52, the portion 50 is subjected to cooling only. This means the portion 50 is cooled by means of the cooling unit 40, wherein the portion 52 is not subjected to cooling since the cargo space 34 is divided into the portions and 52 by means of the air curtain. Hence, by moving the air curtain device 38 towards the front panel 32, the space to be cooled by the cooling unit 40 can be reduced in comparison with the first loading condition A. Thus, the load of the cooling unit 40 and, thus, the energy consumption of the transport device 20 can be reduced. This results in a reduction of the fuel consumption of the commercial vehicle 10. Hence, if the cargo space 34 is partially loaded and the door is closed, the air curtain device 34 is switched on.

For example, further goods are delivered at a second delivery station so that the loading condition B is changed into a third loading condition C. In the third loading condition C fewer goods 48 to be transported are arranged in the container 22 than in the second loading condition B. Thus, the air curtain device 38 can be moved further towards the front panel 32 into a second intermediate position. Thus, the portion 50 to be cooled can be reduced again, the portion 50 serving for receiving the remaining goods 48.

For example, at a third delivery station some of the remaining goods 48 are delivered and moved out of the container 22 via the access 36. Thereby, the third loading condition C is changed into a fourth loading condition D in which less goods are arranged in the container 22 than in the third loading condition C. Thus, the air curtain device 38 can be moved further towards the front panel 32 into a third intermediate position thereby reducing the portion 50 again. By moving the air curtain device 38 towards the front panel 32, the portion5O for receiving the remaining goods and subjected to cooling effected by the cooling unit 40 can be reduced. Thus, the energy consumption of the transport device can be kept particularly low. Moreover, the air in the portion 50 can be separated from the air outside the container 22 by the air curtain when the door is opened. Moreover, the temperature loss during the open position of the door can be avoided or kept particularly low by means of the movable or slidable air curtain device 38.

List of reference signs commercial vehicle 12 frame 14 driver's cab 16 front axle 18 rear axle transport device 22 container 24 floor panel 26 side wall 28 side wall roof 32 front panel 34 cargo space 36 axis 38 air curtain device cooling unit 42 guide rail 44 rollers 46 synthetic sheets 48 goods frist portion 52 second portion A first loading condition B second loading condition C third loading condition D fourth loading condition

Claims

Claims A transport device (20) for a vehicle (10), in particular a commercial vehicle (10), the transport device (20) comprising: -a container (20) having a cargo space (34) for receiving goods (48) to be transported and at least one access (36) for loading and unloading the cargo space (34) with the goods (48); -at least one door being movable between a closed position in which at least a portion of the access (36) is blocked and at least one open position in which the portion is unblocked; and -at least one air curtain device (38) for, at least in the open position of the door, generating an air curtain; characterised in that the air curtain device (38) is movably mounted on the container (22).
2. The transport device (20) according to claim 1, characterised in that the container (22) has a longitudinal extension, wherein the air curtain device (38) is movable in the longitudinal direction of the container (22).
3. The transport device (20) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the air curtain device (38) is arranged in the vicinity of a roof (30) of the container (20).
4. The transport device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (22) is designed as a reefer container.
5. Vehicle (10), in particular commercial vehicle (10), comprising at least one transport device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims.