GB2533997A

GB2533997A - Brake for rolling container, rolling container provided therewith and method therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2533997A
Application number: GB1518630.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Niels Jasper Koopsen Alwin
Original assignee: HOZA BV
Current assignee: HOZA BV
Priority date: 2014-10-31
Filing date: 2015-10-21
Publication date: 2016-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-21
Also published as: GB201518630D0; GB2533997B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a brake for a rolling container 2, a rolling container provided therewith and a method for displacing such a rolling container. The brake 30 according to the invention comprises: - an operating member 28 configured to operate the brake; - a transmission operatively connected to the operating member and comprising an eccentric 42 mechanism provided with an eccentric 44 and a braking pin 50 operatively connected thereto; wherein the eccentric mechanism is configured to have the braking pin engage directly or indirectly on the wheel 10 and/or release the wheel following operation of the brake.

Description

BRAKE FOR ROLLING CONTAINER, ROLLING CONTAINER PROVIDED THEREWITH AND METHOD THEREFOR The present invention relates to a brake for a rolling container for transporting goods. Such rolling containers are used, among other purposes, for supply and discharge of products within and between businesses.

Diverse types of rolling container for transporting goods are known in practice. These rolling containers make use here of a carrier platform on which goods can be placed and wherein side walls, for instance in the form of a wire mesh, are placed at or on this carrier platform. The carrier platform is further provided with wheels in order to enable displacement. Such rolling containers are usually difficult to handle. When a rolling container, for instance loaded with goods, has to be halted during movement, force has to be exerted for this purpose. Rolling containers are therefore also equipped in practice with a braking mechanism for this purpose. Such conventional brake constructions are not sufficiently robust in practice for the forces which occur and/or require I5 a constmction which is relatively complex and/or requires frequent maintenance. This also results in practice in safety problems and/or safety risks during handling of rolling containers The present invention has for its object to obviate or at least reduce the above stated problems.

The present invention provides for this purpose a brake according to the invention, the brake comprising: -an operating member configured to operate the brake; -a transmission operatively connected to the operating member and comprising an eccentric mechanism provided with an eccentric and a braking pin operatively connected thereto, wherein the eccentric mechanism is configured to have the braking pin engage directly or indirectly on the wheel and/or release the wheel following operation of the brake.

Providing an operating member enables a user of a rolling container to operate the brake in effective manner. in a currently preferred embodiment the operating member is embodied as an operating handle or operating rod. A user can displace the rolling container here by for instance pushing against the operating member and, if desired, braking by moving the operating member, for instance by rotating it downward.

Providing a transmission achieves that through operation of the operating member a movement is transmitted to the braking pin so that it engages directly or indirectly on a wheel of the rolling container. By providing the transmission with an eccentric mechanism comprising an eccentric and a braking pin operatively connected thereto an operation of the operating member is converted in effective manner to a movement of the braking pin, which hereby brakes or releases the wheel. In a currently preferred embodiment the eccentric is provided on an eccentric shaft and the braking pin follows the contour of the eccentric as a kind of cam follower. A well-defined movement of the braking pin is hereby provided, and thereby a good control of the braking process.

In an advantageous preferred embodiment according to the invention the eccentric is provided with a contour to be followed such that the braking force exerted on the wheel of the rolling container is determined by the movement peifonned by the operating member.

A desired relation between the rotation of the eccentric around the eccentric shaft realizable with the operating member and the movement of the braking pin can be provided by providing a contour. The contour preferably provides a gradual trajectory for the braking pin, wherein abrupt transitions are avoided so that the braking forces applied can be properly managed in practice by all users.

The contour is preferably configured such that the braking force has a progression proportional to the movement of the operating member. It has been found that such a proportional I5 progression results in practice in a great convenience of use, wherein a user has the sense of being in optimal control of the movement of the rolling container provided with a brake according to the invention.

In an advantageous preferred embodiment according to the invention the eccentric mechanism comprises a fixed position configured to provide a parking position of the rolling 20 container.

By providing a fixed position a parking/rest position for the rolling container provided with the brake according to the invention is obtained in which the rolling container can be set down safely and, if desired, unattended. In a currently preferred embodiment a fixed position is obtained by placing the operating member, preferably in the form of an operating handle, in an extreme position so that the braking pin is brought in direct or indirect manner into maximal contact with a wheel of the rolling container.

In a currently preferred embodiment the fixed position comprises a variation in the eccentric. Such a variation is for instance formed by arranging a recess, cavity, notch, transition and the like on the contour of the eccentric. This achieves that a fixed position is obtained which can be applied as parking/rest position. Said variation in the contour of the eccentric is such that a bather is preferably provided against the braking pin being pressed further downward. The fixed position is provided in stable manner here such that the brake cannot be accidentally deactivated and for instance a dangerous situation occurs. The variation in the contour of the eccentric is for this purpose preferably such that force has to be exerted on the operating member in order to move the braking pin as it were over a dead point so that the braking force can be reduced or even wholly discontinued and the rolling container can move on. The variation is preferably provided here as a type of notch, cavity or indentation or the like in the contour of the eccentric.

The path arranged on the contour preferably takes a gradual form without sharp or alimpt transitions so as to thereby realize a smooth operation of the brake, including a relatively smooth transition from movement mode to parking mode of the rolling container, and vice versa.

In a further advantageous preferred embodiment according to the invention the brake comprises a guide for the braking pin.

Providing a guide guarantees a proper movement of the braking pin. A safe operation of the brake is hereby realized. The guide is preferably arranged in an upright of the rolling container.

In a currently preferred embodiment the guide is formed by the upright. An effective embodiment is hereby realized according to the invention with a relatively simple construction having a limited number of components. A significant part of the brake can in addition be received in the upright, which hereby functions as housing for that part of the brake. Fouling of the brake is hereby avoided. In addition, the safety of the brake with moving parts hereby also remains ensured.

in a further advantageous preferred embodiment according to the invention the brake comprises a brake element which is arranged on the rolling container and which can be brought into braking contact with the wheel by movement of the braking pin.

An indirect contact is made between braking pin and wheel by providing a brake element which can be brought using the braking pin into braking contact with a wheel of the rolling container according to the invention. The brake element provides a robust braking action here, whereby a long lifespan of both the brake and the wheel is obtained.

The brake element preferably comprises a plate or strip of spring steel. In addition to a good braking action, a spring force is hereby also exerted if desired on the braking pin such that the braking pin is moved away from the wheel in neutral mode. Using the eccentric of the eccentric mechanism the spring force can be overcome by exerting a continuous force, for instance on the operating member, so that a braking effect is realized. In a currently preferred embodiment the braking pin is as it were supported by the plate. By moving the eccentric the braking pin is pressed toward the wheel counter to the spring force of the plate and the plate will exert a braking force on the wheel of the rolling container. An effective, simple and robust brake is hereby provided for a rolling container.

In a further advantageous preferred embodiment according to the invention the operating member is rotatable around an eccentric shaft of the eccentric mechanism.

By providing the operating member, preferably in the form of an operating beam or handle, for rotation around the same shaft as the eccentric of the eccentric mechanism a direct transmission is realized between the movement of the operating member and the movement of the braking pin. It is possible here to suffice with a relatively simple construction with which downtime and maintenance are reduced.

The present invention further relates to a rolling container comprising a brake as described above.

Such a rolling container provides the same effects and advantages as described for the brake. Goods and objects can hereby be displaced in effective and safe manner with the rolling container. An upright of the rolling container is preferably provided as housing for at least a substantial part of the brake. Fouling of the brake is hereby avoided. The upright is preferably also provided with a guide, or itself fimctions as guide for the braking pin. A proper movement of this braking pin is hereby ensured in a relatively simple construction.

The rear wheels of the rolling container, as seen in the usual direction of movement of the rolling container, are preferably provided with the brake according to the invention. An eccentric mechanism with eccentric and braking pin, which provide for the braking process, is preferably provided here in both rear uprights of the rolling container. The operating member is operatively connected here to both eccentric mechanisms. The operating member preferably extends between the two eccentrics along the eccentric shaft such that a synchronous movement of the braking pin is achieved for both rear wheels This avoids the rolling container being pulled out of alignment and other problems.

The present invention further also relates to a method for displacing a rolling container, the method comprising of: -providing a rolling container as described above; and -displacing and/or parking the rolling container; and -braking and/or parking using the brake of the rolling container.

Such a method provides the same effects and advantages as described for the brake of the rolling container and a rolling container provided therewith. A readily controllable displacement of rolling containers is particularly possible with the method according to the invention. An additional advantage is that such a controllable displacement with braking function can be realized using a relatively simple mechanism, so that the robustness is increased and/or maintenance is minimized.

The braking/braking process preferably progresses proportionally to a movement performed by the operating member, for instance an operating handle. A controlled movement, in particular a braking process, of the rolling container is hereby achieved.

For parking of the rolling container the braking pin is preferably also brought into a parking position using the variation in the eccentric. The proportional braking process is preferably combined here with the provision of a stable parking position.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figures 1A-E show views of the rolling container according to the invention; - Figure 2 shows a view of the brake of figure 1; - Figure 3 shows a view of the brake of figure 2 as arranged in an upright; - Figure 4 shows a view of the eccentric mechanism of the brake of figure 2; - Figure 5 shows a view of the brake element of the brake of figure 2; and - Figures 6-8 show views of different positions of the brake of figure 2.

Rolling container 2 (figures 1A-E) comprises a support frame 4 which is formed in the shown embodiment by longitudinal beams 6 and transverse beams 8. Support frame 4 is further provided with wheels 10 and bottom or support plate 12. Additional levels can optionally be arranged for rolling container 2 using racks or shelves 14. In the shown embodiment shelf 14 is provided pivotally on rolling container 2 using hinge elements Rolling container 2 is provided with a number of uprights 16 between which side walls 18 lie in longitudinal direction and door 20 and wall 22 in transverse direction. Uprights 14 are provided at the corner points of rolling container 2. In the shown embodiment uprights 14 are provided from tubular profile. It will be apparent that other configurations of rolling container 2 with uprights 16 and walls 18, 20, 22 are likewise possible according to the invention. In the shown embodiments side walls 18 arc attached to wall 22 together with uprights 16 using brackets or strips 24.

Door 20 is mounted on rolling container 2 on a first side using hinges 26 and can be fastened on a second side using closure 28.1n opened state (figures ID and E) door 20 is fully open and lies wholly against side wall 18. In the shown embodiment closure 28 is provided at first or upper closing position 28a and second or lower closing position 28b.

Rolling container 2 is provided with operating arm 28 of brake mechanism 30. Handles 32 are also provided on rolling container 2.

In the shown embodiment door 20 is provided as a type of wall element 34 with fixed section 36, middle wall part 38 and upper wall part 40. it will be apparent that side walls 18 or wall 22 can also be embodied as waft element 34 with segments 36, 38 and 40.

Brake 30 (figure 2) comprises operating member 28 which in the shown embodiment is provided for rotation around eccentric shaft 42 with eccentric 44. It will be apparent that it is likewise possible if desired to provide a separate operating shaft which sets eccentric 44 into movement using a transmission. Operating member 28 extends in the shown embodiment between two uprights 46. Brake 30 acts here on both rear wheels 10 of rolling container 2 as seen in the usual direction of movement of rolling container 2.

Eccentric mechanism 48 (figure 3) extends with eccentric 42 and braking pin 50 in upright 46, which functions here both as housing and guide for braking pin 50.

Eccentric mechanism 48 (figure 4) comprises eccentric shaft 42 which extends in use in a substantially horizontal direction in transverse direction of rolling container 2. Arranged in each upright 46 around eccentric shaft 42 is an eccentric 44 which co-rotates with operating member 28. Eccentric 44 is provided with bearing 52. Eccentric 44 is further provided with contour 54 in which stop or cam 56 is provided in the shown embodiment. Also provided is indentation or notch 58 which functions as fixed position for braking pin 30 in a parking mode. Indentation 58 is bounded by stop 56 and stabilization point 60 on the contour. The braking progression is determined by braking path 62 which extends between stabilization point 60 with maximum braking force and braking starting point 64 with minimum braking force.

In the shown embodiment braking path 62 is embodied such that movement of operating member 28 results in a proportional change in the exerted braking force. In the shown embodiment operating member 28 and eccentric 44 are rotatable over an angle of about 160 degrees. It will be I5 apparent that other constructions, optionally with other angles of rotation, are possible in other embodiments according to the invention.

Braking pin 50 is connected operatively with upper outer end 66 arranged in upper connecting element 68 to bearing 70 and contact element 72, which follows contour 54 of eccentric 44 as a type of cam follower, Lower outer end 72 of braking pin 50 is arranged in lower connecting element 74 with pin 76 which is in contact with resilient plate 78, which is fixedly connected with a first outer end 80 to frame 4 and with a second outer end 82 can come into contact with wheel 10 for the purpose of providing a braking action. In order to realize a braking effect braking pin 50 is pressed downward counter to the spring force of resilient plate 78 such that in the shown embodiment braking contact is applied by pressing resilient plate 78 against wheel 10. When no braking force is being exerted, in the shown embodiment resilient plate 78 supports braking pin 50.

In order to transport goods rolling container 2 is in the position of use (figure I). Goods are placed on frame 4 and taken to the desired location, in the shown embodiment rolling container 2 is movable in a displacement position (figure 6), wherein operating handle 28 is directed upward.

When the movement of rolling container 2 has to be slowed and/or stopped, handle 28 is moved to a braking position (figure 7). In braking position the handle rotates around eccentric shaft 42 and thereby rotates eccentric 44. Contour 54 of eccentric 44 causes braking pin 50 to move in a substantially vertical direction. A downward movement of braking pin 50 results in a braking effect and/or an increase in the braking force. An upward movement of braking pin 50 results in a decrease in the braking force and/or discontinuation thereof When handle 28 is moved fully downward in the shown embodiment the parking mode (figure 8) is reached. in the parking mode braking pin 50 lies with outer end 66 directly or indirectly in path 58 of contour 54 of eccentric 44. Variation 54 is shaped here such that further pressing is blocked and a force has to be exerted on handle 28 for the purpose of returning rolling container 2 to the braking position and/or displacement position. A stable parking position is hereby realized.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above described embodiments thereof The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged. Other forms of rolling container 2, also including a different dimensioning thereof, are also expressly possible according to the invention. The materials employed can be metals, such as iron and stainless steel, but can also be plastic materials or combinations thereof

Claims

CLAIMSBrake for a rolling container, comprising: - an operating member configured to operate the brake; - a transmission operatively connected to the operating member and comprising an eccentric mechanism provided with an eccentric and a braking pin operatively connected thereto, wherein the eccentric mechanism is configured to have the braking pin engage directly or indirectly on the wheel and/or release the wheel following operation of the brake.
2. Brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the eccentric is provided with a contour to be followed such that the braking force exerted on the wheel of the rolling container is determined by the movement performed by the operating member.
3. Brake as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contour is configured such that the braking force progresses proportionally to the movement of the operating member.
4. Brake as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the eccentric mechanism comprises a fixed position configured to provide a parking position of the rolling container.
5. Brake as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fixed position comprises a variation in the eccentric.
6. Brake as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, further comprising a guide for the braking pin.
7. Brake as claimed in claim 6, wherein the guide is provided by an upright of the rolling container.
8. Brake as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, further comprising a brake element which is arranged on the rolling container and which can bc brought into braking contact with the wheel by movement of the braking pin.
9. Brake as claimed in claim 8 herein the brake element comprises a spring steel plate or strip.
10. Brake as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the operating member is rotatable around an eccentric shaft of the eccentric mechanism.
11. Rolling container for transporting goods, comprising a brake as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims.
12. Rolling container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rear wheels of the rolling container, as seen in a usual direction of movement of the rolling container; are provided with the brake.
13. Method for displacing rolling containers, comprising of: -providing a rolling container as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims; -displacing and/or parking the rolling container; and -braking and/or parking using the brake of the rolling container.
14. Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the braking progresses proportionally to a movement performed by the operating member.
15. Method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein parking comprises of bringing the braking pin into a parking position using the variation in the eccentric.