WO2008023977A1

WO2008023977A1 - Floor with movable slats

Info

Publication number: WO2008023977A1
Application number: PCT/NL2007/000206
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frans Arian Heino De Raad; Nicolaas Marc Mater
Original assignee: Cargo Mac B.V.
Priority date: 2006-08-23
Filing date: 2007-08-22
Publication date: 2008-02-28

Abstract

Of a first of the floor slats of a floor at least one of the longitudinal sides is provided with an upwardly opening first U-duct(13), which first U-duct at the side of the slat is bounded by a first leg (14) and at the other side by a second leg (15). The first leg of the first U-duct is provided with a vertical outer surface (12a) and said leg forms an upright first side wall section (12). Of a second adjacent one of the slats at least one of the longitudinal sides is provided with a downwardly opening second U-duct (23), which second U-duct at the side of the slat is bounded by a second wall (22) and at the other side by a first leg (21) that also forms a downwardly extending edge strip. The first leg of the second U-duct is provided with a vertical outer surface (21a), and said leg forms an upright first side wall section, wherein the slit-shaped passage between the outer surface of the first leg of the first U-duct and the outer surface has a width dl.

Description

Floor with movable slats

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a floor for cargo spaces, storage spaces, transport spaces or transhipment spaces, according to the preamble of claim 1 .

Such a floor is for instance known from DE-A1 -37.31 .612. In said document a floor for a cargo space is described in which the upper side of adjacent slats is formed such that a V-shaped groove is formed. As is for instance shown in figures 2, 3 and 4, one of the slats can be provided with a U-duct and the other slat may be provided with a pending edge strip, so that a U-shaped, slit-shaped passage is formed. Said slit-shaped passage widens.

Such a floor is used for mixed cargo, but mostly for bulk goods. Due to the consecutive motion of the slats, wherein in one direction only a part of the slats is moved and in opposite direction all slats are moved, the cargo can be moved over the floor, in order to bring said cargo onto the floor or take it away from the floor.

The cargo supported by the floor may contain liquid/water. In that case the floor can be designed as liquid-proof floor having closed plating underneath the slats, in order to prevent passage of liquid between the slats through to below.

The cargo supported by the floor may also contain granular material, such as fertiliser, sawdust that may be fine to very fine. Sealing the floor against transmission of such material can be realised with a liquid- proof floor but said application will in that case be relatively costly and labour-intensive.

Often the floor is sealed by means of sealing strips provided on the slats, which seal the slits between the slats. The sealing strips however are greatly affected by wear, as a result of the mutual movement of the slats. An example thereof is shown in US patent specification 4.984.679.

In an alternative approach, see US patent specification 6.257.396, use is made of a stationary sealing strip, over which projections, such as flanges, provided on the slats are supported and guided. The sealing strips are provided with a longitudinal groove, in which granular material may end up to be periodically removed therefrom. This sealing strip is affected by wear as well.

An arrangement in which no use is made of sealing strips is shown in US patent specification 5.301 .798. According to said document the slats are provided with a rib at one side and with a groove at the opposite side. The rib and groove should fit snugly into each other in order to provide sealing, in addition to a guiding function. Such a floor has to be built most accurately, in order to achieve the required sealing. When this is not so, the floor will be insufficiently closed.

Another arrangement in which no use of sealing strips is made is shown in US patent specification 6.651 .806. At the location of the one upper edge the slats are provided with a raised edge and at the location of the opposite upper edge they are provided with an inverted U-duct projecting from the upper surface of the slat and engaging over the raised edge of the adjacent slat. A drawback thereof is that the surface of the floor is not level. The edge and the U-duct form extra material of the slats. Another drawback is that granular material that ends up between the upper surface of a slat, near the edge, and the lower edge of the outer wall of the U-duct may exert a lifting force on the slat provided with the U-duct.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a floor of the type mentioned in the preamble, which provides a sufficient degree of sealing against migration of granular material.

It is an object of the invention to provide a floor of the type mentioned in the preamble, which provides a longterm sufficient sealing against migration of granular material.

It is an object of the invention to provide a floor of the type mentioned in the preamble, which is easy to build.

It is an object of the invention to provide a floor of the type mentioned in the preamble, which while providing sufficient sealing against migration of granular material is and remains sufficiently level.

According to the invention a floor for cargo spaces, storage spaces, transport spaces or transhipment spaces of the type mentioned in the preamble comprises the measures as described in the characterising part of claim 1 . Because the first leg of the second U-duct is provided with a vertical outer surface, and because the first leg of the second U- duct forms an upright first side wall section, the slit-shaped passage between the outer surface of the first leg of the first U-duct and the outer surface has a width d1 . In that way the slit shaped passage between said outer surfaces has an at least substantially uniform width d1 , as a result of which at least one of the above-mentioned objects can be realised. The edge strip and the first U-duct extending into each other, moreover provides sufficient sealing against granular material, without additional sealing strips being necessary. In the combination thereof the first U-duct forms a type of step at the location of the transition upper surface-side wall of the slat. The first leg also has the function of side wall, the second leg is integrally formed as projection.

The sealing effect is enhanced when the first leg is provided with a rounded-off lower end and the width of the slit-shaped passage near the lower end is reduced in a curved path into a smallest dimension d2, in other words the slit-shaped passage adjacent to/near a first leg of the first U-duct reaching upwards to a joint between the two adjacent slats, narrows in downward direction. The sealing effect is enhanced when the slit-shaped passage adjacent to/near a second leg of the first U-duct situated at the other side of the edge strip, widens in upward direction.

In one embodiment the first U-duct with its bottom is situated in the upper half of the slat.

The levelness of the loading surface is enhanced when the first U-duct is situated entirely below the upper surface of the upper wall. In that case the first U-duct can be situated entirely below the upper wall.

In one embodiment the first U-duct has an upwardly widening cross- section. The inner surface of the second leg of the first U-duct that is situated at the outer side of the first U-duct may in that case incline inward with respect to a plane perpendicular to the upper wall.

The levelness of the loading surface is enhanced when the second U- duct is situated entirely below the upper surface of the upper wall. The second U-duct can be situated entirely below the upper wall.

In one embodiment a second leg of the second U-duct may downwardly merge into an upright second wall section of the second side wall that extends downward. In the combination thereof the second U-duct forms a kind of overhanging at the location of the transition upper wall- side wall of the slat. The second leg also has the function of side wall, the first leg is integrally formed as projection.

In one embodiment the second leg of the second U-duct has an inner surface that inclines inward with respect to the outer surface of the second wall section of the second side wall. In that way a widening can be formed next to the inserted first U-duct, as a result of which granular material that has inadvertently ended up in the area near the upper end of the second leg of the first U-duct can easily get away, so that an unwanted friction increase and blockage of material is prevented and the slidability of the slats is kept intact. The first leg of the second U-duct may have an inner surface that inclines inward with respect to the outer surface of the first wall section of the second side wall. The slope of said inner surface may correspond with the said slope of the inner surface of the second leg of the first U-duct situated at the outer side of the first U-duct.

The inner surfaces of the first and the second leg of the second U-duct may be substantially parallel to each other.

In one embodiment the second U-duct has an internal height that exceeds the internal height of the first U-duct. The length of the outer, second leg of the first U-duct may then be smaller than the length of the outer second leg of the second U-duct. The end of the second leg of the second U-duct down to the bottom of the first U-duct may be smaller than the distance from the end of the second leg of the first U- duct down to the bottom of the second U-duct. In this way as well a widening is formed, which makes the escape of material that might have ended up between the second leg of the first U-duct and the first leg of the second U-duct, possible.

The slats according to the invention may have various shapes in cross- section. In one embodiment of the floor according to the invention the first and/or second longitudinal side with the upper wall define substantially a U-shape.

In one embodiment of the floor according to the invention, each slat is provided with a longitudinal side provided with a said first U-duct and a longitudinal side provided with a said edge strip. In that case identical slats are placed adjacently.

In an alternative embodiment a first group of slats is provided with said first U-ducts on both longitudinal sides and a second group of slats, placed so as to alternate with the slats of the first group of slats, is provided with said edge strips on both longitudinal sides. The first type of slat is then alternated with the second type of slat. From a further aspect the invention provides a cargo-, storage-, transport- or transhipment space provided with a floor according to the invention.

According to a further aspect the invention provides a truck provided with cargo space according to the invention.

Please note that in the floor to which the invention relates not all slats need to be movable. The invention can also be used in floor embodiments in which movable slats are alternated with stationary slats.

The aspects and measures described in this description and the claims of the application and/or shown in the drawings of this application may where possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications relating thereto. This applies in particular to the measures and aspects described per se in the sub claims.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of a slat for a floor according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows two slats according to figure 1 , in a condition placed in a floor according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a detail of figure 2; and

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a slat for a floor according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The slats 1 , shown in figures 1 -3, are made through extrusion, for instance of aluminium. They have an upper wall 2, a first side wall 3 and a second side wall 4, which each at their lower ends have been turned horizontally into flanges 5 and 6, respectively.

The upper surface 8 of the upper wall 2 is provided with longitudinal ribs 9, in a manner known per se.

In the corner area 10 between the upper wall 2 and first side wall 3 a vertical side wall section 12 is formed that merges downward into a Li- shaped duct 1 3. The U-shaped duct 13 is bounded at the side of the slat by a first leg 14, which via the bottom wall 18 is integrally formed with side wall section 12, and a second leg 1 5 projecting upwards. The first leg 14, second leg 1 5 and bottom 18 are integrally formed and form first U-duct space 16. The second leg 1 5 has an upper end 17, that is circularly rounded-off. Because the inner surface 14a and the inner surface 15a (that inclines at an angle α to the vertical) of the first leg 14 and the second leg 1 5, respectively, diverge in upward direction with respect to each other, the duct space 16 widens upwards.

The second leg 1 5 merges downward into side wall section 19 that extends vertically downward.

First side wall section 12 and second side wall section 19, are provided with outer surfaces 1 2a and 1 9a, respectively, which are vertical.

At the opposite longitudinal edge, in transitional area 1 1 between upper wall 2 and side wall 4, the slats are formed with a side wall section 20 that extends from the upper wall 2 and also forms the first leg 21 of the second U-duct 23. The lower end 27 of the first leg 21 is rounded- off circularly. The first wall 21 with opposite second wall 22 defines a U-duct space 24, bounded upwards by bottom wall 25. The outer surface 21 a sits in one vertical plane with outer surface 20a. The inner surface 21 b of the first leg 21 is at an angle α to the vertical. The surface 25a of bottom 25 is circularly bent and smoothly merges into inner surface 22a of second leg 22, which surface 22a also inclines at an angle α to the vertical. The second leg 22 smoothly merges into vertical second side wall section 26 of the side wall 4. Its outer surface 26a sits in a vertical plane.

When placing the slats 1 in a floor of for instance a cargo space, wherein the slats will be indirectly connected to drive means for a reciprocal conveyance motion in longitudinal direction of the slats 1 , the slats 1 will be supported on fixed, synthetic supports/guides 30 for instance arranged at the location of transverse supports. They are schematically shown in figure 2, and provided with a support surface 31 for the slat 1 . The supports/guides 30 have two legs 32a, b having clamping lips 33a, b at their lower ends, with which the supports/guides 30 can be clamped clamp-fixedly on a tubular longitudinal profile 34 attached to transverse supports 40. The support surface 31 is in that case in principle place-fixed, as a result of which adjacent slats can be kept at at least substantially the design position and the either Li- shaped or S-shaped passage, to be discussed below, can be permanently realised.

The slats 1 have been slid on the supports/guides 30 in longitudinal direction, wherein at the location of the joining area between two slats 1 , the first and second U-ducts 13, 23 slide into each other. The result then is as shown in figure 2, in detail in figure 3.

The centre-to-centre distance of the supports/guides 30 and the dimensions/sizes/design of the slats 1 is chosen such, that the first leg 21 of the second U-duct 23 with its circular lower end 27 remains spaced apart from the bottom surface 18a of the first U-duct 13. The surfaces 14a and 21 a and the surfaces 21 b and 1 5a then also remain spaced apart in order to from a slit space. Between the surfaces 12a, 14a and 20a, 21 a the slit 40 has a width d1 , which near the lower end 27 is reduced in a curved path into a smallest width d2, which is continued between the surfaces 21 b and 1 5a. Near the upper end 17 of second leg 15 of the first U-duct 13 the surface 21 b continues upward, resulting in a widening passage 41 being formed in upward direction. Said passage is continued by the relatively broad radius of surface 25a of bottom 25, wherein the cross-section from d2 (vertical dimension) increases above upper end 17 to d3 (horizontal dimension at the right adjacent to upper end 17). Due to the sloping position (angle α to the vertical) of surface 22a the passage is narrowed again in downward direction, until second side wall section 26 is reached, and the intermediate space (d4) between both side walls 3 and 4 remains constant in downward direction.

Because of the U-ducts 13 and 23 engaging into each other a labyrinth is formed. Due to the slit 40 between both slats narrowing from d1 to d2, penetration of granular material that is at loading surface 8 is counteracted. When granular material does indeed end up in the slit 41 , it will not remain there, as a result of the widening cross-section at that location in the area of the second U-duct space 24. The granular material ending up there is then able to fall downwards over end 17 between both side walls 3 and 4. In that way an unacceptable friction increase between both slats 1 is prevented, wherein a small granular material migration can be accepted.

The labyrinth structure sits below the loading surface 8, and is shielded from the main cargo.

The slat 101 of figure 4 is substantially T-shaped, having an upper wall 102 with upper surface 108 and longitudinal ribs 109, wherein a first longitudinal edge 1 12 a U-shaped duct 1 13 is integrally formed. The U- shaped duct 1 13 opens upward and comprises a bottom 1 18 and a first leg 1 14, contiguous to the upper wall 102, and a freely extending second leg 1 15. The design and dimensions of the inside of the U-duct 1 13 may correspond with those of the U-duct 13 of the slat of figures 1 -3.

At the opposite, second longitudinal edge 1 1 1 the upper wall 102 merges into an edge strip 123 provided with downwardly extending leg 1 21 having a vertical side 121 a and an inclined side 1 21 b. The design of the leg 121 may correspond with the design of the first leg 21 of the U-duct 23 of the slat of figures 1 -3.

The slat 101 is furthermore provided with a central body 150, which at its lower end is provided with side flanges 151 a,b integrally formed therewith. In a floor according to the invention the slats 101 can be placed adjacent to each other, wherein the longitudinal edges 1 1 1 and 1 12 engage into each other in the same manner as the longitudinal edges 1 1 and 12 of the slat of figures 1 -3.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert.

Claims

1 . Floor for cargo spaces, storage spaces, transport spaces or transhipment spaces, comprising a number of reciprocally movable floor slats, wherein each of the slats is provided with an upper wall and two longitudinal sides that are situated oppositely, wherein of a first of the slats at least one of the longitudinal sides is provided with an upwardly opening first U-duct (13), which first U-duct (1 3) at the side of the slat is bounded by a first leg (14) and at the other side by a second leg (1 5), wherein the first leg (14) of the first U-duct (13) is provided with a vertical outer surface (12a) and wherein the first leg (14) of the first U-duct forms an upright first side wall section (12), wherein of a second adjacent one of the slats at least one of the longitudinal sides is provided with a downwardly opening second U-duct (23), which second U-duct (23) at the side of the slat is bounded by a second wall (22) and at the other side by a first leg (21 ) that also forms a downwardly extending edge strip, wherein the first U-duct and the edge strip are formed for interengagement while leaving a U-shaped, slit-shaped passage open, characterised in that the first leg (21 ) of the second U-duct (23) is provided with a vertical outer surface (21 a), and that the first leg (21 ) of the second U-duct (23) forms an upright first side wall section, wherein the slit-shaped passage between the outer surface (12a) of the first leg of the first U-duct and the outer surface (21 a) has a width d1 .

2. Floor according to claim 1 , wherein the first leg (21 ) is provided with a rouhded-off lower end (27) and the width of the slit-shaped passage near the lower end being reduced in a curved path into a smallest dimension d2.

3. Floor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slit-shaped passage adjacent to/near a second leg of the first U-duct situated at the other side of the edge strip, widens in upward direction.

4. Floor according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the first U-duct with its bottom is situated in the upper half of the slat.

5. Floor according to claim 4, wherein the first U-duct is situated entirely below the upper surface of the upper wall.

6. Floor according to claim 5, wherein the first U-duct is situated entirely below the upper wall.

7. Floor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second leg of the first U-duct downwardly merges into an upright second wall section of the first side wall that extends downward.

8. Floor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first U-duct has an upwardly widening cross-section.

9. Floor according to claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the second leg of the first U-duct that is situated at the outer side of the first U- duct inclines inward with respect to a plane perpendicular to the upper wall.

10. Floor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second U-duct is situated entirely below the upper surface of the upper wall.

1 1 . Floor according to claim 10, wherein the second U-duct is situated entirely below the upper wall. .

12. Floor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second leg of the second U-duct downwardly merges into an upright second wall section of the second side wall that extends downward.

13. Floor according to claim 12, wherein the second leg of the second U-duct has an inner surface that inclines inward with respect to the outer surface of the second wall section of the second side wall.

14. Floor according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the first leg of the second U-duct has an inner surface that inclines inward with respect to the outer surface of the first wall section of the second side wall.

15. Floor according to claims 9 and 14, wherein the slope of said inner surface corresponds with the said slope of the inner surface of the second leg of the first U-duct situated at the outer side of the first U- duct.

16. Floor according to claims 13 and 14 or 13 and 1 5, wherein the inner surfaces of the first and the second leg of the second U-duct are substantially parallel to each other.

17. Floor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second U-duct has an internal height that exceeds the internal height of the first U-duct.

18. Floor according to claim 17, wherein the length of the outer, second leg of the first U-duct is smaller than the length of the outer second leg of the second U-duct.

19. Floor according to claim 18, wherein the end of the second leg of the second U-duct down to the bottom of the first U-duct is smaller than the distance from the end of the second leg of the first U-duct down to the bottom of the second U-duct.

20. Floor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or second longitudinal side with the upper wall define substantially a U-shape.

21 . Floor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each slat is provided with a longitudinal side provided with a said first U-duct and a longitudinal side provided with a said edge strip.

22. Floor according to any one of the claims 1 -20, wherein a first group of slats is provided with said first U-ducts on both longitudinal sides and a second group of slats, placed so as to alternate with the slats of the first group of slats, is provided with said edge strips on both longitudinal sides.

23. Cargo-, storage-, transport- or transhipment space provided with a floor according to any one of the preceding claims.

24. Truck provided with cargo space according to claim 23.