WO2014012895A1

WO2014012895A1 - Removable cover system

Info

Publication number: WO2014012895A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/064923
Authority: WO
Inventors: Srecko SAJNOVIC
Original assignee: Sajnovic Srecko
Priority date: 2012-07-17
Filing date: 2013-07-15
Publication date: 2014-01-23
Also published as: FR2993587B1; FR2993587A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a removable cover system including a motor (6), which drives the front wheels (4) of at least one drive device (2), including a drive cable (3) moved by the front wheel (4), arches (11) connected to a removable cover, and at least one arch (11) that is rigidly connected to at least one drive cable (3), such that the movement of the drive cable (3) causes at least one arch (11) to move, extending or retracting the removable cover. The drive device (2) is self-tensioning, the arches (11) being capable of damping a shock applied thereto.

Description

Removable cover system.

The technical field of the invention is removable cover systems.

A cover system makes it possible to cover or discover an opening by driving arches inserted in a cover tarpaulin. The hoops are usually supported by a rail and attached to a drive cable that allows them to move in one direction or the other.

From the state of the art, document WO2009-027285 describes a removable cover system for truck tippers. However, such a system is subject to tension losses of the tarpaulin roll drive cables following an impact during loading. These same voltage losses also occur over time during normal use of the system.

It thus appears that the removable cover system according to the state of the prior art requires a very important maintenance, leading to a very high operational cost. For these reasons as well as the arduousness of its daily use, the system of cover for truck tippers is very little used, despite a benefit in terms of fuel consumption and protection of transported materials.

There is thus a need for a removable cover system that is easy to use and requires little or no maintenance.

The invention relates to a removable cover system comprising a motor driving front wheels of at least one driving device comprising a drive cable set in motion by the front wheel, arches connected to a removable cover, and at least one hoop integral with at least one drive cable, so that the movement of the drive cable causes the movement of at least one hoop, unfolding or retracting the removable cover, characterized in that the drive device is self - supporting, the hoops being adapted to dampen a shock applied to them.

The drive device may comprise a rear wheel cooperating with the drive cable and mounted free in the traction direction of said drive cable, the rear wheel being further subjected to a restoring force opposite to the traction direction of the drive. drive cable.

The driving device may comprise a listening rail at one end of which is fixed the front wheel, the rear wheel being fixed at the other end, the drive cable being arranged in the listening rail.

The listening rail can be formed from a chute.

The engine and the front wheels can be included in the same element.

The arches may be made of composite materials so as to deform under the effect of a shock.

Another object of the invention is the application of the removable cover system described above to cover the top opening of a truck body.

The removable cover system may be provided with a bottom closure device comprising a rigid portion connected by at least one hinge to the removable cover, the hinge being equipped with a lever adapted to cooperate with a solid lug of the listening rail, so that the rigid portion is raised in the vertical position when the removable cover is retracted, the rigid portion being lowered in a horizontal position when the removable cover is deployed.

An overflow area may be provided between the track and the grab.

Another object of the invention is the application of the removable cover system described above to the cover of a truck trailer. Another object of the invention is the application of the removable cover system described above to cover a building.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear on reading the following description given solely as a nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a removable cover system according to the prior art,

FIG. 2 illustrates a removable cover system according to the invention,

FIG. 3 illustrates a self-contained training unit of the roofing system,

FIG. 4 illustrates the removable cover system in the deployed position, and

FIG. 5 illustrates the removable cover system in the retracted position,

FIG. 6 illustrates the removable cover system in the deployed position on one side of a truck trailer,

FIG. 7 illustrates the removable cover system in the extended position along the length of one side of a truck trailer and

FIG 8 illustrates the removable cover system in deployed position on a building.

Figure 1 illustrates a removable cover system according to the prior art. The roofing system is arranged on the opening of a bucket of a transport truck, for example a public works truck. It makes it possible to close the bucket to avoid spattering of material or alteration of the materials transported by the rain or the environment.

The removable cover system 1 comprises two displacement devices 2 each comprising a drive cable 3 cooperating with a front wheel 4 and a rear wheel 5. The drive cable 3 supports arches inserted into a tarpaulin. A motor 6 coupled to the front wheels 4 allows the driving of the drive cable 3. By their movements, the drive cables 3 enable the hoops and the tarpaulin to be driven, covering or uncovering the bucket according to the direction of travel.

However, the cover system requires a regular adjustment of the tension of the drive cables 3 in order to maintain its efficiency. Indeed, in the folded position, the system occupies a significant part of the bucket, so that during loading, impacts can be suffered by the hoops. Such an impact can not only damage the hoops, but always has the effect of relaxing at least one of the drive cables. The user of the system, usually the driver, must then adjust the tension of the drive cables 3 otherwise the cover system can not be operated. Indeed, once relaxed, a drive cable 3 no longer has sufficient voltage to be driven by the front wheel 4. Thus, when only one of the drive cables 3 is relaxed, the drive of the hoops is asymmetrical . In case of forced operation of the system in this situation, damage to the hoops and the roofing system may occur by breaking at least one rollbar or the drive cable. When the two drive cables are relaxed, no movement can be communicated to the hoops.

Figure 2 illustrates a removable cover system according to the invention. The removable cover system 1 comprises two displacement devices 2 each comprising a drive cable 3 cooperating with a portion of a front wheel 4 and a rear wheel 5. The drive cable 3 supports arches inserted into a tarpaulin. A motor 6 allows the driving of the cables 3 via the front wheels 4. It will be noted that the motor 6 and the front wheels 4 are contained in the same element. An example is a cylinder with wheels at its ends and an axial motor inserted into its internal volume. By their movements, the drive cables 3 can move the hoops and the tarpaulin, covering or discovering the bucket according to the direction of travel. In contrast to the state of the art, the removable cover system 1 according to the invention makes it possible to avoid a loss of tension in the drive cables 3. Indeed, the front wheels 4 are each provided with a winding area of a drive cable 3 during deployment of the removable cover, and a winding area of the drive cable 3 during removal. removable cover. Each of the winding zones of a front wheel 4 is integrally connected to one end of the drive cable 3 cooperating with said front wheel 4. These winding zones can be separated physically by one or more separators having, for example, a shape disc, diameter greater than the diameter of the front wheel 4 supporting them. Thus, each drive cable 3 is maintained in tension at any time regardless of the degree of deployment and the direction of deployment of the cover. Indeed, during the deployment of the mobile cover, the cable is put in tension by winding the cable in the winding area during deployment, the cable coming from the unwinding from the winding area during the withdrawal. Similarly, when removing the mobile cover, the cable is pulled by winding the cable in the winding area during removal, the cable from the unwinding from the winding area during deployment. In addition, there is no risk of entanglement from one winding zone to another.

This self-gripping effect is exacerbated by the synergy with the rear wheel attachment system. The rear wheels 5 are fixed to the frame floating in the direction of traction of the drive cables. For this, each rear wheel is fixed to the bucket via a frame. The rear wheel is contained in the chassis while having a certain freedom of movement in the direction of traction of the drive cables. A spring keeps the rear wheel in position while providing the ability to move when the tension of the drive cable is increased. The stiffness constant of the spring thus makes it possible to determine the voltage threshold generating a displacement of the rear wheel. Thus fixed, the rear wheels are decoupled from the bucket, and can absorb a shock applied to the hoops and transmitted to at least one drive cable 3. The shock thus absorbed, the drive cable 3 does not lose its voltage, and remains able to move the arches.

The removable cover system is also protected from shocks on the rollbars by the force of a winding and self - retreating device. By compensating for each activation of the tension variations of the drive cables, the self - gripping device makes it possible to further minimize the influence of an impact on the rollbars.

Finally, the removable cover system includes flexible arches that are flexible and deformable. In other words, the flexible hoops are able to deform under an impact. By deforming, the flexible hoops absorb the greater part of an impact, minimizing the amount of energy transmitted to the rest of the system. Thus minimized, the impacts have an even smaller influence on the tension of the drive cables 3. The flexible hoops can be made, for example, of composite materials.

The protection of the removable cover system against shocks on the tarpaulin hoops has the second advantage of protecting the system against the loss of tension inherent in its aging or intensive use. The need for regular and expensive maintenance is thus reduced.

In addition, in order to reduce maintenance of the roofing system, the training unit 2 is self-contained. Figure 3 illustrates such a training set. Indeed, the drive cable 3 and the rear wheel 5 are contained in a chute 7 forming a displacement rail 8 in which slides the base of the hoops 1 January. The base of the hoops 1 1 is provided with a bearing assembly 12 bearing on the chute 7 and the hoops 1 1 extending through the rail to a gripping mechanism of the drive cable 3. A flap can be fixed on the chute 7 to minimize the entry of foreign bodies. Chute 7 is fixed to the frame 10 by providing an area 9 overflow with it, to limit the entries of material into the system, inputs that can lead to seizure of removable cover system. In addition, the overflow zone 9 makes it possible to limit the overloads of the skip.

Similarly, the drive motor can be contained in the axis carrying the front wheels 4 in order to limit the attacks it undergoes, thus improving its operation when maintenance is limited.

Finally, the use of the covering system according to the invention is facilitated by the use of a dump bottom closure device, able to cover the part of the bucket located between the rear wheel 5 and the rear doors of the bucket. This part being hinged, it is not possible to extend the removable cover system. However, it is necessary to hide it in order to have all the advantages of the removable cover system. Figure 4 illustrates the removable cover system in the deployed position. In particular, it is possible to see the bucket bottom closure device.

However, this bucket bottom closure device can not be reduced to a simple rigid portion 14 integral with the last hoop. Indeed, when the removable cover is in the retracted position, the simple rigid portion 14 integral with the last hoop is in the front part of the bucket. It is then necessary that it is released in order to have the entire open area of the bucket. Figure 5 illustrates the removable cover system in the retracted position. As can be seen, the rigid portion 14 is fixed to the last hoop by a hinge 15 provided with a movable lever device 16. A lug 17 adapted to cooperate with the lever 16 is disposed on each side of the bucket, before the end of the listening rail 7 included in the chute 8. Thus, when removing the cover, the lug 17 actuates the lever 16 which straightens the rigid portion 14. During the course of the cover, the lug 17 actuates the lever 1 6 which lowers the rigid portion 14. This provides a total coverage of the open area of the bucket, while having a maximum open area when the cover is retracted. It will be noted that, unlike FIG. Figures 4 and following show a motor 6 driving an axis on which are fixed the front wheels 4. This is an alternative embodiment to the embodiment in which engine 6 and front wheels 4 are included in one and the same element. These two embodiments are interchangeable in all embodiments of the roofing system.

It is also possible to apply a particularly visible color, for example a red or yellow color, possibly fluorescent or phosphorescent, on the upper face of the rigid portion 14 so that the color is visible from the front of the vehicle. The driver can see without leaving the cabin of the vehicle, if the cover is fully deployed. The use of the system is thus facilitated.

According to another embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the removable cover system can be installed on one or more vertical sections of a trailer to be moved by a towing vehicle, or directly on a vehicle to be covered.

In Figure 6, there can be seen a trailer comprising one or more amounts connecting the platform to the roof of the trailer. The removable cover system can be installed between two uprights, by attaching a listening rail on each upright and installing the engine 6 coupled to the axle carrying the front wheels 4 on the roof portion of the trailer located between the two. amounts. Thus positioned, it is possible to deploy or retract the removable cover between the two uprights. Such an installation can be generalized to all or part of the amounts of the trailer.

A trailer which all or part of the amounts are provided with removable cover system has the advantage of being partially loaded or unloaded. Indeed, it is possible to discover only a section of the trailer so that crates or pallets are loaded or unloaded through this section. The other sections of the trailer can then keep their load. Remember that in the conventional use of a trailer all the load must be emptied to access the part of the trailer. closer to the cab of the towing vehicle. Alternatively, it is necessary to discover the entire trailer to access a specific part of the load. A trailer with mobile roofing systems does not have these disadvantages. In addition, load management is simplified in that it is no longer necessary to schedule a loading order according to the unloading sequence. The use of a trailer with mobile coverage systems is therefore simplified.

Alternatively, the removable cover system may be arranged along the length of the trailer, as shown in Figure 7. As can be seen the removable cover system is disposed on one side of the trailer. One of the troughs 8 of the drive devices 2 is disposed on the upper edge of the trailer between the roof and the side of the trailer. The other chute is disposed between the side and the floor of the trailer. The engine 6 is arranged on the vertical stop on the side of the trailer closest to the tractor. Thus arranged, it is possible to deploy or retract the removable cover over the entire length of the trailer quickly and easily. In such an embodiment, it is also possible to maintain the generally parallelepiped shape of a truck trailer, using flat reinforcements rather than curved hoops. When the arches are replaced by flat reinforcements such as flat tubes, it is also possible not to use bearing assemblies 12, the flat plates then simply being plugged into the troughs. A lubrication device may be provided to facilitate the sliding of the flat reinforcement in the chute. Finally, it will also be possible to refrain from using a bucket bottom closure device.

According to another embodiment, a building, for example a shed, can be equipped with removable cover systems. Figure 8 illustrates a shed whose vertical walls are provided, by section, removable cover systems. It is thus possible to provide a more or less wide opening in any of the side walls of a building so that several machines can enter simultaneously.

According to another embodiment, it is possible to install the removable cover system of a building so that the removable cover is deployed horizontally, similar to the deployment of the removable cover illustrated in FIG.

Finally, the other external parts of the building may also be provided, in whole or in part, with at least one removable cover system, for example a flat roof or one or more sections of a traditional roof.

In the event of malfunction of the motor 6, the motor 6 can be disengaged so that the removable cover system can be operated manually, for example by means of a crank.

The removable cover system makes it possible to quickly cover and discover all or part of a surface. It allows to cover elements as different as a truck and a truck trailer or a building, in a fast and adapted way. In addition, its design greatly minimizes maintenance, reducing running costs and improving ease of use.

Claims

A removable cover system comprising a motor (6) driving front wheels (4) of at least one driving device (2), comprising

a drive cable (3) set in motion by the front wheel (4),

arches (11) connected to a removable cover, and

at least one hoop (11) integral with at least one drive cable (3), so that the movement of the drive cable (3) causes the displacement of at least one hoop (12), unfolding or retracting the removable cover,

characterized by the fact that

the driving device (2) is self-gripping,

the arches (11) being able to absorb a shock applied to them.

2. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive device 2 comprises a rear wheel cooperating with the drive cable (3) and freely mounted in the direction of traction of said drive cable (3). , the rear wheel being further subjected to a restoring force opposite to the traction direction of the drive cable (3).

3. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive device (2) comprises a listening rail at one end of which is fixed the front wheel, the rear wheel being fixed to the other end, the drive cable (3) being disposed in the listening rail.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the listening rail is formed from a chute.

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor (6) and the front wheels are included in the same element.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arches are made of composite materials so as to be deformed under the effect of an impact.

7. Applying the removable cover system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, to the cover of the top opening of a truck body.

8. Application according to claim 7, wherein the removable cover system is provided with a bucket bottom closure device comprising a rigid portion 14 connected by at least one hinge to the removable cover, the hinge being equipped with a lever adapted to cooperate with a lug integral with the listening rail, so that the rigid portion is raised in the vertical position when the removable cover is retracted, the rigid portion being lowered in a horizontal position when the removable cover is deployed.

9. Application according to any one of claims 7 or 8 together with claim 5, wherein a zone of overflow is formed between the listening rail and the bucket.

10. Application of the removable cover system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, to the cover of a truck trailer.

1 1. Application of the removable cover system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 to the roofing of a building.