GB2041839A - Flexible Covering of Load Vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The side cant rails 25 are adapted for retraction towards the central cant rail 15 by movement of the upwardly opening curtain side 21. The curtain conveniently carries means (such as hooks 72 or wheeled carriers running on a track) by which the side cant rails are retracted when the curtain sides are themselves retracted towards the central cant rail. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements In or Relating to Vehicle Bodies This invention relates to covered vehicles and in particular to vehicle bodies having vertically opening sides.

In recent years there has been considerable development of retractable curtain sides for vehicle bodies which have, to a large extent, superseded the separate cover sheets used hitherto to cover loads. However, the conventional vehicle bodies having vertically opening sides currently in use suffer from several disadvantages. First, they have roofs extending the width of the vehicle body, which impose inconvenient restrictions in the ways in which the vehicles can be loaded and unloaded. Secondly, and more important, such vehicle bodies need a rigid roof to support the curtain or curtains, and this construction appears to have been accepted hitherto as being unavoidable.However, the present invention now provides vehicle bodias having upwardly opening curtain sides in which a rigid roof is not necessary and in which the curtains are mounted so as to be retractable into a longitudinal position extending between the front and rear of the body and disposed between its sides.

In one aspect the invention provides a vehicle body having an upwardly opening curtain side and which has a central cant rail disposed longitudinally of the body and spaced inwardly between the sides of the body; a side cant rail disposed in a position outward of the central cant rail and for retraction towards the central cant rail or otherwise away from the respective side of the body; a curtain which is secured in the region of the central cant rail so that the curtain can be extended downwards from said region via the side cant rail towards a side rave of the vehicle; means to hold the curtain in its extended position; means to retract the curtain towards said region; and means to effect said retraction of the side cant rail.

In one form of the invention retraction of the side cant rail from its operative position is effected by, or in accordance with, retractive movement of the curtain, for example, by use of the curtain itself or the means used to retract it or means carried by the curtain.

Said means can, for example, comprise a guided carrier which moves in accordance with upward and downward movement of the curtain during at least part of its movement and serves to carry upward the side cant rail from its operative position to a retracted position.

The guided carrier can, for example, comprise a wheeled trolley or other carrier adapted to move with little frictional resistance in or on a guide carried by the vehicle body. For example, the carrier can be a trolley having a guide wheel or wheels adapted to run in or on an upwardly extending guide. The guide can be provided by a hollow section member which can conveniently be a member of a frame of the vehicle.

The carrier has means to engage the side cant rail as the former rises, and this engagement means can be a buffer or striking plate to contact the side cant rail or an extension thereof or means carried thereby. Conveniently, the side cant rail has low friction means to facilitate its retraction from and extension to its operative position, and this means can, for example, be a wheel or roller, for example a roller pivotally mounted on the side cant rail. The low friction means has a track which preferably is a recessed track to prevent accidental displacement from it of the wheel, roller or other low friction means. Where such a track is used it conveniently can be the guide or other track, or at least part of the track, used by the carrier.

Although the track can be a separate member carried, for example, on a frame of the vehicle body, it can be provided by the frame itself as is illustrated in the embodiment described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Another form of engagement means comprises hooks or other means carried by the lower margin of the curtain to engage the side cant rail.

The vehicle bodies of the invention normally have two curtains, of substantially equal length, adapted to extend downwardly and thereby to provide two curtained sides of the body. The curtains can be such as to constitute a protective cover for a load contained in the body or as a load-retention means for the load or both.

Normally the central cant rail is disposed substantially equidistant between the two sides of the vehicle body, and there are normally two side cant rails; and it is with particular reference to such vehicle bodies that the following description relates.

The curtains are conveniently mounted on rollers on which they can be wound up and thereby retracted. According to the size of the vehicle body and the load for which it is intended, the wind-up rollers can extend from a front bulkhead to the rear bulkhead or they can be comprised of two or more component rollers which normally are mounted in alignment with each other. The side cant rail or rails can extend from a front bulkhead to a rear bulkhead or they can be comprised of two or more component lengths extending between a bulkhead and an intermediate support or between two intermediate supports, as the case maybe. The curtains can, for example, be draped over or supported under the side cant rails.

Various means can be adopted for controlling the upward and/or downward movement of the curtains. For example, where the curtains are mounted on curtain tubes or rollers, there can be a biasing means whereby the tubes are biased towards a movement such as to retract the curtains and to wind them up onto the rollers.

Such a mechanism can take a form similar to that used for domestic roller blinds. Where that means is adopted there will normally be attached to the lower edge of the curtain ropes or similar means by which the curtains can be extended against the biasing force. Another mechanism is to provide a drive means for retraction of the curtains, for example, by means of chain and sprocket (especially of ratchet design) or belts or by hydraulic or other powered means. For example, it can comprise a shaft and worm gear, especially a shaft and worm reduction box. This latter form of drive lends itself readily to hydraulic, electric, pneumatic or other power drive.In these instances the means will normally also be adapted to extend the curtain downwardly, though if desired the downward movement can be achieved by weighting the lower portion of the curtains so that they can descend under the influence of gravity. Whatever means is adopted, it is indeed convenient for the lower parts of the curtain to be so weighted, and this can be effected by means of weighting and/or reinforcing members carried by the lower edge or other part ot the lower portion of the curtains.

Means to hold the extended curtain in place can take any convenient form, for example apertures in the lower portions of the curtains and/or in any weighting or reinforcing members carried thereby which can engage hooks, prongs or other projections carried by the side raves, or by means of ropes which can be tied to the side raves, or by means of tensioning buckles attached to the straps fixed to the side raves and engaging hooks on the curtains or vice versa.

Since it is normally important that the vehicles of the invention should be proof against the weather, means are normally provided to ensure that the side edges of the curtains are held closed with respect to the bulk-heads when the curtains are in their extended position. This can be effected, for example by the use of channels in the bulkheads or other supports between which the curtains are extendable, the channels being adapted to receive the edge portions of the curtains. In order to facilitate movement of the curtains the lower portions thereof can carry wheels which can engage with a track carried by or formed by the bulkheads.

The vehicle bodies of the invention preferably have a weather shield lying outward of the curtain edge region when the latter is in its extended position. For example, the weather shield can be a J-shaped strip carried by the end guide as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

However, it has been found in practice that in using such weather shields there is a risk that when the vehicle is stationary and the curtain has been released at the bottom allowing it to go slack, wind may cause the curtain to act as a sail, and since there is no restraint at the bottom, it will ride up in the curtain tracks causing the slack edge to be drawn out of the guides. Before the vehicle starts on a journey the curtain is attached along its bottom edge to points on the vehicle body and is then tensioned vertically. This effectively retains the curtain in place in most circumstances when the vehicle is in motion.

However, it is possible, in certain circumstances, for the side edge region of the curtain to be displaced from its associated weather shield when the vehicle is in motion. Of course, this is undesirable in several aspects: displacement of the curtain in this way can result tn rain entering the vehicle body and damaging the goods or, even if the damage does not result thereby, the "bellying" of the curtain away from the vehicle body results in considerable drag on the vehicle and thereby increased fuel consumption.

A preferred form of weather shield is one extending outboard of a side edge region of the curtain when the latter is in an extended position, and in which there is provided a curtain edge retention means comprising: one or more runners carried by the side edge region of the curtain and a guide for the runner or runners to restrain the side edge region of the curtain from being displaced from inboard of the weather member.

Normally the edge region of the curtain will be provided with two or more runners, the precise number depending to a large extent on the dimensions of the vehicle and the adverse nature of weather conditions to be expected. Naturally, the more runners provided the more secure will be the resulting arrangement. In a typical arrangement the runners are provided on each of the side edge regions of the curtain and are disposed so that the runners on one side edge are respectively horizontally aligned with the runners on the other side edge. The runners can, for example, comprise ball-ended or other spigots or other protrusions, but in general it is preferred to use a runner which has a rotatable portion thereof to engage the guide so that frictional resistance is reduced accordingly.One form of each such runner is a roller or other wheel mechanism mounted on a spindle or other axis passing through the edge region of the curtain; and a very convenient arrangement is one in which such a roller is mounted on each face of the curtain. This arrangement leads to improved stability and also to a reduction in the likelihood of the roller becoming accidentally detached from the curtain.

The guide can, for example, take the form of a channel member for engagement with the roller or other runner or runners and such that the runners are held permanently in the guide irrespective of whether the curtain is in its fully retracted position, its fully extended position or some intermediate position. A convenient form of guide is one having a longitudinally extending slot to receive the outermost edge region of the curtain, and by making this slot only slightly greater than the thickness of the curtain material it is possible to attain a substantially weatherproof arrangement.

There is now described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, two embodiments of the invention which are each a vehicle body for a rigid-frame heavy goods road vehicle. Figures 1 to 4 illustrate the first embodiment and Figures 5 to 20 the second embodiment. In the drawings:: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle fitted with the body in which its curtain is in its extended position but only the end portions thereof are shown; Figures 2 and 3 show respectively on each side of the vertical centre line end elevations corresponding respectively to the left-hand and right-hand halves of the rear end of the first embodiment, showing the lower edge of the curtain in two different positions; Figure 4 is a side elevation of part of the body of the first embodiment; Figures 5 and 6 show, on the right- and lefthand sides of the vertical centre line respectively, an elevation of the front bulkhead and an elevation of the rear bulkhead of the vehicle body of the second embodiment, the panelling being omitted in both Figures;; Figure 7 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of one of the curtain bottom tubes extending between a central guide and an end guide therefor, together with the respective side cant rail and the trolley comprising the means for its retraction; Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the curtain bottom tube, cant rail and the trolley shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a side elevation of the guide trolley; Figure 10 is a section on the line X-X of Figure 9 showing the trolley in engagement with a curtain tube.

Figure 11 is a section of the side cant rail guide roller and showing its means of attachment to the side cant rail; Figures 12 and 13 show, on an enlarged scale, drive mechanism for the curtain tubes; Figures 14 and 1 5 are elevations of a locking means for locking the curtain tube in position in its extended position and showing respectively the means in its unlocked and locked positions; Figures 1 6 to 1 9 illustrate a preferred means of retaining or housing the edge of the curtain which is applicable, for example to the body of the first and second embodiments described with reference to Figures 1 to 1 5 of the drawings.

However, Figures 1 6 to 1 9 relate directly to the body of the second embodiment.

Figure 1 6 is a horizontal section through an end support of the vehicle body showing the curtain bottom tube, the guide roller for the curtain bottom tube and one of the curtain edge retention means; Figure 1 7 is an exploded view in elevation of the roller of the curtain edge retention means of Figure 1; Figure 1 8 is a horizontal section through a centre support of the vehicle body showing the curtain bottom tube in an extended position; Figure 1 9 is an elevation of a portion of the side edge region of the curtain and the roller of the curtain edge retention means; and Figure 20 is an elevation of a side curtain fully extended showing the disposition of vertical and horizontal reinforcing straps.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5, the vehicle has a conventional cab 10, chassis 11 and a base frame having two side raves 1 2a, 1 2b of which only 1 2a is shown in Figure 1. At the front and rear ends of the base frame there extend upwardly respectively a front pair of corner posts 1 3a, 1 3b and a rear pair of corner posts 1 4a, 1 4b, of which only 1 3a and 1 4a are shown in Figure 1.

Extending between the front and rear ends of the body, parallel to the side raves and supported by top frame members is a central cant rail 1 5 mounted equidistant from the two side raves 1 2a, 12b.

Two parallel curtain upper tubes or rollers 18 extend between the front and rear ends of the body. The front end of the roller being mounted in the front frame at 19 and the rear end at 20.

Two curtains of flexible plastics material (for example a woven polyester base coated with PVC) are carried respectively by the two side curtain tubes 18, the upper edge of each curtain being firmly attached to its respective tube. The lower edge of each curtain carries a rigid elongated reinforcing member 22 (also referred to herein as a curtain bottom tube) this member being comprised of forward and rearward constituent members 22a, 22b. These members serve both to weight the curtain and also to provide a mounting for means to guide it for upward (retraction) movement and downward (extension) movement as is described in more detail below. Only the end portions of curtain 21, its tubes 18 and reinforcing members 22 are shown in Figure 1.

The lower edge of each curtain 21 has attached to it several fastening straps 23 having eyes formed therein for engagement respectively with a corresponding number of hooks 24 carried by the respective bottom side rave.

When the two curtains are in their extended positions they extend from their respective curtain tubes 18 over side cant rails 25 and then vertically down to the respective side rave. The two side cant rails each extend between the front and rear frame members and are disposed substantially vertically above the respective side raves. These side cant rails ensure that when the curtains are in their extended position they extend substantially vertically with respect to the vehicle base thereby enabling the goods carried by the vehicle to be stowed in a conventional fashion, that is with the sides of the load substantially vertical.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the drive mechanism for each of the curtain tubes is indicated generally at 26, the manual winding mechanism at 27 and the chain drive connecting the winding mechanism to the drive mechanism at 28. The chain has a guard 29 shown in Figure 3 which also shows a channel-shaped weather shield 30 which extends from the region of the centre cant rail, over the respective side cant rail and vertically down to the respective side rave.

The top of corner posts 1 4a, 1 4b supports top frame member 17 which has welded to its upper surface a channel member (not shown). The rear end of centre cant rail 1 5 is secured to this channel member.

Curtain tube 18 carries at its rear end a circular plate 36 whose purpose is to act as a guide and retaining means for the adjacent edge of the curtain when rolled up on the curtain tube. The rear end of the curtain tube carries a spindle (not shown) coaxial with the tube and journalled in a pressed steel pillar block which constitutes the rear bearing 20 bolted to an upper flange of the channel member. On the rear end of the spindle there is mounted a chain wheel 38 driven by chain drive 28. A lower chain wheel 48 is journalled in a bracket (not shown) and adapted to drive chain drive 28, the spindle carrying the lower chain wheel having journalled on its extremity cranked handle 49. The spindle carrying lower chain wheel 48 and cranked handle 49 is itself journalled in bearing 50 which is provided with a ratchet mechanism (not shown).The ratchet mechanism can be released by ratchet release lever 51.

The reinforcing member 22 is embraced by the lower margin of the curtain 21 which extends around the re-inforcing member, and the edge of the curtain 21 is attached by stitching to an adjacent zone of the curtain. A guide wheel 52 is rotatably mounted on the end portion of reinforcing member 22 and adapted for rolling contact with curtain guide 53 which is in the form of a member vertically extending from the region of the respective side rave, up to the respective side cant rail and then inclined at an angle to the vertical up to the region of the centre cant rail. A similar arrangement of rotatable guide wheel and guide member is provided on the corner post at the other end of curtain 21, the respective dimensions being such that the two guide wheels can move freely in contact with the respective guide members as the curtain is raised.

A weather shield strip and retainer is mounted, by means of a fixing strip of L-shape crosssection, to the outer face of the cornerpost 1 4b.

This retainer extends upwards a similar distance to that extended by guide member 53. Its width is such that it overlaps the edge of the curtain thereby preventing rain from driving under the curtain, and the distance between the retainer and the outer face of the corner post is such as to prevent guide wheel 52 from becoming displaced from guide member 53.

In Figure 4, which corresponds to the left-hand portion of the curtain area shown in Figure 1, the lower margin of the curtain 21 has cut-out portions 70 which reveal portions 71 of the reinforcing member (bottom tube) 22, and on each of the revealed portions is mounted a hook 72 whose shank embraces the reinforcing member 22 so that the hook can pivot thereon in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said member 22. The hooks are such that they can accommodate the side cant rail 25. Hooks 72 are mounted at the end portions of said member 22 and, if desired, at one or more intermediate positions. Whether any such intermediate hooks are necessary depends on the length and weight of the respective side cant rail or whether it is comprised of two or more portions.

In Figures 2 and 3 there is shown the side cant rail 25 in its operative position. The ends of the side cant rail each carry a roller 73 pivotally mounted thereon and free to run in an upwardly inclined guide trace 74 mounted on the inner face of the respective bulkhead and extending from the region of the side cant rail to the region of the central cant rail. The trace has a stop at or near its lower end to prevent the side cant rail from moving lower than its operative position. Figure 2 shows the curtain 21 in its fully extended position, whereas in Figure 3 it has been retracted to such an extent that its hook 72 is disposed just below the respective side cant rail.

When curtain 21 is retracted slightly further than in Figure 3 its hooks 72 engage the side cant rail. Further retraction of the curtain to the maximum extent results in hooks 72 drawing the side cant rail into its fully retracted position.

The curtain mechanism described above can be operated as follows. When it is wished to load the vehicle the curtain 21 is retracted by the operator turning cranked handle 49 which causes the curtain tubes 1 8 to rotate in its bearings and thereby to wind up on themselves the curtain. In this way the curtain can, if desired, be fully retracted onto the curtain tube in which position the curtain lies wholly under the cant rail cover.

The whole of the sides of the vehicle are now open to permit ready access to the goods to be carried, for example, by the use of fork-lift trucks.

Since the side cant rail has been retracted by retraction of the curtain into the region of the centre cant rail access to the interior of the vehicle from above is greatly facilitated, for example for the use of cranes. After the loading of the vehicle is complete the curtain can be extended by use of the cranked handle 49, the curtain extending downwardly under the influence of gravity, its lower edge being kept even by the elongated reinforcing member 22 and its side edges being guided downwardly under the influence of the guide wheel 52. The lower edge of the curtain can then be firmly held in place by means of the fastening means described above.

As the curtain and its hooks 72 are extended downwards in this way the side cant rail also descends under the influence of gravity, the rollers running in their track, till they are restrained at the top outer corners of the bulkheads by means of the stops in the tracks.

The side cant rail is now in its operative position.

There is now described with reference to Figures 6 to 1 5 the vehicle body of the second embodiment referred to above. Figure 6, showing the front bulkhead, discloses one of the shaft and worm reduction box drives used to drive one of the upper curtain tubes. Similar drive means (not shown) are mounted on the other side of the bulkhead to drive the other upper curtain tube.

Figure 6 shows the curtain in its fully retracted position in which it has drawn the trolley to its uppermost position and with it the respective side cant rail. In Figure 5 the curtain is shown in its fully extended position in which the trolley is at the lowermost extent of its travel and lies in the inwardly inclined portion at the bottom of its guide in the corner post 14a.

Figures 7 and 8 show a curtain bottom tube comprised of component tubes 22c, 22d. Tube 22c extends between a trolley 100 of a first type (referred to below as "an end trolley") and a trolley 101 of a second type (referred to below as "a centre trolley"). The structure of the end trolley is illustrated in greater detail in Figures 9 and 10.

The trolley comprises a plate 102 of truncated triangular shape and a bracket 103 of a wide Ucross section the ends of the arms of which are attached to opposed edges of the plate thereby providing a frame in which are rotatably mounted two similar guide wheels 104. One end of the bracket provides a buffer plate 103a the purpose of which is described below. At the apex portion of the plate there is mounted a boss member 105 having formed therein a diametrically disposed aperture to receive a spring pin (not shown).

The centre trolley 101 comprises two parallel plates 106 of truncated triangular shape each being welded at one edge thereof to an elongated buffer plate 107 so that the two truncated triangular plates are disposed parallel to each other to provide a frame in which a guide wheel 108 is rotatably mounted. The apex portions of the plates each have formed therein a semicircular recess (not shown) the two recesses being aligned one with the other and housing a cylindrical bar 109.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 and with particular reference to curtain bottom tube 22c, the hollow ends of the tube engage respectively with the boss 105 of the end trolley and with one end 110 of the cylindrical bar of the centre trolley, and are held in position thereon by means of spring pins 111. The lower edge portion of the curtain 21 is secured along its length around the bottom tube 22c. The two wheels of the end trolley run along a track in an end guide 112, and the two wheels of the centre trolley run along a track contrally in the centre guide 11 3. Referring to the end guide shown in Figure 7, the respective resilient side edge 114 of the curtain 21 is located in this guide and bears against a smooth elongated aluminum strip 11 5 of J cross section fixed to a lip of the end guide.The position of said side edge when the respective trolley is at its lower-most extent of travel is shown in dashed lines in Figure 7.

The cant rail 25 shown in Figures 7 and 8 consists of two component can rails 25c, 25d each having mounted at each end thereof a rotatable guide wheel 116. Referring for example to component cant rails 25c, one of its guide wheels runs in the end guide and the other runs in the centre guide. These two guide wheels are rotatably mounted on pivot pins 11 7 (Figure 11) tapped into cylindrical blocks 118 which are held in position in the hollow ends of the cant rail by means of spring pins 119. The pivot pins are of a size such that they are easily accommodated in the respective longitudinal slot formed in the end or centre guide respectively.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate drive means for one of the upper curtain tubes 1 8, the drive being by way of a worm and reduction box 11 7 (Renold "Verso" gear unit VU 11) through a shaft 118 and spider 11 9 coupling drive. The shaft is turned by means of a hand-operated wheel 1 20 fitted with a spring-loaded run-back stop 1 21. The upper curtain tube extends between the front and rear bulkheads, and the end of the curtain tube distant from the gear box is mounted in a self-lubricating pillow block 122 having a sealed ball bearing. By operation of the hand wheel 1 20 the appropriate one of the upper curtain tubes can be rotated, thereby extending or retracting the curtain attached to it.This operation can be simply performed from ground level by the driver or other operator from the cab end of the vehicle body.

A typical operation of the curtain retraction means and the side cant rail retraction means of the second embodiment described above with reference to the accompanying drawings is as follows. Assuming that the curtain is in its fully extended position, the end and centre trolleys are at their lowermost extent of travel and housed in the inwardly inclined terminal portions of the end and centre guides respectively. In this position the curtain wholly closes the side of the vehicle body and, due to the inwardly inclined portions of the guide, the lowermost margin of the curtain is held in place inwardly of the respective side rave, thereby providing good sealing against the ingress of rain water into the vehicle body.In order to retract the curtain to permit loading or unloading of the vehicle body, any straps or other attachment means for the lower portion of the curtain are unfastened, and then the hand wheel of the drive means, after releasing the anti-run back stop, is turned resulting in rotation of the respective upper curtain tube which winds up its curtain on itself as it turns. Retraction of the curtain in this way causes the end and center trolleys to rise with the bottom curtain tube, the wheels of the trolleys running in their tracks in the end and centre guides.When retraction of the curtain reaches the extent that the trolleys have been drawn up into the region of the respective side cant rail, the buffer plates of the trolleys meet the respective cant rail rollers or wheels thereby dislodging them from their operative disposition at the bottom end of the longitudinal groove in the upper inclined end and centre guides.

Continued retraction of the curtain on its upper curtain tube results in the trolleys being drawn up their respective inclined guides and carrying before them the respective cant rail rollers; and this movement continues until the curtain is fully wound up on its upper curtain tube or the cant rail rollers meet a stop at the upper end of the inclined guides, whichever is the sooner.

When it is wished to extend the curtains, operation of the hand wheel of the drive means in the sense opposite to that previously employed to retract the curtains results in the trolleys moving down the respective inclined guides under the influence of gravity and the cant rail rollers following them under the influence of gravity too.

Continued rotation of the hand wheel results in further extension of the curtain and further downward movement of the trolleys and the associated cant wheel rollers until the trolleys reach the lower extent of their travel in the inwardly inclined portions of the guides.

Although, in the second embodiment described above the bottom curtain tube is carried by the trolleys and can descend towards its lowermost extended position under the influence of gravity, it is normally necessary to provide means to hold the bottom tube in place in such extended position. If this is not done the curtain tends to be drawn outwards by air turbulence when the vehicle is in motion, which not only can result in the load becoming exposed to the elements but in an increased fuel consumption because of the resulting drag.

A suitable means, given by way of example, is illustrated in Figures 14 and 1 5 which show a toggle clamp 123 mounted at the lower extremity of the trolley guide 1 24, Figure 1 4 showing the clamp in an open or unlocked position and Figure 1 5 in a closed or locked position.

Operation of this clamp can be as follows.

When the trolleys and the bottom tube have reached their lowermost position the clamp handle 125 is actuated to close the clamp so that the bottom tube 22b is held firmly in that position, and since the clamp illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 has an overcentre position and clamp is held locked until released by actuation of the clamp handle. After the clamp has been locked the curtain can be tensioned by use of the winding mechanism. Where there is used a runback stop, for example as shown in Figure 13, this can be actuated to prevent creep which would result in the tension in the curtain being relieved and consequent risk of the curtain blowing outwards from the body.

Although reference has been made above to the clamp or similar retention means being so disposed as to be able to hold the bottom tube in its lowermost position, it will be appreciated that such means can be provided at other suitable positions if desired.

Referring to Figure 16, end guide channel 200 is attached, for example, by welding to the respective end support of the vehicle body (which can be either a front end or rear end support). The end guide channel is of G-cross section one end 211 of which is of channel shape and accommodates the curtain guide roller 212 carried by the curtain bottom tube. To the other end of the guide channel there is attached an aluminium capping member 213 of right angle cross-section: and to an intermediate portion of the guide channel there is attached a guide angle 214 of right angle cross-section which together with the guide channel 211 and the aluminium capping 213 provides a hollow elongated guide channel member of substantially square crosssection and having a narrow slot 215 extending longitudinally thereof the purpose of which is described below.

The vehicle curtain extends between curtain top and curtain bottom tubes as disclosed above with reference to the second embodiment, but in this present embodiment the bottom edge region of the curtain, which is looped around the curtain bottom tube 22b and attached, for example by stitching or welding to itself, is cut away in the region of the curtain bottom tube so that, as shown in Figure 1 6, the edge region of the curtain is inclined with respect to the curtain bottom tube. The guide conveniently runs from the housing for the curtain top tube to the lowermost extent of travel of the curtain bottom tube, though the length can be less depending on the location of the uppermost and lowermost curtain retention rollers.

The side edge region of the curtain carries a curtain retention roller 217 mounted on a spindle passing through an aperture (formed, for example, where the curtain is of thermoplastic material, by hot drilling). Although if desired the curtain retention roller can be mounted such that it is held in a fixed relation to the guide, it has been found (at least with the specific embodiment described with reference to the drawings) that this is not necessary and as will be seen from Figure 1 6 the curtain retention roller there is free to move about within the guide until subjected to forces imposed by the curtain.

The curtain retention roller, shown in detail in Figure 17, consists of a bolt and nut assembly the nut 21 8 being adapted to be locked in position on the bolt 219, and two like annular nylon roller wheels 220, the two annular steel spacers 221 each formed with a boss 222 on which the nylon wheel is free to rotate and two plain washers 223 respectively to separate the outer faces of the nylon wheels from the bolt head and from the nut, all being mounted on the shank of the bolt 21 9.

The bolt passes through a hot drilled hole in the curtain; and the nut is tightened on the bolt so that the edge region of the curtain is sandwiched between the two disc portions of the steel spacers 221.

Referring to Figure 1 8, the curtain bottom tube 22b in its central region carries a sleeve 230, for example of nylon or other smooth plastics material, and the bottom region of the curtain (not shown) is cut away so that it does not overlap the sleeve. The purpose of the sleeve, which is preferably free to rotate on the tube 22b, is to reduce the frictional resistance encountered when the curtain bottom tube is raised on retraction of the curtain from an extended position, especially frictional resistance otherwise arising between the tube and the upper portion of the central support 231.

Referring to Figure 1 9, the curtain 240 (which is of a fiexible plastics material such as PVC) has several reinforcing straps 241 of woven material, for example woven polyester material. Where the latter material is used it can be attached, for example, by heat welding to the surface of the PVC curtain. The arrangement of these reinforcing straps can be such that they are arranged in a gridiron pattern of horizontally and verticallyextending straps, and preferably the arrangement of straps is such that they extend into the edge regions of the curtains, as shown in Figure 20.

The lock bolts or other spindles on which the curtain retention rollers are mounted preferably each pass through a reinforcing strap as well as through the curtain material.

The bottom edge portion of the curtain also carries a series of spaced loops 243 for attaching the bottom edge of the curtain to the vehicle.

It has been found advisable to make provision for the thickness of the curtain retention rollers when the curtain is rolled up on the curtain top tube (not shown): otherwise the curtain cannot easily be taken up smoothly and evenly on the tube. One means of making this provision is to reduce the total thickness of curtain rolled up on the top tube. For example, as shown in Figure 1 9 the curtain edge region can be formed with cutout regions 242, disposed on each side of the curtain retention roller. These cut-out regions can each conveniently be provided by first forming a hot-drilled hole in the curtain and then making two incisions from the edge of the curtain to the sides of the hole.As shown in Figure 20 the vertical spacings of the horizontal reinforcing straps 241 differ and are pitched at precise predetermined spacings so that the retention rollers 217, which are attached to the opposed ends of each of the horizontal reinforcing straps, do not coincide when the curtain is wound up onto the top tube, but fall equispaced around the tube, thus preventing the rolled curtain building up to an unacceptable diameter on the top tube.

Although the curtain edge retention means has been described with particular reference to its application to vehicle bodies having vertically opening curtain sides, it is not limited to such application. It can, for example, be applied to the bottom or top edge or horizontally-opening curtains of vehicle bodies or other goods containers.

The invention has been described with particular reference to road vehicles, but it is not limited thereto but can be applied, for example, to railway wagons and to platforms for the stowage of goods.

Claims (24)

Claims

1. A vehicle body having an upwardly opening curtain side and a central cant rail disposed longitudinally of the body and spaced inwardly between the sides of the body; a side cant rail disposed in a position outward of the central cant rail and for retraction towards the central cant rail or otherwise away from the respective side of the body; a curtain which is secured in the region of the central cant rail so that the curtain can be extended downwards from said region via the side cant rail towards a side rave of the vehicle; means to hold the curtain in its extended position; mans to retract the curtain towards said region; and means to effect said retraction of the side cant rail.

2. A vehicle body according to Claim 1, in which said retraction of the side cant rail is effected by, or in accordance with, retractive movement of the curtain.

3. A vehicle body according to Claim 2, in which the curtain is provided with engagement means to engage the side cant rail and by means of which the side cant rail can be retracted from its operative position away from the respective side of the body.

4. A vehicle body according to Claim 3, in which said engagement means are hook means carried by the curtain.

5. A vehicle body according to Claim 4, in which said hook means comprise two or more hooks spaced apart along the lower edge portion of the curtain.

6. A vehicle body according to Claim 5, in which the curtain carries at its lower edge portion a curtain tube and the hooks are disposed so as to rotate about an axis coincident with or parallel to said curtain tube.

7. A vehicle body according to Claim 1,2 or 3, in which said engagement means comprises a guided carrier which moves in accordance with upward and downward movement of the curtain during at least part of the movement of the latter and serves to carry upward the side cant rail from its operative position to a retracted position.

8. A vehicle body according to Claim 7, in which the guided carrier comprises a wheeled trolley and a guide or track therefor disposed vertically with respect to the vehicle body.

9. A vehicle body according to Claim 8, in which the trolley has at least two wheels mounted for rotation on parallel axes and is carried by the lower edge portion of the curtain.

10. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, in which the side cant rail has mounted thereon a wheel or roller for movement in or on a guide or track therefor disposed vertically with respect to the vehicle body.

11. A vehicle body according to Claim 10 as dependent from Claim 8, in which said guide or track for the side cant rail wheel or roller also constitutes the guide or track for the wheeled trolley.

12. A vehicle body according to Claim 11, in which the guide or track has its lower end portion inclined to the vertical so that the end of the guide or track lies inwardly of the respective side rave of the body.

13. A vehicle body according to Claim 11 or 12, in which said lower end portion is provided with a locking means for the guided carrier whereby the curtain can be held in place in an extended position.

14. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, in which the upper edge portion of the curtain is attached to a curtain tube mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis in the region of the central cant rail.

1 5. A vehicle body according to Claim 14, in which rotation of the upper curtain tube is effected by means of a chain drive extending from the lower portion of the vehicle body.

1 6. A vehicle body according to Claim 14, in which rotation of said curtain tube is effected by a shaft drive extending from the lower portion of the vehicle body and acting through a worm and reduction gear.

17. A vehicle body according to Claim 1 5 or 16, in which the drive is actuated manually by means of a handle disposed at said lower portion of the vehicle body.

18. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, in which the side cant rail is adapted to descend from the region of the central cant rail to its operative position under the influence of the force of gravity.

1 9. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, having a weather shield for the curtain edge region when the curtain is in an extended position, said weather shield having a curtain edge retention means comprising: one or more runners carried by the side edge region of the curtain and a guide for the runner or runners to restrain the side edge region of the curtain from being displaced from inboard of the weather member.

20. A vehicle body according to Claim 19, in which the runners are provided on each of the side edge regions of the curtain and are disposed so that the runners on one side edge are respectively horizontally aligned with the runners on the other side edge.

21. A vehicle body according to Claim 19 or 20, in which each runner is a roller or other wheel mechanism mounted on a spindle or other axis located in the edge region of the curtain.

22. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A vehicle body substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A vehicle body substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 5 to 20 of the accompanying drawings.