GB2174136A

GB2174136A - Freight vehicle bodies

Info

Publication number: GB2174136A
Application number: GB08510744A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donard Burton
Original assignee: Don Bur Bodies and Trailers Ltd
Current assignee: Don Bur Bodies and Trailers Ltd
Priority date: 1985-04-27
Filing date: 1985-04-27
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: AU581105B2; GB2174136B; AU6341286A; GB8510744D0

Abstract

A flexible foldable side curtain 18 in an open-sided freight vehicle body 10 extends between slidable end door panels 20, 20 and comprises or is reinforced in its lower part by a stiff protective backing sheet 25 of hard tough material resistant to cutting by a knife. In the particular embodiment the protective backing sheet 25 is secured to vertical poles 22 fitted in sleeves or pockets 27 of the curtain 18 and is formed with grooves 30a, 30b, 30c, selectively arranged on opposite sides of the sheet to provide foldlines permitting concertina-like folding in an outwards direction. The protective backing sheet 25 improves the security of such curtain-sided vehicle bodies and provides a safeguard or deterrent to attack by thieves or vandals using knives. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Freight vehicle bodies The present invention relates to bodies of goods or freight vehicles and concerns, in particular, such vehicle bodies of the kind having a floor or deck area covered by an overhead roof structure and at least one open side which is provided with closure means including a foldable closure sheet fitted to carrier members mounted on a track for travel therealong whereby the closure sheet can be drawn across into an opened-out condition to close said open side or can be drawn back into a folded condition to leave at least a major part of said open side clear for unobstructed access.

Such bodies of the general kind defined above will be hereinafter termed "curtain-sided freight vehicle bodies" since they commonly have the foldable closure sheet provided by a curtain of flexible sheet material such as p.v.c. sheeting; at the present time they are in common use for certain kinds of heavy goods road vehicles, either as an integral part of the complete vehicle or in the form of a trailer for attachment to a tractor unit in an articulated assembly. In one frequently used arrangement, the carrier members for the curtain are suspended by runners from an overhead rail or track in the roof structure of the body and comprise a rigid slidable door panel at one or both ends of the curtain and a series of rigid vertical frame elements such as vertical poles which are fitted at intervals to the curtain along the length thereof.These vertical frame elements or poles carry the required travelling curtain mountings or runners and also they in effect divide the curtain along its length into a plurality of relatively narrow panels.

Although generally very satisfactory in operation, one problem that has arisen with the use of a closure sheet formed simply by a curtain of flexible material such as p.v.c. sheeting is the vulnerability of the latter to damage and attack by a knife or similar cutting instrument in incidents of attempted criminal theft or malicious vandalism. There is accordingly a need for improving the security of curtain sided freight vehicle bodies in this respect, and the present invention is directed towards a solution of this problem.

According to the invention, in a curtain-sided freight vehicle body as hereinbefore defined the foldable closure sheet comprises a stiff protective sheet of tough material resistant to knife blade cuts, said protective sheet being divided into a regular series of relatively narrow sub-panels by vertical fold lines forming integral hinges permitting repeated folding and unfolding of the closure sheet during use.

In preferred embodiments this stiff protective sheet will be a secondary component of the closure sheet additional to a conventional curtain of flexible sheet material constituting the primary component and it may act as a reinforcement or protective backing at the rear of the latter covering possibly just these areas of the curtain, such as for example the lower part up to about one-third or more of its height, which are most vulnerable to attack. On the other hand, in some instances, the stiff protective sheet may form the primary component of the closure sheet and could even provide the entire closure sheet, in the manner of concertina folding door panels, without any flexible curtain sheet material.

Preferably, the stiff protective sheet is composed of a tough and hard thermoplastics material such as a high density polyethylene copolymer, and the fold lines are formed by grooving the sheet with a tool under pressure, in a press for example. By forming the main grooving of the fold lines selectively on opposite sides of the sheet, the direction of folding can be controlled to produce a concertina-like effect when the closure sheet is drawn back.

In bodies where the closure sheet comprises a curtain of flexible sheet material which extends between a pair of slidably mounted door panels disposed at opposite ends and which is divided into a plurality of relatively narrow panels by a series of vertically oriented rigid poles forming intermediate frame elements fitted in sleeves or pockets of the curtain and suspended at the top by runners on an overhead rail or track in the roof structure of the body, the stiff protective sheet is preferably a continuous length fastened at its ends to the slidable door panels and forming a reinforcing backing to the flexible curtain sheet on the inner side thereof.This protective sheet preferably extends upwards from floor level to about a third of the height of the curtain, whilst along its length it is fastened to each of the rigid poles from the rear; and on either side of each rigid pole in closely adjacent relationship thereto, the protective sheet is provided with a fold line groove permitting it to fold outwards whilst a further fold line groove on the opposite side of the sheet is provided midway between each pair of successive poles, and also between the end poles and the adjacent end doors, so as to permit the protective sheet to fold concertinawise. It will thus be appreciated that each panel of the flexible curtain is backed by a pair of identically-sized sub-panels of the protective sheet.At the bottom, the rigid poles and also the slidable end doors are preferably engaged with a bottom guide track which restrains any laterial movement.

Byway of example, a preferred emboidment incorporating the above-mentioned arrangement is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings and will be more particularly described with reference thereto.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a typical curtain-sided body of a freight vehicle provided with a side curtain having protective folding sheet means in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-section through a portion of one of the side curtains of the freight vehicle body of Figure 1 with the curtain being shown in its opened-out taut condition as when drawn to close the side of the vehicle body; Figure 3 is a similar horizontal cross-sectional view to Figure 2 but showing the curtain in a partially drawn back folded and pleated condition, as when the side of the vehicle body is partially opened; Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a stiff foldable plastics backing sheet providing the curtain protective means in this embodiment;; Figure 5 is a fragmentary part-sectional view of one end part of the curtain closure as seen from the inside of the vehicle body; Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on line Vl-Vl of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on line VII-VII of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the freight vehicle body 10 shown in Figure 1 is in this example in the form of a trailer having a main floor or deck with side chassis frame members 12 and having corner pillars 14 supporting a roof structure 16 to define open sides each arranged to be closed by closure means comprising a slidably-mounted foldable closure sheet providing a curtain 18 composed of flexible plastics sheet material such as p.v.c. extending between slidably-mounted rigid end door panels 20, 20.

The curtain 18 is fitted at regular intervals with a series of vertically-oriented frame elements in the form of rigid poles 22 accommodated in sleeves or pockets 27 provided on the rear face of the curtain sheet material so that the curtain is in effect divided into a series of relatively narrow rectangular panels 18A, 18B, etc. Each of these poles 22 carries a runner 40 at its upper end which is mounted in an overhead track 42 extending along the length of the body in the roof structure 16 and the end doors 20,20, are likewise provided with runners similarly engaged with the track 42, these end doors and the poles 22 together constituting suspended carrier members for the foldable curtain.

At the bottom, the poles 22 and end doors 20 are provided with inverted U-shaped shoes 44 fitted with pads 46 of wear-resistant material which embrace an upstanding guide flange 48 of the adjacent chassis longitudinal frame member 12, as indicated in Figure 7, thereby to restrain the bottom of the closure sheet against lateral movement.

To open a side of the vehicle body for loading or unloading of goods, after releasing a conventional toggle fastening 50 of one or other of the end door panels 20, this end door panel is moved towards the opposite end of the body and, as will be appreciated, the curtain 18 extending between the end door panels is thereby caused to fold and pleat.

In accordance with the invention, the closure sheet providing the curtain 18 has a composite structure and includes a stiff protective backing sheet 25 provided behind the flexible sheet 18' of the curtain to act as an inner barrier resistant to being cut with a knife or similar cutting implement. As indicated, this protective backing sheet 25 is a continuous sheet extending behind the lower part of the curtain sheet 18' up to about a third or a half of the height of the latter, and it is secured at opposite ends by rivets or other fastenings 38 to the inside face of the slidable end door panels 20 while intermediate its ends it is secured to each of the curtain poles 22, again by rivets or similar fastenings 39 which pass through the material of the pockets 27.

The stiff protective sheet 25 in this embodiment is composed of a tough and hard polythene copolymer, for example a copolymer with polypropylene, and typically has a thickness of about 1.5 to 2.0 mm, and it is adapted to fold in a concertina manner by being formed with a series of grooves defining vertical fold lines at regular intervals along its length.

Thus, the portions of the protective panel 25 lying between adjacent attachment points to the carrier members each bridge a respective curtain panel 18A, 18B, etc. and each is divided into a pair of foldable sub-panels 25a, 25b, by a symmetrical set of three narrow grooves 30a, 30b and 30which form fold lines. In each such set of grooves the groove 30b is formed mainly in the face of the panel 25 presented towards the flexible sheet of curtain material and is located exactly midway between the grooves 30a and 30c which are formed mainly in the opposite face of the sheet 25 adjacent to the respective pole-receiving pockets 27 or to the edges of the end doors 20.Narrow sub-panels 25c are also defined between grooves 30a and 30c associated with successive panels 18A, 18B, etc. of the curtain sheet 18' on either side of each curtain pole 22, and these narrow panels 25c form the portions of the protective sheet 25 which are secured to the poles as will be clear from the drawings.

It will thus be appreciated that the protective sheet 25 does not interfere with the normal opening and closing operations of the curtain 18, and forms an integral part of the foldable closure sheet structure between the end doors 20,20, but it improves considerably the security of the arrangement and provides a simple but effective safeguard or deterrent to attack by thieves or vandals using knives.

The size of the protective sheet 25 can of course be varied depending on the area of curtain which is is desired to protect, and it may be composed of any suitable material which provides the required stiffness and toughness characteristics so as to be resistant to knife cuts, and which is capable of being formed with hinge fold lines which can operate reliably over a long period of time without fatigue or other problems. As indicated, it is also envisaged that in some cases the entire closure sheet or curtain may be provided by a stiff protective sheet of this kind adapted to fold in a concertina mannerwithout any outer separate sheet of flexible curtain material, and many other modifications or variations in the precise details may also be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A curtain-sided freight vehicle body having a floor or deck area covered by an overhead roof structure and at least one open side which is provided with closure means including a foldable closure sheet fitted to carrier members movably mounted on a track whereby said closure sheet can be drawn across into an opened-out condition to close said open side or can be drawn back into a folded condition to leave at least a major part of said open side clear for unobstructed access, characte rised in that said foldable closure sheet comprises a stiff protective sheet or panel of tough material resistant to cutting by a knife blade which protective sheet or panel is divided into a regular series of relatively narrow sub-panels by vertical fold lines forming integral hinges permitting repeated folding and unfolding of the closure sheet during use.

2. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said protective sheet or panel is composed of a tough and hard thermoplastics material, for example a high density polyethylene copolymer.

3. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tough and hard thermoplastics material is a copolymer of polyethylene and polypropylene.

4. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the protective sheet or panel has a thickness in the range of about 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

5. Acurtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said vertical fold lines in the protective sheet or panel are defined by grooves formed in the surface of said sheet or panel.

6. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the grooves defining said vertical fold lines are formed selectively on opposite sides of the protective sheet or panel whereby to control the direction of folding and to produce a concertina-like folding effect when, in use, the closure sheet is drawn back into a folded condition from an opened out condition.

7. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claims 5 or 6 wherein said grooves are formed by grooving the sheet or panel with a tool under pressure.

8. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said protective sheet or panel extends continuously throughout substantially the whole length of the foldable closure sheet.

9. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said foldable closure sheet also comprises a curtain of flexible sheet material constituting a primary component thereof while said protective sheet or panel constitutes a secondary component providing a reinforcementto said curtain.

10. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claim 9 wherein said protective sheet or panel lies behind the curtain and provides a protective backing at the rear of the latter.

11. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claims 9 or 10 wherein said protective sheet or panel extends only over a selected area or areas of the curtain.

12. Acurtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the or each said selected area or areas lies in the lower half of the curtain, that is below about a half of the height of the latter.

13. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein said protective sheet or panel extends over the area of the curtain covering the lower third of the height of the curtain.

14. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the curtain extends between a pair of slidably mounted door panels disposed at opposite ends and is divided into a plurality of relatively narrow curtain panels by a series of vertically oriented elongate frame elements fitted in sleeves or pockets of the curtain, and wherein said protective sheet or panel is a continuous length fastened at its ends to said slidably mounted door panels.

15. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein said protective sheet or panel is fastened to each of the vertically oriented elongate frame members from the rear and, on either side of each said frame member, is provided with a fold line groove permitting it to fold outwards whilst a further fold line groove on the opposite side of the sheet or panel is provided midway between each pair of successive said frame members and also midway between the end said frame members and the adjacent end doors whereby in use the protective sheet or panel is adapted to fold concertinawise is in a direction outwardly of the respective side of the vehicle.

16. A curtain-sided freight vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15 wherein the curtain is composed of a flexible plastics sheet material such as for example polyvinyl chloride sheeting.

17. A curtain-sided freight vehicle body provided with closure means including a foldable closure sheet constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.