GB2238988A

GB2238988A - Adjustable and stowable bulkhead

Info

Publication number: GB2238988A
Application number: GB9021095A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Williams Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-29
Filing date: 1990-09-27
Publication date: 1991-06-19
Also published as: GB8922047D0; GB9021095D0

Abstract

A bulkhead 1 having a locking apparatus comprising a locking rail 82 extending along the inner length of a carrier which is adapted to mate with at least one co-operating engagement means 46 fixed to the edge of the bulkhead 1 such that the bulkhead 1 may be locked into a preselected position within the carrier. The locking apparatus also provides for the bulkhead 1 to be locked in either a horizontal or a vertical position. There is further provided a control means 30 whereby activation of a plurality of engagement means may be affected simultaneously. The invention is for use in the transportation of a number of different goods within one carrying means by dividing the carrying means into at least two compartments, for example with the aid of a refrigerated unit, frozen foods may be co-transported with goods which are stored at room temperature. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements Relating to Bulkheads This invention relates to bulkheads for use in the transport industry and particularly, though not exclusively, for the transportation of goods.

Transportation of goods throughout the U.K. and exportation of goods to, for example other European countires, is effected by the use of large capacity transport vehicles.

Typically, a carrier is attached to these vehicles and the carrier is provided with an inner, ad - .ble bulkhead which may be swung into one of two positions. For reference sake, position one may be regarded as the closed or partitionary position where the bulkhead is located vertically and thus divides the vehicle carrier into two separate areas. This is obviously advantageous when goods of a different nature are to be co-transported. Furthermore, if an effective seal is created about the perimeter of a bulkhead, with respect to the inner cavity of the carrier, it is possible to vary the conditions between separate areas such that, with the aid of a refrigerated unit, frozen foods may be co-transported with goods which are stored at room temperature.

Position two may be regarded as the open position and represents the location of the bulkhead when swung into a horizontal position, that is when it lies horizontal and immediately adjacent the roof of the carrier. This position is usually adopted when goods of the same nature are transported or when goods are removed from the vehicle.

In order to vary the size of separated areas the bulkhead is mounted on rollers which travel along horizontal rails that extend the length of the carrier. The bulkhead is typically free to travel along the horizontal rails when it is located in the open position and it therefore follows that if the bulkhead is not locked in a specific location in the open position it will be free to move back and forth within the carrier. Such an occurrence is extremely dangerous as if, when travelling at high speeds, a driver has to brake suddenly it is not uncommon for a free moving bulkhead to be derailed and subsequently crash into the front of the carrier or the goods contained therein.

To overcome this problem bulkheads have been provided with shoot bolts, and corresponding attachment means have been provided on the inner side of the carrier which enable a bulkhead to be locked in a specific location within the carrier. However, in order to do this it is necessary to move the bulkhead along the rails to the position of the attachment means. This may be a particularly time consuming and tiresome task if the attachment means is located some distance away from the partitionary position of the bulkhead.

Unfortunately, because of the aforementioned disadvantages bulkheads are often not secured within the carrier and thus, at present, they represent a hazard.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a more efficient and safer means of securing bulkheads within a carrier.

Thus, the invention provides for a carrier bulkhead locking apparatus which comprises a bulkhead adjustably supported on a rail means wherein there is provided the capability to lock the bulkhead in one of a number of pre-selected locations.

Preferably the said capability comprises a plurality of first engagement means attached to the inside of the carrier and at least one second engagement means attached to the bulkhead; said engagement means being adapted to engage theretogether. Preferably still said first engagement means extends along an upper horizontal axis on at least one side of said carrier.

Preferably said first engagement means comprises a protruding element with holes located therein and preferably again said holes are evenly spaced.

Preferably said second engagement means comprises a tensioned rod which preferably impinges said element when the bulkhead swings from a first to a second position such that said rod mates with said holes and so locks the bulkhead in position.

Preferably said first position is closed and said second position is open.

Preferably again said second engagement means is cooperationally connected to a single control means whereby the bulkhead may be simultaneously-locked in position at one or more sites by activation of the control means.

Preferably said second engagement means are located on the vertical sides of said bulkhead when in a closed position and preferably further still said bulkhead is rectangular and an engagement means is located at each corner.

Preferably said control means comprises a lever device which is preferably connected to a plurality of mating means by a cable device.

Preferably at least one tensioning device is connected to said cable device.

Preferably said second engagement means is spring loaded.

Preferably further still said bulkhead perimeter is edged with a sealing means which may comprise, for example, at least one row of high density brushes.

It will be understood that the bulkhead may be provided with additional locking devices which may be attached to a separate control means. The provision of additional locking devices serves to enhance the safety of the system hereinafter described.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a bulkhead locking apparatus in accordance with the invention when the bulkhead is located in a closed or vertical position; and Fig. 2 shows a side elevated view of a carrier containing a bulkhead which is located in an open or horizontal position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a part of a bulkhead when located in a closed or partitionary position is shown by reference numeral 1. The bulkhead 1 consists of two opposing plates 2 and 4 which are separated by 45 mm of foam. This arrangement serves to enhance the insulating capacity of the bulkhead.

The outer perimeters of plates 2 and 4 are edged with rows 6 and 8, respectively, of high density brushes. Rows 6 and 8 increase the sealing efficiency of the bulkhead perimeter and thus serve to enhance the efficient partitioning of separated compartments.

Attached to the upper part of plate 2 is a frame 10 whose size is almost equal to bulkhead 1 for reasons which will be become apparent. Frame 10 extends perpendicularly to the vertical axis of the closed bulkhead 1 and comprises main support bars 12, 14 and 16 which are located in horizontal plane 50. Bars 12, 14 and 16 are positioned in parallel but spaced relationship from each other. Attached to the ends of bars 12 and 14 are rectangular cross frame members 18 and 20, cross frame members 18 and 20 are perpendicular with respect to bars 12 and 14.

A plurality of rollers 22 are attached to the uppermost edges of frame members 18 and 20 and a single roller 22 is attached to the uppermost edge of bar 16. The functional relevance of this arrangement will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Frame 10 is further provided with spaced rectangular support bar connectors 24 and 26 which extend across the entire length of frame 10 from bars 16 to 12. Connectors 24 and 26 lie perpendicular to bars 12, 14 and 16 and serve to connect same together in horizontal plane 50. A U-shaped cross frame member 27 is located centrally between bars 14 and 16 and in perpendicular relationship thereto. Nember 27 houses control device 30. Device 30 comprises a lever 32 which is operationally connected to two cables 34 and 36. The functional arrangement of the cables 34 and 36 will now be described with reference to Cable 34. However it will be understood that Cable 36 is arranged in the same manner but on the opposite half of the bulk head.

Cable 34 travels through a right angled guide means 38 which is attached to frame 27, through hole 42 located in frame 26 and along the lower edge of bar 14 to rod 46 where it is secured to the end of same.

Rod 46 is carried by bar 14 by means of bar 14 being slidably mounted on U-shaped bracket 48. Bracket 48 comprises Limbs 52 and 54, Limbs 52 and 54 are provided with respective holes through which rod 46 passes. By means of spring 60, rod 46 is outwardly spring loaded to the position shown in which the rod projects outwardly beyond limb 54.

As stated above, Cable 36 is connected to rod 46A in an identical manner to that previously described by means of guide 40 and hole 44. From the foregoing it will be understood that cabling 34 and 36 is connected to lever 32 such that when lever 32 is downwardly displaced rods 46 and 46A move inwardly towards connectors 24 and 26 respectively.

Cabling 34 and 36 may be provided with conventional tensioning devices (not shown) for tensioning of the cables to the position shown.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, frame 10 is pivotally attached to bulkhead plate 2 by means of brackets 60 and 60A. This arrangement will be described by reference to bracket 60 but it will be understood that the same arrangement is employed in the construction of bracket 60A. Bracket 60 comprises Ushaped side plates of which the limbs 62 and 64 engage bar 12. Pneumatic rams 66 and 68 are attached to the end of limbs 62 and 64 and the rams serve to balance the system when the bulkhead is swung from a closed or partitionary position to an open position and vice versa.

The bulkhead 1 and frame 10 are carried by a rectangular carrier 80 having side rails. For ease of description only one side of the carrier will be described with reference to horizontal rail 82. Rail 82 is recessed to receive guide track 84 in which rollers 20 travel. Thus it can be seen that bulkhead 1 may be located along the length of carrier 80 by means of rollers 20 travelling along guide tracks 84.

Immediately below guide track 84, rail 82 is provided with a protruding plate 102 having a row of holes 86. Rods 46 and 46A engage in holes 86 in order to lock bulkhead 1 in a preselected position.

During transportation it is envisaged that bulkhead 1 will be located in a closed or vertical position and rods 46 and 46A will be locked in the holes 86 provided in brackets 82 and 82A.

In order to move the bulkhead from a vertical to a horizontal position, the base of the bulkhead is manually raised using hand grips 100 and the lever 32 of control device 30 will be downwardly displaced resulting in 46 and 46A being disengaged from contact with the holes 86 in bracket 82. By pushing frame 10 upwardly and forwardly it can be seen that bulkhead 1 will swing into a horizontal position. As bulkhead 1 approaches the horizontal position it strikes downwardly displaced lever 32 which is thus returned to its original position. This has the effect of releasing the tension in cables 34 and 36 which spring outwardly to impinge upon rail 82. When rods 46 and 46A are aligned with holes 86 the bulkhead is locked in position.

Frame 10 will be located on the upperside of bulkhead 1 but by reason of the size of frame 10 control device 30 will be accessible.

Moreover, the lower outer edges of bulkhead 1 are provided with locking rods 90 and 90A which are identical to rods 46 and 46A and are similarly outwardly spring loaded by the attachment of spring devices 92 and 92A. Rods 90 and 90A mate with holes 86 in brackets 82 when the bulkhead is located in the open position and therefore rods 90 and 90A serve to enhance the locking of bulkhead 1 in horizontal plane 50. As previously mentioned, rods 90 and 90A are outwardly spring loaded and so as the bulkhead is raised rods 90 and 90A impinge against the lower part of rail 82 and due to the folded nature of the protruding plate 102 rods 90 and 90A are forced inwardly towards the centre of frame 10. However, when rods 90 and 90A are aligned with holes 86 they spring outwards as a result of the tensioning provided by spring devices 92 and 92A.

It is to be noted that holes 86 are pitched such that they are located at intervals which represent multiples of the distance between rods 46 and 90. This ensures that rods 46 and 90 may be simultaneously locked in holes 86.

In order to move bulkhead 1 from a horizontal to a vertical position a pull cable 94 is provided between locking rods 90 and 90A and it can be seen that by pulling cable 94, locks 90 and 90A will be displaced inwardly with respect to the frame and thus released. Lever 32 may then be displaced downwardly in order to release locks 46 and 46A and so enable the bulkhead to move freely, by means of rollers 82, along rail guide 84 to a preselected location. Once a desired location has been reached the bulk head is simply swung into a vertical position by pulling the lower part of plate 2 downwardly. The bulkhead is locked in this position by releasing rod 32.

Thus it can be seen by reference to the foregoing description that a bulkhead adapted in accordance with the invention provides an effective and efficient means of moving and securing a bulkhead between preselected locations within a vehicle carrier.

Claims

1. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus which comprises a bulk head adjustably supported on rail means attached to the carrier wherein there is provided the capability to lock the bulkhead in one of the number of preselected locations.

2. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the capability comprises a plurality of first engagement means attached to the inside of the carrier and at least one second engagement means attached to the bulkhead, said engagement means being adapted to engage there together.

3. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the said first engagement means extends along an upper horizontal axis on at least one side of the carrier.

4. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said first engagement means comprises a protruding element with holes located therein.

5. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the said holes are evenly spaced.

6. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second engagement means comprises a tensioned rod.

7. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said rod impinges said first engagement means when the bulkhead swings from a first to a second position such that said rod mates with the first engagement means and so locks the bulkhead in position.

8. A bulkhead locking apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said first position is closed and said second position is open.

9. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 2, 6, 7 or 8 wherein said second engagement means is cooperationally connected to a single control means whereby the bulkhead may be simultaneously locked in position at one or more sights by activation of the control means.

10. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 2, 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein said second engagement means are located on the vertical sides of said bulkhead when in a closed position.

11. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said bulkhead is rectangular.

12. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to 11 wherein an engagement means is located at each corner of the bulkhead.

13. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to 9 wherein said control means comprises a lever device which is connected to a plurality of mating means by a cable device.

14. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to 13 wherein at least one tensioning device is connected to said cable device.

15. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to claim 2, 6,7,8,9 or 10 wherein said second engagement means is spring loaded.

16. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said bulkhead perimeter is edged with a sealing means.

17. A carrier bulkhead locking apparatus according to preceding claim 16 wherein said sealing means comprises at least one row of high density brushes.