WO2004089691A1

WO2004089691A1 - Automatic opening and closing apparatus for loading area of freight car

Info

Publication number: WO2004089691A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000772
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jongsik Kong
Original assignee: Dongseo Logistics Co.Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-04-11
Filing date: 2004-04-02
Publication date: 2004-10-21
Also published as: KR100496662B1; KR20040089294A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an automatic opening and closing apparatus including a loading area cover of freight cars. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic opening and closing apparatus for use in a loading area of a freight car comprises a basic framework for defining the loading area, and consisting of a rectangular bottom deck formed at a rear portion of the car, posts, longitudinal and transversal connecting bars, and reinforcing wall units coupled to the posts, a cover unit for covering the framework, a mount installed on each longitudinal connecting bar fixed at its both ends to upper ends of two posts longitudinally aligned at the left or right side of the car, automatic opening and closing means installed to the mount and adapted to open or close an associated one of lateral faces of the loading area, and a side wall covered by a loading area cover adapted to automatically open or close the associated lateral face according to the operation of the automatic opening and closing means. In the automatic opening and closing apparatus of the present invention, the loading area cover is installed to the side wall so that it be automatically, semi-automatically, or manually movable in a uni-directional or both-directional sliding manner, thereby securing a wide loading or unloading working opening at either side of the car, achieving ease of handling of cargo even in a narrow work place, and providing effective protection of cargo from rainwater through the complete sealing thereof, resulting in safe and convenient transportation of the cargo.

Description

AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING APPARATUS FOR

LOADING AREA OF FREIGHT CAR

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wireless control unit for a toy, and more particularly, to a mobile phone buttons control unit for a wireless remote controlled toy that controls the toy using the buttons of a mobile phone and a control method for the wireless remote controlled toy with the mobile phone buttons control unit. The present invention relates to an automatic opening and closing apparatus including a loading area cover of freight cars. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic opening and closing apparatus for use in a loading area of a freight car comprising: a basic framework for defining the loading area, and consisting of a rectangular bottom deck formed at a rear portion of the car, posts, longitudinal and transversal connecting bars, and reinforcing wall units coupled to the posts; a cover unit for covering the framework; a mount installed on each longitudinal connecting bar fixed at its bqth ends to upper ends of two posts longitudinally aligned at the left or right side of the car; automatic opening and closing means installed to the mount and adapted to open or close an associated one of lateral faces of the loading area; and a side wall covered by a loading area cover adapted to automatically open or close the associated lateral face according to the operation of the automatic opening and closing means, wherein the loading area cover is installed to the side wall so that it is automatically, semi- automatically, or manually movable in a uni-directional or both-directional sliding manner. Background Art

Nowadays, cargo vehicles are more and more common, but the existence of these vehicles is minacious to following vehicles since they often cause traffic accidents when their cargo falls off. The cargo vehicles, further, have problems in that their weight is increased due to a steel top unit mounted at a loading area thereof thereby accelerating the wear of roads, and the loading and unloading of cargo is restrictively performed through only one side of the loading area thereby deteriorating loading and unloading working efficiency.

In order to solve the above problems, there has been conventionally developed a freight car having a wing body assembly as disclosed in a utility model registration filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office as Serial No. 298058. Fig. 1 illustrates the disclosed conventional freight car having a wing body assembly. As shown in Fig. 1, the conventional freight car comprises a wing body assembly

51 installed at one lateral face of a loading area and adapted to be opened or closed as it is pivotally rotated upward. The wing body assembly 51 is fabricated by assembling a zinc plated iron plate or aluminum panel to the outer side of a body frame. For the opening and closing operations of the wing body assembly 51, the wing body assembly 51 is operated by a motor driven type actuator, which is installed at the front or rear side of the loading area in a longitudinal direction of the car. At the opposite side of the wing body assembly 51 is installed a sliding door 21 for opening or closing the other lateral face of the loading area, and a double door 42 as an end-gate is provided. These doors 21 and 42 are installed to side walls 31 and 41, respectively. Such a conventional freight car, however, is disadvantageous since it is considerably expensive in terms of manufacturing and maintenance costs thereof, and requires a relatively wide working space at one side of the car for the opening and closing operations of the wing body assembly 51. That is, in case of handling cargo in a narrow place, such a wing body assembly 51 is troublesome in loading and unloading ofthe cargo.

Fig. 2 illustrates a conventional automatic opening and closing apparatus for use in a loading area of a freight car as disclosed in a utility model registration filed in the

Korean Industrial Property Office as Serial No. 273274.

As shown in Fig. 2, a framework installed at a loading area ofthe car is covered at a roof portion thereof with a top cover 100, and both lateral closable opening portions 101 of the framework are installed with a pair of lateral covers 102 between upper and lower longitudinal bars thereof. The lateral covers 102 are designed to automatically or semi- autpmatipally open or close the opening portions 101 according to the operation of switches.' With this configuration, however, the long life use of reciprocal_. forward/backward operating means actuated by the switch leads to a discord in operations of both the lateral covers 102, resulting in malfunction to the lateral covers 102. The reciprocal forward/backward operating means, further, is in a defenseless state to rainwater, and thus the protection of products must be addressed without delay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic opening and closing apparatus for use in a loading area of freight cars wherein a loading area cover is installed to either side wall so that it is automatically, semi-automatically, or manually movable in a uni-directional or bi-directional sliding manner, thereby defining a wide loading or unloading opening at either lateral face of the loading area, achieving ease of handling of cargo even in a narrow work place, facilitating the loading or unloading of cargo, and achieving effective protection of cargo from rainwater through the complete sealing thereof, resulting in safe and convenient transportation of the cargo.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an automatic opening and closing apparatus for a loading area of a freight car comprising: a basic framework defining the loading area, and consisting ιof a rectangular bottom deck formed at a rear portion of the car, posts standing from corners of the deck, longitudinal and transversal connecting bars installed at upper ends of the posts, and reinforcing wall units coupled to the posts, respectively; a cover unit for covering the framework; a mount installed on each longitudinal connecting bar for the installation of a loading area cover, the longitudinal connecting bar being fixed at both ends thereof to the upper ends of the posts longitudinally located at the left or right side of the car; automatic opening and closing means installed to the mount so as to open or close an associated one of lateral faces of the loading area; and a side wall covered by the loading area cover adapted to automatically open or close the lateral face according to the operation of the automatic opening and closing means, wherein the loading area cover is! installed to the side wall so that it is automatically, semi-automatically, or manually movable in a uni-directional or both-directional sliding manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the 'present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a wing body assembly, and a freight car having the same in accordance with the prior art;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional automatic opening and closing apparatus for use in a loading area of a freight car; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic opening and closing apparatus for use in a loading area of a freight car in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4a is a perspective view illustrating a basic framework for a loading area cover ofthe freight car in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 4b is a perspective view explaining the operation of reinforcing wall units in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4c is a perspective view explaining the fitting of bars of the loading area cover into holding slots of posts in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 5a is a sectional view illustrating a mount for use in the installation of the loading area cover in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 5b is a perspective view illustrating the mount in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 6a is a perspective view illustrating automatic opening and closing means for the loading area cover in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 6b is a perspective view illustrating manual opening and closing means for the^' loading area cover in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 7a is a perspective view illustrating an installed state of the loading area cover at a side wall in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 7b is a perspective view illustrating a figure eight-shaped connector hook to be attached to the loading area cover in accordance with the present invention; i

Fig. 8a is a perspective view illustrating a closed state achieved by the automatic opening and closing apparatus having a uni-directional sliding type loading area cover in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 8b is a perspective view illustrating an open state achieved by the automatic opening land closing apparatus having the uni-directional sliding type loading area cover in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 4a is a perspective view illustrating a basic framework for a loading area cover of a freight car in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 4a, the basic framework, designated as reference numeral 10, comprises j a rectangular bottom deck 13 formed at a rear portion of a freight car for loading of cargo thereon, posts 12 standing from four corners 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, and 12-5 of the bottom deck 13, respectively, two longitudinal connecting bars 15 each being fixed at both ends thereof to upper ends of the posts longitudinally located at the left or right side of the car, and two transversal connecting bars 11 each being fixed at both ends thereof to the upper ends of the posts located at the front or rear side of the car so as to extend transversely to the longitudinal connecting bars 15. In parallel to the transversal connecting bars 11, a plurality of transversal ceiling bars 17 are fixedly arranged between the longitudinal connecting bars 15 by constant distances. The basic framework 10 further comprises reinforcing wall units 16 for more safe and firm storage of cargo. These reinforcing wall units 16 are coupled to the posts 12 by means of bearings; 160a.

As shown in Figs. 4a and 4c, the posts 12 are formed with vertical holding slots

12-1, respectively, to which each bar 540 of respective loading area covers is fixedly fitted.

In parallel to the posts 12, one or more posts 14 are detachably installed to the basic framework 10 so that they stand between the longitudinal connecting bars 15 and the bottom deck 13.

Each detachable post 14 comprises a first member 140c formed with male screws, a second member 140a formed with female screws, and an adjustment bar 140d having a key insertion bore 140b located at the center of the first member 140c. At lower ends of the first and second members 140c and 140a are provided auxiliary connectors 160d, respectively. The detachable post 14 is flexibly fastened between the longitudinal frame

15 !and bpttom deck 13 by means of the adjustment bar 140d. The adjustment bar 140d further serves to adjust the height of the auxiliary connectors 160d located at the lower ends ofthe first and second members 140c and 140a. Each auxiliary connector 160d, preferably, has a transversal sprew bore formed with screw threads mating with those of a fastening bolt to penetrate therethrough, thereby enabling the flexible connection of reinforcing wall members located at both sides thereof.

Each reinforcing wall unit 16 comprises a first reinforcing wall member 160 having the bearing 160a, which is rotatable across 360°, a second reinforcing wall member 161 connected to one side of the first reinforcing wall member 160 by means of a hinge 160b so as to be folded toward the first reinforcing wall member 160, and clampers

160c installed at adjacent lower ends ofthe first and second reinforcing wall members 160 and 161 so that they are fitted into a groove formed at the bottom deck 13 of the basic framework 10 and come into elastic contact with each other in the groove. Fig. 4b is a perspective view explaining the operation of the reinforcing wall units.

As shown in Fig. 4b, before the loading or unloading of cargo, the reinforcing wall unit 16 shown at the left side of the drawing is fixed at the side of a cabin of the freight car as the second reinforcing wall member 161 connected to the first reinforcing wall member 160 by means of the hinge 160b is folded toward the first reinforcirig wall member 160 having the bearing 160a and both the members 160 and 161 are rotated toward the cabin of the car, while the other reinforcing wall unit 16 shown at the right side of the drawing is fixed at the side of an end gate of the car in the same manner as stated above. After completion of loading or unloading, the folded second reinforcing wall member |161 is unfolded in the reverse procedure to the above folding procedure, and the clampers t60c installed at the adjacent lower ends of the first and second reinforcing wall members 160 and 161 are lowered and fixedly fitted into the groove ofthe bottom deck 13. After that, both the reinforcing wall units 16 are elastically connected to each other by means ofthe auxiliary connectors 160d ofthe detachable post 14 located therebetween. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic opening and ^losing apparatus for use in the loading area of the freight car in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, the automatic opening and closing apparatus comprises a loading area cover unit, designated as reference numeral 20. The loading area cover unit 20 includes a loading area cover 51 which is made of cloth or special plastic materials, such as synthetic resin, tarpaulins, and is installed to cover the loading area defined by the basic framework 10. As one example, both lateral faces of the loading area are 'Shielded by a pair of loading area covers 51, and the other faces thereof are shielded |by boards made of aluminum, plastic, or the like. As another example, both lateral faces of the loading area are shielded by the loading area covers 51, a rear face thereof is installed with a closable end gate, and other front and top faces thereof are closed by iron plates or boards made of aluminum, plastic, or the like. As yet another example, at an opening portion partially formed at the basic framework is provided a unidirectional or bi-directional sliding type cover so that the cover can be completely or partially opened or closed as occasion demands by means of automatic opening and closing means actuated by switches, and a remaining portion of the framework is shielded by iron plates or boards made of aluminum, plastic, or the like. It should be understood that the opening position ofthe cover unit can be freely selected.

Fig. 5 a is a sectional view illustrating a mount for use in the installation of the loading area cover in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 5a, the mount, designated as reference numeral 30, is installed on either longitudinal connecting bar 15, which is fixed at both ends to the upper ends of the posts 12 longitudinally located at the left or right side of the freight car. The mount 30 comprises a housing 31 formed at an upper end region thereof for receiving a driving pulley 42 connected with a speed reducer 48, a driven pulley 46, and a driving motor 41, a guide rail 33 formed at a lower end region thereof for securing the smooth rolling of rollers 550 ofthe loading area cover 51 therein, and an inverse U-shaped insertion groove 32 defined at the inner side of the guide rail 33 for the fitting of a rainwater-proof curtain 320 Referring to Fig. 5b, the housing 31 of the mount 30 is designed so that the driving pulley 42 coupled with the speed reducer 48 will be fixed at one side thereof, the driving motor 41 will be fixed next to the driving pulley 42, and the driven pulley 46 will be fixed at the other side thereof. Over the driving pulley 42 and the driven pulley 46 will be mounted a timing belt 43 for the opening and closing operations of the loading area cover 51. Within the inverse U-shaped insertion groove 32 defined at the inner side of the guide rail 33 is fitted the rainwater-proof curtain 320, and along the guide rail 33 formed at the lower end region of the mount 30 are fitted a plurality of the rollers 550 ofthe loading area cover.

The rainwater-proof curtain 320 is made of a rubber or plastic material, and is installed! at the mount 31 so as to completely prevent penetration of rainwater through a gap produced between figure eight-shaped connector hooks 560 and the loading area cover . i ' ade of special plastic materials.

Fig. 6a illustrates automatic opening and closing means for the loading area cover in accordance with the present invention. The automatic opening and closing means, designated as reference numeral 40, comprises the driving pulley 42 installed at the mount 30 and connected with the speed reducer 48, the timing belt 43 rotate^ by the driving motor 41, and the driven pulley 46 rotated by the timing belt 43. In addition, the automatic opening and closing means 40 further comprises an opening sensing limit switch 45 and closing sensing limit switch 44 for stopping the driving of the motor 41 when the loading area cover is opened or closed, a control box 47 for controlling the opening and closing operations of the loading area cover by using buttons, and a microcomputer 470 contained in the control box 47 and adapted to control the driving speed and direction ofthe motor 41 and process signals from the switches 44 and 45.

Considering the installation of the automatic opening and closing means 40 in detail, as shown in Fig. 6a, the driving pulley 42 connected with the speed reducer 48 is installed at a left upper end of the mount 30 shown at the left side of the drawing.

Next to the driving pulley 42 is installed the driving motor 41 for rotating the driving pulley 42 in a forward or backward direction by using electric power supplied from a car battery. The driven pulley 46, which is rotated by the timing belt 43 engaged with the driving pulley 42, is installed at a right upper end of the mount 30 shown at the right side of the drawing. The timing belt 43 extends longitudinally throughout the mount 3 so as to pass through the driving pulley 42 and driven pulley 46. The opening sensing limit switch 45, used to inform the completion of the opening of the loading area cover, is installed at a right distal end of the guide rail 33 formed at the lower end region of the mount 30, while the closing sensing limit switch 44, used to inform the completion of the closing operation ofthe loading area cover, is installed at a left distal end of the guide rail 33,. thereby stopping the driving of the motor 41 when the opening or closing operation of the lpading area cover is completed. It is preferable to provide a remote control system, which enables the opening and closing sensing limit switches 45 and 44 to be controlled at a remote distance by using a remote controller.

The control box 47 comprises three opening, closing and stopping buttons for the! operation ofthe loading area cover. Such a control box 47 is installed at the cabin of the freight car, or appropriate front or rear position of the car through the extension of electric wirings thereof. Within the control box 47 is provided the micro-computer 470 so as to control the driving speed and direction ofthe motor 41 and speed reducer 48, and to process signals from the opening and closing sensing limit switches 45 and 44.

Considering the arrangement of the buttons of the control box 47, the stopping button is installed at the center of the control box 47, the opening button is at the left side thereof, and the closing button is at the right side thereof. Alternately, these buttons may be aligned in a longitudinal direction or transversal direction in an opening, stopping, and closing order.

Preferably, the automatic opening and closing means 40 is designed to open a pair of loading area covers in a bi-directional sliding manner when it is installed in extremely large freight vehicles or trailers, or to open a single loading area cover in a uni- directional sliding manner when it is installed in general large, medium, or small-sized freight vehicles.

When the stopping button of the control box 47 is depressed, the automatic opening and closing means 40 may be operated in a semi-automatic manner so as to allow the opening and closing of the loading area cover by external force. Alternately, when the motor 41, timing belt 43, driving pulley 42, driven pulley 46, and control box

47 ;are removed, the automatic opening and closing means 40 may be manually operated in a state wherein the figure eight-shaped connector hooks 560 and roller 550 are fitted inside the guide rail 33 ofthe mount 30.

For such a manual opening and closing operation, as shown in Fig. 6b, each figure eight-shaped connector hook 560 integrally coupled with an associated one of the rollers 550 is fitted inside the guide rail 33 of the mount 30. As the roller 550 moves in both directions of the guide rail 33 by receiving external force while maintaining close contact with the guide rail 33, the smooth manual opening and closing operations of the loading area cover can be achieved. Preferably, the driving motor 41 takes various driving means forms including a forward/backward stepping motor, and linear motor.

Referring to Fig. 7a illustrating an installed state of the loading area cover at either side wall, the side wall, designated as reference numeral 50, is centrally installed with the iloading area cover 51 made of special plastic materials. For this, an upper end of the loading area cover 51 is connected to lower ends of the plural figure eight-shaped connector hooks 560, and the rollers 550 are inserted into lower end circles of the figure eight-shaped connector hooks 560 and pulled upward so that they are fastened inside upper end circles of the connector hooks 560. Then, the connector hooks 560 and rollers 550 are coupled with brackets 570 connected to the timing belt 43. Along a lower end, of the loading area cover 51 are installed a plurality of connector belts 520 designed to be fastened with hook bars 520-1 provided on the bottom of the freight car, and at both sides of the loading area cover 51 are installed the bars 540. These bars 540 serve to prevent penetration of rainwater or snow into the loading area as they are fixedly inserted into the holding slots 12-1 of the posts 12. Next to one of the bars 540 toward the cabin of the car, are vertically aligned connector hooks 530 so that they are fastened to hook bars 530-1 installed at the post 12 near the cabin ofthe car.

Each figure eight-shaped connector hook 560, as shown in Fig. 7b, is formed so that the ljo-jver end circle thereof has a diameter larger than that of the upper end circle by approximately 1.5 to 3 times. Thereby, each roller 550 is first inserted into the lower end circle o the connector hook 560, and is pulled upward so that it is fastened inside the upper end circle ofthe connector hook 560.

The connector hooks 530 are made of rubber or rope, and are integrally installed to one side of the loading area cover 51 near the cabin of the car. As they are connected to the hook bars 530-1 installed at the post 12 near the cabin of the car, the loading area cover 51 is kept in a taut closed state.

When the loading area cover is automatically closed by the automatic opening and closing means 40, the connector belts 520 integrally connected to the lower end of the loading area cover 51 are fastened with the hook bars 520-1 provided at the bottom of the carj thereby serving to keep the lower end ofthe loading area cover 51 in a taut state. Here, the connector hooks 530 and hook bars 530-1, and the connector belts 520 and hook bars 520-1, are preferably formed into adhesive plastic tapes in a mush-room or velcro tape form.

The bars 540 are made of an aluminum or plastic material, and are fixed to both the sides of the loading area cover. When the loading area cover 51 is autoπiatically closed by the automatic opening and closing means 40, the bars 540 are fixedly fitted into the holding slots 12-1 of the posts 12, thereby keeping both the sides of the loading area cover 51 in a taut state.

Now, the uni-directional sliding operation of the loading area cover 51 will be explained with reference to Figs. 8a and 8b. When the closing button of the control box 47 is depressed, the driving motor 41 rotates backward in a counterclockwise direction by the micro-computer 470 contained within the control box 47.

At the same time with the rotation of the motor 41, the driving pulley 42 and driven pulley 46 rotate the timing belt 43 backward in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, the timing belt 43, to which the plural brackets 570 are attached, is operated in a direction marked by arrow shown in Fig. 8a, thereby causing the loading area cover 51 fastened thereto to move in the direction marked by arrow.

In this case, after the loading area cover 51 is closed, the closing sensing limit switch 44 attached to the left end of the guide rail 33 is operated, and signals produced by the limit switch 44 are transmitted to the micro-computer 470, thereby serving to reduce the rotating force of the speed reducer 48 and thus stop the driving ofthe motor 41.

In succession, the bars 540 installed at both the left and right sides of the loading area cover 51 are fixedly fitted into the holding slots 12-1 of the posts 12, and the connector belts 520 integrally installed along the lower end of the loading area cover 51 as well as the connector hooks 530 integrally installed along the left side surface of the loading area cover 51 are fastened with the hook bars 520-1 and 530-1, respectively, thereby achieving a taut state ofthe loading area cover 51.

On the contrary, when the opening button of the control box 47 is depressed, as shown in Fig. 8b, the driving motor 41 is rotated forward in a clockwise direction by the micro-computer 470 contained in the control box 47.

In this case, the driving pulley 42 and driven pulley 46 rotate the timing belt 43 rearwardly, thereby causing the loading area cover 51 fastened thereto to move in a direction marked by arrow shown in Fig. 8b.

In this way, after the loading area cover is opened, the opening sensing limit switch 45 attached to the right end ofthe guide rail 33 is operated, and signals produced by the limit switch 45 are transmitted to the micro-computer 470, thereby serving to reduce the rotating force ofthe speed reducer 48 and thus stop the driving ofthe motor 41.

With the use of the automatic opening and closing means in accordance with the present invention as stated above, to either lateral face of the loading area is installed the uni-directional or bi-directional sliding type loading area cover 51 so as to be operated in an automatic, semi-automatic, or manual operable manner. Such a loading area cover 51 can be easily opened or closed by simply operating switches, resulting in an enhancement in working efficiency.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides an automatip opening and closing apparatus wherein a basic framework provided on a loading area of freight cars is covered with a cover unit, and a portion of the framework covered with the cover unit is installed with a loading area cover made of a specific plastic material so that the loading area cover is completely or partially opened or closed by means of automatic opening and closing means actuated by simply operating opening and closing buttons. Such an automatic opening and closing apparatus of the present invention provides various effects as follows.

First, the opening and closing apparatus of the present invention can secure a wide loading or unloading opening at either side of a freight car, resulting in ease of the handling of cargo in a relatively narrow work place. Second, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs ofthe automatic opening and closing apparatus.

Third, according to the present invention, it is possible to completely prevent penetration of rainwater into a loading area ofthe freight car.

Fourth, through the use of the loading area cover made of cloth or special plastic materials, such as synthetic resin, tarpaulins, it is possible to achieve an approximately 40% reduction in the overall weight of the freight car compared to the conventional freight car having a wing body assembly.

Finally, by installing certain advertising materials to either side wall of the car, it is possibile¹ to achieve dynamic advertising and aesthetic effects from the moving freight car.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. An automatic opening and closing apparatus for a loading area of a freight car comprising: a basic framework defining the loading area, the framework consisting of a rectangular bottom deck formed at a rear portion of the car, posts standing from corners of the deck, longitudinal and transversal connecting bars installed at upper ends of the posts, and reinforcing wall units coupled to the posts, respectively; a cover unit covering the framework; a mount installed on each longitudinal connecting bar for the installation of a loading area cover, the longitudinal connecting bar being fixed at both ends thereof to the upper ends of the posts longitudinally located at the left or right side ofthe car; automatic opening and closing means installed to the mount so as to open or close an associated one of lateral faces ofthe loading area; and a side wall covered by the loading area cover adapted to automatically open or close the associated lateral face according to the operation of the automatic opening and closing means.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the loading area cover is installed to the side wall so that it is automatically or semi-automatically movable in a uni-directional or bi-directional sliding manner by the automatic opening and closing means, or the loading area cover is manually movable in the uni-directional or bidirectional sliding manner by figure eight-shaped connector hooks and rollers. ι

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein: the automatic opening and closing means for the automatic or semi- automatic operation of the loading area cover includes: a driving pulley connected with a speed reducer; a timing belt rotated by a driving motor; a driven pulley rotated by the timing belt; an opening sensing limit switch and closing sensing limit switch adapted to stop the driving of the motor when the loading area cover is closed or opened; ^! a control box for controlling the opening and closing operations of the loading area cover by using buttons; and a micro-computer contained in the control box for controlling the driving speed and direction ofthe motor and processing signals from the switches; and the manual operation of the loading area cover is achieved by the figure eight- shaped cpήnector hooks and rollers in a state wherein the motor, timing belt, driving and driven pulleys, and control box are removed.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the loading area cover is installed at an upper end thereof with a plurality of the figure eight shaped connector hooks, at a lower end thereof with a plurality of connector belts, and at both left and right sides thereof with bars, respectively.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the loading area cover is further installed, next to one of the bars with a plurality of connector hooks to be fastened with hook bar^'s installed at an associated one ofthe posts.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein each figure eight-shaped connector hook is formed so that a lower end circle has a diameter larger than that of an upper end circle by approximately 1.5 to 3 times, thereby allowing an associated one of the rollers to be inserted into the lower end circle, and be pulled upward and fastened inside the upper end circle.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the posts standing from the; corners of the deck has a vertical holding slot for the fitting of an associated one of the bars..

8; The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each reinforcing wall unit is made of an aluminum material, takes the form of a rotatable folder, and has clampers installed at a lower end thereof for the fixation of the reinforcing wall unit to a bo'ttom of the car.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mount is coupled with a rainwater-proof curtain for preventing penetration of rainwater at a portion of the mount to be connected with the automatic opening and closing means.