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Title:
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SECURING LOADS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/063676
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
This patent relates to a method and apparatus to block a load on a vehicle in a forward or reverse direction at any point along the length direction of the trailer. The method uses a gate which hangs on rails at least four suspension points with low resistance to far-sliding and which is designed such that at least two contact points will be automatically replaced by contact with great resistance shift at the time of the blocked cargo effectively considerable exerts forces horizontally against the fences.

Inventors:
JUWET MARC FELIX KAREL (BE)
EYSKENS ERIK LUDOVICUS (BE)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2015/073673
Publication Date:
April 20, 2017
Filing Date:
October 13, 2015
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
KENNEDY TTS NV (BE)
International Classes:
B60P7/14
Foreign References:
NL2007539C22013-04-08
EP0933250A11999-08-04
US20050152761A12005-07-14
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
VANHALST, Koen Victor Rachel et al. (BE)
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Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A fence (2), suitable for the blocking of a cargo in a vehicle or container against movement in the forward, respectively backward direction, characterized in that the fence (2) is provided with an initial lock (5) against moving in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by means of one or more brake pads, and in that the fence (2) is suspended on both sides of the container by at least 2 points of contact (7) with a rail system (1 ) connected to the container or vehicle superstructure, wherein on each side of the container or vehicle at least one of the contact points (7) changes from a point of contact with low resistance to a point of contact with high resistance (8), and wherein the distance between the new contact points on the one hand and the most distant contact points on the same side of the vehicle, is smaller than 33% of the height of said fence, further characterized in that the contact points between the fence (2) and the rail system (1 ) comprise a connection means (13) which is fixed to the fence and upon minimal tilting of the fence makes contact with said rail system (1 ) and wherein the shape (13) of the connection means (17) is substantially complementary to the substantial V-shape of the connection means (16) in the rail system (1 ).

2. The fence (2) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the initial lock (5) can be lifted by means of operating a lever (9) which is mounted in the lower zone of the fence (2) at one of the two sides, such that the lever can be operated from the ground.

3. The fence (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever is connected to one or more brake pads (5) by means of cables (10) which run over a system of pulleys such that the force which is exerted on the handle is sufficient for the brake pads (5) to move against the force of a spring in which the spring blocks themselves by moving to the blocked position or with a pushing force that is the multiple of the force exerted on the lever.

4. The fence (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the V-shaped part (17) of the fence connection means (13), is coated with a material (12) having a high friction coefficient.

5. The fence (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rail system (1 ) is provided with a V-shaped recess (16) on a part of its length or its entire length, and wherein the contacting means of the fence (13), is provided with a V-shaped projection (17) having substantially the same opening angle of said V-shaped projection (16) of said rail system (1 ), and wherein the center plane of this projection substantially coincides with the center plane of the V-shaped recess in the rail system (1 ).

6. The fence (2) according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rail system (1 ) is provided with a V-shaped projection (16) on a part of its length or its entire length, and wherein the contacting means (13) of the fence, is provided with a V-shaped recess (17) having substantially the same opening angle of the V-shaped projection (16) of rail system (1 ), and wherein the center plane of this recess substantially coincides with the center plane of the V-shaped projection in the rail.

7. The fence (2) according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein said V-shape comprises two surfaces form a mutual angle that is smaller than 90° and larger than 30°, irrespective of the mutual distance and of other geometric elements that may be found in the zone between the two surfaces or elsewhere.

8. A rail system (1 ) made from an extrudable material, comprising a V-shape, in which a connecting means which itself has been carried out with the complementary shape of the V-shape of the rail system can intervene, wherein said V-shape comprises two surfaces form a mutual angle that is smaller than 90° and larger than 30°, irrespective of the mutual distance and of other geometric elements that may be found in the zone between the two surfaces or elsewhere

9. The rail system (1 ) according to claim 8, mounted on a vehicle or container superstructure.

10. The rail system (1 ) according to claim 8 or 9, further provided with one or more slots or grooves that can be used for guiding and/or supporting of tarpaulins, posts, and/or fences.

1 1. A rail system (1 ) according to anyone of claims 8 to 10, wherein the central plane of the V-form, coincides with a vertical plane.

12. The fence (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the center plane of the V- shape (17) on the gate coincides with the vertical plane forming the center plane of a V- shape (16) of a rail system (1 ) as referred to in claim 8, characterized in that the point of contact with high-resistance of the fence (2) is configured in such a way that, without mechanical load a small resistance exists between the contact point and the rail system (1 ), and that by the action of the mechanical load on the fence, the fence tilts in a vertical plane parallel to the direction of movement, such that the V-shaped part of the fence (2) is pressed against the V-shape of the rail system (1 ), thereby blocking the movement of the fence (2).

13. A method for securing a cargo in a container from moving in the forward, respectively backward direction by means of a fence (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and 1 1 , comprising the positioning of the fence (2) against or behind the cargo.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the position of said fence is locked by power-driven blocking and increases with the mechanical load exerted on the fence in the forward, respectively backward direction.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said power-driven blocking is established through the use of pressure means, such as springs, pins, or clamps.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said pressure means are driven manually, electronically, or hydraulically.

Description:
Method and device for securing loads

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is situated in the field of cargo securing, more particular in the field of bulkheads or fences securing cargo in moving vehicles or in transport containers such as those transported in or by moving vehicles such as trains, ships, lorries, trailers, or truck bodies.

BACKGROUND

Transporting of goods is generally done by vehicles, often through containers carried in or on said vehicles, such as road vehicles, sea vehicles, or trains. During accelerations of the vehicle in the forward direction, the cargo or a portion thereof, has a tendency to move to the rear relative to the vehicle or the container, either by sliding, either by tilting or by deformation of the cargo or a portion of it, or by a combination of these possibilities of movement. Also during deceleration or braking, the cargo tends to move forward with respect to the vehicle or container. Such relative movement of cargo relative to the vehicle or container, either forward or backward must be prevented by the securing of the cargo.

Existing systems make use of straps, attached to the floor or the headboard of e.g. road vehicles. Methods with straps have significant disadvantages such as potential damage to the cargo, the time required to make the straps, the dangerous situations that possibly arise to put the straps in place, the cost of the straps, the damage straps on sharp edges, the tension in the straps which decreases during transport, etc.

Hence, preference is given to so-called blocking of the load against a vehicle or container component that is sufficiently strong and rigid to resist the forces exerted by the load during the acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. The headboard of e.g. a road vehicle is in many cases such a suitable vehicle component. The disadvantage of blocking against the headboard is that the cargo is to be effectively loaded against the headboard, whereby possibly the distribution of weight along the length of the vehicle is undesirable. A bulkhead may, of course, also do not impede the backward movement of the cargo.

Hence some examples have been seen that make use of posts or fences that are placed in or on the floor of the vehicle in front of or behind the cargo. There are also posts and fences known which are fixed between the floor and the roof of the vehicle. The confirmation of poles and fences can be force closed (based on friction) or form closed. In a force-locked attachment, said posts or fences may be secured at any position, but the maximum force which can be exerted on such posts or fences is limited to the maximum friction, which arises during the fastening of the posts or fences. Some posts or fences fit into a recess in the loading floor, optionally in the loading floor and the roof of the vehicle. This form closed systems can only be positioned at locations where the necessary fastening facilities are available. They are therefore suitable for large forces but cannot be positioned at a random location. As a result, clearance between the load, and the posts or fences, must be filled with padding material.

The present invention provides a new bulkhead system that overcomes the above problems or shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention includes a method for securing cargo against movement relative to the vehicle or container in the backward and forward direction. This method makes use of one or more longitudinal structures or fences. Such fences are an integral part of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 : Schematic representation of the fence according to one embodiment of the invention. The fence (2) is movably suspended on a rail system (1 ), attached to the roof of the container or vehicle and can slide or role forward or backward through wheels or sliding blocks (7). A cargo or load (3) is placed on the floor (4) of the container or vehicle and the fence (2) is slid against it in a substantially vertical position (6) and secured by a brake pad (5). Due to its configuration, when a force is applied by e.g. the cargo, the fence will form a new contact point (8) with the suspending rail system and be blocked from moving. In essence, the higher the force or pressure applied to the fence, the stronger the braking force will be. In some embodiments, the brake pad(s) (5) can be unlocked by a lever (9), connected e.g. by a cable (10).

Figure 2: Schematic representation of the potential hinging system connected to the brake pad system (5) of the fence (2) according to one embodiment of the invention. To enable the fence to be folded back and upwards parallel to the roof on the container or vehicle, hinges (1 1 ) are provided. Figure 3: Schematic representation of the fence connecting means (13) in contact with the rail system (1 ). The substantial V-shape of the connection means (16) of the rail system interacts with the complementary V-shape (17) of the fence connection means

(13) , which is optionally covered with a high friction substrate (12). Important to note is the void or free space (18) available between the tip of the connection means and the rail system at the top of the V-shape. Upper and lower panels represent two possible embodiments, wherein the V-shape is inverted.

Figure 4: Schematic representation of the fence of one specific embodiment. Fence (2) is connected to rail system (1 ) through a connecting means (13).

Figure 5: Schematic representation of the interaction between the frame of the fence (2) and the rail system (1 ), seen as a transversal section. Connecting means (13) is suspended from rail system (1 ) through one or more wheels or sliding blocks and comprises a fence connecting means (13), which interacts with a complementary V- shaped part (17) of the connection means (16) of the railing system (1 ). Optionally, said V- shaped part (17) can be coated with a high friction coating (12). The V-shaped part (17) of the fence connection means is pressed into the V-shaped part (16) of the connection means of the rail system (1 ) through one or more pressurising means such as springs

(14) . An additional pressurising means or spring (15) can be used to lock the position of the fence into a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal position with respect to the roof of the container or trailer.

Figure 6: Schematic representation of the connecting means (13) and its complementary V-shaped part (17), capable of interacting with the V-shaped form (16) of the railing system (1 ) on the trailer or container (not shown). The wheels or sliding blocks (7) connected to the connecting means are clearly visible. In some embodiments, wheels or sliding blocks (7) are present to suspend the fence in the vertical direction, and optionally also wheels or sliding blocks (7') can be present to guide the fence in the horizontal direction. All wheels are configured to slide in the rail system (1 ).

Figure 7: Schematic representation of the fastening springs (14) and the coated (12) V- shaped part (17) of the fence connection means (13) of one embodiment of the invention. The springs (14) are used to press the V-shaped part (17) of fence connection means (13) against the V-shaped part (16) of the rail system (1 ). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The terms "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised of" as used herein are synonymous with "including", "includes" or "containing", "contains", and are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, non-recited members, elements or method steps. The terms also encompass "consisting of and "consisting essentially of".

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within the respective ranges, as well as the recited endpoints.

The term "about" as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of and from the specified value, in particular variations of +/-10% or less, preferably +/-5% or less, more preferably or less, and still more preferably +/-0.1 % or less of and from the specified value, insofar such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosed invention. It is to be understood that the value to which the modifier "about" refers is itself also specifically, and preferably, disclosed.

Whereas the term "one or more", such as one or more members of a group of members, is clear per se, by means of further exemplification, the term encompasses inter alia a reference to any one of said members, or to any two or more of said members, such as, e.g., any >3, >4, >5, >6 or >7 etc. of said members, and up to all said members.

All documents cited in the present specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Unless otherwise specified, all terms used in disclosing the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. By means of further guidance, term definitions may be included to better appreciate the teaching of the present invention.

The above aspects and embodiments are further supported by the following non-limiting examples.

The term vehicle should be interpreted in this text in its broadest sense and includes any moving vehicle such as, but not limited to: a ship, a plane, a traditional truck, a trailer, a semi-trailer, or a railway or train wagon. Any such vehicle can carry the load as such, or can comprise a container carrying the load or cargo. Transportation includes road, air, rail and water transport and combinations of these modes.

This invention includes a method for securing cargo against movement relative to the vehicle or container in the backward and forward direction. This method makes use of one or more fences that can move in backward or forward each direction with respect to the vehicle or container. Such fences are an integral part of this invention.

The method and system for blocking this invention make use of a fence (2) which is slidably or rollably suspended on one or more rails (1 ) in the vicinity of the top or roof of the container or vehicle. Such fences (2) can be positioned at a random location (i.e. at a stepless or continuously variable position) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or container. With this method, a cargo (3) which is located at any point on the floor (4) of the container, will be blocked avoiding the need of filling materials. The frictional resistance or rolling resistance of the fence in the un-locked situation lies preferably between 0.2 and 0.01 times the own weight of the fence. Moving the fence being in un-locked position can be done manually due to this small resistance. As soon as the fence is locked at a random place positioned directly before or after a cargo, the movement of the fence is inhibited by a brake pad (5) which is mounted on the fence and interacting with a stationary part of the vehicle or container superstructure, such as the rail system. This locking action is more than sufficient to prevent movement of the fence under the influence of inertial forces which act directly on the fence itself. This locking action might however be insufficient to resist the large forces that can be exerted by a heavy load on the fence at speeding up or slowing of the vehicle or container. However, once the quasi-vertical part (6) of the fence is subjected to the force of the load in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or container, either forward or backward, the fence of this invention will automatically block further thanks to the design of the suspension of the fence of this invention. This suspension system is comprised of at least two contacting points (7) such as wheels or sliding blocks on each side of the vehicle or container. Under the influence of the weight of the cargo on the fence, these wheels or sliding blocks are subjected to contact forces that are directed substantially vertically and compensate for the weight of the cargo. As soon as the cargo exerts a horizontal force on the vertical part of the fence, a bending moment is created in a vertical plane in the direction of travel. As a result, the vertical upward forces in one of the suspension points at each side of the vehicle or container are changed into downward forces. Hence, on each vehicle or container side at least one new contact point (8) between the movable fence and the fixed vehicle superstructure arises. The present invention is constructed such that a high resistance to shifting of cargo occurs in these new contact points due to the shape of the contact points. In essence, the invention lies in the provision of a connecting means (17), complementary to and interacting with a connecting means of the rail system (1 ), having substantially a V-shape (16), in one of the contact points at each side of the rail system. Moreover, the mutual distance between the two contact points on each side of the vehicle or container in the situation with a horizontal load on the fence, is preferably chosen to be smaller than 0.33 x the height of the vertical portion of the gate itself. This short distance between the two contacting points, generates large vertical forces on these contacts, because the fence will slightly tilt when it is facing a horizontal force due to the cargo. These forces, on a small mutual distance, are able to compensate the bending moment exerted by the load on the vertical portion of the fences. By selecting a friction coefficient which is greater than 0.33 in at least one contact point on either side of the vehicle or container, the movement of the gate is prevented in the longitudinal direction, regardless of the size of the force applied in the longitudinal direction exerted by the cargo on the fence. The greater the force exerted by the cargo, the more the movement of the fence is blocked.

This cargo securing method is unique because the load is blocked by arbitrary fences which can absorb large forces, and in any arbitrary position against the cargo (either just before or just behind it). To our knowledge, no other known blocking method or system combines these advantages.

The fence itself also forms part of this invention. The fence of the invention is characterized in that at least one contact point on each side of the vehicle or container between the movable fence and the vehicle or container superstructure, changes from a low resistance contact to a high resistance contact, substantially proportional to the force exerted on said the fence by e.g. the cargo.

In a possible embodiment, the contact points with low resistance are made up of wheels such that the coefficient of resistance is lower than 0.1 , while for the contact points with high resistance, a strip of rubber or another material is used such that the resistance coefficient is higher than 0.6. This means that the force required to move the fence against the cargo is smaller than 0.1 times the weight of the gate itself. On the other hand the fence in accordance with this invention will not even move if blocked against the cargo even under the greatest forces that can occur in a loaded vehicle or container in the longitudinal direction. This is because the distance between the contact point with high resistance and the most remote contact point on the same side of the vehicle, is preferably less than 0.33 times the height of the vertical part of the fence. In such a case, the force required to move the un-locked fence would only be 150N. Once locked against the cargo, a horizontal inertia of 150kN could be applied by the cargo on the fence e.g. at a height of 1.8m below the level of the rails of the container or vehicle. In each rail. This horizontal force against the fence results in each rail in the formation of contact points at a mutual distance of 0.6m. The contact force in each of these four contact points is approximately 225kN. In two of said contact points the friction coefficient is higher than 0.6 such that the resistance against sliding is higher than 270 kN. The fence does hence not move, even if the force exerted by the cargo would be somewhat eccentric.

In order to block the fence at a random position, and to prevent that it moves by the inertia forces acting on the fence itself without the need for forces acting from a cargo, the gate is provided with at least one brake pad (5). Such a brake pad is mounted on the fence and engages with the fixed part of the vehicle or container. To unlock the fence serve, the existing pads are deactivated. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this is done by means of a lever (9) which is connected by cables (10) to the brake pad (5). The lever can be mounted in the lower zone of the gate in such a way that the lever is accessible from the ground. Given the low resistance to moving the unlocked gates, the gate can be moved manually by means of the lever.

In an alternative embodiment, the displacement of the fence to position it just before or just after a cargo, can be driven automatically. A possible embodiment thereof uses a cable which at the same time releases the brake pads and moves the fence.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical portion of the fence can be rotated upwards until it is in an almost parallel position with respect to the roof of the container or vehicle. This results in a freely accessible loading floor in that the cargo can be moved underneath the fences. The fences do not interfere with the loading from the rear of the vehicle or container. To this effect, the fence is able to rotate in the upper zone of the vertical section through hinges (11 ).

In some embodiments of the invention, the connecting means (17) can comprise a single part, supported by two or more springs, and having a length which is less than 0,33x the height of the fence and minimally has a length of 15, preferably of minimally 30cm. Alternatively, said connecting means can be in two parts of minimally 5cm, each supported with at least one spring, and positioned apart from each other by a distance of less than 0,33x the height of the fence.

In some embodiments, connecting means (17) can comprise a high friction coefficient coating (12) which can be comprised out of hard rubber, preferably with the following characteristics: a shore D hardness of between 35 and 65, as measured by a Shore Durometer. In some embodiments, said connecting means (17) can be made out of steel, preferably steel with a melting point of 350 to 400°C. An example of such steel is S355 steel. The high friction coefficient coating (12) can be present on the connecting means and interacts with the negative V-form of the rail system. Alternatively, the connecting means can be completely composed out of hard rubber, preferably with the following characteristics: a shore D hardness of between 35 and 65, as measured by a Shore Durometer.

The term "V-shape" as used herein is defined as any shape comprising two surfaces form a mutual angle that is smaller than 90° and larger than 30°, irrespective of the mutual distance and of other geometric elements that may be found in the zone between the two surfaces or elsewhere. Important for the connecting means (17) of the present invention is that the interaction with the "negative" or complementary V-shape of the rail system (1 ) takes place at the two surfaces and preferably not at the tip of the V-shape. The interacting surfaces can be coated with the high friction coefficient coating (12), increasing the clamping strength.

EXAMPLES

The fence and rail system such as the one depicted in Figures 4 to 7 has been installed in a standard trailer and has been tested with different cargo weights and an acceleration of 0.5G.

The fence was shown to be able to sustain a cargo of 12600kg at said acceleration.