FR2479111A1 - AMOUNT FOR FIXING TRUCK CURTAINS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved supporting pillar for tiltable tailgates of lorries, of the kind which provides at least one bolt (20) which can be displaced vertically by means of a lever (40), the lever pushing, in a first phase of its rotational movement, the bolt (20) down from a pocket provided on the corresponding tailgate whilst, in the second phase, it is released from the flatbed body by the rotational movement of the pillars; the lever (40) being connected at its upper end, (in 41), to the lower end of the longitudinally displaceable bolt (20) in an articulated fashion; a second joint pin (42) which is attached to the lever (40) at the centre serving as joint for the upper end of a first clip (37) which is connected in an articulated fashion at its lower end to a ratchet (36) which keeps the pillar in a vertical position; a third joint pin (43) which is not arranged flush with the first two joint pins (41 and 42) being located in a central position and connecting the lever to a vertically displaceable carriage (44) by means of a second clip (45), which carriage (44) is continuously pushed downwards by a spring (47) which rests on a fixed stop of the pillar at its other end.

Description

 AMOUNT FOR FIXING TRUCK CURTAINS.

 The present invention relates to an improved upright for fixing truck sides.

 It is already known to use, in modern trucks, folding drop sides which are fixed by means of latches as well as suitable uprights, as well as folding or removable rear drop sides or tailgates, to avoid protrusions on the loading platform.

 The uprights must be sufficiently robust, in particular to be able to absorb, for large loads, as is the case for example for transporting bulk products of high specific weight, the reactions which are then exerted by the drop sides. At the same time, the weight of the uprights must be kept as far as possible within well-defined limits so that only one person can remove the uprights.

 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following description and the appended figures, given by way of illustration but not limitation.

 Figure 1 is an elevational view of the interior side of an upright according to the invention, limited to the lower end of said upright.

 Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il in Figure 1.

 Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the inner surface of the intermediate support and, like the other figures, it shows the support without the corresponding actuation levers.

 Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but relating to the upper end of the upright.

 Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V in Figure 4 and showing, like the other figures, the upright without the cover plate shown in Figure 6.

 Figure 7 is a section on line VII-VII of Figure 4.

 Figures 8 and 9 are sections taken on the line X-X in Fig. 1.

 Figure 1O (bis) is a section made on the line XB-XB of Figure 1.

 Figure 11 corresponds to Figure 1 but it shows the lower end of an intermediate upright, as well as its actuation levers and a stirrup, which is welded, to form a support for the upright, on the side rails of the platform loading.

 Figure 12 is a section on line XII-XII of Figure 11.

 Figure 13 is a section on line XIIT-XITI of Fig. 14.

 Figure 14 is similar to Figure II; it does not, however, represent an intermediate upright, but an extreme upright, the difference consisting in that the intermediate uprights include a double system with levers for locking the two drop sides placed one beside the other, whereas, in Regarding the extreme amounts, there is a single lever system for locking the associated single drop side.

 Figure 15 is similar to Figure 13, but it shows the levers in another position where the side panel connected to the upright is free and can be folded down, while the upright is still locked on its carrying bracket.

 Figure 16 is similar to Figure 15, but it shows another position of the end post lever, in which the post, which is no longer retained by the carrying bracket, can be rotated.

 Figure 17 corresponds to the section of Figure 15, but it nevertheless represents the intermediate upright of which only the lower end is visible, this end differing for certain details from the lower end of the extreme upright, the lever system being on the other hand unchanged and not having been shown in detail in this figure, which also shows the amount which has been folded down relative to the stirrup plate.

 Figure 18 is similar to Figure 17, and shows the amount that has been tilted relative to the carrying bracket.

 Figure 19 is a front view of the carrying bracket.

Figure 20 is a section on line XX-XX of Figure 20; and
Figure 21 is a perspective view of the bracket of Figure 20.

 Referring more particularly to the figures indicated above and initially in particular to Figures 1 to 10, it can be seen that the central upright 10 essentially consists of an omega-shaped profile, that is to say of a profiled iron in the form of a channel comprising a bottom 11, sides 12, and wings 13 directed towards the outside of the profiled iron and oriented parallel to the bottom 11. The appendage which is constituted by each wing 12 and by the wing which associated with it serves as a stop for the drop side (not visible in the figures) of a truck; it follows that the wings 13 are located on the inner side of the upright, that is to say on the side of the upright which is turned towards the loading plate. The upright is also associated with a rear closure plate 14 which is visible on. Figures 3 and 6 but not in Figures 1,2,5,9 and 10.

For the reinforcement of the upright 10, there is provided a profiled iron 15 welded to the bottom 11, comprising a channel and provided with a concavity which is directed towards the bottom 11; on both sides of this stiffening profile 15, there are two cavities 16 serving to receive the upper end of the latch
20 used for locking the drop sides.

In a known manner, it is provided in the upright 10 of the holes 17 ser
before the passage of the sleeves cooperating with the latches 20 provided on the
side walls. Furthermore, also in a known manner, provision is made
directly below the holes 17 and in the cavities 16 of the sleeves
guide 18 for the latch 20. In the hole sealers 17, there is provided, instead of a stiffening profile in the form of a channel 15, a stiffening profile 19 also in the form of a channel, which is narrower than the profile 15 and which, as shown in Figures 4 and 99 partially penetrates into it.

 The latches 20, in addition to being engaged in the sleeves 18, are also guided by supports fixed in the cavities 16 by welding and provided with holes. The supports 21 also serve as a stop to limit the downward travel of the latches 20, which in turn have projections 22, the maximum spacing with respect to the supports 21 is equal to the vertical length of the holes 17; in the. low position of the locks 20, the projections 22 are applied against the supports 21 (as shown in Figures 15 and 16), while the upper ends of the locks 20 are engaged in the corresponding holes.

The lower end of the upright 10 is provided with a rear stiffening plate 14 ', the thickness of which is. oversized, the U-shaped stiffening, which simultaneously serves as a guide for the locking tooth 36 profiled in correspondence, being interrupted in correspondence to said plate 14 '. In addition, the plate 14 'has, in its lower part, a cavity 23 which, as shown in FIG. 3, is delimited by two wings 24, shaped by punching and bending towards the inner side of the upright. A hinge pin 25 passes through the lower part of the wings 12 and the flanges 24 of the upright 10; a second pin 26, oriented parallel to the first pin and placed at a slightly higher height between the wings 24, serves as a stop.

Between the wings 24, a carrier stirrup 30 can be mounted, the rear surface of which is welded to the amount of the loading plate; the stirrup 30 essentially consists of a U-shaped profile (as shown in the
Figures 19 and 21) and, in its sides 32, grooves 33 having the shape of an inverted L, are formed by punching in order to guide a pin 25 serving as an articulation. The pin 26 abutting against the edges of the grooves 33 determines the vertical position of the upright.

For locking the upright in this vertical position, there is provided at the upper part of the sides 32 of the stirrup 30, a web 34 which serves to receive a locking tooth 36 (cf. FIG. 18) which is actuated by a lever system which will be described in more detail below.

It should be noted in this regard that, while we can do without, the annoying case, the abutment pin 26, the articulation pin 25 also has the function of supporting the weight of the upright. Also, the web 34 and the locking tooth 36 are necessary components, but slightly different shapes can be adopted for the intermediate uprights as well as for the front uprights. With particular reference to FIGS. 11 to 18, a description will be given below of the lever system which controls, by means of the lock 20, the locking of the drop sides and which then allows the pivoting of the upright 10. On the outer side of the upright 10, two elongated slots are provided (namely a single slot for the front uprights) serving to let the upper end of the articulation levers 40 pass. Each lever 40 is articulated by means of a pivot 41 on the lower end of the lock 20.

A second pivot 42 connects, using a splice 37, the lever 40 to a carriage which can slide in the cavities 16; using a second splint 45 and a fourth pin 46, a return spring, arranged concentrically with respect to the spindle and ensuring the connection of the lever with the locking tooth using a splice, has the function of holding the lever, in the rest position, against the upright and, simultaneously, of exerting a braking action during the opening movement of the drop sides. A carriage 44 is constantly pushed downwards using a spring 47 compressed between the supports 21 and a wing of the carriage 44.

 When the drop sides are locked in position, the lever 40 is placed, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in a vertical position next to the upright 10, and the spring 47 is compressed to the maximum degree by the carriage 44 which has reached its highest position.

The fishplates 37 and 45 are also placed essentially parallel and vertically, the lower end of the lock 20 being, at the same time as the pins 41, in its highest position. The upper end of the latch 20 then penetrates, as indicated in FIG. 4, into the holes 17 and it keeps the drop sides securely in position using the pockets which are fixed in particular on the drop sides.

Under the effect of a pivoting movement of the lever 40 outwards
(see Figure 15), the pressure force exerted by the spring 47 pushes
down the carriage 44 and the spindle 46: the latches 20 then reach
the lowest position, shown in FIG. 15, while the ribs 37 and 45 turn outwards due to the displacement of the pins 42 and 43 which result from the movement of the lever 40.

The spindle or pivot establishing the connection between the splint 37 and the locking tooth 36 remains on the other hand immobile. It should be noted that the pivoting movement of the lever 40 as far as the position indicated in FIG. 15 requires a relatively low muscular force because the pressure force of the spring 47 contributes to ensuring the downward movement of the lock.

The lowest position of the latch 20 is determined by the contacting of the projections 22 with the supports 21.

Due to the action of the spring 47, the lever 40 remains in the equilibrium position shown in Figure 15; the operator is warned that the locks 20 have unlocked the corresponding drop sides which can now be folded down freely. The levers 40 can be actuated individually or in unison, however, a single lever controls each single lock 20 each time. Continued rotation of the lever 40 upwards, that is to say from the position indicated in Figure 15 to the position shown in Figure 16 is possible simply by counterbalancing de.la force of the spring 47; because from the position indicated in Figure 15 to the position indicated in Fig.16, there is another rotation of the lever 40 upwards around the pin 41, which is kept fixed because the projection 22 s' presses against the support 21 and thus prevents another downward movement of the latch 20. By continuing to rotate the lever 40 upwards, compression occurs on the one hand
spring 47 and, on the other hand, the locking tooth 36 is raised so as to deviate completely from the web 34 of the stirrup 30.
the entire upright 10 can be turned relative to the spindle 25 and,
after a rotation of 1800, the amount remains suspended on the spindle,
so that the operator is stressed at most by half the weight
the amount 10 and that the folding operation can be carried out without
particular risk for this operator.

 After a rotation of 18Q, the upright 10 can be detached from the bracket 30 and be removed from the loading platform of the truck.

 Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown; it is susceptible of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art, depending on the applications envisaged and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (8)

 1.- Improved support upright for truck drop sides of the type comprising at least one lock which can be moved vertically using a lever which, in a first phase of its rotational movement, pushes the lock down. taking it out of the pocket provided in the corresponding drop side, while, in the second phase of the movement of  rotation, the upright is detached from the loading platform, upright-character  laughed in that the lever (40) is hingedly connected (41) by its  upper end: at the lower end of the corresponding lock  (20), movable longitudinally by translation, in that a second spindle  (42) fixed in the middle of the lever (40) serves as an articulation pivot for the upper end of a first splint (37), which is hingedly connected by its lower end to a locking tooth (36) which maintains the upright (10) in a vertical position, in that a third articulation pin (43), which is not arranged in alignment with the other two (41, 42) is arranged in a middle position and connects the lever, using a second splint (45), to a carriage (44) capable of executing a vertical translational movement and which is permanently solicited downwards by a spring (47) of which one end is supported on a fixed stop (21) of the mount (10).  2.- Improved support upright, characterized in that the levers comprise return springs which are arranged concentrically to one of the articulation pins and which, in the rest position, apply them against the uprights and thus prevent opening untimely while simultaneously exerting a braking action when opening the locking bolt during the actuation phase.  3. A support upright according to claim 2, characterized in that each lock comprises at least one projection serving as a stop, said projections determining in cooperation with fixed stop elements on the upright their extreme lower position.  4.- Support upright according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there is provided at the lower part a hinge pin (25) which is engaged in an L-shaped opening (32 , 33), of a stirrup (30) rigidly connected to the edges of the loading platform, this stirrup comprising at its upper part a splice (34) which delimits  a cavity open upwards and used to receive a stop tooth  (36) arranged in an articulated manner, and which is arranged at the lower end  of the first articulation plate (37) of the actuating lever  (40) cited above.  5. A support upright according to any one of claims 1 to 4, serving as an intermediate upright, characterized in that it includes a lever system which is constituted by a pair of levers of the type described above.  6.- Support upright according to claim 4, characterized in that it consists of an omega profiled iron (10), which is closed on its rear part by a welded plate (14) and in that the volume delimited by the omega profile and the closure plate is divided, using a profiled iron (15) in the form of a channel used for stiffening, into two parallel cavities (16) serving to receive the two latches ( 20) of the intermediate amount.  7.- Support upright according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the profiled reinforcing iron (15) in the form of a channel is divided into two segments, in that the upper segment is wider than the lower segment and in that the narrower reinforcement profile, which serves as a guide for the appendage of the stop tooth (36), is interrupted at the level of the upper end of the stirrup ( 30) of the amount.  8.- Support upright according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the rear shutter plate (14) is divided at the lower end of the upright and is provided with a flange directed towards the 'interior of the upright, so as to define two other fulcrum for a hinge pin of the upright which is arranged transversely so as to cooperate with the stirrup.