Covered vehicle container bodies

A covered vehicle container body defining end walls and a flexible cover as an uncovering device, including a dependent framework supported by the end walls over which the flexible cover extends and is supported. The framework has a lower free end and an upper pivoted portion, pivotally mounted on the end walls, plus operating means for upwardly pivotally moving the framework about the pivot axis of the pivoted portion. Accordingly, the free end effects folding of the flexible cover and uncovering of one side of the body.

This invention is concerned with covered vehicle container bodies of the 
type in which the body is at least partially covered by a flexible cover 
which is foldable to allow access to the body interior. 
A covered body of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3 841 697, which 
describes a trailer whose body has rigid sides with a flexible cover for 
the top. A complicated structure is provided to effect folding of the 
cover to one end of the body. Such a structure would be far too 
complicated for use on the body of a large goods vehicle and access to the 
body is difficult. Another construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2 346 
554. In this construction, the sides of the body, as well as the top are 
covered by a flexible cover, which is stretched over a folding framework. 
A mechanism is used to fold up the framework to open the sides of the 
vehicle. In this construction, the folding framework is expensive to 
produce. 
The present invention provides a covered vehicle container body having end 
walls and having at least one side of the body covered by a flexible 
cover, and an uncovering device including a dependent framework supported 
by the end walls and over which the flexible cover extends and is 
supported, the framework having a lower free end and an upper pivoted 
portion, and operating means for upwardly, pivotally moving the framework 
about the pivot axis of said pivoted portion, so that the free end effects 
folding of the flexible cover and uncovering of said one side of the body. 
The framework may be further foldable upwardly about a further pivot axis 
to effect partial opening of the top of the body. 
Two opposing covering devices may be provided for opening respective 
opposite sides of the body. 
Preferably, the pivoted portion is mounted on a pivot member to which the 
operating means is connected to effect rotation of the pivot member. 
The free end of the framework is, preferably, attached to the flexible 
cover.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the wagon body shown has a base 11 made up of 
floor boards and two end frames 12, 13 cladded with boards such as 14. A 
central beam 15 extends longitudinally between the end frames 12, 13 at 
apices thereof and two other roof beams 16, 17 also extend between the end 
frames, parallel to the central beam 15 and spaced on opposite sides 
thereof. Cross-beams, such as 18, interconnect the roof beams 16, 17 and 
braces 15a, extend between the central beam 15 and the cross-beams 18. 
Adjacent each roof beam 16, 17 and parallel thereto is a respective tubular 
pivot member 20, extending between the end frames and journalled therein. 
This member 20 forms part of an uncovering device, which includes a 
dependent framework 21. The framework includes a tubular member 22, 
parallel to the pivot member 20, and connecting members 23 between the 
pivot member 20 and the tubular member 22. Each connecting member has an 
upper curved position 23a following the contours of the curved edges of 
the end frames 12 and 13. A curved support plate 24 is secured on the 
curved portions 23a. Stops (not shown) are provided to limit downward 
pivotal movement of the framework 21. A flexible cover 25 covers the whole 
roof area and two opposite sides of the body, the cover being stretched 
over the two frameworks 21 and secured to the base by means of an elastic 
rope 27 engaging with hooks 26 on the base. 
The cover 25 is secured along the central beam 15 and may be in two parts. 
Each part may have a beaded edge engaged in a respective complementary 
socked in a common member extending along the central beam. 
A reduction gear box 28 is connected to each respective pivot member 20. An 
input shaft 29 to each gear-box mounts a handle 30. Turning of the handle 
effects turning of the respective pivot member 20. 
Each tubular member 22, defining the free end of the respective framework 
21 is secured to the flexible cover 25 approximately midway down the 
respective side of the body. Securance is effected by a rope 31. 
To open one side of the body, the appropriate handle 30 is turned to effect 
raising of the framework 21 at that side of the body. Turning is continued 
until the framework 21 substantially falls back on to the roof. The length 
of the cover at that side of the body, is thereby folded substantially in 
half, as shown at the right hand side of FIG. 1. The whole side of the 
body is uncovered to permit easy access to the interior. The arrangement 
is such that both sides may be opened simultaneously. The framework 
provides no lateral projection in the closed position and little upward 
projection in the open position, so that in either position the whole 
wagon size is easily arranged to be within the parameters determined by, 
for example, tunnel clearance. 
To effect a weather-tight closure, the end frames 12, 13 are provided with 
perimetral channels 12a, 13a, and tightening ratchets are provided. To 
close a side of the body, the appropriate handle 30 is turned to lower the 
framework 21, permitting the flexible cover to hang over that side. The 
rope 27 is engaged with the hooks 26 and the appropriate ratchet 32 is 
used to tighten the cover by turning of a rotatable bar 33 provided with 
the hooks 26. This tightening causes the side edges of the cover 25 to 
extend into the channels 12a, 13a forming a seal with the channel lips 
over which the cover extends. 
A similar arrangement to that described above may be used for a road 
vehicle body. 
It is envisaged that each pivot member 20 may be carried on a pivotally 
movable framework permitting further folding of the flexible cover beyond 
the central beam 15, so that a part of the roof is uncovered as well as 
the adjacent side of the body. The whole uncovered area would be 
completely free of obstruction to permit ready loading by hand or by crane 
.