TRANSFERABLE PILLAR FOR A BODYWORK WITH SLIDING TARPAULIN

Abstract: Transferable pillar for a bodywork with sliding tarpaulin, characterized in that it mainly consists in, on the one hand, a pillar (1) as such, the upper end of which is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the roof construction (11), suspended to latter and which at its lower end shows a hook (12) which can cooperate with a part (21)(22) of the floor construction (19) and in, on the other hand, a lever (14) hinged to the pillar (1) as such and showing a support (15)(24-25-26-27) at the bottom which can rest on the floor construction (19) of said bodywork.

Description: The present invention pertains to a supporting structure in a bodywork with sliding tarpaulin, more particularly in a bodywork of which both sides can be freed by sliding the tarpaulin open, in order to achieve the largest possible cargo loading opening in this way, as well in height as in length. Since a trend exists to continually make these types of bodies longer one has to take the sagging of the roof construction into account inasmuch that it becomes necessary to make provisions for a pillar, usually at the centre of the total length of the bodywork. A disadvantage of such pillar is that it in fact reduces the cargo loading opening. In order to bypass this disadvantages proposals have already been made to make this pillar removable. This however implies that, on the one hand, the pillar has to be placed somewhere during loading and unloading and, on the other hand, that the roof construction sags under influence of its own weight and sometimes in addition under the influence of additional loads such as for instance snow, ice and similar, resulting in a reduction of the entry or loading height. In order to counteract aforementioned disadvantages proposals have already been made to provide for various locations on the bodywork to secure such a pillar, in such way that the pillar, depending on the dimensions of the cargo, can be placed at another location. This not only results in several construction points with which such a pillar must cooperate but moreover, in this case, though to a lesser extent, the disadvantage of a certain sagging of the roof construction remains resulting in a reduction of the entry of loading height. From FR-A-2.494.203 it is known to provide in a transferable pillar which is slidably suspended to the roof construction and which can be coupled to the floor construction at determined locations. In transferred position, the pillar cannot be coupled to the floor construction, resulting in the disadvantage of the sagging of the roof. The present invention pertains to a supporting structure comprising a transferable pillar which can be placed at any location on the vehicle, i.e. in which said pillar can be placed at a precise location with respect to the cargo to be handled. This transferable pillar also allows for, according to the invention, ensuring a maximal entry height in all circumstances. To this end the invention relates to a supporting structure in a bodywork with sliding tarpaulin, comprising at least one pillar slidably suspended to the roof construction of said bodywork, such that it can be slided in the longitudinal direction of said roof construction, characterised in that said pillar is provided at its lower end of a hook which can cooperate with a part of the floor construction carrying said bodywork; in that said pillar is provided of a lever hinged to the pillar, this lever showing at its lower end a support which can rest on the floor construction of said bodywork, and this lever being movable between a position in which the pillar is locked and a position in which the pillar is movable; and in that said hook and support allow the lower end of said pillar to be coupled at any place to a section extending continuously along the edge of the floor construction. In order to achieve better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, some preferred embodiments are described hereafter by way of example, but without any limitation, whereby reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which : figure 1 represents a front view of a supporting structure according to the invention ; figure 2 represents a view according to line II-II in figure 1 ; figures 3 and 4 represent similar views to that of figure 2 but for two other characterizing positions ; figure 5 represents a similar view to that in figure 1, but for a variant embodiment ; figure 6 represents a view according to line VI-VI in figure 5. In the embodiments according to figures 1 through 4 the supporting structure according to the invention consists mainly in a pillar 1 which, through the intervention of a pin 2, is suspended in a hinging manner to a shaft 3 which is also installed in a freely rotating manner in two square tubes 4 and 5, where latter by means of a bolt or similar, respectively 6 and 7, are connected to a common L-shaped section 8 whose horizontal flange 9 is sliding in a space 10 provided for this purpose in the side section 11 of the roof construction of the bodywork. The installation of this pillar 1 in section 11 is achieved by first turning the flange 9 into the space 10 and to only thereafter connect the construction 1 through 7 with this section 8. At the bottom, the pillar 1 is extended by means of a hook 12 and hinging freely with this pillar 1, by means of a pin 13, a lever 14 is connected. The lever 14 is equipped at its bottom with a cylindrical support 15 and shows a lock 16 on top which, by means of a spring 17, is constantly brought into a locked position, more especially by the cooperation of the lock 16 with an aperture provided therefore in a projection 18 on the pillar 1. According to the invention, the side edge section 19 of the loading platform shows, on its overall length, on the one hand, a V-shaped groove 20 with which the cylindrical support 15 can cooperate and, on the other hand, a rib 21 behind which aforementioned hook 12 can fit. The use of aforementioned pillar is very simple. In the position according to figures 1 and 2 this pillar has been placed on a defined location of the vehicle in which the lock 16 cooperates with the projection 18, hook 12 is firmly located behind rib 21 and support the whole, by means of the cylindrical support 15, in the groove 20. In order to move the pillar 1 it suffices to pull the lock 16 against the pressure of the spring 17, downward in order to release it from the projection 18 and to subsequently turn the lever 14 according to arrow P in figure 3. In this way, on the one hand, the support 15 and, on the other hand, the hook 12 are released from the section 19. Subsequently the lever 14 shall be turned upward and the lock will be made to cooperate with the projection 18 in order to achieve that the pillar hangs loose on the section 8 as shown in figure 4. At this time it suffices to transfer the complete pillar to the desired location by sliding it via section 8 into the space 10 of section 11. Once the pillar is placed at the correct location the lock 16 will be released again and the lever will be pulled down to allow to locate, on the one hand, support 15 in the groove 20 and, on the other hand, hook 12 behind rib 21 in order to place the pillar again in the condition as shown in figures 1 and 2. Figures 5 and 6 show a variant which only differs from previous in such way that the free extremity of the hook 12 cooperates with a horizontal plane 22 of the section 19, on the one hand, and that the section 19 is flattened on the top end and shows a rib 23 directed upwards on the outside. Aforementioned cylindrical support 15 is being replaced in this case by a support which is not circular, for instance two hexagonal elements 24, 25 which are connected to each other by means of a shaft 26 around which a sleeve 27 is provided for and where latter is the effective connection with the lever 14. The use of the pillar according to figures 5 and 6 is identical to aforementioned in the first example. It should be noted that in the position in figures 2 and 6 the centre of the pin 13 is located at a distance A behind the centre of the support 15, respectively shaft 26. It is clear that present invention is in no way limited to embodiments described as examples and shown in the drawings.

Claims: Supporting structure in a bodywork with sliding tarpaulin, comprising at least one pillar (1) slidably suspended to the roof construction (11) of said bodywork, such that it can be slided in the longitudinal direction of said roof construction (11), characterised in that said pillar (1) is provided at its lower end of a hook (12) which can cooperate with a part (21,22) of the floor construction carrying said bodywork; in that said pillar (1) is provided of a lever (14) hinged to the pillar (1), this lever (14) showing at its lower end a support (15, 24-25-26-27) which can rest on the floor construction of said bodywork, and this lever (14) being movable between a position in which the pillar (1) is locked and a position in which the pillar (1) is movable; and in that said hook (12) and support (15, 24-25-26-27) allow the lower end of said pillar (1) to be coupled at any place to a section (19) extending continuously along the edge of the floor construction. Supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the pillar (1) as such is suspended in a hinging manner by means of a pin (2) to a shaft (3), whose axis is directed according to the longitudinal axis of the bodywork, whose extremities turn freely carried on bearings in tubes (4-5) which in turn are connected with a L-shaped section (8) whose horizontal flange (9) is freely transferable in a longitudinal space (10) provided for in the roof construction. Supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part of the hook (12) is bent upwards and can hook up behind a rib (21) directed downward on the edge of the floor construction (19). Supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part of the hook (12) is folded inward at an angle of 90 degrees and can hook up under a plane (22) in the side edge of the floor construction. Supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that at the bottom end of the lever (14) a cylindrical support (15) directed with its axis according to the longitudinal axis of the bodywork is provided for. Supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom end of the lever (14) shows a support (24-25-26-27) directed with its axis according to the longitudinal axis of the bodywork consisting in a sleeve (27) connected at the bottom of the lever (14) in which a freely rotating shaft (26) is supported by bearings and in which said shaft (26) is equipped with a support (24-25) at each extremity which shows one flat surface at least. Supporting structure according to claim 6, characterized in that the supports (24-25) show an hexagonal form. Supporting structure according to claim 1, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the side edge (19) of the bodywork floor, in its upper surface, shows a V-shaped groove (20) with which the support (15)(24-25) at the bottom of the lever (14) can cooperate. Supporting structure according to claim 1, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the side edge (19) of the bodywork floor, in its upper surface, shows an upward directed rib (23). Supporting structure according to one of aforementioned claims, characterized in that the centre of the hinged connection (13), between the pillar (1) and the lever (14), in the supporting position of the pillar, is placed at a distance (A) behind the centre of the support (15)(24-25). Supporting structure according to one of aforementioned claims, characterized in that between the pillar (1) as such and the lever (14) a locking device (16-17-18) is provided. Supporting structure according to claim 11, characterized in that the lock (16) is mounted on the lever (14) and can cooperate with an aperture in a projection (18) provided on the pillar (1). Supporting structure according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the lock (16) is continually pushed to the locked position by means of a spring (17).

Inventors: VAN HOOL, KAREL-JOZEF
Applicants: VAN HOOL, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B62D27
IPC codes: B60J5, B62D33