Improvement in and relating to load restraint on vehicles and containers

Abstract: A vehicle or container (2) for carrying goods is described which has at least one rigid cargo restraining member. The cargo restraining member, in an operational position, has a first section (20) extending laterally across the load space of the vehicle or container. The restraining member further has two second sections (22) which lie respectively on either side of the first section and in planes generally parallel to the side of the load space. The first section (20) serves to prevent longitudinal movement of cargo whilst the second sections (22) serve to prevent lateral movement thereof. Preferably a plurality of the restraint members is provided so that cargo is held between the ends of the vehicle or container and one of the members or between two adjacent members.

Description: This invention relates to vehicles such as trailers, semi-trailers, lorries and vans and to containers, all for transporting goods. Various arrangements are known for restraining the movement of goods carried in transport vehicles and containers. One known arrangement employed in the type of vehicle or container known as a 'curtain-sider' is described below. Curtain-sided vehicles have four corner posts extending up from the vehicle bed, the two front and two rear corner posts being interconnected at their upper ends by cross beams. One or more longitudinal members extend between the end cross beams and serve to support the roof. The vehicle therefore has open sides which are covered by curtains suspended from rails, known as cant rails, which extend between the front and rear corner posts. The vehicle may have additional side pillars to help support the roof which are mounted between the cant rails and the vehicle bed. The side pillars are either removable or so mounted that they can be slid along to one end of the vehicle to allow side loading of the vehicle. The front and rear ends of the vehicles are closed by bulkheads or, at the rear, doors. To restrain goods carried in curtain-sided vehicles or containers, in particular to restrain goods carried in cages or pallets which are mounted on wheels, in one known arrangement webbing straps are connected between the corner posts and the intermediate pillars along the vehicle or container sides at an appropriate height from the vehicle bed. These straps extending along the sides of the vehicle or container are intended to restrain the goods from lateral movement. To restrain the goods from moving longitudinally relative the vehicle, metal bars are connected across the vehicle between the intermediate pillars, and, additional webbing straps are secured between the two side straps. This arrangement has been found to have several disadvantages. Firstly it is difficult to tension the side straps. Secondly, while the lateral straps can be placed in any desired position depending on the load being carried, the position of the side straps is fixed. The intermediate pillars must be evenly spaced along the sides of the vehicle if they are to provide efficient support and therefore the location of the lateral metal bars is also essentially fixed. Furthermore, normally only one or two intermediate pillars are provided so that only one or two bars can be mounted across the vehicle. Therefore it is normally difficult to arrange the straps and bars so that the goods are fully restrained both laterally and longitudinally relative to the vehicle or container. It has further been found that when the goods are carried in wheeled cartons or cages, if the cartons or cages move into contact with the restraining straps they tend to bounce off them which can lead to damage of the cartons or cages and the goods carried therein. Swiss Patent 611560, which represents the closest prior art, describes a vehicle, the load space of which is divided by internal partitioning into a number of compartments. Each compartment is provided with a U-shaped restraint device, the arms of the device being connected at their ends to the roof of the compartment. A spring bias the device towards a position in which the web abuts the rear of the compartment and, therefore, holds it against the front face of goods in the compartment. A vehicle or container for carrying goods, in accordance with the invention, has at least one rigid load restraining member securable in an operational position in which a first section thereof extends laterally across the vehicle or container load space at a height above the floor thereof and two second sections of the restraining member extend respectively on either side of the first section at an angle to the vertical in planes generally parallel to the sides of the load space, the first and second sections serving respectively to provide longitudinal and lateral restraint of goods carried in the load space, characterised in that two or more load restraining members are provided which, in the operational position thereof, divide the load space into two or more longitudinal regions, the first sections of the load restraining members and the front bulkhead and/or the rear bulkhead or rear doors of the vehicle or container together providing longitudinal restraint of goods carried in each region and the second sections of the load restraining members providing lateral restraint of goods carried in each region. With this arrangement lateral restraint of goods carried in the vehicle or container is provided by the two second sections of the restraining member. Furthermore the goods can be restrained longitudinally, between the first section of each restraining member and the front bulkhead of the vehicle or container or the rear bulkhead or rear doors, whichever is provided at the rear of the vehicle or container, or the first section of another load restraining member. The restraining member is rigid so that the tendency of goods to bounce thereof is much less than that with the known arrangement in which webbing straps are employed. Preferably, the load restraining members are mounted to the roof of the vehicle or container in such a way that each is moveable between two positions; the operational position and a second position in which the member lies adjacent the roof of the load space of the vehicle or container. Means is provided for securing the load restraining members in the operational position. The means may comprise straps connectable between part of each restraining member, suitably the first section thereof, and the floor of the load space of the vehicle or container. The advantage of this is that, when the restraining members are not required, they can be moved into the second position and will not obstruct the loading of goods into the vehicle or container nor reduce significantly the capacity of the load space thereof. Furthermore, the arrangement facilitates loading when the restraining members are required since the restraining members can be positioned adjacent the roof to allow goods to be loaded without obstruction and then sequentially moved into position to secure the goods against movement. The second sections of each restraining member may be in the form of elongate members, attached at one end to the first section and at the other end to the roof of the load space of the vehicle or container. The extreme portions of the second sections adjacent the ends thereof which are attached to the roof may be angled, relative to the remainder of the sections, towards each other. This angling means that the load restraining members can be attached to the roof intermediate the cant rails, so these are unaffected by it, but, when the load restraining members are in the operational position, the straight portions of the second sections can lie below the cant rails and so not reduce the lateral extent of the load space. The restraining members may be generally U-shaped. One of the restraining members may have second sections, the length of which is variable. This allows the restraining member to be employed with loads of different lengths. Furthermore a variable length restraining member is particularly suitable for use at the rear of the vehicle. The second sections of the load restraining members in the operational position extend diagonally across the sides of the load space between their attachments to the roof and the first section whereas in the stowed-away position they extend along the vehicle roof from the attachment points. The length of the second sections of the rearmost member should be such as to allow location of the first section, in the operational position, immediately adjacent the vehicle or container doors to maximise the amount of load which can be carried. However second sections of a length to allow this when in the diagonal orientation of the operational position would, in the stowed-away position, extend out of the vehicle and prevent closing of the doors. By making the rearmost member with variable length second sections, one avoids the choice between it being so short as to reduce the usable load space or so long as to interfere with the doors. The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a vehicle or container in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the body of a vehicle or container similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but of greater length; Fig. 3 is view taken along line A-A of the body of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly sectional, of the body of Fig. 2 taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front view of the rearmost load restraining member of the body of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a side view of the load restraining member of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of part of the load restraining member of Fig. 5 taken along the line C-C thereof, and, Fig. 8 is a partly sectional view of the load restraining member of Fig. 5 taken along line D-D of Fig. 6. The vehicle body 2 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 has a floor 4 from each corner of which a corner post 6 extends upwardly. The vehicle 2 further includes a roof 8 supported by a spine 10 connected between end beams (not shown) which are themselves carried between the corner posts 6. Cant rails 12 extend along the edges of the roof 8 between the corner posts 6. Raves 14 are attached along the side edges of the floor 4. The sides of the vehicle body 2 can be closed by curtains suspended from the cant rails 12, the curtains being held down in place and tensioned by tensioning straps, one end of which is secured to the curtains and the other end of which is latched onto the raves 14. A plurality of wheel mounted cargo containing cages 16 are carried in the vehicle body 2. The cages 16 are held in position by restraining members 18 which are shown in full outline in Figs. 1 and 3 and in dotted outline in Fig. 2 in a first, operational, position in which a first section 20 thereof extends laterally across the load space of the vehicle 2 and two second sections 22 extend diagonally across a plane generally parallel to the sides of the vehicle body 2, one on either side of the first section 20. The first and second sections 20, 22 of the restraining member 18 form a generally U-shaped frame. The second sections 22 are each connected at one end 24 to the first section 20 to form the U-shaped frame. At their other end 26 each of the second sections 22 is provided with a bearing 28 connected thereto. The bearings 28 are also connected to pivet blocks 30 carried on the cant rails 12 of the vehicle body 2 by way of mounting bolts 32. The bearings 28 and hence the U-shaped from formed by the first and second sections 20, 22, can rotate around the mounting bolts 32. A piston 34, in the form of, for example, a gas-strut, is mounted between the end 26 of each second section 22 and the associated pivet block 30. In the position shown in full outline in Figs.1 and 3 the gas-struts 34 are retracted. Extension of struts 34 to the position shown in Fig. 4 causes the restraining members 18 to move upwards, rotating around mounting bolts 32, into the position shown in full outline in Fig. 2. In this position the restraining members 18 are located adjacent the roof 8 of the vehicle body 2. The restraining members 18 can therefore be stowed away against the roof 8 of the vehicle body 2 when they are not required or when the vehicle body 2 is to be loaded. The force exerted by the struts 34 is set so that not only is it sufficient to hold the restraining members 18 in the stowed-away position but also so that it can just be overcome by the force of a man pulling down on the members 18. Thus to bring the restraining members 18 back to the operational, cargo restraint, position, they are simply pulled manually downwards and handles 36 are provided for this purpose. This action will cause the struts 34 to fully retract. In the cargo restraint position, the restraining members 18 are held in place against the forces exerted by the struts 34 tending to lift them upwards, by latching buckle/strap assemblies. The assemblies consists of straps 38 connected to the first section 20 of restraining members 18. The straps 38 are provided with buckles 40 which can be fastened to rings 42 set in the floor 4 of the vehicle body 2 to hold the restraining members 18 in the operational position. The rings 40 are fitted near the side rails 14 so that they can be reached from the sides of the vehicle 2 as well as from the interior thereof. The buckle/strap assemblies 38, 40 may be of the type employed to hold down and tension curtains in curtain-sided trailers. A pair of rings (not shown) can be provided on the first sections 20 of the restraining members 18 to which the buckles 40 can be hooked when the restraining members 18 are in the stowed-away position to stop the straps 38 from dangling down into the load space. It will be noted from the Figures that the mounting points for the restraining members 18 are spaced some distance inwardly from the cant rails 12 of the vehicle body 2 but the second sections 22 of the restraining members 18 lie, in the operational position, generally below the cant rails 12. This is made possible by angling a portion of the second sections 22, at the end 26 thereof by which they are mounted to the vehicle body 2, towards each other. The location of the main portions of the second sections 22 in the operational position below the cant rails 12 means that there is no reduction in the available load space of the vehicle body 2. As noted above curtains may be hung from the cant rails 12 to close the sides of the vehicle body 2. The angling of the upper ends of the second sections 22 of the restraining members 18 also serves to protect the curtains since the mounting points are moved away from the curtain location. The lower ends 24 of the second sections 22 are bent round slightly to prevent any damage to the curtains in the region of the connection of the second sections 22 to the first sections 20. With the restraining members 18 in the operational position, the cargo is prevented from moving longitudinally along the load space by being trapped between the front wall of the space or the rear wall/doors of the space and the first section 20 of a restraining member 18 or between the first sections 20 of two adjacent restraining members 18. The goods are held from moving laterally by the second sections 22 of the restraining members 18. The diagonal orientation of the second sections 22 allow their restraining force to be applied over a significant longitudinal distance. For example, in this specific arrangement shown, two rows of cages 16 are held by each restraining member 18, the diagonal orientation of the second sections 22 of the restraining member 18 ensuring that there is sufficient overlap thereof with both rows of cages 16 to hold these firmly against movement within the load space during transportation. The restraining member 18A at the rear of the vehicle body 2 differs from the other restraining members 18. These differences will now be described. The parts of the restraining member 18A which are the same as those of the other restraining members 18 will be given the same reference numerals but with the additional suffix A. The main difference between the rearmost restraining member 18A and the other restraining members 18 is that the second sections 22A thereof have a length which is variable. Each second section 22A is formed from two tubular members 44 and 46, the second of which 46 is dimensioned such that it can be telescopically received within the first tubular member 44. The second sections 22A have their shortest length when the second tubular members 46 thereof are fully retracted within the first tubular member 48. The length of the second sections 22A is increased by pulling the second tubular members 46 out of the first tubular members 44 until a brush 48 mounted on each tubular member 46 abuts against a brush 50 mounted at the end of each first tubular member 44. Brushes 48 and 50 therefore define the maximum extension of the second sections 22A. The second tubular members 46 are urged towards a position in which they are fully retracted within the first tubular members 44 by an elasticated rope 52. The ropes 52 are carried within the first tubular members 44 on a pin 54 extending thereacross above the upper extreme position of the second tubular members 46. Thus when no force is applied to the first section 20A of the restraining member 18A in a direction along the line of the second sections 22A thereof, sections 22A will be at their minimum length. This will be the case when the restraining member 18A is in stowed-away position as shown in full outline in Fig. 2. Restraining frame 18A is also shown in that Figure by dotted line X in the operational but unextended position in which it restrains two rows of cages 16. Restraining frame 18A is further shown in Fig. 2 by dotted line Y in the operational and extended position in which the second sections thereof 22A are extended so that three rows of cages 16 can be accommodated. It will be noted that in the extended position, the first section 20A is closely adjacent the rear extremity of the van body 2 so that maximum utilization of the load space thereof is being achieved. Thus by making the second sections 22A extensible, the rearmost restraining frame 18A is operable to restrain different numbers of cages 16. Conversly the retractibility of the frame 18A means that it can take up the extended operational position in which the first section 20A thereof is adjacent the rear end of the vehicle body 2 but in the stowed-away position it does not extend beyond the rear end of the vehicle body 2. The retractibility therefore accommodates the fact that in the operational position the second sections 22A are diagonal but in the stowed-away position they extend generally parallel to the roof 8. The retractability allows the second sections 22A to be longer in the diagonal orientation, therefore permitting full load-space utilisation, but shorter in the stowed-away position with the result that they do not extend beyond the rear of the vehicle body 2. The dimensions of the restraint members 18 can be adjusted to accommodate any type of cargo holder. As shown in the Figs. the dimensions are preferably such that the second sections 22 abut, or are closely adjacent to the sides of the cargo holders 16 and the distance between the front wall of the vehicle body 2 and first section 20 of the forwardmost restraining member and that between the first section 20 of adjacent restraining members 18 is equal to the longitudinal length of the cargo holders 16. The latter feature means that as each batch of cargo holders 16 is loaded and the appropriate restraining member 18 pulled down, it pushes the cargo holders of the just-loaded batch together and against the next forward frame (or the front bulkhead). The sections 20, 22 of the restraining members 18 consist of tubular members of a metal or metal alloy. They are therefore rigid and the tendency for cargo to rebound from them will be much less than with the known straps. It will be appreciated, although decribed specifically above in relation to a curtain-sided trailer, that the restraining members could be provided for any type of vehicle or container. The arrangement is relatively simple and permits a vehicle or container to be used to carry loads both when restraint is required and when it is not. It allows close confinement of load but does not decrease the usable load space either when in use or when not in use. It can be adapted to give good control of any specified cargo size.

Claims: A vehicle or container (2) for carrying goods having at least one rigid load restraining member (18) securable in an operational position in which a first section (20) thereof extends laterally across the vehicle or container load space at a height above the floor (4) thereof and two second sections (22) of the restraining member (18) extend respectively on either side of the first section (20) at an angle to the vertical in planes generally parallel to the sides of the load space, the first and second sections (20, 22) serving respectively to provide longitudinal and lateral restraint of goods (16) carried in the load space, characterised in that two or more load restraining members (18) are provided which, in the operational position thereof, divide the load space into two or more longitudinal regions, the first sections (20) of the load restraining members (18) and the front bulkhead and/or the rear bulkhead or rear doors of the vehicle or container (2) together providing longitudinal restraint of goods (16) carried in each region and the second sections (22) of the load restraining members (18) providing lateral restraint of goods (16) carried in each region. A vehicle or container as claimed in Claim 1, in which the load restraining members (18) are mounted to the roof (8) of the vehicle or container in such a way that each is movable between two positions: the operational position and a second position in which the member (18) lies adjacent the roof (8) of the load space of the vehicle or container. A vehicle or container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein means (38, 40, 42) is provided for securing each load restraining member (18) in the operational position. A vehicle or container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the means for securing each load restraining member (18) in the operational position comprises straps (38) connectable between part of the restraining member (18) and the floor (4) of the load space of the vehicle or container. A vehicle or container as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the second sections (22) of each restraining member (18) are in the form of elongate members, attached at one end (24) to the first section (20) and at the other end (26) to the roof (8) of the load space of the vehicle or container. A vehicle or container as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the extreme portions of the second sections (22) of the load restraining members (18), adjacent the ends (24) thereof which are attached to the roof (8) of the load space, are angled relative the remainder of the sections (22) towards each other. A vehicle or container as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein each restraining member (18) is generally U-shaped. A vehicle or container as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein one of the restraining members (18A) has second sections (22A), the length of which is variable. A vehicle or container as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the variable length second sections (22A) are telescopic. A vehicle or container as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 9, in which means (34) is provided which continuously urge the load restraining members (18) away from the operational position towards the second position in which each lies adjacent the roof (8) of the load space of the vehicle or container.

Inventors: DAVIS ROBERT CLIVE BROWNING, DAVIS, ROBERT CLIVE BROWNING
Applicants: AVELING BARFORD MACHINES PLC, AVELING BARFORD (MACHINES) PLC
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B60P7
IPC codes: B60P7, B61D45