A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING STANCHIONS FOR LOAD PLATFORMS AND A STANCHION MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO THE METHOD

Abstract: Method to produce stanchions for load platforms, and a stanchion according to the method which stanchions comprise in a stanchion housing provided locking mechanisms for locking of partly the stanchion to the load platform and partly at least one platform flap to the stanchion and possibly a third locking mechanism for locking of an extension part to the stanchion top. The stanchion housing is produced from a preferably extruded, in cross section closed hollow profile. In the hollow profile openings are made for means which cooperate with respective locking mechanism. The separate parts of the locking mechanisms are coupled together outside the stanchion housing to at least one connected locking unit. In the interior of the hollow profile said to at least one unit interconnected locking mechanisms are inserted endwise. The stanchion housing and/or the locking unit/units are completed with means by openings present in the stanchion housing.

Description: A method of manufacturing stanchions for load platforms and a stanchions manufactured according to the method The present invention refers to a method to produce stan¬ chions for load platforms, which stanchions comprise in a stanchion housing provided locking mechanisms, for locking of partly the stanchion to the load platform and partly at least a platform flap to the stanchion, and possibly a third locking mechanism for locking of an extension part to the stanchion top, the invention also refers to a stanchion produced according to the method. Background of the invention Stanchions for load platforms of the type mentioned above, e.g. DE-C-1580650, since the mid- sixties, when these were developed, have gone through relatively small changes. The still consist of a large number of mechanically cooperating parts, where every single part demands machining und surface conditioning and assembly, which results in relatively high cost of manufacture. The housing of the stanchion until now has been produced from two or several parts, namely a solid, rear sheet and a U- formed covering sheet, which is welded to the rear sheet, after locating and mounting of all locking mechanisms. After the welding of the rear sheet to the covering sheet, and an aligning of the stanchion also has been necessary in addition to a further surface conditioning. A complete stanchion program comprises front, lateral and rear stanchions in a large amount of designs, where the height, the number of flap locks, the design of the attach- ment of the load platform, with or without cover support, with or without TIR loop and so on may vary. This means that in spite of a considerable standardization of the components included the number of parts is still very large, which in turn leads to extensive storage space. Certain attempts have been made (WO 83/01420) to simplify the manufacture of stanchions for load platforms by using specially manufactured aluminium profiles in as large extent as possible. Its true that a stanchion of this type as for the weight will be lighter and demands less surface treat¬ ment, but for the rest the drawbacks mentioned above will remain. Moreover such a stanchion ist nearly impossible to straighten if it has been exposed to a deformation, which often occurs, since the load during transport easily is displaced and the stanchions have to absorb these stresses. The same requirements which have been proposed concerning the design of the stanchion to the same high degree applies to the extension part of the stanchion which connects this with the handrail of the cover support. This extension part, which in the continuation is called a cover support, for- merly has also been manufactured from combined steel pro¬ files, which results in that they are heavy when handled manually, which is due to occur as soon as the opening of the load platform has to be wider than the distance between two cover supports. Another drawback with present cover supports has been that a relatively large force is required at the connection of the stanchion with the cover support, which moreover is aggravated by the circumstance, that the connection between these two parts occurs at the top of the stanchion, which as a rule is located a distance above normal height of a man referred to the ground. The object of the invention The object of the invention is to provide a cover support which is simple in design but at the same time light weight, and stanchion, which meet the above mentioned requirements of easy to handle, when the stanchion and the cover support are connected with each other and disconnected from each other respectively. Further it should be possible to main¬ tain the connection between these even when the connection between the stanchion and the load platform is cancelled, so that the cover support with attached stanchion can be moved laterally hanging in a special guide in the handrail of the cover frame. These problems have been solved by the separate characterizing parts stated in the patent claims. Description of the drawings The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to accompanying drawings which show some embodi¬ ments of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a stanchion according to the invention in a view from the front with a part of the front side of the stanchion broken up to show the locking mechanisms of the stanchion. Fig. 2 shows a section along the line II-II in fig. 1, with the locking mechanisms in locking position. Fig. 3 is a view analogous to that of fig. 2 with the flap locking mechanism in open position. Fig. 4 is likewise a section analogous to that of fig. 2 with the flap locking mechanism as well as the loading platform locking mechanism in open position. Fig. 5 shows the stanchion according to fig. 1 in a view from the rear. Fig. 6 is a section along the line VI-VI in fig. 1. Fig. 7 - 11 show a sections through a stanchion housing during the mounting of the details of the locking mecha¬ nisms. Fig. 12 shows a set of stanchions of different lengths containing details of the locking mechanisms in a lateral view. Description of embodiments The stanchion according to the invention as a whole designa¬ ted with 10 and consists of a stanchion housing 11, which is preferably constituted by an aluminium profile manufactured by extrusion and which can be cut into suitable lengths. The cross section of the stanchion housing 11 has the form of a closed hollow profile 12, as can be seen in fig. 6, and which profile is divided into two or three longitudinal channels, the one of which in the continuation is called reinforcement channel 13 and the other or the others for locking channel/channels 14. The channels are separated by partition walls 15 and the stanchion housing is limited at the rear by a solid rear wall 16, which has greater width than the width of the hollow profile 12, so that shoulder lists 17 are formed, against which load flaps 18 rest, when these are in folded up position. The stanchion housing 11 is open at the top and at the bottom and at the bottom end provided with a stanchion shaft 19 intended to be positioned in a stanchion attachment 20, which is fixedly connected to the edge beam 21 of the loading platform. In the lower part of the stanchion housing in the rear wall 16 is formed a recess 22, which mainly has the same but slighter form as the outer shape of the load platform attachment 20 and through which recess 22 the platform attachment can pass when the stanchion is swinged about the stanchion shaft 19 and to contact against the edge beam 21. As mentioned above the stanchion may consist of two or three longitudinal channels 13, 14 depending if it is a single stanchion e.g. at the front end of the loading platform to fix one single load platform flap or also a double stanchion for fixing of one load flap 18 on each side of the stan¬ chion. In the continuation such a double stanchion will be described in closer detail. On the front side of the stan¬ chion housing oblong apertures 24 are machined for each control lever 25 and rectangular apertures 26, which extend from the front side of the stanchion housing and along its lateral wall to the rear wall 16, and which apertures, are intended for receiving of lock fittings 27 fixedly arranged at the edge fitting of the load flap 18. The locking channels 14 of the stanchion housing 11 - see fig. 4 - are provided partly with a load platform mechanism 28 and partly a flap locking mechanism 29, which both are interconnected by means of a control section 30. If the stanchions also are going to support cover supports 31 a suitable locking mechanism 32 is also arranged in the upper part of the locking apparatus channels 14. The load platform locking mechanism 28 consists as previous- ly known of at least one locking wedge 33, which cooperates with guiding rails 34 provided at the platform attachment 20. The locking wedge 33 in its upper end is pivotably connected to an interconnection link 35, which in turn is connected by a first pivot shaft 36 to said control arm 25. at some distance from the first pivot shaft 36 is provided a second pivot shaft 37, on which a link arm 38 is articula- tedly pivoted, the opposite end of which is articulatedly connected with the flap locking mechanism 29. In the em¬ bodiment shown this comprises a connection part 39, pivo- tably connected with said link arm 38 and a flap locking bolt 40. Depending on the width of the load flap 18 this may be provided with one, two or three lock fittings 27, which each cooperate with each flap locking bolt 40 in the stan¬ chion, which also can be seen in fig. 12. In order to over- come the distances between the flap locking bolts 40 spacing pieces 41 are provided, which can be of different lengths. The parts contained in the flap locking mechanism 29 can be constituted by form parts, preferably of plastic, which are mutally untwistable and axially stiff and easily releasably connected to each other. This form parts with a small play fill substantially the whole cross section in the channel 14, the wall surfaces of which serve as slide and guide surfaces. Alternatively certain parts can be made of steel, while the slide and guide surfaces are made of a suitable plastic material. The connection part 39 or if this forms an integral part with the flap locking bolt 40 is provided with a recess, the object of which is to faciliate the folding out of the control lever 25. The flap locking bolt 40 comp¬ rises partly a lock port 43, through which the locking fitting 27 of the load flap 18 can be brought, and which locking port is located right ahead of the opening 26 when the locking mechanisms take the position shown in fig. 3 and 4, that is a position in which the lock fitting 27 freely can move in and out of said lock port 43. Below this is provided a locking pin 44, which in cross section is L- formed, and which locks the lock fitting 27 as well perpen¬ dicular to the plane of the flap lock as in the plane of the- flap lock. As well the flap locking bolt 40 as the spacing pieces 41 at one end are formed with male formed coupling means 44 and at the opposite end with a female formed coup- ling means 46. On the flap locking bolt 40 located in the uppermost part of the stanchion housing 11 acts a compres¬ sion spring 47, which by means of a shoulder 48 is attached to the inside of the uppermost part of the stanchion hou¬ sing. The movement upwards of the load platform locking mechanism 28 and the downward movement of the flap locking mechanism 29 are limited by a common stopping means 49, which is attached to the inside of the stanchion housing. In the folded up and locked position of the control lever 25, as can be seen in fig. 2 the locking wedge 33 is in engagement with the guide rails 34 of the load platform attachment simultaneously as the flap locking bolt 40 is located in its upper locking end position, in which the both locking mecha- nisms are under control of the compressed compression spring 47. Since the pivot axis 37 is located inside an imagined line through the pivoting axes 36 and 42, a stable locking position for the control lever 25 is obtained, even when this is standing under a powerful spring pressure. If the stanchion 10 even is to be extended by an extension part, in the continuation called cover support 31, the upper flap locking bolt 40 is completed by a lock 50, which is provided with a longitudinal slot 51 for receiving the compression spring 47. In locking position one part of the lock 50 is in egagement with the locking sleeves 52 - fig. 5 - of the cover support 31. A stanchion housing 11, to which a cover support 31 shall be possible to connect, right in front of the reinforcement channel 13 at the upper part of the stanchion is formed with an opening 53 in the rear wall 16, which extends a distance downwards from the upper end edge of the stanchion. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but several variants are possible within the scope of the patent claims. DISPOSITION OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS 10 = stanchion 11 = stanchion housing 12 = hollow profile 13 = reinforcement channel 14 = locking channel 15 = partition wall 16 = rear wall 17 = shoulder list 18 = load flap 19 = stanchion axis 20 = load platform attachment 21 = the edge beam of the load platform 22 = recess in the rear wall 23 = front side of the stanchion housing 24 = oblong opening for the control arm 25 25 = control lever 26 = rectangular opening for lock fittings 27 27 = lock fittings 28 = load platform locking mechanism 29 = flap locking mechanism 30 = control section 31 = extension part / cover support 32 = locking mechanism for the cover support 31 33 = locking wedge 34 = guide rails 35 = connection link 36 = first pivoting shaft 37 = second pivoting skaft 38 = linkarm 39 = connection part 40 = flap locking bolt 41 = spacing pieces 42 = third pivoting shaft 43 = locking port 44 = locking pin 45 = male formed coupling means 46 = female formed coupling means 47 = compression spring 48 = shoulder 49 = stopp means 50 = locking device 51 = slot 52 = locking sleeve 53 = opening

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method to produce stanchions (10) for load platforms, which stanchions comprise in a stanchion housing (11) pro¬ vided locking mechanisms (28,29) for locking of partly the stanchion to the load platform and partly at least one platform flap (18) to the stanchion and possibly a third locking mechanism (32) for locking of an extension part (31) to the stanchion top, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i , that the stanchion housing (11) is produced from a prefe¬ rably extruded, in cross section closed hollow profile (12), with at least two longitudinal channels (13,14), that in the hollow profile (12) openings (22,24,26) are made for insertion of means (20,25,27), which cooperate with respective locking mechanism, that some of the cooperating parts of the locking mechanisms are coupled together outside the stanchion housing to at least one connected locking unit, that into at least one of the channels (14) in the hollow profile from the end is inserted said to at least one lock¬ ing unit connected locking mechanisms or parts thereof, and that the stanchion housing (11) and/or the locking unit /units are completed with means for limiting the movement of the locking mechanisms. 2. Method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the hollow profile (12) of the stanchion housing (11) at the extrudation is formed to a rectangular for in cross section, which hollow profile is divided into at least two longitudinal channels (13, 14), of which one - the locking channel (14) - receives the locking mechanisms (28,29,30) and one - the reinforcement channel (13) - at least in its lower end receives reinforcement means (65). 3. Method according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n. that a platform locking mechanism (28) for locking of the stanchion (10) to the platform is pushed endwise into one of the locking channels (14) of the stanchion housing (11), that one end of a control lever (25) is connected through an opening (24) made in the stanchion housing by a first pivo¬ ting shaft (36) to the platform locking mechanism (28), that a stop shoulder (49) is inserted into the locking channel (14) and is fixed to this by said opening (24), that one or several interconnected flap locking mechanisms (29) are iserted endwise in the locking channel/channels (14), and is connected by a link arm (38) through the ope¬ ning (24) made ine the stanchion housing (11) to a second pivoting shaft (37) at the control lever (25), and that a spring (47) is placed in the flap locking mechanism (29), the spring end of which is fixced to the inside of the locking channel (14). 4. Stanchion for a load platform, produced according to the method stated in claim 1 and of the type, which comprises at least one in a stanchion housing (11) provided platform locking mechanism (28) for locking of the stanchion (10) to a platform holder (20) provided at the load platform, and a flap locking mechanism (29) for locking of at least one load flap (18) to the stanchion and possibly a third stanchion top locking mechanism (32) for locking of an extension part (31) to the stanchion top, and which locking mechanisms can be actuated by means of a common control lever (25), c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the stanchion housing (11) consists of a hollow profile (12) closed in cross section, in which openings (24,26) are made for insertion of means cooperating with respective locking mechanism, that the interior of the hollow profile (12) is divided into at least two longitudinal channels (13,14), of which the walls of one channel (14) are formed as slide and guide surfaces for at least some of the separate parts of the locking mechanisms (28,29,30), which outside the stanchion housing are interconnectable to at least one connected lock¬ ing unit, and are endwise insertable into the channel (11), that in the other channel (13) is designed for receiving reinforcement (65) and /or extension means (31), and that the interior of the stanchion housing and / or the locking unit/ units by openings present in the stanchion housing can be completed by means for cooperation with respective locking unit. 5. Stanchion according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the parts (50) of the flap locking mechanism (29) and probably the stanchion top locking mechanism are constituted by form parts, preferably of plastic, which are mutually untwistable and axially stiff and easily detachably connec¬ ted to each other. 6. Stanchion according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the control lever (25) is provided with two at a dis¬ tance from each other provided pivoting shafts (36, 37), of which one is articulatedly connected with one (36) end of a locking wedge (33) comprised in the platform locking mecha¬ nism (28), by an interconnection link (35), that the other pivoting shaft (37) of the control arm (25) is articulatedly with one end of a pivot arm (38), which in turn by a third pivoting shaft (42) is articulatedly with a flap locking bolt (40) contained in the flap locking mecha¬ nism (29), and that the displacement movement of the interconnection link (35) and the flap locking bolt (4) in one direction is limited by at least one detachable stop means (49). 7. Stanchion according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the form parts of the flap locking mechanism (29) are constituted by, partly at least a flap locking bolt (40), which comprises a locking pin (44) and a locking port (43) and at the ends a coupling means (45,46), e.g. a male and a female coupling respectively, for interconnection of several form parts with each other, partly possibly one or several spacing pieces (41), partly a spring (47) acting on the flap locking bolt and partly possibly a locking device (5) for locking of an extension part (31) connectable to the stan¬ chion top.

Inventors: ROSEN GOERAN, ROSEN, GOERAN
Applicants: ROSEN GORAN, ROSEN, GOERAN
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B62D27
IPC codes: B62D33