A DE-ICING ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH COVERED CARGO SPACES

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for de-icing automotive vehicles having a covered cargo space, preferably trucks and trailer vehicles having covered loading platforms (2), wherein the covering may have a box-like configuration or the form of a frame structure (3) over which one or more tarpaulins (7) are stretched. An expansion device (10) extends preferably centrally on the box-like roof or on the roof part of the frame structure generally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and beneath the tarpaulin or tarpaulins (7) and includes at least one stiffening device (14), wherein when activated the expansion device is intended to expand vertically such that the side of the device (10) distal from the tarpaulin or tarpaulins (7) will lift relative to the underlying surface and press the centre part of the tarpaulin or tarpaulins (7) upwards so as to give the roof covering the character of a pitched roof with the sides sloping preferably towards the long sides of the vehicle (1), wherein the device (10) is intended to be expanded when ice forms or snow is packed on the covering, so as to loosen the ice and/or snow from the surface of the roof and cause the ice/snow to fall to the ground, or to enable the ice/snow to be removed easily in some other way.

Description: A DE-ICING ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH COVERED CARGO SPACES TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to de-icing arrangements for automotive vehicles of the kind that have covered cargo- spaces, and then preferably for trucks and trailer vehicles which are equipped with covered load-carrying platforms, wherein the covering structure has a box-like configuration or is comprised of a frame structure over which at least one tarpaulin is stretched. DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART In the case of covered vehicles in which the cargo space covering structures have a flat roof, ice formations are likely to build up on the roof of the structure in cold winter conditions, these ice formations loosening as the vehicle is driven along and falling from the roof. These ice formations can have considerable weight and size, particularly in the case of tarpaulin roofs, wherein snow and water are liable to collect in hollows formed as the tarpaulin sags between the frame struts on which the tarpaulin rests. Ice clumps that fall from the roof of a vehicle as the vehicle is in motion are liable to strike oncoming vehicles and shatter their windscreen or damage the vehicles in some other way. It is the duty of the driver to remove from the roof covering any snow and ice that may be present prior to driving away the vehicle. If the vehicle, or trailer, is empty of cargo, the driver walking on the platform is able to remove ice or snow from the roof simply by lifting or banging on the tarpaulin from beneath, so as to cause ice or hard-packed snow to fall to the ground. When the vehicle is loaded with cargo, however, the driver is forced to remove any occurrent ice and packed snow formations from the outside of the vehicle, which may be difficult to achieve in view of the height of the roof covering from ground level . Because of the height of some vehicle roofs above the ground, it is not always easy to see those ice formations that are hidden from view in troughs or pockets formed in the tarpaulin covering and hence these formations will be left unattended. These difficulties mean that in many cases, ice and snow formations will remain on the vehicle roof prior to the vehicle moving out into the traffic therewith present a traffic hazard or cause an accident. Swedish Patent Specification No. 468 270 teaches a de-icing arrangement which includes an inflatable bag which covers the entire roof area on the box-like roof or the covering part of the roof frame beneath the tarpaulin stretched thereon. This bag is inflated when ice formations are noticed on the roof of the vehicle concerned, therewith causing the ice formations to loosen from the roof and fall therefrom, or enabling the ice formations to be removed in some other way. When the vehicle roof structure is comprised of a tarpaulin stretched over a supporting framework, as the bag is inflated parts of the bag will be pressed down between the cross bars of the framework and, when the cargo space is loaded to its full height capacity, the major part of the load exerted on the roof by the snow and ice will be trans- mitted to the goods in the cargo space. This may result in damage to the goods or to their packaging materials, depending on the nature of the goods. The bag is intended to be inflated with compressed air or with exhaust gases from the vehicle engine. Since the bag has a relatively large volume, inflation of the bag with compressed air from a vehicle-carried compressor can take a relatively long time, whereas inflation of the bag with exhaust gases is much quicker. However, the exhaust gas alternative has the drawback that if the bag leaks, exhaust gases will enter the cargo space and present a health hazard when loading, offloading or examining the load. When the vehicle is used to transport foodstuffs, the ingress of exhaust gases is liable to taint or otherwise influence the taste thereof. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a de- icing arrangement which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks of known de-icing arrangements. Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement which does not rely on gaseous media for its function. These and other objects are achieved with an arrangement having the characteristic features set forth in the following Claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An exemplifying embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates schematically and in perspective a truck whose loading platform is equipped with an overhead frame structure covered by a tarpaulin, only part of which is shown, wherein an expansion device extends centrally on roof bars of the frame structure; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an expanded expansion device; Fig. 3 is a schematic end view of an expansion device expanded beneath a tarpaulin on a roofing frame structure; Fig. 4 illustrates a non-expanded expansion device similarly positioned; Figs. 5 and 6 respectively illustrate a variant of the expansion device in an expanded and non-expanded state; and Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional side views of an expansion device provided with alternative expander means, said Figures showing the device in an expanded and non- expanded state respectively. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Fig. 1 is a schematic, perspective . view of a truck 1 whose loading platform 2 is covered by a cover supporting frame structure 3. The frame structure includes stanchions 4 which support side bars 5 that extend parallel with the long sides of the platform and between which an appropriate number of roof bars or cross bars 6 are disposed so as to support the tarpaulin part 7 of the roof covering, said tarpaulin only being shown in part. The loading platform 2 is fitted along the sides thereof with sideboards 8 which are overlapped by the tarpaulin 7, the tarpaulin being held in place by elastic strops 9 tensioned between eyes or the like provided along the edges of the tarpaulin 7 and hooks fitted "to the sides of the platform 2. An expansion device 10 rests on the cross bars 6 centrally between the sidebars 5 of the roof structure, with one end part of the device inserted beneath the illustrated tarpaulin part 7. The expansion device is shown expanded in Figs. 2 and 3 and is comprised of two cylindrical containers 11, 12 made of plastic or rubber coated fabric, these containers being joined together longitudinally and the lower, 11, of said containers being attached to the inside of the web 13 of a U-shaped extruded profiled beam 14. Hanging from the upper container 12 on both sides thereof are fixed fabric support devices 16 having thickened bottom edges which are inserted into edge slots on flanges 15 of the beam 14. The expansion device is embraced at regular intervals by broad rubber bands 17, these rubber bands functioning to hold the containers 11, 12 and the fabric supports 16 in place in the space between the beam flanges 15 when the expansion device is in a non-expanded state, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The containers 11, 12 of the expansion device are expanded with compressed air taken from compressed air hoses fitted with quick-couplings, not shown. The fabric supports 16 function to control the containers 11, 12 during expansion, and also ensure that the device will not tip sideways when expanded. The expansion device is fixed to the roof structure 3, by means of guide shoulders provided on the roof bars 6 and the beam 14 of the expansion device, said guide shoulders not being shown. When the vehicle concerned is a so-called long vehicle, the expansion device is divided into smaller units which can be connected to form larger lengths with the aid of quick-couplings, not shown. As the expansion device expands, the upper side of the device presses the tarpaulin upwards, so as to form a saddle-like or pitched roof configuration with the sides of the roof sloping down towards the long sides of the vehicle-, so that ice and snow formations on the upper surface of the roof covering will loosen therefrom and fall to the ground, or can be removed in some other way. The expansion device 10 can be modified to meet user requirements, within the scope of the inventive concept. Figs. 5 and 6 are end views which illustrate one variant of the expansion device placed on a roof covering beneath a tarpaulin. With the intention of reducing the amount of compressed air required to operate the device, the cylindrical containers 11 and 12 have been replaced with a number of bellows 18, of which only one is shown. The bellows may be made of a rubber fabric having steel rings vulcanized in the bellow folds, so as to maintain the bellows construction when pressure is applied. In order to ensure that the pressure exerted by the bellows on the

Claims: CLAIM An arrangement for de-icing automotive vehicles having a covered cargo space, preferably trucks and trailer vehicles having covered loading platforms (2) , wherein the covering may have a box-like configuration or the form of a frame structure (3) over which one or more tarpaulins (7) are stretched, characterized in that the arrangement includes an expansion device (10) which extends preferably centrally on the box-like roof or on the roof part of the frame structure generally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and beneath the tarpaulin or tarpaulins (7) and includes at least one stiffening device (14) , wherein when activated the expansion device is intended to expand vertically such that the side of the device (10) distal from the tarpaulin or tarpaulins (7) will lift relative to the underlying surface and press the centre part of the tarpaulin or tarpaulins (7) upwards so as to give the roof covering the character of a pitched roof with the sides falling preferably towards the long sides of the vehicle (1) , wherein the device (10) is intended to be expanded when ice forms or snow is packed on the covering, so as to loosen the ice and/or snow from the surface of the roof and cause the ice/snow to fall to the ground, or to enable the ice/snow to be removed easily in some other way.

Inventors: BAUMBACH THORKILD, BAUMBACH, THORKILD
Applicants: BAUMBACH THORKILD, BAUMBACH, THORKILD
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B60P7
IPC codes: B60J7, B62D33