Abstract:
The device ( 1 ) for stowing a vehicle when it is transported on a bearing plane ( 9 ) by one of its wheels or from an anchorage on the chassis is characterized in that it is constituted by the following means: a link ( 2 ) that has a coupling end ( 5 ) provided to engage with a tensioning and retaining mechanism ( 3 ), a tensioning end ( 6 ), and a sliding sheath ( 7 ) for support on a tyre, a mechanism for tensioning and retaining the link ( 2 ) that has a roll axis ( 10 ) of sufficient length to offer numerous transverse coiling positions of the strap, and a coupling and return assembly ( 4 ) passed through by the link ( 2 ). Said device therefore enables vehicles to be stowed in two ways: a) by coupling to the vehicle chassis and b) by stowing the vehicle by link ( 2 ) on its tyres. This invention relates to the transportation of vehicles on Lorries or railway trucks.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application PCT/FR2007/000617 which was filed Apr. 12, 2007, which in turn claims priority from French patent application serial no. 0603277 filed Apr. 13, 2006. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a device for securing a road vehicle on another vehicle so that it can be transported on a bearing plane of this other vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention comes within the domain of securing road vehicles as loads on loading planes of trucks or freight cars. 
         [0004]    When transporting cars and, more generally, road vehicles on trucks or freight cars specifically for this use, the vehicles transported are secured on bearing planes to guarantee that they do not move during travel. 
         [0005]    This necessity stems from the often sudden jolts of certain amplitude experienced by the chassis of the truck or the freight car while moving and to flaws in the roads or railroad tracks. 
         [0006]    There are currently two main ways to go about this. 
         [0007]    The first consists in securing the vehicle by its wheels and, more precisely, by its tires, thus allowing its suspension to bounce freely. 
         [0008]    The second, as indicated below, uses connections between the chassis of the vehicle and the bearing plane on which the vehicle rests. The suspension of the transported vehicle is then compressed by the strong pull force of the connection, making it possible to keep it taut regardless of the movements of the chassis of the truck or the freight car. 
         [0009]    In the first case, securing the vehicle by its wheels is done either on the wheels or, more generally, by means of a flat link that immobilizes the tire directly or by means of a part bearing a strap. The strap is stretched between a low fixed end point situated, for example, in front of the tire, generally by hooking onto or into the structure of the bearing platform, and another low fixed point situated, for example, close to and behind the tire. Using a tensioning device the strap is tensioned enough to immobilize the wheel against its bearing support. 
         [0010]    This system has been largely perfected over the many years since it was created. 
         [0011]    Thus, the disadvantage due to the movement of the strap resulting from its tensioning and from the slight collapse of the tire was eliminated by using sliding sheaths or sleeves or loop structures or swiveling means for rolling on the tire. 
         [0012]    These types of securing methods have many advantages. 
         [0013]    The first has to do with the lightness of the assembly, which represents only a minimum amount of extra weight for the truck and is easy and fast to use. 
         [0014]    Another advantage is the small amount of strength necessary for assembly, for the vehicle is sufficiently immobilized with average tension and the only resistance to be overcome is that of the tire. 
         [0015]    Finally, the cost of the assembly appears entirely reasonable. 
         [0016]    The second means is still often used in certain countries. 
         [0017]    The links used are primarily chains that traditionally offer the best mechanical strength, but cables are also used. 
         [0018]    This second means has two significant disadvantages. On the one hand, chains and even cables constitute additional weight to be transported and used; on the other hand, their weight and the necessity of compressing the suspensions requires considerable effort which results in fatigue and, as a result, in risks for the operators, as well as less attention to and less precision in their actions. 
         [0019]    From both an economical and work safety standpoint, these disadvantages lead to a need for a device for securing to the chassis that is light, effective and easy to use. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, chain or cable systems cannot be adapted to wheels or tires due to the damage that may cause. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    This invention aims to eliminate these disadvantages and to add other advantages by proposing a dual-purpose securing device using a strap making it possible to secure a vehicle on a bearing plane for each strap via one of its wheels and from at least one anchoring point on the chassis. 
         [0022]    In general, this invention consists of a strap or an analogous component equipped with coupling or contact means completed by a tensioning device to be mounted on the bearing plane, preferably at the end and on the underside of this bearing plane. 
         [0023]    The dual-purpose securing device according to the invention is made up of the components indicated above and detailed below. 
         [0024]    A strap and more generally a link, one of whose ends has a retaining hook that is attached to an opening of the bearing plane, for example, in the form of perforated plate, and whose other end is free and tensioned, the strap or the link comprising a means of engaging the tire, which it moves and by which it presses on this tire to immobilize it. 
         [0025]    A manually activated tensioning and retaining mechanism of sufficient length to offer numerous transverse winding positions for tensioning the strap in alignment with the wheel or in alignment with the anchoring point to the chassis. 
         [0026]    A mobile coupling and transmission assembly formed of two separable parts that slot together or fit into each other, making it possible to secure the vehicle being transported at a point of its chassis. 
         [0027]    This securing device has the cumulated advantages of securing the vehicle, via a strap on the wheel, and the advantages of securing the vehicle, via an anchoring point on the chassis, without having the disadvantages of adding additional weight or being difficult to use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0028]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be clarified by the following description, which refers to the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the securing device according to the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a coupling and transmission assembly according to the invention whose two separable parts are connected by the strap of the securing device; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a tensioning and retaining device of the invention shown mounted under a bearing plane; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of two tensioning and retaining devices of the invention, each shown mounted under a separate bearing plane of the same vehicle; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are schematic perspective views of parts of a vehicle immobilized on a bearing plane simultaneously by one of its wheels and by an anchoring point to the chassis using two securing devices according to the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a side schematic view of a wheel immobilized on a bearing plane by the securing device according to the invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a side schematic view of a wheel immobilized at the end of a bearing plane by the securing device according to the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a side schematic view of a vehicle chassis immobilized on a bearing plane by the securing device according to the invention at an anchoring point to the chassis; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a side schematic view illustrating the dual, simultaneous use allowing immobilization via the wheels and via the chassis. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    The securing device according to this invention will now be described in detail by referring to  FIGS. 1 through 10 . Equivalent items shown in the different figures will have the same numerical references. 
         [0039]    The securing device  1 , as shown in its entirety in  FIG. 1 , generally consists of a link and more specifically a strap  2  or analogous component, a tensioning and retaining mechanism  3  for the link and a coupling and transmission assembly  4  passed through by the link. 
         [0040]    Hereinafter we will use the term “strap,” since it is more general and covers all suitable types of links. 
         [0041]    The strap  2  or analogous component has a coupling end  5  and another end, for example a tensioning end  6  provided to engage with the tensioning and retaining mechanism  3  of the strap  2 . This strap or analogous component also has one or more means of contact against the tire, for example in the form of a sliding sheath  7  or several transversal support bars. 
         [0042]    Its coupling end  5  preferably comprises a hook  8  or analogous component making it possible to secure this end  5  of the strap  2  and attach it detachably to the bearing plane  9  on which the vehicle rests, generally by hooking it into an opening of the structure of the plane or of the bearing platform  9 . 
         [0043]    The sliding sheath  7  for contact with the tire is preferably of a length roughly equal to half the circumference of a tire and makes it possible to avoid transferring the movement of the strap  2  resulting from its tensioning and the slight compression of the tire to the tire. This can preferably be a sleeve made of a very resistant material, preferably elastomer, inside which the strap  2  slides. 
         [0044]    The tensioning and retention mechanism  3  of the strap  2  is provided to tension it after it is immobilized and wound, then to keep it taut. 
         [0045]    In a particular but non-limiting embodiment of the invention, shown in more detail in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the tensioning and retaining mechanism  3  has a winding axle  10  preferably rotated by a mechanism  11  with a locking device, for example a ratchet or analogous mechanism making it possible to lock the winding axle  10  in position to prevent it from rotating in the opposite direction so that the strap  2  can be tensioned and be kept taut. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment of the invention, the tensioning and retaining mechanism  3  comprises a winding axle  10  that is long enough to offer numerous transversal winding positions for the strap  2  so that the strap can be tensioned strictly in alignment with the wheel  12  and in alignment with the anchoring point  13  to the chassis  14  of the vehicle. 
         [0047]    In this embodiment, the section of the winding axle  10  is non-circular and may comprise one or more sliding winding components  15  provided to secure the tensioning end  6  of the strap  2 . This winding component  15  has, for example, a central passage with a non-circular section through which it is mounted on the winding axle  10  and whose section has a shape that is complementary to that of this winding axle  10  so that the rotation of this axle drives the sliding winding component  15  so that it rotates at the same time to wind the strap  2 . 
         [0048]    The tensioning and retaining mechanism  3  may be incorporated in the structure of the plane or the bearing floor of the vehicle, preferably at the end of this structure. 
         [0049]    The tensioning and retaining mechanism  3  is shown as being built onto the end of the bearing plate  9  or mounted onto it. It is clear that this can be done so that it can be detached from the platform or the bearing floor  9  of the vehicle, that is, so that it is removable and can be attached there temporarily in the appropriate spot, particularly simultaneously through a number of through-perforations existing in its structure. 
         [0050]    It is thus possible to envision several variants with removable tensioning and retaining mechanisms  3  and ratchet mechanisms whose mechanism would be mounted or temporarily attached to the plane or the bearing platform in an appropriate location. 
         [0051]    One embodiment of the coupling and transmission assembly  4  is shown in detail in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0052]    In a preferred embodiment, this assembly  4  comprises two separable parts, a support having a retaining means, for example a hook, called hook holder assembly  16  and a separable transmission part  17 . 
         [0053]    The coupling and transmission assembly  4  is borne and mounted so that it moves, for example by slipping, sliding or rolling along the strap  2  for the purpose of making adjustments or picking up slack or for various other reasons. 
         [0054]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hook holder assembly  16  has on its front face at least one retaining means, a hook, for example, preferably a swivel hook  18 . The hook holder assembly  16  has at each of its raised ends a rolling, sliding or slipping surface, for example a rolling axle or an inverted U-shaped branch  19  and  20  or any other support that bears the rolling, slipping or sliding strap  2 . Between these two ends, the support is shaped to offer a receiving space  21  in which the separable return part  17  can be housed, fitted or nested making it possible, as is seen in the figures, to create a loop  22  with the strap  2  shifting the movement upward. 
         [0055]    This arrangement makes it possible to produce a basic upward block and tackle. 
         [0056]    In effect, the hook holder assembly  16  forms with the strap  2  a downward movement transmission module when the hook  18  hooks onto or into the bearing plane  9 . 
         [0057]    The separable transmission part  17  also comprises a slipping, sliding or rolling surface that bears the slipping, sliding or rolling strap while it moves. This may also be a U-shaped branch or a rolling axle  23 . 
         [0058]    The separable transmission pail  17  is intended to be attached by at least one anchoring point  13  to the chassis  14 , either directly or via a hook  24  or an adapter  25  mounted on this hook  24  or any other suitable existing part available on the market to create an upward transmission movement module with the strap  2 . 
         [0059]    As for the tensioning and retaining mechanism, this may be a tensioning device integrated in the strap or inserted in the length of this strap as a segment. It is also possible to imagine a ratchet winder or any other equivalent device. 
         [0060]    According to this last device, the second end of the strap is no longer wound up in the mechanism at the end of the chassis, but is hooked or attached directly to the end of the chassis or in another location. 
         [0061]    Using the means above offers the possibility of a dual use, namely of using either of the two securing methods but also of using them simultaneously on the same vehicle. 
         [0062]    We will now describe the operation of the device  1  according to the invention for securing a vehicle while it is being transported on the bearing plane  9 . 
         [0063]    Two distinct but also simultaneous configurations for securing vehicles are possible. They are shown in simplified form in  FIGS. 7 through 9 . 
         [0064]    First, securing via the wheels wherein the strap is tightened around the tire ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
         [0065]    The strap  2  is hooked by the coupling end  5  onto or into an opening of the bearing plane  9 . It is placed over the tire of the wheel  12  via its sliding support sheath  7 . 
         [0066]    The coupling and transmission assembly  4  is coupled by its hook  18  close to the tire of the wheel  12 . The separable return part  17  is retracted in the hook holder assembly  16 . 
         [0067]    When the wheel is far away from the tensioning device  3  ( FIG. 7 ), the strap  2  extends roughly flat up to the tensioning device  3  on the winding axle  10  and its tensioning end  6  is wound in a position that is preferably in alignment with the tire of the wheel  12 . When the wheel  12  is close to the tensioning device  3  ( FIG. 8 ), the strap  2  extends roughly vertically up to the tensioning device  3 . 
         [0068]    Securing is achieved by tensioning the strap  2 . 
         [0069]    Second, securing by hooking to an anchoring point of the chassis of the carrier vehicle. 
         [0070]    The coupling end  5  of the strap  2  is hooked onto or into the bearing plane  9  at a certain distance from the anchoring point or points  13 . 
         [0071]    The coupling and return mechanism  4  is hooked onto or into the bearing plane  9  by the hook  18  of the hook holder assembly  16 , approximately at the anchoring point  13 . 
         [0072]    The separable return part  17  is hooked to the anchoring point either directly or via the hook  24  or the adapter  25  forming the flat transmission loop  22  between the two ends  19  of the hook holder assembly  16 . 
         [0073]    The length of the strap  2  makes it possible to connect it to the tensioning mechanism  3  on the winding axle  10  and its tensioning end  6  is preferably wound in alignment with the anchoring point  13 , that is, at a certain distance from the position corresponding to the first configuration. 
         [0074]    Securing is achieved by tensioning the strap  2  and keeping it taut. 
         [0075]    Third, dual securing via the wheels and one or more anchoring points of the chassis of the carrier vehicle. 
         [0076]    It is necessary to note that the securing device  1  of the invention makes it possible to provide two means for securing a same vehicle, regardless of the position of its wheels or its anchoring points with respect to the bearing plane  9 . 
         [0077]    Of course, other embodiments may be envisioned by a person skilled in the art without deviating from the general principle of the invention. 
         [0078]    Thus, for example, it is possible to replace the strap  2  with any other smooth or hinged flexible and resistant linking component, a tether, a cable or a composite structure, for example, and to use other types of structures for the bearing plane. Attachment to the chassis can be achieved at several anchoring points with the same strap.