Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device at rails for exhaust extraction devices, which are adapted for removal of exhausts from vehicles. The rail ( 2 ) consists of several rail members ( 5 ) which are put together or assembled by means of coupling elements ( 6 ). The coupling elements ( 6 ) are wedge-shaped and the shape of spaces ( 9 ) in rail members ( 5 ) for the coupling elements ( 6 ) corresponds with the wedge-shape of said coupling elements ( 6 ). Mounting means ( 10 ) are provided for downward movement (arrow A) relative to the rail members ( 5 ) and thereby, for pulling the coupling elements ( 6 ) upwards (arrow D) relative to said rail members ( 5 ) such that said coupling elements ( 6 ) and rail members ( 5 ) are secured by wedge to each other.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a device at rails for exhaust extraction devices which are adapted for removal of exhausts from vehicles, said rail being mounted in premises in which the vehicle is located when the exhausts therefrom shall be removed, wherein a carriage is provided on the rail for movement along said rail when the vehicle moves therealong, wherein a hose is provided on the carriage for feeding exhausts from the exhaust pipe of the vehicle out of said premises and wherein the rail consists of several rail members which are put together or assembled by means of coupling elements. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Devices of the abovementioned type are already known from the publication EP 0 895 817. This device normally operates satisfactory, but it has been noticed that the rail members and coupling elements which hold said members together can loosen from each other because of the movements and loads the rails are subjected to by the carriage when said carriage runs along said rails. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to eliminate this problem by simple means and this is arrived at according to the invention. 
     The invention is an apparatus for removing exhaust from vehicles. The apparatus includes a plurality of rail members which extend linearly. At least one wedge-shaped coupling element extends linearly and is for coupling together the rail members. Each of the rail members has a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion defines a wedge-shaped receiving space for receiving the at least one wedge-shaped coupling element. The shape of the wedge-shaped receiving space corresponds to the shape of the at least one wedge-shaped coupling element. Mounting means are for mounting the at least one wedge-shaped coupling element to the rail members. The mounting means are movable in a first direction relative to each of the rail members to pull the at least one wedge-shaped coupling element in a direction opposite the first direction relative to the rail members to wedge together the wedge-shaped coupling element and the rail members. A carriage is suspended on the lower portion of the coupled together rail members for movement along the lower portion of the rail members when the vehicle moves therealong. A hose is connected to the carriage for feeding exhaust from the vehicle. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The device  1  illustrated in the drawings is provided in premises, e.g. a fire station, and it is intended to remove exhausts from vehicles (not shown), e.g. fire-fighting vehicles, located in said premises. The device  1  comprises a rail  2  which is suspended from the ceiling in the premises. 
     By providing the initially defined device with said characterizing features, the rail members and coupling elements are wedged up to each other and the wedge function improves with increased tightening of the mounting screws. The wedge function also improves with increased loading of the rails by the carriage. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which 
     FIG. 1 with an exploded view illustrates the various members forming part of the device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a section II—II through a member forming part of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a section III—III through another member forming part of the device of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of a third member forming part of the device according to the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The device  1  illustrates in the drawings is provided in premises, e.g. a fire station, and it is intended to remove exhaust from vehicles (not shown), e.g. fire-fighting vehicles located in said premises. The device  1  comprises a rail  2  which is suspended from the ceiling in the premises. 
     The device  1  illustrated in the drawings is provided in premises, e.g. a fire station, and it is intended to remove exhausts from vehicles (not shown), e.g. fire-fighting vehicles, located in said premises. The device  1  comprises a rail  2  which is suspended from the ceiling in the premises. 
     The rail  2  is mounted in parallel with a driveway along which the vehicle can be driven in the premises between a parking place and a gate through which the vehicle can drive into and out of said premises. On the rail  2  there is provided a carriage  3  (schematically shown with broken lines) which is moved along the rail  2  when the vehicle moves therealong. The carriage  3  includes a hose  4  for removing exhausts from the vehicle and this hose  4  has a portion  4   a  depending from the carriage  3  and positionable in relation to the exhaust pipe of the vehicle such that exhausts discharged from the exhaust pipe can be removed from the premises through the hose  4 . The hose  4  further comprises a portion  4   b  which communicates with its suspended portion  4   a  and which is connected to the carriage  3 . The portion  4   b  is suspended on the rail  2  through suspension means (not shown) and it is preferably connected to a fan system (not shown) generating a negative pressure in the hose  4  for facilitating removal of the exhausts. 
     Rail members  5  have lower portions  7  from which the carriage  3  is suspended and upper portions  8  defining spaces  9  into which coupling elements  6  are insertable. The coupling elements  6  are provided on the rail members  5  by means of mounting means  10 . 
     In order to obtain a stable and durable connection between the rail members  5 , the coupling elements  6  are wedge-shaped and the shape of the spaces  9  in the upper portions  8  of the rail members  5  correspond with the wedge-shape of said coupling elements  6 . Additionally, the mounting means  10  extend downwards through upper holes  11  in the upper portions  8  of the rail members  5  and said mounting means engage holes  12  in the coupling elements  6 . By moving the mounting means  10  in downwards direction (arrow A, FIG. 1) relative to the coupling elements  6 , said coupling elements are pulled upwards (arrow B) relative to the rail members  5  such that said coupling elements  6  and the upper portions  8  of said rail members  5  are secured by wedge to each other. 
     The mounting means  10  preferably consist of mounting screws which extend downwards through holes  11  in an upper part  13  of the upper portions  8  and which are screwed down into threaded parts of the coupling elements  6 , e.g. into threaded holes  12 . Alternatively, the holes may be untapped and the mounting screws  10  instead screwed into a nut (not shown) provided on the coupling elements  6 , e.g. in a pocket therefor at the undersides of the coupling elements  6 . Each rail member  5  may have two such mounting screws  10  for each coupling element  6  and there may be at least one washer  15  for every mounting screw  10 . Said upper part  13  is oriented preferably in horizontal or substantially horizontal direction. 
     In order to maintain the obtained wedge function between the rail members  5  and the coupling elements  6  unchanged for a long time, wedge surfaces  16  (see FIG. 2) on the upper portions  8  (see FIG. 3) of the rail members  5  may comprise ridges  18  which extend in a transverse direction relative to the direction (arrow B) in which the coupling elements  6  are pulled upwards in relation to the rail members  5 . These ridges  18  may be flexible in upwards direction by the coupling elements  6  when said elements are tightened. The coupling elements  6  may have smooth wedge surfaces  17  which cooperate with said ridges  18 . 
     The wedge surfaces  16  of the rail members  5  and/or the wedge surfaces  17  of the coupling elements  6  are provided with an angle α a of 5-20°, preferably about 10°, relative to a vertical centre line CL through the rail members  5  and coupling elements  6  respectively. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the coupling elements  6  may have a trapezoidal cross section. 
     The rail members  5  and/or the coupling elements  6  preferably consist of extruded aluminium, but may of course consist of another suitable material. 
     The rail members  5  are suspended in the premises by means of suspension means  20 . For enabling mounting of suspension means  20  on the rail members  5 , said members are provided with, on opposite sides thereof, outwardly directed mounting flanges  21 ,  22  which extend in horizontal direction along the entire rail member  5  in question. The suspension means  20  have two shanks  23 ,  24  which extend downwards past the outwardly directed mounting flanges  21 ,  22 . The shanks  23 ,  24  have, down below, inwardly directed gripping portions  25 ,  26  which engage said mounting flanges  21 ,  22  from below. 
     The suspension means  20  further comprise connecting portions  27  between the shanks  23 ,  24 , said connecting portions  27  being provided at such height above the gripping portions  25 ,  26  that they run clear off the mounting means  10  on the rail members  5  when the suspension means  20  are threaded onto the rail members  5  through their end portions 
     The suspension means  20  have at least one fixing means  28  for fixing thereof in any optional location on the rail members  5 . The fixing means  28  may be fixing screws which are screwed into threaded holes  29  in the suspension means  20  and which with end portions engage the rail members  5  from above such that the suspension means  20  are braced or fastened thereto in suitable positions. 
     The suspension means  20  may also have two upwardly directed flanges  30 ,  31  with holes  32 ,  33  for a mounting member  34 , e.g. a bolt. The mounting member  34 , which extends through said holes  32 ,  33 , is connected to a chain  35  or corresponding member through which the suspension means  20  is suspended in a suitable spot. 
     The suspension means  20  preferably consist of extruded aluminium, but may of course be made of another material. 
     The rail  2  can be assembled by inserting a part of a coupling element  6  into the space  9  therefor (arrow C, FIG. 1) and then secure said coupling element by wedge to the rail member  5  through the mounting means  10 . Thereafter, another rail member  5  is threaded onto the protruding part of the coupling element  6  (arrow D, FIG.  1 ), whereupon said coupling element  6  and the other rail member  5  are secured by wedge to each other through the mounting means  10 . This method of mounting or assembly continues until the rail  2  is finished in its entire length. 
     The invention is not limited to what is described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may vary within the scope of the subsequent claims. Thus, the rail members  5 , coupling elements  6  and mounting means  10  may e.g. be designed in other ways than shown and described.