Patent Publication Number: US-5630294-A

Title: Arrangement of sliding door for cargo vehicles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an arrangement of lateral sliding doors for cargo vehicles, such as trucks or trailers. This invention is particularly suitable for being used in trucks that transport crates, for example crates containing beverages, that are loaded and unloaded laterally. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE RELEVANT ART 
     Trucks that have shuttered partitions as lateral closures are known and are used currently. Although they are in wide use, these partitions entail a series of disadvantages. They are noisy and they have a large number of mobile pieces that are difficult to repair. This implies expensive maintenance and high replacement cost. They also have side rails that are very vulnerable to impacts by forklifts; as a result, the partitions are jammed or they have to be forced so that they will run along the rails. 
     It is the objective of this invention to solve the above-mention problems and to provide an easily operated side door with low maintenance cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principal object of this invention is to provide an arrangement of sliding side doors for cargo vehicles, such as trucks and trailers, comprising at least one door, which along its upper edge has at least two means allowing the door to be guided and to slide along a single rail, the rail being attached to the upper part of the vehicle, the vehicle having means for closing the door against the vehicle. 
     The single rail is used by all doors arranged on one and the same vehicle side since the door, when in the closed position, rests against the posterior part of the rail, leaving a free space for the movement of a second door in front of it. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention will be better understood with respect to the attached drawings, where: 
     FIG. 1 schematically and partially illustrates the arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 2 shows means for allowing the door to be guided and to slide relative to the vehicle body. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a door 1 in its closed position and a door 2 in its sliding position. On their upper edges, doors 1 and 2 both have at least one means for guidance and sliding 3, consisting of a rigid plate 4, suitably bent and attached to the door, for example by means of welding at one of its ends, and being provided at its other end with a wheel 5 and a guide lug 6, as best seen in FIG. 2. 
     On their lower edges, doors 1 and 2 each have a groove 7 for the introduction of closing means 8, consisting of at least one arm 9, preferably two, each in the shape of an L and mounted on a shaft 10 arranged along the vehicle side. The arms 9 are integral with shaft 10 which at one of its ends is secured to a closing lever (not shown). 
     When in operation, door 2 is suspended from a rail 11 that has a groove 12, along which moves wheel 5, a sliding surface 13 for guiding guide lugs 6, and an upper portion 14 for accommodating guide lug 6 in the closed door position. 
     Door 2 moves along rail 11 by means of wheel 5 which runs along groove 12. Once door 2 is located in the position in which it will be closed, the closing lever will be operated manually and this will cause shaft 10 and arms 9 to turn. The arms 9 engage door 2 via its groove 7, and are operable to raise door 2. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, when the door is in its open position the arm 9 is rotated to a position indicated by broken lines and numbered 9&#39;. When the door is raised to its closed position, guide lug 6, which has an inclined edge 6&#39; makes sliding contact with the sliding surface 13 of rail 11. This causes guide and movement means 3 to slide toward an upper closing position in which the door remains firmly closed, since its upper part continues to be held by guide lug 6 that remains secured at the upper end 14 of the rail, and the lower part remains secured by arms 9 which are fastened in the closing position by means of the closing lever. The closing lever 30 is secured to the vehicle body, for example by means of a latch. When door 1 is in its closing position, sliding surface 13 of rail 11 preferably presents an upward portion 20 which cooperates with guide lugs 6 to keep them in their corresponding position. 
     Wheel 5 preferably has a generally conical shape and is preferably metallic. Guide lug 6 is preferably made of Teflon™. 
     The arrangement of the side doors, according to this invention, not only makes it possible to eliminate the previously-mentioned disadvantages, but it also allows use of larger doors. This requires the vehicle to have fewer posts and less width with equal cargo capacity. Since such an arrangement has only two mobile parts per door, the door is easier to operate, easier to repair, and easier to maintain. The only requirement is periodically to lubricate the rollers of wheels 5 and rail 11. 
     In this disclosure, there are shown and described only the preferred embodiments of the invention, but, as aforementioned, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.