Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title Retractable Cover Assembly for Vehicle Platforms
Field of the invention
This invention relates generally to vehicles having
a load-carrying platform and more especially to a
retractable cover assembly for protecting the load on such a
platform.
Background to the invention
The invention may find application in the field of
road vehicles, for example as a cover assembly which can be
used in place of a conventional tilt cover, but has particular
apprication in the fleld of railway wagons.
Summary of the invention
According to the lnventlon, there is provided a
vehicle having a load-carrying platform and a retractable
cover assembly for protectlng the load, said cover assembly
comprising a guide along each longitudinal side edqe of the
platform, an arched framework for defining longitudinal side
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walls and a roof, said struct~ure comprising a plurallty of
arched framework sections art~culated one to another so- as
to be collapsibIe together in~the longitudinal~direction, at
least some of said framework sections~having means cooperating
with the guides for~movement therealong, a cover of
flexible sheet material secured to the arched framework on
the outside thereof to collapsF slmultaneously wlth the ::
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latter, and at least one tensioning device for longitudin-
ally tensioning the cover in the load-protecting position.
Especially for the particular application of the
invention to railway wagons, the arched framework structure
may have a domed roof, more especially a polygonally domed
roof having at least four planar sections. An arched
framework defining a substantially flat roof may be preferred
for a road vehicle.
In the case of a road vehicle, the load-carrying
lQ platform will usually have at least a rigid structural
front wall, and possibly also a rigid rear wall which may
include access doors. Similarly, a railway wagon may
have at least a front bulkhead and possibly a rear bulkhead
as well. The cover assembly of the invention may,
thererore, simply comprise side walls and roof. Alter-
natively, however, it may also inc]ude at least one end
wall integral with side walls and roof.
In the latter instance, the or each end wall of
the cover assembly may comprise an articulated frame
carried by the end section~o~ the col~lapsible arched~ -
framework, which frame can be displaced into a first
position for defining an end wall or a second position
in which the~articulated members of the frame lie close
to the sides and roof of~ thé end framework section to
enable mo~-ement past tbe~l~oad. Whether or no-t~the end
frame~-ork sectlons carry such an articulated fra~e~ for -~
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definin~ an end wall of the cover assembly, each such
end framework section may be a more rigid section than
the intermediate sections, for example comprising a
pair of arched frames disposed one behind the other in
the longitudinal direction and rigidly connected
together.
The flexible sheet cover of a cover assembly
having an end wall will include an end wall cover portion,
which may conveniently be formed as a plurality of flaps
which secure toaether, as by means of zip-type or other
fasteners, and when unzipped can be folded back to enable
movement past the load.
The quides enabling retraction of the cover
assembly are preferably constituted by tracks or rails,
for example round-sectioned bars welded to a track
support, and the means carried by the frameworX sections
for cooperation therewith are preferably constituted by
wheels. The track supports can rest along the longl-
tudinal slde edges of the vehlcle platform and be tled
~0 together at intervals by tie bars. It will often be
practicable for said tie bars to extend transversely
beneath the actual floor of the vehicle platform.
The track supports may~ then be clamped down to the
chassis structure of~the vehicle beneath the floor,
so as to produce a~track assembly lmmovably fixed,
as by weldinq, bolting or rivetting, to the vehicle
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platfo-m. In addition to the wheels, wheel supports
at the bottom of the framework members preferably carry
retainers which cooperate with the track supports to
prevent risk of the wheels lifting free of the tracks.
For moving the cover assembly along the tracks,
a motorised drivina device may be provided, or alter-
natively a manually operable drive device incorporating
means affording a mechanical advantage. Such a drive
device will be provided on the end framework section at
least at one end of the assembly, and will act on the
wheel or wheels of such end sections. A drive device
at each end will enable retraction in either longitudinal
direction.
As the vehicle provided with the load cover
assembly may travel at relatively high speeds, other
important features of the invention are concerned with
the manner in which the flexible sheet cover is secured
to the arched framework.
A preferred cover has securing straps secured on
~0 its interior surface, which connect via tightening
buckles or the like to the sides~and roof of the :
indivi~ual framework sections. The preferred~cover is
made o~ plastics coated fabric, such as PVC coated.
polyes er cr nylon, and has straps of compatible plastics
impregr.atec. webbing, e.g PVC impregnated webbing, bonded
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to the interior surface of the cover by high freguency
welding. Externally, therefore, the cover is devoid Oc
any securing strap apertures or the like and offers
complete weatherproof protection for the load.
The tensioning in the longitudinal direction is
preferably afforded by a tensioning winch which detachably
connects with an end framework section. The tensioning
device may be mounted on a front or rear bulkhead in a
vehicle having such a bulkhead, or may be carried by a
suitable support specially provided for the purpose at the
end of the vehicle platform. As the preferred cover
assembly is retractable in either longitudinal direction,
a tensioning device is prefera*ly provided at each end of
the platform.
In the vertical direct~ion, a lesser degree of
tensioning can be provided by tensioning straps bonded
to the cover at or near tbe bottom of the sides thereof,
and securing by tightening buckles or hooks or the~ like
either to the wheel supports or to the track supports.
Even in the former case, it may be desirable for the
vertical tensioning to be relaxed before the cover
assembly is retracted.~;
When the~cover has an end cover portion at one or
both ends of the cover~assembly, i.e. when the vehicle
platform does not have a front or rear bulkhead or only
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a partial height bulkhead, billowing of the end cover
portion, either inwardly or outwardly, can be prevented
by means of rigid cross-braces which are fixed across
the end cover portion, e.g. to the individual flap
portions thereof, and ~hich cooperate with the end frame
of the cover assembly framework, for example being
strapped thereagainst.
Brief description of drawings
A practical example of vehicle platform cover
assembly in accordance with the invention is shown in
the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 shows in side elevation a railway wagonhaving a load protected by the cover assembly which
comprises a retractable arched framework and an outer
weatherproof cover;
Figure 2 shows a part of the arched framework in
the operative position;
Figure 3 shows the arched framework in the
retracted condition;
Figure 4 is an end view of the arched framework;
Figure 5 is a view corresponding to that of Figure
4 but with the outer cover in position;
Figures 6 and 7 show in end view the details of
an articulated end frame for defining an end wall of the
cover assembly;
Figure 8 shows a track assembly in plan view;
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Figure 9 shows detail of the ~ounting of the track
assembly to the vehicle platform and of the mounting of
the arched framework on the track; and
Figure 10 is a side view of part of the track
assembly, in cross section through ~ tie bar.
Description of embodiment
Figure 1 shows in outline a railway wagon having
wheels 10 and a load-carrying platform structure 12
equipped with front and rear partial height bulkheads 14.
A typical load 16 to be carried by such a wagon, for
example a coil of steel strip, is outlined in Figure 4.
This load is supported on V-blocks 18 on the platform.
Such a typical load often requires to be loaded on to and
off the wagon endwise and maximum p~ssible access is
desirable during this procedure, especially access from
both sides and above. At the same time, the load must
be given weatherproof protection during transit, and the
retractable cover assembly of this invention aims to
achieve both such objects.
Figure 1 shows the wagon fitt~d with the cover
assembly in its operative position protecting the load.
This assembly comprises an outer cover fixed to a
retractable arched framework undern~ath, but in Figure 1
only the outer cover 20 is visible. -~
The form of the retractable arched framework which
carries the outer cover will be clear from Figures-2 to 4. -
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This framework comprises a plurality of individual
sections, generally referenced 22, each of arch-like
shape having opposed vertical side members 24 connected
by a polyaonally domed roof arch 26.
S On each side of the assembly, the side members 24
are articula~ed one to another by crossed arms 28,
thereby to render the framework collapsible in the
longitudinal direction. The framework has strengthened
end sections 30 each consisting of two planar sections,
spaced one behind the other and connected by bracing
struts. Fiaure 2 shows part of the framework in an
extended operative position, whilst Fiaure 3 shows the
framework in collapsed or retracted condition.
Movement of the framework into or out of its
collapsed condition is enabled by wheels 32 on the frame-
work sections which run on a track forminq part of a
track assembly fixed to the waaon platform.
Thus, referring to Figures 8 to 10, the track
assembly includes two rails 3~, one at each longitudinal
2~ edge of the platform, being rails in the form of round
bar welded to rail supporting members 36 which are tied
together by tie bars 38~ The supporting members 36 seat
on the lonqitudlnal edges of the waaon chassis`40, as
shown in Figure 9, just outwardly of the longitudinal
edges of the platform floor 42,~and the tie bars 36,
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bo1ted to the supporting members at 43, extend across
the waqon beneath said floor. The above-described
pa-allel rail assembly is immovably clamped to the wagon
_hassis by nut and bolt clamping devices G 1 .
Figure 9 also shows the manner in which the wheels
of the framework sections cooperate with the rails. A
framework section 22 has at the bottom of each side
member 24 an axle mounting 44 for a wheel 32 of pulley-
type form, which seats on the round bar rail 34. A
re-ainer 46 prevents risk of the wheel lifting free of
the rail.
In the illustrated arranaement, each framework
section 22 has a wheel 32 on each side, and each strength-
ened end section 30 has two wheels 32 on each side, but
arranqements with a lesser or greater number of wheels are
possible.
Driving devices for moving the framework are
diagrammatically indicated at 47 in Figures 2 and 3.
rach driving device acts on the wheels 32 of an end
section 30 of the framework, and may be a motorised drive
de~ice or a manually operable device incorporating means
fo- imparting a mechanical advantage. Two drlving
de~ices are provided, one at each end of the framework,
~o enable retractlon ln either lonaitudinal direction.
The collaps~ ar~hed f-ameworX is primarily ma~e
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of steel, but the outer cover 20 is preferably made of
flexible PVC coated fabric such as polyester or nylon.
PVC straps or P~.7C impregnated webbina straps (not shown)
are bonded by hiah frequency welding to the interior
surface of the cover 20, enablinq the cover to be
fastened, as by buckles, to the side members 24 and roof
arches 2~ of the individual framework sections 22 and 30.
The flexible cover 20 thus folds up in concertina fashion
when the underlying framework is collapsed, whereby the
entire cover assembly is retracted around the load.
The cover assembly is required to provide
protection at the ends since only partial bulkheads 14
are provided on the wagon, and the manner in which this
is accomplished will now be described with reference to
Fiqures S to 7.
First, as shown in Figure 5, the outer cover 20 is
formed with an integral end cover portion in the form of
flaps ~9 which secure in position by vertical zip-type
fasteners 51, but which when unzipped can be folded back
upwardly out of the way. Each flap 49 carries rigid
cross-braces S0.
In association with the end cover portion 49 of
the outer cover 20, the end section 30 of the underlying
framework is:formed with an articulated frame-52 (see
2.5 Figures 6 and 7~ which~has an operatlve position, for
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convenience shown on the right-hand side of Figure 6,
and an inoperative position, for convenience shown on
the left-hand side of Fi,gure ~. In the operative
position, the frame defines an end wall to the arched
framework, for underlying the end cover portion 49. In
the inoperative position, the frame members pivot into
peripheral positions adjacent the side members and roof
of the arched section 30 of the framewor~, thereby to
enable movement past the load.
The frame 52 includes two articulated members 54
which connect via a releasable pin at 56 to lock the
frame in its operative position.
The cross braces 50 on the flaps 49 of the end
portion of the cover cooperate with the end frame 52, in
the operative condition, to prevent the end cover portion
from billowing. If desired, the braced end cover portion
may be tied, as by buckled straps, to the end frame 52.
Horizontal tensioning of the cover assembly in the
operative position in which it covers the load is
?0 achieved by means of tensioning winches 58 diagrammatically
indicated in Figure 1. In the illustrated example, these
tensioning winches are mounted on the partial bulkheads 14.
Ea-h tensioninq device 5~ releasably connects with the
corresponding end frame~ork section 30.
?~ A lesser degree of vertical tensioning is achieved
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by means of the tensioninq straps 60 also indicated in
Fiqure 1. These tensioninq straps make a buckle or
hook connection either with the wheel supports on the
individual framewor~ sec.ions or with the track support.
In use, in order to release the cover assembly
from its operative, load-protecting position, first the
tension is relaxed and then the articulated end frame(s)
is moved to its operative position and the end cover
portion unzipped and folded back. The entire assembly
may then be retracted along the rails using the drive
device, givinq access to the load for unloading from the
end, both sides and above. The reverse procedure is
followed to move the cover from its retracted position
into its operative position over a load which has been
1~ loaded on to the wagon. The PVC cover provides weather-
proof protection for the load in transit, and its means
of support and tensioning via the underlying arched
framework ensure its safe usage, without risk of damage,
durina high speed travel.
2n The illustrated example of cover assembly is
designed for a railway waaon, but a generally similar
construction, possibly having a flat roof, would be !
suitable for a road vehicle platform, for example in
place of a conventional tilt cover.
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