GB2071582A

GB2071582A - Curtain-sided vehicle bodies

Info

Publication number: GB2071582A
Application number: GB8102929A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TRENDE TRANSPORT DESIGN Ltd
Current assignee: TRENDE TRANSPORT DESIGN Ltd
Priority date: 1980-01-31
Filing date: 1981-01-30
Publication date: 1981-09-23
Also published as: GB2071582B

Abstract

In order to save space and minimise the number of components susceptible to damage, in place of a separate cant rail and pelmet a cant rail (20) is provided which comprises a first generally horizontal flange (22) adapted to receive a curtain track (38) and a second generally vertical flange (24) which constitutes an integral pelmet. A curtain (32) which is suited for use with such a cant rail (20) comprises a sheet of flexible curtain material (60) adapted to be suspended from a curtain track (38), the upper edge of the material being folded over to form an outwardly extending, upstanding, resiliently deformable loop (74) for engaging and forming a weatherproof seal with the inner face of a pelmet (24) of a vehicle body. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to vehicle bodies Field of Invention This invention relates to vehicle bodies, in particular a curtain-sided body.

Background to the Invention In order to provide improved access to the interior of vehicle bodies, the so-called "curtainsided" body has been developed during recent years. This type of body is usually in the form of a large rectangular container carried on a lorry chassis with one side of the container substantially open. A "curtain" of flexible material is suspended from a tack normally within the vehicle and the side of the container can be closed off by drawing the curtain along. Typically two curtains are provided, one at each end of the opening, to allow the latter to be closed more conveniently than would otherwise be the case. In known arrangements the curtain track is mounted on the underside of a channel section cant rail and weatherproofing has been provided by fitting a pelmet normally of a plastics and/or rubber material below the channel section.

The provision of this pelmet reduces the available headroom in the opening and also introduces a further item which can become damaged, particularly when this type of vehicle is loaded and unloaded using forklift trucks and the like.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved cant rail and curtain arrangements for a curtain-sided vehicle body which do not suffer from this disadvantage but are nevertheless capable of providing the same degree of weatherproofing as is associated with a conventional pelmet.

The Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention a cant rail for a curtain-sided vehicle body comprises a first flange adapted to receive a curtain track and a second flange extending in a non-parallel manner from the first flange to constitute an integral pelmet for protecting the upper end of the curtain and the curtain track.

Typically the two flanges are at right angles.

Conveniently the curtain track is in the form of an inverted channel section with inturned lips on which rollers of curtain track fittings can run.

According to a second aspect of the present invention a cant rail for a curtain-sided vehicle body comprises a generally L-section strut adapted to form the upper edge of a curtain-sided vehicle body, the strut comprising a first flange extending generally horizontally and a second, longer flange depending in a generally downward direction and with a curtain track located within the section on the first flange, at the upper end of the downwardly depending flange, the latter serving as a pelmet for a curtain hanging from the curtain track.

Conveniently the first flange, i.e. the shorter limb of the L-section, includes an upturned lip along its inboard edge by which the rail can be secured to roof members of the vehicle body.

According to a preferred feature of the first or second aspect of the invention, the lower end of the second flange, i.e. the longer limb of the Lsection, is formed with an outwardly and upwardly extending lip to form a gutter or drip tray along the lower outer peripheral edge of the pelmet-forming flange or limb of the rail.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a curtain for a curtain-sided vehicle body, comprising a sheet of flexible curtain material adapted to be suspended from a curtain track, the upper edge of the material being folded over to form an outwardly extending, upstanding, resiliently deformable loop running along the length of the curtain adjacent to the upper end thereof, the arrangement being such that when the curtain is suspended from a curtain track of a vehicle body the loop engages and forms a weatherproof seal with the inner face of a pelmet of the vehicle body.

The upper edge of the curtain material is preferably folded over in two substantially 1 800 folds, with a first outwards fold at the upper edge of the resulting curtain, the folded over material being laid back on the outer face of the curtain material and folded over in a second fold which constitutes said upstanding loop. The second fold may be in either an inwards or outwards direction, i.e. with the final edge strip of curtain material either sandwiched between the main body of curtain material and the folded over material laid thereon, or laid on top of the folded over material, respectively. The folded over material may be retained in position in any convenient manner, e.g.

by welding, stitching and the like. In one particular embodiment such material is held in position by being clamped between a plurality of support plates each with an associated support member, each plate and associated member being located on opposite sides of the curtain, overlying the folded over material, and conveniently being secured to one another by means of one or more (typically two) retaining screws extending through aligned apertures formed in the plate, member and curtain material.

In this case each support member conveniently comprises part of a curtain hanger which is adapted to be received in a curtain track for suspending the curtain from the vehicle body.

Such hangers may comprise a hanger body, of which the support member is an integral part, the hanger body carrying a pair of rollers by which the hanger is adapted to be slidingly received in a curtain track with the support member thereof extending downwardly through a slot or other opening in the curtain track.

The curtain material preferably comprises a polyester woven material coated with PVC or the like. The curtain material may to advantage be reinforced by having secured thereto reinforcing material which may also comprise a polyester material coated with PVC. In this case, the curtain material and reinforcing material may be welded to one another, although other appropriate methods may be used if desired.

Such reinforcing material may extend over the full area of the curtain material, with the resulting curtain being of laminated construction. In this case, the reinforcing material is preferably also folded over at the upper end of the curtain, either outwardly so as to overly the folded over curtain material or inwardly so as to overly the reinforcing material. In either case, the said loop (which forms a weatherproof seal in use) is preferably formed of the curtain material only, with the reinforcing material being stripped back and cut short if necessary to expose the curtain material.

In alternative embodiments, the reinforcing material may be in the form of strips extending along the hanging length of the curtain (i.e.

substantially vertically in use) with the upper end of each strip folded over to form a hanging loop preferably extending above the upper end of the folded over curtain material. A curtain of such construction may conveniently be suspended from a curtain track by means of a plurality of curtain hangers each comprising a horizontal bar or pin around which one of the hanging loops may be passed.

In a variant of such arrangements, each reinforcing strip may extend mainly over the rear (inner) face of the curtain, with the lower end of the strip passing through a respective eyelet at the lower end of the curtain, a buckle being attached to the lower end of the strip to permit the latter to be attached to appropriate fastenings along the lower edge of the opening in the vehicle body for securing the curtain in position. A similar eyelet may also be provided at the upper end of the curtain to allow the upper end of the strip also to terminate on the front (outer) face of the curtain.

In such embodiments, the folded over reinforcing strips and curtain material are preferably reinforced by stitching.

The upstanding loop of curtain material is preferably reinforced by providing within the loop a suitable resiliently deformable reinforcing material, e.g. sponge rubber or a tube of rubber or plastics material or other resiliently deformable insert so as to increase the rigidity of the loop and thereby improve the strength of the seal when it engages the inside of the pelmet.

It is clear that a curtain in accordance with the invention may be used with advantage in conjunction with a cant rail of the invention. The upstanding loop of curtain material forming a strong weatherproof seal upon engagement with the pelmet.

Thus, in a further aspect the present invention provides a cant rail in accordance with the present invention with a curtain in accordance with the invention suspended therefrom.

The present invention also includes within its scope a curtain-sided vehicle body fitted with a cant rail and/or a curtain in accordance with the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the Drawings Figure 1 is a cross-section through an upper edge of a curtain-sided vehicle body when viewed from fore to aft, illustrating one embodiment of a cant rail and curtain in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the rear corner of the vehicle body of Figure 1 viewed from above and taken on the line A-A in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates in detail the upper end of the curtain shown in Figure 1 and illustrates the means by which the curtain is attached to curtain supporting rollers etc; Figure 4 is a side view of a part of the curtain shown in Figure 3 secured to a curtain runner; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating an alternative curtain in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 is a side view of the upper end of the curtain shown in Figure 5;; Figure 7 is a further view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a further alternative curtain in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 8 is a side view of the upper end of the curtain shown in Figure 7.

Detailed Description of Drawings Referring to Figure 1, the illustrated curtainsided vehicle body includes a roof 10 which is attached to and supported on cross-member 12 via brackets 14. The brackets 14 are secured by means of bolts 16 to an upright elongate lip 18 of a cant rail generally designated 20. The latter is otherwise of generally L-shape and includes a shorter limb or flange 22 extending between the lip 1 8 and the main corner of the cant rail such that when the rail is located on the vehicle body, as shown, the limb 22 is generally horizontal. The L-section of the cant rail 20 includes a second, longer and major limb or flange 24 which extends at right angles to the limb 22 and at its lower end is turned outwardly and upwardly to form a tray or gutter 26.

The cant rail 20 constitutes the upper outer edge of the vehicle body and the gutter 26 defines the upper edge of an opening in the side of the vehicle.

The opening extends between a front and rear pillar on that side of the vehicle body and the pillar at the rear end of the body on the open side is shown in cross-section in Figure 2. The pillar is generally designated by reference numeral 28 and serves as a housing for a tubular support 30 on which a blind or curtain 32 can be wound. The pillar 28 is partly cut away to allow the member 30 and blind 32 to be inserted and removed.

Figure 2 also reveals the gutter 26 and shows how the end of the latter is closed by means of a plate 34 which conveniently has an aperture 36 (see Figure 1) through which water can drain to the rear of the vehicle.

The opposite end of the opening is constructed in a similar way to the end as shown in Figure 2 but is a mirror image of the end shown in Figure 2.

The cant rail 20 not only serves as the upper horizontal edge of the container and as an integral pelmet and gutter but also serves as a mounting to which curtain track can be attached. The curtain track is shown in Figure 1 in cross-section at 38.

The curtain track 38 is in the form of an inverted channel in which the lower ends of the two parallei limbs of the channel are inturned and slightly upturned at 40 and 42 to provide two elongate dished rails on which curtain hangers 43 can run. Each hanger 43 comprises a pair of rollers 44 and 46 carried on an axle 48 itself rotatably received within a cylindrical bore within a fitting 50 integrally formed at the upper end of a plate 52 which will normally hang down in generally vertical manner through the gap between the two dished rails 40 and 42. Plate 52 is apertured to receive bolts 54 and 56 for securing to the plate 52 a second plate 58 and for sandwiching between the two plates 52 and 58 the upper end of curtain 32 as will hereinafter be described in more detail.

Figure 3 shows the method of fixing the curtain 32 between the two plates 52 and 58 and reference is now made to this Figure.

The illustrated curtain is of laminated construction and comprises a curtain web 60 of a polyester woven material coated with PVC (polyvinylchloride) and a reinforcing panel or web 62 of polyester webbing which is also PVC coated to allow it to be welded to the curtain web 60.

At the upper end the laminated curtain material is folded over at 64 such that the length of the folded over laminated material is greater than the distance L as indicated in Figure 3. The reinforcing webbing 62 is then removed from the woven material curtain web 60 over that part of the folded over length of the curtain which extends beyond the length L of the folded over part of the curtain and, as shown in Figure 3, the thus exposed woven material curtain web 60 is folded around in a loop 74 and the free end is tucked into the sandwich of laminated material at 66.

The upper edge of the curtain is fitted between the two plates 52 and 58 and holes are formed through the folded over layers of curtain material, e.g. by hot drilling. Conveniently, one or other of the plates can be used as a template to locate the position of the holes.

Bolts 54 and 56 can then be inserted through the holes in the plates and the curtain material and lock bolt collars 68 fitted to the inboard ends of the bolts.

The loop 74 formed by the folded over exposed material 60, which is shown in cross-section in Figure 3, extends as a resiliently deformable ridge across the width of the curtain and is situated relative to the limb 24 of the cant rail so that the outer region of the loop 74 just engages the inside surface of the limb 24. This is shown in Figure 1.

The engagement of the ridge of material with the inside of the cant rail ensures a good seal between the curtain 32 and the pelmet section 24 of the cant rail and constitutes a good weatherproof seal for the curtain track mechanism, inhibiting the ingress of cold air or rain etc into the interior of the vehicle body.

Figure 4 shows in side view the relative positions of the plate 52 and plate 58 viewed from externally. To this end, part of the plate 52 is shown in dotted outline and the bolts 54 and 56 are not shown in place. Instead the two holes 70 and 72 in the plate 58 are revealed and these are shown aligned with the holes in the laminated curtain material and in the rear plate 52.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there is illustrated an alternative arrangement which for the most part resembles the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 (like components being indicated by like reference numerals) but which includes modified curtain hangers 43' in place of hangers 43, a modified curtain 32' in place of curtain 32 and a modified curtain hanging arrangement.

As best shown in Figure 6, hanger 43' resembles hanger 43 in that it comprises a pair of rollers 44 and 46 carried on an axle 48 rotatably received within a cylindrical bore within the hanger body, the axle 48 being retained in position by means of enlarged end pieces 80 and 82.

However, in place of plate 52, hanger 43' comprises a pair of fork members 84 and 86 integrally formed with the hanger body. A pin 88 extends through aligned bores in the fork members to span the gap therebetween, being retained in position by means of a hexagonal head 90 at one end of the pin 88 and a locking nut 92 or the like screwed onto a threaded portion at the other end of the pin 88.

The modified curtain 32', as before, comprises a sheet of curtain material 60 conveniently in the form of a sheet of polyester woven material coated with PVC. In place of reinforcing web 62 of curtain 32, curtain 32' is provided with a series of tapes or ribbons 94 which are welded, stitched or otherwise secured to the curtain material 60 with the length of the tapes aligned with the hanging direction of the curtain, i.e. with the tapes extending substantially vertically. The tapes are conveniently formed of webbing such as is commonly used for vehicle seat belts and harnesses.

Each tape 94 extends beyond the upper end of the curtain 32' with the excess length of tape being folded over and attached to the main length of tape, e.g. by stitching, so as to form a retention loop 96 at the upper end of the curtain 32'. The retention loop 96 is secured on pin 88 of an associated hanger 43', as shown best in Figure 6.

Although only one loop and hanger are shown in Figures 5 and 6 it is to be understood that there are a series of similar loops, each with an associated hanger 43, provided across the width of the curtain 32'.

In a similar manner to the previously described arrangement, the upper end of the curtain material 60 is turned over at 98 and folded back over itself.

The free end is folded under and and tucked under the folded over material at 100 and the whole of the material sewn, welded, adhered or otherwise secured in position. In this way, a protruding loop 74 of material is again formed which engages the adjacent surface of the limb 24 to produce a weatherproof seal.

In order to improve the rigidity and strength of the looped seal 74, the interior the the loop is reinforced by being filled either with sponge rubber or a tube of plastics or rubber material of some such like material as designated by the cross hatching 102. In this way the seal will be forced away from the curtain and will not flop as the material ages. The seal will be forced into engagement with the internal face of the limb 24 and will provide the good weatherproof seal required at all times.

The arrangement shown in Figures 7 and resembles that of Figures 5 and 6, incorporating a similar curtain hanging arrangement which utilises looped over tapes 94 co-operating with hangers 43" generally similar to hangers 43'. The main area of difference between hangers 43' and 431t is that the latter utilise a spring pin 104 in place of pin 88 with the result that the bores in fork members 84 and 86, and hence the members themselves, may be narrower, resulting in the lower portion of the body of hanger 43e being substantially flat, as shown in Figure 7.

A further area of difference between these two arrangements is in the configuration of the folded over curtain material 60 forming loop 74. As before, the upper end of the curtain material is folded over at 98 and folded back over itself. The free end is folded over again, but in this embodiment outwardly rather than inwardly, and the turnovers welded over the regions indicated X in Figure 7, producing protruding loop 74.

This loop arrangement appears to be superior to the previous arrangements with regard to sealing ability and resistance to deformation.

If desired, the loop 74 may be reinforced in the manner described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6.

The tapes 94 are folded over to form retention loops 96 in the manner previously described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, with the tapes being welded to the curtain over the full height thereof.

The arrangement is reinforced by stitching 106 which passes right through the loops and curtain material in the folded over regions thereof, in the pattern shown in Figure 8. Such stitching eliminates any possibility of the curtain material tearing away from the tapes, even when subjected to very rough treatment.

In Figure 7 there is shown in dashed lines a further inner track 108 identical to curtain track 38 and provided with further hangers 43M. This inner track 108 may be used for cargo control, and may, for example, be used to suspend a cargo retention net (not shown).

Claims

1. A cant rail for a curtain-sided vehicle body comprising a first flange adapted to receive a curtain track and a second flange extending in a non-parallel manner from the first flange to constitute an integral pelmet for protecting the upper end of the curtain and the curtain track.

2. A cant rail according to claim 1, wherein the two flanges are at right angles.

3. A cant rail according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a curtain track on said first flange, in the form of an inverted channel section with inturned lips on which rollers of curtain track fittings can run.

4. A cant rail for a curtain-sided vehicle body, comprising a generally L-section strut adapted to form the upper edge of a curtain-sided vehicle body, the strut comprising a first flange extending generally horizontally and a second, longer flange depending in a generally downward direction and with a curtain track located within the section on the first flange, at the upper end of the downwardly depending flange, the latter serving as a pelmet for a curtain hanging from the curtain track.

5. A cant rail according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first flange includes an upturned lip along its inboard edge by which the rail can be secured to roof members of the vehicle body.

6. A cant rail according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower end of the second flange is formed with an outwardly and upwardly extending lip to form a gutter or drip tray along the lower outer peripheral edge of the pelmet-forming flange of the rail.

7. A cant rail for a curtain-sided vehicle body, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

8. A curtain for a curtain-sided vehicle body, comprising a sheet of flexible curtain material adapted to be suspended from a curtain track, the upper edge of the material being folded over to form an outwardly extending, upstanding, resiliently deformable loop running along the length of the curtain adjacent to the upper end thereof, the arrangement being such that when the curtain is suspended from a curtain track of a vehicle body the loop engages and forms a weatherproof seal with the inner face of a pelmet of the vehicle body.

9. A curtain according to claim 8, wherein the upper edge of the curtain material is folded over in two substantially 1 800 folds, with a first outwards fold at the upper edge of the resulting curtain, the folded over material being laid back on the outer face of the curtain material and folded over in a second fold which constitutes said upstanding loop.

10. A curtain according to claim 9, wherein the second fold is in an inwards direction, with the final edge strip of curtain material sandwiched between the main body of curtain material and the folded over material laid thereon.

11. A curtain according to claim 9, wherein the second fold is in an outwards direction, with the final edge strip of curtain material laid on top of the folded over material.

12. A curtain according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the folded over material is retained in position by welding and/or stitching.

13. A curtain according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the folded over material is held in position by being clamped between a plurality of support plates each with an associated support member, each plate and associated member being located on opposite sides of the curtain, overlying the folded over material, and being secured to one another by means of one or more retaining screws extending through aligned apertures formed in the plate, member and curtain material.

14. A curtain according to claim 13, wherein each support member comprises part of a curtain hanger which is adapted to be received in a curtain track for suspending the curtain from the vehicle body.

1 5. A curtain according to claim 14, wherein said hanger comprises a hanger body, of which the support member is an integral part, the hanger body carrying a pair of rollers by which the hanger is adapted to be slidingly received in a curtain track with the support member thereof extending downwardly through a slot or other opening in the curtain track.

1 6. A curtain according to any one of claims 8 to 15, wherein the curtain material comprises a polyester woven material coated with PVC.

17. A curtain according to any one of claims 8 to 1 6 wherein the curtain material is reinforced by having secured thereto reinforcing material.

1 8. A curtain according to claim 17, wherein the reinforcing material comprises a polyester material coated with PVC.

1 9. A curtain according to claims 16 and 18, wherein the curtain material and reinforcing material are welded to one another.

20. A curtain according to claim 17, 18 or 19, wherein the reinforcing material extends over the full area of the curtain material.

21. A curtain according to claim 20, wherein the reinforcing material is also folded over at the upper end of the curtain.

22. A curtain according to claim 21, wherein the said loop is formed of the curtain material only.

23. A curtain according to claim 17, wherein the reinforcing material is in the form of strips extending along the hanging length of the curtain with the upper end of each strip folded over to form a hanging loop.

24. A curtain according to claim 23, wherein the curtain is suspended from a curtain track by means of a plurality of curtain hangers each comprising a horizontal bar or pin around which one of the hanging loops is passed.

25. A curtain according to claim 23 or 24, wherein each reinforcing strip extends mainly over the rear (inner) face of the curtain, with the lower end of the strip passing through a respective eyelet at the lower end of the curtain, a buckle being attached to the lower end of the strip to permit the latter to be attached to appropriate fastenings along the lower edge of the opening in the vehicle body for securing the curtain in position.

26. A curtain according to claim 25, wherein a similar eyelet is also provided at the upper end of the curtain to allow the upper end of the strip also to terminate on the front (outer) face of the curtain.

27. A curtain according to any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the folded over reinforcing strips and curtain material are reinforced by stitching.

28. A curtain according to any one of claims 8 to 27, wherein the upstanding loop of curtain material is reinforced by providing within the loop a suitable resiliently deformable reinforcing material to improve the rigidity of the loop.

29. A curtain according to claim 28, wherein the reinforcing material comprises sponge rubber or a tube of rubber or plastics material or other resiliently deformable insert.

30. A curtain for a curtain-sided vehicle body, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

31. A curtain for a curtain-sided vehicle body, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

32. A curtain for a curtain-sided vehicle body, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

33. A cant rail in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7 with a curtain in accordance with any one of claims 8 to 32 suspended therefrom.

34. A curtain-sided vehicle body fitted with a cant rail in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7 and/or a curtain in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 32.