GB2201450A - Load restraint system. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems for restraining loads particularly, but not exclusively, for use in road transport vehicles. The system comprises in combination a fixed track 1 and a stop 10 slidable therealong wherein the stop 10 is releasably lockable at a plurality of points 7 along the track 1 characterised in that the stop 10 carries a load engaging arm 11 movable from an inoperative to an operative position wherein in its operative position the arm 11 can be locked to restrain a load thereagainst. Preferably the track 1 is adapted for floor mounting and the arm 11 of the stop 10 pivots from a horizontal inoperative position to a vertical operative position. <IMAGE>

Description

LOAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM The present invention relates to systems for restraining loads, preferably, but not exclusively, for use in road transport vehicles.

In modern distribution systems a wide variety of loads are transported by vans and lorries, but wherever possible freight carriers try to arrange for the loads to be carried within the vehicle in standard sized units. One of the most popular units is the wheeled roll pallet cage, usually known as the roll pallet.

These are wheeled cages whose frame and subdivision can be arranged to suit any particular load, but whose external dimensions are standardised so that a given number can be arranged tightly within any one of a number of different vehicles.

In order to restrain roll pallets from moving around in the back of a lorry when it is moving, a variety of load restraint systems can be used, including straps, horizontal bars, vertical bars, nets, sheets, etc.

Since partial as well as full loads have to be catered for, it is clearly necessary to provide within the load carrying section of a vehicle an adjustable system in which any number of roll pallets up to the maximum for that vehicle can be restrained. Furthermore, it is highly desirable for the restraint system to be readily removable and repositionable in order to minimise the time taken for a portion of the load to be removed and the remaining load secured ready for delivery elsewhere.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a load restraint system comprising in combination a fixed track and a stop slidable therealong wherein the stop is releasably lockable at a plurality of points along the track characterised in that the stop carries a load engaging arm movable from an inoperative to an operative position wherein in its operative position the arm can be locked to restrain a load thereagainst.

In its preferred embodiment, the track is adapted for floor mounting and the arm of the stop pivots from a horizontal inoperative position to a vertical operative position. By this means a load can be run freely over the stop only when the arm is horizontal. Desirably the arm locks into its operative position by sliding downwardly into the stop under its own weight.

Alternatively the arm could be spring-loaded.

Spring-loading is generally necessary when wall-mounting or ceiling-mounting the track.

When used with roll pallets, the height of the track and its stop above the vehicle floor is less than the pallets' ground clearance, and the stop's arm is dimensioned to engage the lower portion of the frame of the pallets when in its operative position. Similarly for flat pallets or un-crated loads which have a not-insignificant ground clearance to accommodate fork-lift trucks and the like.

When . wall-mounted ''ór ceiling-mounted, th'erc'must 'be a sufficient lateral or vertical clearance to allow the load to slide freely past the st6p when its load-engaging' arm is in its inoperative 'position, but not when the arm is in its operative position.

The load restraint system of this invention can be used alone or in combination with other known systems such as straps, bars and the like.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a system of the invention when adapted for floor mounting and for use with roll pallets, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the load engaging arm of the system of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the load restraining system of the invention comprises a fixed track' shown generally as 1 and a slidable stop shown generally as 10. For simplicity only a short section of track has been shown.

The track 1 consists of a length of extruded aluminium alloy having a relatively broad flat base 2 for mounting on the floor of a lorry and narrower flat top 3 over which the stop 10 slides. Cut out of the base 2 are two length-wise channels 4 for the purpose of reducing the weight, and hence coSt, of the track whilst not significantly lowering the strength of its central section. Into the top 3 of the track are cut three length-wise grooves; one central generally 'T' shaped groove 5 and two lateral generally 'L' shaped grooves 6 whose horizontal portions are both directed towards the centre-line of the track.

The 'T' shaped groove 5 is not essential for the purposes of the present invention, but does allow the track 1 to accommodate a variety of anchor elements of known load restraint systems, such as strap end fittings, shoring-bar shoes, etc., in addition to the stop 10, should such additional systems be found necessary.

The two 'L' shaped grooves 6 accommodate corresponding 'L' shaped flanges on the underside of the stop 10 in order to retain the stop captive on the track and to resist any twisting or lateral deflection of the stop.

Spaced at intervals along the length of the track are blind holes 7. As can be seen from Figure 1, they extend into the top of the track only as far as the T-shaped groove 5, and their purpose is to provide a means whereby the stop 10 can be releasably locked on the track in a fixed position, as will be described more fully later. The spacing of these blind holes 7 will be determined by the unit load configuration to be used and the degree of variability of the system desired.

For exclusively roll pallet restraint, the blind holes need only be drilled at intervals along the track corresponding to the external dimension of the standard roll pallet taken in the appropriate direction. Thus for, say, a five roll pallet-carrying lorry only five spaced holes 7 need be cut. However additional holes 7 can be cut to accommodate known releasably lockable strap end fittings, etc., or, as shown in Figure 1, to allow for the use of a temporary lead dividing door within the load carrying compartment 'of the lorry.

Such load dividing - doors maintain dif-fexent-sections of the - lorry's- load^- at differed temperatur'es, ' and are In Figure 1,- two blind holes 7 have been cut (although only one is visible), the interval between -them corresponding to the thickness of such a door. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, since only one load dividing door is generally provided, the single essential blind holes 7 at such spaced locations along the track 1 need be supplemented by only one other.

In order to fix the track 1 rigidly to the floor of the lorry, a number of countersunk through holes 8 are provided for bolts, rivets and the like. Conveniently these through holes are positioned concentric with the blind holes 7. Additional through holes can be provided if necessary, for example near the lateral edges of the track.

Running out from lateral edges of the 'L'-shaped grooves 6 to the side edges of the track are wing portions 9.

The upper surface of each wing portion is curved so as to thin the track down progressively outwardly. By this means the chance of people tripping up over the track is reduced. Furthermore- when the lorry's floor is of metal the lateral edges of the track can be welded down, not only for added strength, but also again to .try to avoid trippings up.

Captive on the track 1 and slidable therealong is the box-shaped stop 10 whose pivoted lid 11 acts as a load engaging arm. In Figure 1, the lid 11 is shown in its operative position, the smooth outer surface thereof being the surface of the lid that presses against the load to be restrained (rightwards facing in the Figure).

The side walls 12 of the stop 10 project downwardly beyond its flat track-running base (not visible in the Figure) and are turned inwardly towards the stop's centre line in order to fit into the 'L' shaped grooves 6 of the track and retain the stop thereon. The side walls 12 also serve as the side walls of a smaller rigid box-shaped structure within the stop whose purpose is to reinforce the stop, to provide a housing for the stop's track-locking means, and to support the lid 12 when in its operative position. The top 13 of this subsidiary box structure braces the side walls 12 of the stop and also carries the enlarged end 14 of the stop's track-locking means.This means (not shown) comprises a spring-loaded track-engaging pin of known design whose operative end projects below the base of the stop in order to engage the blind holes 7 of the track and prevent relative movement therebetween. When it is desired to move the stop 10 to a new location on the track, the enlarged end 14 is pulled to withdraw the operative end of the pin 'against spring pressure into the subsidiary box structure and out of engagement with the track. The stop can then be moved along the track and when the enlarged - end 14 is released the pin is urged by spring pressure into a new blind hole 7 in the track.A locking pin and corresponding hole of standard design can b provided on this pin mechanism if necessary in order to hold the pin out of engagement with the track by a small turning movement of the enlarged end 14 in order to facilitate re-positioning of the stop.

One end 15 of the subs'idiary box'-'structure also acts: as part of one end of the stop-itseli:, whilst the other eZnd of the structure (not visible in the Figure) lies witnin the stop to act as a bulkhead against which the lid 11 of the stop can press when in its load-engaging position.

Between the side walls 12 near one end of the stop is positioned a smooth rod 16 which acts as a pivot for the lid 11. The rod is held in place by a circlip 17.

When the lid 11 is in its inoperative position, it lies horizontally against the .top of the enlarged end 14 of the stop's track-locking means and flush with the tops of the side walls 12. The lid 11 can then be pivoted about rod 16 into the vertical position, the solid end wall 18 of the stop preventing the lid from pivoting beyond the vertical.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the end 19 of the lid 11 which pivots around the rod 16 is in the form of a hook, the sides of which are substantially parallel. -Thus when the lid 11 is in the vertical position it can slide off the rod 16 downwardly into the space in the stop lying between the end 18 of the stop and the bulkhead end of the subsidiary box structure. When in this position, the lid 11 still rests against the rod 16 and thus is prevented from returning to its horizontal position until it is lifted out of the defined space.

When thus vertical, the lid 1 is-therefore locked-into position and can resist loads imposed along the line of the track.

In order to resist deformation when under load, the inner surface of the lid 11 is provided with a longitudinal reinforcing bar 20 whose lower end 21 (as shown in Figure 2) is arranged to rest on the rod 16 when the lid 11 has dropped down into its operative position. Additionally a finger bar 22 is provided near the other end of the lid 11 on its inner surface to facilitate lifting of the lid to pull it out of its vertically locked position.

In view of hygiene regulations in the foodstuffs distribution industry, the track 1 and stop 10 must be easily cleanable by hosing down with water.

Accordingly at least one drain hole can be provided in the base of the stop 10 and the through holes 8 of the track can be countersunk.

Although only one stop 10 need be provided on each length of track within a lorry so as to restrain the last roll pallet, in practice it is preferred to provide on the length of track as many stops as there can be roll pallets. In addition a removable end stop can be provided on each length of track in order to prevent unwanted sliding off of the stops from the track.

In order to use the described stops, as each roll pallet is wheeled into the back of a lorry a stop is 'slid along to the front edge thereof and locked into position on the track as previously described, and then the lid 11 is lifted and locked into its vertical position with its smooth side pressing against the lower frame of the roll pallet Similarly for all the other roll pallets, so that each roll pallet is restrained by its own stop.

Alternatively, knowing of the size of each roll pallet, the stops can be already locked into their appropriate positions along the track with their lids horizontal.

Then as each roll pallet is wheeled into position in the lorry the lid of the corresponding stop can be raised and locked into position. To remove a roll pallet from the lorry, it is a simple matter to lift and pivot the lid of its associated stop and wheel the roll pallet out over the stop. Because the ground clearance of the roll pallets is greater than the height of the tops of the stop when the lids are horizontal, the roll pallets can be wheeled freely into, and around in, the back of the lorry.

Floor mounting of the track and stop system of the present invention is particularly useful in refrigerated lorries where the side walls are often too thin to take any substantial loading such as generated by known wallmounted roll pallet restraining systems.

Although described as being positioned on the floor of a lorry, the described track could, if required, be recessed into the floor in order to reduce the overall height .of the system.

Furthermore, the described system can be used not only in lorries, but also in ships, aircraft, hovercraft and other situations where the restraint of loads such as roll pallets and the like is required.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A load restraint system comprising in combination a fixed track and a stop slidable therealong - wherein the stop is releasably lockable at a plurality of points along the track characterised in that the stop carried a load engaging arm movable from an inoperative to an operative position wherein in its operative position the arm can be locked to restrain a load thereagainst.

2. A load restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the track is adapted for floor mounting and the arm of the stop pivots from a horizontal inoperative position to a vertical operative position.

3. A load restraint system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the stop arm is freely slidable into its operative position under its own weight.

It. A load restraint system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the stop arm is urged into its operative position by a spring means.

5. A load restraint system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when adapted for use.with roll pallets.

6. A load restraint system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when adapted for use inside the loadcarrying compartment of a -vehicle.

7. A load restraint system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.