U.S. patent number 3,692,363 [Application Number 05/144,545] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-19 for convertible vehicle body and auxiliaries.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Strick Corp.. Invention is credited to Paul J. Seng, Paul Tenebaum.
United States Patent |
3,692,363 |
Tenebaum , et al. |
September 19, 1972 |
CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE BODY AND AUXILIARIES
Abstract
A truck-trailer body is converted to transport granular bulk
cargo by raising a pair of central floor panels from over discharge
hoppers to form the front and rear walls of a bin area over the
hoppers. The raised panels are secured against removable sealing
poles, which are engaged within the side walls by insertion of
projections into sockets in the roof and floor of the body. The
panels are clamped to the poles and the poles are sealed to the
sidewalls and panels by a cushioning strip projecting in two
directions from the pole. The space between the ends of the panels
and the roof is sealed by a resilient flap which may be rotated
into contact with the roof by a projection extending from the
sealing poles through holes in the corners of the panels or which
may be fixed to and extend downwardly from the roof. The rotatable
flap drops down below and within the edge of the partitioning panel
into the hopper in the horizontal floor position. A winch pole for
raising and lowering the panels by winding and unwinding a flexible
strap on a ratchet reel is also removably installed by engagement
into sockets in the roof and floor fore and aft of the panels. The
sealing and winch poles are stored out of the path of movement of
discrete cargo in a storage rack in the front of the body. The
partitioning panels are supported without imposing a load on their
hinge pins by a series of brackets laterally spaced under their
hinge plates. Other lateral support ribs contact the spaces between
the hinge plates to substantially seal them against passage of dust
upwardly through the hopper into the body. Structural cross members
spanning the hoppers have a minimum peaked horizontal surface area
to shed granular material. The multiple plies of the partitioning
panels and the resilient seals about their peripheries also help
seal them against upward passage of any dust.
Inventors: |
Tenebaum; Paul (Glenside,
PA), Seng; Paul J. (Langhorne, PA) |
Assignee: |
Strick Corp. (Fairless Hills,
PA)
|
Family
ID: |
22509066 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/144,545 |
Filed: |
May 18, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
298/24; 254/376;
105/243 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
1/56 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
1/56 (20060101); B60P 1/00 (20060101); B60p
001/56 () |
Field of
Search: |
;298/24,8H
;105/376,243,424,375,369A ;254/139,139.1,142 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
German printed App. No. 1,921,491 Oct. 1970.
|
Primary Examiner: Johnson; Richard J.
Claims
We claim:
1. A convertible vehicle body for transporting loose, bulk or
discrete cargo comprising a substantially rectangular chassis, a
floor, sidewalls and a roof mounted upon said chassis to form said
body, a hopper mounted below a portion of said floor for collecting
and discharging bulk cargo loaded above it, said floor including a
movable partitioning panel disposable above said hopper for
optionally sealing off its entrance and for supporting discrete
cargo above it, a hinge mounted on said chassis adjacent one side
of said hopper and having a laterally disposed axis, said movable
partitioning panel being connected to said hinge whereby it is
rotatable from a horizontal floor position over said hopper to a
wall position in which it forms a lateral partitioning wall within
said body, a pair of removable sealing poles substantially equal in
height to said sidewalls, each of said poles having a
longitudinally elongated resilient sealing strip thereon, socket
means in said roof and floor adjacent the top and bottom of said
wall position, projection means extending above and below said
sealing poles for removable engaging said socket means and
removably locking said sealing poles with said sealing strips in
intimate sealing contact with the sides of said body, clamping
means on aligned portions of the sides of said movable partitioning
panel and said sealing poles which detachably lock them together
against said sealing strip when said panel is in said wall position
against passage of said bulk cargo between them, and a storage rack
on a portion of said body outside of the normal path of movement of
discrete cargo for receiving and storing said sealing poles when
said movable partitioning panel is in said horizontal floor
position for receiving discrete cargo.
2. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
sealing poles each comprise an elongated beam, said elongated strip
comprising a strip of resilient material substantially equal in
length to said beam, and said strip of resilient material
projecting on two sides of said beam.
3. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
beam includes a longitudinal groove extending along the length of
said beam, said strip being disposed within and projecting from
said groove, and fastening means retaining said strip within said
groove.
4. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 3 wherein said
fastening means comprises an elongated sheet of flexible material,
and securing means connects the sides of said elongated sheet of
flexible material to said beam.
5. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 4 wherein said
securing means comprises elongated welted edges on the sides of
said elongated sheet of material and slots on said beam within
which said welted edges are inserted.
6. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
projection means includes a stationary and a retractable
projection.
7. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
clamping means comprises a rotatable latching lever on said sealing
poles.
8. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein the
end of said partitioning panel remote from said hinge is disposed a
short distance from said roof in said wall position, a flexible
extension panel is mounted on said end of said movable partitioning
panel, movable connecting means attaching said flexible extension
panel to said end of said partitioning panel whereby it is movable
from a position extending the length of said partitioning panel
into contact with said roof to a retracted position, actuating
means connected to said flexible extension panel, and projection
means on said sealing pole disposed in line with said actuating
means when said partitioning panel is in said wall position whereby
said flexible extension panel is moved into sealing contact with
said roof of said body when said partitioning panel engages said
sealing pole.
9. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
end of said flexible extension panel contacting said roof comprises
a resilient flap which makes a substantial seal with said roof
between said end of said partitioning panel and against passage of
said bulk cargo and said movable connecting means comprises a hinge
connection.
10. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 9 wherein said
hinge connection is mounted below and within said end of said
partitioning panel in said horizontal floor position for dropping
said extension panel under and away from said end of said
partitioning panel, and a hole is disposed in the outer corners of
said partitioning panel through which said actuating projection on
said sealing pole extends for contacting said actuating means and
raising said resilient flap into sealing engagement with said roof
and said end of said partitioning panel.
11. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein the
end of said partitioning panel remote from said hinge is disposed a
short distance from said roof in said wall position, and a
resilient flap being attached to depend substantially vertically
from said roof adjacent said end of said partitioning panel in said
wall position whereby said end of said partitioning panel contacts
said resilient flap in said wall position to provide a seal
therebetween.
12. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
storage rack is mounted at an end of said body, and said sealing
poles being insertable in said rack when removed from said sockets
in said roof and in said floor.
13. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 12 wherein
said storage rack is disposed in the front end of said body out of
the path of movement of said discrete cargo.
14. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 13, wherein
said storage rack includes storage socket means and said projection
means on said sealing poles are insertable in said storage socket
means for mounting said sealing poles in said rack.
15. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 14 wherein
said storage rack includes lateral ribs for compressing said
elongated sealing strips on said sealing poles to prevent said
poles from rattling in said storage rack and for firmly contacting
said sealing poles to reinforce the front end of said body.
16. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 15 wherein
said lateral ribs comprises short laterally disposed channels
mounted upon the front end of said body.
17. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 16 wherein
said body adjacent said storage rack includes indentations for
receiving said actuating projections on said sealing poles.
18. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein a
winch pole is provided for moving said movable partitioning panel
between said horizontal floor and said wall positions, winch socket
means in said floor and roof of said body, winch projection means
on the ends of said winch beam for engagement in said winch socket
means for mounting said winch pole in operating position in said
body, said winch pole comprising an elongated winch beam, a ratchet
reel mounted upon said winch beam, said ratchet reel including a
linear flexible strap, fastening means on the end of said strap,
and attaching means on the end of said partitioning panel remote
from said hinge for connecting said fastening means on said strap
to said end of said partitioning panel whereby said partitioning
panel is moved between said horizontal floor and wall positions
when said ratchet reel is operated.
19. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 18 wherein a
pair of said movable partitioning panels are disposed in a
mid-portion of said body with said hinges being disposed on the
ends of said panels remote from each other; and pairs of said
sealing poles, said winch poles and corresponding socket means
being provided for each of said partitioning panels.
20. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 19 wherein a
hopper is provided under each of said partitioning panels in said
horizontal floor position.
21. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 18 wherein
said storage rack also includes means for storage of said winch
poles.
22. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein a
pair of said movable partitioning panels are disposed in a
mid-portion of said body with said hinges being disposed on the
ends of said panels remote from each other, and pairs of said
sealing poles and socket means being provided for each of said
partitioning panels.
23. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 22 wherein a
hopper is provided under each of said partitioning panels in said
horizontal floor position.
24. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 1 wherein a
hinge support is disposed on said chassis under said hinge, said
hinge having a movable and a fixed hinge plate connected by a hinge
pin, and said hinge support including a supporting bracket means
disposed under said movable hinge plate when said partitioning
panel is in said horizontal floor position whereby loads
transmitted to said movable hinge plates are supported without
imposing them on said hinge pin.
25. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 24 wherein
said hinge plates have a space therebetween and said supporting
bracket has an edge contacting said hinge plates at said space to
substantially seal it against the passage of dust upwardly through
said hopper into said body.
26. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 24 wherein
said hinge support bracket under said movable plate of said hinge
is discontinuous to prevent bulk material from collecting under
said partitioning panel in said horizontal floor position and
springing said hinge.
27. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 26 wherein
said discontinuous hinge support bracket comprises a series of
angle brackets.
28. A convertible vehicle body as set forth in claim 24 wherein
said hinge support is connected to one side of said hopper.
29. A sealing pole assembly for converting a vehicle body having a
floor, sidewalls and a roof, a hopper below a portion of said floor
and a movable partitioning panel hinged above said hopper to
transport loose bulk cargo, comprising a pair of removable sealing
poles substantially equal in height to said sidewalls, each of said
poles having an longitudinally elongated resilient sealing strip
thereon, projection means extending from each end of said sealing
poles for removably engaging said roof and said floor with said
sealing strips in intimate sealing contact with the sides of said
body and with a surface of said sealing strip engageable by said
panel, and clamping means on said sealing poles for engaging a
raised partitioning panel to lock them together against said
sealing strip against passage of said bulk cargo between them.
30. A sealing pole assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein said
sealing pole assembly comprises an elongated beam, and said strip
of resilient material projecting on two sides of said beam.
31. A sealing pole assembly as set forth in claim 30 wherein said
beam includes a groove extending along the length of said beam,
said strip being disposed within and projecting from said groove,
and fastening means retaining said strip within said groove.
32. A sealing pole assembly as set forth in claim 31 wherein said
fastening means comprises an elongated sheet of flexible material,
and securing means connecting the sides of said elongated sheet of
flexible material to said beam.
33. A sealing pole assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said
securing means comprises an elongated welted edge on both sides of
said elongated sheet of material and a slot in said beam within
which said welted edges are inserted.
34. A sealing pole assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein said
projection means includes a stationary and a retractable
projection.
35. A sealing pole assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein said
clamping means comprises a rotatably latching lever on said sealing
poles.
36. A winch pole assembly for converting a vehicle body having a
floor, sidewalls and a roof, a hopper below a portion of the floor
and a movable partitioning panel hinged above said hopper to
transport loose bulk cargo, and interfitting means on said roof and
floor comprising a winch pole for moving said movable partitioning
panel between horizontal floor and upright wall positions,
longitudinally extending projection means on each end of said winch
beam in removable engagement with said interfitting means on said
roof and said floor for installing said winch pole in operating
position in said body, said winch pole comprising an elongated
winch beam of a length slightly less than the distance from the
floor to the roof, a ratchet reel mounted upon said winch beam,
said ratchet reel including an upper guide means a linear flexible
strap movably engaged with said guide means, fastening means on the
end of said strap for attaching said strap to the end of movably
engaged said partitioning panel remote from said hinge whereby said
partitioning panel may be moved between said horizontal floor and
wall positions when said ratchet reel is operated.
37. A winch pole assembly as set forth in claim 36 wherein said
elongated winch beam comprises an elongated channel having a pair
of parallel walls, and said ratchet reel being mounted between said
parallel walls.
38. A winch pole assembly as set forth in claim 37 wherein several
braces are mounted along the open end of said parallel walls to
strengthen said channel.
39. A winch pole assembly as set forth in claim 38 wherein the
upper projection means is a rectangular plate attached to the top
of the base of said channel and the lower projection means
comprises a pair of projections mounted upon the bottom of said
parallel walls of said channel adjacent said base.
40. A winch pole assembly as set forth in claim 38 wherein a
retaining ring is mounted upon one of said braces for attachment of
said strap fastening means when said winch pole assembly is
inoperative to facilitate compact storage thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a vehicle body which is converted for
either transporting discrete cargo (such as boxes) or loose bulk
cargo (such as grain) by lowering or raising partitioning panels
over a substantially central discharge hopper. Preexisting
convertible vehicle bodies for railroad cars, truck-trailers or
trucks have had the disadvantage of permanent rigid projections
into the interior, which interfere with the passage of discrete
cargo and do not adequately seal the bulk cargo. There have also
been problems in storing cable wound winches for raising and
lowering the partitioning panels from horizontal floor to raised
wall positions. One convertible body for a railroad car is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,648,293 and a convertible body for a
truck-trailer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,759. An object of
this invention is to provide an efficient convertible vehicle body
having unobstructed passage for discrete cargo. Another object is
to provide such a body which is effectively sealed against passage
of granular bulk cargo or dust.
SUMMARY
In accordance with this invention removable sealing poles support
and seal the partitioning panels in the raised wall positions.
These sealing poles are locked into sockets in the roof and floor
adjacent the sidewalls and have resilient strips projecting into
two directions into sealing engagement with both the sidewalls and
panels. Clamps on the poles secure the panels to them. The strips
are secured and protected in covers secured in slots on the poles.
The ends of the panels are sealed to the roof by resilient flaps.
These flaps may be rotatably attached to the ends of the movable
panels and urged into engagement with the roof by plungers on the
sealing poles extending through holes in corners of the panels. The
rotatable flaps drop below and within the panels and into the
hoppers when the panels are lowered. Stationary resilient flaps may
alternatively be attached to the roof and contacted by the ends of
the panels. The panels are moved between floor and raised wall
positions by removable winch poles having flexible straps wound on
ratchet reels, which are safe and dependable and compact. The
sealing and winch poles are conveniently stowed in a rack in front
of the body out of the path of movement of discrete cargo. This
frees the interior of the body from any obstructions which might
interfere to the passage of discrete cargo through it. The stowed
poles also reinforce the front end of the body against impact by
moving loads. The panel hinges are supported on a lateral series of
brackets to prevent loads from being imposed on the hinge pins and
which prevent bulk material from collecting under the hinge and
springing it. Lateral support ribs contact the spaces through the
hinge to seal them against the upward passage of any dust through
the hopper into the body and discrete cargo being transported in
it. The peripheries of the panels are also accordingly sealed
against the hoppers by resilient gaskets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following
description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein
similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in
which:
FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of one embodiment of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a front view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 1 along the
line 4--4;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 4
along the line 5--5 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 being used for
the transportation of discrete box cargo;
FIG. 6 is another enlarged cross-sectional side view in elevation
of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 being used for transporting granular
bulk cargo;
FIG. 7 is a partial broken cross-sectional view taken through FIG.
5 along the line 7--7;
FIG. 8 is a front elevational cross-sectional view corresponding to
FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 4 along line
9--9;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through one of the
lateral chassis ribs shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 11 is a view in elevation of one of the sealing poles shown in
FIG. 6;
FIG. 12 is a top plan view in elevation of the sealing pole shown
in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a side view in elevation of the sealing pole shown in
FIG. 11 installed in a vehicle body used for transporting loose
bulk granular material as shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 13 along the
line 14--14;
FIG. 15 is a left-hand cross-sectional view of the upper
corresponding portion of FIG. 13;
FIG. 16 is a side view in elevation of one of the winch poles shown
in use in FIG. 6;
FIG. 17 is a right-hand view in elevation of the winch pole shown
in FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the winch pole shown in FIG. 16;
FIG. 19 is an inside view in elevation of the front end of the
vehicle body of FIG. 1 showing sealing and winch poles stowed in a
storage rack;
FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is an enlarged and broken cross-sectional view taken
through FIG. 19 along the line 21--21; and
FIG. 22 is a fragmental cross-sectional view in elevation of a
modified sealing arrangement between panel end and roof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIGS. 1-4 is shown a convertible truck trailer body 10 for
transporting discrete box cargo as shown in FIG. 5 or granular bulk
cargo as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 1 shows movable partitioning panels
11 and 12 in two positions. Their horizontal floor positions,
designated 11A and 12A, are used for supporting discrete cargo, and
their raised substantially vertical wall positions 11B and 12B are
used for retaining granular bulk cargo. Their paths of swinging
movement between these positions are designated by arcs 14. Trailer
body 10 includes substantially rectangular chassis 16, floor 18,
sidewalls 20 and roof 22. Front and rear hoppers 24 and 26 are
mounted below the approximate mid-section of floor 18 for
collecting and discharging bulk cargo loaded above them as shown in
FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 5, movable partitioning panel 11A seals
the entrance to hopper 24 in the horizontal floor position for
supporting discrete cargo above it. Movable partitioning panel 12A
covers hopper 26. The bottoms of hoppers 24 and 26 are controllably
closed by gates 28 of conventional discharging nature. Trailer body
10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 has various other conventional features such
as front access door 30, ladder 32, rear loading doors 34, support
36 and rear wheels 38. Hatch 40 provides a means for loading
granular material into body 10 from chute 39 as shown in FIG.
6.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the general arrangement of body 10 for
transporting discrete type cargo cartons or boxes 42. Partitioning
panels 11A and 12A are in the horizontal floor position with hinges
44 connecting them to front floor section 46 and rear floor section
48 of conventional planked construction. Hinges 44 have laterally
disposed axes, and panels 11A and 12A in the horizontal or lower
floor position fully close the space over hoppers 24 and 26.
Lateral structural ribs 50 and 51 (shown in FIG. 5 but omitted in
FIG. 4) brace the portion of chassis 16 over hoppers 24 and 26.
Ribs 50 are tubular as shown in FIG. 10 and have peaked or curved
tops 52 to shed any granular material that might drop upon them.
The remainder of chassis 16 is strengthened by brackets 54 and
cross members 56. Panels 11A and 12A in the lowered floor position
(as shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8) are supported between mid hopper
cross member 58 and angular support brackets 60. Angular support
brackets 60 are spaced about 6 inches apart across outer hopper
wall 62 to support the portion of panel 11A connected to movable
hinge plate 64. The vertical portion of hopper wall 62 contacts one
of the spaces 88 between movable hinge plate 64 and fixed hinge
plate 66. This directs all of the load imposed on hinge 44 to
hopper wall 62 and chassis 16 and prevents such loads from being
imposed on hinge pin 68. The spacing of hinge support plates 60
causes granular material to pass through them, thus preventing a
build-up under movable hinge plate 64, which might spring hinge
44.
FIGS. 7 and 8 also show extendable resilient flaps 70 swung under
and within the ends of panels 11A and 12A within hoppers 24 and 26
on seal support member 72 having pivot pins 74 inserted within eye
bolts 76 secured under the ends of panels 11A and 12A. Actuating
ends 78 of support members 72 are disposed in front of holes 80
through the corners of panels 11A and 12A through which projections
extend to contact actuating ends 78 as later described. Flaps 70
are made of fiber-reinforced neoprene to make them strong, durable
and resistant against roof heat. Support members 72 are made of
sheet steel.
FIG. 9 illustrates the multi-ply structure (about twenty ply) of
panels 11A and 12A and their resilient gasket 82 for example
polyurethane sponge against side hopper lip 84 which prevents the
passage of dust upwardly through hoppers 24 and 26 while body 10 is
being used for transporting box cargo, which must be kept clean.
This sealing is also facilitated by the contact of end lips 86 of
panels 11A and 12A on central cross member 58 as shown in FIGS. 5
and 8. FIG. 8 also shows how dust proofing of hinge 44 is completed
under hinge space 88 by contact of the vertical edge of hopper wall
62 and under hinge space 90 of movable hinge plate 64 by the
vertical edge 92 of panel edge angle reinforcement 94.
FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of body 10 for transporting loose
granular bulk cargo, such as grain. Sealing poles 100 and winch
poles 102 are installed fore and aft of raised panels 11B and 12B.
Sealing poles 100 have upper movable projections 104 inserted into
upper sockets 106 in roof support channels 108 and lower
projections 110 inserted into lower sockets 112 in floor 18. This
is more clearly shown in FIGS. 11-15. Upper projection 104 is
movable by operating plunger assembly 114 including a spring 116,
which urges rectangular projection 104 upwardly into engagement
with socket 106. A downward pull on bar end 118 retracts projection
104 to permit removal of sealing pole 100 from the installed
position shown in FIGS. 6, 13 and 15. Lower projection 110 on
sealing pole 100 includes a shoulder 120, which holds it on top of
floor 18. As shown in FIGS. 11-15, elongated sealing strips 122 of
for example polyurethane foam are secured to and project into two
directions from groove 124 in longitudinal beam 126, which is for
example an aluminum extrusion, forming the structural portion of
sealing pole 100. Elongated resilient strips 122 are secured in
grooves 124 by elongated flexible cover sheets 128, of for example,
nylon, whose welted edges 130 are inserted within slots 134 down
the length of beam 126. Cover 128 holds strip or pad 122 in its
operative position for sealing in two directions, protects it and
facilitates replacement.
FIG. 11-15 show how clamping levers 136 engage retaining sockets
138 in the raised faces of panels 11B and 12B to hold them in
forceful contact against resilient strips 122. The other or outer
side of strip 122 is, as shown in FIG. 14, squeezed into firm
resilient engagement within sidewall 20 of body 10. This double
engagement provides a dependable seal preventing the passage of
granular bulk material between panels 11B and 12B, sealing poles
100 and sidewall 20.
The space between the tops of raised panels 11B and 12B and roof 22
is sealed by the urging of resilient flap 70 into forceful contact
with roof 22 and contact of seal support member 72 with the bottom
edge of chin 87 extending downwardly within the outer edges of
panels 11B and 12B as shown in FIG. 13. The necessary force is
provided by the insertion of actuating projection or pin 140
through hole 80 against actuating end 78 of pivoted support member
72. Lip 86 and chin 87 conveniently comprise the upper and lower
extremities of a boot casting 89.
FIG. 6 also shows winch poles 102 installed fore and aft for moving
partitioning panels 11 and 12 from horizontal floor positions 11A
and 12A to substantially vertical wall positions 11B and 12B. Winch
poles 102 are installed fore and aft of raised partitioning walls
11B and 12B by insertion of upper winch projection 142 up into
upper winch socket 144 in roof channel brace 146 and subsequent
dropping of lower winch projections or feet 148 into lower winch
sockets 150 in floor 18. Shoulder 152, more clearly in enlarged
FIGS. 16-18, holds winch pole 102 high enough to maintain upper
projection 142 within socket 144. Clearance 154 between the top of
the main body 156 of winch pole 102 and the bottom of roof brace
146 permits the previously described lifting engagement of a
slanted winch pole assembly 102 first into upper roof socket 144
and then into floor socket 150 to maintain winch pole 102
vertical.
As shown in FIGS. 16-18, winch body 156 comprises an elongated
structural channel of for example structural extruded aluminum,
within which is mounted ratchet reel assembly 158 including drum
160. Linear flexible strap 162, of for example strong nylon
webbing, is wound upon drum 160. Spring clip fastener 164 is
attached to free end of webbing or strap 162. FIG. 16 shows the
deployed position of clip 164 in solid outline at the upper right,
and shows the stowed position of clip 164 (near the bottom) clipped
to D-ring 166.
Semicircular pawl 168 engages ratchet wheel 170 when reel 158 is
being wound up to raise partitioning panels 11 and 12, and pawl 168
is held out of engagement for lowering partitioning panels 11 and
12 by retainer 172 which engages pawl pin 174 extending outwardly
through hole 176 in the side of channel 156. Winch assembly 158 is
accordingly compact, light and efficient. Nylon web 162 is also
resilient, shock-absorbing and safe in operation in comparison to
previously used steel cables which whip dangerously about if they
break. Such steel cables are also bulky and difficult to compactly
store. The open end of winch channel 156 is strengthened by a
series of bolted tubular braces 178. FIG. 6 shows the connection of
spring clip 164 at the end of nylon web or strap 162 to sockets 180
(also shown in FIG. 4) in the outer portion of panels 11 and
12.
FIGS. 19-21 illustrate the stowed positions of sealing poles 100
and winch poles 102 in storage rack 182 in the front end of truck
trailer body 10. Storage rack 182 is just in back and to one side
of a front access door 30 and includes upper socket plate 184 and a
series of lower socket holes 186 through floor 18, which are large
enough to allow lower projection shoulders 120 of sealing poles 100
and 152 of winch poles 102 to drop completely through them. This
rests the lower ends 188 of sealing poles 100 and 190 of winch
poles 102 on floor 18.
The upper projections 104 of sealing poles 100 are inserted within
socket plate 184 in the same manner previously described by
actuation of locking plungers 114. The upper projections 142 of
winch poles 102 are, however, free of connection to rack 182.
Sealing poles 100 are firmly secured against rattling by the
compression of resilient strips 122 within grooves 124 to obtain
metal-to-metal contact between extruded beams 126 against three
horizontal channel ribs 194. This also reinforces the front end of
body 10 against rough handling and thus creates an auxiliary
bulkhead, which can be further reinforced by removable plywood
panels, if desired. FIG. 21 shows actuating projections 140 on
sealing poles 100 extending into indentions 206 in body 10 to
conserve space.
Winch poles 102 are secured against movement by the clamping of
channel flanges 196 between fixed clip 198 and rotatable clip 200.
Handles 202 for rotating ratchet reels 158 on winch poles 102
stored in U-shaped holders 204.
FIG. 22 illustrates a more simple alternate roof sealing
arrangement. Resilient flap 70C (of for example fiber-reinforced
neoprene) is attached (for example by rivets 208C) to let 210C of
roof channel 108C for contact by the upper edge of boot casting 89C
on the free end of raised panel 11C. Flap 70C is easily deflected
out of the path of traffic when discrete cargo, such as boxes, are
moved through body 10.
OPERATION
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the arrangement of truck-trailer body 10 for
transporting box cargo 42 when partitioning panels 11 and 12 are
down in the horizontal floor position in which they are designated
11A and 12A. Discrete box cargo 42 is accordingly loaded within
body 10 in the conventional manner. The inside of body 10 is
substantially smooth and clear of obstruction with sealing poles
100 and winch poles 102 securely stowed out of the way in storage
rack 182 within the front end of body 10.
FIGS. 19-21 show the stowed arrangement of sealing poles 100 and
winch poles 102 in storage rack 182 together with operating handles
202 for operating winch poles 102. Body 10 is thus completely
unobstructed for transporting bulk cargo. Sealing poles 100 are
released from storage rack 182 by operating plungers 114 to remove
upper projections 104 from upper plate 184 of rack 182. The tops of
sealing poles 100 are then rotated back clear of upper plate 184
and lower projections 110 of sealing poles 100 are lifted out of
floor 18. Winch poles 102 are removed by swinging rotatable clip
plates 200 out of engagement with outer flanges 196 of winch beam
156. Lower projections 148 with shoulders 152 are then lifted clear
out of floor 18 to free winch poles 102 for installation and use.
Winding handles 202 are lifted out of holders 204.
FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of body 10 for transporting bulk cargo
208 such as grain or gravel. Both partitioning panels 11 and 12 are
raised into the wall positions in which they segregate an area 210
in the mid-portion of body 10 over discharge hoppers 24 and 26 and
in communication therewith. These raised wall positions of
partitioning panels 11 and 12 are designated 11B and 12B. This bulk
cargo area 210 is filled through opened hatch 40 from chute 39. The
mid-portion of body 10 is usually sufficient for receiving the
vehicle's rated weight load of such cargo.
The phantom illustration of lower panel 11A in the right-hand side
of FIG. 6 with winch strap 162 and clip 164 engaged in socket 180
shows how winch strap 162 is connected to panels 11 and 12 for
raising them.
In converting vehicle body 10 to transport bulk cargo, lower
projections 110 of sealing poles 100 are inserted in floor sockets
112 with shoulders 120 engaged above floor 18. Upper projections
104 are retracted by pulling down on plungers 114 and then
releasing them to insert upper projections 104 in upper roof
sockets 106 in roof channels 108. FIG. 14 shows how sealing strip
122 is compressed between sealing pole beam 126 and sidewall 20 to
dependably provide a seal against the passage of bulk cargo between
them.
Winch poles 102 are installed as shown in FIG. 6 by first raising
upper projections 142 into sockets 144 in indicated roof channels
108 in a slanted position and then swinging lower projections 148
into floor sockets 150 with shoulders 152 engaging the top of floor
18. Upper projections 142 are long enough to maintain themselves
engaged in upper sockets 144 and thus hold winch poles 102 in the
vertical position.
Operating handles 202 are connected to ratchet reels 158 on winch
poles 102 (with pawls 168 engaged) and operated to cause straps 162
to raise panels 11 and 12 from the horizontal floor position shown
in phantom to the solid representations of panels 11B and 12B at
the front and back ends of bin area 210.
Panels 11B and 12B engage sealing poles 102 against resilient
strips 122, which were previously compressed against the sidewalls
20 of body 10 when sealing poles 100 were installed. The double
compressive sealing of strips 122, shown in FIG. 14, seals panels
11B and 12B against passage of bulk cargo between them and sealing
poles 100. Panels 11B and 12B are secured to seal poles 100 by
locking with rotatable clamps 136, as shown in FIGS. 11, 13 and
15.
When panels 11B and 12B are raised into firm contact with sealing
poles 100, projections 140 on sealing poles 100 pass through holes
80 in the upper corners of panels 11B and 12B and into contact with
actuating ends 78 of pivoted support member 72 upon which resilient
flaps 70 are mounted. This urges resilient flaps 70 in close
contact with roof 22 and support member 72 into sealing engagement
with extending chin 87 within the free ends of panels 11B and 12B.
This securely and dependably seals the space between them against
the passage of bulk cargo material. FIG. 22 shows the more simple
seal of panel end boot 89C against roof supported flaps 70C. Bulk
cargo material 208 is unloaded by actuation of gates 28 at the
bottom of hoppers 24 and 26. Any granular material striking lateral
ribs 50 is cleanly shed by their peaked or curved upper surface.
The spaces between hinge support brackets 60 also allows granular
particles to run through them. This avoids a build up of such
material under hinge 44 which might spring it.
After bulk cargo 208 is unloaded and the next cargo is of the
discrete variety, body 10 is easily converted back to the
arrangement for transporting bulk cargo as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5
by operating winch poles 102 to drop partitioning panels 11 and 12
to the floor positions over hoppers 24 and 26. Prior to the
lowering of the panels 11 and 12, they are unlocked from sealing
poles 100 by releasing clamps 136. When panels 11 and 12 drop back
to the lower floor positions, flaps 70 are free to rotate under the
influence of gravity to the retracted positions shown in FIG. 8 to
lie within hoppers 24 and 26. Panels 11A and 12A are sealed against
the passage of any residual dust upwardly through them by their
multiple ply structure (20-ply), the polyurethane sponge gaskets 82
along their sides, front sealing lips 86 on central gusset 58 and
the contact of the edges of vertical hopper wall 62 and panel
reinforcing angle 92 under spaces 88 and 90 in hinge plates 44.
This prevents dust from contaminating a clean box cargo.
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