DE20121882U1 - Dividing wall for refrigerated vehicle has wall element adapted to outer contour with seals on edge, actuation arrangements in section connected to seal with which the seal can be withdrawn - Google Patents

Abstract

The dividing wall has a wall element (1) adapted to an outer contour (2,4) with seals on its edge and actuation arrangements arranged in a section connected to the seal, with which the seal can be at least partly withdrawn from the outer contour. The seal has at least one sealing lip in the section that can be bent over the actuation arrangement. An independent claim is also included for the following: a refrigerated vehicle.

Description

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ

PATENT ATTORNEYS
EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Dr. Otto Loesenbeck (1931-1980) Dipl.-Ing. A. Stracke Dipl.-Ing. K.-0. Loesenbeck Dipl.-Phys. P. Specht Dipl.-Ing. J. Dantz

Jöllenbecker Strasse 164
D-33613 Bielefeld
Phone: +49(0521)98618-0
10/8 23881 ™efax: +49(0521)890405

E-mail: mail@pa-loesenbeck.de
Internet: www.pa-loesenbeck.de

30 April 2001

Partition and refrigerated vehicle

The present invention relates to a partition wall, in particular for refrigerated vehicles, with a wall element adapted to an outer contour, on which seals are provided on the edge.

Particularly in refrigerated vehicles, the insulating partition walls must be sealed more and more effectively due to strict hygiene regulations. Although these hygiene requirements are met by sealing the edges all the way round, it is no longer possible to open the partition walls due to the vacuum that is created. Ventilation or exhaust ventilation must therefore be installed so that air can be exchanged. In order to remove the seal to open the partition wall, mechanical devices can be installed within the insulating walls, but these are complex to install and also result in poorer insulation of the partition wall. It is also possible to install ventilation flaps in the partition wall. However, this also reduces the insulation of the wall. In addition, these ventilation flaps can freeze. There are also hose seals that can be pulled together or apart using air.

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENT ATTORNEYS - EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 30.04.2001 Page 2

Since condensation forms in the hose seal, it is difficult to use it in refrigerated vehicles.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a partition wall of the type mentioned at the outset which enables air exchange between different rooms using simple means and thus allows the partition wall to be opened.

This object is achieved with a partition wall having the features of claim 1.

If actuating means are connected to the seal in at least one section, by means of which the seal can be at least partially removed from the outer contour, an opening to the adjacent room can be created via the actuating means, so that an exchange of air can take place between the rooms.

This means that there is no longer any vacuum preventing the partition from moving. The remaining frictional forces caused by the seal in other areas are relatively small and can easily be overcome by hand. The only critical point is the initial movement, which prevents air exchange between the individual compartments.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seal in the section has at least one sealing lip which can be bent via the actuating means. The bending can be carried out via a flexible band section which surrounds the seal in the section. The opening is then achieved by bending the at least one sealing lip so that a gap is formed between the outer contour and the partition wall.

For a mechanically simple implementation of the actuating means, a pull cord is provided, which surrounds the partition with a section of the cord on two opposite sides. The pull cord can be pulled through two guide elements attached to the partition, between which a handle section is provided.

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENT ATTORNEYS - EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 30.04.2001 Page 3

By simply pulling on the handle section, a gap can be created between the outer contour and the partition wall.

If the partition wall is designed to be pivotable about a rotation axis, a pivoting movement can be initiated at the same time as pulling on the handle section in order to bring the partition wall into a horizontal position relative to the ceiling.

According to the invention, a refrigerated vehicle with the features of claim 7 is also provided.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Figure 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of a partition wall according to the invention in the installed state;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the partition wall of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional top view of the partition wall of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a rear view of the partition wall of Figure 1 with the seal removed;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of the partition wall of Figure 1 in the closed state;

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view of the partition wall of Figure 1 with the seal removed;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed view of the edge area of the partition wall, and

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENT ATTORNEYS - EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 30.04.2001 Page 4

Figure 8 is a sectional side view of the partition wall of Figure 1 in the folded up state.

The partition wall shown in the figures comprises a wall element 1 which is surrounded at the edge by a seal 6. The partition wall is installed in a loading space of a refrigerated vehicle (not shown in detail) which comprises a loading space with side walls 2, a ceiling 3 and a floor 4. The partition wall can be pivoted upwards about an axis 5, with a gas pressure spring 50 supporting the pivoting movement.
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The edge seals 6 comprise two sealing lips 60 and 61, which are made of a flexible material. The sealing lips 60 and 61 are held in a receptacle 62, which is fixed to the wall element 1.

To open the seal, an actuating device is provided which comprises a tension band 7 which is connected to a triangular band section 8. The triangular band section 8 surrounds the seal 6 and is fixed on the opposite side of the wall element by fastening means known per se, such as rivets, etc. The tension band 7 is pulled through two guide elements 9 fixed to the wall element 1 and is made of a flexible material.

As can be seen in particular from Figures 5 and 6, a handle section 10 is formed between the two guide elements 9, which is pulled to open the partition wall so that the seal 6 is lifted off the side walls 2. The sealing lips 60 and 61 are pulled over the band section 8 and bent over. Lifting the seal 6 off the side walls 2 creates a gap so that only the frictional forces of the seal 6 in the remaining sections not lifted off the side wall 2 have to be overcome in order to open the partition wall. A vacuum is eliminated by pulling off the seal 6.

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LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENT ATTORNEYS - EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 30.04.2001 Page 5

By pulling on the handle section 10, a gap is initially formed, whereby after a slight pivoting of the partition wall, a gap is also formed at the floor and ceiling, so that the partition wall can be easily pivoted upwards and can be fixed via a magnet with vibration damper 51. The partition wall is held adjustable in the loading space in a manner known per se.

The length of the air gap between the side wall and the seal can be changed as required using one or more tension bands and the shape of the band section 8. The actuating device can be mounted at any point on the edge of the partition wall. The band section 8 can be made of nylon or another suitable material.

The partition is preferably mounted on the ceiling using vibration dampers so that shocks that occur during the journey are absorbed.

Furthermore, by pulling on the handle portion 10 by hand, a closure can also be released or a mechanical lock can be activated.

The partition can be fixed by pressing it in place beneath the ceiling 3 and can be easily reinstalled by pulling it down. The partition according to the invention can be installed largely wear-free and maintenance-free. No lubrication of mechanical components is necessary. Furthermore, the actuation is easy to clean, as there are no dirty spots that are difficult to access. Furthermore, no mechanical parts can freeze and the actuation devices can operate without problems.

Claims (8)

1. Partition wall, in particular for refrigerated vehicles, with a wall element ( 1 ) adapted to an outer contour ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) and on which seals ( 6 ) are provided on the edge, characterized in that at least in one section actuating means ( 7 , 8 ) are connected to the seal ( 6 ), by means of which the seal ( 6 ) can be at least partially removed from the outer contour ( 2 , 3 , 4 ). 2. Partition wall according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal ( 6 ) in the section has at least one sealing lip ( 60 , 61 ) which is bendable via the actuating means ( 7 , 8 ). 3. Partition wall according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating means comprise a flexible band section ( 8 ) which surrounds the seal ( 6 ) in one section. 4. Partition wall according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuating means ( 7 , 8 ) comprise a tension band ( 7 ) which surrounds the partition wall on two opposite sides thereof with a band section ( 8 ). 5. Partition according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tension band ( 7 ) is pulled through two guide elements ( 9 ) attached to the partition, between which a handle section ( 10 ) is formed. 6. Partition wall according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the partition wall is designed to be pivotable about an axis of rotation ( 5 ). 7. Refrigerated vehicle with a loading space in which several separable compartments are provided, characterized in that a partition wall according to one of the preceding claims is provided. 8. Refrigerated vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the partition wall is held pivotably in the refrigerated vehicle and the pivoting movement is supported by means of a gas pressure spring ( 50 ).