GB2093099A

GB2093099A - Side curtain assembly for goods vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2093099A
Application number: GB8203221A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SOUTHFIELDS COACHWORKS Ltd
Current assignee: SOUTHFIELDS COACHWORKS Ltd
Priority date: 1981-02-12
Filing date: 1982-02-04
Publication date: 1982-08-25
Also published as: GB2093099B

Abstract

A curtain assembly suitable for the sides of goods vehicles or containers comprises a curtain possible with reinforcing straps 28, tracks 12, 32, runners 18 and means to induce tension in the curtain e.g. tensioning bolts 38; a second form comprises a tensioning device to induce horizontal tension in the curtain; and a third aspect comprises an arrangement whereby a curtain pole attached to a side edge portion of the curtain can readily be located with respect to the vehicle body when the curtain is in a closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to vehicle bodies and other goods containers This invention relates to vehicle bodies and other goods containers. In particular, the invention relates to vehicle bodies for urban delivery vehicles.

Urban delivery vehicles are vehicles designed for delivery of goods to a substantial number of locations during a single day or a single trip. A common form of urban delivery vehicle has a body at least one side of which has a curtain mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to the body such that when in a withdrawn position the vehicle can be loaded or unloaded from that side, and when in the fully extended position the contents of the body are protected from the elements and/or retained in position by the curtain.However, these curtain side bodies suffer from a considerable disadvantage in that, in their conventional form, the means for securing the lower margin of the curtain to the vehicle body comprises a series of straps or like securement means all of which should be fastened when the vehicle is in motion between consecutive delivery locations; and the need to unfasten and then fasten all the securement means at each delivery location is time-consuming and thus uneconomic.

In practice, it is found that some drivers of these vehicles do not always fasten the securement means when they should do. This practice leads to risk of the curtain being damaged or displaced during motion of the vehicle; and a further danger, in windy conditions, is that the curtain and its unfastened securement means can blow about when the vehicle is parked at the roadside, presenting a hazard to pedestrians and other road users.

There is, therefore, a need for a curtain side vehicle having means to secure the curtain and prevent its accidental displacement, either during motion or when stationary, and yet which enables the curtain to be extended or withdrawn by the vehicle operator with a minimum of effort.

The present invention now provides means which overcome or at least mitigate to a substantial extent the disadvantages referred to above.

A first aspect of the invention provides a curtain assembly for closing a vehicle body or other goods container, said assembly comprising: a curtain; a first track provided with runners; a second track provided with runners; means to locate the curtain between the first track runners and the second track runners; and tension means to induce tension in the curtain in a direction transverse to the tracks.

A second aspect of the invention provides a vehicle body especially a body for an urban delivery vehicle, including a curtain assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

Although the several aspects of the invention are concerned particularly with urban delivery vehicles -- and the following description particularly relates to such vehicles -- it is not limited to them but can be applied, for example, to other curtain side vehicle bodies and other curtain side goods containers.

The several aspects of the invention are described with particular reference to curtain side vehicle bodies having one or more curtains closing a loading or unloading aperture, in which an upper edge portion of a curtain, or one of the curtains, of the body is suspended from the runners of a first track and a lower edge portion of the curtain is attached to the runners of a second track; and the several aspects of the invention are further described with particular reference to vehicle bodies having a frame including four corner posts located respectively at the four corners of the body but it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to other bodies.

Referring to the first aspect of the invention, the first track is conveniently part of, or carried by, a cant rail of the vehicle body, which cant rail will normally extend between the upper ends of two corner posts disposed at one side (or one end) of the body; and the second track is conveniently part of, or is carried by, a rave of the body disposed vertically beneath or otherwise below said cant rail.

The runners of the first and second tracks are conveniently of the same type, and they can be, for example, rotatable runners such as wheels or rollers or slidable runners (gliders). Similarly, for the sake of convenience and economy the first and second tracks are normally of the same form, depending on the nature of the runners, though tracks of different forms can be used if desired.

Where the runners are wheels or rollers they can, for example, be ones having a circumferential groove: this groove can itself be the means by which the wheel or roller contacts its respective track, or the groove can be a means of separating two flange-like portions of the wheel which engage appropriate track recesses. Both of these forms of track are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. By way of example, the track can comprise a rod facing away from the respective edge portion of the curtain, whereby the wheels or rollers are self-retaining on their respective track; or the track can comprise a channel section member whose mouth faces towards the respective edge portion of the curtain and is formed with recess sections each of which engages a flange of the wheels or rollers.In both of these latter forms of track, given by way of example, the tension induced in the curtain in a direction transverse to the tracks serve to stabilise the runners on the tracks.

In order to assist the stability and smooth running of the runners on the tracks they are conveniently mounted in groups of two or more aligned with the track and carried by a common carrier, such assemblies being referred to below as trolleys. In a preferred form of the invention the respective edge portions of the curtain (or an extension or reinforcement thereof) are attached to the trolleys or other runners of the first and second tracks. Where the curtain is one having a series of parallel reinforcement strips (or a mesh of such strips) the means of suspension of the curtain is conveniently by way of the end portions of those strips (or the mesh, as the case may be), but if desired the PVC or other material constituting the body of the curtain can be attached directly to the runners or trolleys.

Where, for example, the track is a single rod or other elongated member and the trolley takes the form of a flat or cranked plate having pivotally mounted thereon two or more wheels or rollers, the plate can be disposed either inboard or outboard of the track.

The tension means to induce tension in the curtain in a direction transverse to the tracks is conveniently comprised by means connecting the rollers with the respective edge portions of the curtains (or an extension or reinforcement thereof). In one form of the invention tension means are provided in accordance with the number of runners or the number of trolleys.

Where, as is preferred, a runner or trolley of the upper track is attached or connected to the upper edge portion of the curtain at a location substantially vertically above a similar location at which the lower edge portion is attached or connected to its respective runner or trolley, the tension means can comprise two tension devices both acting substantially along a line connecting said upper and lower locations. Alternatively, a single tension device (connected to either the upper or lower curtain location) can be used.

Suitable tension devices include ones suitable for manual adjustment, for example, adjustable tension bolts, or automatically acting tension devices, for example spring loaded devices which continuously induce tension in the curtain.

Reference to inducing tension in "the curtain" in this specification includes the inducement of tension in reinforcement strips, mesh or other reinforcement members but which does not induce tension in the PVC or other material constituting the body of the curtain as such.

In a preferred form of the invention the upper track is located immediately beneath the cant rail and the lower track is located inside the rave, the tracks preferably being located as near to the side edge of the cant rail and rave, respectively, as possible. Where the upper track is located immediately beneath the cant rail the latter preferably has a downwardly directed extension or other means to act as a protection for the track.

Use of tracks of this latter form makes it possible to locate the curtain adjacent the side rave and cant rail and, in the closed position, adjacent the respective end posts, but leaves free the full width of the vehicle body floor to accommodate the load. Moreover, by locating the bottom track within the rave the track does not come into contact with goods being loaded or unloaded from the vehicle nor easily clogged with dirt or extraneous material.

In one form of curtain assembly of the invention, the curtain has a series of vertically orientated reinforcement members of webbing or other material the upper and lower ends of which protrude respectively beyond the upper and lower edges of the curtain sheet, and those upper and lower ends of the reinforcement are connected respectively to upper and lower sliders, and a tensile force is applied between said upper and lower sliders whereby, when the curtain is moved between the withdrawn position and an extended position with respect to the vehicle body, the sliders move along their respective tracks in such a way that the lower slider remains substantially vertically below the upper slider thereby obviating jamming of the sliders in or on their tracks.The tensile force between pairs of upper and lower sliders referred to above can be augmented or, in some circumstances, replaced by the use of one or more auxiliary rollers, trolleys or other sliders adapted to engage an auxiliary track or other support surface. Such auxiliary slider can, for example, serve to prevent, or at least to limit, lateral movement of the primary trolley, roller or other slider.

There has been described above tension means to induce tension in the curtain in a direction transverse to the tracks, and where the tracks are upper and lower tracks of a curtain side body having a horizontally sliding curtain, the tension induced by said tension means is normally in a vertical direction. Third and fourth aspects of the invention now to be described relate to the inducement of tension in the curtain in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second tracks, and in a curtain side vehicle having horizontally sliding curtain the tension so induced is in a horizontal direction and is referred to below as "horizontal tensioning".

The third aspect of the invention provides a tensioning device for a curtain or other closure means used to close a loading or unloading aperture of a vehicle body or other goods container, said device comprising: a carrier movable with respect to the frame of the goods container and means engageable by the carrier to hold an edge portion of the curtain; the carrier being mounted for movement from a first position in which the curtain is not tensioned in a direction transverse to said edge of the curtain to an overcentre position in which the curtain is tensioned in said direction.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a vehicle body or other goods container including a tensioning device according to the third aspect of the invention.

The means engageable by the moveable carrier to hold an edge portion of the curtain can be a conventional or other curtain pole which can, for example, be attached to a respective edge portion of the curtain by any suitable means, and the tensioning device is described below with particular reference to such arrangements as applied to a vehicle body. For example, the pole can be embraced by said edge portion of the curtain, the edge portion overlapping the main body of the curtain material and being attached thereto by stitching or other means.

A preferred form of the tensioning device of the invention is one mounted in a hollow corner post of the goods container. The carrier, which is conveniently in the form of a plate or block, can be mounted at the bottom of the corner post so that the plate or block is rotatable therein in a plane transverse to the adjacent curtain side edge.

The carrier is preferably mounted with respect to the corner post or other portion of the frame of the vehicle body so that in said first position it protrudes from the frame so as to facilitate engagement of the lower portion of the curtain pole when the curtain has been extended so as to bring the respective curtain pole adjacent the carrier for engagement without the curtain being under any substantial horizontal tension.

The overcentre position for the carrier is conveniently provided by arranging that during the rotation of the carrier from said first position to said overcentre position the respective side edge portion of the curtain bears against the corner post or other suitable part of the frame so as to provide a fulcrum about which the curtain pole can move in assuming the closed, tensioned position for the curtain. The movement of the carrier from said first position is conveniently such as to provide a substantial component of lateral movement parallel to the side of the vehicle prior to moving through the overcentre position.

Although rotation of the curtain pole about its longitudinal axis relative to the carrier is permissible during the first stage of movement of the carrier from said first position towards the overcentre position, it is preferable to limit this rotation so as to enhance the horizontal tensioning effect, and to this end there can be provided means for preventing said relative movement at least in the latter portion of rotation of the carrier towards the overcentre position. For example, the lower end of the pole can be provided with a foot engageable with a notch or other receiving means carried by the carrier, said engagement being effected during rotation of the carrier.

The third and fourth aspects of the invention have been described above with particular reference to the use of a curtain pole secured to the respective side edge portion of the curtain and, if desired, the curtain pole can be one whose upper end portions are secured to the frame of the vehicle or other goods container only when the curtain is in the closed, horizontally tensioned position.However, such poles (whether used in conjunction with any of the preceding aspects of the invention described above or otherwise) can prove inconvenient to the user insofar as correct alignment and securement to the vehicle body is inconvenient and time consuming and, when the curtain is in an open position the curtain pole normally has no means of securement with respect to the body but is supported simply by the side edge portion of the curtain which in consequence is liable to be damaged (or at least distorted) by the weight of the pole.

There is, therefore, a need for a means of easily locating the pole for the closed position of the curtain and (preferably) of captivating or otherwise restraining the upper end portion of the pole when the curtain is not in the closed position.

There is now provided according to a fifth aspect of the invention a slidable post assembly for a vehicle body or other goods container, said post assembly comprising: a moveable post which is part of the container or which is secured to an edge portion of a curtain or other closure means for a loading or unloading aperture of the container; support means slidably to support the post with respect to the container; and engagement means carried by the container to engage an end portion of the post in a predetermined position.

In a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle body or other goods container including a slidable post assembly according to the fifth aspect of the invention.

Slidable post assemblies according to the fifth aspect of the invention can be used in conjunction with an assembly according to the first aspect and/or with a tensioning device according to the third aspect of the invention, or in other vehicle bodies or goods containers.

The support means slidably to support the curtain pole or other post with respect to the container conveniently comprises an overhead track having a wheel, roller, slide or other runner supporting the pole. Where the curtain is itself carried on a track that track can, if desired, also constitute the track for the pole and conveniently the same sort of runner can be used as is used for the curtain.

The engagement means carried by the container to engage an end portion of the post is conveniently a downwardly directed peg or other spigot carried, for example, by the cant rail for engagement with a recess carried by the upper portion of the pole. This recess is conveniently formed in the upper end portion of the pole, the pole being retractable with respect to the spigot so that it can readily be disengaged prior to being slid away from the vehicle corner post. In a preferred form of the post assembly it includes captor means to retain the pole in a captive position with respect to the runner.This arrangement has the further advantage that when the pole recess is disengaged from the spigot the pole can be used as a means to move the pole runner along its track as the curtain runners, this can provide a convenient means of closing and retracting the curtain with respect to the vehicle body. The captor means can, for example, comprise a bracket carried by the runner and in respect of which the pole is retractable; for instance, the bracket can slidably embrace a portion of the pole intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof but be prevented from complete disengagement by stop means carried, for example, by the upper portion of the pole.

There is now described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, several embodiments of the invention. In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through a curtain assembly comprising a first embodiment of the curtain assembly aspect of the invention, said assembly being shown in relation to a cant rail of a vehicle body, carrying an upper track and a side rave carrying a lower track; FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the upper part of the curtain assembly of Figure 1, and showing the upper track; FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the curtain assembly of a second embodiment of the curtain assembly aspect of the invention, showing the upper and lower tracks; FIGURE 4 is a section on the line A-A of the curtain assembly of Figure 3, and showing not only the upper and lower tracks but also the cant rail and side rave supporting them;; FIGURE 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the curtain assembly aspect of the invention and is a section similar to that of the lower part of Figure 1, showing the lower track and supporting side rave.

FIGURE 6 is a section of a further embodiment of a curtain assembly of the invention showing the upper and lower tracks; and FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the curtain assembly of Figure 6 viewed in the direction X but from which some of the components have been omitted for clarity; FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are respectively a front elevation, a plan as seen from below and a plan as seen from above of an embodiment of the tensioning device of the invention; FIGURE 11 is an elevation of an embodiment of the post assembly of the invention, the assembly being incorporated in a curtain side vehicle body of the invention; and FIGURES 12 and 13 are each an elevation of the post assembly of Figure 11 viewed in the direction X and showing the post of the post assembly in a retracted position and an extended position respectively.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a cant rail 10 has a downwardly directed extension 11 terminating in an inwardly directed flange 12. To the edge of flange 1 2 is attached by means of welding an elongated steel bar 1 3 of circular cross section and which constitutes an upper track. On the upper track is mounted a series of like trolleys one of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The trolley of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a plate 14 having in its upper portion two spaced apart holes carrying spindles 1 5 on which are mounted rollers 1 6. Each roller comprises a rim portion 1 7 having formed therein a circumferential groove 18 whose shape and dimensions are such that the roller can rollingly engage track 13.Between rim portion 1 7 and spindle 15 there are located two roller element bearings 19.

The lower portion of plate 14 has a lug 20 having formed therein a bolt-receiving aperture substantially parallel with plate 14. The purpose of this aperture is to accommodate a tensioning T-bolt 21 for use in tensioning the curtain. The tensioning bolt comprises a shank portion 22 and a cross portion 23, said shank carrying adjustable nuts 24, 25. By adjustment of the position of nuts 24, 25 on shank 22 the height of cross portion 23 with respect to the bottom of plate 14 can be adjusted and, as is described below, such adjustment provides a means of tensioning the curtain.

The curtain (not shown) is one having a series of vertically extending reinforcement webbing strips (one of which 28 is shown in Figure 2) which extend above the upper edge of the curtain and each of which engages the cross portion of a respective tensioning bolt 21. The upper portion of the reinforcing strip is formed with a circular aperture 26 through which shank 22 can pass, and the free end of the strip can then be folded back on itself and secured by means of stitching 27.

Referring now to the lower part of Figure 1, a side rave 30 has attached to it by means of welding an elongated angle member 31 the lower arm of which carries an elongated rod 32 attached to the angle iron, for example, by welding. Rod 32 provides the lower track of the curtain assembly and has mounted therein a series of trolleys for sliding movement therealong, one of which 33 is shown in Figure 1. Each of these trolleys comprises a plate comprising upper and lower plate portions 35, 36 disposed to each other at an obtuse angle. The lower portion has towards its lower end an aperture carrying a spindle (not shown) on which are mounted two like rollers similar to those described above with reference to the upper track. The shape and dimensions of the circumferential grooves in the rollers are such that the rollers can rollingly engage with lower track 32.The upper portion 35 of plate 34 has a lug 37 having formed therein an aperture parallel to the upper plate portion 35 and which accommodates a tensioning bolt. This bolt can be similar to bolt 21 described above. It will be appreciated that it is not in every case necessary to have upper and lower tensioning bolts and that in some instances one such bolt will suffice.

Rave 30 has attached to it a second angle member 39 the purpose of which is to provide protection for the lower portions of trolleys 33.

Reference is now made to the second of the embodiments described by way of example and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. A cant rail 50 has downwardly extending portion 51 terminating in an inwardly directed flange 52. To the cant rail there is attached, for example by welding, a channel member 53 of inverted U-cross section, the edges of the channel member being inwardly directed as upturned flanges 54, 55 providing two spaced apart parallel tracks. The two tracks provided by the portions of the U-shaped member carrying flanges 54, 55 can be regarded as two upwardly facing channel sections, each to accommodate one of the wheel rims. If desired and with a suitably shaped wheel, a single such ' track can be used.

On the tracks is mounted a series of like trolleys one of which is shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each of those trolleys comprises a body member block 56 drilled to accommodate two spindles 57 on which are mounted two roller wheels 58, 59, the spindles being housed in roller element bearing 60. The block 56 has formed therein holes to accommodate two, spaced apart tensioning bolts 63 the heads of which lie flush with the top surface of block 56. As is shown in Figure 4, the wheels of the trolley rollingly engage with the track provided by inwardly directed flanges 54, 55.

Each of tensioning bolts 63 comprises a shank portion 64 carrying adjustable nuts 65, 66.

Between the nuts the tensioning bolt carries curtain hanger 67 having formed in its lower portion elongated slot 68 from which the curtain of the curtain assembly is suspended.

The curtain 69 is one having a series of vertically extending reinforcement strips of webbing 70 which extend above the upper edge of the curtain and each of which engages slot 68 of the respective curtain hanger. This engagement is effected by passing the upper end of reinforcement strip 70 through slot 68, folding the end back so as to overlie an adjacent portion of the strip and attaching it thereto by means of stitching 71 (Figure 3).

The upper channel member, tensioning bolts and curtain hangers are protected from the elements by means of pelmet 73 which is preferably of a tough flexible material such as PVC.

Referring now to the lower part of Figures 3 and 4, a side rave 80 has attached to its lower, outwardly directed portion 81 by means of a nut and bolt assembly a lower channel member 82 of U-cross section, the arms 83, 84 of the member being inwardly directed so as to provide two, spaced apart flange tracks 83, 84. The nut and bolt assemblies attaching the channel member to the rave also serve to hold an elongated angle member 85 the purpose of which is to protect the channel member. The channel member has disposed along its length a series of runners or trolleys whose construction is similar to those disposed along the upper channel member. These trolleys normally run along tracks 83, 84, and one of them is shown in the lower portion of Figure 4.

The tensioning bolt 86 carried by the trolley shown in Figures 3 and 4 carries two lock nuts 87, 88 whose purpose is to permit adjustment of the height of the trolley.

Trolley 89 comprises a plate 90, an upwardly extending flange 91 having formed therein an elongated slot 92 and an upwardly directed member 93 in the upper portion of which is mounted reaction roller 94. The center portion of plate 90 has an aperture formed therein by means of which it is mounted on tensioning bolt 86 and firmly held thereon by means of lock nuts 87, 88.

The lower end portion of curtain reinforcing strip 70 engages slot 92, the end portion being folded back on itself and secured to the lower edge portion of curtain 69 by means of rivets 95.

The lower edge of the curtain extends below the lower curtain hanger and terminates about the level of the lower portion 81 of rave 80. In this way, when the curtain is fully extended it protects from the elements the lower curtain hanger, the channel member and the trolleys located therein.

With reference to Figure 5, like parts to those of Figure 1 are referred to by the same numerals as in Figure 1 but having the same numbers but prefixed by figure "1". However, the plate 35, 36 of Figure 1 is replaced by a planar plate 1 36 and fastening means for the reinforcing strip is replaced by a slot 140 in the upper portion of plate 136.

The curtain assembly shown in Figures 6 and 7 is similar in several respects to that shown in Figures 1 and 2; and like members in Figures 6 and 7 have been given the same reference numerals as those used in Figures 1 and 2 but with the addition of a prefix "2".

Curtain 240 has attached to its upper edge portion (for example, by stitching or, where the curtain is of PVC, by welding) reinforcement strips 241,242, and where these three curtain components form a ply they are attached to a right angle bracket 243 comprising a vertically directed portion 244 and a horizontally directed portion 245. The curtain ply is attached to the portion 244 by means of rivets 246.

The horizontally directed portion 245 of the bracket 243 has formed therein an aperture slidingly to accommodate the shank of tension bolt 221. The lower face of bracket portion 245 has attached thereto, by means of welding, an annular reinforcement plate 246. The lower end of tension bolt 221 carries a nut 247 and stepped washer 248, and between the stepped washer and the lower face of reinforcement plate 246 there is disposed a compression spring 249 which serves to urge bracket 243 upwardly with respect to tension bolt 221 and thereby impart tension in curtain 240. Bracket portion 245 also has formed therein two spaced apart apertures in which are rigidly located two parallel spacer pins 250. These pins are for abutment against the plate 214 and serve to prevent undue rotation of bracket 243 with respect to the track 213 and the runner 21 7.

A flexible pelmet 251 attached along its length to cant rail extension 211 acts as a means of excluding weather from the track 213 and its wheel runners.

Referring now to Figures 8, 9 and 10, the tensioning device is carried at the lower end of one of the hollow corner posts of the vehicle body.

The corner post 300 is a channel member of general U-shape cross-section 301 having laterally extending flanges 302, 303 which are parallel to a side of the vehicle body. The bottom of the corner post is closed by means of a bottom plate 304 attached thereto, for example by means of welding. The bottom plate has formed therein two parallel elongate apertures 305, 306, the purpose of which is described below.

On the upper surface of the bottom plate 304 there is located a rotatable carrier 307 comprising a polygonal-sided plate 308 to the upper surface of which there is attached, for example by welding, a half collar member 309 which has a rebate 310 extending from end 311 parallel to and contiguous with the upper surface of plate 308. The lower surface of carrier 307 is separated from the upper surface of bottom plate 304 by washer 312.

The spindle extending from the lower surface of carrier plate 308 passes through slot 306 in the base plate and isjournalled in an adjuster block 315 having a laterally extending screw threaded aperture engaging an adjustment bolt 316 which is carried by brackets 317, 318 and retained in position by nuts 319, 320. By manipulation of bolt 317 the position of adjuster block 315 (and in consequence the position of the spindle) can be adjusted with reference to the bottom plate 304 and provides a suitable degree of tension in the curtain (not shown). The lower end of the spindle carries a handle 321 by means of which the spindle and the carrier can be turned relative to the bottom plate.The upper surface of the adjuster block carries an upwardly directed stop pin 313 of dimensions such that it can slide in slot 305 when the block is adjusted in position.

The chain lines in Figure 8 show the bottom portion of a hollow cylindrical curtain pole 322 along which is attached an edge portion of the curtain (not shown). The pole has a radially extending foot 323 of shape and dimensions such that it can be accommodated in rebate 310 of the half collar member 309.

The length of slots 305 and 306 are such as to accommodate lateral movement of the spindle and stop pin 313 resulting from lateral adjustment of adjuster block 315.

In Figure 10 the full lines of the carrier show it in an overcentre position assumed when the curtain is in its closed and tensioned position; and the chain lines indicate the carrier in a release position.

Operation of the tensioning device shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 can be as follows. Assuming that the carrier 307 is in the position indicated by the chain lines in Figure 10 and that the curtain is in an open position, the curtain is drawn along the side of the vehicle body together with curtain pole 322 so as to close that side. The lower end of the curtain pole is located within half collar 309 with the foot 323 resting on the upper surface of carrier plate 308, and any necessary adjustment is made to the location of the upper end of the curtain pole.

By operation of handle 321 the spindle is rotated about its longitudinal axis carrying with it the carrier and (unless engagement has already been effected) this rotation results in the foot engaging rebate 310 the inner end of which acts as a stop once the foot is fully engaged with the rebate. This engagement prevents any further rotation of the curtain pole and as the carrier is rotated on its spindle in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 10, the curtain is drawn against flange 303 and tensioned. Flange 303 is set back from the side edge of the corner post (Figure 10) to accommodate the curtain.As the carrier is rotated between the position shown in the chain lines and that shown in the full lines of Figure 10 it passes through an overcentre position in which the curtain is tensioned to a maximum extent before the carrier assumes the position shown in the full lines of Figure 10. In this position the curtain is under a tension sufficient to keep it in a weatherproof relationship with the vehicle body.

The clockwise movement of the carrier is limited by the notch 324 in the lower face of the carrier plate contacting the stop pin 313.

To release the tension device and open the curtain the carrier is moved in the anti-clockwise direction as indicated in Figure 10, passing through from overcentre position to a release position indicated in chain lines in which the curtain pole can be rotated manually so as to disengage the foot from rebate 310, lifted free from the carrier and retracted together with the curtain so as to open the vehicle body for loading or unloading.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 show a post assembly 400 installed in a curtain side vehicle body having a channel section corner post 401. The bottom of the channel section 402 is shown in Figure 11 and one of the sides of the section 403 is shown in Figures 12 and 1 3 from which Figures the bottom section 402 has been omitted.

The upper portion of the corner post carries an overhead cant rail 404 extending between corner post 401 and a similar corner post at the other end of the vehicle body. The cant rail has a downwardly directed extension 405 which terminates in an inwardly directed flange 406.

Along the edge of flange 406 there extends a rod track 407 attached to the flange, for example, by welding. On track 407 there is located a runner 408 in the form of a wheel pivotally mounted on a right angle bracket 409 which, as viewed in the drawings, comprises a vertically directed arm 410 and a horizontally direction arm 411 which has a centrally located aperture 412 the purpose of which is described below. The lower face of arm 411 has attached thereto a cylindrical block having a centrally disposed circular aperture in which spigot 41 5 is a sliding fit. This block acts as a reinforcing member for arm 411.

The post of the post assembly comprises a curtain pole 413 which, in use, is secured to an edge portion of the curtain (not shown) of the vehicle body, for example by the end portion being looped around the pole and secured, for example by stitching, to the main portion of the curtain. The curtain pole has at its upper end a longitudinally disposed neck portion 41 5 which is a sliding fit in aperture 412 of bracket 411, and the neck carries at its upper end a hollow head 416 which has disposed therein an upwardly facing recess 41 7 (Figure 13). To engage this recess there is a downwardly directed pole location peg or spigot 418 attached to the underside of a right angled bracket 41 9 which is itself attached to the inner face of the corner post 401 and to cant rail 404.

Where the curtain of the vehicle body is suspended from runners running on an overhead track, it is convenient for those runners to be carried on the same track 407 as runner 408 and the following description of operation of the post assembly shown in Figures 11, 12 and 1 3 refers to such an arrangement. Assuming that the curtain is in an open position to permit loading or unloading of the vehicle body, the curtain (not shown) and the curtain pole 41 3 are drawn by a hand so that their respective runners run along track 407 towards corner post 401 and curtain pole 413 is urged by hand as close to the corner post as possible.The recess 41 7 in the curtain pole head is then aligned with pole location peg 418 (Figure 13) and the curtain pole is lifted manually so that the curtain pole head engages the peg and the curtain pole assumes the position shown in Figure 12 and indicated by the chain lines in Figure 11. This engagement is effected, for example, with the curtain pole at an angle to the vertical similar to that shown in Figure 13, and as recess 417 engages peg 418 the curtain pole tends to be straightened towards a vertical disposition which can be assisted by manual horizontal pressure applied to the lower end of the pole. The curtain pole will normally be of a length such that its lower end portion can be located in its closed position once the recess 41 7 and peg 418 are fully engaged with each other.

To open the curtain the engagement means at the lower end of the pole is disengaged upon which the tension in the curtain will normally bring the curtain pole into an inclined position similar to that shown in Figure 13, and the curtain pole can then be brought into the retracted position shown in Figure 1 3 either under the influence of gravity alone or with the assistance of the user. The curtain pole and the curtain can then be retracted along the curtain track 407.

In curtain assemblies of the invention in which the upper edge portion of a curtain is attached to the runners of an upper track, the means of inducing tension in the curtain can comprise, for example, a curtain pole (or poles) or other rigid member secured to a side edge portion of the curtain, and the lower edge portion of the curtain can, optionally, be secured to the vehicle body by means other than a track and runners, for example by straps engaging a side rave of the body.

Claims

1. A curtain assembly for closing a vehicle body or other goods container, said assembly comprising: a curtain; a first track provided with runners; a second track provided with runners; means to locate the curtain between the first track runners and the second track runners; and tension means to induce tension in the curtain in a direction transverse to the tracks.

2. A curtain assembly according to Claim 1 for closing a loading or unloading aperture of a curtain-side vehicle body, in which the upper edge portion of a, or one of the, curtains of the body is suspended from the runners of the first track and the lower edge portion of the curtain is attached to the runners of the second track.

3. A curtain assembly according to Claim 2, in which the first track is part of, or is carried by, a cant rail of the vehicle body and the second track is part of, or is carried by, a rave of the vehicle body.

4. A curtain assembly according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the runners are wheels or rollers.

5. A curtain assembly according to Claim 4, in which each track comprises a rod and the wheels or rollers engage their respective track on a face thereof facing away from the respective edge portion of the curtain, whereby the wheels or rollers are self-retaining on their respective track.

6. A curtain assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 4, in which each track comprises a channel-section member whose mouth faces towards the respective edge portion of the curtain.

7. A curtain assembly according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, in which the wheels or rollers are each pivotally mounted on a carrier provided with means to engage a respective edge portion of the curtain or an extension or reinforcement thereof.

8. A curtain assembly according to Claim 7, in which the wheel or roller is mounted on the outboard side of the carrier and is disposed between the carrier and the respective rave.

9. A curtain assembly according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the carrier is a plate having a cranked arm or other extension, the extension having means for attachment to the respective edge portion of the curtain, and said extension and said means being of shape and dimensions such that said attachment is substantially aligned with the respective track.

10. A curtain assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the tension means comprises a bracket attached to an edge portion of the curtain and biassing means to urge the bracket in a direction away from and parallel to the curtain.

11. A curtain assembly according to Claim 10, in which the bracket has a vertically directed portion attached to the curtain and a horizontally directed portion on which the biassing means acts.

12. A curtain assembly according to Claim 11, in which the biassing means is carried by one of the wheels or rollers and comprises a coil compression spring surrounding a guide on which the bracket is slidable towards and away from the respective track.

13. A curtain assembly according to Claim 10, 11 or 12, in which the bracket carries stop means to limit or prevent rotation of the bracket and thereby keep the curtain substantially aligned with the respective track.

13A. A curtain assembly for closing a vehicle body or other goods container, said assembly comprising: a curtain; a track provided with runners; means to secure an upper edge portion of the curtain to said runners; curtain poles or other rigid members secured to the side edge portions of the curtain so as to induce tension in the curtain; and means to secure the lower edge portion of the curtain to the vehicle body.

14. A curtain assembly according to Claim 1 or 1 3A substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A curtain assembly for a vehicle body or other goods container, substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A curtain assembly for a vehicle body or other goods container, substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A curtain assembly for a vehicle body or other goods container, substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in Figures 1,2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, the structure of the lower part of Figure 1 being substituted by the structure of Figure 5.

1 8. A curtain assembly for a vehicle body or other goods container, substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A vehicle body or other goods container including a curtain assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

20. An urban delivery vehicle having a curtain closure means on at least one side thereof, in which said curtain closure means is a curtain assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 18.

21. A tensioning device for a curtain or other closure means used to close a loading or unloading aperture of a vehicle body or other goods container, said device comprising: a carrier moveable with respect to the frame of the goods container and means engageable by the carrier to hold an edge portion of the curtain; the carrier being mounted for movement from a first position in which the curtain is not tensioned in a direction transverse to said edge of the curtain to an overcentre position in which the curtain is tensioned in said direction.

22. A tensioning device according to Claim 21, in which said means engageable by the carrier comprises a curtain pole.

23. A tensioning device according to Claim 22, in which the curtain pole is embraced by said edge portion of the curtain.

24. A tensioning device according to Claim 21, 22 or 23, which is mounted on a hollow corner post of the goods container.

25. A tensioning device according to Claim 24, in which the carrier is mounted at the bottom of the corner post and is rotatable therein in a plane transvers to said edge of the curtain.

26. A tensioning device according to any of Claims 22 to 25, in which the carrier has formed therein a notch-like recess to receive an end of the curtain pole and to retain said end while the carrier is in said overcentre position.

27. A tensioning device according to Claim 25 or 26, in which as the carrier is rotated from said first position to said overcentre position the curtain is brought into contact with the corner post said contact providing a fulcrum as the carrier moves to the overcentre position.

28. A tensioning device according to Claim 21, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. A tensioning device for a curtain or like closure means, substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

30. A vehicle body or other goods container including a tensioning device as claimed in any of claims 21 to 29.

31. A slidable post assembly for a vehicle body or other goods container, said post assembly comprising: a moveable post which is part of the container or which is secured to an edge portion of a curtain or other closure means for a loading or unloading aperture of the container; support means slidably to support the post with respect to the container; and engagement means carried by the container to engage an end portion of the post in a predetermined position.

32. A post assembly according to Claim 31, in which the post is a curtain pole for securement to an edge portion of a curtain used to close the loading or unloading aperture.

33. A post assembly according to Claim 32, in which said end portion of the pole is the upper end.

34. A post assembly according to Claim 33, in which said support means comprises an overhead track having a runner supporting the pole.

35. A post assembly according to Claim 33 or 34, in which said engagement means comprises a downwardly facing spigot for engagement with a recess carried by the upper portion of the pole.

36. A post assembly according to Claim 35, which includes captor means to retain the pole in a captive disposition with respect to the runner, whereby when the pole recess is disengaged from the spigot the pole can be used as a means to move the runner along its track.

37. A post assembly according to any of Claims 31 to 36, in which the upper portion of the curtain pole includes a head portion and a neck portion, and the captor means comprises a bracket carried by the runner, the bracket slidably embracing the neck portion of the pole but of shape and dimensions such as not to pass the head portion.

38. A slidable post assembly according to Claim 31, substantially as described herein according to the accompanying drawings.

39. A slidable post assembly for securement to an edge portion of a curtain of a curtain-side vehicle body or other goods container, substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.

40. A vehicle body or other goods container including a slidable post assembly as claimed in any of Claims 31 to 39.