4233results about "Load securing" patented technology

The invention relates to a rack for supporting cask-type containers. The rack comprises a plurality of modular structures each suitable for receiving a single container, each modular structure presenting a back vertical mean plane and a substantially parallel front vertical mean plane, and having top fixing points, bottom fixing points, and support means close to said bottom fixing points, said support means being substantially contained in a horizontal plane so as to support a container. The modular structures are connected to one another via their fixing points on a horizontal axis and on a vertical axis so that each upper modular structure straddles two lower modular structures.

A flexible cargo bed tie-down system that allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and that interfaces with the rest of the truck in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. Tie-down track(s) are provided that are integral with the body of the truck such that the exterior contour of the track(s) do not extend appreciably beyond the contour of the adjacent portions of the body. This permits the track(s) to blend in with the body of the truck, which improves functionality because the track(s) do not obstruct the placement of items on the truck. This also permits the portions of the body of the truck that support the tracks(s) to be specifically designed to take large loads, which thus allows the track(s) to support, separate and/or secure large loads.

A device for indicating the pressure applied to an object by a strap (21). The device is adapted to receive an end of the strap and to allow the strap end to be pulled through the device against the action of a deformable spring means (22), thereby progressively increasing the pressure applied to the object. The spring means progressively deflects in proportion to that applied pressure. A linking means (24) translates the deflection of the spring means to the movement of a pointer (23) which thus provides an indication of the pressure being applied by the strap against some reference markings on the strap (25).

A method of transporting and storing a wind turbine blade (1) including a blade root (10) and a blade tip (4), where the wind turbine blade curves in the unloaded state in such a manner that the blade (1) presents a substantially concave face (30) and a substantially convex face (12), and such that said blade tip (4) is spaced apart from the longitudinal central axis (28) of said blade root (10). By the method, the wind turbine blade (1) is prestressed by means of prestressing means (2, 5, 6, 9, 13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33) at a distance from the blade root (10) in such a manner that the blade tip (4) is brought closer to the longitudinal central axis (28) of the blade root (10). The invention also relates to a curved wind turbine blade (1) being provided with inner ballast tanks (21) at a distance from the blade root (10), whereby the blade is prestressed by filling said ballast tanks in such a manner that the blade tip (4) may be brought closer to the longitudinal central axis (28) of the blade root (10). The invention further relates to an apparatus including prestressing means for loading a curved blade at a distance from the blade root (10) in such a manner that the blade tip (4) is brought closer to the longitudinal central axis (28) of the blade root (10).

A system of method for automated deployment of a plurality photovoltaic solar panels carried as a unit by a carrier. The system includes an installation trailer, a robot having a mechanism for picking up a carrier and a push actuator. Carriers carrying a plurality of solar panels as a unit may be installed using the system by carrying a plurality of carriers on an installation trailer to a row of rails onto which the carriers are to be installed. The robot picks up each carrier and aligns and places the carrier on the rail system. The push actuator pushes the carrier down the rail system, making space for the next carrier to be installed.

A track fastener assembly for securing a seat or cargo apparatus to a floor track of a vehicle. The assembly includes a base with a longitudinal slot formed therein, and a ramp disposed in its upper surface near the forward end of the slot. A movable slide carrying locking studs runs in the longitudinal slot. A locking rod having a helical groove formed in its outer surface is operatively connected to the base and the slide. Rotation of the locking rod causes the slide to move axially along the longitudinal slot from an installation position near the aft end of the base to a locking position near the forward end of the base. As the slide moves to the locking position, the slide engages the ramp in the base, thereby deflecting the slide with the attached locking studs upwards and clamping the track fastener assembly to the track.

A pivoting cage cargo bed extender is pivotally mounted to the D-pillars of a pick-up truck to be pivotally movable between a forward position and a rearward position. In the rearward position, the pivoting cage serves as a supplemental tailgate structure that rests on the open tailgate to extend the operative area of the cargo bed. The pivoting cage is formed of individual segments that are hinged together and separable at the center into two halves that are each collapsible into a stowed position adjacent the respective side wall of the cargo bed. The two halves of the cargo bed are connectable with a latching mechanism at the center to form a pivoting cage structure that spans transversely across the floor of the cargo bed. The latching mechanism compresses an internal O-ring to provide a tight connection between the two halves.

Supports such as a pallet carrying aircraft passenger seats or a bottom of a freight container are secured to a floor structure in an aircraft. For this purpose the floor structure includes floor stringers (5) supported on and secured to floor joists (11). The stringers (5) are U-rails having an upwardly open U-cross-section with a first interlocking member (8) in the U-cross-section. An adapter (4, 13) having a present existing stud (8) and shear pin system (8A) is secured in the U-rail of the stringers (5). The adapter (4) is secured to or securable to the support by a latching (2, 3). Another adapter (13) carries rotatable rollers or roller balls that project slightly above an upwardly facing floor level to permit, for example, freight containers or seat pallets to roll along the floor. Instead of adapter (13) it is also possible to install a present existing container latch carrier (14) in the present stringer (5).

A tie-down anchor is provided for strapping cargo to a cargo bed. The tie-down anchor includes a receptacle member, which in turn includes a base and a mounting flange secured to the base. The mounting flange is mounted to the cargo bed in alignment with a mounting hole in the bed. A strap-receiving member is disposed in the receptacle member supported on the base for floating rotary and pivotal movement. The strap-receiving member includes a base leg having a length greater than the diameter of the mounting hole and an extension fixed to the base leg to create an opening for receiving the strap. The extension is narrower than the mounting hole so that the extension may pass through the mounting hole and extend above the bed.

Retractable anchor device includes a mounting part which is securable to a surface and a generally U-shaped member to which a tension member can be secured. The U-shaped member is slidably mounted to the mounting part and including a first end and a second end. A retracting system is included that causes the U-shaped member to move to a retracted position when the U-shaped member experiences a predetermined external force sufficient to disengage the locking system. The retracting system has at least one of (a) first and second biasing mechanisms wherein the first biasing mechanism biases the first end towards the retracted position and the second biasing mechanism biases the second end towards the retracted position, or (b) an actuator, wherein the actuator moves the U-shaped member towards at least one of the extended position and the retracted position. The U-shaped member is movable between the extended position whereby at least a portion of the U-shaped member is positioned above an upper surface of the mounting part, and the retracted position whereby the U-shaped member is positioned approximately flush with or below the upper surface of the mounting part.

A low elevational profile of each of a pair of first and second wheel chocks for restraining a current “low-drag” motor vehicle in a carrier, such as a railway car, is derived from each wheel chock having an internally webbed, elongated stepped-box body terminated with a relatively short rectangular box having its inner wall integrally formed with the stepped-box body. The body of the first chock is essentially a mirror-image of the second chock body. The low profile of a wheel chock allows each to be positioned under a vehicle the rocker panel of which has its lower edge only 148 mm (5.82 inches) above the surface upon which the vehicle's tire rests, so that the installed chock height is reduced to 47.6 mm (1.87″) under the components of the vehicle's body. The assembly may include a pair of “active” chocks; or, one active chock and one anchor chock. A single window in the upper portion of the stepped-box provides access for a strap of a wheel harness, which strap is wrapped around a torque tube in an active chock. The torque tube in one chock is rotatable in a direction opposite to that of the torque tube of the other chock. With a pair of active chocks, hooks on straps of a prior art harness are eliminated because it is difficult and time-consuming to manipulate a tire harness with its straps and hooks to secure the tire between the wheel chocks. When one chock is an anchor chock, one end of the strap is provided with a hook which is anchored to a rod or tube which is substituted for the rotatable torque tube.

A tailgate of modular construction and employing an extender assembly. The tailgate employs a thick central molded plastic core structure and inner and outer cover sheets secured to inboard and outboard faces of the core structure. The core structure defines laterally spaced vertically extending channels and the extender assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced post assemblies slidably mounted in the respective channels of the core member and connected at their upper end by a bar member which fits in a pocket defined in the upper face of the tailgate with the extender assembly in its lowered position.

Disclosed is a cargo space divider wherein a system of dividing walls allow a cargo space, preferably a pick-up truck bed, to be sectioned off into smaller, variably sized sections in order to prevent objects transported therein from rolling or sliding about the bed. The device consists of a pair of support rails that are installed along and clamped to the sidewalls of the truck bed above the wheel wells. Lateral sectioning walls span the width of the truck bed and longitudinal sectioning walls span between the lateral sectioning walls, both in adjustable positions, thus creating divided cargo spaces that are adjustable both in number and size.

A securement mechanism includes a tie down cleat assembly for engagement with a mating component, the tie down cleat assembly including a pin, a lock plate adjacent one of the ends of the pin, and a housing with an aperture receiving the pin. An actuating member is operationally connected to the pin and causes selective movement of the pin and lock plate between a secured and unsecured orientation. The lock plate includes two dimensions, a first dimension permitting the lock plate to be inserted into a channel associated with the mating component and a second dimension permitting the securement of the mating component between the housing and locking plate. The pin and locking plate and preferably the housing all rotate as a single unit.

Tension alert device is attached between opposing ends of a securing member attached to a load bed to secure a load thereupon. The device has a strip with a curved portion, which is resiliently movable towards a proximity sensor disposed on a wall in device. When tension in securing member decreases, proximity of curved portion relative wall decreases. When curved portion enters a proximity actuation state relative first wall corresponding to a low tension state where tension is below a tension threshold level, a proximity sensor actuates a signaling device which alerts a user.

Disclosed is a container loading and unloading apparatus, which overcomes a problem of a conventional container in that a special equipment such as a forklift truck, a crane or the like is necessarily mobilized whenever the loading or unloading work is performed because the container is simply a cuboidal rigid body. The present invention makes it possible to perform the loading and unloading works of the container main body at the time of its storage and transportation without a separate loading and unloading equipment by providing a container supporter to secure a space for loading the container main body on a chassis of a freight car, thereby reducing equipments and labor as well as facilitating the loading and unloading works.