Slidable cover assembly for merchandise carrying vehicle platforms

Abstract

A slidable cover assembly for merchandise carrying vehicle platforms is described. The cover assembly comprises a pair of opposed end support frames and a plurality of intermediate frames, each having a top carriage for displacement on a central horizontal top center beam member secured to the platform. Each end support frame and intermediate frames have a top tapered roof truss structure and opposed depending side members. The side members have a side rail engaging carriage at a lower end thereof for displaceable support engagement with a side rail secured to opposed sides of the platform. A tarp is secured to the end support frames and intermediate frames and displaceable therewith from a collapsed condition to an extended condition. Tarp displacement mechanisms are provided to displace the tarp side walls outwardly of the intermediate frames when the frames are displaced closer to one another from the extended condition to the collapsed condition. The end support frames have a vertical connecting wing flange disposed vertically along at least a portion of the opposed depending side members and adapted to be detachably secured to a locking mechanism secured to stationary opposed bulk head frames of the platform.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a slidable cover assembly for merchandise carrying vehicle platforms and more particularly, but not exclusively, for railway cars equipped with opposed bulk heads and a top center beam. BACKGROUND ART [0002] It is known to cover open top-end vehicle platforms, such as railway cars and tractor trailers, with a tarp whereby to protect merchandise during transport. It is also known to provide a slidable cover assembly for such platforms and such is exemplified by, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,152,575; 6,250,233 and European Patent EP 0 955 196 A1. Several other patent publications relate to covers for open top-end containers wherein the cover spans only the open top end of the transport container. [0003] There are several problems with slidable cover assemblies and, for example, the lifespan of such assemblies is fairly short due to malfunctions and wear-and-tear. Some of these problems are attributed to the fact that these cover...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a slidable cover assembly for merchandise carrying vehicle platforms which can be displaced by one or two people without the use of motors or winches and which is capable of exposing the entire cargo area of the vehicle platform for loading and unloading merchandise.

[0007] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a slidable cover assembly for merchandise carrying vehicle platforms and wherein parts of the support assembly can be replaced or repaired without having to remove the slidable cover assembly from the platform.

[0008] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a slidable cover assembly for merchandise carrying vehicle platforms and wherein the tarp of the assembly as well as the support frame is protected against wind and other foreign matter which can damage the tarp and create malfunction of the support frame assembly.

[0009] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a slidable cover assembly for merchandise carrying vehicle platforms having a support frame structure which is displaceable to collapse the tarp from a collapsed to an extended condition while at the same time displacing the tarp outwardly of its side walls and folding its top wall to protect the tarp.

[0010] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a slidable cover assembly which is easy to assemble on a merchandise carrying vehicle platform and which can be quickly moved from an extended condition to a collapsed condition whereby to form a collapsed cover assembly package which can be displaced at any location along opposed support rails of the vehicle truck to expose all of the cargo area.

Problems solved by technology

There are several problems with slidable cover assemblies and, for example, the lifespan of such assemblies is fairly short due to malfunctions and wear-and-tear.

Some of these problems are attributed to the fact that these covers are damaged during installation and removal and by loading and unloading equipment working in the vicinity of these covers.

For railway cars these covers are very large and difficult to install due to their large size and weight.

Further problems with slidable cover assemblies are that they are not able to slide in a way as to expose the entire area of the platform for loading and unloading merchandise and therefore need to be disassembled and this is a time-consuming and expensive job, often idling the railway car(s) for long periods of time.

The structures supporting slidable cover assemblies have not been found adequate to provide proper operation and often leads to damage of the tarp during the displacement of its support frame assembly.

Also, they do not provide adequate support of the top wall of the cover which may be subjected to snow or ice loads during winter months.

Furthermore, the structure of these slidable cover assemblies has not been found adequate to protect the cover during displacement of the merchandise carrying vehicle platforms wherein air infiltrates behind the cover applying outward pressure thereto and causing ruptures in the tarp.

Furthermore, with railway car platforms, the tarp is subjected to lateral pressure when two trains move in opposite directions in side-by-side relationship causing shearing forces on the side walls of the tarp.

Many of these slidable cover assemblies are also motor-operated due to their heavy weight and this increases cost.

Still further, the support mechanisms of these slidable covers often become defective and in order to effect repair, it is necessary to remove the entire slidable cover assembly from the transport vehicle platforms for maintenance purpose.

If the vehicle platform is carrying merchandise this maintenance becomes very costly.

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