Impact protection arrangement to protect a wall segment

Abstract

Impact protection arrangement for protecting a wall segment (1), for example a refrigerated box body (3), from damage, in particular when loading and unloading cargo using a forklift truck, with at least two air guide profiles (9) which are laterally spaced apart from one another and can be mounted on the wall segment (1) in a substantially vertically oriented manner and which each have an end face (27) facing away from the wall segment (1) in the mounted state and substantially vertically oriented, and two opposing, substantially vertically oriented side walls (29) which extend from the end face (27) to a rear side of the air guide profile (9), which rear side faces the wall segment (1) in the mounted state, wherein the side walls (29) each define a lower edge (39) which extends from the rear side of the air guide profile (9) obliquely downwards to the end face (27), and with a buffer element (13) arranged between the air guide profiles (9), which is designed as an elastic hollow body.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a crash protection arrangement for protecting a wall segment, for example a refrigerated box body, in particular during loading and unloading of cargo by means of a forklift truck.

[0002] A wall segment of a body, such as a refrigerated box body, can be damaged, for example, by a forklift's fork hitting the wall segment. Such damage is undesirable, especially since it may require repair or even replacement of the wall segment.

[0003] Impact protection strips designed as elastic hollow bodies are known from DE 1 275 892 A and DE 87 05 818 U1. A buckling spring body is disclosed in EP 0 302 139 A1.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a way to effectively and cost-effectively protect a wall segment from damage.

[0005] The object is achieved by a crash protection arrangement having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments and developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The impact protection arrangement according to the invention serves to protect a wall segment, for example a refrigerated box body, from damage, in particular during loading and unloading of cargo by means of a forklift truck, and comprises at least two air guide profiles which are laterally spaced from one another and can be mounted on the wall segment in a substantially vertically oriented manner and which each comprise an end face which, in the mounted state, faces away from the wall segment and is substantially vertically oriented, and two opposing, substantially vertically oriented side walls which extend from the end face to a rear face which, in the mounted state, faces the wall segment, wherein the side walls each define a lower edge which, starting from the end face, extends obliquely upwards to the rear face.

[0007] The impact protection arrangement further comprises a buffer element arranged between the air guide profiles, which is designed as an elastic hollow body. Since the buffer element is both elastic and hollow, it can effectively absorb or at least dampen mechanical impacts, particularly shocks. If the buffer element is arranged in front of the wall segment, it can thus protect a concealed area of ​​the wall segment behind it from such impacts. For example, the buffer element can absorb an impact from a forklift fork (or a pallet truck or the like), so that the wall segment behind it remains undamaged.

[0008] Because the buffer element is designed as a hollow body, it can be manufactured using relatively little material. This keeps both the weight of the buffer element and its manufacturing costs low. The hollow design of the buffer element also allows air to flow through the buffer element, which can be used, for example, in a refrigerated box body for cooling purposes, so that air circulation through the buffer element is at least not significantly impaired.

[0009] Preferably, the hollow body comprises an elastomer material. This ensures particularly good elasticity of the hollow body and allows mechanical impacts on the buffer element to be absorbed particularly effectively.

[0010] Particularly preferably, the hollow body is made entirely of elastomer material. This allows the hollow body to be manufactured particularly easily and cost-effectively, for example, by an extrusion process.

[0011] The hollow body can be at least approximately cuboid-shaped. This makes it easy to handle. Furthermore, multiple hollow bodies can easily be arranged next to and / or on top of each other, allowing a larger area of ​​the wall segment to be easily covered with multiple hollow bodies. Furthermore, a hollow body designed in this way is particularly well suited for placement between air duct profiles, which may be provided, for example, on the front wall of a refrigerated box body.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hollow body has a substantially vertically oriented rear wall, a substantially vertically oriented front wall opposite the rear wall, and two mutually opposite, substantially vertically oriented side walls which connect the rear wall to the front wall and delimit at least one hollow chamber of the buffer element. This makes it particularly easy to create a hollow body, in particular one with a substantially cuboid shape. Furthermore, for example, the front wall can yield inward due to the hollow chamber, so that an impact on the front wall, such as an impact from a forklift fork, can be effectively absorbed.

[0013] Preferably, at least one substantially vertically oriented web, spaced apart from the side walls, extends between the front wall and the rear wall. This further improves the buffering effect of the buffer element, since the web can intercept and at least partially absorb any impact acting on the front wall.

[0014] Preferably, an upper side of the buffer element is open, in particular so that a hollow chamber of the buffer element is accessible from above.

[0015] Particularly preferably, the underside of the buffer element, opposite the upper side, is also open. This allows the buffer element to be particularly easily cleaned without having to remove it from the wall segment, since a cleaning agent, such as water, that enters the hollow chamber can escape again at the underside.

[0016] According to a preferred development of the buffer element, the front wall has at least one opening which opens into the at least one hollow chamber.

[0017] As already mentioned above, the buffer element can be used, for example, to protect the front wall of a refrigerated box body. In such a refrigerated box body, a cooling unit is normally located in the upper area of ​​the front wall of the refrigerated box body. The cooling unit generates cold air, which is thrown backward from the cooling unit, sinks, and flows back to the front along the floor of the refrigerated box body and then upwards again in the area of ​​the front wall. The resulting circulating cold air flow allows the refrigerated box body to be heated to a desired temperature.

[0018] When the buffer element is arranged on the front wall, the front wall of the buffer element points away from the front wall, i.e. towards the rear, into the interior of the box body. The cold air flowing back from the rear of the refrigerated box body can therefore flow into the hollow chamber through the opening in the front wall and exit again through the open top of the buffer element. In other words, the circulating cold air can flow through the buffer element, so that the cold air flow is not blocked by the buffer element. This is particularly advantageous when the refrigerated box body is heavily loaded and the circulating cold air can essentially only flow back to the front from a rear part of the box body underneath transport pallets used to carry the load, since it can then flow through the buffer elements and along the front wall back up to the refrigeration unit.

[0019] The aforementioned air guide profiles can be arranged at a distance from one another on a wall segment, for example, on the front wall of a refrigerated box body, and protrude from the wall segment to prevent cargo from being placed directly against the wall segment. The air guide profiles therefore provide a free space in front of the wall segment through which air can flow even when heavily loaded.

[0020] Preferably, opposing side walls of the buffer element each have at least one continuous, vertically extending recess provided for receiving a complementary guide projection of a vertically extending air guide profile. This allows the buffer element to be easily arranged between adjacent air guide profiles and secured by them.

[0021] In particular, the buffer element can be inserted from above between two air guide profiles, so that a guide projection is accommodated in a lateral recess on either side of the buffer element. The buffer element can then be slid from top to bottom along the vertically extending guide projections until it rests on the floor of the structure. Conversely, the buffer element can be removed again by lifting it from the floor, guiding it upwards along the guide projections, and removing it from the upper ends of the air guide profiles.

[0022] Depending on the elasticity of the buffer element, it may also be possible to compress the buffer element and clip it between or remove it from adjacent air duct profiles from the front. Therefore, the buffer element does not necessarily have to be inserted between or removed from the air duct profiles at the upper end.

[0023] It is particularly advantageous if the side walls of the buffer element each form a vertically extending V-shaped recess. This allows the respective guide projection to be accommodated particularly well, so that the buffer element can be securely fixed in the horizontal direction by the guide projections.

[0024] Although the invention primarily provides a buffer element in the form of an elastic hollow body, it should be noted that the buffer element could in principle also be formed from a perforated sheet material and could be inserted between adjacent air duct profiles and, in particular, screwed to these or to the wall segment.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the air guide profile is mounted on the wall segment in such a way that its front end rests on the floor. A fork of a forklift truck cannot thus be placed under the air guide profile, preventing the air guide profile and the wall segment behind it from being lifted and damaged by a forklift truck fork accidentally being raised.

[0026] Since the lower edge of each side panel slopes upwards from the front end resting on the floor of the vehicle body to the rear, an opening forms beneath each side panel when the air guide profile is installed. This opening allows returning cold air to enter the hollow air guide profile and flow upwards inside the air guide profile. The air guide profile thus supports the return flow of cold air. Conversely, cleaning fluid can drain out of the bottom of the air guide profile during cleaning.

[0027] Preferably, the side walls each have at least one vertically extending projection, in particular extending over the entire length of the air guide profile, which is provided for receiving a complementarily designed guide recess of a buffer element.

[0028] In a preferred development of the invention, the side walls each form a V-shaped projection extending vertically, in particular over the entire length of the air guide profile. Such a projection can be easily realized in terms of manufacturing technology by providing a substantially V-shaped cross-section for each side wall. The air guide profile therefore has a substantially diamond-shaped cross-section overall. Such side walls also have a good spring effect, so that an impact against the end face of the air guide profile, for example from a forklift truck, is well absorbed by the air guide profile, and damage to the air guide profile and / or the wall segment behind it can be avoided.

[0029] According to the above statements, the impact protection arrangement according to the invention effectively protects a wall segment located behind it from damage and also supports a cold air backflow in a refrigerated box body.

[0030] The impact protection arrangement is particularly suitable for protecting a wall segment of both a vehicle, e.g. a refrigerated vehicle, and a container, e.g. a refrigerated container.

[0031] The invention is described below purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a front wall of a refrigerated box body of a commercial vehicle with a ram protection arrangement arranged in front of it, Fig. 2 another perspective view of the front wall and the crash protection arrangement of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a perspective and enlarged view of a section of the front wall and the impact protection arrangement of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a further perspective and enlarged view of the front wall with the crash protection arrangement of Fig. 1.

[0032] The perspectively shown front wall 1 of the refrigerated box body 3 is bounded at the bottom by a floor 5. The refrigerated box body 3 also has an upper wall, two side walls and at least one door or a loading flap on its rear side, through which the refrigerated box body 3 can be loaded and unloaded (not shown).

[0033] The load is typically located on a transport pallet 7 and is loaded into the refrigerated box body 3 using a forklift, pallet truck, or the like. As is known per se, two tines 11 of a forklift fork can reach under the pallet 7 to be loaded or unloaded. If the tines 11 are longer than the pallet 7, the front ends of the tines 11 can protrude below the pallet 7.

[0034] So-called air guide profiles 9 are mounted on the front wall 1, which are laterally spaced from one another and vertically oriented. The air guide profiles 9 protrude from the front wall 1, so that the pallet 7 cannot be pushed all the way to the front wall 1, as is particularly evident. Fig. 2 shows.

[0035] In the lower area of ​​the front wall 1, buffer elements 13 are provided, each of which is inserted between adjacent air guide profiles 9. At the very outside, the outer buffer elements 13 are also arranged between an air guide profile 9 and a holder 10. The buffer elements 13, together with the air guide profiles 9, form a crash protection arrangement for protecting the lower area of ​​the front wall 1 from damage, in particular from impacts caused by a forklift fork protruding from under a pallet 7.

[0036] As in particular Fig. 3 shows, each buffer element 13 is designed as an elastic hollow body which essentially has the shape of a cuboid and comprises a vertically oriented rear wall 15, a front wall 17 opposite the rear wall 15, which is also vertically oriented, and two opposite, also vertically oriented side walls 19 which connect the rear wall 15 to the front wall 17. In the interior of the buffer element 13, spaced from the side walls 19, two vertically oriented webs 21 are formed, which extend between the front wall 17 and the rear wall 15 and define three vertically extending hollow chambers 23 in the buffer element 13.

[0037] The buffer element 13 is made entirely of an elastomer material. The combination of the elastomer material and the design of the buffer element 13 as a hollow body with three hollow chambers 23 and intermediate webs 21 allows the buffer element 13 to be manufactured cost-effectively and with low weight. Furthermore, it exhibits very good damping properties, so that an impact against the buffer element 13, for example, by one of the prongs 11, can be absorbed, thus effectively protecting the front wall 1 behind it from damage.

[0038] Above the air guide profiles 9, a cooling device (not shown) is arranged, by means of which a circulating cold air flow can be generated, which flows away from the cooling device to the rear and along the floor 5 back to the front. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 the flow direction I of the cold air flowing back to the front is shown with arrows.

[0039] In the front wall 17 of each buffer element 13, three openings 25 are formed, each of which opens into one of the hollow chambers 23. The hollow chambers 23 are open at the top (cf. Fig. 3). The cold air flowing back in flow direction I can enter the hollow chambers 23 of the buffer elements 13 via the openings 25. The incoming air is deflected upwards in the hollow chambers 23 and exits again at the top of the buffer elements 13 to flow upwards back to the cooling device. The buffer elements 13 therefore do not block the cold air circulation, but rather serve as a guide for the cold air flow in the area of ​​the front wall 1. To prevent accidental interchange of the front wall 17 and rear wall 15 when installing a buffer element 13, the rear wall 15 of the respective buffer element 13 can also have one or more openings, whereby the rear wall 15 can in particular be designed with the same opening pattern as the front wall 17.

[0040] The buffer elements 13 are also open at their underside, whereby a cleaning fluid can escape from the underside of the buffer elements 13, for example when the refrigerated box body 3 is cleaned with a steam jet.

[0041] Each air guide profile 9 has an end face 27 which, in the assembled state, is directed away from the front wall 1 and is oriented vertically. Each air guide profile 9 further has two opposing, vertically oriented side walls 29 which extend from the end face 27 to a rear side which, in the assembled state, faces the front wall 1 and is formed by a flange section 31 attached to each side wall 29.

[0042] As particularly in Fig. 3, each side wall 29 has a V-shaped cross-section such that it forms a lateral projection 33 over its entire length, which is provided for receiving a complementary, continuously vertically extending V-shaped recess 35 in the side wall 19 of a buffer element 13.

[0043] Each buffer element 13 can therefore be inserted from above between two adjacent air guide profiles 9, so that a projection 33 of each air guide profile 9 is received by a recess 35 in the side wall 19 of the buffer element 13. The respective buffer element 13 can then be pushed downward along the projections 33 until it rests on the floor 5. The projections 33 securely fix the buffer element 13 to the front wall 1.

[0044] The holders 10 provided on the outside of the front wall 1 each have a flat fastening section 10a, which in the mounted state rests against the front wall 1, and a holding section 10b which is angled towards the fastening section 10a and which can be received by a lateral recess 35 of a side wall 29 (cf. Fig. 2).

[0045] As shown, each air guide profile 9 is hollow, forming a vertical air duct. Each air guide profile 9 is mounted on the front wall 1 such that a substantially horizontal lower edge 37 of the end face 27 rests on the floor 5 (see FIG. Fig. 3). The respective lower edge 39 of the side walls 29 extends from the front side 27 diagonally upwards to the respective rear flange section 31. This creates an opening between the floor 5 and the lower edge 39 of the respective side walls 29, through which the returning cold air can enter the air guide profiles 9 and flow upwards within the air guide profiles 9. In addition, the side walls 29 of the air guide profiles 9 have a plurality of air inlet openings 41 ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The air guide profiles 9 thus also support the cold air flow circulating in the refrigerated box body 3. List of reference symbols 1 front wall 3 Refrigerated box body 5 Floor 7 pallets 9 Air duct profile 10 holders 10a Fastening section 10b Holding section 11 prongs 13 Buffer element 15 Rear wall 17 Front wall 19 Side wall 21 jetty 23 hollow chamber 25 openings 27 Front side 29 Side wall 31 Flange section 33 lead 35 Deepening 37 lower edge 39 lower edge 41 Air inlet opening I Flow direction

Claims

[1] Impact protection arrangement for protecting a wall segment (1), for example a refrigerated box body (3), from damage, in particular when loading and unloading cargo using a forklift truck, with at least two air guide profiles (9) which are laterally spaced apart from one another and can be mounted on the wall segment (1) in a substantially vertically oriented manner and which each have an end face (27) facing away from the wall segment (1) in the mounted state and substantially vertically oriented, and two opposing, substantially vertically oriented side walls (29) which extend from the end face (27) to a rear side of the air guide profile (9), which rear side faces the wall segment (1) in the mounted state, wherein the side walls (29) each define a lower edge (39) which extends from the rear side of the air guide profile (9) obliquely downwards to the end face (27), and with a buffer element (13) arranged between the air guide profiles (9), which is designed as an elastic hollow body. [2] Impact protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the hollow body comprises an elastomer material and preferably consists entirely of an elastomer material. [3] Impact protection arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the hollow body is at least approximately cuboid-shaped. [4] Impact protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the hollow body has a substantially vertically oriented rear wall (15), a substantially vertically oriented front wall (17) opposite the rear wall (15) and two mutually opposite, substantially vertically oriented side walls (19) which connect the rear wall (15) to the front wall (17) and delimit at least one hollow chamber (23) of the buffer element (13). [5] Impact protection arrangement according to claim 4, characterized by that at least one substantially vertically oriented web (21) spaced from the side walls (19) extends between the front wall (17) and the rear wall (15). [6] Impact protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an upper side and preferably also an underside of the buffer element (13) opposite the upper side is open. [7] Impact protection arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the front wall (17) has at least one opening (25) which opens into the at least one hollow chamber (23). [8] Impact protection arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by that the rear wall (15) of the hollow body also has at least one opening which opens into the at least one hollow chamber (23) of the buffer element (13). [9] Impact protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat opposite side walls (19) of the buffer element (13) each have at least one continuous, vertically extending recess (35) which is provided for receiving a complementarily designed guide projection (33) of a vertically extending air guide profile (9). [10] Impact protection arrangement according to claim 9, characterized by that the side walls (19) each form a vertically extending V-shaped recess (35). [11] Impact protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the side walls (29) of each air guide profile (9) each have at least one vertically extending projection (33), which extends in particular over the entire length of the air guide profile (9) and is provided for receiving a complementarily designed guide recess (35) of a buffer element (13). [12] Impact protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the side walls (29) of each air guide profile (9) each form a V-shaped projection (33) extending vertically, in particular over the entire length of the air guide profile (9).

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