INTERMEDIATE WALL LOCK FOR SECURING LOAD ON A LOADING AREA OF A TRANSPORT VEHICLE AND A CORRESPONDING ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention is based on a partition wall closure for securing cargo on the loading area of ​​a transport vehicle. The partition wall closure has, on at least one of two opposite end faces, a clamping hook that projects beyond the end face at an adjustable distance and can be clamped relative to the end face. The partition wall closure further has a clamping force indicator that is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall closure against a mechanical clamping force and has an optical display that adjusts proportionally to the mechanical clamping force. Such a partition wall closure is known from CN 211765202 U. Other partition wall closures are also described in EP 108 609 B1, DE 20 2006 003 003 U1, and DE 10 2009 033 320 A1.

[0002] Generic partition wall locks are used in particular to secure goods on the loading area of ​​a transport vehicle, for example in a box body of the transport vehicle, against shifting or tipping over during transport. Partition wall locks are used in particular to be fixed between opposite side walls of a box body, separating the box body longitudinally into several sub-sections so that support surfaces are provided for the goods standing on the loading area. Load securing with the help of the partition wall lock is achieved in such a way that it is manually fixed, as needed, for example to the aforementioned side walls of a box body, depending on the dimensions of the loaded goods. The clamping hooks described above overlap the side walls and clamp the partition wall lock to the side walls.

[0003] Although the clamping hooks in the prior art partition locks are adjustable to accommodate different sidewall thicknesses, this presetting of the clamping hooks, and thus the provision of the clamping force with which the partition lock is clamped to the sidewall, is based exclusively on the operator's experience. In particular, the prior art partition locks provide no feedback to the operator as to whether the clamping force provided by the partition lock might be sufficient to reliably clamp the partition lock to the sidewalls, for example, so that the partition lock does not shift under the loads encountered during driving operation due to the load impacting against the partition lock.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the invention to further develop an intermediate wall closure of the type described above in such a way that it is prepared for the reproducible provision of a safety-relevant clamping force.

[0005] This object is achieved by a partition wall closure having the features of claim 1. The subordinate claim 15 relates to a corresponding arrangement.

[0006] Accordingly, the partition wall closure is provided with a clamping force indicator which is accommodated in a hollow profile of the partition wall closure and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall closure against a mechanical clamping force and has an optical display which adjusts itself proportionally to the mechanical clamping force.

[0007] The idea of ​​the invention is therefore to provide a clamping force indicator on the end face of the partition wall closure, with which the partition wall closure rests on the inside of the cargo space, for example, against a side wall of a box body of a transport vehicle. This is possible because the clamping force provided by the clamping hook projecting beyond the end face, or a corresponding counterforce according to Newton's third law, is applied via the end face. This counterforce can be used as a measurement variable for quantifying the clamping force with which the partition wall closure is attached to the side wall.

[0008] The clamping force indicator can be mechanical, electro-sensory, or a combination of both. In an electro-sensory variant, for example, the clamping force on the front side of the partition wall closure can be detected using a piezoelectric sensor. In a fully mechanical variant, an elastic element with a defined characteristic curve can be provided, such as a spring, which is displaced or compressed in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile and accordingly exerts a counterforce proportional to its displacement or compression, counteracting the clamping force, for example, on the side wall of a box body. According to the invention, this counterforce can be displayed via the resulting optical display based on the setting position of the elastic element.

[0009] The clamping force indicator protrudes from the hollow profile with a bearing surface, with the optical display adjusting proportionally to the clamping force acting perpendicular to the bearing surface. The bearing surface can be part of a piston, with which the clamping force indicator protrudes from the hollow profile's front side.

[0010] The partition wall closure can have a clamping hook on each of the opposite end faces, projecting beyond the respective end face at an adjustable distance and clampable relative to the respective end face. The partition wall closure can have a clamping force indicator on each of the opposite end faces, which is accommodated in the hollow profile of the partition wall closure and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall closure. The clamping force indicator protrudes from the hollow profile with a respective bearing surface on the respective end face.

[0011] The clamping force indicator can have a piston which is guided in the hollow profile in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile and which protrudes from the hollow profile with a bearing surface over the front side.

[0012] The tension force indicator may comprise an elastic element that is or can be pre-tensioned against the mechanical tension force.

[0013] The elastic element can have a spring, preferably a spiral spring, with a spring constant which is dimensioned such that the clamping force indicator exerts a minimum clamping force between itself and the clamping jaw in a locking position of the clamping hook, in which a clamping jaw of the clamping hook is maximally approached to the end face and the clamping force indicator is displaced further into the hollow profile under pretension of the spring relative to a release position of the clamping hook.

[0014] The clamping force indicator, preferably a piston of the clamping force indicator, can be pre-tensioned or can be pre-tensioned in the direction of a clamping jaw of the clamping hook located at a distance from the front side.

[0015] The hollow profile can have a window or an opening on one long side, which is covered on the inside of the profile by the tension force indicator with a preferably graphic indicator element exposed by the window or the opening.

[0016] The indicator element can have at least one line that extends at least partially parallel to the end face and, depending on a setting position of the tension force indicator in the longitudinal direction, assumes a relative arrangement with respect to the window or the opening, or their respective edges. The indicator element can have a plurality of parallel lines that are spaced apart from one another in the adjustment direction of the tension force indicator. In this way, they can form a scale. The indicator element can also have any other design that is suitable for at least qualitatively indicating a suitable tension force for securing the partition wall closure depending on a setting position of the indicator element with respect to the window or the opening of the indicator element. For example, a color scale can also be provided on the indicator element.

[0017] The partition closure may have an intermediate section arranged between the two opposite end faces, which is telescopic in the longitudinal direction of the partition closure.

[0018] The clamping hook can have a clamping jaw opposite the front side at a distance, wherein the distance of the clamping jaw to the front side can be adjusted via a pivoting lever, for which purpose the pivoting lever is articulated on the clamping hook via a toggle lever.

[0019] The toggle lever can have an adjustable length and, for this purpose, is preferably coupled to the pivot lever via a threaded rod. The length of the toggle lever can be adjusted using a nut screwed onto the threaded rod. If the toggle lever is coupled to the pivot lever via a threaded rod, the threaded rod can be supported on the pivot lever via a spring element, preferably a coil spring.

[0020] As an alternative to the toggle lever with the adjustable length, it can also be provided that the toggle lever has a fixed length and rigidly connects the pivot lever to the clamping hook. This embodiment is preferred according to the invention because it is structurally simpler than the toggle lever with an adjustable length. Due to the clamping force indicator, which can be moved counter to a mechanical clamping force, it is not necessary in the case of the partition wall closure according to the invention to adapt the clamping hook to the existing wall thickness by varying the toggle lever. In contrast to the partition wall closures known from the prior art, the compensation of the wall thickness can be taken over by the clamping force indicator, which can be moved counter to the mechanical clamping force.

[0021] According to another aspect, an arrangement for securing cargo on a loading area of ​​a transport vehicle is described, which arrangement has at least one partition wall closure of the type described above. The arrangement further comprises a loading area of ​​a transport vehicle, for example a truck, with a box body. The loading area of ​​the transport vehicle can have two opposing side walls that are connected to one another via the partition wall closure. The partition wall closure can engage over one of the side walls with its at least one clamping hook and clamp the side wall between itself and the end face with the mechanical tensioning force.

[0022] It is not necessary for both of the opposing ends of the partition wall closure to be designed according to the invention. It is also conceivable for the partition wall closure to be designed at one of the opposing ends in a manner analogous to the technical solution of DE 10 2009 033 320 A1.

[0023] Further details of the invention are explained with reference to the following figures. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a partition closure according to the prior art; Figure 2 shows a loading arrangement using a partition closure according to the prior art; Figure 3 shows a detailed view of an embodiment of a partition closure according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a further detailed view of a partition closure according to the invention with a comparison of the open position and the locking position of the clamping hook; Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a partition closure according to the invention in a partially transparent view and in the open position of the clamping hook; and Figure 6 shows the partition closure according to Figure 5 in the closed position of the clamping hook.

[0024] The Figure 1shows a partition wall closure 1, as is known from the prior art. The partition wall closure 1 has a telescopic hollow profile 4, which has a clamping hook 3 on each of its opposite end faces 2, which engages over the respective end face 2 with a clamping jaw. Between the respective clamping jaw 10 and the respective end face 2, a free space is created, via which the partition wall closure 1 can be placed via an upper, horizontal longitudinal edge onto a side wall 102 of a loading area 101 of a transport vehicle 100, as shown in Figure 2 is shown. The partition closure 1 can accordingly be fixed at a certain distance from the floor of the loading area 101 in a substantially horizontal orientation transverse to the longitudinal direction of the loading area between the side walls 102 in order to secure the load 103 from sliding around and tipping over.

[0025] The representation according to Figure 2illustrates that for secure fixation of the partition wall closure 1 between the side walls 102, the clamping jaws 3 must provide sufficient clamping force to effectively prevent accidental displacement of the partition wall closure, for example, during an emergency stop of the transport vehicle. To achieve a width adjustment of the partition wall closure 1, the partition wall closure 1 has a telescopic intermediate section 13 between the opposite end faces. For this purpose, all profiles of the partition wall closure 1 can be designed as hollow profiles 4 that are pushed onto one another in a form-fitting manner.

[0026] The Figure 3shows an exemplary embodiment of a partition wall closure 1 according to the invention. This comprises, in addition to the clamping hook 3, a clamping force indicator 5 which is accommodated in the hollow profile 4 of the partition wall closure 1 and which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall closure 1 against a mechanical clamping force. The clamping force indicator 5 protrudes with a bearing surface 7 beyond the end face 2 from the hollow profile 4. For the feedback of the set clamping force to the user, the partition wall closure 1 has an optical display 6 which is adjusted proportionally to the mechanical clamping force. Thus, if a side wall is inserted into the free space provided between the clamping jaw 10 and the bearing surface 7 of the clamping force indicator 5 on the end face 2 of the partition wall closure 1 or if the partition wall closure 1 is moved in the position previously described with reference to the Figures 1 and 2is placed on the side wall in the manner described, the clamping jaw 10 can be moved further towards the bearing surface 7 on the front side 2 by actuating the pivoting lever 14. When the bearing surface 7 comes to rest on the inside of the side wall facing the loading space, further pivoting of the pivoting lever 14 leads to the clamping force indicator 5 being pushed into the hollow profile 4 of the partition wall closure 1 against its mechanical clamping force.

[0027] With knowledge of a characteristic curve of the clamping force indicator 5, the distance by which the bearing surface 7 is displaced further in the direction of the hollow profile 7 can be used to determine the supporting force acting from the bearing surface 7 on the side wall and thus a corresponding clamping force with which the partition wall closure 1 is clamped to the side wall. For this purpose, the mechanical clamping force can be provided, for example, by a spring element, such as a coil spring or the like, which allows a particularly simple determination of the force acting on the bearing surface 7 from the distance by which the bearing surface 7 has been displaced.

[0028] The optical display 6 has a window, which can be formed as an opening in the hollow profile 4. An indicator element 12 can be seen through the window 11, which indicator element can be printed directly onto the clamping force indicator 5. For this purpose, the clamping force indicator 5 can have a profile section or a piston that is received in the hollow profile 4 in a substantially form-fitting manner, at the end of which the bearing surface 7 is formed, with which the piston protrudes from the hollow profile 4. As shown in the Figure 3 As shown, the indicator element 12 can be an index which is adjustable with respect to a reference marking on the outside of the hollow profile 4.

[0029] The clamping hook 3 can basically be designed as known from the prior art and for this purpose has a pivot lever 14, which is articulated via a toggle lever 15 to the clamping jaw 10, which is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile 4 and thus perpendicular to the end face 2. The toggle lever 15 is articulated via a first joint axis 20 to the linearly adjustable clamping jaw 10 and via a second joint axis 21 to the pivot lever 14. The toggle lever 15 has an adjustable length and is coupled to the pivot lever 14 via a threaded rod 16. The threaded rod 16, in turn, is supported on the pivot lever 14 via a spring element 18, which in this case is designed as a spiral spring. The preload of the spring element 18 and thus the zero position of the pivot lever 14 in the open position can be adjusted according to Figure 3 be set.

[0030] The Figures 4 to 6illustrate the locking process using an example of an embodiment of the invention with the aid of an intermediate wall closure 1 according to the invention. Figure 4 shows the linear adjustment of the clamping jaw 10 as a result of the actuation of the pivoting lever 14, whereby the number I represents the open position of the clamping jaw 10 or the clamping lever 14 and II the closed position / locking position of the clamping jaw 10 or the pivoting lever 14. The clamping force indicator 5, which in this case is again in the design according to the example according to Figure 3is shown in the open position I of the pivoting lever 14 or the clamping jaw 10. The symbolically drawn partition 102 illustrates the clamping and supporting forces acting on the wall 102 in the locking position and canceling each other out, which act from the clamping jaw 10 from the outside onto the wall 102 and from the bearing surface 7 on the inside of the wall 102 and thus cause the clamping of the wall 102 between the clamping jaw 10 and the bearing surface 7.

[0031] As in Figure 5 As shown, the indicator element 12 is in the open position of the clamping hook with the pivot lever 14 pivoted away from the hollow profile 4 and accordingly the clamping force indicator 5 is not loaded even when the wall element (not shown) is inserted, moved out of its desired position marked by the arrow symbol for proper locking.

[0032] If a wall element is inserted into the space between the bearing surface 7 and the clamping jaw 10 and the pivot lever 14 is in the Figure 6shown folded position, the clamping jaw 10 moves further in the direction of the bearing surface 7 until both the clamping jaw 10 and the bearing surface 7 come into contact with opposite sides of the side wall for the first time. Further pivoting of the clamping lever 14 in the direction of the closed position results in the bearing surface 7, with which the clamping force indicator 5 protrudes beyond the end face 2 from the hollow profile 4, being displaced further in the direction of the hollow profile 4 as the clamping jaw 10 approaches the end face 2 of the partition wall closure 1. This displacement occurs counter to a mechanical clamping force which is exerted on the clamping force indicator 5 by the elastic element 8 in the hollow profile 4.For this purpose, the clamping force indicator 5 has a piston 17, which projects with a first of its opposite ends beyond the end face 2 from the hollow profile 4 and in turn has the bearing surface 7 on its end face, while the piston 17 is supported via its rear end facing away from the bearing surface 7 via the elastic element 8 on a support 22 in the hollow profile 4.

[0033] The Figure 6 further illustrates that in the Figure 6 illustrated locking state with pivoted lever 14, the elastic element 8 in comparison to the illustration according to Figure 5was further compressed as a result of the previously described displacement of the piston 17 further into the interior of the hollow profile 4. As a result of this displacement, the indicator element 12 and the arrow symbol on the outside of the hollow profile 4 of the optical display 6 were aligned to indicate that a sufficient clamping force had been reached.

[0034] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential for the realization of the invention both individually and in any combination. List of reference symbols:

[0035] 1Partition wall closure 2End face 3Clamping hook 4Hollow profile 5Clamping force indicator 6Optical display 7Bearing surface 8Elastic element 9Spring 10Clamping jaw 11Window 12Indicator element 13Intermediate section 14Pivot lever 15Toggle lever 16Threaded rod 18Spring element 19Nut 20First joint axis 21Second joint axis 22Support 100Transport vehicle 101Loading area 102Side wall 103Load

Claims

1. Partition wall closure (1) for securing load (103) on a loading surface (101) of a transport vehicle (100), wherein the partition wall closure (1) has, on at least one of two opposite end sides (2), a clamping hook (3) which projects beyond the end side (2) with an adjustable spacing and can be clamped in relation to the end side (2), wherein the intermediate wall closure (1) has a clamping force indicator (5) which is received in a hollow profile (4) of the partition wall closure (1) and can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall closure (1) counter to a mechanical clamping force and has a visual indicator (6) which is adjusted proportionally to the mechanical clamping force, characterized in that the clamping force indicator (5) projects with a bearing surface (7) beyond the end side (2) out of the hollow profile (4), wherein the visual indicator (6) is adjusted proportionally to the clamping force acting perpendicularly to the bearing surface (7).

2. Partition wall closure (1) according to claim 1, which has, on both of the opposite end sides (2), in each case a clamping hook (3) which projects beyond the respective end side (2) with an adjustable spacing and can be clamped in relation to the respective end side (2), wherein the partition wall closure (1) has, on both end sides (2), in each case one clamping force indicator (5) which is received in the hollow profile (4) of the partition wall closure (1) and can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall closure (1) and projects with a respective bearing surface (7) on the respective end side (2) out of the hollow profile (4).

3. Partition wall closure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the clamping force indicator (5) has a piston (17) which is guided in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile (4) in the hollow profile (4) and which projects with a bearing surface (7) beyond the end side (2) out of the hollow profile (4).

4. Partition wall closure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the clamping force indicator (5) has an elastic element (8) which is pretensioned or can be pretensioned counter to the mechanical clamping force.

5. Partition wall closure (1) according to claim 4, in which the elastic element (8) has a spring (9), preferably a spiral spring, with a spring constant which is dimensioned such that the clamping force indicator (5) exerts a certain minimum clamping force between itself and the clamping jaw (10) in a locking position of the clamping hook (3), in which a clamping jaw (10) of the clamping hook (3) maximally approaches the end side (2) and the clamping force indicator (5) is displaced further into the hollow profile (4) relative to a release position of the clamping hook (3) in order to maintain a spacing, corresponding to a wall thickness, between the bearing surface (7) and the clamping jaw (10) with pretensioning of the spring (9).

6. Partition wall closure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the clamping force indicator (5), preferably a piston (17) of the clamping force indicator, is pretensioned or can be pretensioned in the direction of a clamping jaw (10) of the clamping hook (3) which lies opposite the end side (2) at a spacing.

7. Partition wall closure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the hollow profile (4) has a window (11) or an aperture on a longitudinal side, which window or aperture is covered on the profile inner side by the clamping force indicator (5) with a preferably graphic indicator element (12) which is exposed by the window (11) or the aperture.

8. Partition wall closure (1) according to claim 7, in which the indicator element (12) has at least one line which extends parallel to the end side (2) at least in sections and assumes a relative arrangement with respect to the window (11) or the aperture in the longitudinal direction depending on an actuating position of the clamping force indicator (5).

9. Partition wall closure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which has an intermediate section (13) which is arranged between the two opposite end sides (2) and can be telescoped in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall closure (1).

10. Partition wall closure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the clamping hook (3) has a clamping jaw (10) which lies opposite the end side (2) at a spacing, wherein the spacing of the clamping jaw (10) from the end side (2) can be adjusted via a pivot lever (14), for which purpose the pivot lever (14) is articulated on the clamping hook (3) via a toggle lever (15).

11. Partition wall closure (1) according to claim 10, in which the toggle lever (15) has an adjustable length and for this purpose is preferably coupled to the pivot lever (14) via a threaded rod (16).

12. Partition wall closure (1) according to claim 10 or 11, in which the toggle lever (15) is coupled to the pivot lever (14) via a threaded rod (16), wherein the threaded rod (16) is supported on the pivot lever (14) via a spring element (18), preferably via a spiral spring.

13. Partition wall closure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the toggle lever (15) has a fixed length and rigidly connects the pivot lever (14) to the clamping hook (3).

14. Arrangement for securing load (103) on a loading surface (101) of a transport vehicle (100), wherein the arrangement has at least one partition wall closure (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a loading surface (101) of a transport vehicle (100) which has two opposite side walls (102) which are connected to one another via the partition wall closure (1), wherein the partition wall closure (1) engages with its at least one clamping hook (3) over one of the side walls (102) and clamps the side wall (102) between itself and the end side (2) with the mechanical clamping force.