Refrigerated vehicle body for the transport of goods

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerated vehicle body for the transport of goods equipped with a compartmentalization partition for refrigerated vehicles. Technical background

[0002] A refrigerated vehicle, which can be a truck, a semi-trailer or a trailer, allows the transport of goods, for example, food or pharmaceuticals that need to be kept at a controlled positive or negative temperature.

[0003] For this purpose, a refrigerated vehicle includes a body which includes insulated panels and a refrigeration unit which sends air at a regulated temperature into the body to maintain the temperature inside the body at a value which allows the preservation of the goods transported there.

[0004] The interior space, which is delimited by a refrigerated body, can be up to 95 m3 and it can be fitted with a movable insulating partition which allows the interior space to be divided according to the products to be transported.

[0005] The partition wall is connected to the vehicle's roof by a linkage mechanism that allows it to be held in a vertical position, dividing the cargo area into two zones, or in a retracted position, where it lies against the roof and does not encroach on the cargo space. The linkage mechanism also allows the partition's longitudinal position within the vehicle to be adjusted according to the goods being transported.

[0006] Document EP3825180 describes a partitioning device that is satisfactory but could be improved.

[0007] We also know of refrigerated vehicle partitioning devices from documents EP1400403 and FR3035835.

[0008] In this technical context, the present invention aims to provide an isothermal body that is more ergonomically designed for user handling. Description of the invention

[0009] The invention proposes a refrigerated vehicle body for the transport of goods comprising: a floor, a roof, two side walls, a front wall, a rear opening which delimit a loading space; a refrigeration unit; at least one partition panel of the loading space connected to the roof by a linking mechanism; characterized in that the binding mechanism comprises: a rail fixed to the pavilion comprising holes; a movable assembly configured to support the panel by a pivot joint and to slide on the rail, the movable assembly comprising an indexing housing having a locking finger mechanically linked to a cam, the locking finger being stressed by elastic means in a deployed position in which the locking finger engages in a hole; a roller supported by the panel configured to bear against the cam when the panel pivots relative to the pavilion by an angle between 30° and 60° and to retract the locking finger to allow the sliding of the movable assembly relative to the rail in a longitudinal direction X.the indexing housing comprising means for guiding the cam in the longitudinal direction X and means for guiding the locking finger in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, the cam having a slot oriented obliquely with respect to the first longitudinal direction, in which is engaged a pin integral with the locking finger.

[0010] In some embodiments, the indexing housing includes a square spring and a connecting rod, one end of which is linked to the square spring and the other end of which pushes the pin into the deployed position of the locking finger.

[0011] In some embodiments the light is oriented within an angular range of 30° to 60° with respect to the longitudinal direction X.

[0012] In some embodiments the cam has a ramp comprising two inclined segments, the end segment having a greater slope than the proximal segment with respect to the longitudinal direction X.

[0013] In some embodiments, the linking mechanism includes a slab on which the panel is fixed, the slab supporting the roller.

[0014] In some embodiments, the linkage mechanism includes at least one gas spring that connects the moving assembly to the panel.

[0015] In some embodiments, the panel is provided with a peripheral seal.

[0016] In some embodiments, the moving assembly includes at least one axis on which the clevis is mounted.

[0017] In some embodiments, the linking mechanism (10) includes means for locking the panel when the panel is applied against the pavilion.

[0018] In some embodiments, the bodywork comprises two rails on which are arranged two movable assemblies, each supporting a panel.

[0019] In some embodiments, the two moving assemblies (10) are connected by at least one crossbar.

[0020] In some embodiments, a connecting cord links the locking fingers of each of the moving assemblies. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The invention is described with reference to the attached figures in which: Fig.1 is a side view of a refrigerated vehicle; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a linking mechanism of a partition wall to a roof of a refrigerated vehicle body; Fig.3 is an enlarged-scale perspective view of the figure 2 ; Fig. 4 is a view of the figure 3 from another perspective, Fig. 5is a perspective view of an indexing housing 25 in its rest position, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the indexing housing 25 in its retracted position; Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the indexing housing 25, Fig. 8 is a view of the indexing housing 25 in its position with the cover omitted; Fig. 9 is a view of the indexing housing 25 in its retracted position with the cover omitted; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the linkage mechanism in its locked position; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the linkage mechanism in its unlocked position; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the partition wall in a vertical position; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the linkage mechanism in the position of the figure 12 ; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the partition wall in a moving position; Fig. 15is a perspective view of the linkage mechanism in the position of the figure 14 ; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the partition wall in the retracted position; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the linkage mechanism in the position of the figure 16 ; Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment in which two indexing boxes are connected to each other; Fig. 19 is a view at an enlarged scale of an indexing housing of the figure 19 in a locked position; Fig. 20 is a view at an enlarged scale of an indexing housing of the figure 19 in an unlocked position. Detailed description

[0022] The present description is made in a reference frame X,Y,Z linked to the vehicle in which the X axis is linked to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis is linked to the transverse direction of the vehicle and the Z axis is linked to the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0023] There figure 1 shows a refrigerated vehicle 100, in this case a semi-trailer which includes a parallelepiped body 101 fixed on a chassis 102 equipped with wheels 103.

[0024] The body 101 comprises a floor 105, a roof 106, two side walls 107, a front wall 108, and a rear opening 109, all formed of insulated panels 115, which define a cargo space 112. The rear opening providing access to the cargo space 112 may include two hinged doors or a roll-up curtain, depending on the vehicle type. The cargo area is thus thermally insulated from the surrounding environment.

[0025] The vehicle includes a refrigeration unit 110 which, usually, can be fixed to the front wall 108. The refrigeration unit 110 allows the temperature inside the cargo space 112 to be maintained at a positive or negative setpoint value.

[0026] The body 101 is also equipped with a longitudinally movable partition 114 which allows the loading space 112 to be divided into two distinct zones which can be maintained at different temperatures.

[0027] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the partition 114 comprises two panels 115 made of an insulated sandwich construction. Each panel 115 is further equipped with a peripheral lip seal 117. It is also possible for the partition 114 to comprise a single panel 115.

[0028] Each of the panels 115 is fixed to the pavilion 106 by a linking mechanism 10 which, as we shall see, allows the panels 115 to be held in a fixed vertical or horizontal position against the pavilion 106 and allows the panels 115 to be moved according to the load which must take place in the loading space 112.

[0029] The linking mechanism 10 of the partition 114 to the pavilion 106 is shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4 .

[0030] The linking mechanism 10 comprises two fixed rails 12 which are placed on the pavilion 106 and two movable assemblies 17 which slide on the rails 12.

[0031] The pavilion 106 is thus equipped with two rails 12, each comprising a profile 14 with regularly spaced holes 15 and a C-shaped slide 16, as can be seen in the cross-sectional views of the Figures 10 And 11The two rails 12 are parallel and are oriented in the longitudinal direction.

[0032] On each of these rails 12, slides a mobile assembly 17 on which is suspended a panel 115.

[0033] Each moving assembly 17 includes a train of rollers 18 which is designed and dimensioned to slide in the corresponding slide 16 of a rail 12. In the example shown in the figures, the two moving assemblies 17 are connected by one or more sleepers 19, which means that the two moving assemblies 17 cannot move independently of each other.

[0034] The two mobile assemblies 17 are also connected by a front cross member 20. The front cross member 20 is equipped with lugs 21 which serve to guide and maintain the position of the panel 115 when it is in a vertical position.

[0035] The moving assembly 17 further includes a plate 22 which extends vertically from the moving assembly 17. The plate 22 can be formed, for example, from a cut metal plate which is then welded onto the slide.

[0036] The plate 22 has a locking handle 24 at its rear end. The plate 22 is equipped with two spacers 23 onto which the ends of two cylinders are fixed, as will be seen later.

[0037] The plate 22 also receives an indexing box 25. The indexing box 25 allows the partition 114 to be locked in a given longitudinal position relative to the rail 12.

[0038] The indexing housing 25 has a locking finger 27 designed to engage in one of the holes 15 in the rail 12 and block the longitudinal movement of the slide and therefore of the panel 115 attached to it.

[0039] We can refer to figures 5 to 9to appreciate the structure of the indexing housing 25.

[0040] The indexing housing 25 includes a base 28 in which is provided a slide 29 whose cross-section has a general T-shape and a cover 30 in which is provided a cylinder 32 which opens through a slot 33 on one of its generatrices.

[0041] The slide 29 is designed and dimensioned to receive a sliding cam 35. The sliding cam 35 has a portion designed to slide on the slide 29 of the base 28. The sliding cam 35 has a ramp 36 at its free end; in the example shown in the figures, the ramp 36 has two inclined segments 38 and 39, the end segment 38 having a steeper slope than the proximal segment 39. The cam 35 also has an oblique slot 34 which is oriented approximately at 45° to the sliding direction of the cam 35.

[0042] The locking finger 27 has a cylindrical structure with a rib 40 on one of its generatrices and is dimensioned to slide in the cylinder 32 of the cover 30; the rib 40 of the locking finger 27 being engaged in the slot 33 of the cover 30. The end of the locking finger 27 is provided with an annular groove 41.

[0043] A pin 42 is also fixed in the locking finger 27 perpendicular to it. The pin 42 is designed and dimensioned to engage in the slot 34 of the cam 35.

[0044] We can see that the cam 35 and the locking finger 27 are mechanically linked and a longitudinal displacement of the cam 35 produces a vertical displacement of the locking finger 27.

[0045] The cover 30 is fixed to the plate 22 by a series of screws 44 and thus sandwiches the cam 35.

[0046] The locking finger 27 is activated in the deployed position shown, for example, at Figures 5 And 8 by an elastic element. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the elastic element is a square rubber spring 45 which is placed in a housing provided in the support 28. The square rubber spring 45 is connected to a connecting rod 46 whose free end pushes the pin 42 of the locking finger 27 into its deployed position and simultaneously pushes the cam 35 towards its deployed position.

[0047] In its rest configuration, the indexing housing 25 is therefore in a position in which the cam 35 and the locking finger 27 are deployed.

[0048] Each panel 115 is, for its part, fixed on a screed 47 formed of metal profiles which, in the example of embodiment shown in the figures, has an H-shaped geometry. The screed 47 is designed and dimensioned to allow a transfer of the forces which are applied to the panel 115 in particular during its rotation.

[0049] The clevis 47 is mounted on a pivot on the plate 22 by means of two axes 48.

[0050] The linking mechanism 10 of the partition 114 to the pavilion 106 also includes means for assisting the rotation of the partition 114 towards the pavilion 106.

[0051] In practice, it is planned that two gas springs 50 are arranged between a mobile assembly 17 and the bracket 47 of a panel 115. For this, the bracket 47 comprises two wings 54 on each of which a spring 50 is fixed by an appropriate connecting pin; each of the springs 50 is, moreover, fixed on a spacer 23 which ensures the connection of the spring 50 with the mobile assembly 17.

[0052] By referring to the figure 4 , we can see that the clevis 47 supports a roller 52. The roller 52 is fixed on a lug 53 which protrudes perpendicularly from the clevis 47 and is positioned to bear against the cam 35 of the indexing housing 25 when the panel 115 rotates.

[0053] The operation of partition wall 114 is described from its vertical position as seen in the figure 11 .

[0054] In this configuration of partition 114, the two panels 115 (only one panel 115 is shown on the figure 11 (to facilitate understanding of the operation of the invention) are arranged vertically and are locked longitudinally; indeed, the finger of each of the indexing housings is engaged in a hole as can be seen on the figure 13 .

[0055] If the loading space 112 needs to be reconfigured, a user can pull on a panel 115 to bring the panel 115 to an angle between 60° and 30° with the roof 106 and, for example, around 45° (see Figures 14 And 15 ). In practice, the user acts on a first panel 115 and then on the second panel 115. The separation of the partition 114 into two panels 115 allows for easier handling for the user.

[0056] During the rotation of panel 115, cam 35 is positioned in the path of roller 52, which is itself carried along by the rotation of panel 115. As a result, roller 52 rolls against cam 35, which pushes cam 35 into indexing housing 25. The movement of cam 35 then causes locking pin 27 to retract to its retracted position, thus disengaging it from the hole 15 in rail 12 in which locking pin 27 was previously engaged. The fact that cam 35 has a two-segment profile allows for a gentler engagement of roller 52 on the proximal segment 39, followed by a more pronounced effect on the end segment 38, which has the steepest slope. The longitudinal locking of panel 115 relative to pavilion 106 is therefore lifted, provided that panel 115 remains in with the angular orientation between 60° and 30° and approximately 45° relative to pavilion 106.

[0057] The user can then move the panels 115 in the longitudinal direction of the bodywork since the moving assembly 17 can slide in the rail 12 thanks to its roller train 18 which slides in the slide 16.

[0058] Depending on the configuration the user wishes to give to the loading space, the user can either reposition the panels 115 vertically by applying a push on them. During the rotation of the panel 115 towards its vertical position, the roller 52 disengages from the cam 35 and the locking finger 27 is returned to its deployed position by the connecting rod 46 which is itself stressed by the square rubber spring 45.

[0059] The user can also place the panel 115 in a retracted position in which the panel 115 is flush against the pavilion 106. To do this, the user guides the rotation of the panel 115 which is driven in its movement by the cylinders 50.

[0060] During the rotation of the panel 115, the roller 52 escapes from the cam 35. The cam 35 is returned to its exit position by the connecting rod 46, itself stressed by the square rubber spring 45; the locking finger 27 returns to its deployed position and can engage in an opening 15 made in the rail 12 thus locking the panel 115 in a longitudinal position.

[0061] In this retracted position, the panel 115 is intended to be locked onto the pavilion 106. As shown in the figures, the panel 115 may include a retractable strike plate 116 which engages with the locking handle 24. Locking the panel 115 in its retracted position by a magnetic suction cup may also be envisaged.

[0062] In one embodiment of the invention, it is possible to connect the two indexing housings. As shown in the figure 18It may be provided to mechanically connect the lower part of the two locking fingers 27 of the moving assemblies 17. For this purpose, a connecting cord 55 connects the two locking fingers 27; the connecting cord 55 is itself provided with a gripping cord 56 which is attached substantially to the center of the connecting cord.

[0063] By pulling on the gripping cord, the user can simultaneously unlock the two locking fingers. This allows the user to adjust the position of the panels 115 without having to rotate them.

[0064] It is also possible to equip each of the locking fingers with its own cord, which allows each panel to be controlled independently.

Claims

1. A body of a refrigerated vehicle for the transport of goods, comprising: - a floor, a roof (106), two lateral walls, a front wall, and a rear opening leaf which delimit a loading space (112); - a refrigeration unit; - at least one panel (114) for partitioning the loading space (112), connected to the roof (106) by a connecting mechanism (10); the connecting mechanism (10) comprising: - a rail (12) fastened to the roof (106), comprising holes (15); - a movable assembly (17) configured to support the panel (114) by a pivot connection and to slide on the rail (12), the movable assembly (17) comprising an indexing housing (25) having a locking finger (27) mechanically linked to a cam (35), the locking finger (27) being biased by resilient means into a deployed position in which the locking finger (27) engages in a hole (15); - a roller (52) supported by the panel (114), configured to bear against the cam (35) when the panel (114) pivots relative to the roof (106) by an angle comprised between 30° and 60°, and to retract the locking finger (27) so as to allow the movable assembly (17) to slide relative to the rail (12) in a longitudinal direction X, characterized in that the indexing housing (25) comprises means for guiding the cam (35) in the longitudinal direction X and means for guiding the locking finger (27) in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, the cam (35) having a slot (34) oriented obliquely relative to the first longitudinal direction, in which a pin (42) secured to the locking finger (27) is engaged.

2. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the indexing housing (25) comprises a square spring (45) and a connecting rod (46), one end of which is linked to the square spring (45) and the other end of which urges the pin (42) into the deployed position of the locking finger (27).

3. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the slot (34) is oriented within an angular range of 30° to 60° relative to the longitudinal direction X.

4. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cam (35) has a ramp (36) comprising two inclined segments (38, 39), the end segment (38) having a steeper slope than that of the proximal segment (39) relative to the longitudinal direction X.

5. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting mechanism (10) comprises a clevis (47) to which the panel (114) is fastened, the clevis (47) supporting the roller (52).

6. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting mechanism (10) comprises at least one gas strut (50) which connects the movable assembly (17) to the panel (114).

7. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the panel (115) is provided with a peripheral seal (117).

8. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to claim 5 or to claim 7 when dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the movable assembly (17) comprises at least one shaft (48) on which the clevis (47) is mounted.

9. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connecting mechanism (10) comprises means for blocking the panel (114) when the panel is in abutment against the roof.

10. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the body comprises two rails (12) on which two movable assemblies (17) are disposed, each supporting a panel (115).

11. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that the two movable assemblies (17) are connected by at least one cross-member (18).

12. The body of a refrigerated vehicle according to any of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that a connecting cord (55) connects each locking finger (27) of each of the movable assemblies (17).