Locking system for cargo vehicle box doors

Abstract

A locking system for cargo vehicle box doors, comprising a handle (4) and opening means (7) connected to a latch (6) on the box profile (5). The opening means (7) includes a tongue (8) connected to and moving with the handle (4), a rotating ratchet (11) actuated by the tongue (8), and a cam (13) lockable by the ratchet (11) and connectable to and releaseable from the latch (6) on the box profile (5), thus enabling the door (1) to be closed and opened. The locking system operates between a closed position, where the ratchet (11) locks the cam (13) engaged with the latch (6) in the closed position, and an open position, where the rotation of the ratchet (11), actuated by the tongue (8), releases the cam (13) from the latch (6) on the box profile (5).

Description

Locking system for cargo vehicle box doors Field of invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of door locking systems, specifically to door locking systems for trucks and cargo vehicles. The invention is particularly applicable to the cargo boxes of so-called "last mile" delivery vehicles, i.e., smaller vehicles used for urban goods distribution. Background of the invention Currently, within the trucking, freight, and delivery vehicle sector, there is an emerging industry called "last-mile delivery vehicles" for urban distribution of goods to the end customer. Vehicles used for last-mile delivery are small and, in many cases, electrically powered, facilitating direct urban transport to the final customer. These last-mile delivery vehicles have a cargo box that is obviously much smaller than those of conventional freight and delivery vehicles. Currently, bodybuilders, who are responsible for adapting vehicles for transporting specific types of goods, are using the same hardware and locking mechanisms already on the market for these last-mile vehicles—that is, those used in the manufacture of conventional freight and delivery truck boxes. Therefore, there are no specific hardware or locking systems for this new niche and type of delivery vehicle, and those currently used are completely disproportionate in terms of size and functionality. Consequently, there is a real need for locking systems adapted to these last-mile delivery vehicles. Since the cargo boxes on these last-mile delivery vehicles are used for urban deliveries, the doors are opened and closed frequently each day. Therefore, the primary requirement for the closure system is ease of use—that is, it must open and close as simply and quickly as possible. To achieve this, it's important to consider that in insulated boxes, and especially those equipped with refrigeration units, a vacuum is created inside due to the decrease in air temperature. Furthermore, the doors have a multi-layered rubber seal around their entire perimeter, and the pressure exerted by this seal must be overcome to open the door. Thus, simply opening a refrigerated box door requires considerable force. Furthermore, precisely because of the nature of urban deliveries to the end customer, a quick closing mechanism is essential, so the door is designed to be able to close with a single push. This is very useful when the user or delivery person needs to close the door with their hands full of packages. These types of doors offer significantly more resistance when opening, due to the rubber seals and vacuum, than when closing. When closing, the rubber seals offer less resistance because the lips have a fold that facilitates the closure. Therefore, a push-to-close mechanism is usually preferred. In summary, the characteristics that a vehicle box latch needs for the last mile are that it is small in size and lightweight, that it helps to separate and open the door by overcoming the force of the vacuum and the rubber seals, and that it allows the door to be closed with a push. Currently, there are locks that help separate and open the door by overcoming the vacuum force. These locks consist of a central latch and a tube with hooks at the ends, which keep the door closed and help separate it when opening. Figure 1 shows a conventional locking system with a central latch and a tube with hooks used on standard cargo trucks. Therefore, due to their size, configuration, and arrangement, these locks are suitable for standard cargo trucks, but not for the lighter delivery boxes of last-mile delivery vehicles. Currently there is no closure that helps to separate and open the door by overcoming the force of the vacuum and the rubber seals, and that allows the door to be closed with a push, while also being lightweight and of small dimensions. Therefore, a suitable locking system for lightweight boxes of last-mile transport vehicles is desirable, avoiding the drawbacks of existing state-of-the-art systems. Description of the invention The present invention solves the problems of existing systems in the state of the art by means of a closing system for doors of cargo vehicle boxes, which can be particularly cargo vehicles for the last mile or urban delivery to the end customer. The locking system has a base that is recessed into the exterior face of the vehicle's cargo box door, near the free end of the door. It also features a handle located at the base, allowing the door to be opened by a user, i.e., the driver or delivery person. The system includes a latch mounted on a profile of the cargo box facing the free end of the door when it is closed, and opening mechanisms located at the base and connected to the latch on the cargo box profile and the handle. These mechanisms are configured to lock the door while allowing it to be opened when necessary. According to the object of the present invention, the opening means have in turn a tongue, a rotating ratchet actuated by the tongue, and a cam connected to the ratchet and to the engagement of the box profile. The latch has a first end connected to the handle and a second end. This latch moves with the handle to transmit its motion. The ratchet is actuated by the second end of the latch, while the cam has a first bar that is locked by the ratchet and a second bar with an end that can be connected to and released from the locking mechanism of the frame, thus allowing the door to be opened and closed. Thus, with the above configuration, the locking system is operated by the user turning the handle between a closed position in which the ratchet is blocking the first bar of the cam, with the second bar engaged with the hook on the box profile, leaving the door closed, and an open position in which the rotation of the ratchet, actuated by the tongue when the handle is operated, releases the first bar of the cam, allowing it to rotate and the release of the second bar from the hook on the box profile, thus enabling the door to be opened. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system features locking means connected to the opening means' tab, which are accessible to the user from outside the cargo vehicle box, and which allow, in the closed position of the locking system, the tab to be moved between two positions: - an unlocking position in which the second end of the tongue contacts the ratchet, providing the rotation of said ratchet and the opening of the door by actuating the handle. - a locking position in which the second end of the tongue is separated from the ratchet in such a way that it does not contact the ratchet, preventing the ratchet from turning when the handle is operated, and therefore preventing the door from opening. These locking means may consist of a cylinder operated by a key, with the tongue attached to the cylinder in such a way that it rotates in unison with it between the locked and unlocked positions. Alternatively, the locking means may be electronic and remotely operable by the user, and feature a motor or similar means connected to the latch that rotates it between the locked and unlocked positions. According to different particular embodiments of the invention, the system may feature an electronic actuator system fixed to the base and remotely actuatable by the user, which has an electric actuator connected to the ratchet that is configured to rotate said ratchet and release the second cam bar of the box profile engagement, thus opening the box door. Preferably, the system has emergency internal opening means, which in turn provide access to the ratchet located on the inside face of the door, so that from this access the user can access the ratchet from inside the box and turn it to release the second bar of the cam of the box profile hook, thus opening the box door. Brief description of the drawings Next, to facilitate understanding of the invention, an embodiment of the invention will be described by way of illustration but not limitation, which refers to a series of figures. Figure 1 shows a door with a conventional state-of-the-art locking system using a central bolt and a tube with hooks at its ends. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a last-mile cargo vehicle with a small cargo box. Figure 3 is an embodiment of a closure system that is the subject of the present invention, in section to show its essential elements. Figure 4 shows a vehicle box that includes the locking system of Figure 3, with the door closed. Figure 5 is a front section view of the locking system of Figures 3 and 4 with the door closed and in the locked position, with the handle at rest. Figure 6 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figure 5 with the door closed and in the locked position preventing the door from being opened, with the handle operated but unable to activate the opening. Figure 7 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 6, with the door closed, but in this case in the unlocked position, which allows the door to be opened, with the handle at rest. Figure 8 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 7, with the actuated handle acting on the tongue, which in turn acts on the ratchet and initiates the opening operation. Figure 9 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 8, rotating the cam to release from the latch and initiate the separation of the door. Figure 10 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 9, in which the end of the cam has been released from the engagement. Figure 11 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 10, showing the open door and the position of the handle and the remaining elements of the system. Figure 12 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 11, showing the door open and the user has released the handle. Figure 13 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 12, showing the beginning of the door closing after the user pushes it. Figure 14 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 13, showing the end of the cam engaging the latch on the case profile. Figure 15 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 14, showing the door fully closed with the cam held by the ratchet. Figure 16 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 15, with the door closed and the system locked, showing access to the ratchet from inside the door, with the ratchet locking the cam. Figure 17 is a front section view of the locking system similar to that in Figures 5 to 16, with the door closed and the system locked, showing access to the ratchet from inside the door, in this case with the ratchet already turned by the user from the inside, thus unlocking the cam and allowing the door to be opened. These figures refer to a set of elements which are: 1. Cargo vehicle door 2. Free end of the door 3. base of the locking system 4. lever 5. Profile of the box facing the free end of the door 6. hitch 7. opening means 8. Opening mechanism tab 9. first end of the tongue 10. second end of the tongue 11. ratchet of the opening means 12. ratchet legs 13. Opening means lever 14. First cam bar 15. second cam rod 16. light bulb 17. Access to the ratchet Detailed description of the invention The object of the present invention is a closing system for cargo vehicle box doors, which may be particularly cargo vehicles for the last mile or urban delivery to the end customer. As can be seen in the figures, the locking system has a base 3 that is recessed into the outer face of door 1 of the cargo box, near the free end 2 of said door 1. A handle 4 is housed in this base 3 for opening door 1 by a user. The handle 4 could have different configurations, although the conventional configuration shown in the figures is preferred, in which, in its resting position, the handle 4 is housed in base 3 on the surface of door 1, and to open it, the user pulls the end of the handle 4, rotating it and separating the end from the surface of door 1. Figure 4 shows an image of the closed cargo box door 1 with the handle 4 fully housed in base 3. The system includes a hook 6, preferably roller-shaped, arranged on a profile of the box 5 facing the free end 2 of the door 1 in its closed position, and opening means 7 arranged on the base 3 and connected to the hook 6 on the profile of the box 5 and to the handle 4, to block or allow the opening of the door 1 as appropriate. According to the object of the present invention, and as can be seen in the figures, the opening means have in turn a tongue 8, a rotating ratchet 11 with a plurality of legs 12 or protrusions, actuatable by the tongue 8, and a cam 13 connected to the ratchet 11 and to the hook 6 of the box profile 5. The tongue 8 has a first end 9 that connects to the handle 4 and a second end 10. The tongue 8 moves with the handle 4 to transmit this movement. The ratchet 11 is actuated by the second end 10 of the tongue 8, specifically because the tongue 8 contacts one of the pawls 12 of the ratchet 11, causing it to rotate. Furthermore, the cam 13 has a first bar 14 that can be locked by one of the pawls 12 of the ratchet 11, and a second bar 15 with an end that can be connected to and released from the hook 6 of the housing profile 5, thus allowing the door 1 to be opened and closed. Thus, with the above configuration, the locking system is operated by the user by operating lever 4, leaving it in two positions: - a closing position in which one of the legs 12 of the ratchet 11 is blocking the first bar 14 of the cam 13, and the second bar 15 is engaged with the hook 6 of the box profile 5, leaving door 1 closed. - an opening position in which the rotation of the ratchet 11 actuated by the tongue 8 when the handle 4 is actuated releases the first bar 14 of the cam 13 allowing the rotation of this and the release of the second bar 15 of the cam 13 of the hook 6 of the box profile 5, enabling the opening of the door 1. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system features locking means connected to the tab 8 of the opening means, which are accessible to the user from outside the cargo box, and which allow, in the closed position of the locking system, the tab 8 to be moved between two positions: - an unlocking position in which the second end 10 of the tongue 8 contacts the ratchet 11 providing the rotation of said ratchet 11 and the opening of the door 1 by actuating the handle 4. - a locking position in which the second end 10 of the tongue 8 is separated from the ratchet 11 in such a way that it does not contact said ratchet 11, preventing the rotation of the ratchet 11 by the actuation of the handle 4, and thus preventing the opening of door 1. These locking means can be formed, as shown in the figures, by a cylinder 16 actuated by a key, the tongue 8 being attached to the cylinder 16 in such a way that it rotates together with it between the locking position and the unlocking position. Alternatively, the locking means may be electronic and remotely operable by the user, and feature a motor or similar means connected to the latch 8 that rotate it between the locked and unlocked positions. According to different particular embodiments of the invention, the system may have an electronic actuator system fixed to the base 3 and actuated remotely by the user, which has an electric actuator connected to the ratchet 8 that is configured to rotate said ratchet 8 and release the second bar 15 from the cam 13 of the hook 6 of the box profile 5, thus opening the door 1. Preferably the system has emergency internal opening means, which in turn provide access 17 to the ratchet 8 located on the inner face of door 1, so that from said access 17 the user can access the ratchet 11 from inside the box and turn it so that its leg 12 releases the first bar 14 of the cam and this rotates releasing its second bar 15 from the hook 6 of the profile of the box 5 thus opening door 1. The following, referring to the different figures, shows the operating sequence of the previously described implementation of the locking system in the different positions of each of its elements, starting from the position of door 1 closed and the locking system blocked: Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a locking system of the present invention, in the position where door 1 is closed and the system is locked. In this position, handle 4 is fully inserted into base 3 on door 1, and cam 13 is locked by means of one of the legs 12 of the ratchet 11, with the end of the second bar 15 of cam 13 engaged with the hook 6 of the housing profile 5, and the door therefore being closed. Figure 6 shows how the handle 4 can be freely operated and rotated by the user. This movement pulls the latch 8 along its first end 9, but because the system is locked, the latch 8 is rotated and its second end 10 does not contact the ratchet 11. Therefore, the locking system does not unlock and door 1 does not open. This separation of the handle's movement from the movement of the opening mechanisms makes it difficult to force these mechanisms in a hypothetical burglary attempt. - Next, the user inserts a key into the cylinder 16 and turns it, turning the tongue in unison with it, so that its second end 10 makes contact with one of the legs 12 of the ratchet 11, as shown in figure 7. In this way, when the user pulls the handle 4, this second end 10 of the tongue 8 will act on one of the legs 12 of the ratchet 11, turning it, so that it releases the first bar 14 of the cam 13, as shown in figure 8. When the cam 13 is released, it moves to its rest position thanks to a torsion spring, and as the handle 4 is pulled, the cam levers the roller-shaped catch 6, which helps to separate the door 1. In addition, once the second end 10 of the tongue 8 loses contact with the leg 12 of the ratchet 11, it returns to its original rest position thanks to a torsion spring. Figures 9, 10, and 11 show how door 1 fully detaches and opens, with the end of the second bar 15 disengaging from the roller-shaped cam 13 of the latch 6, allowing door 1 to open completely. As shown in detail in Figure 10, the end of the second bar 15 of the cam 13 disengages from the latch 6 thanks to the rotation of cam 13 and the specific shape of the end of this second bar 15. As can be seen, this opening, thanks to the rotation of cam 13, aligns with the roller-shaped latch 6, allowing the second bar 15 to disengage from the roller. However, other embodiments and alternative configurations could be used that facilitate this disengagement or roller release thanks to the shape and rotation of cam 13. Figure 12 shows a position in which the user has fully opened the door and released handle 4, which returns to its retracted position inside base 3 thanks to the effect of the torsion springs. As can be seen, the cam remains rotated in the open position because this is the position in which its torsion spring is at rest. Therefore, the cam, and specifically its second bar 15, are in the ideal position to re-engage with the roller of the latch 6 when the user wishes to close the door. - Next, to close the door, the user will give it a push, an action that can be performed even with their hands occupied with packages from inside the cargo vehicle that they have just taken out. Figure 13 shows the position in which, after the push, the end of the second bar 15 of cam 13 re-engages with the roller-shaped hook 6 of the housing profile 5. From this position, cam 13 rotates and its spring twists, as shown in Figure 14, until it is locked again by the pawl 12 of the ratchet 11, as shown in Figure 15. In this way, the door is completely closed, and in the initial position, the cam is actuated by its torsion spring but does not rotate in the opening direction because the first bar 14 is locked by the pawl 12 of the ratchet 11. To prevent possible openings, the user can turn the cylinder 16 again using the key, which will rotate the tongue and separate its second end 10 from the ratchet 11, so that even if the handle 4 is operated, it will not open. act on the opening mechanisms and prevent the opening of door 1. According to the aforementioned preferred embodiment of emergency opening from the inside, if the user, for any reason, becomes locked inside the vehicle body and cannot access handle 4 from the outside, the user can access one of the pawls 12 of the ratchet 11 from inside the body, through an access point 17 on the inside face of door 1, as shown in Figure 16, and turn it to the position shown in Figure 17 to release cam 13. Once cam 13 is released, door 1 will open simply by pushing it from the inside.

Claims

1. A locking system for cargo vehicle box doors, comprising: - a base (3) recessed into the outer face of a door (1) of a cargo vehicle box, near the free end (2) of said door (1), - a handle (4) arranged on the base (3), configured for opening the door (1) by actuation by a user, - a latch (6) arranged on a profile of the box (5) facing the free end of the door (1) in the closed position, - opening means (7) arranged on the base (3) and connected to the latch (6) on the profile of the box (5) and to the handle (4), configured to lock and allow the opening of the door (1), characterized in that the opening means (7) in turn comprise - a tongue (8), comprising a first end (9) connected to the handle (4) and a second end (10), said tongue accompanying (8) the handle (4) in its movement,- a ratchet (11) rotating and actuated by the second end (10) of the tongue (8), - and a cam (13) comprising in turn a first bar (14) lockable by the ratchet (11) and a second bar (15) connectable and releaseable from the hook (6) of the box profile (5), allowing the door (1) to be closed and opened, the locking system being configured to be actuated by means of the actuation of the handle (4) between - a closed position in which the ratchet (11) is locking the first bar (14) of the cam (13) with the second bar (15) engaged with the hook (6) of the box profile in the closed position, and - an open position in which the rotation of the ratchet (11) actuated by the tongue (8) releases the first bar (14) of the cam (13) allowing the latter to rotate and the release of the second bar (15) from the hook (6) of the box profile (5).

2. Locking system for cargo vehicle box doors, according to claim 1,comprising locking means connected to the latch (8) of the opening means and (7) accessible to the user from outside the cargo box, configured so that in the closed position of the locking system, the latch (8) moves between - an unlocked position in which the second end (10) of said latch (8) contacts the pawl (11), providing rotation of said pawl (11) and opening of the door (1) by actuation of the handle (4), - and a locked position in which the second end (10) of the latch (8) is separated from the pawl (11), preventing rotation of said pawl (11) by actuation of the handle (4) and preventing opening of the door (1).

3. Locking system for cargo box doors, according to claim 2,wherein the locking means comprise a cylinder (16) operable by a key and the latch (8) rotates together with the cylinder (16) between the locked and unlocked positions.

4. Locking system for cargo vehicle doors, according to claim 2, wherein the locking means are electronic and remotely operable, and comprise a motor connected to the latch (8) that rotates it between the locked and unlocked positions.

5. Locking system for cargo vehicle doors, according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an electronic actuator system fixed to the base (3), remotely operable, comprising an electric actuator connected to the ratchet (11) and configured to rotate said ratchet (11) and release the second bar (15) from the cam (13) of the latch (6) of the body profile (5).

6. Locking system for cargo vehicle doors,according to any of the preceding claims, comprising emergency interior opening means, which in turn comprise an access (17) to the ratchet (11) disposed on the inner face of the door (1) configured for the rotation of said ratchet (11) by a user from inside the cargo vehicle box and release of the second bar (15) of the cam (13) of the hitch (6) of the box profile (5).

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