Refrigerated vehicle body for the transport of goods

Abstract

Body of a refrigerated vehicle for transporting goods This body comprises a floor, a roof (106), two side walls, a front wall, a rear opening 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) comprises: a rail (12) fixed on the roof (106) comprising holes (15) a movable assembly (17) configured to support by a pivot connection the panel (114) and to slide on the rail (12), the movable assembly (10) comprising an indexing box (25) having a locking finger (27) mechanically linked to a cam (35), the locking finger (27) being biased by elastic 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 between 30° and 60° and retract the locking finger (27) to allow the sliding of the movable assembly (10) relative to the rail (12) in a longitudinal direction X. Figure 2;

Description

Title of the invention: Refrigerated vehicle body for transporting goods Technical field

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

[0002] A refrigerated vehicle which may be a truck, a semi-trailer or a trailer makes it possible to transport goods, for example food or pharmaceuticals, which need to be maintained at a positive or negative controlled temperature.

[0003] For this purpose, a refrigerated vehicle comprises a body which comprises isothermal 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 which are transported therein.

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

[0005] The partitioning partition is connected to the roof of the vehicle by a connecting mechanism which allows it to be kept in a vertical position in which the partition separates the loading space into two zones or to be kept in a retracted position in which the partition is arranged against the roof and does not encroach on the loading space. The connecting mechanism also allows the longitudinal position of the partition to be adjusted in the vehicle depending on the goods to be transported.

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

[0007] In this technical context, the present invention aims to propose an insulated bodywork which is more ergonomic for a user to handle. Description of the invention

[0008] The invention provides 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;

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[0019] - at least one cargo space partition panel connected to the roof by a connecting mechanism; characterized in that the connecting mechanism comprises: - a rail fixed to the roof including holes; - a mobile assembly configured to support the panel by a pivot connection and to slide on the rail, the mobile assembly comprising an indexing box having a locking finger mechanically linked to a cam, the locking finger being biased by elastic means into a deployed position in which the locking finger engages in a bore; - a roller supported by the panel configured to bear against the cam when the panel pivots relative to the roof by an angle of between 30° and 60° and retract the locking finger to allow the movable assembly to slide relative to the rail in a longitudinal direction X. In certain embodiments, the indexing box comprises 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 relative to the first longitudinal direction, in which a pin secured to the locking finger is engaged. In some embodiments, the indexing housing includes a square spring and a connecting rod, one end of which is connected to the square spring and the second end of which pushes the pin into the deployed position of the locking finger. In some embodiments the light is oriented in an angular range of 30° to 60° relative to the longitudinal direction X. In some embodiments the cam has a ramp comprising two inclined segments, the end segment having a greater slope than that of the proximal segment relative to the longitudinal direction X. In some embodiments, the connecting mechanism includes a yoke to which the panel is attached, the yoke supporting the roller. In some embodiments, the connecting mechanism includes at least one gas spring that connects the movable assembly to the panel. In some embodiments, the panel is provided with a peripheral seal. In some embodiments, the movable assembly includes at least one axle on which the yoke is mounted. In some embodiments, the connecting mechanism (10) comprises panel locking means when the panel is applied against the roof. In some embodiments, the body includes two rails on which two mobile units are arranged, each supporting a panel.

[0020] In certain embodiments, the two mobile assemblies (10) are connected by at least one crosspiece.

[0021] In some embodiments, a connecting cord connects the locking fingers of each of the movable assemblies. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] [Fig-1] is a side view of a refrigerated vehicle;

[0023] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a mechanism for connecting a partition wall to a roof of a body of a refrigerated vehicle;

[0024] [Fig.3] is an enlarged perspective view of [Fig.2];

[0025] [Fig.4] is a view of [Fig.3] from another perspective angle,

[0026] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of an indexing box 25 in its position of rest,

[0027] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the indexing box 25 in its retracted position;

[0028] [Fig.7] is an exploded perspective view of the indexing box 25,

[0029] [Fig.8] is a view of the indexing box 25 in its position with omission of the cover;

[0030] [Fig.9] is a view of the indexing box 25 in its retracted position with the cover omitted;

[0031] [Fig. 10] is a cross-sectional view of the link mechanism in its locking position;

[0032] [Fig. 11] is a cross-sectional view of the link mechanism in its unlocked position;

[0033] [Fig. 12] is a perspective view of the partition wall in a vertical position;

[0034] [Fig. 13] is a perspective view of the link mechanism in the position of [Fig. 12];

[0035] [Fig. 14] is a perspective view of the partition wall in the moving position;

[0036] [Fig. 15] is a perspective view of the link mechanism in the position of [Fig. 14];

[0037] [Fig. 16] is a perspective view of the partition wall in the retracted position;

[0038] [Fig. 17] is a perspective view of the link mechanism in the position of the [Fig.16] ;

[0039] [Fig. 18] is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment in which two indexing boxes are connected to each other;

[0040] [Fig. 19] is an enlarged scale view of an indexing housing of [Fig. 19] in a locking position;

[0041] [Fig.20] is an enlarged scale view of an indexing box of [Fig. 19] in an unlocked position. Detailed description

[0042] The present description is made in an X,Y,Z reference frame 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.

[0043] [Fig.l] shows a refrigerated vehicle 100, in this case a semi-trailer which comprises a parallelepiped body 101 fixed on a chassis 102 equipped with wheels 103.

[0044] The bodywork 101 comprises a floor 105, a roof 106, two side walls 107, a front wall 108, a rear opening 109 which are formed of isothermal panels 115 and which delimit a loading space 112. The rear opening which gives access to the loading space 112 may comprise two hinged doors or a roller shutter depending on the type of vehicle. The changing space is thus thermally insulated from the ambient environment.

[0045] The vehicle comprises a refrigeration unit 110 which, in the usual manner, can be fixed to the front wall 108. The refrigeration unit 110 makes it possible to maintain the temperature inside the loading space 112 at a positive or negative set value.

[0046] The bodywork 101 is, moreover, equipped with a longitudinally movable partition 114 which makes it possible to partition the loading space 112 into two distinct zones which can be maintained at different temperatures.

[0047] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the partition 114 comprises two panels 115 made from an isothermal sandwich. Each panel 115 is further provided with a peripheral lip seal 117. It may be envisaged that the partition comprises a single panel 115.

[0048] Each of the panels 115 is fixed to the roof 106 by a connecting mechanism 10 which, as will be seen, makes it possible to maintain the panels 115 in a fixed vertical or horizontal position applied to the roof 106 and makes it possible to move the panels 115 depending on the load which must be placed in the loading space 112.

[0049] The connecting mechanism 10 of the partition 114 to the pavilion 106 is shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4.

[0050] The connecting mechanism 10 comprises two fixed rails 12 which are placed on the roof 106 and two mobile assemblies 17 which slide on the rails 12.

[0051] The roof 106 is thus equipped with two rails 12 which comprise a profile 14 provided with holes 15 at a regular pitch and a C-shaped slide 16 as can be seen in the sectional views of figures 10 and 11. The two rails 12 are parallel and are oriented in the longitudinal direction.

[0052] On each of these rails 12, slides a mobile assembly 17 on which a panel 115 is suspended.

[0053] Each mobile assembly 17 comprises 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 mobile assemblies 17 are connected by one or more crosspieces 19 which means that the two mobile assemblies 17 cannot move independently of each other.

[0054] The two mobile assemblies 17 are also connected by a front crosspiece 20. The front crosspiece 20 is equipped with tabs 21 which serve to guide and maintain the position of the panel 115 when it is in a vertical position.

[0055] The mobile assembly 17 further comprises a plate 22 which extends vertically from the mobile assembly 17. The plate 22 may be formed, for example, in a metal plate cut out and then welded onto the slide.

[0056] The plate 22 has at its rear end a locking butt 24. The plate 22 is equipped with two spacers 23 on which the ends of two jacks are fixed as will be seen later.

[0057] The plate 22 also receives an indexing box 25. The indexing box 25 makes it possible to lock the partition 114 in a given longitudinal position relative to the rail 12.

[0058] The indexing box 25 has a locking finger 27 designed to engage in one of the holes 15 of the rail 12 and block the longitudinal movement of the slide and therefore of the panel 115 attached to it.

[0059] Reference may be made to Figures 5 to 9 to appreciate the structure of the indexing box 25.

[0060] The indexing box 25 comprises a base 28 in which a slide 29 is arranged, the cross-section of which has a general T shape, and a cover 30 in which a cylinder 32 is arranged which opens out via a slot 33 onto one of its generatrices.

[0061] 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 at its free end a ramp 36; in the example shown in the figures, the ramp 36 has two inclined segments 38 and 39, the end segment 38 having a greater slope than that of the proximal segment 39. The cam 35 further has an oblique slot 34 which is oriented sen- possibly at 45° relative to the sliding direction of cam 35.

[0062] The locking finger 27 has a cylindrical structure with a rib 40 on one of its generatrices and is sized 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 4L

[0063] A pin 42 is, moreover, fixed in the locking finger 27 perpendicular to it. The pin 42 is designed and dimensioned to engage in the light 34 of the cam 35.

[0064] It can be seen that the cam 35 and the locking finger 27 are mechanically linked and a longitudinal movement of the cam 35 produces a vertical movement of the locking finger 27.

[0065] The cover 30 is fixed to the plate 22 by a series of screws 44 and thus sandwiches the cam 35.

[0066] The locking finger 27 is biased into the deployed position shown, for example, in 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, the free end of which pushes the pin 42 of the locking finger 27 into its deployed position and simultaneously pushes the cam 35 towards its deployed position.

[0067] In its rest configuration, the indexing box 25 is therefore in a position in which the cam 35 and the locking finger 27 are deployed.

[0068] Each panel 115 is, for its part, fixed on a yoke 47 formed of metal profiles which, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, has an H-shaped geometry. The yoke 47 is designed and dimensioned to allow for the absorption of the forces applied to the panel 115, in particular during its rotation.

[0069] The yoke 47 is pivotally mounted on the plate 22 by means of two axes 48.

[0070] The connecting mechanism 10 of the partition 114 to the roof 106 also comprises means for assisting the rotation of the partition 114 in the direction of the roof 106.

[0071] In practice, it is provided that two gas cylinders 50 are arranged between a mobile assembly 17 and the yoke 47 of a panel 115. For this, the yoke 47 comprises two wings 54 on each of which a cylinder 50 is fixed by an appropriate connecting axis; each of the cylinders 50 is, moreover, fixed on a spacer 23 which ensures the connection of the cylinder 50 with the mobile assembly 17.

[0072] Referring to [Fig.4], it can be seen that the yoke 47 supports a roller 52. The roller 52 is fixed on a lug 53 which projects perpendicularly from the yoke 47 and is positioned to come into contact with the cam 35 of the indexing box 25 during the rotation of panel 115.

[0073] The operation of the partitioning partition 114 is described from its vertical position as can be seen in [Fig.l 1].

[0074] In this configuration of the partition 114, the two panels 115 (a single panel 115 is shown in [Fig. 1 1] to facilitate understanding of the operation of the invention) are arranged vertically and are locked longitudinally; in fact, the finger of each of the indexing boxes is engaged in a bore as seen in [Fig. 13].

[0075] If it is necessary to reconfigure the loading space 112, a user can pull on a panel 115 to bring the panel 115 to an angle of between 60° and 30° with the roof 106 and for example of the order of 45° (see figures 14 and 15). In practice, the user acts on a first panel 115 then on the second panel 115. The dissociation of the partition 114 into two panels 115 allows easier handling for the user.

[0076] During the rotation of the panel 115, the cam 35 is on the path of the roller 52 which is itself carried by the rotation of the panel 115. As a result, the roller 52 rolls against the cam 35 which has the effect of pushing the cam 35 into the indexing box 25. The movement of the cam 35 then causes the locking finger 27 to retract to its retracted position which frees it from the bore 15 of the rail 12 in which the locking finger 27 was previously engaged. The fact that the cam 35 has a two-segment profile allows a gentler attack of the roller 52 on the proximal segment 39 then a more direct effect on the end segment 38 which has the steepest slope. The longitudinal locking of panel 115 relative to roof 106 is therefore lifted, provided that panel 115 remains in the angular orientation of between 60° and 30° and approximately 45° relative to roof 106.

[0077] The user can then move the panels 115 in the longitudinal direction of the bodywork since the mobile assembly 17 can slide in the rail 12 thanks to its train of rollers 18 which slides in the slide 16.

[0078] Depending on the configuration that the user wishes to give to the loading space, the user can either replace the panels 115 vertically by applying a push on them. During the rotation of the panel 115 towards its vertical position, the roller disengages from the cam 35 and the locking finger 27 is returned to its deployed position by the connecting rod 46 which is itself biased by the square rubber spring 45.

[0079] The user can also place the panel 115 in a retracted position in which the panel 115 is applied against the roof 106. To do this, the user accompanies the rotation of the panel 115 which is driven in its travel by the jacks. 50.

[0080] 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 biased 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.

[0081] In this retracted position, a locking of the panel 115 on the roof 106 is provided. As shown in the figures, the panel 115 may comprise a retractable latch 116 which engages on the locking butt 24. Locking of the panel 115 in its retracted position by a magnetic suction cup may also be envisaged.

[0082] In a variant of the invention, it may be envisaged to connect the two indexing boxes. As shown in [Fig. 18], it may be provided to mechanically connect the lower part of the two locking fingers 27 of the mobile assemblies 17. For this, a connecting cord 55 connects the two locking fingers 27; the connecting cord 55 is itself provided with a gripping cord 56 which is fixed substantially to the center of the connecting cord.

[0083] By pulling on the grip cord, the user can simultaneously unlock both locking fingers. This allows the user to adjust the position of the panels 115 without having to pivot the panels 115.

[0084] It may also be considered to provide each of the locking fingers with their own cord, which allows each panel to be controlled independently.

Claims

Claims

1.

2. Refrigerated vehicle body for the transport of goods including: a floor, a roof (106), two side walls, a front wall, a rear opening which delimit a loading space (112); a refrigeration unit; at least one panel (114) for partitioning the cargo space (112) connected to the roof (106) by a connecting mechanism (10); characterized in that the connecting mechanism (10) comprises: a rail (12) fixed on the roof (106) comprising holes (15) a mobile assembly (17) configured to support the panel (114) by a pivot connection and to slide on the rail (12), the mobile assembly (17) comprising an indexing box (25) having a locking finger (27) mechanically linked to a cam (35), the locking finger (27) being biased by elastic means into a deployed position in which the locking finger (27) engages in a bore (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 of between 30° and 60° and retract the locking finger (27) to allow the sliding of the movable assembly (17) relative to the rail (12) in a longitudinal direction X. Refrigerated vehicle body according to claim 1, ca 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 is engaged (42) secured to the locking finger (27).

3. Refrigerated vehicle body according to claim 2, characterized in that the indexing box (25) comprises a square spring (45) and a connecting rod (46) one end of which is connected to the square spring (45) and the second end of which pushes the pin (42) into the deployed position of the locking finger (27).

4. Refrigerated vehicle body according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the light (34) is oriented in an angular range of 30° to 60° relative to the longitudinal direction X.

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

6. Refrigerated vehicle body according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting mechanism (10) comprises a yoke (47) on which the panel (115) is fixed, the yoke (47) supporting the roller (52).

7. Refrigerated vehicle body according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting mechanism (10) comprises at least one gas cylinder (50) which connects the movable assembly (17) to the panel (114).

8. Refrigerated vehicle body according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the panel (115) is provided with a peripheral seal (117).

9. Refrigerated vehicle body according to one of claims 6 or claim 8 when it depends on claim 6, characterized in that the mobile assembly (17) comprises at least one axis (48) on which the yoke (47) is mounted.

10. Refrigerated vehicle body according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the connecting mechanism (10) comprises panel locking means (114) when the panel is applied against the roof.

11. Refrigerated vehicle body according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the body comprises two rails (12) on which are arranged two movable assemblies (17) which each support a panel (115).

12. Refrigerated vehicle body according to claim 11, characterized in that the two mobile assemblies (10) are connected by at less one crosspiece (18).

13. Refrigerated vehicle body according to one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that a connecting cord (55) connects each locking finger (27) of each of the movable assemblies (17).

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