Expandable deck

Abstract

To provide an expandable deck that automatically fills gaps in the deck while minimizing the impact on the appearance.SOLUTION: An expandable deck 100 comprises a floor 32, a pivotable support part 37 located below the floor 32, a lower side wall 34 rotatably mounted on the pivotable support part 37 and driven to open and close by an electric hydraulic cylinder 38 between a closed state in which it stands up against the floor 32 and an open state in which it is deployed from the closed state along the floor 32, a hinge 39 mounted on the side end part 32a of the floor 32, and a gap filler 40 rotatably mounted via the hinge 39, which leans against the lower side wall 34 when the lower side wall 34 is in the closed state and is connected to the lower side wall 34 when the lower side wall 34 is in the open state, thereby filling a gap C between the floor 32 and the lower side wall 34.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a deployment deck. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a truck bed structure that includes side gates that are rotatably attached to the left and right side edges of a floor panel via hinges. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-143355 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the side walls are deployed to form a deck together with the floor, it is possible to provide hinges on the top surface of the deck to connect the floor and the side walls, allowing the side walls to rotate freely. However, in this case, the hinges would be large and strong, which would affect the appearance.

[0005] On the other hand, if the side walls are rotatably supported on a frame or the like below the floor, the impact on the appearance can be avoided. In this case, depending on the position of the rotation center of the side walls, the rotating side walls may interfere with the floor. Therefore, the rotation center of the side walls is set at a position where they do not interfere with the floor. However, setting the rotation center position in this way creates a gap between the floor and the side walls in deck state. For this reason, the gap needs to be filled, which can be done by manually installing gap filler, for example.

[0006] However, in this case, the gap filler must be provided separately as equipment, and the gap filler must be managed. Furthermore, since the gap filler is a separate component from the deck, it is prone to shifting on the deck's top surface. Furthermore, manually installing the gap filler takes time, and if the gap filler is heavy, the workload increases and workability is poor.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and aims to automatically fill gaps in a deck while minimizing the impact on the appearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is a deployable deck comprising: a floor; a rotating support section located below the floor; side walls rotatably mounted on the rotating support section and driven by an actuator to open and close between a closed state in which the side walls stand upright relative to the floor and an open state in which the side walls are deployed from the closed state along the floor; hinges mounted on the side edges of the floor; and gap fillers rotatably mounted via the hinges and leaning against the side walls when the side walls are in the closed state and being connected to the side walls when the side walls are in the open state to fill the gap between the floor and the side walls.

[0009] According to this invention, when the side wall is changed from a closed state to an open state while the gap filler is leaning against the side wall, the gap filler fits into the gap between the floor and the unfolded side wall, thereby automatically filling the gap in the deck.

[0010] The present invention is also characterized in that a first tapered portion having an oblique shape formed so that the surface of the gap filler protrudes more than the back surface of the gap filler is formed at the tip of the gap filler, and a second tapered portion having an oblique shape formed so that the back surface of the side wall protrudes more than the surface of the side wall is formed at one end of the side wall, and facing the first tapered portion when the side wall is in an open state, and the gap filler is connected to the side wall by the first tapered portion overlapping the second tapered portion from above when the side wall is in an open state.

[0011] According to this invention, when the side wall is in the open state, the first tapered portion of the gap filler overlaps the second tapered portion of the side wall from above, so that when the side wall changes from the open state to the closed state, the first tapered portion can slide over the second tapered portion and then move onto the surface of the side wall, thereby allowing the gap filler to automatically lean against the side wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to these inventions, gaps in the deck can be automatically filled while minimizing the impact on the appearance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trailer when the box-like structure is in a closed state. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trailer when the box-like structure is in an open state. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the main parts of the deployment deck in a closed state. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the main part of the deployment deck in a first intermediate state. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the main part of the deployment deck in a second intermediate state. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the main part of the deployment deck in an open state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a comparative example of a deployment deck in an open state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] 1 and 2 are perspective views of a trailer 1. FIG. 1 shows a case where the box-like structure 3 is in a closed state, and FIG. 2 shows a case where the box-like structure 3 is in an open state. The trailer 1 is a vehicle and includes a loading platform 2, a box-like structure 3 installed on the loading platform 2, wheels 4 that enable the loading platform 2 to move, and a coupling part 5 that is coupled to a tractor (not shown). The box-like structure 3 is installed integrally with the loading platform 2 and is configured to be able to be opened and closed freely. In the closed state shown in FIG. 1, the box-like structure 3 has a cubic shape that is long in the fore-and-aft direction of the trailer 1. The fore-and-aft direction of the trailer 1 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the box-like structure 3, and the left-and-right direction of the trailer 1 corresponds to the width direction of the box-like structure 3.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the box-shaped structure 3 comprises pillars 31 erected at the four corners of the loading platform 2, a floor 32 and a ceiling 33 supported by each pillar 31, lower side walls 34 (see Figure 2) as side walls arranged on both sides of the floor 32 in the left-right direction of the trailer 1, upper side walls 35 arranged on both sides of the ceiling 33 in the left-right direction of the trailer 1, and deck pillars 36 which are arranged between the loading platform 2 and the floor 32 (see Figure 2) in the closed state shown in Figure 1 and can be pulled out to the left-right outside of the trailer 1 and erected on the ground.

[0017] The support pillars 31 are fixed to the four corners of the loading platform 2. The floor 32 is, for example, a metal plate-like member, and the floor 32 can be partially or entirely made of a lightweight material such as resin or aluminum alloy, or can have a lightweight, high-strength structure. The same applies to the ceiling 33, lower side wall 34, and upper side wall 35. The lower side wall 34, together with the upper side wall 35, opens and closes on both sides in the left-right direction of the trailer 1. In the open state shown in FIG. 2, a gap filler 40, which will be described later, is provided between the floor 32 and the lower side wall 34.

[0018] 1 and 2, the deck support 36 has an upright portion 36a that stands upright on the ground, a sliding support portion 36b that extends in the left-right direction of the trailer 1 and is slidable along the same direction, and a rotary connection portion 36c that rotatably connects the upright portion 36a to the sliding support portion 36b. Note that in FIG. 1, most of the sliding support portion 36b is hidden under the floor 32 (see FIG. 2).

[0019] The deck supports 36 are provided on the front and rear sides of the trailer 1 on both the left and right sides of the trailer 1. In the stored state shown in Fig. 1, the deck supports 36 are stored on the loading platform 2 with the standing portions 36a extending horizontally (not protruding from the loading platform 2), and from this state, the standing portions 36a can be pulled out to the outside in the left and right directions of the trailer 1 and rotated downward by 90 degrees to assume the standing state shown in Fig. 2.

[0020] The box-like structure 3 incorporates a deployment deck 100, which will be described next.

[0021] 3 to 6 are views showing essential parts of the deployable deck 100. The deployable deck 100 includes a floor 32 and a lower sidewall 34, a rotational support part 37 located below the floor 32, an electric hydraulic cylinder 38 as an actuator that drives the lower sidewall 34 to open and close, a hinge 39 provided at the side end part 32a of the floor 32, a gap filler 40 that is rotatably provided via the hinge 39 and leans against the lower sidewall 34 when the lower sidewall 34 is in a closed state (see FIG. 3), and is connected to the lower sidewall 34 when the lower sidewall 34 is in an open state (see FIG. 6), thereby filling a gap C (see FIG. 7) between the floor 32 and the lower sidewall 34, a support member 41 that is rotatably provided on the rotational support part 37 and supports the lower sidewall 34 from the back side, and an actuator support part 42 that rotatably supports the electric hydraulic cylinder 38.

[0022] The floor 32 is supported from below by a frame 50 of the box-shaped structure 3. The frame 50 is located below the floor 32, and a rotation support part 37 is attached to a side surface 50a of the frame 50. The rotation support part 37 is located below the floor 32 and outside the side end part 32a of the floor 32 in the left-right direction of the trailer 1. The rotation support part 37 has a rotation shaft 37a that rotatably supports the support member 41, a bracket 37b that supports the rotation shaft 37a, and a stopper 37c that restricts rotation of the support member 41 toward the closed side beyond the closed state shown in FIG. 3. A rotation center part 411 of the support member 41 that supports the lower side wall 34 from the back side is rotatably supported by the bracket 37b via the rotation shaft 37a. The stopper 37c is provided on the bracket 37b, and the rotation center part 411 abuts against the stopper 37c in the closed state shown in FIG. 3.

[0023] The support member 41 is composed of multiple members, such as metal plate-shaped members, frame members, and block-shaped members, as well as members with a lightweight and high-strength structure, and has the above-mentioned rotation center 411 supported by the rotation support part 37, and a rod support part 412 that supports the tip end of the rod 38a of the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 so that it can rotate freely.

[0024] The rod support portion 412 has a rotating shaft 412a that rotatably supports a ring-shaped tip fitting attached to the tip of the rod 38a of the electric hydraulic cylinder 38, and a bracket 412b that supports the rotating shaft 412a, and the ring-shaped tip fitting is rotatably supported on the bracket 412b via the rotating shaft 412a.

[0025] The electric hydraulic cylinder 38 has a rod 38a rotatably supported by the rod support portion 412, and an attachment portion 38c that is provided at an end portion 38b on the bottom side of the cylinder portion of the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 and is rotatably supported by the actuator support portion 42. Therefore, the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 is rotatably supported at both ends by the rod support portion 412 and the actuator support portion 42. Instead of the electric hydraulic cylinder 38, other actuators such as hydraulic cylinders may be used as the actuator.

[0026] The actuator support portion 42 has a rotation shaft 42a that rotatably supports the mounting portion 38c, and a bracket 42b that is fixed to the frame 50 and supports the rotation shaft 42a, and the mounting portion 38c is rotatably supported on the bracket 42b via the rotation shaft 42a.

[0027] The hinge 39 has a first slat 39a installed at the side end 32a of the floor 32, a second slat 39b installed at the base end 40a of the gap filler 40 (the end that forms the lower end in the closed state shown in FIG. 3), and a connecting pin 39c that rotatably connects the first slat 39a and the second slat 39b to each other. Therefore, the gap filler 40 rotates while being supported by the floor 32, with the center of the connecting pin 39c serving as the center of rotation. The hinge 39 connects the gap filler 40, which has a size corresponding to the gap C (see FIG. 7), to the floor 32. Therefore, compared to when connecting a lower side wall 34 that is larger (heavier) than the gap filler 40 to the floor 32, the hinge 39 does not require as much strength and can be made smaller.

[0028] The gap filler 40 is, for example, a metal plate-shaped member, and can be made entirely or partially of a lightweight material such as resin or aluminum alloy, or can have a lightweight, high-strength structure. The thickness of the gap filler 40 is matched to the thickness of the floor 32 and the lower sidewall 34, and a first tapered portion T1 is formed at the tip 40b of the gap filler 40. The first tapered portion T1 has an oblique shape formed such that the surface 40c of the gap filler 40 (the surface that forms the upper surface in the closed state shown in FIG. 6) protrudes further than the back surface 40d of the gap filler 40 (the surface that forms the lower surface in the closed state shown in FIG. 6). The first tapered portion T1 has such an oblique shape in a vertical cross section (a cross section of a vertical cross section along the left-right direction of the trailer 1).

[0029] A second tapered portion T2 facing the first tapered portion T1 is formed at one end 34a of the lower sidewall 34 (the end that constitutes the lower end in the closed state shown in FIG. 3) when the lower sidewall 34 is in the open state (see FIG. 6). The second tapered portion T2 has an oblique shape formed such that the back surface 34c of the lower sidewall 34 (the surface that constitutes the lower surface in the closed state shown in FIG. 6) protrudes further than the front surface 34b of the lower sidewall 34 (the surface that constitutes the upper surface in the closed state shown in FIG. 6). The second tapered portion T2 has such an oblique shape in the vertical cross-sectional view described above.

[0030] In the closed state shown in Figure 3, the rod support part 412 is located below the pivotal support part 37 and further outward in the left-right direction of the trailer 1, and the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 is tilted diagonally upward toward the outside in the left-right direction of the trailer 1.

[0031] When the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 is driven in the contracting direction from this state, the rod support portion 412 is pulled inward in the left-right direction of the trailer 1 by the electric hydraulic cylinder 38. As a result, the support member 41, while rotatably supported by the rotary support portion 37 together with the lower side wall 34, changes its posture by tilting outward in the left-right direction of the trailer 1. At this time, the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 contracts while changing its posture in accordance with the trajectory of the rod support portion 412.

[0032] In response to the contraction of the electrohydraulic cylinder 38, the deployment deck 100 changes from the closed state shown in Fig. 3 to a first intermediate state shown in Fig. 4, a second intermediate state shown in Fig. 5, and then to the open state shown in Fig. 6. In the first intermediate state shown in Fig. 4, the first tapered portion T1 of the gap filler 40 is located on the surface 34b of the lower sidewall 34, and slides on the surface 34b toward the second tapered portion T2 in response to the contraction of the electrohydraulic cylinder 38. In the second intermediate state shown in Fig. 5, the first tapered portion T1 of the gap filler 40 is located on the second tapered portion T2 of the lower sidewall 34, and slides on the second tapered portion T2 toward the open state shown in Fig. 6 in response to the contraction of the electrohydraulic cylinder 38.

[0033] When the deployable deck 100 transitions from the second intermediate state shown in FIG. 5 to the open state shown in FIG. 6 , the lower sidewall 34 is fully deployed and in the open state. In this state, the first tapered portion T1 overlaps the second tapered portion T2 from above, connecting the gap filler 40 to the lower sidewall 34. The gap filler 40 connects to the lower sidewall 34 due to gravity, and in this state, it fits into the gap C (see FIG. 7 ) to fill the gap C. In the connected state, the first tapered portion T1 can abut the second tapered portion T2 with its surface. In the open state shown in FIG. 6 , the gap filler 40 fills the gap C, eliminating it, and the deck is formed by the floor 32, the lower sidewall 34, and the gap filler 40. In the open state shown in FIG. 6 , the gap filler 40 may be supported from below by, for example, a frame 50.

[0034] 3, the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 is driven in the extension direction from the open state shown in FIG. 6, and the rod support portion 412 is pushed outward in the left-right direction of the trailer 1. As a result, the support member 41 changes its position together with the lower side wall 34 while being supported by the pivot support portion 37, rising toward the inside in the left-right direction of the trailer 1. At this time, the connection between the gap filling material 40 and the lower side wall 34 is released due to a misalignment occurring between the first tapered portion T1 and the second tapered portion T2, which face each other and are able to abut against each other.

[0035] 6, the first tapered portion T1 of the gap filler 40 overlaps the second tapered portion T2 of the lower sidewall 34 from above. Therefore, when changing from the open state shown in FIG. 6 to the closed state shown in FIG. 3, the first tapered portion T1 can slide over the second tapered portion T2 and then move onto the surface 34b of the lower sidewall 34 in response to the extension of the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 (see FIGS. 5 and 4), thereby allowing the gap filler 40 to automatically lean against the lower sidewall 34. Thereafter, when the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 is further extended and the rotation center 411 of the support member 41 abuts against the stopper 37c, the lower sidewall 34 is closed, thereby entering the closed state shown in FIG. 3.

[0036] In this way, the lower side wall 34 is rotatably provided on the rotation support part 37, and is driven to open and close by the electric hydraulic cylinder 38 between a closed state (see FIG. 3) in which it stands upright relative to the floor 32, and an open state (see FIG. 6) in which it is unfolded from the closed state along the floor 32. The lower side wall 34 is rotatably provided on the rotation support part 37 via the support member 41.

[0037] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a deployable deck 100X of a comparative example. The deployable deck 100X of the comparative example is a deployable deck that is not provided with a gap filler 40, and a gap C is formed between the floor 32 and the lower side wall 34, which has a rotation center position located at a position where the lower side wall 34, which rotates by the rotation support part 37, does not interfere with the floor 32, in the open state shown in Fig. 7. In the case of the comparative example, the gap C can be filled by manually installing a gap filler configured separately from the deployable deck 100X into the gap C, for example. Note that the comparative example does not require the second tapered portion T2.

[0038] In this embodiment, the gap filler 40 automatically fills the gap C, so there is no need to separately provide another gap filler to fill the gap C. Also, because the gap filler 40 is connected to the floor 32 via the hinge 39, it is less likely that the deck will shift or that steps will occur on the deck's top surface. Furthermore, because the work of filling the gap C itself is no longer necessary, the time and workload required for filling the gap C can also be eliminated.

[0039] The trailer 1 includes a box-shaped structure 3 incorporating the deployable deck 100. This makes it easy to transport the deployable deck 100 overland to various locations, making it easy to use the deployable deck 100 in a variety of situations, such as opening it in various locations to hold events.

[0040] The deployable deck 100 can be used for a variety of purposes, such as an outdoor cafe, a live stage for music events, or a podium for sporting events. Unlike trailers dedicated to carrying cargo, the trailer 1 equipped with the box-like structure 3 is originally intended to be used as a deck by deploying the box-like structure 3, so that load capacity is given priority, and as a result, the application of the deployable deck 100 is not limited.

[0041] The box-like structure 3 may be, for example, a container configured separately from the trailer 1. In this case, the deployable deck 100 can be utilized in various situations by transporting and carrying the box-like structure 3, and for example, the box-like structure 3 can be transported by sea on a ship, or the box-like structure 3 can be delivered to its destination using various means of transportation including vehicles. Furthermore, in this case, unlike a container dedicated to cargo, priority is given to load capacity, and therefore the application of the deployable deck 100 is not limited.

[0042] The box-like structure 3 may be a container used as a deck, or may be a building used as a deck, etc. In either case, the gap C is automatically filled by the gap filling material 40, making it easier to use the deck in the box-like structure 3 used as a deck, and increasing the added value of the box-like structure 3 used as a deck.

[0043] The configuration, operation, and effects of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0044] The deployable deck 100 comprises a floor 32, a pivotable support section 37 located below the floor 32, a lower side wall 34 rotatably mounted on the pivotable support section 37 and driven to open and close by an electric hydraulic cylinder 38 between a closed state in which it stands up against the floor 32 and an open state in which it is deployed from the closed state along the floor 32, a hinge 39 mounted on the side end section 32a of the floor 32, and a gap filler 40 rotatably mounted via the hinge 39, which leans against the lower side wall 34 when the lower side wall 34 is in the closed state and is connected to the lower side wall 34 when the lower side wall 34 is in the open state, thereby filling a gap C between the floor 32 and the lower side wall 34.

[0045] According to this configuration, when the gap filler 40 is leaning against the lower side wall 34, the lower side wall 34 changes from a closed state to an open state, and the gap filler 40 fits into the gap C between the floor 32 and the unfolded lower side wall 34, so that the gap C in the deck can be automatically filled.

[0046] A first tapered portion T1 is formed at the tip end 40b of the gap filler 40, and a second tapered portion T2 that faces the first tapered portion T1 is formed at one end 34a of the lower sidewall 34 when the lower sidewall 34 is in the open state. When the lower sidewall 34 is in the open state, the first tapered portion T1 overlaps the second tapered portion T2 from above, thereby connecting the gap filler 40 to the lower sidewall 34.

[0047] According to this configuration, when the lower side wall 34 is in the open state, the first tapered portion T1 on the gap filler 40 side overlaps the second tapered portion T2 on the lower side wall 34 side from above. Therefore, when the lower side wall 34 changes from the open state to the closed state, the first tapered portion T1 can slide over the second tapered portion T2 and then move onto the surface 34b of the lower side wall 34, thereby allowing the gap filler 40 to automatically lean against the lower side wall 34.

[0048] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely illustrate some of the application examples of the present invention, and it is not intended that the technical scope of the present invention be limited to the specific configurations of the above embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 trailer (vehicle), 3 box-shaped structure, 32 floor, 32a side end, 34 lower side wall (side wall), 34a one end, 37 rotation support portion, 38 electric hydraulic cylinder (actuator), 39 hinge, 40 gap filling material, 40a tip portion, 100 deployment deck, C gap, T1 first tapered portion, T2 second tapered portion

Claims

1. The floor and a rotation support portion located below the floor; a side wall that is rotatably provided on the rotation support portion and that is driven by an actuator to open and close between a closed state in which the side wall stands upright relative to the floor and an open state in which the side wall is deployed along the floor from the closed state; a hinge provided at a side edge of the floor; a gap filler that is rotatably provided via the hinge, leans against the side wall when the side wall is in the closed state, and is connected to the side wall when the side wall is in the open state to fill the gap between the floor and the side wall.

2. 2. The deployment deck according to claim 1, A first tapered portion having an oblique shape formed so that a surface of the gap filling material protrudes more than a back surface of the gap filling material is formed at a tip end of the gap filling material, One end of the side wall has an oblique shape formed so that the back surface of the side wall protrudes more than the front surface of the side wall, and a second tapered portion is formed facing the first tapered portion when the side wall is in the open state, the gap filler is connected to the side wall by overlapping the first tapered portion with the second tapered portion from above when the side wall is in the open state.

Images