Load securing device for transport vehicles and use thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a load securing device (10) for securing a freight on a transport vehicle, in particular a vehicle (14) on a car deck of a car transporter, having at least one sensor (12) configured and designed to detect temperature data of an area of the freight spaced apart from the sensor (12), in particular below an underbody of the vehicle (14), and a transmitter unit configured and designed to transmit temperature data detected by the at least one sensor (12).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Load securing device for transport vehicles and its use

[0003] The present invention relates to a load securing device for securing freight on a transport vehicle, with at least one sensor and one transmitting unit, and its use.

[0004] Load securing devices are used to secure cargo to transport vehicles. The present invention is particularly concerned, but not exclusively, with securing passenger cars, for example, but also (small) trucks on board ships, especially car transporters specially designed for their transport. The invention is equally suitable for transport on land or in aircraft.

[0005] Vehicles, especially passenger cars, are now manufactured on most continents, often near the largest sales markets. However, due to the very broad vehicle offering and the wide range of customer requirements, it is impossible, or at least not economically viable, for vehicle manufacturers to produce all models offered in a sales market locally. With the increasing number of partially or fully electric vehicles, this problem is becoming increasingly acute, as potential buyers can choose not only between different vehicle categories such as small cars, sedans, or SUVs (sport utility vehicles), but also between different drive concepts.

[0006] For this reason, special vehicle transport vessels, the aforementioned car transporters, are often used to transport motor vehicles from a port near a vehicle factory to other regions by sea. Large car transporters designed for overseas service typically have a capacity of several thousand vehicles. Each vehicle is manually driven on and off board and secured there.

[0007] The vehicles are typically secured using lashing devices, a first type of load securing device that connects the vehicle to the ground of a car deck to prevent it from moving in rough seas. Wheel chocks are also commonly used as a second type of load securing device. These are positioned in front of and / or behind the wheels of loaded vehicles to prevent them from rolling away.

[0008] The increasing electrification of motor vehicles and the resulting increase in the proportion of at least partially electric vehicles on car transporters poses an additional safety risk. While combustion engine-powered vehicles require an external ignition source to ignite the vehicle's flammable components, faulty components in an electric vehicle can, in rare cases, cause spontaneous combustion. This is particularly critical in the event of a defective vehicle battery, as it represents a potential ignition source and also contains flammable material.

[0009] Furthermore, most of the car carriers in operation today date back to a time when only vehicles powered by internal combustion engines were shipped. Due to the lower risk of a cargo fire caused by spontaneous combustion, these ships are equipped with inadequate fire detection devices, if at all. Smoke detection systems are disadvantageous because smoke only appears comparatively late in electrically powered vehicles. As a result, fires on the car deck of a car carrier are sometimes detected late, resulting in a large portion of the cargo being destroyed. This also poses a potential risk to the ship's crew, as the car carrier may have been near the coast at the time the fire started, but already at sea when it was discovered.

[0010] The detection of fires on board car transporters is complicated by various factors. The most critical component is the vehicle battery, which is usually installed in the underbody. With temperature monitoring directed downwards from the ceiling of the car deck, for example using infrared sensors, the vehicles themselves shield the heat source from the direction of the temperature sensors. Due to the highly diverse vehicle geometries, the vehicles are also always arranged differently on a car deck, which makes a standardized monitoring grid difficult. In addition, brand-new vehicles often have a highly reflective surface, which makes camera-based detection difficult due to multiple and uncontrolled light reflections. Existing fire detection devices also have the disadvantage of only being able to determine the position of the fire imprecisely.This makes it difficult for the crew on ships, some of which are several hundred meters long, to determine the actual source of the fire. As a result, they are exposed to the smoke from the burning vehicle(s) and the associated health risks for longer. EP 2257444 A1 discloses a ratchet for a lashing strap with an associated sensor to monitor the tension of the lashing strap. This is intended to detect any unintentional loosening of the lashing strap. However, the sensor should also be suitable for measuring temperature.

[0011] DE 10 2017214994 A1 teaches a vehicle with an electronic sensor that is attached to an underbody of the vehicle and with which the underbody of the vehicle can be at least partially detected.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to describe a load securing device for securing cargo on a transport vehicle, in particular a vehicle on the car deck of a car transporter, with which heat development on a car deck can be quickly detected and localized with sufficient accuracy. A further aspect lies in the use of such a load securing device for securing cargo on a transport vehicle, in particular a vehicle on the car deck of a car transporter.

[0013] This object is achieved by a load securing device according to claim 1, the further aspect by the use according to claim 13. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0014] The load securing device according to the invention for securing cargo on a transport vehicle includes at least one sensor and a transmitting unit. The at least one sensor is configured and designed to detect temperature data from a region of the cargo spaced apart from the sensor, in particular beneath an underbody of the vehicle. The transmitting device is configured and designed to transmit temperature data detected by the at least one sensor.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, this occurs continuously, either when a local temperature rises or when a predefined threshold is exceeded. Continuous transmission enables constant monitoring and thus a precise overview of the temperatures prevailing on the car deck at all times, but comes at the cost of increased energy consumption. This is lower if the temperature data from at least one sensor is only transmitted when a predefined threshold is exceeded. With such a configuration, the load securing device primarily serves as a warning system and is only partially suitable as a monitoring system. A predefined threshold is not only to be understood as a specific temperature; for example, it can also be a predefined temperature difference between two adjacent sensors.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the load securing device additionally includes a signaling device for emitting an acoustic and / or visual signal. In the event of a threshold being exceeded and an alarm being triggered as a result, the ship's crew is thus able to more quickly locate the source of a fire on a car deck using acoustic and / or visual signals and initiate appropriate countermeasures.

[0017] If a defect in a vehicle battery leads to spontaneous combustion, this usually only occurs locally at first. The spread to neighboring battery cells and the resulting escalation of the fire, which can ultimately lead to a fire in the entire vehicle, happens comparatively slowly. If only locally limited measuring sensors were used, it would take a long time before such a sensor would register a temperature increase due to the fire characteristics described. According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one sensor is therefore an infrared array sensor with a wide detection range, usually referred to as an IR array sensor with a large FOV (field of vision). Such sensors can monitor the area they can see unhindered up to a distance of several meters and can also register local temperature increases at some distance.In the present invention, they are particularly well suited because, regardless of the arrangement, which will be discussed later, they monitor the entire area below the underbody in which the vehicle battery is located.

[0018] The arrangement of the transmitting unit and possibly the signal transmission for emitting an acoustic and / or visual signal requires that at least one load securing device must be supplied with energy. For this purpose, it preferably has an energy storage device, which is particularly preferably also integrated into the load securing device. While a permanent external power supply during operation is conceivable and feasible, it has disadvantages in handling, since at least one connection would have to be made or broken when loading and unloading a vehicle from the car transporter. It is therefore preferably provided that the energy storage device can store sufficient energy for operation over the duration of a typical overseas transport. The energy storage device is charged while the car transporter is in port, between the unloading of one load and the picking up of the next.This can be done either wired or, to further simplify handling, inductively.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the load securing device comprises a display for indicating the charge status of the energy storage device. This can range, purely by way of example, from a simple red-green display (green: sufficient charge status, red: insufficient charge status) to a digital bar display to an indication of a percentage value of the maximum charge level. Such a display, regardless of the level of detail, shows personnel loading a vehicle onto a car transporter whether the energy storage device of the load securing device is sufficiently charged. Even during operation, the ship's crew can immediately determine whether a load securing device is operational during routine checks and replace it if necessary.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting unit of the load securing device can be configured and designed to transmit information about the charge status of the energy storage device. This enables continuous monitoring of the charge status of the energy storage device. A possible failure of at least one sensor due to an insufficient charge level of the energy storage device is thus registered immediately, rather than waiting until the next inspection by the ship's crew.

[0021] As already explained in the introduction, the usual arrangement of fire detectors on the ceiling of a car deck is disadvantageous, since the source of the fire and thus also the heat source in electrically powered vehicles is often the vehicle battery installed in the underbody. An arrangement of temperature sensors on the subfloor of a car deck is also ruled out, since the arrangement of the vehicles depends on their size and the vehicles could potentially roll over the sensitive sensors during loading and unloading.

[0022] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the load securing device is therefore a lashing device with which the vehicle is lashed to the surface of a car deck. In particular, it is possible to provide the load securing device with a connecting means, e.g., a hook or shackle, which can be attached or hooked to the surface of the car deck. This eliminates the need for an additional step when lashing the vehicle, and at the same time, the components of the load securing device do not hinder the lashing. The standardized fastening of the connecting means (e.g., hook or shackle) in openings in the surface of the car deck prevents incorrect alignment or orientation of the at least one sensor.The arrangement of the load securing device in relation to the respective vehicle at standardized, ground-level positions enables reliable temperature monitoring of the space between the vehicle floor and the ground. Alternatively, the connecting device can also be attached to the vehicle being transported. In the event of heat development in the area of ​​the vehicle battery, this can be detected early, and appropriate countermeasures can be initiated before a fire potentially spreads to neighboring vehicles.

[0023] As in many areas of life, it also makes economic sense to keep energy consumption low on board transport vehicles. In order to avoid unnecessary energy consumption by the various components of the load securing device, a preferred embodiment provides for the at least one sensor and / or the transmitting unit to be activated when the lashing device is applied. For this purpose, the load securing device, according to a preferred embodiment, includes an activation means which is set up and designed to activate the at least one sensor and / or the transmitting unit when the lashing device is applied. When the lashing device is released, the activation means deactivates the at least one sensor and / or the transmitting unit, thereby significantly reducing the energy consumption of the load securing device.

[0024] According to another preferred embodiment, the load securing device is a wheel chock that secures a vehicle on the deck of a car transporter against rolling away. From the low and standardized position of the wheel chock, which is located very close to the ground of a car deck, effective temperature monitoring of the area between the vehicle floor and the ground can be achieved. In the event of heat development in the area of ​​the vehicle battery, this can be detected early, and appropriate countermeasures can be initiated before a fire potentially spreads to neighboring vehicles.

[0025] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the wheel chock is magnetically attached to the base of a car deck of a car transporter. This enables quick and reliable positioning and removal of the wheel chock when loading or unloading the car transporter. Analogous to the previously described embodiment, in which the load securing device is a lashing device, low energy consumption is also desirable for a wheel chock as a load securing device. To avoid unnecessary energy consumption by the various components of the load securing device, a preferred embodiment therefore provides for the at least one sensor and / or the transmitting unit to be activated when the wheel chock is attached to the base of a car deck of a car transporter.For this purpose, according to a preferred embodiment, the load securing device includes an activation means configured and designed to activate the at least one sensor and / or the transmitting unit when the wheel chock is attached to the floor of a car deck of a car transporter. Upon release of the wheel chock, the activation means deactivates the at least one sensor and / or the transmitting unit, thereby significantly reducing the energy consumption of the load securing device.

[0026] The invention further relates to the use of one of the above-described load securing devices for securing cargo on a transport vehicle, in particular a vehicle on the car deck of a car transporter. Without limiting the primary function of load securing, it is thereby possible to detect cargo fires on transport vehicles at an early stage. This allows for early countermeasures, preventing the fire from spreading to other cargo or the transport vehicle itself and minimizing the resulting damage.

[0027] Furthermore, the invention relates to a fire detection system comprising at least one of the load securing devices described above and a radio network consisting of at least two transmitter / receiver units. The radio network is configured and designed to locate the at least one load securing device within a space of a vehicle, in particular a car deck of a car transporter. Using multiple load securing devices, it is thereby possible to create a map of a car deck. A fire or heat event typically initially occurs in only one location, i.e., on a vehicle loaded on the car deck. With the fire detection system according to the invention, it is now possible to detect fires in their early stages on a car deck at an early stage and to locate them precisely.This allows the fire to be fought early, preventing it from spreading to other vehicles and thus causing significantly greater damage.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the fire detection system, the radio network is configured and designed to transmit the temperature data transmitted by the transmitting unit and received by the radio network, for example to a central processing device. This can occur, for example, when a predefined threshold is exceeded. It is also possible for the radio network to transmit the received temperature data in the event of a local temperature increase that occurs below an absolute threshold. Furthermore, continuous transmission of the temperature data received by the radio network is also possible. The selection of the respective transmission mode is a balancing decision between precision and completeness of the monitoring and energy consumption, which must be made for each individual case.

[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment, the activation means of the load securing device is further configured to initiate the localization of the load securing device in the radio network when it is put on or attached. This enables universal use of the load securing device at any location on a car deck; in particular, prior assignment of a specific position is dispensed with. This creates no additional workload for the personnel responsible for securing the load; rather, existing processes can be easily transferred to such a fire detection system.

[0030] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, which shows:

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a load securing device with the features of the invention in a schematic view;

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a load securing device with the features of the invention in a schematic view;

[0033] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a fire detection system according to the invention;

[0034] Fig. 4 shows a hook for a load securing device with the features of the invention, for example according to Fig. 1 in a perspective view; and

[0035] Fig. 5 shows the hook according to Fig. 1 in plan view with the cover removed.

[0036] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a load securing device 10 according to the invention, which is designed as a lashing means, for example as a chain or (lashing) strap. The load securing device 10 serves to secure a cargo item, for example a vehicle 14, to a surface, for example the deck of a car transporter. The vehicle 14 is an electric motor-driven vehicle with a vehicle battery 16 installed in the underbody of the vehicle 14. The load securing device 10 includes a sensor 12, which is configured and designed to record temperature data from an area spaced apart from the sensor 12.

[0037] The lashing device is typically attached to a surface on one side and to a front or rear bumper of the vehicle 14 on the other. Due to this geometry, the sensor 12 is located at a height between the surface and the underbody of the vehicle 14. The sensor 12 should be positioned as close to the surface as possible and in a specific orientation relative to the vehicle 14. The horizontal detection range 18 of the sensor 12 is therefore very wide and is limited only by the tires of the vehicle 14. However, this limitation is accepted because temperature data from the critical underbody area of ​​the vehicle 14, in which the vehicle battery 16 is located, can be reliably recorded.

[0038] Fig. 2 also shows a load securing device 10 for a vehicle 14 with a vehicle battery 16 installed in the underbody. It differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that the load securing device 10 is a wheel chock. The wheel chock is placed in front of or behind a tire of a vehicle 14 and secures it against rolling away. Typically, the wheel chock is magnetically attached to the ground, for example, the deck of a car transporter.

[0039] Analogous to the embodiment described above, in which the load securing device 10 is a lashing device, the wheel chock also has the advantage that the sensor 12 located therein is at a height between the ground and the underbody of the vehicle 14. In this embodiment, it almost follows that the sensor 12 is arranged close to the ground and with a fixed orientation to the vehicle 14. The arrangement in the area of ​​a vehicle tire also enables a wide detection area 18, which is limited in the horizontal direction only by the tires of the vehicle 14. This limitation, however, is irrelevant, since temperature data of the critical underbody area of ​​the vehicle 14, in which the vehicle battery 16 is located, can be reliably recorded.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows a highly simplified representation of a fire detection system according to the invention. A vehicle 14 is located on the deck of a car transporter and is secured there with two load securing devices 10 designed as lashing devices. Furthermore, a radio network is formed by three slightly elevated transmitter / receiver units 20. The transmitter unit of the load securing device 10 is capable of sending signals to the transmitter / receiver units 20 and thus to the radio network. Due to the plurality of transmitter / receiver units 20, it is possible to determine the position of the respective load securing device 10 with sufficient accuracy by means of triangulation.

[0041] In practice, a large number of vehicles 14 are secured with a large number of load securing devices 10 on a car deck of a car transporter. To ensure sufficiently accurate localization of the load securing devices 10, it may be expedient to also provide a larger number of transmitter / receiver units 20. After the vehicles 14 have been secured and the sensors 12 of the load securing devices 10 have been activated, the radio network thus knows the position of all load securing devices 10 on the car deck. In the event of a fire, the fire detection device enables the fire to be precisely located and provides the operating personnel with correspondingly accurate information.

[0042] As already explained above in connection with Fig. 1 and 2, it is advantageous if the sensor 12 is arranged close to the ground and aligned in a predetermined orientation to the vehicle 14. This is particularly the case in the embodiment according to Fig. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 and 5 show a hook 22 which can be used in conjunction with a lashing means as a load securing device 10, such as a (lashing) strap or a chain. The hook 22 is hooked into a corresponding element on the ground, e.g. a D-ring. At its other end, the hook 22 has a connecting piece 24 for attaching, for example, a lashing strap. A ratchet for tensioning the lashing strap can advantageously be attached here.

[0043] A sensor unit 26 with a housing base 28 and a cover 30 is attached to the hook 22. Specifically, the housing base 28 has a recess 32 with which it rides on the hook 22. The housing base 28 is additionally secured to the hook 22, e.g., screwed, riveted, clamped, for example, by means of clamping screws, or by means of other suitable measures familiar to a specialist.

[0044] The sensor unit 26 has two sensors 12a and 12b, one on each side of the hook 22. This ensures good detection. The sensors 12a, 12b are arranged on both sides of the recess 32. In the illustrated embodiment, they are directed diagonally outward, i.e., away from the recess 32. The sensors 12a and 12b are specifically infrared sensors, specifically an infrared array sensor. Also arranged in the lower housing section 28 are a battery 34 for supplying power to the sensor unit 26 and a circuit board 36, on which the control electronics for the sensor unit 26 are located.

[0045] As described above, the hook 22 is hooked onto the ground. Alternatively, the hook 22 can also be hooked onto a suitable counterpart on the vehicle 14. The sensor unit 26 is then attached to the hook 22 the other way around, so that the sensors 12a, 12b point toward the vehicle 14. Although the advantage of arranging at least one sensor 12 close to the ground is then lost, the advantage of fixed orientation remains.

[0046] Furthermore, instead of the hook 22, another connecting means can be used which allows a connection of the lashing means to the ground or the vehicle, such as a shackle.

[0047] List of reference symbols

[0048] Load securing device

[0049] sensor

[0050] vehicle

[0051] vehicle battery

[0052] Detection range

[0053] Transmitter / receiver unit

[0054] Hook

[0055] connecting piece

[0056] Sensor unit

[0057] Lower housing part

[0058] Lid

[0059] recess

[0060] battery

[0061] circuit board

Claims

Claims 1. A load securing device (10) for securing a cargo item on a transport vehicle, in particular a vehicle (14) on a car deck of a car transporter, comprising at least one sensor (12) which is configured and designed to detect temperature data of a region of the cargo item spaced apart from the sensor (12), in particular beneath an underbody of the vehicle (14), and a transmitting unit which is configured and designed to transmit temperature data detected by the at least one sensor (12).

2. Load securing device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit is arranged and designed to transmit temperature data detected by the at least one sensor (12) continuously, in the event of a local temperature increase or when a predefined threshold value is exceeded.

3. Load securing device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, with a signaling device for outputting an acoustic and / or visual signal, which is designed to output an acoustic and / or visual signal when a predefined threshold value of the temperature data detected by the at least one sensor (12) is exceeded.

4. Load securing device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one sensor (12) is an infrared array sensor with a wide detection range (18).

5. Load securing device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, with an energy storage device which is supplied with energy by cable or inductive means, wherein the at least one sensor (12) is connected to the energy storage device.

6. Load securing device (10) according to claim 5, with a display device which is designed to acoustically or visually display a charging status of the energy storage device.

7. Load securing device (10) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the transmitting unit is configured and designed to transmit information about the charging status of the energy storage device.

8. Load securing device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the load securing device (10) is a lashing means.

9. Load securing device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the load securing device (10) includes an activation means which is set up and designed to activate and deactivate the at least one sensor (12) and / or the transmitting unit and which activates the at least one sensor (12) and / or the transmitting unit when the load securing device (10) is applied and deactivates it when the load securing device (10) is released.

10. Load securing device (10) according to claim 8 or 9, with connecting means for connecting the lashing means to the cargo (14) and / or the transport vehicle, in particular a hook or shackle for hooking or stopping the lashing means in or on a holding element on the cargo (14) and / or on the transport vehicle, wherein the sensor (12) is assigned to the connecting means or attached to it.

11. Load securing device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the load securing device (10) is a wheel chock.

12. Load securing device (10) according to claim 11, wherein the load securing device (10) includes an activating means which is designed to activate and deactivate the at least one sensor (12) and / or the transmitting unit, wherein the load securing device (10) is magnetically attached to the base of a car deck of a car transporter and the activating means activates the at least one sensor (12) when the load securing device (10) is attached to the base of a car deck of a car transporter and deactivates it when the load securing device (10) is detached from the base of a car deck of a car transporter.

13. Use of a load securing device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12 for securing a cargo item on a transport vehicle, in particular a vehicle (14) on a car deck of a car transporter.

14. Fire detection system with at least one load securing device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12 and a radio network consisting of at least two transmitter / receiver units (20), wherein the radio network is set up and designed to localize the at least one load securing device (10) within a space of a vehicle (14), in particular a car deck of a car transporter.

15. Fire detection system according to claim 14, wherein the radio network is configured and designed to transmit the temperature data transmitted by the transmitting unit and received by the radio network continuously, upon a local temperature increase, or upon exceeding a predefined threshold value.

16. Fire detection system according to one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the activation means of the load securing device (10) initiates the localization of the load securing device (10) in the radio network when the load securing device (10) is applied or attached.

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