Aerodynamic portal beam

Abstract

A support structure for delimiting a cargo space, in particular for a trailer, wherein the support structure (2) has vertical profiles (4, 5), longitudinal profiles (6), transverse profiles (8) and a portal beam (14, 14'), the portal beam (14, 14') having a flow-guiding surface (16).

Description

[0001] Aerodynamic portal beam

[0002] The present invention relates to a supporting structure for delimiting a loading space, in particular for a trailer, wherein the supporting structure has vertical profiles, longitudinal profiles, transverse profiles and a portal beam.

[0003] Such support structures or superstructures are flexible in use and are often equipped with movable tarpaulins to protect the goods being transported from environmental influences and to safely separate them from the surroundings during transport. Instead of the tarpaulins described above, such superstructures can also be equipped with fixed panels or wall elements to separate the loading space from the surroundings.

[0004] In logistics, there is a constant demand to make the transport of goods more efficient, and in particular to reduce energy consumption and the associated emissions, and ultimately the costs of transporting goods. In addition to the use of more efficient drive systems for trucks or tractors, aerodynamics continues to offer significant potential for reducing energy consumption per kilometer driven.

[0005] The supporting structure described above for defining a cargo space is typically essentially cuboid-shaped in order to maximize the available installation space and maximize the available loading volume within the specified vehicle dimensions. The design freedom regarding such a supporting structure is therefore limited, as in cases of doubt, the decision is always made in favor of maximum loading capacity. This is because, according to the current state of the art, a loss of loading capacity continues to represent a greater competitive disadvantage than improved energy efficiency could offset as a competitive advantage. For this reason, the box or cuboid shape of trailer and box bodies, established for decades, is firmly established in the transport sector.

[0006] Against this background, the present invention is based on the technical problem of providing an improved support structure of the type mentioned at the outset, which in particular enables more efficient transport of goods.

[0007] The technical problem described above is solved by the features of the independent claim. Further embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0008] According to the invention, a support structure for defining a loading space, in particular for a trailer, is provided, wherein the support structure comprises vertical profiles, longitudinal profiles, transverse profiles, and a portal beam. The support structure is characterized in that the portal beam has a flow-guiding surface.

[0009] The portal beam therefore has the familiar function of being a load-bearing element of the supporting structure, and according to the invention, it now also has the additional function of being an aerodynamic element, since the flow guide surface is part of the portal beam. The flow guide surface is specifically designed to reduce air resistance during ferry operation. It can therefore also be referred to as an aerodynamic portal beam.

[0010] The flow guide surface serves in particular to reduce the dimension and / or position of vortices that occur directly behind the support structure during ferry operation, thus resulting in lower air resistance for an entire vehicle equipped with the support structure. The investigation of such vortices and the associated design and dimensioning of the flow guide surface can be carried out, in particular, with computer support using simulations. The support structure can be intended for a trailer of a semi-trailer truck. The support structure can be a structure for limiting the loading volume of a truck, i.e., a box body of a truck, a tarpaulin body of a truck, or the like.

[0011] The supporting structure can be designed for standard truck bodies or can be designed for mega trailers.

[0012] If the support structure is intended for mega trailers, the support structure can have dedicated lifting devices for raising the vehicle roof. If the vehicle roof is height-adjustable, the portal beam can have several counterholders for door locks, which are arranged vertically spaced from each other according to the various adjustable roof heights in order to provide corresponding counterholders for the door locks for each roof height.

[0013] The portal beam can have a vertically extending sheet metal arranged below the flow guide surface, wherein counterholders for door locks are arranged on the vertically extending sheet metal, in particular for one or more roof heights.

[0014] It can be provided that the flow guide surface extends over at least half the width of the support structure. Furthermore, it can be provided that the flow guide surface extends over at least 75% of the width of the support structure. Preferably, it can be provided that the flow guide surface extends over at least 90% of the width of the support structure.

[0015] The positive effect of the flow guide surface is particularly evident when the flow guide surface covers as large a portion of the width of the support structure as possible. It is therefore preferable for the flow guide surface to extend as far as possible across the entire width of the support structure. The width or a corresponding width direction of the support structure is oriented transversely or essentially perpendicularly to a longitudinal extension of the support structure, with the longitudinal extension of the support structure being oriented parallel to the direction of travel of a vehicle traveling straight ahead in the fully assembled state.

[0016] The flow guide surface is, in particular, an integral component of the portal beam. In particular, the flow guide surface is formed integrally or in one piece with the portal beam and cannot be removed from the portal beam. The flow guide surface is, in particular, part of a wall or profile element of the portal beam, which forms a supporting structure of the portal beam.

[0017] The flow guide surface can be arranged on the portal beam in a detachable or removable manner. The flow guide surface can therefore be formed, for example, on a sheet metal that is replaceably mounted on the portal beam.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the support structure, it is provided that the flow guide surface is inclined, wherein an overall height of the support structure in the region of the flow guide surface is reduced according to the inclination of the flow guide surface.

[0019] In other words, the flow guide surface forms a negative angle of attack with respect to the airflow during ferry operation. While, for example, in motorsports, rear flow guide surfaces are deliberately positioned with a positive angle of attack in the airflow to increase the vehicle's downforce on the road, here the exact opposite effect is to be achieved by directing the airflow past the supporting structure with the least possible resistance. Accordingly, according to the invention, the lowest point of the flow guide surface is arranged at the rear end of the flow guide surface, while the highest point of the flow guide surface is located at an end of the flow guide surface facing away from the rear end of the flow guide surface and, in the fully assembled state, facing the driver's cab of a respective vehicle.

[0020] It can be provided that the flow guide surface is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, wherein the flow guide surface encloses an angle of greater than or equal to 10° with the horizontal plane, in particular encloses an angle of greater than or equal to 15° with the horizontal plane, furthermore in particular encloses an angle of greater than or equal to 18° with the horizontal plane. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the flow guide surface encloses an angle of less than or equal to 40° with the horizontal plane, in particular encloses an angle of less than or equal to 30° with the horizontal plane, furthermore in particular encloses an angle of less than or equal to 24° with the horizontal plane. It can be provided that the flow guide surface encloses an angle of greater than or equal to 16° and less than or equal to 20° with the horizontal plane.

[0021] The horizontal plane may be a roof plane delimiting the loading space, wherein the flow guide surface, viewed in the vertical direction, is arranged at least partially or completely below the roof plane.

[0022] The horizontal plane may therefore, for example, be the plane located at a maximum height of the supporting structure and may therefore, for example, be referred to as the roof plane of the supporting structure.

[0023] The flow guide surface can extend cantilevered at the rear beyond a door system of the supporting structure and, in particular, have a rear projection of more than 30 mm, in particular a projection of more than 50 mm, in particular a projection of less than 250 mm, and furthermore, in particular a projection of less than 150 mm. The projection is measured relative to a vertical door plane of the door system, which the outer sides of the door leaves of the door system form in the closed state.

[0024] It may be provided that the flow guide surface has a rear projection of greater than or equal to 128 mm and less than or equal to 148 mm.

[0025] The portal beam can span the door system at least in sections.

[0026] The portal beam can form a stop for the door panels of the door system. Locks for locking the door panels of the door system can be provided on the portal beam.

[0027] The portal beam is essentially arranged at the height of a roof level of the loading space.

[0028] The portal beam forms in particular the rear end of a roof of the supporting structure.

[0029] The portal beam can be modularly assembled from two or more sheet metal components. The sheet metal components can be connected to each other either detachably or permanently. The sheet metal components can be connected to each other by means of material-fit, form-fit, and / or friction-fit connections. The sheet metal components can be connected to each other, in particular, by welding, riveting, and / or screwing.

[0030] The sheet metal components can have a sheet thickness selected from a range of 1 mm - 3 mm. The sheet metal components can have a sheet thickness of 2 mm.

[0031] It can be provided that vertical guide elements are arranged at opposite ends of the flow guide surface. In particular, the spaced-apart vertical guide elements limit the width of the portal beam.

[0032] The flow guide surface may have recesses, in particular for a door stop or the like.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the support structure, a convexly curved strip can be provided, wherein the strip is arranged substantially parallel to and at a distance from the flow guide surface, and wherein the strip is particularly designed to improve the flow onto the flow guide surface. The strip can be provided to fix a roof tarpaulin of the support structure to the portal beam. The strip can be provided to ensure a watertight connection between the roof tarpaulin and the portal beam.

[0034] The flow guide surface can be substantially flat or at least have a flat section. Alternatively or additionally, the flow guide surface can be part of a folded sheet metal component and adjoin a folded region of the sheet metal component.

[0035] The support structure may comprise an end carriage which is held on the longitudinal profiles so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the support structure, wherein the portal beam is fastened to the end carriage and is displaceable together with the end carriage in the longitudinal direction of the support structure.

[0036] It may be provided that the portal beam cannot be lowered vertically.

[0037] In particular, it can be provided that the portal beam is arranged at the level of the horizontal plane, which is the roof plane (D) delimiting the loading space (V).

[0038] In particular, it can be provided that the portal beam is horizontally displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the supporting structure and that the portal beam is not vertically lowerable transversely to this longitudinal direction.

[0039] It can be provided that, viewed in the vertical direction, a lower edge of an airfoil on which the flow guide surface is formed is not lower than a lower edge of the end carriage, so that an available loading space is not reduced by the airfoil.

[0040] The portal beam can be pivotably mounted on the end carriage, allowing the portal beam to be pivoted upwards at least partially above the roof level before being moved. This ensures that the portal beam does not interfere with loading. For example, the portal beam can be held in an upwardly pivoted position using lifting springs.

[0041] According to alternative embodiments, the flow guide surface may be curved. In particular, the flow guide surface may transition seamlessly into adjacent regions of the portal beam.

[0042] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to a drawing illustrating exemplary embodiments.

[0043] They show schematically:

[0044] Fig. 1 shows a support structure according to the invention in a perspective view from above;

[0045] Fig. 2 shows a portal beam of the supporting structure according to Fig. 1 in a perspective individual view;

[0046] Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the support structure according to Fig. 1;

[0047] Fig. 4 a side view of the portal beam;

[0048] Fig. 5 a cross-section of the portal beam;

[0049] Fig. 6 shows another support structure according to the invention in a perspective view from above;

[0050] Fig. 7 shows a result of a flow simulation for a support structure according to the prior art; Fig. 8 shows a result of a flow simulation for a support structure according to the invention;

[0051] Fig. 9 shows a cross-section of another variant of a portal beam.

[0052] Fig. 1 shows a support structure 2 for defining a loading space V. The support structure 2 is intended in particular for a trailer of a truck or the like. For a better illustration of the individual components, the tarpaulins of the support structure 2 are hidden in Fig. 1.

[0053] The supporting structure 2 has vertical profiles 4. The vertical profiles 4 are designed as folding stanchions or sliding stanchions.

[0054] The supporting structure 2 has vertical profiles 5. The vertical profiles 5 are stationary corner stanchions.

[0055] The corner stanchions 5 carry longitudinal profiles 6. The longitudinal profiles 6 can also be referred to as roof chords.

[0056] Cross sections 8 extend between the longitudinal sections 6. The cross sections 8 can also be referred to as bows. The cross sections 8 are part of a sliding roof and support a roof tarpaulin 10 of the supporting structure 2 (Fig. 3). The cross sections 8 are guided along the longitudinal sections 6 so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction L (Fig. 1).

[0057] The supporting structure 2 has a portal beam 14 which spans a rear door system 15 of the supporting structure 2.

[0058] The portal beam 14 is attached to an end carriage 12, which is movable along the longitudinal profiles 6. The portal beam 14, together with the end carriage 12, is movable along the longitudinal profiles 6 in the longitudinal direction L of the supporting structure 2. The portal beam 14 has a flow guide surface 16.

[0059] In this case, the flow guide surface 16 extends along the entire width B of the support structure 2, with the width B being measured perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The longitudinal direction L corresponds to the direction of travel when fully assembled on a truck, traveling straight ahead. The width B is approximately 2550 mm.

[0060] Fig. 2 shows the portal beam 14, wherein it can be seen that the flow guide surface 16 is an integral component of the portal beam 14. Vertical guide elements 22, 24 are arranged at opposite ends 18, 20 of the flow guide surface 16. The width B of the portal beam 14 essentially corresponds to the width B of the support structure 2, so the same reference numeral is used here.

[0061] As can be seen from Fig. 3, the flow guide surface 16 is lowered and inclined starting from the sliding roof or the roof tarpaulin 10 in the direction of the door system 15 and its closures 17, wherein an overall height H of the supporting structure 2 in the region of the flow guide surface 16 is reduced according to the inclination of the flow guide surface 16.

[0062] The flow guide surface 16 extends cantilevered at the rear over the door system 15 of the supporting structure 2 and has a rear overhang Ü.

[0063] As can be seen from the cross-sections according to Figures 4 and 5, the flow guide surface 16 of the portal beam is inclined relative to a horizontal plane E and in the present example encloses an angle a of approximately 18° with this plane E. In the fully assembled state, such a plane E can, for example, be a roof plane D, which is arranged at the height of the sliding roof corresponding to the roof tarpaulin 10 and delimits the loading space V as roof plane D.

[0064] As can be seen in Fig. 5, the portal beam 14 is essentially made of sheet metal components and has a section 26 that is folded and includes the flow guide surface 16. The section 26 can also be referred to as the flow profile of the portal beam.

[0065] The portal beam 14 has a further section 28, which is a vertically extending sheet metal member 28 arranged below the flow guide surface 16. Counterholders for the door locks 17 are attached to the vertically extending sheet metal member 28 (Fig. 3). The section 28 is also folded. Furthermore, Figs. 4 and 5 show the respective end-side vertical guide elements 22, 24, which are also arranged vertically below the flow guide surface 16.

[0066] The length A1 of the portal beam is more than 200 mm, in particular approximately 220 mm. The length A2 of the portal beam is more than 50 mm, in particular approximately 55 mm. The height H1 of the portal beam is more than 100 mm, in particular approximately 130 mm.

[0067] The support structure 2 has a convexly curved strip 30 (Fig. 3), wherein the strip 30 is arranged substantially parallel to and at a distance from the flow guide surface 16. The strip 30 is designed to improve the flow against the flow guide surface 16.

[0068] The strip 30 fixes the roof tarpaulin 10 to the portal beam 14.

[0069] The portal beam 14 is pivotable relative to the end carriage 12, as indicated by the double arrow in Fig. 3.

[0070] Fig. 6 shows a further support structure 32 according to the invention in a perspective view from above. To avoid repetition, only the differences from the previously described embodiment will be discussed below, with the same reference numerals being assigned to the same features.

[0071] The portal beam 14 according to Fig. 6 has two separate flow guide surfaces 16, so that the flow guide surfaces 16 do not extend across the entire width of the support structure 32. The portal beam 14 has recesses 34 for closures 17 of the door system 15.

[0072] Fig. 7 shows a result of a flow simulation for a standard support structure S according to the state of the art without an aerodynamic portal beam.

[0073] Fig. 8 shows a result of a flow simulation for a support structure 2 according to the invention with the aerodynamic portal beam 14.

[0074] The flow was smoothed and the vortices reduced, as shown in Fig. 8. The drag is reduced compared to Fig. 7.

[0075] Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of an aerodynamic portal beam 14' for a support structure 2 according to the invention. To avoid repetition, only the differences from the embodiment described above will be discussed below, with the same features being assigned the same reference numerals.

[0076] The aerodynamic portal beam 14' differs from the aerodynamic portal beam 14 in that the aerodynamic portal beam 14' has a sheet 36 which has a vertically extended section 28' as a door stop and an adjoining, folded support section 38.

[0077] The sheet 36 is arranged vertically below the flow profile 26 of the portal beam 14' comprising the flow guide surface 16.

[0078] A strip 40 rests against the support section 38 and is connected to the support section 38. The support section 38 has an end section 42 arranged vertically below the convexly curved strip 30.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Supporting structure for delimiting a loading space, in particular for a trailer, wherein the supporting structure (2, 32) has vertical profiles (4, 5), longitudinal profiles (6), transverse profiles (8) and a portal beam (14, 14'), characterized in that the portal beam (14, 14') has a flow guide surface (16).

2. Support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow guide surface (16) extends at least over half of a width (B) of the support structure (2), preferably extends over at least 75% of the width (B) of the support structure (2), more preferably extends over at least 90% of the width (B) of the support structure (2).

3. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guide surface (16) is an integral part of the portal beam (14, 14').

4. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guiding surface (16) is inclined, wherein a total height (H) of the supporting structure (2, 32) in the region of the flow guiding surface (16) is reduced in accordance with the inclination of the flow guiding surface (16).

5. Supporting structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the flow guide surface (16) is inclined relative to a horizontal plane (E, D), wherein the flow guide surface (16) encloses an angle (a) greater than or equal to 10° with the horizontal plane (E, D), in particular encloses an angle (a) greater than or equal to 15° with the horizontal plane (E, D), further in particular encloses an angle (a) greater than or equal to 18° with the horizontal plane (E, D), and / or that the flow guide surface (16) encloses an angle (a) less than or equal to 40° with the horizontal plane (E, D), in particular encloses an angle (a) less than or equal to 30° with the horizontal plane (E, D), further in particular encloses an angle (a) less than or equal to 24° with the horizontal plane (E, D).

6. Supporting structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the horizontal plane is a roof plane (D) delimiting the loading space (V), wherein the flow guide surface (16) is arranged at least partially or completely below the roof plane (D) when viewed in the vertical direction.

7. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guide surface (16) extends cantilevered at the rear over a door system (15) of the supporting structure (2), and in particular has a rear-side overhang of more than 30 mm, in particular has a overhang (Ü) of more than 50 mm, in particular has a overhang of less than 250 mm, in particular has a overhang of less than 150 mm.

8. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portal beam (14, 14') is modularly composed of two or more sheet metal components and / or the portal beam (14, 14') has a vertically extending sheet (28, 28') which is arranged below the flow guide surface (16), wherein counterholders for door locks (17) are arranged on the vertically extending sheet (28), in particular for one or more roof heights.

9. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that vertical guide elements (20, 22) are arranged at opposite ends (18, 20) of the flow guide surface (16).

10. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guide surface (16) has recesses (34), in particular for a door stop (17) or the like. 11 . Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a convexly curved strip (30) is provided, wherein the strip (30) is arranged substantially parallel to and at a distance from the flow guide surface (16), wherein the strip (30) is in particular designed to improve the flow onto the flow guide surface (16).

12. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip (30) fixes a roof tarpaulin (10) to the portal beam (14, 14').

13. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guide surface (16) is substantially flat or has at least one flat section, and / or the flow guide surface (16) is part of a folded sheet metal component and adjoins a folded region of the sheet metal component.

14. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an end carriage (12) is held on the longitudinal profiles (6) so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction (L) of the supporting structure (2), wherein the portal beam (14, 14') is fastened to the end carriage (12) and is displaceable together with the end carriage (12) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the supporting structure (2).

15. Supporting structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, viewed in the vertical direction, a lower edge of an airfoil (26) on which the flow guide surface (16) is formed is not lower than a lower edge of the end carriage, so that an available loading space is not reduced by the airfoil (26).

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