GB1561194A

GB1561194A - Locking mechanism for engaging a movable side as tail board of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB1561194A
Application number: GB33593/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: F Hesterberg and Soehne GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: F Hesterberg and Soehne GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1976-08-10
Filing date: 1977-08-10
Publication date: 1980-02-13
Also published as: DE2635907C3; ATA581277A; SE7708720L; FR2361516A1; FR2361516B1; NL7708663A; IT1079382B; BE857583A; DE2635907B2; AT359841B; NO772784L; CH624448A5; DE2635907A1; SE412561B; NO146090C; NO146090B

Abstract

The fastening is attached to a stanchion (1) or to the end wall of the vehicle body. The fastening has a catch jaw (2) for receiving a swing journal (4) and a bolt (6) which is displaced upwards and which closes the catch jaw. The bolt is moved up and down via a push rod (9) and hand lever. The bolt (6) has a recess (8) in the form of a quarter circle, by means of which it presses against the swing journal (4) in the closing position. The bolt (6) has a blind hole (12), in which a spring (13), against which the push rod (9) acts, is located. In the closing position, the spring (13) is subjected to compressive stress and thereby presses the bolt (6) against the swing journal (4). An improved capacity for bringing up the tailboard (3) is achieved by means of the recess (8). The bolt (6) is pressed constantly against the swing journal (4) by the compression spring (13). This results in a reduced deflection of the parts and therefore also less noise. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) LOCKING MECHANISM FOR ENGAGING A MOVABLE SIDE OR TAIL BOARD OF A VEHICLE (71) We, F. HESTERBERG & SOHNE, a German Company of 5828 Ennepetal 1, Heilenbecker Strasse 50-60, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the follow mg statement: This invention relates to a locking mechanism for engaging a movable side or taile board of a vehicle by engaging a swing pin fixedly mounted on an upper corner of the said movable board into an open jaw fixedly mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle and converting the open jaw into a closed bearing for the said swing pin by movement to a locking position of a locking bolt slidably mounted in a bolt housing, the said locking bolt having a tapered surface disposed to face the surface of the swing pin when in the said open jaw the front end of the said tapered surface leading to the nose of the bolt; wherein the operation of the bolt takes place by means of a toggle lever system comprising a hand lever and a push rod which in the closed condition of the locking mechanism the toggle lever link occupies an over-dead centre position and is forced into this position by means of a spring.

Tipper trucks and their trailers have a high super-structure, and locking devices for side panels or tail boards have to be so-called long-reach (long distance) locks to allow the operating handle to be at such a level whereby it may easily be reached by the operator so that accidents which may arise by the use of ladders or other mounting aids, may be avoided.

Such long-distance locks are vertically mounted on a stationary part of the vehicle e.g. a stanchion or fixed surface, so as to engage a swing pin (so called because the side panel or tail board may swing about the said pin when it is engaged by the locking mechanism) fixed on an upper corner of the side panel or tail board to be locked. In operation the said swing pin is engaged into an adjacent open jaw mounted on the fixed portion of the vehicle, the open jaw being converted into a closed bearing for the swing pin by vertical movement of a bolt slidably mounted for such movement in a housing therefor.

The actuation of the said bolt is effected by movement of a handle articulated with a connecting rod, and wherein the point of articulation of the connecting rod on the handle assumes an eccentric position, in the closed position, against the pressure of a helical compression spring acting between connecting rod and stanchion or another stationary part of the super-structure, while the upper point of articulation is at the lower end of the vertically displaceable bolt.

The known long-distance locks of the kind described have considerable disadvantages. They communicate only a slight pulling capacity to the side and tail boards, which has a very disturbing effect even with slightly bent side and tail boards so that these can often only be closed with great effort. Furthermore, they have no automatic adjustability so that the side and tail boards, which are predominantly produced from steel or aluminium, produce considerable rattling noises which disturbs the environment in a way which could be avoided.

In addition, as a result of the rattling of the side and tail boards, the locking elements (jaw, bolt and swing pin) are prematurely worn out so that the disturbance of the environment increases to an ever greater extent.

These serious disadvantages are reinforced by the helical compression spring which is effective between the connecting rod and the fixed part of the superstructure (stanchion or end wall) and which exerts a downwardly directed pressure on the connecting rod and, in the closed state of the lock, urges the eccentric point of articulation of the connecting rod on the handle against the stanchion or the end wall, but at the same time pulls the vertically displaceable bolt downwards by the amount of the manufacturing tolerance, in the points of articulation of the lock.

The object of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages.

The invention provides a locking mechanism for engaging a movable side or tail board of a vehicle by engaging a swing pin fixedly mounted on an upper corner of the said movable board into an open jaw fixedly mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle and converting the open jaw into a closed bearing for the said swing pin by movement to a locking position of a locking bolt slidably mounted in a bolt housing, the said locking bolt having a tapered surface disposed to face the surface of the swing pin when in the said open jaw the front end of the said tapered surface leading to the nose of the bolt; and wherein the operation of the bolt takes place by means of a toggle lever system comprising a hand lever and a push rod which in the closed condition of the locking mechanism the toggle lever link occupies an over-dead centre position and is forced into this position by means of a spring; characterised in that the rear end of the said tapered surface of the bolt leads to an arcuate recess in the bolt, and the upper end of the push rod is articulated on a control bolt which is driven in a linear motion into a blind hole of the locking bolt, and wherein in the closed condition of the locking mechanism a helical compression spring provided between the said control bolt and the bottom of the blind hole of the locking bolt forces the said arcuate recess on the locking bolt against the swing pin and at the same time fixes the hand lever in the over-dead centre position of the said toggle lever link.

With this construction, a pressure can be exerted on the swing pin by an upwardly directed pressure on the locking bolt, so that the former always fits tightly in the jaw.

In a particular embodiment of the invention the expansion of the helical compression spring provided between the end surface of the said control bolt and the bottom of the said blind hole of the locking bolt is limited by a tensioning pin provided on the control bolt guided on both sides in slots of the locking bolt, wherein the ends of the tensioning pin are guided simultaneously in slits of the bolt housing.

One embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 shows a portion of a stanchion with long-distance lock and a corner of the side and tail boards with swing pin. Lock and side and tail boards in the closed position.

Figure 2 shows superstructure elements as in Figure 1 but lock in open position and side swung slightly outwards.

Figure 3 shows a jaw with housing and bolt in the closed state, with parts broken away to reveal the individual elements.

Figure 4 shows a jaw with housing and bolt in the open state, likewise with parts broken away to reveal the individual elements.

In the embodiment selected, a longdistance lock with a jaw 2 is mounted on a U-shaped stanchion 1 and a swing pin 4 is mounted at an upper corner 3 of the side or tail board.

Swing pin 4 is pivotally mounted on the jaw 2 in the closed state of the lock. A locking bolt 6, which is displaceable vertically in a bolt housing 5, is provided with a one-sided point 7 at the upper end by providing an inclined surface followed by a quadrantal recess 8. With the jaw 2, the locking bolt 6 forms a closed bearing for the swing pin so that the side or tail board can swing about this bearing.

The locking bolt 6 is displaced downwards and upwards for opening and closing by pivoting a handle 10, not directly through a one-piece connecting rod 9 or one consisting of a plurality of parts as illustrated, but through a control bolt 11 which is accommodated for linear displacement in a blind hole 12 in the bolt 6.

A helical compression spring 13, which is inserted between the bottom of the blind hole 12 in the bolt 6 and the end face of the control bolt 11, causes the automatic adjustment of the bolt 6 and at the same time, by its back pressure on the control bolt 11 and hence on the connecting rod 9, ensures the eccentric position of the lower point of articulation of the connecting rod 9 on the lever 10 when the lock is closed.

In order to avoid overloading of the helical compression spring 13 (locking pressure), the control bolt 11 is provided at its end face with a stop pin 14 which bears against the bottom of the blind hole 12 in the bolt 6 during the closing actuation of the lock, so that a firm locking is assured. In addition, the stop pin 14 serves as an additional guide for the superimposed helical compression spring 13.

In order to limit the resilient compensating stroke for the automatic adjustability of the bolt 6 and for the frictional and positive holding thereof, a tightening pin, bolt or the like 15 is provided in the control bolt 11 and is guided at both sides in slots 16 of the bolt 6.

The same tightening pin 15 counteracts twisting tendencies of the bolt 6 because its extended ends are guided at both sides in slots 17 in the bolt housing 5. As a result, the points of articulation of the connecting rod 9 on the control bolt 11 and on the handle 10 are relieved from torsion so that on the one hand deflection of the bearing positions and on the other hand an automatic release, for example of a tightener introduced into the connecting rod for adjustment purposes, is avoided.

The length of the slots in the bolt housing corresponds substantially to the sum of bolt travel plus automatic adjusting stroke.

Another disadvantage of known longdistance locks, namely the tilting of the bolt 6 in the bolt housing 5 during the locking operation, which not only requires considerably greater force but also leads to increased wear of the bolt guide in the housing, is avoided in that a supporting device is provided at the lower end of the bolt 6 of the control bolt 11 or at the upper point of articulation of the connecting rod 9, and bears against the stanchion or a sliding surface provided on this. In the example selected, a supporting dog 18 is provided.

Since an additional securing of the closed position of the lock is specified by the competent authorities even with locks which are provided with eccentric components in the closed state (point of articulation of the connecting rod 9 on the handle 10 in the example selected) which counteract selfopening of the lock, a clamping spring 20 is provided which is effective between the connecting rod 9 and the stanchion 1 or between a base plate 19 provided on the stanchion.

Clamping spring 20 is U-shaped in construction, is in a protected position below the handle 10 when the latter is in the closed position and protects not only the closed position of the lock but also the downwardfacing open position of the handle 10, as a result of which, loose swinging of this during the tipping operation is avoided.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A locking mechanism for engaging a movable side or tail board of a vehicle by engaging a swing pin fixedly mounted on an upper corner of the said movable board into an open jaw fixedly mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle and converting the open jaw into a closed bearing for the said swing pin by movement to a locking position of a locking bolt slidably mounted in a bolt housing, the said locking bolt having a tapered surface disposed to face the surface of the swing pin (when in the said open jaw the front end of said tapered surface leading to the nose of the bolt; and wherein the operation of the bolt takes place by means of a toggle lever system comprising a hand lever and a push rod which in the closed condition of the locking mechanism the toggle lever link occupies an over-dead centre position and is forced into this position by means of a spring; characterised in that the rear end of the said tapered surface of the bolt leads to an arcuate recess in the bolt, and the upper end of the push rod is articulated on a control bolt which is driven in a linear motion into a blind hole of the locking bolt, and wherein in the closed condition of the locking mechanism a helical compression spring provided between the said control bolt and the bottom of the blind hole of the locking bolt forces the said arcuate recess on the locking bolt against the swing pin and at the same time fixes the hand lever in the over-dead centre position of the said toggle lever - link.

2. A locking mechanism according to Claim 1, wherein the expansion of the helical compression spring provided between the end surface of the said control bolt and the bottom of the said blind hole of the locking bolt is limited by a tensioning pin provided on the control bolt guided on both sides in slots of the locking bolt, wherein the ends of the tensioning pin are guided simultaneously in slits of the bolt housing.

3. A locking mechanism according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein on the lower end of the locking bolt or the control bolt there is provided a cam lifter supported on a stanchion.

4. A locking mechanism according to Claim 3, wherein for additional security in the closed condition a substantially Ushaped clamping spring is provided between the push rod and the stanchion which secures the closed condition of the locking mechanism as well as the gap position of the hand lever.

5. A locking mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. twisting tendencies of the bolt 6 because its extended ends are guided at both sides in slots 17 in the bolt housing 5. As a result, the points of articulation of the connecting rod 9 on the control bolt 11 and on the handle 10 are relieved from torsion so that on the one hand deflection of the bearing positions and on the other hand an automatic release, for example of a tightener introduced into the connecting rod for adjustment purposes, is avoided. The length of the slots in the bolt housing corresponds substantially to the sum of bolt travel plus automatic adjusting stroke. Another disadvantage of known longdistance locks, namely the tilting of the bolt 6 in the bolt housing 5 during the locking operation, which not only requires considerably greater force but also leads to increased wear of the bolt guide in the housing, is avoided in that a supporting device is provided at the lower end of the bolt 6 of the control bolt 11 or at the upper point of articulation of the connecting rod 9, and bears against the stanchion or a sliding surface provided on this. In the example selected, a supporting dog 18 is provided. Since an additional securing of the closed position of the lock is specified by the competent authorities even with locks which are provided with eccentric components in the closed state (point of articulation of the connecting rod 9 on the handle 10 in the example selected) which counteract selfopening of the lock, a clamping spring 20 is provided which is effective between the connecting rod 9 and the stanchion 1 or between a base plate 19 provided on the stanchion. Clamping spring 20 is U-shaped in construction, is in a protected position below the handle 10 when the latter is in the closed position and protects not only the closed position of the lock but also the downwardfacing open position of the handle 10, as a result of which, loose swinging of this during the tipping operation is avoided. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A locking mechanism for engaging a movable side or tail board of a vehicle by engaging a swing pin fixedly mounted on an upper corner of the said movable board into an open jaw fixedly mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle and converting the open jaw into a closed bearing for the said swing pin by movement to a locking position of a locking bolt slidably mounted in a bolt housing, the said locking bolt having a tapered surface disposed to face the surface of the swing pin (when in the said open jaw the front end of said tapered surface leading to the nose of the bolt; and wherein the operation of the bolt takes place by means of a toggle lever system comprising a hand lever and a push rod which in the closed condition of the locking mechanism the toggle lever link occupies an over-dead centre position and is forced into this position by means of a spring; characterised in that the rear end of the said tapered surface of the bolt leads to an arcuate recess in the bolt, and the upper end of the push rod is articulated on a control bolt which is driven in a linear motion into a blind hole of the locking bolt, and wherein in the closed condition of the locking mechanism a helical compression spring provided between the said control bolt and the bottom of the blind hole of the locking bolt forces the said arcuate recess on the locking bolt against the swing pin and at the same time fixes the hand lever in the over-dead centre position of the said toggle lever - link.