Search

EP-4735283-A1 - A COVERING SYSTEM FOR LOADING COMPARTMENTS OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

EP4735283A1EP 4735283 A1EP4735283 A1EP 4735283A1EP-4735283-A1

Abstract

A covering system (1) for loading compartments (C) of industrial and commercial vehicles (M), comprising a plurality of flexible laminar members (2) each substantially rectangular-shaped with a longitudinal edge and a transversal edge, wherein each member (2) includes a textile base (4) coated by layers of thermoplastic materials (5, 6A, 6B, 7) so as to form a sandwich structure (8) which comprises at least one photovoltaic layer (9) provided with cells made of material with photovoltaic effect and electrical junctions.

Inventors

  • DI MASSIMO, Roberto
  • SEGATO, STEFANO

Assignees

  • Naizil S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (10)

  1. 1. A covering system (1) for loading compartments (C) of industrial and commercial vehicles (M), comprising a plurality of flexible laminar members (2) each having a substantially rectangular shape, with a longitudinal edge and a transversal edge, wherein each member (2) includes a textile base (4) covered with layers of thermoplastic materials (5, 6A, 6B, 7) so as to form a sandwich structure (8); characterised in that said sandwich structure (8) comprises at least one photovoltaic layer (9) provided with cells made of material with photovoltaic effect and electrical junctions, said laminar members (2) being flexible and mutually coupled along a connection line (11) along said longitudinal edge by welding, seaming or mechanical couplings.
  2. 2. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said textile base (4) has dimensions greater than those of the layers of thermoplastic materials (5, 6A, 6B, 7) mutually superimposed thereto to create a frame (10) around said photovoltaic layer (9) to allow coupling of each laminar member (2) with other laminar members of the same type.
  3. 3. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said plurality of laminar members (2) is configured to form the upper portion (3D) of the loading compartment (C).
  4. 4. System as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said loading compartment (C) has an upper portion (3D) with upper edges (14), each laminar member (2) comprises a transversal edge (12) having sliding means (13) adapted to slide along said upper edges (14) to allow the accordion-like opening and/or closing thereof.
  5. 5. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that an electrical energy accumulator arranged in the compartment (C) is connected to the electrical junctions of said photovoltaic layer (9).
  6. 6. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said textile base (4) comprises a fabric coated with a first polymer material, said layers of thermoplastic materials (5, 6A, 6B, 7) comprising at least one coupling substrate (5) obtained with at least one first elastomeric material arranged above said textile base (4).
  7. 7. System as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said first polymer material of said textile base (4) is selected from the group comprising polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticised polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylic resins, silicone elastomers, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) and opacified single-sided coating nylon.
  8. 8. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the opposite surfaces (9A, 9B) of said photovoltaic layer (9) are provided with respective coatings (6A, 6B) made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
  9. 9. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that on said photovoltaic layer (9) there is present at least one uniform protection layer (7) made of a second optically transparent polymer material which has predetermined mechanical and chemical characteristics to protect the photovoltaic cells from atmospheric agents.
  10. 10. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the cells of said at least one photovoltaic layer (9) are made of a material with photovoltaic effect selected from the group comprising monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, indium phosphide, cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), tin sulphide, zinc sulphide, organic perovskite, inorganic perovskite, photovoltaic polymers, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) and quantic points.

Description

A COVERING SYSTEM FOR LOADING COMPARTMENTS OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES DESCRIPTION Field of the invention [001] The present invention generally relates to the technical field of covering tarpaulins for vehicles and it particularly relates to a system for covering loading compartments of industrial and commercial vehicles. Background art [002] Industrial and commercial covering systems, such as covering tarpaulins for industrial vehicles formed by relatively flexible laminar supports adapted to be tensioned to enclose a compartment have been known long since. [003] Generally, covering tarpaulins for loading compartments have an internal frame for supporting the tarpaulin so that the latter has a pair of lateral portions and a rear portion that are substantially vertical with a substantially horizontal upper portion. [004] Furthermore, in some configurations of loading compartments, the upper portion of the tarpaulin can be opened to allow the insertion from above of objects and materials into the compartment. [005] A typical need of these covers lies in providing on one of their exposed portions writings, information, advertising images or banners of various kinds. [006] A typical example consists of the images imparted on the lateral portions of the tarpaulins by printing for covering loading compartments for goods of transportation vehicles. [007] It is also known that with the advent of electric mobility there arises the need to increase the use of renewable sources to the detriment of fossil fuel so as to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutant particles into the atmosphere. [008] To this end, there have been developed particular photovoltaic devices adapted to directly convert solar light energy into electrical energy by using a surface layer made of semiconductor material applied by means of rigid structures to the loading compartments of industrial vehicles. [009] In a per se known manner, the photovoltaic devices are of the silicon- based semiconductor material type which allows to obtain rigid photovoltaic modules which can be applied to the flat surfaces of a building or rigid supports. [0010] However, the coupling of rigid photovoltaic devices to the flexible surfaces of covering tarpaulins for vehicles is carried out by using specific support means with resulting increase in weight of the structure as well as manufacturing complexity. [0011] In order to at least partially overcome such drawbacks, there have been developed method for coupling photovoltaic devices to flexible laminar products by directly adhering a photovoltaic cell on a flexible base layer made of coated fabric. [0012] However, this type of adhesion or anchoring has a reduced half-life and requires frequent maintenance or replacement. [0013] A further drawback common to the solutions described above lies in the fact that the various surfaces do not adhere completely but by partial coupling along the periphery of the photovoltaic module, which therefore is not completely integrated with the base layer. [0014] Therefore, there arises the need to provide a covering system for loading compartments of industrial and commercial transportation vehicles of the flexible laminar type and provided with an electrical energy production system. [0015] Document CN115959026 discloses a covering system for loading compartments of industrial and commercial vehicles comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular-shaped photovoltaic laminar members, joined together by hinges so as to mutually fold in a bellows-like manner. The hinges are similar to those for doors and windows. Technical problem [0016] In the light of the prior art, the technical problem addressed by the present invention is to apply at least one photovoltaic module in a covering system for loading compartments of industrial and commercial vehicles. Summary of the invention [0017] The object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problem by providing a covering system for loading compartments of industrial and commercial vehicles which is highly efficient and cost-effective. [0018] A further particular object of the present invention is to provide a covering system of the type described above which allows to fully integrate a photovoltaic module to a flexible textile base. [0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a covering system of the type described above that is easy to use and that can be obtained through existing systems and prior art technologies. [0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide a covering system of the type described above which allows to obtain a photovoltaic laminar product with durable half-life over time. [0021]The objects mentioned above and others which will be more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a covering system for loading compartments of industrial and commercial vehicles, according to claim 1 , which comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular-shaped flexible lamina