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EP-4737277-A1 - TRAILER BOX COMPRISING IMPROVED CONNECTION PROFILES FOR CONNECTING THE BOX LONGITUDINAL SIDE WALLS TO A BOX LOWER STRUCTURE

EP4737277A1EP 4737277 A1EP4737277 A1EP 4737277A1EP-4737277-A1

Abstract

A trailer box (100) comprises a lower structure (8) comprising crosspieces (81) suitable for being fixed above a chassis (6) of the trailer and a floor (82) mounted on the crosspieces (81), two opposing longitudinal side walls (7) and two metal connection profiles (1), each one connecting a side wall (7) to end sections (810) of the crosspieces (81); wherein the metal connection profiles (1) are connected to the crosspieces (81) by means of removable threaded connection means (30).

Inventors

  • LUZZI, GRAZIANO
  • MARI, ROBERTO
  • MAGNINI, Danilo

Assignees

  • Tecnokar Trailers S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251028

Claims (13)

  1. Trailer box (100) comprising: - a lower structure (8) comprising crosspieces (81) suitable for being fixed above a chassis (6) of the trailer and having end sections (810) suitable for protruding laterally with respect to the chassis (6); wherein said lower structure (8) also comprises a floor (82) mounted on the crosspieces (81); - two opposite longitudinal side walls (7); - two metal connection profiles (1), each one connecting a longitudinal side wall (7) to the end sections (810) of the crosspieces (81); wherein each connection profile (1) has a body (10) comprising an upward-facing groove (101) wherein a lower end of a corresponding longitudinal side wall (7) is inserted and welded; wherein said connection profile (1) comprises a first face (1a) facing the interior of the box (100) and a second face (1b) facing the exterior of the box (100); wherein each connection profile (1) comprises a lower shelf (11) and an upper shelf (12) which protrude from the first face (1a) of the connection profile (1) and between which the end sections (810) of the crosspieces (81) are inserted; and - connection means (3) connecting the shelves (11, 12) of each connection profile (1) to the end sections (810) of the crosspieces (81); wherein the connection means (3) comprise removable threaded connection means (30) applied between the shelves (11, 12) of each connection profile (1) and the end sections (810) of the crosspieces (81); and wherein each crosspiece (81) comprises: - a lower portion (8a) having a flat surface against which the lower shelf (11) of the connection profile (1) is suitable for abutting; - an upper portion (8b) having a flat surface against which the upper shelf (12) of the connection profile (1) is suitable for abutting; - an upper seat (86) which is located under the upper portion (8b) of the crosspiece (81) and extends for the entire length of the crosspiece (81); and - a lower seat (85) which is located above the lower portion (8a) of the crosspiece (81) and extends for the entire length of the crosspiece (81); wherein said removable threaded connection means (30) comprise: - lower threaded blocks (41) inserted into the lower seats (85) of the crosspieces (81), each having a threaded hole (410); - upper threaded blocks (42) inserted inside the upper seats (86) of the crosspieces (81), each having a threaded hole (420); - lower screws (31), each having a threaded shank (312) that passes through the lower shelf (11) of the connection profile (1) and the lower portion (8a) of the crosspiece (81) and is screwed into the threaded hole (410) of a respective lower threaded block (41); - upper screws (32), each having a threaded shank (322) that passes through the upper shelf (12) of the connection profile (1) and the upper portion (8b) of the crosspiece (81) and is screwed into the threaded hole (420) of a respective upper threaded block (42).
  2. The box (100) according to claim 1, wherein: the upper portion (8b) has two holes (F82) drilled at the two end sections (810) of the crosspiece (81), both of which communicate with the upper seat (86). the lower portion (8a) has a longitudinal channel (c82) in communication with the lower seat (85) of the crosspiece (81) which extends for the entire length of the crosspiece (81); wherein holes (F1, F2) are drilled in the shelves (11, 12) of the connection profile (1); wherein the holes (F2) drilled on the upper shelf (12) are coaxial to the holes (F82) drilled on the upper portions (8b) of the crosspieces (81). wherein the holes (F1) drilled on the lower shelf (11) are aligned with the longitudinal channels (c82) formed on the lower portions (8a) of the crosspieces (81); wherein the threaded shank (312) of each lower screw (31) passes through the hole (F1) drilled on the lower shelf (11) of the connection profile (1) and the longitudinal channel (c82) of the lower portion (8a) of the crosspiece (81); wherein the threaded shank (322) of each upper screw (32) passes through the hole (F2) drilled on the upper shelf (12) of the connection profile (1) and the hole (F2) of the upper portion (8b) of the crosspiece (81).
  3. The box (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: - wherein the body (10) of the connection profile (1) comprises a protruding portion (18) that protrudes from the first face (1a) of the connection profile above and close to the lower shelf (11); said protruding portion (18) comprising a flat stop face (180) suitable for abutting against the end sections (810a) of the crosspieces (81); - the upper shelf (12) extends orthogonally with respect to the plane whereon the stop face (180) of the protruding portion (18) lies; and - the lower shelf (11) is inclined by an acute angle (α) with respect to the plane whereon the stop face (180) of the protruding portion (18) lies when the lower shelf (11) is not tightened; wherein said lower shelf (11) is bent during use, following the tightening of the threaded connection means (30), with a consequent gradual increase of said angle (α) with respect to the value assumed by the same angle (α) when the lower shelf (11) is not tightened, and with a consequent inclination of said body (10) towards the interior of the box (100) in such a way that the longitudinal side wall (7) integral with said body (10) is arranged on a subvertical plane inclined towards the interior of the box (100).
  4. The box (100) according to claim 3, wherein said angle (α) is comprised between 88° and 89.6° when the lower shelf (11) is not tightened.
  5. The box (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said body (10) of the connection profile (1) comprises: - an inner side wall (10a) whereon the first face (1a) of the body (10) is formed; - an outer side wall (10b) whereon the second face (1b) of the body (10) is formed; - at least one transverse partition (14, 15) connecting the inner side wall (10a) and the outer side wall (10b) to each other; wherein said inner side wall (10a), said outer side wall (10b) and said at least one transverse partition (14, 15) delimit the groove (101).
  6. The box (100) according to claim 5, wherein holes (Q) are drilled in said at least one transverse partition (14, 15) for the passage of tensioning straps (A) inside the connection profile (1).
  7. The box (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said body (10) of the connection profile (1) comprises a groove (103) having a narrow longitudinal access opening which faces in the opposite direction to the direction of the groove (101) and which is delimited by an inner lip (16) and an outer lip (17).
  8. The box (100) according to claim 7, wherein a drip appendage (170) is provided under said outer lip (17) in backward position with respect to the outer lip (17).
  9. The box (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said inner lip (16) protrudes downwardly relative to the lower shelf (11) and has a rounded surface.
  10. The box (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a protection profile (2) for each connection profile (1), said protection profile (2) comprising a flat portion (20) located above the upper shelf (12); wherein said flat portion (20) has an upper face (201) arranged at a lower level than an upper face (820) of the floor (82).
  11. The box (100) according to claim 10, wherein the floor (82) has two lateral end sections (821), each facing a respective protection profile (2) and whereon a seal (G) is provided and compressed between the protection profile (2) and the lateral end section (821) of the floor (82) to prevent granules or liquids from the load contained in the box (100) from infiltrating between the lateral end section (821) of the floor (82) and the protection profile (2) and falling onto the crosspieces (81) below.
  12. The box (100) according to claim 11, wherein said protection profile (2) comprises a collection portion (21) positioned below the lateral end section (821) of the floor (82) for collecting any liquids that pass through the seal (G).
  13. Trailer comprising: - a chassis (6) supported by wheels (R); and - a box (100) according to any of the preceding claims mounted on the chassis (6).

Description

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a trailer box comprising improved connection profiles for connecting the box longitudinal side walls to a box lower structure. The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent following a brief description of the prior art and its functional limitations. Figs. 1 and 2 "Prior art" schematically show a trailer that is generally indicated with the reference letter (K). A trailer (K) is a means of transportation that has at least one pair of idler wheels and is suitable for being attached to a motor vehicle, such as a truck, by means of quick coupling/uncoupling means. A conventional trailer (K) comprises a chassis (6) supported by wheels (R) and a box (Z) mounted on the chassis (6). In Figures 1 and 2, the chassis (6) of the trailer (K) is schematically shown as a single block, however, the chassis (6) generally comprises a structure consisting of two longitudinal side-members that are transversely connected to each other by means of various types of elements (crosspieces, etc.). The chassis (6) superiorly supports the box (Z) that is suitable for containing the goods to be transported, and inferiorly acts as a support for the road-side part of the trailer (K) (suspensions, etc.). The box (Z) comprises a lower structure (8) comprising crosspieces (81) fixed on the chassis (6) of the trailer (K) that extend perpendicularly to the trailer (K). The lower support structure (8) also comprises a floor (82) mounted on the crosspieces (81). The floor (82) may be a mobile floor, commonly referred to as a "walking floor," consisting of a plurality of slats arranged lengthwise in the trailer, side by side and parallel to each other, and configured to move back and forth longitudinally, driven by a hydraulic transmission that is usually located under the chassis of the trailer. The slats rest on the crosspieces (81) fixed to the chassis (6) of the trailer (K), and therefore the crosspieces (81) basically act as spacers between the floor (82) (composed of the slats) and the chassis (6) of the trailer (K). The crosspieces (81) have end sections (810) that protrude laterally from the chassis (6) of the trailer (K), ending with a flat end section (810a). The box (Z) of the trailer (K) also comprises two opposite longitudinal side walls (7), each one consisting of a plurality of profiles (71) or sheets, a front wall, close to the cab of the truck, and one or more rear doors that close a loading/unloading opening of the box (Z) of the trailer (K). A cover (B) is provided in upper position, astride the two longitudinal side walls (7), said cover (B) comprising a sheet that superiorly covers the interior of the box (Z) of the trailer (K). The cover (B) is fixed on one side to the top of one of the two longitudinal side walls (7) and on the other side to tensioning straps (A), which are in turn tensioned by means of ratchets or tensioning means (C) mounted under the crosspieces (81). Each longitudinal side wall (7) is connected to the crosspieces (81) of the lower structure (8) by means of a connection profile (9) shown in particular in Fig. 2. The connection profile (9) comprises: a body (90) having a first face (9a) facing the interior of the box (100), a second face (9b) facing outwards, and a groove (900) facing upwards wherein a lower end of the longitudinal side wall (7) is inserted and welded (more precisely, the lower edges of the profiles (71) that make up the longitudinal side wall (7) are inserted and welded inside the groove (900)); anda lower shelf (91) and an upper shelf (92) which are parallel to each other and protrude orthogonally from the first face (9a) of the body (10) and between which the end sections (810) of the crosspieces (81) are inserted and welded. The applicant has noted that a box (Z) equipped with similar connection profiles (9) is impaired by various problems, which will be described below. Firstly, it should be noted that various forces, such as vibration forces, weight forces of the side wall, bending forces caused by impacts of the load on the walls and dynamic forces generated when the trailer makes a turn, are discharged at the welds that secure the connection profile (9) to the crosspieces (81). Therefore, the connection area between the connection profile (9) and the crosspieces (81) is one of the most critical areas of the box (Z), and it is therefore necessary that the welds be performed with extreme care and precision, as any imperfections may generate cracks over time that affect the stability of the connection between the connection profile (9) and the crosspieces (81). Furthermore, it should be noted that in many cases it is preferable to give the two longitudinal side walls (7) a slight inclination towards the interior of the box (Z) in order to counteract the outward bending caused by the goods loaded inside the box (Z). To achieve such an inclination, it is necessary that, when welding t