Openable structure

Abstract

An openable superstructure for a substructure (14), i.e., a self-propelled truck, a truck, a semi-trailer, a trailer, a container, a dump truck, a railway wagon, a building or the like, comprising a foldable top frame (16), a cover (12) for connection to the top frame (16), in particular a tarpaulin, and a drive (70) for folding in and/or out the top frame (16). The drive (70) causes at least one at least tension-resistant tension element (71) to perform a movement and which can be coupled to a distal carriage (32′) of the top frame (16), moving the distal carriage (32′) back and/or forth based on the drive's actuation direction. The drive (70) comprises a driven first rotating body (73) and a second rotating body (74), arranged adjacent to one another, forming a drive device (75) The tension-resistant tension element (71) is wound several times around the drive device (75).

Claims

1. An Openable superstructure for a substructure, including a self-propelled truck, a truck, a semitrailer, a trailer, a container, a dump truck, a railway wagon, a building, or the like; comprising a collapsible top frame, a cover, in particular a tarpaulin, which can be connected to the top frame, and a drive for folding in and/or out the top frame, wherein the drive causes at least one tension element which is tension-resistant to move, wherein the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant can be coupled to a distal carriage of the top frame and moves the distal carriage back and/or forth as a function of an actuation direction of the drive, wherein the drive comprises a driven first rotating body, wherein the drive comprises a second rotating body, wherein the first rotating body and the second rotating body are arranged adjacent to one another and form a drive device, and wherein the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant is partially wound several times alternating around the first rotating body and the second rotating body.

2. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant is alternatingly wound around the first rotating body and the second rotating body at least three times.

3. The Openable superstructure according to claim 2, wherein the second rotating body is driven by the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant, and wherein the first rotating body can be set into rotation by a motor of the drive.

4. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating body is designed as a cylinder having circumferential grooves in which the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant is guided.

5. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating body and the second rotating body have parallel axes.

6. The Openable superstructure according to claim 5, wherein the first rotating body and the second rotating body have a mutually variable distance to adjust the length of the tension element which is tension-resistant.

7. The Openable superstructure according to claim 5, wherein a spring member is arranged between the first rotating body and the second rotating body, the spring member acting on the second rotating body in a direction away from the first rotating body, thus tensioning the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant.

8. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the second rotating body comprises a plurality of independently rotatable disk-shaped cylinder sections, and wherein the disk-shaped cylinder section is wrapped around once by approximately 180° by the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant.

9. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein power is transmitted from the first rotating body to the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant by means of friction.

10. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein a locking pin is provided which can be advanced against part of the first rotating body, and wherein the locking pin secures the first rotating body against rotation and thus blocks the distal carriage even when the drive is not driven.

11. The Openable superstructure according to claim 10, wherein the locking pin can be actuated electromagnetically between an advanced position and a retracted position.

12. The Openable superstructure according to claim 10, wherein the locking pin is loaded into an advanced position by a spring element, and wherein the locking pin is retractable from the advanced position by a lifting device against a load of the spring element.

13. The Openable superstructure according to claim 10, wherein the locking pin blocks the driven first rotating body of the drive, and wherein the locking pin can be advanced into a recess of the first rotating body.

14. The Openable superstructure according to claim 12, wherein the first rotating body, which is designed as a first cylinder, has a disk section with a plurality of holes on one end side, wherein the locking pin can be advanced into each of the holes, and wherein the first rotating body is prevented from rotating under the load of the top frame or under the power of the drive when the locking pin is engaged.

15. The Openable superstructure according to claim 10, wherein to release the locking pin the drive can initially be moved counter to an intended displacement direction, and wherein the locking pin is thereby at least temporarily relieved, in order to be able to retract the locking pin.

16. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein a sensor arrangement is provided which detects an inclination of one of the superstructure and the substructure relative to a horizontal plane and blocks the drive if the slope exceeds a limit value.

17. The Openable superstructure according to claim 16, wherein the drive comprises a control, wherein the sensor arrangement is connected to the control, that the control stores data for a maximum consumption of the drive as a function of the inclination of the substructure, and wherein the function of the drive can be deactivated for power consumption when preset maximum values are exceeded.

18. The Openable superstructure according to claim 16, wherein, when the substructure is designed as dump truck, a control of the drive causes the distal carriage to be displaced into a retracted position before an impermissible angular position detected by the sensor arrangement, which corresponds to a discharge of a load, is reached.

19. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein a first threshold value for a current consumption of the drive is provided, which limits the power consumption of the drive in a normal operation, and wherein a power consumption of the drive that exceeds the first threshold value is permitted for the duration of a first period in order to cope with work peaks.

20. The Openable superstructure according to claim 19, wherein the first threshold value for the current consumption corresponds to the rated current of a motor of the drive, wherein the first period is between 0.0001 second and 10 seconds, wherein a minimum time interval is provided between two successive first periods in which a power consumption exceeding the first threshold value is permitted, in which time interval the power consumption of the drive is limited in normal operation, and wherein the minimum time interval is at least as long as the first period.

21. The Openable superstructure according to claim 19, wherein the work peak is reached by one movement selected from the group consisting of lifting a folding device for a tarpaulin, starting the opening movement and swiveling up a bow.

22. The Openable superstructure according to claim 19, wherein a control of the drive determines the expected power consumption of the drive and dynamically sets a drive speed of the tension element to the parameters of the first threshold value and the first period as a function of the power consumption.

23. The Openable superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant is designed as an endless, closed tension element, and wherein the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant, is connected to said distal carriage connected to a strut which is also connected to an opposite second distal carriage connected to a common strut, and wherein the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant fixes said distal carriage connected to said strut in its position.

24. An Openable superstructure for substructure, comprising a collapsible top frame, a cover, in particular a tarpaulin, which can be connected to the top frame, and a drive for folding in and/or out the top frame, wherein the drive comprises a control and a drive device, wherein the drive device causes an endless, closed tension element which is tension-resistant to move, wherein the at least one tension element is coupled to at least one of two distal carriages of the top frame and moves the at least one of the two distal carriages back and/or forth as a function of an actuation direction of the drive, wherein the at least one tension element is wound several times around the drive device, wherein the control causes the drive to drive the at least one of two distal carriages with a power which is below a first threshold value for a power consumption of the drive in order to displace the at least one of two distal carriages, wherein the control causes the drive to drive the distal carriages for the duration of a first period with a power which is above the first threshold value for a power consumption of the drive in order to displace the carriage when a work peak is required through the pushing open of the cover, wherein a minimum time interval is provided between two successive first periods in which a power consumption exceeding the first threshold value is permitted, in which time interval the power consumption of the drive is limited in normal operation, and wherein the minimum time interval is at least as long as the first period.

25. An Openable superstructure for substructure, including a self-propelled truck, a truck, a semitrailer, a trailer, a container, a dump truck, a railway wagon, a building or the like; comprising a collapsible top frame, a cover, in particular a tarpaulin, which can be connected to the top frame, and a drive for folding in and/or out the top frame, wherein the drive comprises a control and a drive device, wherein the drive device causes an endless, closed tension element which is tension-resistant to move, wherein the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant is coupled to at least one of two distal carriages of the top frame and moves the at least one of the two distal carriages back and/or forth as a function of an actuation direction of the drive, wherein the at least one tension element which is tension-resistant is would several times around the drive device, wherein the control causes a locking pin to engage against a rotatable part of the drive when a stop position of the at least one of the two distal carriages has been reached, in order to block the distal carriages even when the drive is not driven, and wherein the control causes the drive to drive the distal carriages against a desired displacement direction of the distal carriages before the distal carriages are driven in the displacement direction, in order to disengage the locking pin and enable the release of the displacement of the distal carriages.

Description

(1) The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings using a preferred embodiment.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an openable superstructure designed as a tarpaulin superstructure.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of a region of the distal carriage of the superstructure from FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a rear region of the superstructure from FIG. 1 from the side.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a rear region of the superstructure from FIG. 1 from the rear.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the drive device of the superstructure from FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a rear region of the superstructure from FIG. 1 from the side opposite FIG. 3.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the drive device of the superstructure from FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section through the drive device.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a front view of a control panel of the superstructure from FIG. 1.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of the guide of the tension element from FIG. 1 to 9.

(12) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an openable superstructure designed as a tarpaulin superstructure 10, in which a tarpaulin 12 shown in dash-dotted lines is indicated, which is not shown in the other figures for better illustration. Furthermore, the part of a silhouette of a container 14 is indicated by dashed lines, which is covered by a top frame 16. The container 14 is designed, for example, as a debris trough in which scree, but also dusty materials can be received, which is why the cover by the tarpaulin superstructure 10 is expedient, possibly even prescribed when transporting on a truck. A front end wall of the container 14 is designed as a dump truck flap which is connected to the container 14 via a swivel joint and which enables the container to be emptied by tilting it.

(13) The tarpaulin superstructure 10 has on both sides of the container 14 on its lateral outer wall in each case a connected guide rail 20, which consists of a plurality of guide rail sections which are fixed at a distance from the container outer wall, for example by rivets, screws or other suitable fastening means that allow a defined distance to the outer wall of the container 14. As a result, the guide rail 20 is formed as a continuous part, composed of several parts, with a rectangular profile, which in the installed state has the upper and lower sides as narrow sides and the broad sides parallel to the container wall.

(14) At the rear end of the top frame 16 in the opening direction, which is shown on the left in FIG. 1, the top frame 16 projects beyond the end of the container 14, wherein a substantially triangular bracket or plate 22 is connected on the rear of the container 14 as an extension of the outer wall of the container 14, at which the guide rail 20 continues. The purpose of the protruding area is to be able to completely release the entire filling opening of the container 14 in the open state, in that the movable parts of the top frame 16, which are still to be described, can be displaced there. In particular, no parts of the tarpaulin superstructure 10 should hinder the filling of the container 14. The triangular plate 22 extends higher than the plane of the guide rail 20 and extends the lateral outer wall of the container 14 to the rear at this height. In practice, the sides of a container are often referred to according to the direction in which it is moved, with the flap usually located on the rear of the vehicle; in the present case, however, the region in which the movable parts of the top frame 16 collect when the tarpaulin superstructure 10 is open is referred to as the rear end, and the front end is the one that is first released from a closed tarpaulin superstructure 10.

(15) Furthermore, an end stop 24 spanning the width of the container is provided, which lies essentially in a plane perpendicular to the guide rails 20 and has an inverted U-shape, and is connected with the ends of the U to the triangular plates 22 at their ends.

(16) The top frame 16 also has a sliding top arrangement 30 which is movable along the guide rails 20 and which can be opened to release the loading opening of the container 14 and can also be closed again to cover it.

(17) The sliding roof arrangement 30 comprises a plurality of carriages 32 which can be displaced along the guide rail 20. Each carriage 32 opposite to a longitudinal bisector, that is the plane which is arranged centrally between the side walls of the container 14 or the plane which runs centrally and parallel to the guide rails 20, is connected to one another via a U-shaped strut 34, the strut 34 having two curved corner pieces and optionally an elongated connecting piece made of a round tube, which are plugged together, whereby a favorable standardization of the parts is achieved. All the struts 34 provided on the carriage 32 are at the same height, which corresponds approximately to the height of the tarpaulin 12 when the tarpaulin superstructure 10 is closed. For this purpose, the tarpaulin 12 is connected to the struts 34 via suitable connecting means, for example by means of buckles or belts or receptacles formed in the tarpaulin 12. The number of carriages 32 and thus the struts 34 can vary depending on the length of the tarpaulin superstructure 10.

(18) A swivel bow 36 is also pivotably articulated on each carriage 32 on both sides of the strut 34 via a joint, which is also plugged together from a cylindrical tube via an angle piece and an elongated connecting piece. A swivel bow 26 is also articulated to the end stop 24 at the level of the carriage 32, but cannot be displaced along the guide rails 20. Overall, it is possible to arrange the swivel bows 26, 36 further up in relation to the carriage, that is to say on the legs of the struts 34 formed by the corner pieces. In the case of tarpaulin superstructures that only build over a loading platform, for example, bows that are connected at a medium height of the struts are sufficient. The swivel bows 26, 36 protrude at a flat angle of approximately 30° to the horizontal and enclose an angle of approximately 60° with the associated strut 34 or the end stop 24. The swivel bows 26, 36 can each be swiveled up into an angular position of approximately 90° to the horizontal, in which they run practically parallel to the respective struts 34 or end stop 24.

(19) On the foremost pair of carriages 32′, which are connected to one another by a strut 34′ that is more stable than the other struts 34, a cover bow 46 is connected in a hinge on the side facing away from the rest of the convertible top frame 16, which is pivotable between a downward pivoted, essentially horizontal position, so about 0° inclination to the horizontal, and a vertical position, so about 135° inclination to the horizontal. The pivoting movement of the cover bow 46 tensions the tarpaulin 12. It can be seen that the cover bow 46 in turn comprises two (multiply) curved bow sections and an elongated connecting piece, which are connected to a frame section of the foremost carriage 32′ at a distance from the strut 34′. Between the articulation of the cover bow 46 and the strut 34′, an auxiliary bow 36′ is articulated in a hinge, which protrudes at an angle of approximately 45° to the horizontal.

(20) A special feature of a tarpaulin superstructure 10 for a container 14 is that the container 14 has a high degree of rigidity, so that the top frame 16 must follow the changes in shape of the container. These can be caused by thermal expansion, for example when the container is hot, or deformation of the container, for example by the mass of the filling or by mechanical damage. Therefore, a feature of the top frame is that the U-shaped struts 34, swivel bows 36 and cover bow 46 allow a certain resilient deformation in the Y direction, that is the horizontal axis transverse to the displacement direction (X axis). In this way, the roof frame 16 can compensate for tolerances of up to 50 mm without the movement of the carriages 32, 32′ being permanently impeded. Since the manipulation of the container 14 can sometimes lead to damage to the guide rail 20, it is advantageously composed of parts that can be loosened and exchanged or straightened as required. The angles given above also designate the angle of the plane in which the bow lies to the horizontal—the pivot axis of the joints is in the Y direction.

(21) Bows 36, facing one another, of adjacent carriages 32, 32′ are connected to one another in the region of the angle pieces 36a via two pivot angle limiters 38. The bow 26 articulated to the end stop 24 and the rearmost bow 36 are connected to one another via link kinematics 138 designed as a knee joint.

(22) Both carriages 32′ connected to the foremost strut 34′ can be driven by an electric drive 70 to displace the sliding roof arrangement 30 along the guide rail 20. The drive 70 comprises a tension element 71 which is tension-resistant designed as an endless wire, that is to say closed, and is coupled to the foremost carriage 32′ via a clamping arrangement 71a, so that the movement of the wire 71 displaces the foremost or distal carriage 32′. The drive 70 further comprises a 24 volt electric motor 72, the output shaft 72a of which is coupled to a worm 72b which meshes with an input shaft 73a of a first rotating body designed as a first cylinder 73. It is possible for a slip clutch to be arranged between the motor 72 and the first cylinder 73 in order to decouple the parts in the event of a mechanical overload. It is also possible to provide a gear or other connections between motor 72 and input shaft 73a.

(23) A housing 22a is connected to one of the two triangular plates 22 of the substructure or container 14, in which the first cylinder 73 and a second rotating body designed as a second cylinder 74 are accommodated. The first cylinder 73 and the second cylinder 74 are each rotatably connected to the housing 22a. Here, the first cylinder 73 is fixedly mounted in the housing 22a, while an axis 740 of the second cylinder 74 is housed in an elongated hole 220 of the housing 22a, which elongated hole 220 in its main axis points to the first cylinder 73, so that the second cylinder 74 accordingly is adjustable in its distance from the first cylinder 73 or its axis 730. The first cylinder 73 and the second cylinder 74 together form a drive device 75 for the tension element 71, which is placed around the two cylinders 73, 74 several times. In this case, the tension element 71 is not completely wrapped around one of the cylinders, but is always alternating at approximately 180 degrees around each of the two cylinders 73, 74.

(24) The first cylinder 73 has a plurality of circumferential grooves 73b which run normal to the axis 730 of the first cylinder 73 and in which the tension element 71 is guided. The circumferential grooves 73b have a slightly V-shaped contour which guides the tension element 71 in a slightly clamping manner. Radial webs 73c, which prevent the tension element 71 from leaving the respective circumferential groove 73b, are arranged between adjacent grooves 73b. It can be seen in particular in FIG. 8 that a total of five circumferential grooves 73b are formed on the first cylinder 73.

(25) The second cylinder 74 comprises four rotatable disk-shaped cylinder sections 174 which can rotate about the axis 740 independently of one another. The cylinder sections 174 are designed in the manner of a package of deflection rollers. The cylinder sections 174 each have a circumferential groove 174b for guiding the tension element 71, which can also be V-shaped, but which in the present case is designed as a stepped recess between two coil disk areas.

(26) In order to reliably introduce a force from the motor 72 into the tension element 71, the first cylinder 73 and the second cylinder 74 form a drive device 75 in that the tension element 71 wraps around a first, uppermost groove 73b of the cylinder 73 at approx. 180°, then a first, uppermost cylinder section 174 of the second cylinder 74 in the region of its groove 174b wraps around approx. 180° and then again the second, second uppermost groove 73b of the cylinder 73 at approx. 180°. This is repeated for all further grooves 73b and cylinder sections 174 with grooves 174b until the tension element 71 leaves the fifth, lowermost groove 73b. As a result, a tensile force is reliably introduced into the tension element 71. At the same time, it is avoided that the tension element 71 jams around a single cylinder as a result of the drive movement. At the same time it is ensured that the spacing of the tension element 71 on the two cylinders 73, 74 prevents the tension element 71 from self-locking.

(27) In FIG. 10 is shown schematically how the tension element 71 is laid. The tension element 71 is connected to the distal carriage 32′ in the region of a connection 71a and entrains in the direction of the arrow 71b to open the tarpaulin superstructure 10 or in the opposite direction to close the tarpaulin superstructure 10. The tension element 71 is placed around a distal deflection roller 75a, 75a′, wherein the two sections extending from the deflection roller 75a are deflected around deflection rollers 75b, 75b′, 75c, 75c′.

(28) The distal deflection roller 75a, 75a′ can be rotated about a horizontal axis, so that the tension element 71 runs essentially parallel to the guide rail 20, as can also be seen in FIG. 1. The further deflection rollers 75b, 75b′, 75c, 75c′ are each connected to one of the two triangular plates 22 about vertical axes. The tension element 71 is guided from the deflection roller 75c on one side to the deflection roller 75b′ on the other side, so that the same tension element 71 drives the two distal carriages 32′. The tension element 71 is guided from the other proximal deflection roller 75c to an uppermost groove 73b of the first cylinder 73 of the drive device 75. From the drive device 75 wrapped around several times above, the tension element 71 then passes to the further deflection roller 75c′.

(29) It can be seen in FIG. 8 that a lower end face 73d of the first cylinder 73 has a ring with a plurality of cylindrical holes 73e which are arranged in a fixed radius around the axis 730 of the first cylinder 73. A support plate 81 is connected to the housing part 22a enclosing the first cylinder 73 by means of screws 81a, on which an electromagnetically actuatable lifting magnet 80 is arranged, the lifting armature of which is coupled to a locking pin 80a, the distal end of which points towards the first cylinder 73. On the side facing the first cylinder, the support plate 81 has a plate 81b with a cylindrical bore 81c through which the locking pin 80a can be displaced. The cylindrical bore 81c supports the locking pin 80a when it is exposed to radial forces against kinking or bending. The locking pin 80a is equipped at its proximal end with an external thread which is screwed into an internal thread 80c of the lifting armature 80.

(30) The locking pin 80a can be advanced against the end face 73d of the first cylinder 73 which forms a rotatable part of the drive 70, so that when the locking pin 80a penetrates into one of the holes 73e, the locking pin 80a secures the drive or the at least one tension element 71 against rotation and thus blocks the distal carriage 32′.

(31) The lifting magnet 80 enables the locking pin 80 to be actuated between an advanced position and a retracted position, so that the drive 70 can be released or blocked depending on the activation of the lifting magnet 80. By energizing the lifting magnet 80, the locking pin 80a is withdrawn against the advanced position, while a spring element already installed in the lifting magnet acts on the locking pin 80a in the direction of the advanced position. If the first cylinder 73 is rotated sufficiently slowly, the locking pin 80a can penetrate into the hole 73e opposite the locking pin 80a and lock the first cylinder 73 under the load of the spring element when the lifting magnet 80 is not energized. It is therefore provided that the lifting magnet is energized while the drive 70 is actuated. For this purpose, the drive 70 and the lifting magnet 80 are both connected to a control 99 of the drive 70.

(32) It is of particular importance here that the circumference of the hole 73e then rests radially on the outer circumference of the locking pin 80a, which protrudes into the hole 73e, wherein the entire load of the top frame due to the connection with the tension element 71 and its friction and/or clamping force transmission to the first cylinder 73 bears on the locking pin 80a via the hole 73e. This load is not insignificant since, in addition to the actual mass of the top frame 32, the spring force stored in the tarpaulin 12 can act in one or the other direction of displacement of the carriages 32′, and in the case of the design of the substructure 14 as a dump truck, the gravity loading the top frame can be added.

(33) Against this background, due to the force acting radially on the locking pin 80a, it is often not possible to withdraw the locking pin 80a from the corresponding hole 73e with the lifting magnet 80 against the load of the spring element of the lifting magnet 80.

(34) For this reason, a control 99 of the drive 70 is designed in such a way that in case of an operator command to move the foremost carriages in a certain direction, a short travel path or a short travel pulse in the opposite direction is initially initiated, which, if the circumference of the locking pin 80a is loaded leads to its relief, so that the lifting magnet 80 can move the locking pin 80a out of engagement with the first cylinder 73. If, on the other hand, the load is in the opposite direction, the subsequent actual displacement movement of the drive 70 leads to the locking pin 80a being released, with the result that the lifting magnet 80 can then retract the locking pin 80a.

(35) The method described above for controlling the opening or closing movement of the openable superstructure 10 or of the superstructure 10 capable of being opened is stored as a program in the control 99, for example.

(36) The locking pin 80a is equipped with a pulling end 80c which protrudes from the end of the lifting magnet 80 facing away from the first cylinder 73 and is designed as a ring, which also enables the locking pin 80a to be unlocked manually. In this way, the opening of the body 10 can be released even in the event of a fault in the electrical system.

(37) It can be seen that the locking pin 80a blocks the rotatable first cylinder 73 in a form-fitting manner and in particular prevents the drive 80 from causing the first cylinder 73 to move relative to the tension element 71. Blocking the first cylinder 73 is therefore the preferred option of blocking the tension element 71 at the same time and preventing a movement in the system of the drive 70 and the deflection rollers 75a, 75b, 75c from occurring.

(38) The lifting magnet 80 can expediently be actuated by applying an electrical voltage and is connected to a control of the drive so that the movement of the drive 70 and the displacement work of the lifting magnet 80 can be coordinated with one another. At the same time, both parts are equipped with a signal transmitter which informs the control whether the locking pin 80a of the lifting magnet 80 is engaged in the first cylinder 73 or not.

(39) It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the motor 72 is connected to the top of the housing 22a, while the support plate 81 with the lifting magnet 80 is connected to the underside of the housing 22a.

(40) In the area of the clamping arrangement 71a, a magnet is also installed, which can be detected by a sensor device for determining the position of the distal carriage 32′ and thus the degree of opening of the top frame 16.

(41) The drive 70 also has a sensor arrangement 91 designed as a gyroscope, which is accommodated in the area of a control panel 90, which is shown in FIG. 9. The sensor arrangement 91 can also be accommodated elsewhere in the superstructure 10, the substructure 14 or a vehicle transporting them.

(42) The sensor arrangement 91 is connected to the control 99 of the drive 70. The sensor arrangement 91 can determine the inclination of the superstructure 10 to the horizontal. Limit values for permissible angles of inclination are stored in the control, and if these are exceeded, the drive 70 is put out of operation. The control panel is attached close to the drive device 75, but it is additionally or instead possible to accommodate a control panel 90 in the driver's cab of a vehicle transporting the substructure 14.

(43) The control panel 90 comprises a first button 92a for displacing the top frame by means of the drive 70 in the opening direction and a second button 92b for displacing the top frame by means of the drive 70 in the closing direction. Both buttons 92a, 92b are connected to the control 99 of the drive 70. A further button 92c enables a worklight illuminating the interior of the substructure 14 to be switched on or off. Another button 92d enables a camera observing the interior of the substructure 14 to be switched on or off.

(44) A display 93a on the control panel 90 signals a fault in the electrical system when it lights up. Another display 93b signals another malfunction when it lights up. Another display 93c signals when it lights up that the permissible angle of inclination has been exceeded. All buttons and displays are connected to the control 99 of the drive 70. The control panel is arranged close to the drive device 75.

(45) The drive 70 including the motor 72 is connected to the useful output of a 24 volt energy source of the vehicle transporting the substructure 14, so that it is not necessary to equip the substructure 14, the superstructure 10 or the control designated with 99 in FIG. 1 with its own energy source. The useful output of the vehicle battery of a truck is limited to a certain power consumption, however, since the usual applications such as searchlights and the like do not represent high power consumption. Usually the useful output is fused with 20 amperes.

(46) So that the fuse does not strike, it is advantageously provided that a first threshold value is set for the current consumption of the drive 70, which limits the power consumption of the drive 70 in normal operation. Depending on the design, the first threshold value is approximately 85% to 100% of the protected current and, in the present case, the rated current of the motor 72, 10 amperes.

(47) However, certain sections of the travel path of the top frame 16 along the guide 20 require the handling of work peaks which may not be able to be handled with the power consumption limited by the first threshold value. This may be the case as a result of the circumstances, for example when ice or snow covers the tarpaulin 12, or when the substructure 14 and the superstructure 10 are placed in such a way that an incline has to be mastered or the load of weight is unevenly distributed on the two front carriages 32′. Furthermore, work peaks are recorded when the opening movement is started, since the relatively massive cover member 46 of the top frame 16 has to be pivoted into a raised position, wherein the pivoting work is to be performed by a stop against which a lever of the cover member 46 strikes. A further work peak can result when the tarpaulin folding aid for the tarpaulin 12, which is implemented by the two bows 36 connected to one another via the pivot angle limiters 38, has to be pushed open. In the present embodiment, the work peak is low, but if the tarpaulin folding aids are arranged in a horizontal position close to dead center, the erection is more energy-intensive.

(48) In order to avoid overloading the motor 72, it is provided that a first period of time in which the power consumption of the drive in normal operation and thus the first threshold value for the power consumption may nevertheless be exceeded in order to cope with work peaks is not longer than 3 seconds. It is also provided here that a second threshold value for the power consumption of the drive of 20 amperes is not exceeded during the first period in order to avoid the energy supply fuse being triggered. In practice, it is sufficient if the additional power is only provided for a few tenths of a second. It is possible, but not necessary, to select the second threshold value for the power consumption at approx. 85% of the maximum value, for example at 17 amperes. The fuse of the on-board network is relatively slow and the temperature development in the region of the on-board electrical system is not very strong.

(49) It is expediently provided that a minimum time interval is provided between two successive first time periods, which prevents the first threshold value from being exceeded in too short a succession for the power consumption of the drive, wherein the minimum time interval is selected according to the length of the first time period, i.e. 3 seconds. If the control 99 is to push open the cover member 48 and lift the tarpaulin folding aids 36, the result is a correspondingly slow movement of the distal carriage 32′ over the entire length of the guide 20 until the top frame 16 is completely folded and the corresponding opening in the substructure is released.

(50) It is possible to provide the values for the first time period and for the minimum time interval to be correspondingly shorter if the top frame 16 can or should be opened more quickly overall. It is also possible to build in a more powerful motor 72, which has a higher rated current of, for example, 20 amperes, so that the rated power is approximately doubled. For work peaks, the amount of power consumption can then be increased to over 20 amperes during the first period.

(51) Alternatively, the anticipated power consumption of the drive 70 can also be determined by the control 99 in an arithmetic operation, whereby the drive speed of the traction element 71 can be set from dynamically determined parameters, the first threshold value and the first time period.

(52) The above embodiment in particular ensures that even if an operator changes the opening direction several times and thus spends a longer period of time in the area of lifting either the cover member 46 or the tarpaulin folding aid 36, 38, the permissible power consumption of the vehicle battery is not exceeded.

(53) At the same time, the power consumption of the drive can be monitored by the control in order to determine whether unforeseen obstacles are preventing or blocking the opening and closing of the superstructure 10.

(54) Furthermore, the control provides that a power consumption of the drive which exceeds the first threshold value is also possible when the drive is stopped, in order to ensure in any case that the locking pin 80a engages in the first rotating body 73.

(55) The corresponding commands can be entered by a user via the control panel 90, but it is possible via a Bluetooth hotspot (not shown) to also enter the control commands via an external computer when the latter is connected to the hotspot. In the same way, the images from the camera and the other data on the computer, which can also be a tablet PC or a smartphone, can be displayed.

(56) The invention has been described above using an embodiment in which the locking of the distal carriages 32′ takes place via the locking pin 80a, the first rotating body 73 and the tension element 71. It has to be understood that, in addition, a mechanical locking of the top frame with the substructure can also be provided.

(57) The invention has been explained above on the basis of an embodiment in which the opening and closing movement is possible starting from the distal carriage 32′. It has to be understood that in another embodiment the proximal carriage 32 of the top frame can also be coupled to the tension element 71, so that the top frame can also be opened in the other direction or in both directions.

(58) The invention has been described above on the basis of an embodiment in which the tension element 71 drives the top frame on both distal carriages 32′, which are connected to one another via the strut 34′. If the top frame is designed to be sufficiently stable, the drive can also only take place from one side, in which case an end carriage of the top frame then ensures that the force is uniformly transmitted to the carriages arranged on both sides.

(59) The invention has been described above on the basis of an embodiment in which the struts 34, 34′ are designed essentially as U-shaped bows. It has to be understood that, instead of the U-shaped bows, elongated hoops can also connect the opposing carriages 32 to one another, which then no longer extend upwards from the carriage. It is also possible that the carriages opposite with respect to a longitudinal bisector of the tarpaulin superstructure are not connected to one another by an immovable strut, but only via a bow, such as bow 36, which is articulated to the carriage. Here, however, the articulated connection can include folding panels, as are known from sliding roofs for truck superstructures, which carry a so-called lifting hoop.

(60) The invention has been described above on the basis of an embodiment in which an operator controls the control with commands for opening and closing the top frame. It has to be understood that, in particular in the case of self-propelled systems, the commands can also be issued in an automated or computer-controlled manner, for example when a self-propelled commercial vehicle is to be loaded or unloaded.