Transport Container

Abstract

Transport container (1), in particular vehicle body or receptacle, with a frame structure (2) enclosing a transport space, with a wall unit (3) which is connected to the frame structure (2) and which has a side wall (4), and with an opening device (9) for transferring the wall unit (3) between a closure position bearing on the frame structure (2), in which closure position a lateral loading opening (10) of the frame structure (2) is closed by the side wall (4), and an open position freeing the lateral loading opening (10), wherein the opening device (9) has a lifting arm (11) connected in a hinged manner to the wall unit (3). The lifting arm (11) is connected to the frame structure (3) via two pivot arms (14), wherein hinges (15) are provided between the pivot arms (14) and the lifting arm, and hinges (16) are provided between the pivot arms (14) and the frame structure (2), wherein the hinges (15) between the pivot arms (14) and the lifting arm (11) and the hinges (16) between the pivot arms (14) and the frame structure (2) are arranged at a distance from each other in each case.

Claims

1.-17. (canceled)

18. A transport container (1), comprising: a frame structure (2) enclosing a transport space; a wall unit (3) connected to the frame structure (2), the wall unit having a side wall (4); and an opening mechanism (9) for transferring the wall unit (3) between a closed position on the frame structure (2), in which a lateral loading opening (10) of the frame structure (2) is closed by the side wall (4), and an open position releasing the lateral loading opening (10), wherein the opening mechanism (9) has a lift arm (11) hingedly connected to the wall unit (3), wherein the lift arm (11) is connected to the frame structure (3) via two pivot arms (14), wherein hinges (15) are provided between the pivot arms (14) and the lift arm (11) and hinges (16) are provided between the pivot arms (14) and the frame structure (2), and wherein the hinges (15) between the pivot arms (14) and the lift arm (11) and the hinges (16) between the pivot arms (14) and the frame structure (2) are each arranged at a distance from one another.

19. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein the hinges (16) between the pivot arms (14) and the frame structure (2) are substantially spaced apart from one another in a horizontal direction perpendicular to their hinge axes.

20. The transport container (1) according to claim 19, wherein the hinges (16) between the pivot arms (14) and the frame structure (2) are arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane.

21. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein the hinges (16) between the pivot arms and the frame structure are arranged on a roof region (17) of the frame structure (2).

22. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein the hinges (15) between the pivot arms (14) and the lift arm (11) and the hinges (16) between the pivot arms (14) and the frame structure (2) are arranged such that the pivot arms (14) are arranged crosswise in sections in the transfer of the wall unit (3) from the closed position to the open position.

23. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein the lift arm (11) is pivotable by an angle of more than 225? between the closed position and the open position of the wall unit (3).

24. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein the lift arm (11) has two lift arm limbs (18, 19) arranged at an angle to one another.

25. The transport container (1) according to claim 24, wherein the two lift arm limbs (18, 19) are arranged at an acute angle to one another.

26. The transport container (1) according to claim 24, wherein a first of the two lift arm limbs (18) is connected to the pivot arms (14) and a second of the two lift arm limbs (19) is connected to the wall unit (3), and wherein the second lift arm limb (19) connected to the wall unit (3) has a greater longitudinal extension than the first lift arm limb (18) connected to the pivot arms (14).

27. The transport container (1) according to claim 24, wherein one of the two pivot arms (14) is hinged at a free end of one of the two lift arm limbs (18), and wherein the other pivot arm (14) is hinged in a region of an apex (2) of the lift arm (11) which interconnects the two lift arm limbs (18, 19).

28. The transport container (1) according to claim 24, wherein one of the two lift arm limbs (18), in the closed position of the side wall, is arranged substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the side wall (4) and the other lift arm limb (19) is arranged substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the side wall (4).

29. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein the opening mechanism (9) has a drive (12) for transmitting torque to the lift arm (11).

30. The transport container (1) according to claim 29, wherein the drive (12) is a linear cylinder piston drive.

31. The transport container (1) according to claim 29, wherein the drive (12) is pivotably mounted at one end to one of the hinges (15) between the pivot arms (14) and the lift arm (11) and at the other end to a hinge (16) on the frame structure (2).

32. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein a spring element (25) in each case is connected to the frame structure (2) and the wall unit (3) such that the spring element (25) is in a tensioned state in the closed position and/or in the open position of the wall unit (3).

33. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein the side wall (4) has at least one upper side wall part (5) and a lower side wall part (6), and wherein the upper side wall part (5) is connected to the lower side wall part (6) via a swivel axle (7).

34. The transport container (1) according to claim 33, wherein the side wall is pivotally mounted about a fixed hinge axis on a roof region (17) of the frame structure (2).

35. The transport container (1) according to claim 33, wherein the wall unit (3) has a roof element (21) hingedly connected to the side wall (4), which roof element covers a roof opening (22) of the frame structure (2) in the closed position and the roof opening (22) releases the wall unit (3) in the open position.

36. The transport container (1) according to claim 35, wherein the upper (5) and the lower side wall part (6) are arranged in a folded-together position on a longitudinal side of the frame structure (2) facing away from the lateral loading opening (10) in the open position of the wall unit (3).

37. The transport container (1) according to claim 18, wherein the side wall (4) is arranged by more than half a height of the side wall (4) below a roof region (17) on a longitudinal side of the frame structure (2) facing away from the lateral loading opening (10) in the open position of the wall unit (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIGS. 1, 2 are views of a transport container having a wall unit according to a first variant of the invention in the closed position.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an upper corner region of the transport container of FIGS. 1, 2 in the closed position.

[0033] FIGS. 4, 5 are views of the transport container of FIGS. 1 to 3 in a first intermediate position when transferring the wall unit from the closed position to the open position.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a view of the transport container of FIGS. 1 to 5 in a second intermediate position, which follows the first intermediate position during the opening operation.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a view of the transport container of FIGS. 1 to 5 in a third intermediate position, which follows the second intermediate position during the opening operation.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a view of the transport container of FIGS. 1 to 5 in a fourth intermediate position, which follows the third intermediate position during the opening operation.

[0037] FIGS. 9 to 11 are views of the transport container of FIGS. 1 to 8 in the open position.

[0038] FIG. 12 is a view of a transport container according to a second embodiment variant according to the invention in the closed position.

[0039] FIGS. 13, 14 are views of the transport container of FIG. 12 in successive intermediate positions.

[0040] FIGS. 15, 16 are views of the transport container of FIGS. 12 to 14 in the open position.

[0041] FIG. 17 is a view of a further embodiment according to the invention of the transport container in an intermediate position between the closed and the open position.

[0042] FIG. 18 is a view of the transport container of FIG. 17 in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] A substantially cuboid transport container 1, which is configured in particular as a vehicle body for a truck (not shown), is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 to 10. The transport container 1 has a frame structure 2, which is illustrated only schematically in the drawings, having horizontally and vertically arranged frame parts. The frame structure 2 of the transport container 1 includes a transport space for storing goods to be transported. The frame structure 2 is connected to a wall unit or a wall structure 3, which has a side wall 4. The side wall 4 consists of an upper side wall part 5 and a lower side wall part 6, wherein the upper side wall part 5 is connected to the lower side wall part 6 via a (relative to the operating position) substantially horizontal swivel axle 7. The lower end of the lower side wall part 6 may be connected to the frame structure via a steering device (not shown). The upper side wall part 5 and the lower side wall part 6 are each configured as full-surface panels. In addition, the upper side wall part 5 is pivotally mounted on the frame structure 2 via a fixed swivel axle 8. The fixed swivel axle 8 extends in a horizontal plane in the longitudinal direction of the transport container 1.

[0044] As can be further seen from FIGS. 1, 2, an opening mechanism 9 is also provided for the transfer of the wall unit 3 between a flat closing position resting against the frame structure 2 (see FIGS. 1, 2), in which a lateral loading opening 10 of the frame construction 2 is closed by the side wall 4, and an open position releasing the lateral loading opening 10 (see FIGS. 9, 10). The opening mechanism 9 has a lift arm 11, which is mounted articulated to a side edge of the side wall 4. In addition, the opening mechanism 9 has a drive 12 for transmitting torque to the wall structure 3. The drive 10 is configured as a linear drive in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder piston drive. The drive 12 is mounted pivotally at one end on a fixed swivel axle 13 on the frame structure 2. At the other end, the drive 12 engages the lift arm 11.

[0045] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 10, the lift arm 11 is connected to the frame structure 2 by means of a pair of pivot arms 14, with which the lift arm 11 is guided during the opening or closing movement of the wall unit 3 such that the lift arm 11 and thus the side wall 4 can be pivoted by more than 180?. In the embodiment shown, the lift arm 11 is pivotable between the closed position and the open position of the wall unit 3 by an angle of more than 245?. For this purpose, the lift arm 11 is pivotally connected via hinges 15 to the one ends of the pivot arms 14, the other ends of which are hingedly connected via fixed hinges 16 to the frame structure 2.

[0046] As can be further seen from FIGS. 1 to 10, the hinges 15 between the pivot arms 14 and the lift arm 11, on the one hand, and the hinges 16 between the pivot arms 14 and the frame structure 2, on the other hand, are each arranged at a distance from one another. The hinges 16 between the pivot arms 14 and the frame structure 2 are substantially spaced apart from one another in the same horizontal plane, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the transport container 1. In the embodiment shown, the fixed hinges 16 of the pivot arms 14 are located on the side of the frame structure 2 on a roof region 17 of the frame structure 2.

[0047] As can further be seen from FIGS. 1 to 10, the pivot arms 14 together form a rod assembly, with which the lift arm 11 is guided along two circular paths during the opening or closing operation in order to prevent a collision with the roof region 17 of the frame structure 2. The hinges 16 of the pivot arms 14 on the frame structure 2 are spaced apart from one another such that the pivot arms 14 are arranged crosswise in an intermediate position between the closed and the open position of the wall unit 3.

[0048] As can further be seen from FIGS. 1 to 10, the lift arm 11 has two lift arm limbs 18, 19 arranged at an acute angle to one another, so that an L-shaped lift arm 11 is formed. The lift arm limb 18 is hinged to the pivot arms 14. The lift arm limb 19 is hingedly connected to the side edge of the side wall 4. In the embodiment shown, the lift arm limb 19 connected to the wall unit 3 is several times longer than the lift arm limb 18 connected to the pivot arms 14. In the closed position of the side wall 4, the lift arm limb 19 is arranged substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the side wall 4, that is, substantially vertical, and the lift arm limb 18 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the side wall 4, that is, substantially horizontal.

[0049] As can further be seen from FIGS. 1 to 10, one of the pivot arms 14 is hinged at the free end of the lift arm limb 18. The further pivot arm 14 is hinged in the region of an apex 20 of the lift arm 11 interconnecting with the lift arm limb 18. In the embodiment shown, the drive 12 is pivotally mounted at one end about the hinge 15 at the apex 20 of the lift arm 11 and at the other end about the hinge 13 on the frame structure 2.

[0050] An alternative embodiment of the transport container 1 is shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, wherein only the differences from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 11 are discussed below.

[0051] With the transport container 1 of FIGS. 12 to 16, the wall unit 3 has a roof element 21 hingedly connected to the side wall 4. In the embodiment shown, the roof element 21 is integrally formed. However, the roof element 21 may have first and second roof parts which are hingedly connected to one another (not shown). In the closed position of the wall unit 3 according to FIG. 12, the roof element 21 is arranged substantially horizontally, wherein an upper-side roof opening 22 of the frame structure 2, the roof opening extending in a horizontal plane, is covered. In the open position of the wall unit 3 (see FIGS. 15, 16), the roof opening 22 is exposed, so that the transport container 1 can be loaded, on the one hand, via the lateral loading opening 10 and, on the other hand, via the roof opening 22.

[0052] In the embodiment shown, one of the pivot arms 14 on the side of the hinge 16 facing away from the lift arm 11 has a linkage section 23 at the frame structure 2, the linkage section being connected via a hinge 24 to the drive 12. Thus, a torque is transmitted to the lift arm 11, which is hinged on the side wall 4, from the drive 12 via the pivot arm 14 with the linkage section 23. In this embodiment, therefore, an indirect force transmission takes place from the drive 12 via the pivot arm 14 with the linkage section 23 on the lift arm 11.

[0053] As can be seen from FIGS. 15, 16, in the open position of the wall unit, the upper 5 and lower side wall part 6 are arranged on the longitudinal side of the frame structure 2 facing away from the lateral loading opening 10 in a folded-together position, that is, lying flat on one another. The side wall 4 is located partially in the open position of the wall unit 3, in particular by more than half the height, below the roof region 17 on the longitudinal side of the frame structure 2 facing away from the lateral loading opening 10.

[0054] FIGS. 17, 18 show a further embodiment of the transport container 1, wherein only the differences from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 11 are explained below. In the embodiment of FIGS. 17, 18, a spring element 25 is arranged hinged between the frame structure 2 and the wall unit 3. The spring element 25 is tensioned upon reaching the closed position, so that the stored energy is available for the initiation of the opening operation.

[0055] Accordingly, the spring element 25 is tensioned upon reaching the open position (see FIG. 18), so that the stored energy is available for the initiation of the closing operation. A compression spring is provided as a spring element 25 in the embodiment shown, the spring element being formed by a coil spring. The spring element 25 is arranged on the front end side of the transport container 1. The opening mechanism is arranged on the rear end side of the transport container 1.