Patent Application
20150314661
The present invention relates to a method and a device, respectively, for the attachment of cabling at a traction vehicle, which traction vehicle comprises a junction box for the connection of cabling to a trailer, or the like, wherein an holding device is arranged to position the cabling at a distance above the surfaces of the traction vehicle situated below the cabling.
The traction vehicle is the most cost efficient freight solution for goods and therefore it is the most common carriage in Europe. The traction vehicle provides the trailer with electricity for lighting and compressed air for the brakes via, often helical, electric cables and air hoses. The appearance of these devices may be compared to telephone cords, where the number may vary but the most common is two or three electric cables and two air hoses.
When the carriage must take sharp turns in crossings or on loading yards, the position of the traction vehicle is often 45 to 60 degrees or more in relation to the trailer. Such occasions are most usual in densely built areas and in connection to loading and unloading. At these turns the cables and hoses are outstretched and will return to their idle positions when the carriage has been straightened out after the turn. The difference between an idle and an outstretched position is often 3.5 to 4 metres depending on the construction of the trailer. At such turns, the cables and hoses have a tendency to jam in each other and later on also to be tattered or to come loose after use during some time.
Another problem which arises at these sharp turns is that the cables and hoses draw the electric cables and the air connections in the lateral direction. After repeated stresses, the contacts may therefore be broken, or, as the hoses often are made of plastics, get a permanent fold. When an electric contact breaks, the trailer will miss lightening or the ABS function of the brakes will cease depending on which contact has broken.
When a fold has arisen on an air hose, the braking effect may be considerably reduced, i.e. the vehicle may not be braked with a normal braking effect as the air flow is hindered. After a short time the high air pressure, about 8 bars, will be able to burst a hole in the weakening (the fold) of the air hose. When the compressor cannot maintain the pressure because of a leakage, a completely uncontrolled disastrous braking will occur. This is a security function to prevent away-running vehicles in traffic.
Consequently, the vehicle is affected by a standstill, and, in the worst case, serious incidents may occur. The breakage may occur whenever and without any notice, (if the driver has not just braked and been aware of the reduced braking effect), which implies that the driver and fellow road-users cannot predict the danger. Serious incidents occur every year because of vehicles of different types running into stationary vehicles or carriages which are braking heavily depending on a hose rupture.
In addition, the haulier will be fined, should the vehicle miss its loading or unloading “slot” and in the worst case, he may lose the runs for his customer because of inadequate reliability. Further, there are extra costs for overtime and possible cars on duty. As a preventive measure, the hauliers change cables and hoses at a cost of thousands of Swedish crowns for each carriage and month. It may be mentioned that the third most common reason to ordering cars on duty in USA depends on hose fractures.
One of the greatest reasons for the problems with helical cables is that the attachments for the electric and air contacts have a low position on all traction vehicles, independent of manufacturer. This implies that the hoses hang down on the “catwalk”, i.e. the space between the traction vehicle and the trailer where the attachment device is arranged and where the driver stands at the connection of the trailer. Here, there are parts in which the cables may easily catch with the risk for cable fractures as a consequence.
Most hauliers/drivers try to solve the problems in their own cheap manners. A very usual manner is to attach elastic rubber straps, which are used for the securing of luggage, in the cabling and then to find a higher position somewhere on the cabin of the traction vehicle where there is a possibility to fasten a hook. This is a solution, which, in a cheap way, in certain cases may moderately offer a certain improvement but not with an entirely reliable result.
Another known solution, which is called “A-frame” is a solution, for which the haulier has to pay about SEK 5,000+mounting. Thus, a rather expensive solution. It is based on a tube construction with extendable cables and hoses, which raises the attachment positions by a considerable distance, whereby a desired, freely hanging connection of the hoses between traction vehicle and trailer is created.
A solution more of our days, known as “CableOne”, solves the problem by all cables and hoses being collected into one multi-cable, which is a long-lasting solution which effectively solves the problem, but which, however, is somewhat expensive, which implies that many drivers continue to choose cheap, non-reliable solutions.
Therefore, there is a demand for a better solution in the low-price class.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved solution at a comparatively low cost, which is achieved with a device and a method, respectively, at the attachment of cabling at a traction vehicles, which traction vehicle (5) comprises at least one junction box (7) for the connection of cabling (8) to a trailer (6), or the like, which method comprises that a holding device (1) is arranged to position the cabling at a distance above surfaces present below the cables (8), characterized in that said holding device (1) is attached at said traction vehicle (5) by non-destructive means (3).
This solution assists in a rapid, simple and chip manner to raise the level of the cabling at the traction vehicle, so that the risk of damage is essentially reduced. Thus, this is achieved in a surprisingly effective manner by the holder, collecting the existing cables and hoses, being attached to the cabin wall in a non-destructive manner by a magnetic force, for instance, which is strong enough to retain the cabling even at draws when the cabling is stretched at turns.
The invention offers i.a. the following advantages:
According to further aspects, the additional advantage is:
The invention will below be described more in detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, of which:
The end walls 26 extend essentially parallel to said partition wall 27, which end walls 26 are provided with corresponding tongues extending in a direction towards the partition wall and in the same plane as the platform part. Between the ends of the tongues, openings 25 are formed which are large enough to give space so that cabling may be inserted therein. Further, it is shown that a lenient material 4 is arranged in connection with the inwardly directed surfaces of the channels 23, which material 4 has the purpose to eliminate rubbing damages on cabling inserted into the channels 23.
The geometry of the holding device 1 is such that its width (seen in the extension of the cabling) is essentially larger than its length, wherein it preferably applies that the width is 2 to 5 times larger than its length (in the intended longitudinal direction of the cabling). In the normal case, the body 2 is suitably made so “long” that it will be easy to grip by hand, i.e. in the region of 30 to 100 mm, and suitably with a width in the region of 100 to 450 mm. As to height, the walls 26, 27 are arranged with a sufficient extension to accommodate normal sizes of cabling without any jamming occurring, which implies a gap of about 10 to 100 mm but preferably 30 to 60 mm. At the bottom surfaces 24, a number of magnetic plates 3 are arranged, preferably at each platform part, wherein the purpose of the magnets is to keep the holding device 1 safely towards a magnetic material. The magnetic plates 3 are arranged by means of screws, for instance, but, of course, also other methods may be used, such e.g. gluing, taping, riveting and/or welding.
The material used for the body 2 of the holding device 1 should have a good corrosion and erosion resistance, respectively, and may for instance be made of a suitable polymeric material or aluminium. Extrusion or moulding may suitably be used for the manufacture of the body 2, so that the costs may be kept at a low level, wherein extrusion often is to prefer, which in its turn implies that a configuration is preferred which enables extrusion, like what is shown in
In
The traction force from the magnets 3 is selected such that they give a traction force at the collaring against the vehicle which is in the region 100 N to 1,500 N, preferably about 200 N to 500 N, which according to tests performed show a sufficiently good retaining function for normal conceivable stresses while it enables a comparatively simple removal, which also is necessary in connection with exchange of trailers, etc.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown above but may be varied within the scope of the appending claims. A man skilled in the art realizes for instance that the size may in different ways be adapted to different kinds of situations/requirements and that different kinds of material combinations may be used as well as different types of designs and numbers of the channels, etc. As an example, it may be mentioned that a man skilled in the art knows that there are vehicles with several junction boxes and that these may be in the form of different types of junction boxes/casings/contacts/connections, which all are included in the expression junction boxes, for the sake of simplicity. The invention could also be provided with at least one, but preferably several hooks, catches or other fastening means, on which the helical cables may be hooked and hang with or without any need of arranging compartments or channels. In addition to this, a modification is included in the concept of the invention, where contacts for the cabling are arranged in the very body for the holding device 1, wherein the advantage is obtained that “straight” cables may be used from the exit of the traction vehicle to the holding device 1 and then only use the helical cabling between the holding device 1 and the trailer.
Further, it is realized that instead of plates for the magnets another configuration of the magnets may be used, such as for instance rod-shaped magnets which have been divided into the desired length and which for instance may imbedded in the desired place by casting in connection with the moulding and/or glued in place in cavities formed at the moulding and that also electro-magnets may be used. In its widest form, the invention may instead of magnets be provided with other non-destructive securing material such as e.g. suction plugs, tape, glue, which permit that the invention is mounted without tools.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/SE2010/050931 | 9/1/2010 | WO | 00 | 5/23/2013 |
