Movable Bulkhead

This invention relates to a cargo carrying container for a vehicle, and more particularly to a bulkhead construction for such a container.

In a cargo carrying container, such as a semitrailer adapted to be pulled behind a tractor, it is often the case that the load carried in the container does not occupy the entire volume of the container. With this situation, it is necessary to brace the load so that it does not shift during transport.

A number of U.S. patents are directed to a structure for bracing a load against movement at a location other than that of the permanent bulkhead of the container. A representative structure for accomplishing this objective is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,071,802 to Sweeley et al. This patent discloses a movable wall section which is mounted at its ends to a rail provided on the side walls of the container. The side walls are provided with a plurality of spaced slots, and the movable wall has one or more bolts engageable with the slots to fix the movable wall in a selected location. A drawback to this construction is that, when the movable wall is moved to a position adjacent a stationary wall at an end of the container to define a maximum interior volume, the movable wall necessarily takes up a certain amount of space. Such space is then unavailable for accommodating the load placed within the container.

The present invention is designed to provide a more efficient movable bulkhead structure for a cargo carrying container. In accordance with the invention, a cargo compartment for a vehicle includes a bottom wall and a pair of spaced side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall. An end wall, which may or may not be stationary and may be defined by the doors of the container, extends between the side walls. An upstanding bulkhead wall is spaced from the end wall and extends between the side walls. The bulkhead wall includes a fixed, stationary panel which forms a portion of the permanent bulkhead. At least one movable panel forms the remainder of the bulkhead wall when in a first position in which the movable panel is coplanar with the stationary panel, to thereby define a maximum cargo volume within the compartment. The movable panel is movable to a second position in which it is spaced from the stationary panel of the bulkhead wall and toward the end wall. When the movable bulkhead panel is in its second position, a cargo volume less than the maximum cargo volume is defined. A bracing means is provided for bracing the movable bulkhead panel against movement when the movable panel is in its second position. The bracing means is adapted for storage behind the movable panel when the movable panel is in its first position and the bracing means is not in use. In this manner, the bracing means occupies no space within the interior of the cargo compartment. In one embodiment, the bracing means comprises one or more load bars which extend between the side walls of the compartment and are engageable therewith. The movable bulkhead panel is mountable to the load bars for bracing the movable panel against movement when the movable panel is in its second position. The load bars can be stored behind the movable panel when the movable panel is in its first position to form part of the permanent bulkhead.

The invention further contemplates an apparatus for providing a movable bulkhead, generally in accordance with the above summary. A method of providing a movable bulkhead is also disclosed, generally in accordance with the above summary.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a cargo compartment incorporating the movable bulkhead of the invention, showing a pair of movable bulkhead panels in a position in which they are spaced from a stationary bulkhead panel;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the movable bulkhead panels as they form a part of the permanent bulkhead, with the load bars stored behind the movable panels;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation view showing a mechanism for retaining the movable bulkhead panels when they form a part of the permanent bulkhead; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 6--6 of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cargo container 10 generally includes a floor 12 having a pair of upstanding side walls 14, 16 connected thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. A ceiling 18 extends between side walls 14, 16.

A bulkhead, shown generally at 20, is provided at an end of container 10. An upstanding end wall (not shown) is spaced from bulkhead 20 at the other end of container 10. The upstanding end wall may be fully or partially formed by the doors of container 10, which are movable between an open position for loading the interior of containter 10 and a closed position for retaining the load therein.

Bulkhead 20 includes a fixed, stationary bulkhead panel 22 extending between side walls 14, 16 and secured to corner posts 24, 26 of container 10. Fixed panel 22 is also secured to one or more of series of container nose posts, shown at 28, 30, 32 and 34 (FIG. 2).

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, fixed bulkhead panel 22 occupies less than the full height of bulkhead 20. The remainder of the height of bulkhead 20 is occupied by a pair of side by side movable bulkhead panels 36, 38. Panels 36, 38 are movable between a first position (FIG. 2), in which they form a part of the permanent bulkhead of container 10, and one or more second positions in which panels 36, 38 are spaced from fixed panel 22 (FIG. 1). When in their first position (FIG. 2), panels 36, 38 are substantially coplanar with fixed panel 22 to define a maximum cargo volume within container 10. When in their second position (FIG. 1), panels 36, 38 define a cargo volume less than the maximum cargo volume.

Panels 36, 38 are each provided with a series of openings 40 which facilitate handling of the panels.

Upper and lower load bars 42, 44 are provided as a bracing means for bracing panels 36, 38 against movement when such panels are in their second position spaced from fixed panel 22. Load bars 42, 44 extend between side walls 14, 16 of container 10. The ends of load bars 42, 44 are adapted for connection to side walls 14, 16 at a plurality of locations, as will be explained, for securing movable panels 36, 38 at a plurality of positions spaced from fixed panel 22.

A series of Z-brackets 46 are connected to the rear face of each of movable panels 36, 38 for mounting panels 36, 38 to load bars 42, 44. As shown in FIG. 3, Z-brackets 46 include an upper leg 48 adapted for connection to panel 38 by means of a screw 50 or other satisfactory connector. Z-brackets 46 are adapted to be moved downwardly onto and over the top of load bars 42, 44 so as to engage load bars 42, 44 with a lower leg 52 and a shoulder 54 provided on Z-bracket 46. With the construction shown in FIG. 3, panels 36, 38 are securely mountable to load bars 42, 44.

The leftward end of load bar 42 is engageable with a recessed E-track 56 mounted to container side wall 16, and the rightward end of load bar 42 is likewise engageable with a recessed E-track 58 mounted to container side wall 14. In a like manner, the leftward end of lower load bar 44 is engageable with a recessed track 60, and the rightward end of load bar 44 is engageable with an E-track 62. Such connection of the ends of load bars 42, 44 to the E-tracks is representatively shown in FIG. 4. As seen therein, E-track 56 includes a series of spaced vertical slots 64 along its length. The end of load bar 42 is provided with an end bracket 66 which includes a projecting portion 68. Projecting portion 68 is engageable with one of slots 64 at a selected location along the length of E-track 56. In this manner, load bar 42 may be selectively positioned a desired distance from fixed bulkhead panel 22, and movable panel 36 mounted thereto to reduce the cargo volume of container 10. With the construction shown in FIG. 4, load bars 42, 44 are securely connected to side walls 14, 16 of container 10 so as to prevent their movement after engagement.

With reference to FIG. 2, load bars 42, 44 are adapted for storage behind movable panels 36, 38 when panels 36, 38 form a part of the permanent bulkhead of container 10. In this manner, the load bars are always stored in a secure location and are readily available when it is desired to reduce the cargo volume of container 10.

A series of latches 70 are provided for retaining movable bulkhead panels 36, 38 in their first position when panels 36, 38 are coplanar with fixed panel 22. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of latches 70 are mounted to each of corner posts 24, 26 and nose posts 30, 32. Latches 70 are movable between an engaging position, as shown in FIG. 5 wherein a lower leg 72 engages panel 36 adjacent opening 40, and a disengaging position in which latch 70 is pivoted 90.degree. out of engagement with panel 36. When latch 70 is in its engaging position, lower leg 72 acts to firmly secure panel 36 to post 24 so as to prevent its movement. When latch 70 is moved to its disengaging position, panel 36 is movable out of engagement with post 24. Each latch 70 is secured to its respective post by means of a bolt 74 or other satisfactory fastener which allows pivoting movement of latch 70 between its engaging and disengaging positions.

In accordance with the above-described construction, a movable bulkhead is provided which efficiently and economically allows the cargo volume of a container to be reduced from the maximum volume.

Also in accordance with the invention, a method of varying the cargo volume of a cargo container includes a series of steps generally in accordance with the above-described structure. Bulkhead 20 of container 10 is provided with fixed panel 22 forming a portion of its height and a pair of movable panels 36, 38 forming the remainder of its height. The bracing means, such as load bars 42, 44, are provided for bracing movable panels 36, 38 against movement when such panels are spaced from fixed panel 22. As described, load bars 42, 44 are adapted to be stored behind panels 36, 38 when such panels are coplanar with fixed panel 22 and load bars 42, 44 are not in use.

Various alternatives and modifications are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention.