Closure system of the interconnection of transport units connected to each other in a convoy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11873166-B2
Application number	US-202017774262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2020
Priority date	Nov 8, 2019
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

Closure system for connecting two contiguous transport units in a convoy for the transport of goods, the closure system comprising an accordion-shaped element configured to change the length thereof along a longitudinal axis of the convoy and comprising a central portion and a pair of outer portions placed on opposite sides with respect to said axis, the thickness of the accordion-shaped element decreasing from the central portion to the outer portions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A closure system for connecting two contiguous transport units in a convoy for the transport of goods, said closure system comprising an accordion-shaped element configured to change a length of the accordion-shaped element along a longitudinal axis of said convoy, the accordion-shaped element vertically extending along a vertical axis and transversally extending along a transversal axis, said vertical axis and said transversal axis being perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, characterized in that the accordion-shaped element comprises a central portion and a pair of outer portions placed on opposite sides with respect to said axis, a thickness of said outer portions on a plane defined by said longitudinal and vertical axis decreasing from said central portion to said outer portions along said transversal axis.

2. The closure system according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of said outer portions linearly decreases starting from the respective connection with said central portion until reaching a minimum value at the end of said outer portions.

3. The closure system according to claim 1 , wherein said central portion and said outer portions each comprise a corrugated profile.

4. The closure system according to claim 3 , wherein said corrugated profiles comprise curved axial end portions and flat intermediate portions.

5. The closure system according to claim 3 , wherein the corrugated profile of said central portion and the corrugated profile of said outer portions are continuous between one another.

6. The closure system according to claim 3 , wherein said corrugated profiles each define corrugations defining a pitch along said longitudinal axis.

7. The closure system according to claim 1 , wherein said central portion comprises a plurality of flanges, said flanges being carried by said corrugated profile.

8. The closure system according to claim 7 , wherein said flanges are carried by said corrugated profile so that they are all arranged on a same side of the latter.

9. The closure system according to claim 1 , wherein said accordion system is made in a single piece.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said accordion system is moulded.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said accordion system is made of rubber.

12. A convoy comprising a plurality of transport units connected with each other, said convoy comprising a closure system according to claim 1 , said closure system being interposed between two transport units contiguous to one another.

Assignees

• Leonardo Spa

Inventors

• Briano Andrea
• Castagno Simone
• Conti Giacomo
• Parodi Andrea

Classifications

• B65G17/068 Primary

  specially adapted to follow a curved path (for individual load carriers B65G17/22) · CPC title

• F16C29/084

  fixed to the carriage or bearing body movable along the guide rail or track · CPC title

• B65G17/345

  the surfaces being equipped with a conveyor · CPC title

• F16C2326/58

  Conveyor systems, e.g. rollers or bearings therefor · CPC title

• B65G47/66 Primary

  Fixed platforms or combs, e.g. bridges between conveyors · CPC title