Side-rail coupling for tarpaulin covers of vehicle superstructures

摘要

The invention relates to a side-rail coupling for tarpaulin covers of vehicle superstructures, notably a coupling for the upper side-rails of cover frames which can be assembled and comprise separable longitudinal sections of running or guide rails for a telescopic tarpaulin cover. The side-rails (3) have at least one hollow profile chamber and running or guide rails connected to same and serve to support and guide rollers or roller bogies (4) on which hoops (5) carrying the tarpaulin are supported laterally against the cover frame. Adjacent longitudinal sections of the side rails (3) can be removably coupled using coupling elements which engage the hollow profile chamber in a positive fit. To improve handling, reduce weight and increase operating safety the invention provides for the coupling elements to be embodied by profiled material sections whose cross-sectional shape is substantially congruent with the inside cross section of the hollow profile chamber and are fitted with at least one bolt element for each of the longitudinal side rail (3) sections to be coupled together. The bolt elements can be moved against a spring force into a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal sections and cooperate with a complementary recess configured in the walls of the hollow profile chambers of the longitudinal side rail (3) sections to be coupled.