AU2013100715A4

AU2013100715A4 - Support for a vehicle body

Info

Publication number: AU2013100715A4
Application number: AU2013100715A
Authority: AU
Inventors: George Robert Boden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-24
Filing date: 2013-05-24
Publication date: 2013-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-24
Also published as: GB201209139D0; GB2503646A; GB2503646B

Abstract

-8 Abstract 5 Support for a vehicle body Apparatus for supporting a vehicle body is disclosed. The apparatus comprises two similar stands, each stand comprising first and second struts (10, 12) interconnected close to one of their ends for pivotal movement with respect to one another between a 10 closed condition in which the struts are close to and generally parallel to one another, and an open condition in which the struts diverge from one another. There apparatus further includes restraint means (42, 44) that limits the extent to which the struts can diverge. Each strut has formations (36), including flanges that extend from the struts, that can interact with a structural component (68) of a vehicle to resist sliding 15 movement of the stand once installed on a vehicle. Fig 5

Description

-1 Support for a vehicle body 5 This invention relates to a support for a vehicle body. In particular, it relates to a support for a tipping body of a lorry to secure the tipper in its raised position. A tipper lorry typically has equipment mounted on its chassis. Access to such 10 equipment is made substantially easier by raising the body to its raised, tipping position. However, this leads to a significant safety risk. Someone working on the equipment could be crushed if the support mechanism for the body (which is typically hydraulic) should fail or should someone lower the body unaware of the presence of someone working on the vehicle. Therefore, there is generally a ban placed on working 15 within the space under a vehicle body unless an independent prop is deployed to support the body independently of the vehicle's systems. Various supports have been produced to enable a vehicle body to be supported safely. However, these have tended to be bulky, and are therefore suited for use in a workshop. This means that the support is not likely to be available for use on a vehicle that is on a 20 journey. This may be inconvenient if a repair is required to a vehicle that is in use, or it may tempt a person to work under an unsupported raised body. An aim of this invention is to provide apparatus for supporting a vehicle body that can be readily carried on a vehicle during use and deployed quickly and safely when required. 25 To this end, the invention provides apparatus for supporting a vehicle body comprising two similar stands, each stand comprising first and second struts interconnected close -2 to one of their ends for pivotal movement with respect to one another between a closed condition in which the struts are close to and generally parallel to one another, and an open condition in which the struts diverge from one another, there being restraint means that limits the extent to which the struts can diverge, each strut carrying 5 formations that can interact with a structural component of a vehicle to resist sliding movement of the stand once installed on a vehicle. In the closed condition, the restraint means is preferably enclosed between the struts. The restraint means may include two elongate components that are pivotally interconnected. In the closed condition, the elongate components are typically are 10 folded together and in the working condition, the elongate components are typically aligned with one another. The formations that can interact with a structural component of the vehicle may include flanges that extend from the struts. From a second aspect, this invention provides a method for supporting the body of a 15 vehicle comprising raising a vehicle body, placing each of the stands of the first aspect of the invention on a respective chassis leg of the vehicle, and lowering the vehicle body to be supported by the stands, whereby components mounted on the body and/or the chassis rails resist sliding movement of the stands with respect to the body and/or the chassis rails. 20 The components mounted on the body may include buffers that serve to maintain the body and the chassis spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The buffers may be a resilient material, such as rubber or synthetic polymer. An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 25 Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention in a working condition; Figures 2 and 3 are top and perspective views of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in a folded condition; and -3 Figure 5 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 deployed to support a raised vehicle body. With reference to Figures 1 to 4, apparatus for supporting a vehicle body embodying the invention comprises two similar stands, one of which is shown in Figures 1 to 4. Each stand comprises two struts, which will be referred to as the inner strut 10 and the outer 5 strut 12. Each strut 10, 12 has an upper and a lower end, the upper end being uppermost in Figures 1 and 3. Each strut 10, 12 is of generally U-shaped cross-section, having a base plate and two flanges that extend at a right angle from opposite edges of the base plate. The relative spacing of the flanges is such that the flanges of the inner strut 10 can pass closely 10 between the flanges of the outer strut 12. Apertures 14 are formed through the base plate of each strut 10, 12 to reduce the weight of the struts 10, 12. (There is no significance in the different shapes of the apertures 14 in Figures 4 and 5 as compared with Figures 1 to 3.) Each of the flanges extends beyond both ends of the associated base plate. 15 The struts 10, 12 are interconnected close to their upper ends. The flanges of the outer strut 12 extend parallel to one another beyond the base plate at 20. A respective aperture is formed through the extensions 20 to the flanges, and corresponding apertures are formed through the flanges of the inner strut 10 close to the upper end of the base plate. A pivot pin 22 passes through all four of these apertures, thereby 20 interconnecting the struts 10, 12 while allowing them to pivot with respect to one another. The flanges of the inner strut 10 extend beyond the upper end of the base plate at 24 and diverge from one another. An end plate 30 is carried on the upper end of the base plate of the inner strut 10. The 25 end plate has a first portion that is secured to the base plate (by bolts 32 in this embodiment) and a second portion that wraps round an upper end surface of the base plate. At their lower ends, each flange has a respective projection 36 that extends beyond the base plate, the projections 36 of each strut 10, 12 being parallel to one another.

-4 A limiting assembly 40 is connected to the two struts 10, 12 close to their lower ends. The limiting assembly 40 comprises a first and a second tie rod 42, 44. The first and the second tie rod 40, 42 are interconnected by a pivot bolt 44. A stop 46 is carried on the first tie rod 42. The stop limits the extent of pivotal movement between the tie rods 5 42, 44 between a first, closed extreme in which the first and second tie rods 42, 44 overlie one another, and an open extreme in which the first and second tie rods 42, 44 are substantially in alignment with one another. Each tie rod 42, 44 is connected to a respective strut 10, 12 by a pivot 46 secured to the base plate, such that it can pivot with respect to the tie rod about an axis that is parallel 10 to the pivot axis between the struts 10, 12, and parallel to the axis of pivoting between the tie rods 42, 44. In a folded condition, as shown in Figure 4, the struts 10, 12 are folded towards one another such that the flanges of the inner strut 10 pass into and between the flanges of the outer strut 12. The tie rods 42, 44 are folded towards one another, with their pivot 15 towards the pivot of the struts 10, 12, and are contained within a space formed between the base plates and flanges of the struts 10, 12. In this condition, the stand occupies a minimum of space, which allows it to be stored conveniently. In a working condition, as shown in the other figures, the struts 10, 12 are pivoted apart to the maximum extent allowed by limiting assembly 40, when the tie rods 42, 44 are in 20 alignment with one another. (The stop 46 prevents the tie rods 42, 44 from dropping downwardly from this position.) For use, the body 60 of a tipper vehicle is first raised to allow access to components on its chassis 62. Each stand is extended to its working condition, and it is placed on a respective chassis rail of the vehicle. The projections 36 extend from the struts 10, 12 25 to pass to both sides of the respective chassis legs. This prevents the struts from slipping sideways off the chassis legs. The body 60 is then lowered slowly. A longitudinal member 64 of the body 60 is guided to the upper ends of the struts 10, 12 by the tapering extensions 24 of the flanges of the inner strut 10. The longitudinal member 64 is then supported by the end plate 30, which transmits load into the stand.

-5 As the body 60 is lowered, there is a force applied to the stands that tends to push them along the chassis members in a direction away from the pivot between the body and the chassis. It is common to provide buffers 66, which are typically formed from hard rubber or artificial material, on one or both of the longitudinal member 64 of the body 5 60 or the chassis rail 68. When the stands are installed, care should be taken to ensure that the struts 10, 12 make contact with the longitudinal member 64 of the body 60 and the chassis rail 68. The presence of the buffers 66 then prevent the stand from sliding on the longitudinal member 64 of the body 60 and the chassis rail 68, so ensuring that the stands remain properly in place. 10

Claims

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 which, in the closed condition, the restraint means is enclosed between the struts. 15 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the restraint means includes two elongate components that are pivotally interconnected.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which, in the closed condition, the elongate components are folded together and in the working condition, the elongate components are aligned with one another. 20 5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the formations that can interact with a structural component of the vehicle include flanges that extend from the struts.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the components mounted on the body include buffers that serve to maintain the body and the chassis 25 spaced apart by a predetermined distance. -7
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 which the buffers are a resilient material, such as rubber or synthetic polymer.
8. Apparatus for supporting a vehicle body substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5 9. A method for supporting the body of a vehicle comprising raising a vehicle body, placing each of the stands of apparatus according to any preceding claim on a respective chassis leg of the vehicle, and lowering the vehicle body to be supported by the stands, whereby components mounted on the body and/or the chassis rails resist sliding movement of the stands with respect to the body 10 and/or the chassis rails.