AU2015101794A4

AU2015101794A4 - Chassis Assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2015101794A4
Application number: AU2015101794A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joe Inturrisi
Original assignee: Al Ko Chassis Systems Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Al Ko Chassis Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-14
Filing date: 2015-12-14
Publication date: 2016-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-14

Abstract

ABST\RACT The present invention is directed to a chassis assembly for a caravan or trailer. The assembly includes a pair of support assemblies extending along opposite sides of the chassis assembly for mounting wheel and suspension assemblies of the chassis assembly, and a plurality of cross members extending between the pair of support assemblies for bracing the support assemblies and supporting a body of the caravan or trailer. Each support assembly is a truss assembly comprising an upper beam and a lower beam, a plurality of intermediate members extending between the upper and lower beams; the upper beam, the lower beam and the intermediate members being arranged so as to define one or more openings in each support member, and one or more panel members located in the one or more openings.

Description

- 1 Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2B Original Complete Specification for Innovation Patent Invention Title: Chassis Assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to the applicant: Technical Field The invention described herein relates to a chassis assembly. In particular, the invention is directed to a chassis assembly for light trailers such as caravan trailers, although the scope of the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. 5 Background Art Chassis assemblies provide support for the body of a vehicle or trailer, and also allow the mounting of various mechanical components such as suspension and wheel assemblies. Chassis assemblies typically include a rectangular support frame in which a pair 10 of longitudinal support members extend along opposite sides of the frame, and a plurality of cross members extend between the longitudinal support members to brace the support members and strengthen the frame. Chassis assemblies are generally heavy structures which can be difficult to transfer between different locations during fabrication. The weight of the chassis 15 assembly also contributes to the overall weight of the vehicle or trailer, which affects operating efficiency and fuel economy of the vehicle or trailer. It is therefore desirable to reduce the weight of the chassis assemblies without comprising its strength so as to provide a chassis assembly having improved operating efficiency and fuel economy. 20 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a chassis assembly for a caravan or trailer, the assembly including a pair of support assemblies extending along opposite sides of the chassis assembly for mounting wheel and suspension assemblies of the chassis assembly, 25 a plurality of cross members extending between the pair of support assemblies for bracing the support assemblies and supporting a body of the caravan or trailer, -2 wherein each support assembly is a truss assembly comprising an upper beam and a lower beam, a plurality of intermediate members extending between the upper and lower beams; the upper beam, the lower beam and the intermediate members 5 being arranged so as to define one or more openings in each support member, and one or more panel members located in the one or more openings. The truss assembly may be configured in any suitable manner. For example, the intermediate member may be generally upright or diagonal, thereby creating openings 10 having various shapes including rectangular, square, triangular and/or or irregular shapes. Advantageously, the truss assembly provides is generally lighter than a solid support beam of the same or similar structural and load bearing properties. The truss assembly also provides improvement in strength properties of the chassis assembly by 15 providing better tensile, compression, and torsional properties. One or more of the panel members may provide a brand name and/or logo thereon. The brand name and/or logo may be cut, engraved or stamped into, or embossed onto the panel members. The brand name and/or logo may be provided in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the brand name and/or logo may be provided on 20 separate material and fastened to the panel members using any suitable fastening means, such as adhesive, nuts and bolts, pins, clamps and the like. Any suitable number of panel members may be provided. In one embodiment, each support member may include a pair of panel members. Each panel member may be located proximate an opposite end of the respective support member. The panel 25 members can be of any suitable shape and size. Moreover, each panel member may fully or partially fill an opening in the respective truss assembly. The truss assembly may be referred to as a main bearer and panel insert assembly. The chassis assembly may further include a protective cover member located at 30 one end of each support assembly. The chassis assembly is typically designed for light weight trailers such as caravan trailers. In some embodiments, the chassis assembly may be configured for caravans or trailers having an aggregate trailer mass of generally 4500kg or less.

-3 In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings 5 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chassis assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective of an example support assembly or main bearer with panel insert assembly of the chassis assembly according to Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a panel member of the support assembly or 10 main bearer with panel insert assembly according to Figure 2. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment(s) Figure 1 illustrates a chassis assembly 10 for a caravan or trailer. The assembly 10 includes a pair of elongate support assemblies 12a, 12b extending along opposite sides of the chassis assembly 10 for mounting wheel and suspension assemblies (not 15 shown) of the chassis assembly 10. Each support assembly 12a, 12b is in the form of a truss assembly, also referred to as a main bearer assembly as described in further detail below with reference to Figure 2. The chassis assembly 10 further includes a plurality of cross members 14 extending between the pair of main bearer assemblies 12a, 12b. Each cross member is a 20 C-beam or I-beam in which the central flange defines a plurality of apertures. Such C beams or I-beams are lighter than conventional solid C-beams and I-beams whilst maintaining good strength properties. Further, apertures in C-beams or I-beams provide a facility for structures such as electrical wiring and plumbing pipework, fittings and fixtures to pass through. In many conventional chassis assemblies, solid cross members 25 are used and electrical wiring/plumbing must be attached underneath the cross members, or potentially uncontrolled drilling or cutting of the cross members are required to accommodate various wiring/plumbing. Advantageously, the plumbing pipework and electrical wiring passing through cross members are better supported, and are located further above the road surface and are therefore less likely to suffer damage 30 in use.

-4 The chassis assembly 10 further includes additional support beams 16 extending outwardly from the main bearer assemblies 12a, 12b to provide further support for the body of the trailer (not shown). At a front end of the chassis assembly 10, an A-frame 18 is provided for 5 connecting the chassis 10 with a towing vehicle (now shown). The A-frame a pair of longitudinal support beams 20a, 20b, each being mounted to a respective main bearer assembly 12a, 12b at one end, and connected to one another at an opposite end, so as to form a generally A-shaped or V-shaped configuration. One or more cross members 22 extend between the support beams 20a, 20b to strengthen the A-frame 18. 10 At an opposite end of the main bearer assemblies 12a, 12b, a protective cover member 24a, 24b is mounted to each main bearer assembly 12a, 12b. The cover members 24a, 24b protect the respective main bearer assembly 12a, 12b from road damage during use. As more clearly shown in Figure 2, each main bearer assembly 12 includes an 15 upper beam 32 and a lower beam 34 arranged generally parallel with one another. The main bearer assembly 12 further includes a plurality of intermediate beam members 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f, which extend between the upper and lower beams 32, 36. The upper beam 32, the lower beam 34 and the intermediate members 36 are arranged so as to define a plurality of openings 40 in each main bearer assembly 12. 20 Each main bearer assembly 12 further includes two panel members 42a, 42b located proximate opposite ends of the main bearer assembly 12. Mounting the panel members 42a, 42b prevents any brand names and/or logos 52 provided on the panel members 42a, 42b to be hidden from view (e.g. behind wheel and suspension assemblies) in the final assembled trailer. 25 As more clearly shown in Figure 3, each panel member 42 has a generally C shaped cross section including a display portion 44, and two flange portions 46, 48 extending from opposite sides of the display portion 44. The panel member 42 defines a cut-out section 50 proximate each corner of the display portion 44 to facilitate folding of the flange portions 46, 48 during fabrication. The flange portions 46, 48 facilitate 30 mounting of the panel member 42 into a respective opening 40 of a main bearer assembly 12. The panel members 42, 46b may be mounted to the main bearer assemblies 12 via any suitable means, including welding, and/or using suitable fasteners such as nuts and bolts, screws, pins, clamps and the like, or any combination thereof.

-5 Each panel member 42 provides a brand name and/or logo 52 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and more clearly in Figure 3. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the brand name 'Lotus' 52 is cut out from the display portion 44 of the panel member 42. The chassis assembly is typically designed for light weight trailers such as 5 caravan trailers. In some embodiments, the chassis assembly may be configured for caravans or trailers having an aggregate trailer mass of generally 4500kg or less. Advantageously, the main bearer assemblies 12 provides a stronger, lighter product with cost savings in materials and decreased carbon and other waste emissions. The main bearer assemblies 12 are designed to ensure that loads are distributed to areas 10 of high strength. In some embodiments, load paths are designed to distribute loads over wider areas rather than concentrated at one or more points on the structure. The combination of the main bearer assemblies 12 and the panel members 42 provides greater rigidity and aids the control of metal fatigue by reducing the magnitude of forces on critical areas of the chassis assembly 10. The panel members 42 further provides 15 strength and stiffness to the main bearer assembly 12 without significantly increasing its mass. The panel members 42 further advantageously provide an area on which a brand name and/or logo can be provided. The foregoing embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with 20 various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation described and illustrated, but only by the following claims which are intended to include all suitable modifications and equivalents permitted by the applicable law. 25 The term "comprise" and variants of that term such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required. Reference to prior art disclosures in this specification is not an admission that 30 the disclosures constitute common general knowledge.

Claims

1. A chassis assembly for a caravan or trailer, the assembly including a pair of support assemblies extending along opposite sides of the chassis 5 assembly for mounting wheel and suspension assemblies of the chassis assembly, a plurality of cross members extending between the pair of support assemblies for bracing the support assemblies and supporting a body of the caravan or trailer, wherein each support assembly is a truss assembly comprising an upper beam and a lower beam, 10 a plurality of intermediate members extending between the upper and lower beams; the upper beam, the lower beam and the intermediate members being arranged so as to define one or more openings in each support member, and one or more panel members located in the one or more openings. 15

2. A chassis assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of the panel members provide a brand name and/or logo thereon.

3. A chassis assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each 20 support member includes a pair of panel members, each panel member being located proximate an opposite end of the respective support member.

4. A chassis assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further including a protective cover member located at one end of each support assembly. 25

5. A chassis assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis assembly is configured for caravans or trailers having an aggregate trailer mass of generally 4500kg or less.