AU671226B2 - Vehicle chassis - Google Patents

Description

-1 1 1 P/:00/0il Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 CO0M PL E TE S P EC I F I C AT I ON FOR A STANDARD PATENT 4* .4 a 0

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT 9* 4 Name of Applicant: LEES POWER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD ACN 010 760 399 Actual Inventor: AddreSs for Service: JOHN R.G. GARDNER P0 BOX 443 MUD GEERABA QLD 4213 Invention title: VEHICLE CHASSIS Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos:PL 9830 The following statement invention, including the to me:is a full description of this best method of performing it know

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9 9* 9.4 This invention relates to a chassis for a trailer, truck or other vehicle.

Trailers primarily intended for carrying shipping containers are provided with a leading and trailing load 'cansfer device which may be of the type disclosed in United States patent specifications 3456820 and 3484003 and in Australian patent specification 84879/91. These devices are often adapted for movement along the chassis so that the spacing between the leading and trailing load transfer devices may be varied to enable those devices to effectively lift both twenty foot and forty foot containers onto and off the chassis.

It is important that the construction of the trailer chassis be strong enough not only to support the dead weight of any load placed upon it but also to be able to withstand lateral and torsional forces imparted to the chassis during load transferring operations. Vehicles intended to carry heavy loads have specified gross weight restrictions placed upon them and the lower the vehicle weight the greater is the pay load that the vehicle may be legally allowed to carry.

Chassis for vehicles are currently made of steel members welded together to provide the desired configuration and load carrying capabilities. The main chassis members usually comprise I beams, channels or tubular top members to which a web is attached by a continuous longitudinal weld. Mild steel is often used and depending upon the configuration of the main chassis members, it is sometimes necessary to provide separate rails along which the load transfer devices of the type mentioned above can travel.

The construction of the main chassis members and the choice of the materials used in their fabrication resulted in relatively heavy chassis and hence vehicles and the legal pay load which can be carried by the vehicle is not maximised.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chassis for a vehicle which at least minimises 4r r I i; i r _I :i- 3 the disadvantages referred to above.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a chassis for a vehicle, said chassis comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinally extending main chassis members; and a plurality of longitudinally spaced 4 transverse bulkheads extending between said main chassis members; wherein each of said main chassis members are substantially U-shaped in transverse cross- i section, having an upper flange, a lower flange, a main web extending between said upper and lower S: 15 flanges, and a downwardly directed flange extending from a free edge of said upper flange.

The chassis members are suitably press formed S1from high tensile steel, suitably pre-stressed steel.

4. Most preferably, the upper flange of each main chassis member extends upwardly from the main web at an inclined angle however the upper flange may extend at right angles to, or at a downward inclination from the S: main web.

Where the chassis is intended to form a chassis for a trailer, it is preferred that a leading end of the chassis be configured to provide a goose neck for the trailer. Thus, in the region of the leading end of the trailer, the main web of each main chassis member has a reduced height. In the region of the leading end of such a trailer it is also preferred that one or more goose neck beams extend longitudinally along the trailer and at locations between the main chassis members. Preferably, two such goose neck beams are i present.

It is preferred that the main chassis members be made of a single unitary member having the shape referred to above. Where it is not possible to pressform main chassis members of the requisite length, i -1! 4 .4 i i it is preferred that each main chassis member consist of a plurality of main chassis portions Joined end to end. Where a plurality of such main chassis portions are present and form each main chassis member, it is preferred that there be three main chassis portions although a different number may be employed. Where there are three main chassis portions comprising each main chassis member, it is preferred that there be a first chassis portion which forms the leading end or goose neck of the trailer, an intermediate chassis portion and a trailing chassis portion. i Where, the upper flange of each main chassis member extends upwardly from the main web at an 15 inclined angle, the inclined angle may be as great as forty-five degrees although it is preferred that the inclined angle be approximately fifteen degrees. The "'"upper flanges of the chassis member exhibits a high *.*.*ability to withstand lateral and torsional loads S 20 resulting from lifting of containers by load transfer devices and minimises the need to employ larger gauge material in the construction of the main chassis members.

The bulkheads may be arranged at regular or irregular intervals. Each of the bulkheads may be made from a plurality of bulkhead members. The bulkhead members may comprise spaced vertically extending bulkhead plates and top and bottom horizontally extending bulkhead plates. So that the metallurgical integrity of the high tensile pre-stressed steel from which the main chassis members are made is not altered, it is preferred that the bulkhead members be secured to the main chassis members by a discontinuous weld.

Stitch welding is preferred.

The bulkhead plates may extend at each end intoi the respective U-shaped main chassis members and have an end profile substantially the same as the internal profile of the U-shaped members so that the upper and

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4a lower flanges of the chassis members may be supported.

Stiffeners suitably formed of metal plate may also be provided at spaced positions within each main chassis member to extend between the upper and lower flanges to brace same. The stiffeners may be welded to the flanges and also to the main web. The stiffeners are suitably of a shape to substantially fill the internal U-shaped profile of the main chassis members. The stiffeners

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pB '7r- ,b may be provided intermediate the bulkheads.

A particular preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a trailer incorporating a chassis made in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the trailer shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the chassis made in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 'Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the chassis shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the chassis of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the chassis shown in Fig. 3; I Fig. 7 is a side view of a leading chassis portion; Fig. 8 is a side view of an intermediate chassis portion; Fig. 9 is a side view of a trailing chassis portion; Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of a main chassis member made in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 11 is a rear elevational view of a trailer iV made according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, there is shown a side elevational view of a trailer 20 incorporating a chassis 21 made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The chassis 21 has a leading end or goose neck 22, an intermediate portion 23 and a trailing portion 24. A leading load transfer device 25 is positioned at the leading end 22 of the chassis 21 while a trailing load transfer device is positioned at a trailing end 27. A container 28 shown in dotted outline may be located and supported on the chassis 21. The support leg I:1-.I1 6 29, the wheels 30 and the suspension components associated with the wheels do not form a part of the present invention and will not be described further.

The chassis 21 includes a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel elongated main chassis members 31 and 32 (see Fig As also shown in Fig. 2, a ram assembly 33 is provided and functions to move the leading load transfer device 25 along the main chassis members 31 and 32.

Figs. 3 to 6 show further details of the chassis i 21 and of the main chassis members 31 and 32. The chassis has a leading portion 34 separated from intermediate portion 23 by a join 35. The intermediate portion of the chassis is separated from the trailing portion 24 by join 15 36. Rear beam 37 extends across main chassis members 31 and 32 and beyond these members. Longitudinally spaced bulk heads 38 through to 47 are arranged at intervals along :i the length of the chassis 21 and extend between the main chassis members 31 and 32. At the leading end 22 of the chassis 21 two transversely spaced longitudinally extending goose neck beams 48, 49 extend along a substantial part of the leading portion 34. Bulk heads 38 through to 47 are secured to the members 31 and 32 by stitch welding.

5 and 6 show the rear beam 37 and a 25 bumper 50. From these figures it can be seen that those bulk heads at the leading portion 34 are provided with weight reducing apertures 51 while bulk heads located in the intermediate and trailing portions are provided with a single weight reducing aperture 52.

Fig. 7 shows greater detail of the leading portion 34 of each of the main chassis members 31 and 32.

The portion 34 has an initial part extending from the leading end 22 to a location between that end and join which is of constant height. The remainder of the portion 34 is of a progressively greater height up to the maximum height of each of the main chassis members 31 and 32.

The preferred transverse cross-sectional shape of the main chassis members 31 or 32 is of the shaped form

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iNrO 00I 7 shown in Fig. 10. As shown, the main chassis members 31 and 32 have a top flange 53, a bottom flange 54 and a main web 55 extending between the flanges 53 and 54. Flange 53 in this embodiment extends at an upwardly inclined angle relative to the main web 55 and it is upon that inclined flange 53 that the leading and trailing load transfer devices 25 and 26 are adapted to travel with the flanges 53 serving as a track. A return flange 56 extends downwardly from a free edge of upper flange 53. The generally tshaped configuration of the main chassis members and the fact that they are made from press formed high tensile i steel ensures that the gauge of the material from which the chassis member are made may be kept to a minimum while still providing a chassis having the requisite strength.

The inclined upper flange 53 is preferred to provide proper load transfer characteristics when the load transfer devices 25 and 26 are used to lift the container 28. The flange 53 however may be substantially horizontal or inclined downwardly. The U-shaped main chassis members 31 and 32 are arranged so that preferably, the open sides thereof are on the inside and face each other.

As stated above a series of bulkheads 38 to 47 extend between the main chassis members 31 and 32. At each .end, at least some of the bulkheads 38 to 47 extend into 25 the interior of the members 31 as shown in dotted outline at 60 in Fig. 10 to substantially fill the internal profile of the members 31 and 32 and provide support to the upper and lower flanges 53 and 54. Preferably, the ends of the bulkheads are welded in position to the flanges 53 and 54 and web 55. In addition, spaced stiffeners 62 may be provided within the members 53 and 54, the stiffeners which also extending between the upper and lower flanges 53 and 54 and being secured by welding to same and the web The stiffeners add additional rigidity to the members 31 and 32 and allow the members 31 and 32 to be constructed of a lighter gauge material.

It is preferred that the main chassis members 31 S and 32 be manufactured from A514 grade of high tensile 1 steel or an equivalent or substitute.

Fig. 8 shows an intermediate portion 23 of the chassis members 31 and 32. Numerals 35 and 36 indicate the joins referred to with reference to Fig. 4. To reduce the weight of the intermediate portion 23, weight reducing apertures 57 are provided in the main webs of each of the chassis members 31 and 32.

Fig. 9 of the drawings shows the trailing portion 24 of each of the chassis members 31 and 32. Notch 58 receives the rear beam 37 and numeral 36 indicates join t 36 referred to with reference to Figure 4. Weight reducing apertures 59 are present in the main web of each of the trailing portions 24 of the main chassis members 31 and 32.

Fig. 11 shows a rear elevational view of a 15 trailer 20 incorporating a chassis 21 in accordance with an embodiment of the presen.e invention. The trailing load transfer device 26 is shown resting upon the main chassis members 31 and 32° By constructing the chassis 21 as described, the effects of transverse and twisting forces applied to the chassis members by moving the container between the positions identified by the numerals 28A and 28B are minimised.

The invention has been described above with reference to trailers securable to prime movers. The 25 trailers are primarily intended to carry shipping containers either of a twenty foot or forty foot length.

It should be appreciated however that the above is by way of example only and that the chassis of the invention may also be used for other vehicles in addition to trailers for carrying shipping containers.

Thus, whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (9)

1. A chassis for a vehicle, said chassis comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinally extending main chassis members; and a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse bulkheads extending between said main ?hassis members; wherein each of said main chassis members are substantially U-shaped in transverse cross- section, having an upper flange, a lower flange, a main web extending between said upper and lower flanges, and a downwardly directed flange extending from a free edge of said upper flange. t

2. A chassis as defined in Claim 1, wherein said I t upper flange extends upwardly from said main web t at an inclined angle. i

3. A chassis as defined in Claim 2, wherein said i, inclined angle is no more than 450.

4. A chassis as defined in Claim 3, wherein said inclined angle is

5. A chassis as defined in Claim 1, wherein said upper flange extends orthogonally from said main web.

6. A chassis as defined in Claim 1, wherein said upper flange extends downwardly from said main web at an inclined angle.

7. A chassis as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein at least some of said bulkheads extend at. each end into respective U-shaped main chassis i members and support said upper and lower flanges. i 4 i 1

8. A chassis as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein stiffeners are provided at spaced positions within each of said main chassis members and extending between said upper and lower flanges to support said flanges.

9. A chassis as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said chassis members are press formed from high tensile steel. A vehicle including a chassis as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 9. ct t c 11. A chassis for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. t i DATED THIS Twenty-fifth DAY OF June, 1996. LEES POWER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD BY PIZZEYS 4 i ii i 1 yj *0 VW ft ft Oft ft 'Oft.. *ft (~ft ft ft Oft ~S ft O ftP S ft Pd ft ft. ft. ABSTRACT A vehicle chassis (20) formed of a pair of spaced apart elongated main chassis members (31,32), each of which is press formed of steel and is of C-shaped form in cross section. The chassis members (31,32) are joined by spaced apart transversely extending bulkheads. The chassis is for use primarily with vehicles on which load transfer 'devices are supported for movement along the chassis J I I Nt