Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
  • B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
  • B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
  • B60P1/43—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle
  • B60P1/435—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle the ramp being attached to or making part of the side- or tailboards of the vehicle

Definitions

• the invention relates to a van with an advanced cabin and a platform for transporting goods or people.
• the present invention seeks to overcome this drawback and proposes to provide a van having a useful modular loading surface according to the applications of the vehicle.
• the invention further aims more particularly to provide a van of the type with a useful modular loading surface, consisting of a self-propelled road vehicle having an empty weight (excluding storage battery in the case of an electric vehicle) at 550 kg and having a loading surface (excluding the cockpit) of more than 3 m, for a total loaded weight of less than 1,500 kg.
• the invention aims in particular to propose such a vehicle which is electrically powered, and can carry, on this loading surface, a payload (excluding driver) of up to 600 kg.
• the invention aims more particularly to allow the production of such a vehicle which can be approved in the regulatory category known as heavy quadricycles.
• the invention relates to a van, the platform of which comprises:
• a van therefore includes a modular platform very easily by simple tilting of at least one flap between a deployed and folded position and which can comprise, depending on its configurations:
• At least one loading tray with lowered loading threshold allowing easy loading and transporting bulky objects of substantial height due to the height available above each lower tray.
• at least raised loading platform also allows the transport of other objects.
• such a vehicle can provide either the transport of people seated on one (or more) platform (s) and whose the feet rest on the lower plate adjoining this (or these) upper plate (s), that is to say the transport of goods arranged on each upper plate after deployment of the flap (s).
• such a design is particularly suitable for the production of self-propelled road vehicles of low empty weight (less than 550 kg excluding batteries) with a large loading surface (more than 3 m 2 outside the cockpit), which can carry heavy loads (up to 600 kg), which may belong to the regulatory category known as heavy quadricycles.
• each upper plate on which a flap is articulated has a length greater than that of the lower plate on which this flap can be deployed, said flap being articulated on said upper plate at the edge of the latter adjoining said plate. inferior.
• each lower plate advantageously comprises at least one loading ramp articulated with respect to a free edge of said plate so as to be able to switch between a loading position, folded down on the ground, and a position where it extends vertically, d closing the corresponding face of the volume delimited by said lower plate.
• Such ramps allow very easily to facilitate the loading and unloading of bulky objects and also constitute a bodywork element in their vertical position.
• each lower plate is arranged in the middle position between two upper plates, one of which is fitted with a flap capable of being deployed above said lower plate.
• each lower plate then advantageously comprises two lateral loading ramps.
• each upper plate is provided with transverse and longitudinal peripheral plates, the transverse plate adjoining a lower plate and disposed at the level of an upper plate provided with a flap adapted to be deployed on said lower plate, being fixed on said flap so as to tilt with the latter.
• each loading ramp has a length suitable for forming a drop side with a height at least equal to that of the drop sides of each upper plate in the deployed position of the flap of the lower plate equipped with said ramp.
• the platform carries a superstructure consisting of body walls forming a van.
• the body walls advantageously comprise at least one access door to each lower loading platform.
• each upper plate consists of at least one box consisting of an upper wall and four vertical side walls, at least one of said walls constituting an access wall to the internal volume of said box.
• the van according to the invention also advantageously comprises a rigid tubular rear frame rigidly fixed to the platform and extending rearwardly relative to said platform, said frame forming a cradle for a propulsion engine and being dressed so as to present a flat upper wall forming an upper loading platform.
• the engine is advantageously an electric motor, one of the boxes being adapted to accommodate a storage battery.
• this van comprises a box adjoining the rear frame and forming an upper plate with the upper wall for covering said rear frame, said box being suitable for housing a second storage battery or a heat engine. coupled to an electric current generator, capable of charging the storage battery or supplying the electric motor.
• the platform and the rear framework define a useful surface area of loading area greater than 3 m 2 , and the platform advantageously comprises for this purpose a single median lower plate disposed between two upper front and rear plates.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view in vertical longitudinal section of the chassis of a van according to the invention, equipped with a first example of a superstructure
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of this van
• FIG. 3 are perspective views of a second example of a van according to the invention.
• the van according to the invention comprises a chassis shown in FIG. 1 consisting of a platform 1 formed of a sandwich structure, of a rigid tubular front frame 2 rigidly fixed to the front of the platform 1 and extending forwardly with respect thereto, and a tubular rear frame 3 rigidly fixed to the rear of the platform 1 and extending rearwardly relative to the latter.
• the frames 2, 3 are tabular in the sense that they are essentially formed of tubes, but can incorporate other elements such as stiffening plates, tie rods, cables, struts or reinforcing bars ...
• the front frame 2 is adapted to form and / or support a cabin floor and comprises a superstructure 4 also rigid tubular to which bodywork elements defining a cabin 5 are fixed.
• the platform 1 is formed by an upper flat metal plate 6, by a lower flat metal plate 7 whose dimensions and shapes are at least substantially similar to that of the upper plate 6, and these two plates 6, 7 are arranged so as to extend one above the other and are connected by means of a rigid mesh of spacers such as 8 interposed between them and fixed to the latter by riveting and / or bonding.
• This platform 1, and therefore the plates 6, 7 also have the general shape of a rectangular plate, the longitudinal ends of which are, however, narrowed to provide space for the passage of the wheels.
• Each of the frameworks 2, 3 is in turn formed of steel tubes welded and / or bolted together, that is to say of a mechanically welded structure.
• the shape given to these frameworks 2, 3 depends on the characteristics which one wishes to give to the vehicle and on the functions which the said structures must fulfill. frames.
• the rear frame 3 acts as a cradle for the engine 9 of the vehicle which is for example an electric motor.
• This rear frame 3 is also used for fixing a certain number of rear bodywork elements (rear bodywork wall, wheel arches or mudguards, etc.).
• the front frame 2 serves as a cabin chassis and defines a first trunk 10 immediately in front of the platform, for example intended to receive a storage battery 11, and a second front trunk 12 intended to receive all of the vehicle's electrical or electronic devices and accessories.
• These boxes 10, 12 are formed not only by the front frame 2 but also formed by thin metal walls, wood or plastic suitably.
• Each frame 2, 3 is rigidly fixed to the platform 1 by riveting and gluing.
• the platform 1 is fixed in the lower part of these frames 2, 3 so as to form a lowered middle plate.
• the vehicle according to the invention is conventionally a vehicle with four wheels, namely two front wheels 13 and two rear wheels 14.
• Each wheel 13, 14 is suspended relative to the chassis by means of a linear damper 15, 16 whose body is fixed rigidly stationary relative to the corresponding frame 2, 3.
• Such linear dampers 15, 16 comprising a portion guided in translation relative to the body and on which the wheel 13, 14 is secured, act simultaneously as elastic return members, movement dampers and guiding in translation of each. of said wheels.
• the vehicle according to the invention is an advanced cabin van 5, the front frame 2 defining said cabin.
• This cabin 5 can be equipped with all the technical comfort elements and accessories necessary for driving the vehicle and transporting one or more passengers in cabin 5 (seats, steering wheel, pedals, floor, heating, windshield, windows. ..).
• the platform 1 and the rear frame 3 define a useful loading surface at the rear of this cabin 5, which can be the subject of numerous variants according to the applications of the vehicle according to the invention.
• the storage battery 11 is disposed inside the front trunk 10, and a rear trunk 17 completes and cover the front of the rear frame 3 which contains the electric motor 9 coupled to the rear wheels 14.
• This rear trunk 17 can be used to accommodate a second storage battery or a heat engine coupled to an electric current generator capable of charge the storage battery 11 or supply the electric motor 9.
• the platform 1 defines a lowered middle plate 18.
• the front box 10 also forms a front plate 19 raised relative to the middle plate 18.
• the rear box 17 and the rear part of the rear frame 3 finally also form a rear plate 20 raised relative to the middle plate 18 coplanar with the front plate 13.
• the useful loading surface is therefore equal to the sum of the surfaces of the three plates 18, 19, 20. This useful loading surface can thus be greater than 3 m 2 and can receive a load weighing up to 600 kg.
• the rear plate 20 consists of a removable wall, for example by longitudinal sliding, in order to allow access to the engine 9 and inside the rear trunk 17.
• the vehicle comprises a longitudinal flap articulated along a horizontal transverse axis at the level of the front transverse edge of the rear plate 20 and of length combined with that of the median plate 18 so as to be able to switch between:
• the vehicle has a flat useful loading surface equal to the surface of the platform 1 and of the rear frame 3.
• a storage box is provided between the central plate 18 and the flap 21.
• This vehicle further comprises two lateral loading ramps 27, 28 each articulated at one of the longitudinal edges of the central plate 18 so as to be able to switch between: a loading position where they are folded down onto the ground and in which they make it possible to facilitate the loading of objects onto the middle plate 18,
• the front plate 19 also has a side panel 23 consisting of two longitudinal side sections connected by a front transverse section.
• the rear plate 20 also has perimeter side panels, namely two longitudinal side panels such as 24, a rear transverse side panel 25 and a front transverse side panel 26.
• rear drop side 25 is articulated on the rear bodywork elements of the vehicle so as to be able to retract and allow the rear plate 20 to be withdrawn by sliding.
• the front drop side 26 is secured to the flap 21 so as to tilt with the latter.
• the loading ramps 27, 28 have a length suitable for forming drop sides above the flap 21, in the deployed position of the latter.
• the vehicle has body walls 29 forming a van.
• the van has at the middle plate 18, two side doors such as 30 of the rolling shutter type adapted to close the space between the loading ramps 27, 28 and the roof of said van, and allow objects to be loaded. having a height which can reach the useful loading height at the level of the central plate 18.
• Such a type of van can have a loading volume exceeding 4 m 3 .
• the vehicle according to the invention can be designed so as to be able to transport either goods or people.
• the transport of people can, in fact, be carried out in the folded position of the flap 21 by having seats on the free face of the latter, the front plate 19 serving as a bench, and the feet of the passengers resting on the median plate 18.
• the transportation of goods is carried out in the deployed position of the flap 21 in which the vehicle has a flat loading surface.
• a vehicle according to the invention in accordance with FIG. 4 was produced with the following dimensions:
• Platform 1 had the following dimensions:
• the total weight of the chassis according to the invention was 160 kg.
• the vehicle is fitted with a 6 kW electric motor.
• the vehicle without rear superstructure has a total unladen weight excluding accumulator battery, internal combustion engine and current generator of less than 550 kg so that it can be classified in the regulatory category of heavy quadricycles. It has a useful loading surface greater than 3 m 2 and a loading volume that is not limited in height, which can typically be 4.5 m 3 in the case of the van shown in Figure 2. It can carry a load of 600 kg at speeds of up to 60 km / h. It should be noted that these performances are obtained while the cabin 5 is equipped with all the traditional comfort elements present on an automobile, namely padded seats, a glazed windshield, a central heating unit, air vents, a bodywork. complete including hinged side doors, ... Such a heavy quadricycle can even be used to transport 4 to 6 passengers if the useful loading area is provided with seats.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8858015

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (13)

Family Cites Families (16)

• 2000
  • 2000-12-21 FR FR0016788A patent/FR2818597B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-12-20 EP EP01994931A patent/EP1358089A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-12-20 AU AU2002225123A patent/AU2002225123A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-12-20 WO PCT/FR2001/004099 patent/WO2002049875A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-12-20 US US10/451,244 patent/US6926347B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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