FR2491014A1 - Lowering drive for vehicle platform - has tensioning ram compressing rear suspension springs to ease rear end loading - Google Patents

Abstract

The jack is fixed horizontally to a traverse of the vehicle chassis and is worked by a manual or powered hydraulic pump and both tensioning and the loosening of the jack is controlled by a valve. A cable of large section leads from the jack, around an intermediate roller fixed to a vehicle traverse immediately above the rear axle, and is then fixed to the central body of the axle. The cable is doubled and splays out before it meets the roller so that the suspension springs on both sides of the vehicle are compressed.

Description

LOWERING TRAY DEVICE b) The present invention relates to vehicles of the flat truck type
for fast loading and transporting another vehicle.

The present invention allows faster vehicle removal
ease.

c) d)
The trucks currently used for the removal of vehicles 1 (depalming for example) require long and heavy ramps to access the platform which the operator must place behind the cani in order to mount a possible broken down car.

The angle of inclination of the access ramps to the platform is always very large. Getting the vehicle onto the platform is difficult and sometimes uncertain; moreover, the underside of the vehicle risks touching to block the ascent on the junction between the platform and the rails, this junction forming an angle that is too prominent when the ramps are too short.

The lowering plate according to the invention makes it possible to avoid these drawbacks. It can be combined with any type of carrier vehicle or fitted with spring suspensions. The example for the present description is a light carrier truck which is frequently used for the removal of cars, for breakdown assistance. The lowering device is characterized by the means of pressurizing the suspension springs of said truck.

The device according to the invention allows this pressurization of suspension spells and aims to lower the vehicle, present; thus the back of the tray at a privileged height because lower
The platform thus lowered and associated with its ramps constitutes a more gently sloping set, thus allowing a climb without taxing efforts: with more security.

The length of the access ramps is then halved and their weight.

With the lowering platform, the operator will use more flexible ramps, saving effort, time and space on the removable ramps, which are necessary for any chopping or unloading operation.

The means for lowering the truck bed is a hydraulic retraction cylinder (commonly known as a pulling cylinder); its power and its travel are variable depending on the type of carrier vehicle with which it is associated.

For the eismple, it is a small SBVIEM carrier truck of type SG 2 often used for troubleshooting; the cylinder in this case has a power of 5 tonnes and a stroke of about 25 centimeters.

The cylinder is fixed in a horizontal position in the chassis to a cross member; it can be pressurized for its operation by a manual hydraulic pump, or by a mechanical pump device driven by a power take-off on the truck's gearbox: such as a conventional bucket lifting system.

In both cases, a valve will be necessary for the pressurization of the cylinder or its release. The cylinder is associated with: a target with high resistance steel wires, the cross section of which varies according to the type of vehicle; a diameter of 12 n is used and sufficient for the vehicle
SG 2. Also associated with the jack, an intermediate roller fixed in the frame above the axle body of the truck (of the axle).

The target is held in a small pulley fixed to a plate or intermediate tie between the target and the jack; this plate will be necessary or nen, according to the modalities of adaptability to each possible type of vehicle. For the present example it was necessary on the vehicle type SG 2.

The target then passes over the intermediate roller and descends towards the body of the bridge where it is moored. The target is held in a flexible plastic sheath over the entire length where it is in contact with the body of the bridge.

Two guides added and welded under the body of the bridge ensure the correct positioning of the target at all times.

The device according to the invention allows by means of the pressurization of the jack to exert sufficient traction on the cable which by means of the roller will lower the plate by compressing monentanilent to the maximum the suspension springs.

e) The description of the device for lowering platform comprises six
drawings.

f) Plate 1/6 it represents the advantages of the lowering plate:
A) type of classic equipment existing with long ramps born
sides at the back of the tray.

 I) Platform, 2) Rear wheels of the truck, 3) Access ramps.

B) tray provided with the device, shown here in function. We rom
will be a lower position of the assembly, more accessible to
the operator and especially the short length of the access ramps.

Plate 2/6
Simplified diagram showing the operating principle.

I) The mechanism of the device is at rest.

I) Pulling cylinder, 2) Loose cable here, 3) Intermediate roller
4) Truck rear wheel, 5) Suspension spring, 6) Axle
rear deck, 7) Chissis had platform, H) Platform height by
report to the ground.

II) The mechanism is here in operation.

The cylinder is in pressure and in withdrawal, it exerts its traction
the target ; this traction via the roller compr
the suspension springs (5). The plate (7) is in position
low: see height: h.

Plate 3/6 it shows the entire device seen from above.

I) Cylinder, 2) Cable, 3) Roller, 6) Rear axle or bridge, 7) Cha 8) Intermediate junction plate, T) Chassis cross members.

The type of vehicle taken into consideration and represented here: SAVIEM SG requires, as shown in this figure (given the posit of the cross members of the chassis) an intermediate junction plate.

Minimum space is necessary for the cylinder and its travel
The jack is placed here in front of the axle; it could also be placed at the back: the operation would be identical as long as the target passes in front of the roller.

Plate 4/6 it shows the detail of the device seen from above.

I) Cylinder, 2) C & le, 3) Roller, 8) Intermediate plate, 9) Roller bearings fixed on the crossmember above the axle, IO) small pulley of 80 n diameter where the target passes . This pulley makes it possible to transmit an identical force to each section of the cable descending towards the rear deck where it is moored. II) Cylinder fixing plate on the appropriate chassis cross member, T) Chassis cross members.

Plate 5/6
Side view of the device, the chassis being shown in section (hatched).

We recognize here the elements of the view 4/6 but especially the mede of mooring the cable to the rear deck of the truck either: passing under each trumpet (I2) thereof, and coming to cap the bridge nose (13) . The guides (I4) are placed and welded under the trumpets, the target is surrounded by a protective sheath along its length of contact with the bridge and in the guides.

Plate 6/6 shows the rear view of the roller (3) with its bearings (9) above the axle body of the truck (6). The target (2) descends from each side under the trumpets (I2) in its guides I4.

The cable junction is visible in I5, as well as the pulley (IO).

Views 3/6, 4/6, 5/6 and 6/6 show the device at rest.

The invention can be carried out in the factory when vehicles are assembled, or, subsequently adapted to any vehicle whose lowering of the platform will facilitate loading operations.

Claims (4)

1. The lowering platform device associated with a carrier type vehicle is composed of: a pulling cylinder, a pressurizing pump, a release valve, a cable of large section and an intermediate roller. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for pressurizing the suspension springs of the carrier vehicle has a pulling cylinder fixed horizontally to the chassis on a cross member, and supplied by a manual or mechanical hydraulic The whole being regulated by a valve which allows the traction, or the release of the jack. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the horizontal traction of the jack is transmitted to the rear axle of the vehicle by a double cable passing through a small pulley and, anchored to the central body of the axle u of the axle. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the traction on the target and the rear deck to reduce the pla ceste traction to be vertical, is transmitted through the roller placed above the rear deck or the axle and fixed a cross member of the chtssis. The two segments of the target passing astride the roller.