FR2783859A1 - Lock mechanism esp for tilting truck cab has control system with mechanical energy accumulator and power cylinders actuating lock keys - Google Patents

Abstract

The lock mechanism has mobile hooks (11, 11') to engage with bars on the underside of the vehicle cab and keys (12, 12) to lock the hooks in their closed position or release them, operated by hydraulic cylinders (17, 17'). It has a control system comprising a mechanical energy accumulator in the form of a spring (18) interacting with the piston (20) of a power cylinder (19) which delivers the accumulated power to the cylinders (17, 17') by means of hydraulic fluid.

Description

The present invention relates to a lock and, more particularly,

  a locking device for a tilting cabin of a road motor vehicle,

incorporating at least one such lock.

  Road vehicles are known, such as trucks with an "advanced cabin", in which the cabin, referenced 1 in FIG. 1 of the appended drawing, is pivotally mounted on the chassis 2 of the vehicle, this to allow access to the engine 3 of this vehicle placed under the cabin. The cabin is articulated on the chassis 1 and an operating member 4 such as a power cylinder must be supplied with the aid of a pump 5 with manual actuation for example, to raise the cabin. Two latches 6, 7 are conventionally mounted on the chassis 2 to cooperate with the strikes 8, 9 respectively, mounted on the cabin 1 in order to retain, in a separable manner, the

cabin 1 on chassis 2.

  When it is desired to raise the cabin, it is obviously necessary to trigger the opening of the locks 6,7 and then actuate the power cylinder 4. The triggering of the locks is conventionally obtained by means of small actuating cylinders tilting the keys. blocking of these locks, these jacks being connected by conduits

  fluid to the hydraulic circuit of the power cylinder.

  Thus, when the pressure in this circuit is raised by actuating the pump 5 using a lever 10, the latches are released, around 15-25 bars for example, to release the cabin, the pressure in the circuit being able to then go up to 400 bars for example to lift

  and tilt the cab completely.

  The devices of the type described above are generally satisfactory but nevertheless present

various disadvantages.

  Firstly, the mounting of the pump and the power actuator on the one hand, of the actuators for the keys on the other hand, on the vehicle which receives them, obliges to provide, on the assembly line of the vehicles, in addition an assembly step, a purge step of the hydraulic circuit because the locks are connected to the pump circuit on this line. The manufacturers of these vehicles would like, for obvious reasons of lowering of manufacturing costs, to rationalize the installation of this device by eliminating in particular the purging and by installing on-line means and circuits already purged, offline, by

providers of these means.

  Furthermore, the connection of the locks to the hydraulic circuit of the power cylinder requires mounting on these locks actuators for keys capable of withstanding the highest pressure prevailing in this circuit (i.e. 400 bars), which does not is not economical, especially since the control of these locks could be obtained with a much lower pressure, of the order

of 10 bars for example.

  The present invention therefore aims to achieve a lock, and a locking device by applying, which do not have the drawbacks mentioned above and which, in particular, allow to rationalize the mounting of cabin locks on a road vehicle and therefore reduce the cost price by

this operation.

  This object of the invention is achieved, as well as other

  which will appear on reading the description which will

  follow with a lock comprising a) a keeper and a hook movable relative to each other between a first position where they are engaged and a second position where they are separated from each other, b) a key movable between a first position o it blocks the hook in its first position and a second position o it unlocks said hook, c) an actuating cylinder supplied with a pressurized fluid to move said key from its first to its second position and d ) means for controlling said actuating cylinder, this lock being remarkable in that said control means comprise e) a means for storing mechanical energy coming from that supplied to separate, or reunite, said hook and said keeper, and f ) a control cylinder for selectively discharging said mechanical energy into the fluid supplying said operating cylinder, so as to pass said key

  from its first to its second position.

  As will be seen in detail below, the lock according to the invention makes it possible, in the application envisaged above, to lock the tilting cabin on the chassis of a road vehicle which is easy to install and inexpensive, this device retaining, however, the flexibility of the hydraulic control of the locking devices

of the prior art.

  According to another characteristic of the lock according to the invention, the mechanical energy storage means is constituted by a spring charging a piston forming part of said control cylinder, a displacement of the hook and of the keeper between their first and second positions ensuring the loading of said piston by said spring, said control cylinder being further equipped with a disengageable member for retaining said piston in its

charging position.

  The invention thus makes it possible to produce a disengageable locking device of first and second movable mechanical assemblies relative to each other, this device being remarkable in that it comprises a lock according to the present invention, the hook and the key. said lock each being integral with one of the two assemblies. The device further comprises a second lock comprising a hook, a key and an actuating cylinder of said key substantially identical to the corresponding members of the first lock, the operating cylinder of said first lock being in fluid communication with the operating cylinder of the

  second lock and with said control jack.

  As will appear more clearly hereinafter, in their application to a road vehicle with tilting forward cabin, the two locks are thus part of the same fluid circuit, isolated from that which is used to tilt the cabin between its two extreme positions. Its maximum operating pressure is then relatively low, which makes it possible to lower the

manufacturing cost price.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the

  description which follows and the examination of the attached drawing

  in which: - Figure 1 is a general perspective view of an advanced truck cab, tilted away from the chassis of said truck, described in the preamble to this

description,

  - Figures 2 to 4 are schematic views of a device according to the invention, for locking a tilting cabin, which can be mounted on the truck of Figure 1, these views illustrating this device in three different stages of its operation and, - Figures 5 to 7 are schematic views of a lock of another embodiment of the device according to the invention, in three different stages of its operation. Referring to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing where there is shown a first embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, which comprises first (6) and second (7) latches designed to cooperate with strikes such than those referenced 8 and 9 respectively in FIG. 1, for disengageably fixing a tilting cabin 1 on a chassis 2 of a truck, as explained in the preamble to the present

  description. In the following, we will call either

  "lock" means the lock as defined above or the assembly constituted by said lock and the keeper which

is associated.

  Locks 6 and 7 respectively comprise, in a known manner, hooks 11,11 'and keys 12,12' mounted in rotation on flanges 13,13 'respectively, and loaded by spring pins (14,15; 14 ', 15') respectively. The pins 14,15 load the hook 11 and the key clockwise and counterclockwise respectively, while the pins 14 ', 15' load the hook 11 and the key 12 'counterclockwise and clockwise respectively,

from the point of view of FIGS. 2 to 4.

  The flanges 13, 13 ′ are each fixed to one of the frame rails 2 as shown in FIG. 1, in positions aligned transversely to the axis of the vehicle, at a distance from the axis of rotation of the cabin 1 which allows to the strikes 8, 9 respectively, to penetrate into the notches 16, 16 'cut out in the flanges 13, 13' of the locks, when the power cylinder 4 is actuated to bring this cabin onto the chassis 2 and fix it there. The hooks 11.11 ', previously spaced from these notches 16.16', respectively, then return to them under the thrust of the strikes to pass over

  the keepers and hold them against the bottom of the notches.

  The keys 12,12 'then come in the positions shown in Figure 3 to prevent rotation of the hooks 11,11' which could release them from the keepers,

  and therefore accidentally release cabin 1.

  In a known manner, again, the keys 12, 12 ′ are actuated by actuating cylinders 17, 17 ′ to pass from the locking position of the hooks shown in FIG. 3 to the unlocking position of these hooks, shown in the figure. 4. Thus the strikes and the hooks are movable between a first relative position where they are engaged, (represented in FIG. 3 or in FIG. 4) and a second position where they are separated (represented in FIG. 2) to allow tilting the cabin. The keys 12, 12 ′ are movable between a first position (see FIG. 3) where they block any rotation of the associated hooks in the direction of their release from the strikes and a second position (see FIG. 4) where they allow such rotation. The actuating cylinders 17,17 'are supplied with a pressurized fluid, such as a mineral hydraulic fluid, to move the keys 12,12' respectively, from their first to their

second position.

  According to the present invention, the device is provided with means for controlling the jacks 17, 17 ′ comprising a means for storing mechanical energy, such as a spring 18, and a control jack 19 for selectively converting the stored mechanical energy. in the spring 18 in an impulse increase in fluid pressure suitable for actuating the actuating cylinders 17,17 'in the direction which causes the keys 12,12' to pass from their first position, for locking the hooks 11,11 'respectively, at a second position, unlocking

said hooks.

  To do this, the control cylinder 19 comprises a piston 20 which delimits in the cylinder body of the first and second chambers 21,22 respectively (see FIG. 3), one 21 containing the spring 18 bearing on the piston and l other 22 being in fluid communication with the actuating cylinder 17, via a flexible conduit 23, and with the operating cylinder 17 'via a T-connector 24 and another flexible conduit 25. Conveniently, the control cylinder 19 is fixed to the flange 13 of the lock 6. However, as will be seen later, this cylinder could be fixed elsewhere than on the flange 13 of the lock, in any suitable location chassis or cab of the vehicle. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an axial protuberance 20 ′ of the piston 20 projects from the jack 19 towards a cam profile lla of the hook 11. The piston 20 has a second axial protuberance 20 "opposite the first for a goal that we will indicate more

far.

  The control cylinder 19 is placed on the chassis 2, on the side of the power cylinder 4, so as to be thus

  conveniently accessible from the same side of the vehicle.

  It will also be noted that the fluid circuit described above is independent and completely isolated from that which connects the cabin cylinder 4 to the pump 5 whereas, in the prior art, it is this latter circuit

which feeds the cylinders 17,17 '.

  The piston 20 is movable in the control cylinder 19 between an arming position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which it is stopped by a disengageable retaining member 26 constituted, for example, by a key mounted movably on the body of the jack 19 transversely to the axis thereof. The key 26 is loaded by a spring 27 (see Figure 3) to a position where it cooperates with a notch 28 formed on the piston 20 to retain the latter against the load of the spring 18 (see Figures 2 and 3), that -this being compressed in the chamber 21 to store energy

mechanical.

  The device according to the invention then operates as follows. To tilt the cabin 1 into the position shown in FIG. 1, from its position bearing on the chassis 2, latches 6 and 7 closed as shown in FIG. 3, the key 26 is pressed, for example by a blow fist in the direction of arrow F (see Figure 3). The piston 20 is then released and, under the action of the compressed spring 18, leaves to the left (from the point of view of FIG. 3) to discharge the spring and expel the hydraulic liquid contained in the chamber 22, in the cylinders of maneuvering 17.17 '. Under the pressure of the liquid, these tilt the keys 12,12 'in the position shown in Figure 4 where they release the hooks 11,11', respectively. The keepers 8, 9, rising due to the tilting of the cabin, drive the hooks 11, 11 'respectively, in the positions shown in FIG. 2 and are held in these positions by the return springs 14, 14', respectively. The strikes 8, 9 can then leave the notches 16, 16 'respectively, following the cabin 1 in its tilting movement towards the position shown in FIG. 1, under the thrust developed by the power cylinder 4, then actuated at

using the hand pump 5.

  According to an important characteristic of the present invention, it is when the strikes 8, 9 leave the notches 16, 16 'that the piston is reset and therefore the compression of the spring 18 which thus stores the energy used subsequently to actuate the cylinders 17,171. It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the radial protuberance 20 ′ of the piston 20 is supported on the cam profile lla of the hook 11, after the triggering of the piston 20. The clockwise rotation of the hook 11 under the action of the keeper 8 which is raised with the cabin 1, pushes the piston 20 in the control cylinder 19 by compressing the spring 18, until the reclosing of the retaining member 26 in the notch 28 of the piston 20, which then maintains the spring 18 in compression (see

figure 2).

  To bring the cabin back to the chassis from the position in FIG. 1, the actuator 4 is actuated so that its piston retracts. The keepers 8,9 then engage in the notches 16,16 'then open (see Figure 2) to come to bear, in the bottom of the notches, on the hooks 11,11' respectively, which rotate under the weight of the cabin against the action of the springs 14,14 'which load them, to return to the position shown in Figure 3, in engagement with the keepers 8,9, the keys 12,12' then returning to bear on corresponding profiles of the hooks 11,11 'to block these in their closed position on the strikes. Note that the lock 7 is equipped with a mechanism (30 to 35) which lacks the lock 6. As can be seen in Figure 1, the lock 6 is arranged on the same side of the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle as the cylinder of power 4. Thus, when the latter is actuated to raise the cabin, the latter receives an asymmetrical thrust upwards. Due to a certain elasticity of this cabin, it lifts more on the side of the lock 6 than on the side of the lock 7, when the cabin begins to climb from the position of FIG. 4, where the keys 12, 12 'are separated from the hooks 11,111. The keeper 8 then leaves the bottom of the notch 16 before the keeper 9 has left that of the notch 16 '. There is therefore a risk of seeing the key 12 'turn under the action of the spring 15' to block the hook 11 ', before the latter has

  turned enough to prevent such a blockage.

  To avoid this, the purpose of the mechanism (30 to 35) is to temporarily retain the key 12 ′ in the position shown in FIG. 4, to wait until the rise of the keeper 9, delayed relative to that of the keeper 8, is sufficient so that the key 12 'cannot block the hook 11' and prevent

opening the lock 7.

  To do this, the mechanism (30 to 35) comprises a first lever 30 articulated at one end on the flange

  13 'and at its other end on a second lever 31.

  The lever 30 comprises a notch 32 arranged so as to be able to engage in a corresponding notch 33 of the key 12 ', under the action of a spring 34, as shown in FIG. 4. The second lever 31 is connected to the hook 111 ′ by a link 35 with play, of the lug / buttonhole type for example. The notches 32,33 being engaged, as shown in FIG. 4, it is understood that it is only when the notch 32 is raised from the height of the notch 33, under the thrust of the keeper 9 and the hook 11 ', that the key 12 'will be released. But then the hook 111 'will have turned sufficiently (counterclockwise) so that this release of the key 11' has no effect on the freedom of rotation of the hook 111. This thus overcomes the delayed "take-off" of the keeper 9

  compared to that of the keeper 8 mentioned above.

  The mechanism (30 to 35) could be replaced by an adequate delay in the descent of the pressure in the actuating cylinder 17 ′, after the pressure build-up due to the triggering of the key 26, obtained for example using a properly arranged throttle in the

  supply duct 25 of this jack.

  We now understand that the device described above

  above can be fully assembled and its hydraulic circuit loaded and purged, outside the assembly lines of the vehicle which is to receive this device, this thanks to the complete independence of its hydraulic circuit from that of the power cylinder 4 which serves when tilting the cab. Its time to

  mounting on the vehicle is greatly reduced.

  It will also be noted that the hydraulic circuit of the locks 6,7 no longer having to withstand the very high pressures developed by the pump 4 (up to approximately 400 bars) can be dimensioned in a more modest way, to resist pressures of only around 10 bars, for the benefit of its manufacturing cost price. It will also be noted that the control cylinder 19 being provided with a piston provided with an axial protuberance 20 "which projects beyond the body of the cylinder, it is possible to manually actuate the piston 20 by pressing on this protuberance 20", case of seizure of said piston for example, this to the benefit of the safety of

  operation of the device according to the invention.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4. This is how the strikes could be secured to the chassis of the truck, and the locks secured to the cab. The locks could also be mounted on the vehicle in

  a longitudinal, rather than transverse, plane of it

  this. It is thus also that the arming of the control jack 19 could take place, not on the ascent of the cabin 1, but on the descent of the latter. FIGS. 5 to 7 show three positions of a version of the lock 6 modified for this purpose, it being understood that the lock 7 of the device according to the invention remains unchanged and is not

therefore not shown.

  Found in the lock 6, shown in the open position in Figure 5, the bodies 11,12,13,16, 17,19,20,26 described above of the lock 6 of Figures 2 to 4. The lock of FIG. 5 differs from the preceding lock 6 in that the mechanical coupling of the hook 11 and the piston 20 is no longer ensured by pressing this piston on a cam profile of the hook, but by a link 36 articulated on the hook in 37, at one of its ends. At its other end, the link 36 is cut out by a notch 38 arranged to receive a

  stud 39 formed the axial protrusion 20 ′ of piston 20.

  The positions of the spring 18 and of the chamber of the jack 19 which communicates with the jacks 17 and 17 ′ are reversed with respect to those shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The link 36 is loaded clockwise by a

spring (not shown).

  During the descent of the cabin, the keeper 8 engages in the notch 16 of the lock 6 in the open position (Figure 5) until it rests on the hook 11 which then rotates counterclockwise by pulling the connecting rod 36, then coupled to the piston 20, to the left from the point of view of the figure. This movement puts the spring 18 in compression and the key 26 in engagement with the notch 28 (see Figure 6). A nipple 40 planted on

  the flange 13 then releases the link 36 from the piston 20.

  The lock is then closed. To open it, the key 26 is pressed according to the arrow F (see FIG. 7) which has the effect of releasing the piston 20 which, pushed by the spring 18, empties the chamber 19 to actuate the actuating cylinders 17, 17 'ensuring the tilting of the keys 12,12' in the positions which allow the latches to be opened, as described in connection with the mode of

realization of figures 2 to 4.

  As a variant of the device shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the jack 19 and the link 36 can be mounted on the cabin for one and on the chassis of the vehicle for the other, rather than on the hook 11 and on the flange 13 , respectively. The resetting of the spring 18 takes place as described in connection with FIGS. 5 to 7, during the tilting of the cabin. The installation of the actuator 19 and of the link 36 on the lock proper, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, however makes it possible to constitute a compact assembly, of faster installation on the vehicle which is to receive it. The invention is also not limited to a locking device comprising two or more latches. The lock according to the invention can be used alone, in particular in applications where control of the opening of the lock by steel cable, or by a linkage, would prove to be difficult to set up and / or of insufficient reliability. The lock according to the invention can then have advantages, by the low cost of its control means, essentially a flexible conduit at low fluid pressure, than by its installation convenience, these control means being integrated into the

  lock itself, in a one-piece assembly.

  The invention is not limited to its application to a road vehicle in which the cabin is tilted using a hydraulic cylinder. It obviously finds application in vehicles in which this cabin is tilted using a torsion bar or an electro-hydraulic cylinder, for example, since it no longer requires a connection of the lock actuating cylinders

  to the circuit of a hydraulic power cylinder.

  Likewise, the present invention obviously extends to a lock in which the hook described above would be

  replaced by an equivalent means such as a bolt.

  Finally, the invention extends to a number of applications other than locking a tilting cabin of a vehicle on the chassis of this vehicle. It can be applied wherever it is necessary to assemble in a separable way two mechanical parts or assemblies, such as, for example, a tilting tipper and a road vehicle.

or rail, etc ...

Claims (14)

RESELL I CATIONS   1. Lock comprising a) a keeper (8) and a hook (11) movable relative to each other between a first position where they are engaged and a second position where they are separated from each other , b) a movable key (12) between a first position where it blocks the hook (11) in its first position and a second position where it unlocks said hook, c) an actuating cylinder (17) supplied by a pressurized fluid for passing said key (12) from its first to its second position and d) control means of said actuating cylinder (17), characterized in that said control means comprise e) means (18) for storing mechanical energy from that supplied to separate, or bring together, said hook (11) and said keeper (8), and f) a control cylinder (19) for selectively discharging said mechanical energy in the fluid supplying said operating cylinder (17 ) so as to pass said key (12) from its first to its second position.   2. Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical energy storage means consists of a spring (18) loading a piston (20) forming part of said control cylinder (19), a displacement of the hook ( 11) and the keeper (8) between their first and second positions ensuring the loading of said piston (20) by said spring (18), said control cylinder (19) being further equipped with a disengageable retaining member (26) of said piston (20) in its charging position.   3. Lock according to claim 2, characterized in that said piston has an axial protuberance (20 ') coming out of the control cylinder to bear on a cam profile (11a) of the hook (11) when said member retainer (26) is disengaged.   4. Lock according to claim 3, characterized in that a passage of said hook (11) and said keeper (8) from one of their first and second positions at   the other returns said piston (20) to its load position.   5. Lock according to claim 2, characterized in that said axial protuberance (20 ') of the piston (20) is mechanically coupled to a disengageable link (36). 6. Lock according to claim 5, characterized in that a passage of said hook (11) and said keeper (8) from one of their first and second positions to the other actuates said link (36) to bring back said   piston (20) in its loading position.   7. Lock according to any of   claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said piston   (20) divides said control cylinder (19) into first (21) and second (22) chambers, one containing said spring (18) bearing on said piston (20) and the other being in fluid communication with said cylinder operation (17).   8. Lock in accordance with any of   claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said hook   (11) and said key (12) are rotatably mounted on the same flange (13) and loaded by springs (14,15)   towards their second and first positions, respectively.   9. disengageable locking device of first (1) and second (2) movable mechanical assemblies relative to each other, characterized in that it comprises a latch conforming to any one of   previous claims, the hook (11) and the keeper   (8) of said lock each being integral with one of the two assemblies. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a second lock (7) comprising a hook (11 '), a key (12') and an actuating cylinder (17 ') of said key, substantially identical to the corresponding members of the first lock, the actuating cylinder (17) of said first lock being in fluid communication with the operating cylinder (17 ') of the second lock and with said control cylinder (19). 11. Device according to claim 10, in which the first and second assemblies are a tilting part (1) of the vehicle and the chassis (2) of said vehicle, respectively, a tilting member (4) of said part (1) acting thereon on the side of the first lock (6), and the strikes (8,9) of the two (6,7) locks being mounted on said part (1), characterized in that the second lock (7) is equipped a mechanism (30 to 35) for temporarily retaining its key (12 ') in its second position, when   the opening of said second lock (7).   12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said mechanism comprises a first notched lever (30) arranged to engage with a notch (33) complementary formed on said key (12 '), and a second lever (31 ) articulated at one end on said first lever (30) and, at the other end, on said hook (11 ').   13. Device according to any one of   claims 11 and 12, characterized in that said   tilting part is a vehicle cabin (1).   14. Road vehicle equipped with a tilting cabin (1) and a disengageable locking device for said cabin (1) on the chassis (2) of the vehicle, this device being in accordance with any one of claims 9 to 12.