GB1568405A - Vehicle bodies - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VEHICLE BODIES (71) We, SOUTHFIELDS COACH WORKS LIMITED, a British Company of Bakewell Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to vehicle bodies and in particular to commercial vehicle bodies of the tilt body type.

Such bodies may be used, for example, on rigid chassis cabs, articulated vehicle flat bed trailers, draw-bar trailers or step-frame trailers and normally comprise a rectangular frame defining the body outline, a roof framework and, along each side, a series of main structural vertical frame-members which subdivide the vehicle sides into modules or bays through which loading and/or unloading may be carried out. The rectangular frame is usually covered by a flexible sheet to protect the load.

It is necessary to provide load retention members across the bays and the ends of the vehicle if they are to be open for access and to minimise the unladen weight of the vehicle and thus maximise the load which may be carried. Conventional practice is to use a series of spaced-apart detachable struts of wood or in some cases metal.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a light load retention device for bays which is simpler to use than a series of detachable struts as used hitherto.

According to one aspect of the present invention a vehicle body of the tilt type comprises a rectangular body having at least one entry bay for loading access and a load retention frame for closing said bay, wherein the load retention frame comprises a rigid frame and a spaced-apart mesh of individually flexible members across said rigid frame.

Preferably the flexible members are pretensioned across said rigid frame and the members may be interwoven, e.g. a plain weave. The cross-over points may in addition be points of interconnection between the flexible members, for example by means of stitching. The members may be of strip-like material and the material is preferably a low elongation material such as, for example, seat belt material.

The load retention frame may in addition have an outer skin of sheet material across the rigid frame such as canvas, or a rigid material such as aluminium sheet.

A load retention frame may be provided internally of the vehicle for load retention or to subdivide the load carrying area.

The vehicle may have bays along both sides of its body separated only by vertical support pillars and may, in addition, have a loading bay at one or both ends. In each of these cases a load retention frame can be provided for each access bay. When used at an end of a vehicle body a pair of load retention frames may be utilised in the manner of conventional doors.

The load retention frame or frames may be hingedly attached to the body, for example by using two or more long pin gudgeons, or by conventional hinges. The load retention frame can then be swung outwardly to open the access bay and may also be completely removed by lifting it off the long pins of the gudgeons. The load retention frame may be held closed by means of a lock provided at the other end to the hinge and in the case of the long pin gudgeon hinge a pair of short pin gudgeons is smtable for the lock. Guide plates are provided behind the pins to act as stops to assist in engaging the pins.

Preferably dropsides are provided on the body for each bay so that they can be raised against the load retention frame to provide additional locking and support.

In another arrangement the load support frame may be mounted on sliding door gear.

There is now described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, several embodiments of the invention. In the drawings; Fig 1 is a perspective view of a TIR tilt type trailer body for an articulated vehicle, Fig 2 shows on an enlarged scale one bay of the trailer of Fig 1, having a load retention frame according to the present invention.

Fig 3 shows on an enlarged scale an alternative hingedly mounted load retention frame.

The TIR body comprises a main rectangular framework having four corner posts I, a pair of cant rails 2, 3 extending one along the top of each side of the body and a front end panel structure 4. The front panel structure 4 comprises two vertical posts and wooden infill panels. Each side of the body is subdivided by vertical roof support members 5 into bays and these members are connected to the cant rails 3, 2 at the top and engage in pockets 7 in the flatbed of the vehicle. A series of longitudinal members form a top supporting framework 8. Thus the vehicle body has a series of access bays along both sides and an access bay at the rear.

As shown in Fig 2 a single load retention frame 9 comprises a rectangular rigid frame of four square section steel tubes 10, 11, 12, and 13. A single vertical rigid steel tube 14 subdivides the frame.

A plain woven mesh of spaced-apart strips 15 of woven polyester seat belt material is provided across the outer frame there being five horrizontal strips and eight vertical strips. Each strip has its ends 16 stitched to form a loop to engage over the tube 10, 11, 12, or 13. The strips are pre-tensioned by means of using a jig before welding together the tubes to form the frame 9. The intersections of the strips 15 are also stitched to prevent separating of the strips by a load.

Hinge eyes 17 are welded to each corner of the frame 9 to provide hinges having vertical axes. A pair of long pin gudgeons 18, 19 are attached to the left-hand vertical member SA and a pair of short pin gudgeons 20.21 are attached to the right-hand vertical member SB. Conveniently the pins for the next adjacent bay are attached to the same gudgeon as shown. A guide plate 22 is provided behind each pin of the gudgeons.

Thus the load retention frame 9 is hinged about the long pin gudgeons 18 and 19 and can be locked closed by lifting onto the short pin gudgeons 20 and 21. It may be lifted completely off the body if required by disengaging all four pins.

A support plate or block 23 is attached to a dropside 24 of the body so that when the dropside 24 is swung upwardly and locked against the load retention frame 9 the block 23 engages the lower frame tube 13 and provides additional support for the load retention frame.

The alternative design shown in Fig 3 comprises a rectangular frame of four square section tubes 24,25,26 and 27. The top tube 24 is extended at either end beyond the frame and at the right hand end as shown is welded to the top 28 of a short vertical support rod 29. The support rod 29 is hingedly mounted to the vertical member SB by a pair of spaced apart hinges 30, 31. A diagonally extending rigid strut 32 extends from the lower end 33 of the support rod 29 to the centre or the top tube 24. Thus the rigid load retention frame is hinged from the member SB in the manner of a davit.

The left hand side 34 of the tube 24 is arranged to be securable in a socket member 35 attached to the vertical member SA to retain the load retention frame in the closed position and yet allow it to be lifted out and swung clear for loading of the vehicle.

In another embodiment of the invention, not shown, the load retention frame may be supported from the upper cant rail of the body by sliding door gear and it is to be understood that known similar means may be used that allows the required mounting of the load retention frame.

Furthermore a pair of load retention frames may be utilised to close a single bay and this is particularly useful at the rear of a vehicle when conventional doors are replaced by a load retention frame or frames.

In the case of sliding door frames several frames may be used to close a side of a vehicle free of any vertical subdividing pillars.

Additional load retention frames may be attached to a first main load retention frame to provide an extension in the area it covers and this feature is particularly useful in allowing the height of a load retention frame to be added to by fitting an extension frame to the top tube when required.

Further load retention frames according to the present invention may be used across or along the vehicle to subdivide the load carrying area or to provide additional load retention or support.

The flexible strips may be made of any suitable material and their tension and spacing is varied according to the load for which the vehicle is designed.

As an alternative to the body being covered by a single covering sheet the load retention frame or frames may be separately covered by a skin or a flexible sheet. The skin may be, for example, of aluminium sheeting or of canvas and attached to the rigid frame on the outside of the assembly so that the flexible strips support the load. This action allows the cover to be very light.

The present invention thus provides load support members which are easily handled by the vehicle operator, which are light, strong and stable. By providing a range of frame sizes flexibility of vehicle construc tions can be obtained without the components being non interchangeable.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vehicle body of the tilt type comprising a rectangular body having at least one entry bay for loading access and a load retention frame for closing said bay, wherein the load retention frame comprises a rigid frame and a spaced-apart mesh of individually flexible members across said rigid frame.

2. A vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the flexible members are pretensioned across the frame.

3. A vehicle body according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flexible members are interwoven.

4. A vehicle body according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the mesh of flexible members is fastened together at the points of intersection.

5. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible members comprise low elongation material.

6. A vehicle body according to claim 5, wherein the material comprises woven polyester seat belt webbing strip.

1. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an additional rigid sub-frame is provided across said rigid frame.

8. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an outer skin of sheet material is provided attached to said rigid frame to cover the mesh.

9. A vehicle body according to claim 8, wherein the skin is of aluminium sheet.

10. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a load retention frame is provided across an internal access bay within the vehicle to provide load retention internally of the body.

11. A vehicle body according to any of claims 1 - 9, wherein the body has a side comprising only vertical roof support pillars, and a load retention frame is provided for each bay formed between the pillars.

12. A vehicle body according to any of claims 1 - 9, wherein the bay is at one end of the body and the load retention frame provides an end closure in the manner of a door.

13. A vehicle body according to claim 12, wherein two load retention frames are provided for a single bay.

14. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the load retention frame or frames has attached thereto a secondary load retention frame to allow a removable extension to the frame area.

15. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the load retention frame has hinges to connect it to the vehicle body.

16. A vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein the hinges comprise two or more long pin gudgeons attached to a vertical pillar of the vehicle body.

17. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein locking means are provided to allow fastening of the load retention frame or frames into the closed position.

18. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein dropsides are provided on the vehicle which are positioned so that they may be raised against the load retention frame or frames in the closed position to provide additional locking and load support means.

19. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 - 14, wherein the load retention frame or frames is or are attached to the vehicle body by means of sliding door gear.

20. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A vehicle body constructed and arranged as described herein and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A vehicle body constructed and arranged as described herein and illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying draw ings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (22)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tions can be obtained without the components being non interchangeable. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A vehicle body of the tilt type comprising a rectangular body having at least one entry bay for loading access and a load retention frame for closing said bay, wherein the load retention frame comprises a rigid frame and a spaced-apart mesh of individually flexible members across said rigid frame.

2. A vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the flexible members are pretensioned across the frame.

3. A vehicle body according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flexible members are interwoven.

4. A vehicle body according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the mesh of flexible members is fastened together at the points of intersection.

5. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible members comprise low elongation material.

6. A vehicle body according to claim 5, wherein the material comprises woven polyester seat belt webbing strip.

1. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an additional rigid sub-frame is provided across said rigid frame.

8. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an outer skin of sheet material is provided attached to said rigid frame to cover the mesh.

9. A vehicle body according to claim 8, wherein the skin is of aluminium sheet.

10. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a load retention frame is provided across an internal access bay within the vehicle to provide load retention internally of the body.

11. A vehicle body according to any of claims 1 - 9, wherein the body has a side comprising only vertical roof support pillars, and a load retention frame is provided for each bay formed between the pillars.

12. A vehicle body according to any of claims 1 - 9, wherein the bay is at one end of the body and the load retention frame provides an end closure in the manner of a door.

13. A vehicle body according to claim 12, wherein two load retention frames are provided for a single bay.

14. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the load retention frame or frames has attached thereto a secondary load retention frame to allow a removable extension to the frame area.

15. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the load retention frame has hinges to connect it to the vehicle body.

16. A vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein the hinges comprise two or more long pin gudgeons attached to a vertical pillar of the vehicle body.

17. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein locking means are provided to allow fastening of the load retention frame or frames into the closed position.

18. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein dropsides are provided on the vehicle which are positioned so that they may be raised against the load retention frame or frames in the closed position to provide additional locking and load support means.

19. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 - 14, wherein the load retention frame or frames is or are attached to the vehicle body by means of sliding door gear.

20. A vehicle body according to any of the preceding claims, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A vehicle body constructed and arranged as described herein and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A vehicle body constructed and arranged as described herein and illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying draw ings.