GB2032357A - Chassis for trailer, particularly caravan - Google Patents

Abstract

In a chassis for a trailer, particularly a caravan, the chassis is constituted solely by two drawbars (1, 2) which are disposed V-wise and a V-shaped cross-member (4). The drawbars (1, 2) are connected at one end to the block housing the overrun brake and are directly connected at their other end to the cross-member (4). The drawbars may be extended beyond the cross-member in order to provide a support for a coil spring and/or a shock absorber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Chassis for trailer, particularly caravan The invention relates to a chassis for a trailer, particularly a caravan, with a V-shaped cross-member on which the vehicle wheels are obliquely and individually suspended and with, disposed V-wise, two drawbars connected at one end to the block housing the overrun brake.

Such a chassis is already known from German laid-open specification (DOS) No. 27 02 243. In that case, the chassis is constituted by two longitudinal members, two axle support plates, the two drawbars and the axle housing which is constructed as a cross-member. The individual parts are welded and/or bolted to one another. The cross-member is likewise V-shaped and traverses the axle support plates. On each of the parts of the cross-member which project outwardly a wheel is mounted by means of an obliquely positioned longitudinal swinging arm. The wheels are suspended by means of a rubber-sprung axle. The drawbars and the longitudinal members have connecting means to receive the vehicle superstructure. A disadvantage of this chassis is that it has to be assembled from a relatively large number of individual parts.The individual parts must be machined relatively accurately, at least at the places where they are connected to one another. Furthermore, the system of individual wheel suspension is not of optimum design.

Afurtherchassis is known from DAS 20 14 192, in which the bars of the A-frame are separably connected to the block housing the overrun brake and the drawbar and also to the chassis. The wheels are individually but not obliquely suspended on the straight tubular supporting member of a rubbersprung axle. Also located on the tubular support member of the rubber-sprung axle are two angled flanges having on their upper side connecting means for attachment to a frame. The flanges serve as longitudinal members for a separate frame and have, cranked in the direction of the housing block, connecting points on the lateral arms of which the individual drawbars are bolted. With this arrangement, a separate trailer frame is required which can be bolted to the chassis which consists of a plurality of individual parts.

The present invention is based on the problem of so further developing a chassis for vehicle trailers of the type described at the outset that better power transmission is achieved between the vehicle wheels, with a better coupling to the tractor vehicle.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the drawbars which are disposed V-wise are at the other end connected directly to the cross-member which means that the chassis is constituted solely by the drawbars and the cross-member. Thus, the drawbars are moved directly into the direction in which the forces from the roadway also have to be absorbed and transmitted. The chassis is of surpris inglysimple design. To construct it, only the one cross-member and the two drawbars are required and are connected directly to one another. Axle support plates, longitudinal members and the like may be dispensed with entirely. Each part of the chassis simultaneously fulfils several functions. For instance, the drawbars not only serve to transmit power but at the same time constitute a part of the chassis frame.The cross-member is not only a component of the chassis frame but at the same time also carries the individual wheel suspension.

It is particularly advantageous that the drawbars are separably connected to the cross-member, so that for despatch purposes, the chassis frame occupies only a small amount of space.

It is possible for the V-shaped cross-member to carry the wheels individually through triangular links so that this readily affords an opportunity of using a high-quality axle suspension also in the field of vehicle trailers. There is nothing to prevent the individual wheel suspension system being sprung through parts of the chassis frame.

It would be particularly advantageous for the drawbarsto be extended beyond the cross-member and so to provide a support for a coilspring and/or a shock absorberforthe individual wheel suspension system. The shock absorber can be used both if the oblique link is articulated to a rubber sprung axle and an individual swinging arm and also if triangular links are used; Also a triangular link itself can be supported on the cross-member through rubbertorsion springs.

It is possible to provide on the drawbars and the cross-member means for connection to the vehicle superstructure, in other words for the body of the caravan with its floor panel and the relevant internal construction.

With particular advantage, the V-shaped crossmember can also be angled in relation to the horizontal plane which favourably influences the stability of the chassis on bends.

Examples of embodiment of the invention are explained hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa plan view of a first embodiment of the chassis; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the chassis, and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the chassis shown in Fig. 2.

The chassis shown in Fig. 1 and intended for trailers, particularly caravans, consists of two drawbars 1 and 2 which are disposed V-wise and which are separably connected for example to a block 3 housing the overrun brake. It will be appreciated that the two drawbars 1 and 2 can however also be con nected to each other in some other manner.

Envisaged as a further essential element of the chassis is a likewise V-shaped cross-member 4 which is disposed at an angle to the direction of travel and to the horizontal plane. The drawbars 1 and 2 are separably connected to the cross-member 4, for example by a screwed joint 5. Both the two bars 1 and 2 and also the cross-member4 have con The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from later filed formal copy.

nection means 6 and 7 for connection to the vehicle superstructure, for example the floor panel of the box superstructure.

As can be seen from the drawings, the drawbars 1 and 2 do not only have a drawbar function but at the same time constitute a supporting part of the chassis. Similarly, the cross-member4 is not only a component of the chassis frame but serves at the same time as a carrierforthe axle suspension. To achieve individual wheel suspension, triangular links 8 are pivotally connected to the cross-member 4 and are in each case supported through a rubber torsion spring element not shown. Springing of the triangular links 8 is therefore not prevented by components of the chassis frame. It will be understood that a shock absorber can be incorporated between each triangular link 8 and the floor panel of the box construction.

The embodiment of chassis according to Fig. 2 and 3 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 inthatthedraw- bars 1 and 2 are extended rearwardly beyond the cross-member4. With a slight modification of the V-shaped angle at the block 3 which houses the overrun brake, the extension can also be taken considerably farther on than is shown in Fig. 2 in order to impart more of the longitudinal member function to the drawbars 1 and 2. This is the case particularly with large and long trailer caravans. In such cases, the drawbar is then constructed in one piece with the longitudinal members.

The cross-member 4 has, according to Fig. 2, a straight part which is disposed in the centre. It is otherwise angled on both sides of this straight part, in the direction of the block 3 which houses the overrun brake. At the same time, it is furthermore angled in the manner shown in Fig. 3, in the relevant plane, in other words so that it rises in the region of the individual wheel suspension. Here, too, the crossmember 4 carries triangular links 8 of the individual wheel suspension. These are in known manner pivotally mounted on the cross-member4 and are otherwise supported or sprung, as the case may be, through in each case a coil spring 9 and a shock absorber 10 on the rearwardly protruding parts of the drawbars 1, 2. The connecting means 7 can likewise in this case be provided on the bars 1 and 2 or may be in addition to a further connection on the cross-member 4. The drawbars 1 and 2 are shaped in the manner shown in Fig. 3, which is adapted to the angle of inclination. The result is a plane surface on the top of the chassis frame which serves to receive the floor panel of the box structure.

Claims (8)

1. A chassis for trailers, particularly caravans, having a V-shaped cross-member on which the trailer wheels are obliquely and individually sus pended, and two drawbars disposed V-wise, and being connected at one end to the block which houses the overrun brake, the drawbars (1 and 2) being con nected directly at their other end to the V-shaped cross-member (4) so that the chassis frame is constituted solely by the drawbars (1 and 2) and the cross-member (4).

2. A chassis according to Claim 1, characterised in that the drawbars (1 and 2) are detachably connected to the cross-member (4).

3. A chassis according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the wheels are individually mounted on the V-shaped cross-member (4) through triangular links (8).

4. A chassis according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the drawbars (1 and 2) are extended beyond the cross-member (4), where they constitute a support for a coil spring (9) and/or a shock absorber (10) of the individual wheel suspension system.

5. A chassis according to Claim 3, characterised in that the triangular links (8) are supported on the cross-member (4) through rubber torsion springs.

6. A chassis according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that connection means (6, 7) for the trailer superstructure are provided on the drawbars (1 and 2) and the cross-member (4).

7. A chassis according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the V-shaped cross-member (4) is also angled in respect of the horizontal plane.

8. A chassis for trailers substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.