GB2139273A - Vehicle bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

A sidewall of a vehicle body (3) is formed by end doors (9) hingedly mounted on the adjacent corner posts of the body and central doors (10) slidably mounted in a common track system. To gain access to the interior, one or both hinged doors (9) are opened, and the sliding doors (10) are moved to a position to give access to a particular part of the interior. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle bodies This invention relates to vehicle bodies, and more particularly to a vehicle body at least one longitudinally extending side of which is openable to facilitate loading and unloading of a cargo.

According to one feature of the present invention a vehicle body has at least one longitudinally extending side which comprises at least one hingedly mounted door and at least one slidably mounted door, the doors being locatable in a closed configuration in which they together close the side of the vehicle, wherein the hingedly mounted door may be hingedly moved from the closed configuration to an open position to create an opening in the side to permit access to the interior of the body, and the slidably mounted door may thereafter be slidingly moved to change the location of said opening.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention both longitudinal sides of the vehicle are substantially identical, and each comprises a hingedly mounted door at each end thereof, and a plurality of sliding doors between the end doors. The sliding doors are mounted in a common track system and remain co-planar at all times. Such a body provides quick and easy access to the interior of the vehicle at any point along either side, presents a pleasant streamlined appearance, maximizes interior space, and can be made as secure as a conventional box van body.

The above and further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of vehicle body; and Figures 2-4 are schematic plan view of various hinged door arrangements.

The vehicle 1 shown in the drawing comprises a conventional rigid chassis 2 carrying a permanently fitted vehicle body 3. The vehicle body 3 includes a roof 4, floor 5, front wall 6, and rear wall 7 of conventional design. Each longitudinally extending side wall 8 of the vehicle comprises two end doors 9 and three sliding doors 1 0. Each end door is hingedly connected by any suitable hinge arrangement 11 to the adjacent corner post of the vehicle body and is movable from the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1 to an open position in which the portion of the side of the vehicle formerly closed by the door is open, thereby permitting access to the interior of the vehicle through the opening.

The sliding doors 10 are slidable along a single lower track 1 2 and a single upper track 1 3. The tracks 12, 13 extend from substantially the front wall 6 to substantially the rear wall 7 whereby the sliding doors can, when the hinged doors 9 are open, freely slide along the entire length of the vehicle body.

The above described body enables quick and easy access to be obtained to the interior of the vehicle body at any point along either side. For example if access is required to the front of the vehicle body the front hinged door 9 is open to provide an opening into the vehicle body interior. If this opening is not big enough, if for example it is desired to use a fork lift truck to remove cargo from the interior, the rear hinged door 9 is open and the sliding doors 10 are siid to the rear of the vehicle, thereby enlarging the opening at the front of the vehicle. By suitable manipulation of the sliding doors an opening having a width equal to the sum of the openings created by the hinged doors can be created at any point along either side of the vehicle body.

Because the sliding doors 10 are mounted on a common track system they are at all times co-planar. Preferably, when the hinged doors 9 are closed they are also co-planar with the adjacent sliding doors. This arrangement ensures a pleasing smooth exterior to the closed side, and maximizes the amount of interior space available for load carrying. Further, by positioning suitable seals between adjacent doors the vehicle side can be made waterproof in a relatively easy manner. By providing suitable locks for the hinged doors the vehicle can be made as secure as a conventional rigid bodied vehicle. This is in contrast with curtain sided vehicles in which the vulnerability of the curtain material limits the extent to which the vehicle can be secured.

Figs. 2-4 show various hinged-door ar rangements. Fig. 2 shows the simplest arrangement in which each hinged door consists of a single rigid panel. Whilst the simplicity of this arrangement offers obvious advantages the system suffers from the disadvantage that a relatively large amount of side clearance is required in order to open the hinged door. In order to overcome this problem the arrangements of Figs. 3 or 4 may be adopted. In the case of the Fig. 4 arrangement the door consists of two panels hingedly connected by a hinge 14.In the arrangement of Fig. 4 two panels connected by hinge 1 4 are again used, but the end 1 5 of the door remote from the hinge 11 is captive at the top and bottom edges thereof in the tracks 1 3 and 1 2 respectively to control the position of the edge 1 5.

The above described vehicle may incorporate any of the modifications conventional in vehicle body design, and may, for example, be provided with a front wind deflector, rear entry doors, interior load restraint bars, or other conventional fittings.

Whilst the invention has been described with particular reference to a vehicle body permanently fixed to an associated chassis, it will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to a de-mountable vehicle body or to a freight container or to a trailer or semi-trailer or any other suitable vehicle type. Further, whilst the preferred embodiment utilizes two hinged doors and a plurality of sliding doors on each side this is not essential. For example, it may in some case be desirable to have only one side operable, and the operable side may one have one hinged door.

Claims (9)

1. A vehicle body having at least one longitudinally extending side which comprises at least one hingedly mounted door and at least one slidably mounted door, the doors being locatable in a closed configuration in which they together close the side of the vehicle, wherein the hingedly mounted door may be hingedly moved from the closed configuration to an open position to create an opening in the side to permit access to the interior of the body, and the slidably mounted door may thereafter be slidingly moved to change the location of said opening.

2. A vehicle body according to claim 1 wherein the said one longitudinally extending side has a hingedly mounted door at each end thereof, and a plurality of sliding doors between the hingedly mounted doors.

3. A vehicle body according to claim 2 wherein the sliding doors are mounted in a common track system and are co-planar at all times.

4. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim wherein, when the doors are located in the closed configuration, all the doors of the said one longitudinally extending side are co-planar.

5. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim wherein the or each hingedly mounted door is hingedly mounted on an adjacent corner post of the vehicle body.

6. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim wherein the or each hingedly mounted door is a single rigid panel.

7. A vehicle body according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the or each hingedly mounted door comprises two hingedly connected panels.

8. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim wherein both longitudinally extending sides of the vehicle body are substantially idential.

9. A vehicle body substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.