GB2146597A

GB2146597A - Air-guiding arrangement for drivers' cabs of semitrailer towing vehicles or tractors

Info

Publication number: GB2146597A
Application number: GB08423116A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaus Schmitt
Original assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Current assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Priority date: 1983-09-14
Filing date: 1984-09-13
Publication date: 1985-04-24
Also published as: FR2551714A1; DE3333088A1; IT1175693B; GB2146597B; FR2551714B1; IT8422609A0; GB8423116D0; DE3333088C2

Abstract

An air guiding arrangement for a drivers' cab (1) of a semitrailer towing vehicle, comprises upright side shields which can be pivoted outwards into a transverse position. Each side shield (2) is held by an upper and lower linkages 4, 5, and one of the linkages (4) comprises a four-bar mechanism (13,14). The arrangement may be such that when the four-bar mechanism is arranged in one linkage, the other linkage comprises a single guide arm which is rigidly connected to one of the arms (13) of the four-bar mechanism by a guide rod (27). A supporting spring (23) may be pivoted whereby the shield is supported resiliently in each pivotal position and the linkages (4,5) may be connected by a rod (10) which may provide a handle extending between them. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Air-guiding arrangement for drivers' cabs of semitrailer towing vehicles or tractors The invention relates to an air guiding arrangement for drivers' cabs of semitrailer towing vehicles or tractors, comprising upright side shields arranged as a rearward extension of the drivers' cab, on the long side of the extension, at least one of which side shields can be pivoted outwards out of its longitudinal position on the vehicle into a transverse position.

In air guiding arrangements of the aforementioned type it is known practice, in addition to an upper, deflecting surface on the roof, which may be adjustable, to provide side shields in order to achieve better air conduction particularly in the case of semitrailer towing vehicles or tractors having the necessary large gap between the drivers' cab and trailer. In order that the connections between the towing vehicle and trailer may still be made in the conventional manner despite the side shields provided, at least one of these side shields is capable of being swung out so that entry into the space between the drivers' cab and trailer is possible.

The object underlying the invention is to provide, for the side shields, a holder which, when in the swung-out position, leaves the access into the free space between the driver's cab and trailer as wide as possible.

According to the invention an air guiding arrangement for the drivers' cab of a semi-trailer towing vehicle comprises upright side shields arranged as a rearward extension of the driver' cab, on the long side of this extension, at least one of which side shields can be pivoted outwards out of its longitudinal position on the vehicle into a transverse position, wherein the or each side shield is held by an upper linkage, which lies on a level with the rool of said cab, and by a lower linkage, and that one of the linkages comprises a four-bar mechanism, the arms of which also extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, relative to the longitudinal position of the side shield on the vehicle, and are held, bytheirforward ends which are adjacent to the driver's cab near to the leading edge of the side shield.

An arrangement of this kind ensures that, when the side shield is in both the longitudinal position on the vehicle and in the transverse position, it lies with its leading edge closely adjacent to the rear side of the driver's cab so that, on the one hand, a change which is the most favourable possible from the aerodynamic aspect occurs despite the curved contours of the driver's cab, but that, on the other hand, the access into the space between the driver's cab and trailer is as open as possible when the side shield is in the transverse position.

In one embodiment of the invention, the other of said linkages comprises a single guide arm which is rigidly interconnected to one arm of the four-bar mechanism by a guide bar. In a further embodiment of the invention, the side shield is resiliently supported in both of the pivoting positions and a supporting spring is provided, the direction of support of which in each pivotal position and in the transitional region between the pivotal position corresponds to the same direction of rotation of one arm of the linkage which is driven by the spring and in another embodiment of the invention, the two linkages are interconnected by a connecting rod, which in the region between the linkages provides a handle.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, in a strictly diagrammatic representation, a rear view showing, as a whole, the arrangement of a side shield relative to the driver's cab (not shown in detail).

Figure2 shows, in a sectional view along the line Il-Il in Figure 1, the lower linkage means of the side shield relative to the driver's cab when in its longitudinal position on the vehicle, Figure 3 shows a view which corresponds to Figure 2 and in which the side shield occupies an intermediate position forming an angle of approximately 45" between its longitudinal position on the vehicle and its transverse position, Figure 4 shows a view also corresponding to Figure 2, but with the side shield now in its transverse position, Figure 5 shows a sectional view along the line V-V in Figure 1 in which the upper linkage means of the side shield is shown, that is, with the side shield in the longitudinal position on the vehicle, and Figure 6 shows a view which corresponds to Figure 5 and in which the side shield is swung into its transverse position.

In the view shown in Figure 1, the driver's cab 1 is partly outlined by dot-dash lines, the air guiding arrangement being attached as a whole to the driver's cab. Of this arrangement, a side shield or screen, which is designated by reference numeral 2, is partially shown in Figure 1. A lateral shield component 3, running along the roof, lies above the side shield 2 and forms the connection with the deflecting surface (not shown in detail) on the roof.

Fastening brackets 4 and 5 are provided on the rear wall of the driver's cab for fastening the side shield 2 and shield component 3. Of these brackets, the upper fastening bracket designated by reference numeral 4 is, as can be seen particularly in Figure 5, attached to the gutter 6 of the driver's cab. Attachment is effected by clamping in a manner known per se and, accordingly, the bracket consists of the triangular supporting member, which is generally designated by reference numeral 7, and the clamping tongue 8 which cooperates with the said supporting member.

The lower fastening bracket 5 is designed essen tiallyintheform of an angular supporting arm and, as can be seen particularly from Figure 2 is screwed to a cross member 9 located in the floor area of the driver's cab.

The two brackets 4 and 5 are in turn connected through a connecting rod 10 which, at its lower end, is mounted on the free end of the supporting arm which forms the fastening bracket. The connecting rod 10 is connected to the upper fastening bracket 4 via a clamping means 11. The connecting rod 10 is, in accordance with the invention, extended beyong the upper fastening bracket 4 and, with its free end (not shown), is attached to the shield component 3 so that the latter is also retained by the brackets 4 and 5. Moreover, the fastening rod also makes possible, in accordance with the invention, direct flange-mounting of a side shield which is not required to swing out. With reference to the view according to Figure 1 this is the side shield which is not shown in the drawing and which is associated with the other, i.e. right-hand, side of the driver's cab.In the area of the left-hand side shield 2 shown in the drawing the rod 10 also forms, in the area between the brackets, a handle which facilitates access when the side shield 2 is swung out.

To fasten the side shield 2 which can be swung out, arms and arm mechanisms which make the pivotable connection with the side shield 2 are arranged on the brackets.

In this case the lower fastening bracket 5 is associated with a four-bar mechanism 12 comprising two arms 13 and 14 (Figure 2). The arms 13 and 14 are attached, on the one hand at points 15 and 16, to the bracket 5 and, on the other hand at points 17 and 18, to the angle bracket 19 which, with one of its sides 20, is rigidly connected to the side shield. This side 20 lies parallel to the side shield whilst the side 21 extends approximately perpendicular therefrom.

The point of articulation 17 of the arm 13 lies at the free end of the side 21. The point of articulation 18 of the arm 14 on the shield side lies approximately within the angle between the sides 20 and 21 and, thus, near to the front edge and in direct proximity to the side shield.

With regard to the substantially longitudinal position of the side shield 2 on the vehicle as shown in Figure 2, the arm 14 extends almost parallel to the side shield and in the generally longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In contrast, the arm 13 is inclined forward and outwards. The inclination of the side shield to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is within an angle range of approximately 15 and, in the exemplary embodiment, 13". The two arms have approximately the same effective length and these arms are articulated on the fastening bracket 5 and angle bracket 19, respectively, in such a manner that the arm 13 is staggered slightly forward in relation to the arm 14.The inclination of the base of the four-bar mechanism to a transverse plane of the vehicle which base is defined by the points of articulation 15 and 16 - is approximately equal to the inclination of the arm 13 relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

In the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the point of articulation 15 of the arm 13 is displaced forwardly in relation to the point of articulation 16 of the arm 14 by approximately one fifth of the length of the arm in each case.

As a result of the arrangement described, the linkage which is defined by the points of articulation 17 and 18, just as in the case of the base defined by the points of articulation 15 and 16, is in each case directed obliquely forward and inward.

The arm 14 is extended beyond the point of articulation 16 and, at its free end which is associated with the extension, forms the support and point of articulation 22 for one end of a support and locking spring 23 which, in accordance with the invention, can be a pneumatic spring. At its other end, the spring 23 is attached to the bracket 5 at the point of articulation 24. When in the starting position shown by Figure 2 the spring is approximately parallel to the base of the four-bar mechanism, which base is defined by the points 15 and 16.

A consequence of this type of design and arrangement for the four-bar mechanism is that, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the side shield remains with its front edge 25 adjacent to the contour of the driver's cab 1, both when pivoting - central pivoting position as shown in Figure 3 - and when in the transverse, fully open, position of Figure 4.A further consequence for the side shield is that the spring 23 keeps the shield 2 both in the longitudinal position on the vehicle and in the transverse position, that is, because in both pivoting positions the line of action of the spring which is defined by the points of articulation 22 and 24 lies on the same side of the neutral line which is defined by the point of articulation 16 of the arm 14 on the bracket side and by the point of articulation 24 of the spring 23 on the bracketS. In the transition area between the two pivot positions the spring is merely compressed without the neutral position being exceeded. As a result, the desired support in both pivot positions is achieved without a change in load direction taking place in the transition area.This is essential in order to enable easy adjustment between the pivot positions and to eliminate the risk of damage or injury due to a change in the load direction.

The upper linkage means shown in Figures 5 and 6 is designed similarly to the lower linkage of the side shield on the fastening bracketS, only a single guide arm 26 being provided for this upper linkage. This guide arm extends obliquely forward from the bracket and occupies a starting position which is similar to that of the arm 13 of the lower linkage means. In view of the synchronization of movement between the upper and lower linkage means during pivoting of the side shield by applying force thereto, the arms 13 and 26 are connected through a guide rod 27 which is rigidly connected to these arms and mounted thereon in their longitudinal centre. The extension of the arm 26 in the transverse position of the side shield 2 can be seen in Figure 6. As a result of the curvature of the contours of the driver's cab, which cannot be seen in the drawings, a certain spacing or gap between the front edge 25 of the side shield and the driver's cab is formed when the upper area of the side shield is in the transverse position, but this space is not particularly large and the resulting loss of space is also negligible in relation to the width of access to the space between the towing vehicle and trailer since it is at the upper end. As a result of the linkage of the movements of the upper and lower arms through the guide rod 27, the shield is kept free from torsional forces which would occur if the arms were connected merely by way of the shield. In particular, no clamping can take place and the achievement is that the shield can be pivoted uniformly and without jamming. This ensures good operating convenience, particularly in combination with the spring support towards the same upper dead-centre position in each case.

While the arrangement has been described and illustrated as being provided on the left-hand side of the driver's cab, it is to be understood that by constructing the shield mountings in a mirror-image manner, a similar arrangement can be mounted to the right-hand side of the driver's cab, whether as an alternative arrangement to, or in conjunction with the arrangement of the side shield on the left-hand side of the cab.

Claims

1. An air guiding arrangement for a driver's cab of a semitrailertowing vehicle, comprising upright side shields arranged as a rearward extension of the driver's cab, on the long side of this extention, at least one of which side shields can be pivoted outwards out of its longitudinal position on the vehicle into a transverse position, wherein the or each side shield is held by an upper linkage, which lies on a level with the roof of said cab, and by a lower linkage, and that one of the linkages comprises a four-bar mechanism, the arms of which also extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, relative to the longitudinal position of the side shield on the vehicle, and are held, by their forward ends which are adjacent to the driver's cab, near to the leading edge of the side shield.

2. An air guiding arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein when the four-bar mechanism is arranged in one linkage, the other linkage comprises a single guide arm which is rigidly connected to one of the arms of the four-bar mechanism by a guide rod.

3. An air guiding arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the or each side shield is resiliently supported in both pivoting positions, and a supporting spring is provided, the direction of support of the spring in each pivotal position and in the transitional area between the pivotal positions corresponds to the same direction of rotation of one arm of the linkage which is driven by the spring.

4. An air guiding arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the linkages for each side shield are inter-connected by a connecting rod which in the region between the linkages provides a handle.

5. An air guiding arrangement for a driver's cab of a semitrailer towing vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.