GB2164298A

GB2164298A - Road vehicles with demountable-bodies

Info

Publication number: GB2164298A
Application number: GB08423530A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey D Bailey
Original assignee: WADHAM STRINGER
Current assignee: WADHAM STRINGER
Priority date: 1984-09-18
Filing date: 1984-09-18
Publication date: 1986-03-19
Also published as: GB2164298B; GB8423530D0

Abstract

A special-purpose road vehicle body, such as an ambulance body (1), is arranged to be demountably carried by a plurality of commercially available road vehicle chassis, and connected to the cabin (2) of the chassis. A roof addition (12) and side panel appropriate to the cabin shape are provided, so that the assembled vehicle has an aerodynamically and/or aesthetically satisfactory shape. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Road vehicles Description The invention relates to road vehicles and, more specifically, to road vehicles having demountable bodies.

It is common for vehicles intended for certain particular uses to be adapted from conventional mass-produced vehicles. For example, ambulances can be produced by adaptation of standard vehicles of appropriate size, the adaptation comprising virtually complete rebuilding of the bodywork, or provision of new bodywork for the existing chassis, so as to furnish appropriate accommodation for the patients to be transported, for one or more attendants and any medical equipment that the ambulance is required to carry. Such adaptation is expensive, and must be differently configured for each basic vehicle on which the conversion is based. In particular, it frequently happens that the engine and transmission of the vehicle wear to an extent that it no longer has the requisite reliability, long before the body of the vehicle needs replacement.The ambulance can then no longer be used for its intended purpose, and because it has been fitted out specifically for this, it then has very little value.

The invention accordingly provides a modular system for the production of special-purpose adapted vehicles of which the essential element is a vehicle body appropriate to the intended purpose and arranged to be demountably associated with an independently produced chassis and driver's cabin substantially without adaptation of the chassis or driver's cabin, or with such adaptation of only a minimal amount.

Such a vehicle body portion in accordance with the invention can be arranged to be mounted on one of a plurality of vehicle chassis, which may include chassis produced by different manufacturers, and secured to the driver's cabin carried thereby, in a manner which permits convenient removal for use with another chassis and cabin, as when the original chassis and/or cabin has experienced damage or an unacceptable amount of wear.

The vehicle body portion will frequently need to be adaptable to different chassis to a small extent; for example the lower portions of the side walls may be constituted by readily connectible panel portions which are selected from a range of such panel portions so that wheel arches included therein are at positions appropriate to the positions of the rear wheels of the particular chassis concerned.

The vehicle body portion is conveniently sold with, or forms one part of, a set of parts for such adaptation of the chassis and/or driver's cabin as may be necessary and this set of parts preferably includes panels and/or a roof structure for addition to the existing driver's cabin to modify the transition between the cabin and the body portion in a way that is aesthetically and/or aerodynamically satisfactory.

The invention thus also provides, a vehicle body, the body being arranged to be demountably received on a road vehicle chassis having a driver's cabin, and closing panel means, the closing panel means being arranged to be secured to the driver's cabin so as to adapt the cross-section at the rear thereof to that of the vehicle body.

The closing panel means can for example comprise metal fittings to be welded to the existing roof structure of the driver's cabin and an adaptive roof structure, which can be of a suitable plastics material, preferably glass reinforced plastics (G.R.P.), and which can be secured by means of the fittings to the existing roof structure so as to avoid an unsatisfactory step between the cabin roof and that of the demountable body. Side closing panels can be provided and fitted similarly where appropriate.

The invention therefore also provides a road vehicle comprising a chassis having secured thereto a driver's cabin and a demountable vehicle body, the cabin and the body being externally shaped to provide a vehicle of integrated appearance.

The vehicle which can be arranged to function as an ambulance or to carry passengers or other load can thus be readily removed from the chassis and replaced by another body portion of like external form but not necessarily the same function, whilst retaining an overall vehicle body shape which can be aesthetically pleasing and have good aerodynamic properties. Also the demounted body portion can be assembled with a different chassis, as when the previous chassis made replacement or repair, the demountable body portion still having a considerably useful life.

The vehicle body of the invention is conveniently provided with an underframe assembly by which connection is made to the existing chassis as by bolts at two or more positions spaced along the sides. The body is also conveniently bolted to the driver's cabin, to the existing parts thereof and/or to parts added in modification to receive the body, at positions spaced along the roof and sides. As few as ten bolt connections can suffice, so the body can be readily installed and removed as required. To assist these operations, the underframe assembly can be provided with jacking points so that the body can be lifted and the vehicle chassis to which it is to be connected, or from which it has been detached, driven to or from the appropriate location beneath it.

The invention is applicable particularly but not exclusively to ambulances in which direct access between the driver's cabin and the patient's compartment in the vehicle body is required. To ensure adequate sealing of the vehicle interior, the cabin vehicle body is preferably provided with overlapping edge portions extending along the roofs and sides, over which a resistant sealing strip can be applied after assembly. The edge portions can be formed of G.R.P. panels and are advantageously shaped to form a groove for the sealing strip; they may receive a further sealing element between them.

The invention thus makes it possible to produce a standard body, regardless of the chassis to be used, which can be used interchangeably whilst retaining an efficient and attractive appearance. The body can be moved to a second chassis for an extended useful life, and where the body is an ambulance body the chassis thus released can have a higher resale value than a complete vehicle. The ready interchangeability of vehicle bodies in accordance with the invention can make it economically feasible to operate mixed chassis ambulance or other fleets perhaps with spare or back-up bodies, having alternative interior equipment. An ambulance fleet for example can readily be prepared for special emergencies and events.

The invention may be more readily understood from the following illustrative description and the accompanying, largely schematic, drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial side view of an ambulance comprising a chassis with a driver's cabin and a demountable modular ambulance body secured thereto in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the ambulance of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a like view of the demountable modular ambulance body of Figure 1 forming part of a second road vehicle in accordance with the invention; Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views, on a larger scale, illustrating sealing arrangements between the roofs and the left-hand side walls respectively of the driver's cabin and the ambulance body of the vehicle of Figure 1; and Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to those of Figures 3 and 4, but of the vehicle shown in Figure 3.

The ambulance shown in Figure 1 comprises a demountable modular ambulance body 1 and a driver's cabin 2 mounted on a chassis.

The ambulance body 1 is a generally box-like structure, with side windows 4, the forward end of which communicates with the interior of the driver's cabin 2, which contains seats for the driver and an attendant, although a bulk-head with a sliding door may be provided at this end. The interior of the body may be fitted out in any way appropriate to the intended use of the ambulance, for example, with seats for patients able to walk, or with trolleys or stretchers with mattresses and appropriate equipment. As in conventional, the ambulance body 1 is provided at the rear with double central doors 5, a drop-out step 6 and rear lamp clusters 7.

The roof is fitted with a ventilator and with one or more rotating beacons 9 (Figure 2). The ambulance illustrated thus can provide all the facilities of a conventional coach-built ambulance and has the appearance of being coach-built. The fact that the body is demountable appears only from the presence of a sealing strip 10 between the driver's cabin and the body.

The body 1 is constructed as a modular unit, with a generally rectangular cross-section which is substantially constant throughout its length, as is appropriate to its function. The driver's cabin 2 is independently designed and to ensure that the ambulance body merges at its forward end with the rear of the cabin in a way that is aesthetically and aerodynamically satisfactory, and the rear of the driver's cabin is modified so as to have a crosssection which is consistent with that of the front end of the ambulance body. In the vehicle of Figure 1, the original roof of the cabin 2 has secured thereto a G.R.P. roof addition 12 which extends forwardly and at its sides to the upper edges of the windscreen 14 and the doors 15.The addition 12 is held in place by metal fittings (not shown), welded to the original metalwork and its rear edge co-operates with the sealing strip 10 as appears from Figure 3.

The sides of the cabin 1 are also modified rearwardly of the doors 15 to include laterally extending upright G.R.P. panels 17 which co-operate with the sealing strip 10 as shown in Figure 5.

It will be seen from Figure 4 that the rear edge of the G.R.P. roof addition 12 is formed with a portion 19 which extends downwardly an adjoining generally horizontal portion 20 which ends in an upturned lip 21. A cabin roll cage 22 is fitted to rigidify the rear end of the cabin, which has been modified so as to be completely accessible.

The ambulance body 1 has a roof structure comprising an inner G.R.P. panel 24 spaced from an outer G.R.P. panel 25 to provide cavity insulation between them. At its forward end, the inner panel 24 extends upwardly and forwardly to a bond with the upper panel which projects forwardly beyond the bond to downwardly and horizontally directed portions 26, 27 to end in a downwardly turned lip 29.

In the assembled position shown, the horizontal rear end portion 27 of the body roof structure overlies the horizontal roof addition portion 20 with spacing in which a sealing element, in the form of a serbo rubber bead 30 of rectangular cross-section, is received. The downwardly extending portions 19 and 26 form with the horizontal portion 27 a channel in which the sealing strip 10 is received.

The sealing strip is of rubber or resilient plastics material and is of generally rectangular cross-section; it is secured in place by rivetting or by bonding to the exposed G.R.P. surfaces. The main outer surfaces of the cabin and body roof panels 12 and 25 are aligned at their adjacent end regions and the thickness of the sealing strip 10 is such as to maintain a substantially uninterrupted outer surface over the region of the join between the cabin and the body.

The forward end of the ambulance body roof structure is connected to a metal roll cage 32 which rigidifies the forward end of the body and shares with the cabin roll cage 22 the function of strengthening the vehicle against collapse of the body work in response to lateral impact or in the event that the vehicle turns on its side. Abutting the inner face of the body roll cage 32 is a sheet 33 of high density chipboard which constitutes a partition or bulkhead at the forward end of the ambulance body.

Referring now to Figure 5, the side walls of the ambulance body at its forward end comprise an interior G.R.P. lining panel 35 spaced from a steel body side frame element 36 to provide cavity insulation. At the outer side of the element a G.R.P.

panel 37 provides the side surface of the vehicle. A pillar 39 for example of hardwood closes off the forward end of the cavity insulation adjacent the roll cage 32 and extends between the interior and exterior G.R.P. panels 36, 37.

The exterior panel 37 extends beyond the pillar 39 to an inturned portion 40, vertical portion 41 and a short inturned lip 42, corresponding to the body roof portions 26, 27 and lip 29. The cabin side panel 17 has a rearwardly extending portion 44 which directly overlies the outer side of the body panel portion 41. The sealing strip 10 extends from the roof downwardly on either side of the vehicle to overlie the cab side panel end portion 44 and abut the cabin end panel portion 40. The strip 10 is thus again secured in place to afford not only an effective seal between the cabin and the body, but also a visually satisfactory continuity of their external surfaces.

Beneath the floor of the ambulance body 1 there extends an underframe assembly 50 of welded construction, by means of which the body is secured to the vehicle chassis. As shown in Figure 1, the assembly 50 includes at either side a longitudinal beam 51 provided with four spaced connection fittings 52 at which the assembly is bolted to the chassis. Each beam 51 is also provided with two spaced jacking points 54.

The ambulance body 1 is readily assembled with and disassembled from the chassis and driver's cabin 2. Prior to the actual assembly, the cabin undergoes such necessary modification as the removal of its back panel and the fitting of the roof structure 12 and closing side panels 17. The wiring for such electrical supplies as are required for the body 1 is connected to a single socket. The body 1, which can be already complete and fully furnished within, is then raised by the application to the jacking points 50 of a set of jacks of which the ground support portions extend laterally outwardly away from the body to an extent sufficient for the chassis to be driven to the required position beneath it.

When the cabin and chassis have been correctly placed, the jacks are operated to lower the body 1 onto the chassis. At the adjoining ends of the cabin and the body, the panel end configurations assume the positions shown in Figures 4 and 5, with the interior rubber beading 30 slightly compressed between them.

The jacks can then be removed and the frame assembly 50 is bolted to the chassis. The cabin 2 and the body 1 are also bolted together at pre-provided connection positions, of which there may be for example two spaced along the roof and two on each side. Side flaps 55 are then connected to the body side walls, or pivoted down from an upper position in which they have been held to allow access to the underframe assembly. A plug connected to the body wiring is inserted in the socket to establish connection between the electrical systems of the chassis and the body.

The sealing strip 10 can then be rivetted in place around the join between the adjacent ends of the cabin and the body.

It will be evident that the ambulance body 1 can be separated from the cabin 2 and the chassis by an equally quick and simple operation, so that the body can be re-assembled with a new chassis for further use. Likewise, the separated cabin and chassis can if desired receive a different ambulance or other body as may be required.

Figure 3 illustrates the ambulance body 1 secured to a cabin 102 and chassis of different design from the cabin 2 and its associated chassis.

The cabin 102 has again been modified by provision of a G.R.P. roof addition 112 and by side closing panels 117. The lower side flaps 155 differ from the flaps 55 so as to accommodate the different position along the chassis of the rear road wheels.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the body 1 connects with the cabin 102 in a similar way as with the cabin 2. The roof addition 112 extends rearwardly of the cabin roll cage 122 to end portions 119, 120 and 121 in a configuration corresponding to that formed by the end portions 19, 20, 21 of the addition 12, and which mates with the body roof end configuration in the same way as shown in Figure 4. At each side of the cabin 102, the closing panel 117 extends rearwardly to an inwardly turned portion 126 joining a rearwardly extending portion 127 terminating in an outwardly directed lip 129, in a configuration corresponding to that of the portions 119, 120 and 121. In the assembled condition, the portion 127 is spaced from the inner surface of the body portion 41, so that in this instance the sealing bead 30 can be extended from the roof down either side of the vehicle.

It will be understood that the invention can be embodied in a variety of ways other than as specifically described and shown.

Claims

1. A road vehicle comprising a chassis with a driver's cabin carried thereon and a vehicle body demountably secured to the chassis and the cabin.

2. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cabin has secured thereto roof and/or side panels defining a rear cross-sectional shape at least approximately matching the cross-sectional shape of the body at the forward end thereof.

3. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the roof and/or side panels are of glass-reinforced plastics material.

4. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the adjacent ends of the cabin and the body having overlapping edge portions having a sealing element therebetween.

5. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the outer of the overlapping edge portions is channel shaped and receives an external sealing strip therein.

6. A road vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the external surface of the sealing strip is substantially flush with the adjacent cabin and body surfaces.

7. A road vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cabin incorporates a roll cage at or adjacent the rear end thereof.

8. A road vehicle as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the body incorporates a roll cage at or adjacent the forward end thereof.

9. A road vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein access between the interiors of the cabin and the vehicle body is provided.

10. A road vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the vehicle body is arranged to accommodate passengers.

11. A road vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the vehicle body is equipped for the vehicle to function as an ambulance.

12. A road vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 or Figures 3, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A vehicle body for mounting on a selected one of a plurality of road vehicle chassis, each carrying a respective driver's cabin, and closing panel means for adapting the rear of the cabin of the selected driver's cabin to the forward end of the vehicle body.

14. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 13 having an underframe arranged to be bolted to the cabin and the chassis.

15. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 13 or 14 having jacking points whereby the body can be raised, the chassis driven therebeneath, and the body lowered onto the chassis for assembly therewith.

16. A method of producing a road vehicle, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a standard road vehicle chassis carrying a driver's cabin, preparing a vehicle body, and assembling the body with the standard chassis and with the driver's cabin.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the body is demountably assembled with the chassis and the cabin.

18. A method as claimed in claims 16 or 17 wherein the assembly step includes the step of adding closing panel means between the cabin and the body.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the closing panel means comprises a roofing and/ or side panels and the assembly step includes the step of welding a fitting to the cabin for connection of the panel or panels thereto.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16-19 including modifying the cabin by securement thereto of a roll cage.

21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 wherein the assembly step includes the raising of the vehicle body, and driving the chassis rearwardly to underlie the body.

22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 21 including modification of the cabin to permit access between the interior thereof and the interior of the body.

23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22 wherein the assembly step includes provision of sealing means between the cabin and the body.

24. A method of producing a road vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1,2,4 and 5 of Figures 3, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.