GB2204837A

GB2204837A - Variable height vehicle body

Info

Publication number: GB2204837A
Application number: GB08711850A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas Edward Weakford; John Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-05-19
Filing date: 1987-05-19
Publication date: 1988-11-23
Also published as: GB8711850D0

Abstract

The body is constructed so that the upper section has freedom to move in a vertical plane relative to the lower section and that an overlap is provided between the upper and lower sections and restriction on lateral movements and sealing means between both sections are provided. Means of acuating the vertical movement is provided, contained within floor mounted structures. Access to the rear of the body is provided by the use of roller shutters forming a door. Similar access may be provided at single or multiple locations along each side. Such variable height bodies may be installed upon or form part of any powered or non-powered chassis. <IMAGE>

Description

VARIABLE HEIGHT BODY 1. This invention relates to a variable height body affixed to vehicles of various types and descriptions in commercial use.

2. Commercial vehicle bodies are well-known structures which comprise an underframe base with floor upon which a super structure comprising side panels, front bulk head, rear aperture, access door or doors and roof section are erected and assembled to form a box-like enclosure wherein items may be conveyed securely and protected from the elements. Such bodies can be mounted upon powered chassis or upon trailer frame chassis of varying types and configurations. Such bodies are usually designed to achieve maximum carrying cubic capacity relative to the gross vehicle or vehicle train load permitted by the configuration of engine, wheels, axles, chassis, coupling, drawbar or all, or any, of these in conjunction with relevant national orders, regulations and laws.

Thus with maximum weight load contents, but having minimum cubic capacity, a high percentage of the vehicle body capacity is unused as it would be under operating conditions of part loads. The fixed height body, when in motion, induces drag and side loads which contribute greatly to the fuel consumption of the power source and, in a fixed body, remains a constant irrespective of the load weight which itself has an effect upon fuel consumption.

3. According to the present invention there is provided a body which can be mounted upon powered or trailer chassis of varying types and configurations such that the body upper section may be lowered over the lower body section such that the frontal area is diminished or minimised but retaining the full security of, and access to, the body. By reducing the total body surface area together with the frontal area, drag and wind loads are reduced such that great improvements in fuel consumption are achievable together with improvement upon vehicle and/or trailer behaviour in wind gust conditions. As additional benefit resulting from this invention is the then capability of using routes to and from destinations previously incapable of use when low bridges on such routes prevented the passage of normal or fixed height bodies.

The essential technical features are that dependent upon body size elevating and lowering mechanisms of varying numbers powered by electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other power sources, or any combination of two or more such sources, are mounted upon the body floor such that the upper body section can be guided and restrained to a predetermined maximum height or to a predetermined minimum height or to any varying position between the maximum and minimum. Such elevating and lowering mechanisms are self-contained and may be fitted to any suitable and/or adapted body.

4. A specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Drawings in which: Figure 1 shows end and side elevations of a body raised and lowered.

Figure 2 shows a composite plan view of a typical installation.

Figure 3 shows the general assemblage of a preferred motor and drive together with guiding and restraining mechanism mounted within a plinth structure.

Figure 4 shows a preferred rack and mounting assembly together with an outer and inner skin sealing method.

Figure 5 shows the top cover and motor mounting plate for the plinth.

Figure 6 shows detail of the plinth floor mounting and aperture.

Figure 7 shows the section of the rear corner post and its relation to the inner and outer skin.

Figure 8 shows the operator's switch panel and other electrical details.

5. Referring to the Drawings 3 and 6, a minimum of four plinths and thereafter in multiples of two, dependent in quantity by body dimensions, are installed as in Drawings 1 and 2. Electrical connections to a vehicle mounted power source and the operator's panel are as in Drawing 8. To the upper body a chain rack and its mountings together with mounting plate and rollers as in Drawing 4, are affixed such that engagement between rack and drive mechanism is effected as shown in Drawing 3.

Each installed plinth shall have such an installation and drive engagement as described. Thus by completing the installation as described, together with the application of a power source, the upper body, by actuation of the appropriate switches, as in Drawing 8, may be caused to elevate and/or lower in a controlled manner to predetermined maximum or minimum heights to any position within those maxima or minima. Whilst so doing the upper body to lower body lateral positioning is restrained and controlled by means of the mechanism shown in Drawings 3 and 4. Additionally, longitudinal brush sealing strips are attached to the upper and/or lower body sides and bulk head as shown in Drawing 4.

Roller shutter door assembly is fitted to the body rear using the two metal sections, as in Drawing 7, affixed to both upper and lower bodies. The roller shutter closure and security is not affected by any height position of the upper/lower body. To operate the elevation/lowering mechanism switches the roller shutter rear access must be raised to the maximum height to gain access to the rear near side installed plinth wherein the operator's panel is located. The single "up"/"off"/ "down" switch is spring loaded and biased to the "off" position and thus requires constant pressure to achieve movement in any mode. Indicator lamps, as in Drawing 6, are provided to give visual display and indication of power availability and the selected operation mode.

Claims

1. A commercial usage vehicle body divided longitudinally along two sides and the bulkhead such as to provide an overlap wherein the upper body section shall be free to move in a vertical manner within constraints, and such that an overlap is always provided and lateral or horizontal movement is restrained. A means of causing the vertical movement is provided and access to the body from the rear and/or the side or sides is provided such that security of the contents is maintained at any selected and related upper/lower body position. The means of causing vertical movement of the upper body is contained within a structure floor mounted at four positions as a minimum and that additional supplementary structures shall be fitted dependent upon body length.

2. A variable height body as claimed in Claim (1) wherein the body is mounted upon a four-wheeled chassis.

3. A variable height body as claimed in Claim (1) or Claim (2) wherein the body is mounted upon a six-wheeled chassis.

4. A variable height body as claimed in Claim (2) or Claim (3) wherein the body is mounted upon an eight-wheeled chassis.

5. A variable height body as claimed in Claim (3) or Claim (4) wherein the body is mounted upon a ten-wheeled chassis.

6. A variable height body as claimed in Claim (4) or Claim (5) wherein the body is mounted upon a chassis which is provided with a motive power source.

7. A variable height body as claimed in Claim (5) or Claim (6) wherein the body is mounted upon a chassis capable of being attached or detached from a motive power towing source being within the requirements of current legislation.

8. A variable height body as claimed in Claim (6) or Claim (7) wherein the body and chassis are of integral construction.