GB2204837A - Variable height vehicle body - Google Patents
Variable height vehicle body Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2204837A GB2204837A GB08711850A GB8711850A GB2204837A GB 2204837 A GB2204837 A GB 2204837A GB 08711850 A GB08711850 A GB 08711850A GB 8711850 A GB8711850 A GB 8711850A GB 2204837 A GB2204837 A GB 2204837A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- variable height
- chassis
- overlap
- wheeled chassis
- access
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
- B60J7/02—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes
- B60J7/04—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid plate-like element or elements, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels
- B60J7/041—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid plate-like element or elements, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels for utility vehicles, e.g. with slidable and foldable rigid panels
- B60J7/042—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid plate-like element or elements, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels for utility vehicles, e.g. with slidable and foldable rigid panels with a vertical lifting or folding movement
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J5/00—Doors
- B60J5/10—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear
- B60J5/12—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear slidable; foldable
- B60J5/14—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear slidable; foldable of roller-blind type made of rigid elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D33/00—Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles
- B62D33/08—Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles comprising adjustable means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
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 (8)
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.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08711850A GB2204837A (en) | 1987-05-19 | 1987-05-19 | Variable height vehicle body |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08711850A GB2204837A (en) | 1987-05-19 | 1987-05-19 | Variable height vehicle body |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8711850D0 GB8711850D0 (en) | 1987-06-24 |
GB2204837A true GB2204837A (en) | 1988-11-23 |
Family
ID=10617605
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB08711850A Withdrawn GB2204837A (en) | 1987-05-19 | 1987-05-19 | Variable height vehicle body |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2204837A (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2241205A (en) * | 1990-02-22 | 1991-08-28 | Anthony Frederick Wilson | Vehicle having height adjustable cover |
EP0539873A2 (en) * | 1991-10-30 | 1993-05-05 | Avu Aktiengesellschaft Für Versorgungsunternehmen | Loading surface for commercial vehicle |
GB2331970A (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 1999-06-09 | Babcock Rosyth Ind Limited | Rail transport unit for transporting palletised or high volume loads |
DE10205610C5 (en) * | 2002-02-11 | 2009-01-15 | Schmitz Cargobull Ag | Truck with lifting roof and lockable load compartment |
EP2409027B1 (en) | 2009-03-13 | 2018-05-30 | Vestas Wind Systems A/S | Wind turbine nacelle |
US11440385B2 (en) * | 2017-08-03 | 2022-09-13 | Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V. | Open roof construction for a vehicle |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB298771A (en) * | 1927-10-15 | 1928-10-18 | John Lancelot Parkinson Fletch | Improvements in vehicles having collapsible bodies |
GB863949A (en) * | 1958-09-17 | 1961-03-29 | Hugh England | Improvements in or relating to trailer caravans |
GB882258A (en) * | 1958-07-07 | 1961-11-15 | Herbert Vidal | Improvements in or relating to motor lorries or trailers with extensible side pieces |
US3844604A (en) * | 1969-08-06 | 1974-10-29 | J Kasten | Forage wagon with hinged roof |
US4206943A (en) * | 1977-07-28 | 1980-06-10 | Friedenberg Martin A | Retractable and extensible trailer |
US4328989A (en) * | 1980-04-21 | 1982-05-11 | Childers Roger B | Cover apparatus for the cargo bed of pickup trucks, travel, trailers and the like |
-
1987
- 1987-05-19 GB GB08711850A patent/GB2204837A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB298771A (en) * | 1927-10-15 | 1928-10-18 | John Lancelot Parkinson Fletch | Improvements in vehicles having collapsible bodies |
GB882258A (en) * | 1958-07-07 | 1961-11-15 | Herbert Vidal | Improvements in or relating to motor lorries or trailers with extensible side pieces |
GB863949A (en) * | 1958-09-17 | 1961-03-29 | Hugh England | Improvements in or relating to trailer caravans |
US3844604A (en) * | 1969-08-06 | 1974-10-29 | J Kasten | Forage wagon with hinged roof |
US4206943A (en) * | 1977-07-28 | 1980-06-10 | Friedenberg Martin A | Retractable and extensible trailer |
US4328989A (en) * | 1980-04-21 | 1982-05-11 | Childers Roger B | Cover apparatus for the cargo bed of pickup trucks, travel, trailers and the like |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2241205A (en) * | 1990-02-22 | 1991-08-28 | Anthony Frederick Wilson | Vehicle having height adjustable cover |
EP0539873A2 (en) * | 1991-10-30 | 1993-05-05 | Avu Aktiengesellschaft Für Versorgungsunternehmen | Loading surface for commercial vehicle |
EP0539873A3 (en) * | 1991-10-30 | 1994-02-02 | Avu Ag | Loading surface for commercial vehicle |
GB2331970A (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 1999-06-09 | Babcock Rosyth Ind Limited | Rail transport unit for transporting palletised or high volume loads |
GB2331970B (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 2000-05-10 | Babcock Rosyth Ind Limited | Rail transport unit for transporting palletised or high volume loads |
DE10205610C5 (en) * | 2002-02-11 | 2009-01-15 | Schmitz Cargobull Ag | Truck with lifting roof and lockable load compartment |
EP2409027B1 (en) | 2009-03-13 | 2018-05-30 | Vestas Wind Systems A/S | Wind turbine nacelle |
US11440385B2 (en) * | 2017-08-03 | 2022-09-13 | Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V. | Open roof construction for a vehicle |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8711850D0 (en) | 1987-06-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
RU2500553C2 (en) | Handling device | |
US8177471B2 (en) | Cargo handling apparatus module | |
PT861166E (en) | STRUCTURAL EQUIPMENT FOR ROAD VEHICLE FOR OBTAINING A MOVEL SUPPLEMENTARY ROAD | |
GB2114941A (en) | Trailer vehicle | |
CN112429116A (en) | Unmanned vehicle | |
GB2204837A (en) | Variable height vehicle body | |
RU2445220C2 (en) | Rack car with support platforms moving between transporting position and position of motion between cars, and train consisting of said cars | |
US6464446B1 (en) | Vehicle with loading boxes for receiving loads | |
CN218986441U (en) | Truck carriage tail plate | |
WO1998025839B1 (en) | Improvements related to a system for parking and handling vehicles and boxed goods | |
US4354781A (en) | Double deck securing means for railroad car | |
US3463541A (en) | Cab-over telescopic camper with sliding panel | |
CN214215576U (en) | Unmanned vehicle | |
CN209778195U (en) | Order-picking vehicle | |
CN113998013A (en) | Cabin plate retracting and releasing system of vehicle-mounted shelter astronomical telescope cabin | |
US3447831A (en) | Expandable camper body | |
ES2360849T3 (en) | STRUCTURE FOR A TRUCK TRAILER AND TRUCK TRAILER. | |
CN212195254U (en) | Automatic expansion bracket for truck | |
UA28021C2 (en) | Vehicle with body | |
CN211642374U (en) | Semitrailer CT structure | |
CN216422573U (en) | Multifunctional unmanned platform for underground space | |
WO1999014091A1 (en) | Closed freight car with movable roof especially for transporting of motor vehicles | |
DE102022107116B4 (en) | Vehicle with a front vehicle module, with at least one rear vehicle module and with at least one transport module | |
CN220653817U (en) | Ground control device of unmanned aerial vehicle | |
CN218198049U (en) | Unmanned vehicle with liftable loading platform |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |