GB2207397A - Vehicles with removable bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle is provided with metal loops welded to the body to provide lugs 23 which cooperate with seats in the chassis defined by spaced cross rails 9, 10 and 11, 12. The body is also provided with transverse members of hollow square section to receive the rake of a lifting jack or other device to lower or raise the body relative to the chassis. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE WITH REMOVABLE BODY The present invention relates to a vehicle having a chassis and a removable body.

UK Patent No. 2110171B (British Telecommunications) describes a vehicle with a removable body in which the vehicle chassis is provided with two channel shaped cross-members and the body is provided with two cross-members each adapted to seat within a respective one of the channel members. At least one end of each body cross-member is adapted to receive a lifting portion of a fork lift truck.

The channel shaped chassis cross-members overhang the chassis at each of their ends and in use, because of their shape, there is a tendency for these portions to be distorted or bent if the body cross-members are not at first positioned accurately on the chassis members. In addition the cost of the channel shaped chassis members is quite high due to their relatively high fabrication cost.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to seek to overcome t disadvantages of the existing system.

According therefore to the present invention we provide a vehicle comprising a chassis and a body of the type which is removable from the chassis and which is retained in position on the chassis by elements which engage in seats in the chassis, the chassis seats comprising at least two pairs of spaced apart cross-rails to receive the vehicle elements therebetween.

An embodiment of the invention will now be particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a side view of an assembled vehicle, Figure 2 is a side view of a vehicle chassis, Figure 3 is a side view of a vehicle body, Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of four jacks shown engaging the body to raise it from or lower it upon the vehicle chassis, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the chassis assembly in detail, and Figure 6 is an end view of the assembled vehicle showing part of the chassis assembly in cross-section.

Referring to the drawings, the vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle chassis 2 and a body 3 detachably mounted on the chassis 2.

As shown in the drawings, the chassis 2 includes a platform 4 extending rearwardly of the driver's cab 5 to support the body 3 in use.

The platform 4 itself comprises a sub-frame 6 extending longitudinally of the vehicle and first and second pairs 7 and 8 of spaced apart cross-rails 9,10 and 11,12 extending transversely of the sub-frame 6, one pair 7 of cross-rails being spaced apart from the other pair 8 of cross-rails.

As shown in particular detail in Figures 5 and 6, the sub-frame 6 comprises a pair of elongate support members 13,14. Each member 13go4 comprises a solid base member 15 extending the length of the platform 4, a hollow intermediate member 16 extending partly along the platform 4 and a pair of hollow top members 17 each member 17 supporting one of the pair of cross rails. The elements 13,14 are connected together by transverse tie members 18,19,20 and 21.

The body 3 comprises a conventional cabin to store essential operating equipment and tools and has a rectangular base 22 to mount the cabin on the platform 4.

The base 22 has first and second pairs of lugs 23, depending from the base 22 with one lug of each pair being located on one side of the body and the other lug of the pair being located on the opposite side of the body (one pair 31 of such lugs being shown in Figure 6). The lugs 23 are in the form of metal loops which are welded both to the base 22 of the body 3, and to pairs of support stays 24 which are also welded to the base 22 of the body 3, each pair of lugs in use locating between one of the pairs of support rails as is shown in Figure 6.

The base 22 is also provided with two further spaced apart cross members of hollow square section serving as sockets 25 and 26 to receive at either end the rake of a lifting jack or the like lifting device to allow the cabin to be lowered onto or raised from the platform 4 as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, each socket 25,26 is positioned between one of the lugs pairs and an end of the platform 4.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6 the cross-rail pairs 7 and 8 are provided at each end with a plate 27 on which the rails rest.

In use, each plate 27 is engaged by one of the loops 23 when the body 3 is in position on the chassis 2 whereby to prevent lateral movement of the body 3 relative to the chassis 2.

Each loop 23 (Figure 4) is angled outwardly to locate over its corresponding plate 27 while the body 3 is being lifted onto the chassis 2. The plates 27 have downturned outermost edges 28 against which in use the loops 23 engage when the body 3 is seated on the chassis 2 to prevent the lateral movement of the body 3 relative to the chassis 2.

The body 3 is positioned on the chassis 2 by means of two pairs of wheeled lifting jacks similar to that 29 shown in Figure 4 and using the sockets 33 and 34.

In use, one pair of jacks 29 is located at one side of the vehicle body while the other pair of jacks 29 is located at the other side of the vehicle body.

The rake 30 of each jack 29 would in use engage one end of a socket 25,26.

In a typical operation to remove a body from the chassis of one vehicle and transfer it to the chassis of another vehicle, the jacks would be wheeled into position to engage the body sockets of the first vehicle.

The jacks would then lift the body sufficiently to enable the first vehicle to be driven away. The second vehicle would then be driven into the correct position to enable the jacks to lower the body so that each cross member is seated within the relevant rail pair of the chassis.

The advantages of using rail pairs rather than channel shaped cross-member members as the seating elements in the chassis are firstly that rails are both cheaper and easier to fabricate than channel shaped members and secondly that there is a reduced likelihood of the rails being buckled or distorted during use at the point where the rails overhang the chassis sub-frame.

Furthermore there is a considerable cost advantage in using metal lugs rather than cross members as the elements for retaining the body in position on the chassis.

Claims (9)

1. A vehicle comprising a chassis and a body of the type which is removable from the chassis and which is retained in position on the chassis by elements which engage in seats in the chassis, the chassis seats comprising at least two pairs of spaced apart cross-rails to receive the vehicle body elements therebetween.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which the elements comprise lugs depending from the base of the body, there being at least two lugs to engage in each chassis seat.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2 in which the lugs for engaging in each chassis seat form pairs with the lugs in each pair being located on opposite sides of the vehicle body.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3 in which each pair of rails is provided with means for engaging with the lugs in such a way as to prevent lateral movement of the body relative to the chassis once the body is seated on the chasses.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 in which the means comprises at each end of the pair of rails a plate on which the rails rest, each lug overhanging its corresponding plate in use.

6. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the body is provided with at least two cross-members, each member having its ends adapted to receive the rake of a lifting device.

7. A vehicle chassis for use in a vehicle as claimed in any of the proceding claims.

8. A vehicle body for use in a vehicle according to any of claims 2 to 6.

9. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.