GB2209715A

GB2209715A - Vehicle chassis, wheel mounting, loadsupport and body rear closure

Info

Publication number: GB2209715A
Application number: GB8721390A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Stephen Howard Brown
Original assignee: Solaglas Ltd
Current assignee: Saint Gobain Glass United Kingdom Ltd
Priority date: 1987-09-11
Filing date: 1987-09-11
Publication date: 1989-05-24
Also published as: GB8721390D0

Abstract

Cross girders 14 connect the lower portions of two longitudinal I beams 12 and support a floor in a well between the beams. The wheels 22 are mounted on arms 20 movable by hydraulic rams 24 so that the rear of the chassis may be lowered to contact the ground. Channels (35 and 36, Fig. 4) secured to the ends of the girders 14 may provide support for sheet material, e.g. glass. Curtains (61, 62, Fig. 7) with internal padding may be secured to the vehicle floor to retain sheet material on the vehicle sides. The vehicle rear may be closed by an upper door or doors (72, 73, Fig. 8) with a depending curtain or curtains (74, 75). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VEHICLES AND TRAILERS The invention relates to vehicles and trailers, and the term "vehicle" used hereinafter will be deemed to include in its scope a trailer or semi-trailer pulled by a motorised unit such as a tractor. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to vehicles for use in transporting glass and glass products, notably flat glass and flat glass products.

It is a common feature of vehicles for carrying goods, particularly heavy goods, to have a main load bearing chassis including a pair of spaced apart, parallel beams, commonly I-beams extending in a front to rear direction beneath a load platform.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle having a load bearing chassis including at least a pair of spaced apart beams extending in a front to rear direction, and a multiplicity of load platform supports extending laterally with respect to the beams, the load platform supports lying at or adjacent the base of the beams whereby a well is created between the or each pair of beams.

There is preferably one pair of beams and a central well therebetween. The load support level is preferably at the height of the base of the well, although wheels of the vehicle may impinge on this space outside the beams.

Particularly, but not exclusively, where flat glass and flat glass products are being handled, it is a distinct attraction to have (a) a low load platform, and (b) a load platform which, during loading, is as stable as possible.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle having a load platform, spaced apart rear wheel means, and suspension means connecting the load platform to the rear wheel means to support the load platform at the rear of the vehicle, which suspension means, is capable of carrying the load platform in a'transportation position where the load platform is supported clear of the ground and a loading position where a body portion of the vehicle makes contact with the ground to stabilise the load platform.

The vehicle preferably makes contact with the ground at the rear thereof in the loading position.

Curtain sided vehicles are well known, and in some circumstances, curtain sides exert, particularly by means of securing belts, a retaining force on goods such as boxes or crates.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle having a body suitable for transporting sheet material, which body comprises at least one curtain wall capable of being drawn to expose an opening, which curtain wall or walls are adapted to lie at an angle of between 0 and 15 , preferably 5 to 100 to the vertical such that the top of the curtain wall lies inwardly, with respect to the vehicle body, of the bottom of the curtain wall, whereby sheet material leaning against support means within the vehicle body adjacent the opening can be retained a least partly by contact with the or the associated curtain.

The or each curtain may comprise retaining strapping at intervals along its length. The or each curtain may comprise pad means on the inside thereof to assist cushioning of the sheet material.

End closures of commercial vehicles have traditionally often consisted of one or more doors, or some form of curtain walling. CurtaIn walling is convenient to use but does not impart rigidity to an end frame of a vehicle. Doors impart rigidity but can be cumbersome and inconvenient to use.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle having a body, a rear opening and closure means to close the rear opening, which closure means comprise door means for closing an upper portion of the rear opening and drawable curtain means for closing a lower portion of the opening.

The upper portion may constitute between '10 and Y2 of the opening.

The curtain means may be attached to the door means to open with the door means, but the curtain means are preferably also drawable with the door means closed.

The door means may comprise a single door or a pair of doors and the curtain means may comprise a single curtain or a pair of curtains.

By way of example, embodiments of a vehicle, in the form of a trailer, according to the invention will now be described with preference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a trailer; Figure 2 is a side view of the trailer of Figure 1 in a loading position; Figure 3 is a plan view, partly cut away, of the trailer of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a trailer main deck; Figure 5 is a section through a support rail; Figure 6 is an end view of the trailer of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 7 is an end view of a second embodiment of a trailer according to the invention illustrating sheet stacking arrangements; and Figure 8 is an end view of a trailer closure.

Figure 1 shows a trailer 10 adapted to be engaged by a conventional coupling arrangement 11 to a tractor unit to form an articulated vehicle. The trailer has a chassis whose main load bearing members are spaced apart, parallel I-beams 12 and 13 extending the length of the trailer 10.

The beams 12, 13 support a floor structure including a series of channel section girders 14 which extend through the web of each beam 12, 13 and are welded thereto. Beams 12 and 13 and the girders 14 are conveniently made of steel or other suitable load bearing material. The girders 14 support a floor and it will be appreciated that the configuration is such that the floor extends at a low level in the trailer, the beams 12 and 13 providing a central well therebetween above the floor together with wells on the outside of each beam 12 and 13.

The beams 12 and 13 also support wheel suspension assemblies 15 and 16, one on each side of the vehicle.

Each wheel suspension assembly has a pair of pivotally mounted, essentially triangular suspension arms 20 pivotally mounted at the base of a respective beam 12 or 13 by means of a pivot 21. Each arm 20 has a stub axle (not shown) carrying a wheel 22.

The I-beams 12 and 13 also carry ram supports 23 associated with each wheel, each ram support 23 locating one end of a hydraulic ram 24, the other end of which ram 24 is connected adjacent an apex of the suspension arm 20 remote from the pivot 21 and whel carrying stub axle.

Operation of the rams 24 allows raising and lowering of the rear of the trailer 10 as can be seen by comparing the configurations shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 1, the rams 24 are extended causing the wheels 22 to lie well below the rear of the trailer 10. In Figure 2, however, the rams 24 are retracted, causing the suspension arms 20 to rotate in anti-clockwise direction relative to the body of the trailer 10 to draw the wheels 22 upwards relative to the trailer 10. In this way, the complete rear of the trailer 10 can be lowered onto the ground to form a stable platform for loading.

The suspension arms 20 carry end stop buffers 25.

The beams 12 and 13 also carry a frame diagrammatically indicated by numeral 30 in Figure 1 which supports a body covering to protect products being transported on the trailer.

The floor arrangement is illustrated diagramatically in Figure 4 where the beams 12 and 13 are clearly shown, together with floor girders 14. Figure 4 shows clearly the low level of the floor relative to the height of the beams 12 and 13, representing a significant difference from traditional commercial vehicle or trailer constructions where floor girders have been supported on top of load bearing, longitudinal I-beams.

At lateral extremities of the floor are supported elongate rails 35 and 36 specially adapted to support sheet material such as glass. The rails are designed to have a channel 37 having a base 38 lying at 50 to the horizontal so that sheet material held in the channel 37 lies at a preferred angle of 50 to the vertical, extending from the floor upwardly and inwardly. Figure 6 shows the configuration of the frame 30 which follows the line of the 50 angle referred to above. It will be appreciated that the 5 angle is not critical but an angle in this region is preferred. In some circumstances, the angle could be less or greater than 5 .

Figure 7 shows in more detail a proposed configuration for stacking sheet material in the rear of a vehicle or trailer.

A floor 50 is supported by a beam arrangement 51 and elongate end rails 52 and 53 have substantially vertically opening channels for supporting sheet material.

Above the floor are mounted frames 54, 55, against both the support surfaces of which sheet material can be laid. Both support surfaces of the frames 54 and 55 lie at 50 to the vertical, as does the base of the channel in each of the rails 52 and 53.

In this way, sheet material can be stacked at 5 to the vertical, lying inwardly with respect to the vehicle.

The beam assembly 51 via the floor 50 supports a body frame 60 from which hang curtains 61 and 62. The curtains are carried on spaced apart straps to allow securement adjacent the floor and drawing upwardly or horizontally.

In this way, an opening is created in each side of the vehicle to allow loading and unloading of sheet material supported by the frames 54 and 55. As can be seen in Figure 7, the frame 60 has a configuration such that the curtains 61 and 62 when drawn across respective openings follow a line essentially the same as the line of the stacked sheet material although the line may vary slightly from the 50 angle proposed. Padding material may be present on the inside of the curtains 61 and 62 but the arrangement is such that the curtains 61 and 62 when closed assist positively to retain sheet material against the outside surfaces of the supporting frames 54 and 55.

Other aspects of the frame of the vehicle are conventional and would be found in a typical curtain sided vehicle.

In order to cope with particularly high sheet material, the frames 54 and 55 including a sliding extension support to extend from the frames to the roof of the vehicle again following the line of 50 or the chosen angle to the vertical.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a closure for the rear of a vehicle generally indicated at 70. The vehicle 70 has a rear frame 71, a top portion of which is closed by doors 72 and 73, door closure being achieved conventionally.

From the bottom of the doors 72 and 73 hang curtains 74 and 75 respectively. The curtains are secured, when desired, by means of straps or ropes 76 in appropriate positions. It will be appreciated that one door and curtain instead of two may be used.

This closure for the rear of a vehicle provides the advantage of speed and ease of opening and closing for loads lower than the doors 72 and 73 by using the curtains but rigidity imparted by the presence of the doors 72 and 73. For particularly high loads, the doors 72- and 73 can be opened, whereupon the curtains 74 and 75 are removed from the opening.

The embodiments hereinbefore described offer significant advantages over existing vehicles and trailers, particularly in relation to the carrying of sheet products such as flat glass.

The advantage of lowering the floor relative to the main load bearing beams of the vehicle is that a load can be carried so that it rests at a lower height, thus lowering the loading and unloading height and improving vehicle stability. It also makes feasible the use of a lowering suspension system that allows the floor to be lowered into direct contact with the ground to improve stability during loading and unloading.

The use of curtain walling to restrain sheet material loads by following the angle at which the sheet material lies offers a significant advantage over existing systems. The use of a combination door and curtain for closure of a vehicle rear opening offers significant advantages as set out already.

It will be appreciated that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. It is contemplated, for example, that a jib crane may be incorporated within the vehicle body to assist loading and unloading of material. Furthermore, dimensions and angles shown in the drawings and described in the embodiments may be altered as appropriate.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a load bearing chassis including at least a pair of spaced apart beams extending in a front to rear direction, and a multiplicity of load platform supports extending laterally with respect to the beams, the load platform supports lying at or adjacent the base of the beams whereby a well is created between the or each pair of beams.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim l having one pair of beams and a central well therebetween.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the load support level is at the height of the base of the well.

4. A vehicle having a load platform, spaced apart rear wheel means, and suspension means connecting the load platform to the rear wheel means to support the load platform at the rear of the vehicle, which suspension means is capable of carrying the load platform in a transportation position where the load platform is supported clear of the ground and a loading position where a body portion of the vehicle makes contact with the ground to stabilise the load platform.

5. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the vehicle makes contact with the ground at the rear thereof in the loading position.

6. A vehicle having a body suitable for transporting sheet material, which body comprises at least one curtain wall capable of being drawn to expose an opening, which curtain wall or walls are adapted to lie at an angle of between 0 and 150 to the vertical such that the top of the curtain wall lies inwardly, with resspect to the vehicle body, of the bottom of the curtain wall, whereby sheet material leaning against support means within the vehicle body adjacent the opening can be retained at least partly by contact with the or the associated curtain.

7. A vehicle as claimed in 6 wherein the or each curtain comprises retaining strapping at intervals along its length.

8. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the or each curtain comprises pad means on the inside thereof to assist cushioning of the sheet material.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8 wherein the curtain wall or walls are adapted to lie at an angle of between 50 and 100 to the vertical.

10. A vehicle having a body, a rear opening and closure means to close the rear opening, which closure means comprise door means for closing an upper portion of the rear opening and drawable curtain means for closing a lower portion of the opening.

11. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the upper portion constitutes between 1/10 and ss of the opening.

12. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 10 or 11 wherein the curtain means areattached to the door means to open with the door means.

13. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 12 wherein the curtain means are drawable with the door means closed.

14. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein the door means comprise a single door.

15. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein the door means comprise a pair of doors.

16. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 15 wherein the curtain means comprise a single curtain.

17. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 15 wherein the curtain means comprise a pair of curtains.

18. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or in Figure 4, or in Figures 5 and 6, or in Figures 5 and 6 as modified by Figure 7, or in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.