GB2264087A - Van bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

A floor platform (10) for a road or railway van body or container is of monobloc construction. The platform (10) has a side configuration adapted to receive and mount a side rail or rave. An end configuration (17) is adapted to receive and mount end reinforcement which may be used to mount a vertical front or rear bulkhead. The floor platform (10) may serve as a load supporting surface of the van body or may receive an overlay (11) of the form required by the van body user. The floor platform (10) can be formed of aluminium or moulded glassfibre. <IMAGE>

Description

VAN BODIES This invention relates to van bodies.

A van body may be integral with a road vehicle (self propelled or trailer) or railway wagon, or be demoutftable therefrom, or it may be a cargo or freight container, and the term "van body" used herein should be construed accordingly.

A van body comprises a floor in the form of a cargo-supporting platform or base frame and a roof supported above the floor by vertical end and/or side wall structures which may take a variety of forms such as, for example solid walls, sliding and/or hinged door structures, pillars and curtain assemblies with or without integrated solid doors or panels, or combinations of these vertical wall structures.

According to the present invention there is provided a floor platform for a van body of monobloc construction incorporating one or more of the following features: (a) a side configuration (integral or attached) adapted to receive and mount a side rail or rave; (b) an end configuration (integral or attached) adapted to receive and mount end reinforcement which may be in the form of a steel channel member possibly adapted to mount a vertical front or rear bulkhead; (c) front and rear end steel or equivalent members (attached to or incorporated in the floor platform and additional to the end reinforcements) for mounting front and rear bulkheads; (d) means adapted to permit securement of the floor platform to a vehicle chassis which means is preferably a bolting securement; (e) recessing of the floor platform to define wheel arches;; (f) side edge lips between which floor platform overlays can be positioned; and (g) provision for the attachment of side guards or side valances for air management.

The floor platform is preferably of moulded glassfibre (preferably reinforced) or engineering plastics, or it may be formed of aluminium.

The floor platform according to this invention is preferably of virtually uncrushable, rigid, minimum thickness construction adapted to accept bolted-on side and end wall bodywork of any construction.

The term "bolt" or its variations used herein is to be construed as including rivetting and pinning.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a floor platform for a van body according to the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on the lines II-II and III-III of Fig.l; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the securement of the floor platform to a vehicle chassis.

The floor platform 10 is of monobloc construction and is formed of moulded reinforced glassfibre. It is of inverted tray construction (see Fig.3).

It is, only by way of example, 7.62 metres long, 2.47 metres long and 100 millimetres thick (deep) around its sides and ends.

The floor platform 10 may itself serve as the load-supporting surface of the van body or an overlay of whatever form the van body operator requires may be laid over the top of the floor platform 10.

For example, a plywood overlay 11 may be provided of, for example 18 millimetres thickness, and be located between upstanding side lips 12 which may be integral with the floor platform 10 or provided by side rails or raves as described later with reference to Fig. 3.

The floor platform 10 has at each side a moulded-in wheel arch 13.

In this embodiment each side edge of the floor platform 10 is configured to receive and mount a side rail or rave 14 of stepped configuration to match the stepped configuration of the side edge.

The side rail or rave 14 has an upstand 14A to define the aforesaid side lip (see item 12 of Fig. 1), a horizontal lip 14B to lie between the floor platform 10 and the overlay 11 for screw securement at 15, and a depending lip 14C below to floor platform 10 to receive, for example, a rave hook (not shown) of a securing strap of a side curtain assembly (also not shown).

The side rail or rave 14 is also screwed to the floor platform 10 as indicated at 16 between its step 14D and the depending lip 14C.

At each end a steel channel member 17 is bonded and screwed to secure the overlay 11 to the floor platform 10 and to provide a support and mounting for front or rear vertical bulkheads (not shown).

Fig. 4 shows one way of interconnectihg the floor platform 10 to a vehicle chassis.

The floor platform 10 incorporates a bolt plate 18 whereby it can be connected by bolts 19 to a bracket 20 on a chassis cross-beam 21.

The floor platform 10 is preferably of a thickness which satisfies the low mounting requirement of the beverage industry.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. A floor platform for a van body of monobloc construction having a side configuration adapted to receive and mount a side rail or rave.

2. A floor platform according to claim 1, wherein the side configuration has a depending lip to which a side rail or rave can be mounted.

3. A floor platform according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side configuration has an upstanding lip on each side of the floor platform so that a floor platform overlay can be positioned between the lips of each side.

4. A floor platform according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided an end configuration which is adapted to receive and mount end reinforcement.

5. A floor platform according to claim 4, wherein the end reinforcement is a steel channel member.

6. A floor platform according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the end reinforcement is adapted to mount a vertical front or rear bulkhead.

7. A floor platform according to any preceding claim, wherein front and rear end mounting members are provided for mounting front and rear bulkheads.

8. A floor platform according to any preceding claim, wherein fixing means are provided to permit securement of the floor platform to a vehicle chassis.

9. A floor platform according to claim 8, wherein the fixing means are bolts.

10. A floor platform according to any preceding claim, wherein there are provided recesses to define wheel arches.

11. A floor platform according to any preceding claims, wherein there is provided means for the attachment of side guards or side valences for air management.

12. A floor platform according to any preceding claim, wherein the platform is constructed from moulded glass fibre or engineering plastics.

13. A floor platform according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the platform is constructed from engineering plastics.

14. A floor platform according to any preceding claim, wherein it is of virtually uncrushable, rigid, minimum thickness construction.

15. A floor platform according to any preceding claim, wherein it is adapted to accept bolted-on side and end wall bodywork of any construction.