GB2291154A

GB2291154A - Joint assembly for components

Info

Publication number: GB2291154A
Application number: GB9413378A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Randall Holdstock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-02
Filing date: 1994-07-02
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Also published as: GB9413378D0

Abstract

A joint assembly (Figure 2) for connecting together vehicle body components and also for connecting such components to a vehicle chassis, comprises a base plate 12 mountable to a body component, and a channel section bracket 14 mounted to the plate 12 by the ends of the channel section. Threaded holes are provided through the base of the bracket 14 by the provision of nuts 16 on the inner side of the base of the bracket 14 with corresponding aligned holes. A mounting plate 18 is also provided mountable on a further component of a vehicle body with holes corresponding to the bracket 14 to permit connection together by bolts 20 engaging in the nuts 16. Several vehicle constructions are described (e.g. Figure 8). <IMAGE>

Description

JOINT ASSEMBLY This invention concerns joint assemblies, particularly but not exclusively joint assemblies used in the construction of vehicle bodies, and especially curtain sided lorry bodies. The invention also concerns a method of constructing a vehicle body.

Curtain sided lorry bodies generally comprise front and rear bulkheads mounted on a chassis, with a roof mounted between the two bulkheads. Conventionally the bulkheads have been mounted to the chassis and roof by welding. Welding components together can build stresses into the body which can cause subsequent failure. Also, as a result of the welding, painting and other finishing of the body can only be carried out following mounting together of the components, thereby requiring work to be carried out for instance on the roof at a considerable height. If also for example it is required to paint the body by spraying, a very large spray booth will be required.

The term "vehicle" when used in this specification is to be understood as covering vehicles with integral drive means, as well as trailers or perhaps railway vehicles.

According to the present invention there is provided a joint assembly, the assembly comprising a first component mountable on a first member, a second component mountable on a second member, and fastening means for releasably mounting together the first and second components and hence the first and second members.

The invention also provides a joint assembly for joining together the parts of a vehicle body, the assembly comprising a first component mountable on a first member of the vehicle, a second component mountable on a second member of the vehicle, and fastening means for releasably mounting together the first and second components and hence first and second body members.

Preferably a one of the components is threaded, and a plurality of threaded holes may be provided therein. A nut or nuts may be provided on said component to provide the threaded hole or holes. A corresponding aligned hole or holes are preferably provided in the other component.

Said one component may comprise a first part mountable to the respective member, and a second threaded part. The second part may be shaped such that the or each threaded hole therein is spaced from the first part. The second part may be substantially "U" shaped such that the free end of a threaded fastening means engaging in the or a one of the threaded holes, locates between the first and second parts.

Flexible material may be located between the first and second components to provide a flexible joint.

The fastening means preferably comprises a bolt or bolts. The bolt may comprise a first threaded portion of a slightly smaller diameter than the rest of the shank, which may be unthreaded. The holes in the components are preferably of a size such that said rest of the shank slidingly fits therein.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a vehicle body, the method comprising joining together the constituent parts of the body and joining said parts to a vehicle chassis, using joint assemblies according to any of the preceding five paragraphs.

The constituent parts of the body can be cut to required dimensions from larger components prior to joining.

Jigs are preferably used to correctly locate and space the joint assemblies on the constituent parts and/or vehicle chassis.

The invention still further provides a vehicle made by a method according to any of the preceding three paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a plan, top and side view of a first joint assembly according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a diagramatic perspective view of a vehicle body showing the location thereon of joint assemblies according to the present invention; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are respectively front, plan and side cross-sectional views of the first joint assembly as used on the vehicle shown in Fig. 4; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively plan, side and rear views of a second joint assembly as used on the vehicle in Fig. 4; Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are respectively end, side and plan views of a third joint assembly as used on the vehicle of Fig. 4; Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are respectively side, end and plan views of a fourth joint assembly; and Fig. 17 is a side view of a bolt used in the fourth assembly.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a joint assembly 10 usable for connecting together vehicle body components and also for connecting such components to a vehicle chassis. The assembly 10 comprises a base plate 12 mountable to a vehicle body component by for example welding. Mounted on the plate 12 by welding is a bracket 14 in the form of a square piece of channel section. Four holes are provided each adjacent a corner of the floor of the channel section. Four nuts 16 are provided, each one coaxially mounted with the holes, on the inside face of the channel section. The bracket 14 is mounted to the plate 12 by the ends of the sides of the channel section.

The assembly 10 further comprises a mounting plate 18 which is mountable on a further component of a vehicle body. The mounting plate 18 is square and has corresponding holes to the bracket 14. The plate 18 can be mounted to the bracket 14 by bolts 20 engagable with the nuts 16. Four elongate tapering gussets 22 extend perpendicularly from the plate 18 to permit mounting thereof by, for example welding, to a vehicle body component.

Fig. 4 shows diagramatically a vehicle body 24 comprising a front bulkhead 26, rear bulkhead 28, and roof 30. The body 24 comprises four joint assemblies 10 mounting the front bulkhead 26 to the front of the frame of the body 24. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a one of the assemblies 10a mounting the bulkhead 26 with a one of its vertical pillars 32 and crossmember 34, to a beam 36 of the trailer frame. The gussets 22 fit either side of the beam 36 and are welded thereto. The base plate 12 is mounted to the pillar 32 and crossmember 34.

The rear bulkhead 28 is mounted at the base of each pillar 38 thereof to a crossmember 40 at the rear of the body frame by second joint assemblies 42. Each assembly 42 is similar to the assemblies 10 except that the bracket 44 of the assembly 42 has eight threaded holes therein, with three on each side thereof. Two gussets 46 extend from the base plate 48 to permit mounting thereof to the pillar 38.

The roof 30 is mounted to the front and rear bulkheads 26, 28 by third joint assemblies 50. The assembly 50 is similar to the joint assembly 10 except that only a pair of gussets 52 are provided on the mounting plate 54 to permit mounting thereof to the roof 30. Fig. 11 shows a joint assembly 50a mounting the pillar 32 to the roof 30. The curtain track 56 for the sides of the body 24 can be seen in this figure. The joint assemblies 10, 42, 50 hereinbefore described are located on the respective components using jigs to ensure a required spacing.

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 show a joint assembly 58 somewhat similar to the assembly 10. The assembly 58 is in a form as may be supplied to a body manufacturer.

Separate parts of the assembly 58 could be supplied respectively to a body manufacturer and a trailer manufacturer. The assembly 58 comprises a mounting plate 60 similar to the plate 18 and a bracket 62 similar to the bracket 14. No base plate is provided on the assembly 58 as any suitable plate can be attached as is required.

The holes through the plate 60 and bracket 62 are slightly larger than the thread on the bolts 64 provided on the bracket 62. Fig. 17 shows a bolt 66, usable in the joint 58. The bolt 66 has a first threaded position 68 of a slightly smaller diameter than a plain shank, portion 70 which extends to the bolt head 72. The diameters in this instance are 14 and 15 mm and correspond to the diameters of the holes through the bracket 14 and plate 18; and also the nuts 64. The slightly smaller diameter threaded portion 68 make it easier to thread the bolts 66 into the holes, which may often be carried out in a difficult working position, whilst ensuring subsequent tight fitting of the joint 58.

There are thus described joint assemblies usable in the construction of a vehicle body. As the assemblies are connectable together by screwing this eliminates the formation of stresses in the various body components which may be caused by welding. Furthermore, it permits the body components to be painted and otherwise finished before connection together. This enables this work to be carried out at a reasonable working height and means that smaller spray booths can be used. If required, due to damage or for any other reason, individual components of the body can readily be removed and subsequently replaced. Using joint assemblies according to the present invention enables the body components to be made from larger articles such as perhaps lengths of pillar which can readily be cut to size and welded to the respective part of the joint assembly.The provision of the threaded hole on the brackets enables the body parts to be joined together by a single person as it is not necessary to thread a nut onto a bolt whilst holding the components together.

Using a separate joint provides for considerable advantages. The joint assemblies can be produced very accurately, and on mass, and therefore relatively inexpensively. As the assemblies are accurately produced, and can easily be accurately positioned on the vehicle body or frame using appropriate jigs, the various body parts can readily be interchanged as required. The different parts of the joints could be fitted by different parties, for example: one part by a body builder on a part of the body; and the other part by a trailer manufacturer on to the trailer. Different levels of workmanship are often applied when building bodies and trailers. Accordingly, and particularly with body builders, it is required that the joint assemblies can easily be fitted without the requirement for drilling accurately positioned holes, which is the case with the present invention.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the base plates of the joint assemblies spread the load on the body components, and these can be shaped and sized as required. The mounting plates can be any required shape or size and various gussets or other mounting fixtures can be provided thereon. The brackets, which are usually formed by pressing, can be any required shape. The threaded holes could be provided by tapping or otherwise, rather than the welded nuts. Any number of bolts such as 2, 4, 6, 8 or more could be provided.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims:

1. A joint assembly, the assembly comprising a first component mountable on a first member, a second component mountable on a second member, and fastening means for releasably mounting together the first and second components and hence the first and second members.

2. A joint assembly for joining together the parts of a vehicle body, the assembly comprising a first component mountable on a first member of the vehicle, a second component mountable on a second member of the vehicle, and fastening means for releasably mounting together the first and second components and hence first and second body members.

3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which a one of the components is threaded.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, in which a plurality of threaded holes are provided in said one component.

5. An assembly according to any of claims 3 or 4, in which a nut or nuts are provided on said one component to provide the threaded hole or holes.

6. An assembly according to any of claims 3 to 5, in which a corresponding aligned hole or holes are provided in the other component.

7. An assembly according to any of claims 3 to 6, in which said one component comprises a first part mountable to the respective member, and a second threaded part.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, in which the second part is shaped such that the or each threaded hole therein is spaced from the first part.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, in which the second part is substantially "U" shaped such that the free end of the threaded fastening means engaging in the or a one of the threaded holes, locates between the first and second parts.

10. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which flexible material is located between the first and second components to provide a flexible joint.

11. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the fastening means comprises a bolt or bolts.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, in which the or each bolt comprises a first threaded portion of a slightly smaller diameter than the rest of the shank.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, in which the rest of the shank is unthreaded.

14. An assembly according to claims 12 or 13, in which the holes in the components are of a size such that said rest of the shank slidingly fits therein.

15. A method of constructing a vehicle body, the method comprising joining together the constituent parts of the body and joining said parts to a vehicle chassis, using joint assemblies according to any of claims 1 to 14.

16. A method according to claim 15, in which the constituent parts of the body are cut to required dimensions from larger components prior to joining.

17. A method according to claims 15 or 16, in which jigs are used to correctly locate and space the joint assemblies on to constituent parts and/or vehicle chassis.

18. A vehicle made by a method according to any of claims 15 to 17.

19. A joint assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A joint assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs, 8-10 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A joint assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 11-13 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A joint assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figs. 14-16 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of constructing a vehicle body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of constructing a vehicle body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 8-10 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of constructing a vehicle body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 11-13 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of constructing a vehicle body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 14-16 of the accompanying drawings.

27. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.