GB2333499A

GB2333499A - Commercial vehicle roofs

Info

Publication number: GB2333499A
Application number: GB9800909A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford E Olley
Original assignee: JAY COMMERCIAL MOULDINGS LIMIT
Current assignee: JAY COMMERCIAL MOULDINGS LIMIT
Priority date: 1998-01-17
Filing date: 1998-01-17
Publication date: 1999-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-17
Also published as: GB9800909D0; GB2333499B

Abstract

A cant rail for use in constructing a commercial vehicle body with a radius joint between the roof 13 and body side walls has a main section with a first flange 25 which lies along the upper edge of a body side wall, a connecting web 28 extending inwardly and upwardly of the body from the first flange 25, and a second flange 29 which projects laterally outwardly from the connecting web 28, to lie at right angles to the first flange 25. The main section defines an elongate groove 27 which extends along the section, outboard of the first flange 25. A capping section 30 of a radiused cross-sectional profile 31 has one marginal region for securing to the second flange 29 with an edge margin of a roof panel 13 between the second flange 29 and the capping section and a second edge 32 parallel to the marginal region and which is located in the groove 27 of the main section.

Description

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ROOFS This invention concerns roof constructions for a commercial vehicle body.

In particular, this invention relates to a cant rail assembly comprising a pair of sections for use in constructing such a roof, a roof when constructed using that cant rail and a method of constructing a roof using the cant rail.

It is important that a commercial vehicle body has a watertight seal between a roof skin or panel and the sides of the vehicle body. A well known technique to provide this is to fit a so-called cant rail along the top edge of each side wall of the vehicle body, the cant rail having a flange extending horizontally and to which the roof skin may be secured, typically by means of blind rivets. In one design of cant rail, the underside of the flange lies outside the vehicle body so that any leakage through the rivets or the rivet holes will be external of the body. This may be achieved by having the flange supported above the side wall of the vehicle body and with the inboard end of the flange connected by a web to a part of the cant rail attached to the side wall, which web extends upwardly and inwardly of the body. The flange may thus lie wholly within the width of the body.

A construction using a cant rail as described above typically is completed by means of a capping strip which extends along the upper edge of the roof skin, the capping strip being held down by the same rivets as secure the roof skin to the cant rail. Mastic may be employed between the flange and the skin to ensure a watertight seal, and the capping strip may be turned down to protect the edge of the skin.

The above described arrangement is widely employed in the construction of commercial vehicle bodies, but has the disadvantage that it is not possible to provide a radiused edge to the joint between a roof skin and the vehicle side walls. Apart for aesthetic considerations, there are sound aerodynamic reasons for providing a radiused joint between the roof and side walls of a commercial vehicle body, and especially high-sided bodies. It has been demonstrated that the susceptibility of a radiused construction to strong side winds is much reduced as compared to a simple construction having an angular joint between the roof skin and the side walls, such as are provided by a cant rail arrangement as described above.

In order to provide a radiused joint, it is known to employ a cant rail having an arcuate section between the upper edge of that part of the rail which is secured to a side wall of the body, which section curves round over the body and provides a substantially flat surface slightly inboard of the side wall and to which the roof skin can be affixed again by means of blind rivets. However, any leakage through the rivets or rivet holes will be into the interior of the body and experience shows that no matter how carefully mastic or other sealants are employed, flexing of the vehicle body will result in leakage after the vehicle has been in use for a period of time.

It is an aim of this invention to provide a modified kind of cant rail suitable for use in a commercial vehicle body construction so as to permit the furnishing of a radiused joint between a roof and a side wall, and yet to eliminate the possibility of leakage into the body.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cant rail for use in constructing a commercial vehicle body with a radiused joint between the roof and side walls, which cant rail comprises: - a main section having a first flange adapted to lie along or define the upper edge of one side of the body, a connecting web extending (in use) inwardly and upwardly of the body from the first flange and supporting a second flange lying substantially at right angles to the first flange, which second flange projects laterally outwardly from the connecting web, the main section defining an elongate groove extending therealong outboard of the first flange; and - a capping section of a radiused cross-sectional profile and having one long marginal region adapted to be secured to the second flange by fasteners extending therethrough with an edge margin of a roof panel located between the second flange and the capping section, and a second edge opposed to the marginal region and adapted to be located in the elongate groove of the main section.

It will be appreciated that the main section of the cant rail of this invention is somewhat similar to the known form of cant rail of the general form as described above, but has been modified to accommodate a capping section having a radiused cross-section profile which capping section when fitted to the main section provides a radiused joint bridging the roof skin and the side wall, within the confines of the overall vehicle body. Should there be leakage through the joint between the second flange and the roof skin, that will be external of the interior of the body so eliminating the problem associated with known radiused cant rail designs.

Preferably, the groove of the main section co-operates with the second edge of the capping section such that when the second edge has been engaged in the groove, withdrawal of that edge is resisted. This may be achieved by having a groove of re-entrant form and providing an enlarged bead along the second edge of the capping section, such that the second edge has to be snapfitted into the groove. Alternatively, both the groove and the second edge may have complementary hook-shaped forms so that withdrawal is resisted once hooked together. The preferred assembly technique is to fit the second edge of the capping section into the groove of the main section, hinge the capping section round to overlie the roof panel edge margin laid on the second flange thereof, and then secure together the roof panel edge margin, main section second flange and the overlying edge of the capping section, for example with blind rivets. Alternatively, the natural (or relaxed) radius of curvature of the capping section may be slightly greater than the radius of curvature thereof when the capping section is secured to the second flange of the main section and the second edge of the capping section is located in the groove. In this way, the capping section could first be secured to the main section together with the roof panel, and then the second edge of the capping section may be sprung into the groove of the main section in order to complete the construction.

The first flange of the main section may be substantially planar and adapted for securing along the upper edge of a side wall of the body in much the same way as is the corresponding flange of the known cant rail designs. Thus, the main section may be screwed, bolted, riveted or otherwise secured to the side wall. In a modified design, the main section defines a downwardly-opening channel in which runners for a vehicle side curtain may be located.

The main section advantageously is made from either an aluminium alloy or, in the case of a simple section, from a reinforced plastics material. As the capping section is not load-bearing and effectively serves as a trim furnishing a radius to the joint, this may be made from aluminium sheet, or from a reinforced plastics material.

According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a roof joint construction for a commercial vehicle body employing a cant rail having a main and capping sections, which construction comprises: - a main section having a first flange lying along or defining the upper edge of one side of the body, a connecting web extending inwardly and upwardly of the body from the first flange and supporting a second flange lying substantially at right angles to the first flange, which second flange projects laterally outwardly from the connecting web, the main section defining an elongate groove extending therealong outboard of the first flange; - a roof panel an edge margin of which overlies the second flange; and - a capping section of a radiused cross-sectional profile and having one long marginal region which overlies the edge margin of the roof panel and secured to the second flange by fasteners extending through said marginal region, the edge margin of the roof panel and the second flange, the capping section having a second edge opposed to said marginal region and adapted to be located in the elongate groove of the main section.

According to yet another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of constructing a commercial vehicle body to fumish a radiused joint between a side wall and a roof panel and employing a cant rail, which method comprises the steps of : - securing to at least two opposed side walls of the body a respective main section of the cant rail and having a first flange, a connecting web which extends (in use) inwardly and upwardly of the body from the first flange and a second flange supported by the connecting flange to lie substantially at right angles to the first flange and projecting laterally outwardly from the connecting web, each main section being secured to its respective side wall by its first flange to extend along or define the upper edge of the side wall of the body, and the main section further defining an elongate groove extending therealong outboard of the first flange; - positioning a roof panel over the body such that two opposed edge margins of the panel are supported by the second flanges of the main sections; - positioning the long edge of a respective capping section having a radiused cross-sectional profile over each said opposed edge margins of the roof panel; and then, in either order, - securing the roof panel edge margins and capping section long edges to the second flange by means of fasteners extending through the capping strip, the edge margin of the roof panel and the second flange; and - locating a second long edge of the capping section in the elongate groove of the main section.

It will be appreciated that in both of the above two aspects of this invention, the cant rail employed has main and capping sections and thus is a cant rail of this invention as described hereinbefore.

By way of example only, two specific designs of cant rail arranged in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a conventional known form of cant rail providing an angular joint between a vehicle body side and roof skin; Figure 2 shows a conventional known form of radiused cant rail construction; Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of a two section cant rail of this invention; and Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a two section cant rail of this invention and arranged for use with a sliding curtain vehicle body.

In Figure 1 there is shown a known cant rail design for use in a vehicle body construction. This rail comprises an aluminium alloy extrusion and having a first flange 10 adapted to be secured to an upper edge of a vehicle body side wall (not shown) for example by means of high-strength blind rivets or bolts.

Extending upwardly and inwardly from the upper edge of the first flange is a connecting web 11 and from the upper edge of that web 11 extends generally horizontally a second flange 12, outwardly to a position more or less aligned with the inner face of the first flange 10. A roof skin 13, for example of a glass fibre reinforced plastics sheet or an aluminium sheet, is laid over the second flange 12 and a capping strip 14 is placed along the edge margin of the roof skin 13. The second flange 12, roof skin 13 and capping strip 14 are secured together by means of blind rivets 15. Mastic may be employed between the roof skin 13 and the second flange 12 to minimise leakage. As can be seen, any leakage through the rivets 15 or the rivet holes will be discharged outside the vehicle body.

The cant rail of Figure 1 may include a further horizontal flange 16, extending inwardly from the upper edge of the first flange 10, to permit the attachment of bracing members extending between the side walls of the vehicle.

The above described construction does not permit the provision of a radiused joint between the side wall of a vehicle body and the roof skin. The cant rai! of Figure 2 provides a radiused joint but has the disadvantage that leakage through the rivets or rivet holes will be into the interior of the body. The cant rail of Figure 2 has a first flange 20 again adapted for securing to the upper edge of a side wall of the body, an arcuate section 21 curving round inwardly of the body and a substantially planar portion 22 to which a roof skin 13 may be secured by blind rivets 15, with a planar capping strip 23.

Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of two-section cant rail of this invention, permitting the furnishing of a radiused joint whilst eliminating the disadvantage of the arrangement of Figure 2. The main section of this cant rail comprises a first flange 25 adapted for securing to the upper edge of a side wall of a vehicle body, in the same manner as first flange 10 of the arrangement of Figure 1. At the upper edge of that first flange, there is a horizontal flange 26 extending inwardly of the body, a hook shaped groove 27 being formed along the junction between flanges 25 and 26. A connecting web 28 projects upwardly and inwardly of the body from the horizontal flange 26, spaced slightly from the groove 27, and a horizontally extending second flange 29 is supported by the upper edge of the web 28. The second flange 29 extends laterally outwardly of the body and terminates generally above the junction between the horizontal flange 26 and web 28.

As with the known arrangement of Figure 1, a roof skin 13 is laid over the second flange 29, with mastic between the skin and flange to assist making a watertight seal. A capping section 30 is then placed over the edge of the skin 13 and the capping section and skin 13 are secured to the second flange 29 by means of blind rivets 15.

The capping section 30 has an arcuate portion 31 which terminates at its lower edge in a hook shaped bead 32. That bead is located in groove 27 of the main section of the cant rail, to complete the construction. Any leakage through the rivets 15 will be into the space between the capping section 30 and the connecting web 28 and this may suitably be drained for example at the rear end of the body, so eliminating leakage into the body. The arcuate portion may have a relaxed radius of curvature greater than that when the capping section is fitted as shown. In this way, the bead has to be sprung into the groove, so assisting the retention of the bead therein.

An alternative construction is to fit the bead 32 into groove 27 first, and then to hinge the capping section round to overlie the second flange 29 of the main section and also the edge margin of the roof panel. The blind rivets 15 may then be fitted to secure the roof panel and capping section to the main section.

The embodiment of Figure 4 is generally similar to that of Figure 3, but includes a channel 35 within which runners for a side curtain of a vehicle body may be located. The channel includes lips 36 along which the runners may roll.

In this embodiment, the capping strip 37 has a longer arcuate section, for location in a groove 38 provided on a part of the main section which, together with flange 25, defines the channel 35. In other respects, the embodiment of Figure 4 corresponds to that of Figure 3 and again any leakage through rivets 15 will be into a void extemal of the vehicle body.

It will be appreciated that the void between the main section and the capping section, in either of the constructions of this invention as describe above, may be used as a duct for carrying electrical cables along the vehicle body. Altematively, or possibly in addition, the void may be used for ventilating or heating purposes. Moreover, the capping section may easily be replaced in the event of damage, and may be pre-coloured in a fleet livery should this be required.

Claims

1. A cant rail for use in constructing a commercial vehicle body with a radiused joint between the roof and side walls, which cant rail comprises: - a main section having a first flange adapted to lie along or define the upper edge of one side of the body, a connecting web extending (in use) inwardly and upwardly of the body from the first flange and supporting a second flange lying substantially at right angles to the first flange, which second flange projects laterally outwardly from the connecting web, the main section defining an elongate groove extending therealong outboard of the first flange; and - a capping section of a radiused cross-sectional profile and having one long marginal region adapted to be secured to the second flange by fasteners extending therethrough with an edge margin of a roof panel located between the second flange and the capping section, and a second edge opposed to the marginal region and adapted to be located in the elongate groove of the main section.

2. A cant rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer edge of the second flange is inboard of the first flange.

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3. A cant rail as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the groove of the main section co-operates with the second edge of the capping section such that when said second edge is engaged therein, withdrawal of the capping section is resisted

4. A cant rail as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the natural radius of curvature of the capping section is greater than the radius of curvature thereof when the capping section is secured to the main section such that the second edge of the capping section has to be sprung into the groove of the main section.

5. A cant rail as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the groove is of re-entrant cross-sectional shape and the second edge of the capping strip is provided with a bead which locates in the re-entrant groove.

6. A cant rail as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second edge of the capping strip is adapted to snap-fit in the groove.

7. A cant rail as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the main section defines a downwardly-opening channel into which runners for a vehicle side curtain may be located.

8. A cant rail as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least the capping section is manufactured from a reinforced plastics material.

9. A cant rail substantially as hereinbefore with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A roof joint construction for a commercial vehicle body employing a cant rail, which construction comprises: - a cant rail main section having a first flange lying along or defining the upper edge of one side of the body, a connecting web extending inwardly and upwardly of the body from the first flange and supporting a second flange lying substantially at right angles to the first flange, which second flange projects laterally outwardly from the connecting web the main section defining an elongate groove extending therealong outboard of the first flange; - a roof panel an edge margin of which overlies the second flange; and - a cant rail capping section of a radiused cross-sectional profile and having one long marginal region which overlies the edge margin of the roof panel and secured to the second flange by fasteners extending through said marginal region, the edge margin of the roof panel and the second flange, the capping section having a second edge opposed to said marginal region and adapted to be located in the elongate groove of the main section.

11. A method of constructing a commercial vehicle body to fumish a radiused joint between a side wall and a roof panel and employing a cant rail, which method comprises the steps of : - securing to at least two opposed side walls of the body a respective main section of the cant rail and having a first flange, a connecting web which extends (in use) inwardly and upwardly of the body from the first flange and a second flange supported by the connecting flange to lie substantially at right angles to the first flange and projecting laterally outwardly from the connecting web, each main section being secured to its respective side wall by its first flange to extend along or define the upper edge of the side wall of the body, and the main section further defining an elongate groove extending therealong outboard of the first flange; - positioning a roof panel over the body such that two opposed edge margins of the panel are supported by the second flanges of the main sections; - positioning the long edge of a respective capping section having a radiused cross-sectional profile over each said opposed edge margins of the roof panel; and then in either order, - securing the roof panel edge margins and capping section long edges to the second flange by means of fasteners extending through the capping strip, the edge margin of the roof panel and the second flange; and - locating a second long edge of the capping section in the elongate groove of the main section.