GB2338934A

GB2338934A - A mounting system for a demountable vehicle container

Info

Publication number: GB2338934A
Application number: GB9913070A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Jenkins; Nigel Paul Townley; Nigel Paul Jenkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-04
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 2000-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-04
Also published as: GB2338934B; GB9913070D0; GB9811974D0

Description

2338934 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VEHICLES This invention relates to

improvements in or relating to vehicles and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with improvements in a motor home or motorised caravan.

It is known to tow a caravan behind a car using a two ball hitch. A conventional motor home comprises a car and caravan (living accommodation unit) combined into a single or unitary drivable vehicle. A more recent development consists of a motor home having a motor vehicle and a demountable or separable caravan. This develoREqqnt has the advantage ove - r a conventional motor home that the vehicle can be driven without the caravan, but has advantages of driving stability over a car towing a caravan when the caravan is attached to the vehicle. The known motor home with demountable caravan includes a pick-up or flat bed truck with the caravan mounted upon the back of the truck. In order to demount or release the caravan, long jacks are extended to the ground to take the weight of the caravan and the truck is then driven out from underneath the caravan, which caravan then stands or is supported on the jacks. In the interests of space optimisation, and following the trend in conventional motor homes, such demountable caravans often have a front portion which overhangs the cab of the vehicle. For this reason legs of the front jacks are provided as far forwards as possible to improve stability.

_Uft6_n,_!t _CH__5FMMM'%WTi1S such motor homes with demountable caravans to accurately reverse the truck (or other vehicle) between the jacks to remount or reattach the caravan on the truck. There is a risk that if the truck hits one of the jacks, said Jack and/or the caravan might be damaged. This is a particular difficulty with pick-up trucks, where the side walls of the pick-up truck must also avoid the caravan. It will be appreciated that the problem of alignment persists sencrally during the full movement of the vehicle into the final position where the vehicle is 2 fully under the caravan. Only then can the jacks be retracted and the caravan secured to the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages, or other disadvantages associated with vehicles having a caravan or associated container unit.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a motor home comprising a motor vehicle and a demountable caravan, the motor home including means for self-centering or self-aligning of the caravan (relative to the vehicle) during mounting of the caravan onto the vehicle.

In this way, once the mounting operation begins, the caravan will be selfcentred onto the vehicle, significantly reducing the risk of damage during the mounting operation.

The self-centering means may take any suitable form and may comprise at least one guide channel on one of the vehicle and caravan and at least one guide member on the other of the vehicle and caravan to be received therein. Preferably, one or both of the channels or the or each channel and the or each guide member tapers to centre the caravan relative to the vehicle. One or both of the or- each guide channel and guide member may include a roller for engagement with the other of the or each guide channel or guide member. In one embodiment of the present invention, a roller may be arranged substantially horizontally and may be tapered to the middle. Tapering of the roller will act to centre the part (e.g. guide member) which engages the roller. At least one roller may be provided on the, each, or a, guide member. The guide member roller may be arranged to engage the sides of the channel and there may be a separate roller for each side of the channel. In such a case, the axis of the or each guide member roller may be substantially horizontal.

3 Preferably, means is provided to locate or hold the caravan in its final position on the vehicle. In the case where at least one roller is provided, the or each roller may be received in a recess to locate/hold the caravan on the vehicle.

The ends of the or each guide channel and the or each guide member which need to be aligned to commence mounting are, preferably, given high visibility and may be brightly coloured.

In the case where there are rollers on both the, or a, guide channel or the, or a, guide member, preferably, the caravan at the point of overbalance rolls onto the vehicle on the rollers.

The caravan, preferably, includes at least one ground engaging support for use when demounted from the vehicle. The, or at least one, support, preferably, permits sideways movement of the caravan and may include a ground engaging wheel. Preferably, the or each support at the rear of the caravan includes a ground engaging wheel.

A jack for the known demountable motor home has to extend far enough to raise the demountable caravan away from the truck and thus the jacks are very long. In the case where the truck is a pick-up truck, somewhat disadvantageously, the length of the jack has to be increased by the height of the pick-up truck side wall.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle including at least one downwardly extendible jack having a ground engaging end, the upper end of the jack abutting a structural member of the vehicle.

In this way the jack is firmly held to prevent downwards movement of the caravan.

4 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle including at least one downwardly extendible jack having a ground engaging end, at least one side of the jack abutting a structural member of the vehicle.

The very lo-n-g-"J" a o the --D' demountable motor homes can flex sideways and this may be avoided by way of embodiments of the present invention. Preferably, in the present invention front and/or rear sides of the jack abut a structural member of the vehicle.

Many advantageous features of the present invention will be evident from the following description and drawings.

An embodiment of a motor home in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE I shows a perspective view of the motor home with FIGURE la showing a side elevation of the caravan; FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the chassis of a caravan of the motor home; FIGURE 3 is a front perspective view of the chassis of FIGURE 2, and FIGURE 4 is a rear perspective view of the mounting chassis of a vehicle of the motor home.

Referrmig to the FIGURES of the drawigs, a motor home I comprises a vehicle or truck 2 having a mounting chassis 10 (see FIGURE 4), and a demountable caravan 3 having a chassis 12 (see FIGURES 2 and 3). The chassis 10 is bolted to "A r the tr--uc--k-2-a-s-a--i-1a_ ent fo;'the usual body part of the truck.

The mounting chassis 10 of the vehicle 2 includes four cross members 14 which are U-shaped in cross-section. The vehicle 2 may be a Tata Loadbeater pick-up truck. In that case, the pick-up back is removed and the bolts for attachment of the pick-up back are used to attach the cross members 14 (and thus chassis 10) to the chassis of the truck. The four cross members 14 support two longitudinal guide members 16 fixed one to each side of the truck. Suitable bolt fixing points are shown at X on guide members 16. Suitable bolts (not shown) can engage in the receiving locations Y on guide channels 68 on caravan chassis 12 (see FIGURE 2) to lock the chasses 10 & 12, and thus the truck and caravan, together. The longitudinal guide members 16 are in an inverted U-shape in cross-section and each includes a pair of coaxial rollers 18 at the upper rear edge. The rollers 18 are mounted one to each side of the associated guide member 16 to rotate independently about a common horizontal axis. Each roller 18 may be, for example, cylindrical or may have a domed side surface but in either case the head 20 of the bolt attaching the roller 18 to the guide member 16 is recessed into the roller 18. As will be evident from FIGURE 4 the rollers 18 extend above the height of the guide members 16.

The guide members 16 each extend for the length of the rear part of the truck up to the back of the cab. At the front of each guide member 16 adjacent the cab the upper surface of the guide member is smoothly tapered downwardly terminating in a semi-cylindrical locating or holding recess 22.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, the chassis 12 of the demountable caravan 3 comprises an open framework. A front horizontal cross-member 30 is connected at each end to longitudinal side member 32. The rear end of each longitudinal member 32 is connected to a comer upright 34. The lower ends of the two comer uprights 34 are connected together by a horizontal cross-member 36. An L-shaped buttress 38 extends transversely inwards from the upper end of each upright 34 and downwardly to connect to the lower rear cross member 36.

6 An arch 40 connects the ends of the longitudinal side members 32 at the front to mimic or match the outer extent of the cab of the vehicle. The ends of the arch 40 depend on the height of the lower cross member 36, the ends below the height of the front cross member 30 being vertical. At each side of the chassis 12 there is a jack 42. Each jack 42 is upright and abuts to one side the lower part of the arch 40 with the uvver surface of the iack 42 abutting the longitudinal side member 32, An upright structural member 44 abuts the rearwardly facing side of the jack 42. A longitudinal member 46 connects the lower end of the upright 44 to a further upright 48 extending to the longitudinal side member 32. A semicircular wheel arch 50 is provided between the lower end of the upright 48 and a ftirther upright 52 rearwardly thereof. A fish plate 54 is provided between the wheel arch 50 and longitudinal side member 32. A lower longitudinal member 56 extends from the lower side of the upright 52 to an upright 58 which abuts the forward facing side surface of a jack 60. The upwardly facing surface of the jack 60 abuts the longitudinal side member 32 and the rearwardly facing side surface of the jack 60 abuts a further upright 62 which is connected at its lower end through a longitudinal member 64 to the comer upright 34. The lower ends of the uprights 62 are c6iifi'ecf-eZl-'bTi-c-Cosl,-M-Td'r-6-6.- It is advantageous that the jacks 42, 60 are mounted on the chassis 12.

The front jacks 42 terminate in ground engaging feet while the rear jacks 60 terminate in castor wheels.

Most importantly, two guide channels 68 are connected to the underneath surface of the front cross member 30. Each guide channel 68 has an miverted U-shape in cross-section and tapers rearwardly (in a horizontal plane) to meet an upper cross member 70 which is connected at each end to the longitudinal side members 32 at the level of the upper ends of the jacks 60. Importantly, at the rear end of each guide channel 69 there is a semi-cylindrical roller lOeTting recess 72 extending upwardly. Depending from the end of each guide channel 68 is an upright 74 which 7 meets the cross member 66 and there is further a short longitudinal member 76 which extends rearwardly from the end of the upright 74 to meet the lower rear cross member 36. A further front cross member 78 connects the sides of the guide channel 68 just underneath the front cross member 30.

As shown in FIGURE 3 a tapered cotton real shaped (diablo-shaped) roller 80 is provided within the mouth at the front of each guide channel 68. Each roller 80 is of durable nylon and thus includes a conical part at each end and a cylindrical central part. Each roller 80 is mounted towards the roof of the guide channel 68 by axial spigot portions which pass into alignment holes in the vertical walls of the guide channels 68. The length 80a of each cylindrical portion of each roller 80 corresponds with the width of the associated guide element 16 on the vehicle chassis and the narrowest part of each tapered channel 68 will correspond with the width of each roller pair 18.

Qperation In use, to mount the caravan 3 onto the vehicle 2, the vehicle 2, is backed up to the caravan 3 to align the rollers 18 with the ends of the guide channels 68. The rollers 80 and rollers 18 may be brightly coloured to assist alignment. The inner and outer side edges of each roller pair 18 will engage frusto-conical surfaces of the associated roller 80 to self-centre the guide elements 16 relative to channels 68. Once the rollers 18 on the guide member 16 are aligned with the guide channels 68, the vehicle can be reversed further. The caravan rollers 80 will roll over the vehicle rollers 18 and then engage the upper surface of the guide members 16. As the vehicle 2 moves further rearwards, the vehicle rollers 18 will engage the roof of the channels 68. Importantly, once the vehicle has been reversed with about 6 inches (I 5.24cm) of element 16 in associated guide channel 68, the front jacks 42 can be released so that the rollers 80 can pivot on the guide elements 16. Thus, if the vehicle travels over any indulating ground while backing up under the caravan the 8 rollers 18 will reinain in the guide channels 68. An overbalance point will then be reached at which point the centre of avity of the caravan is in front of the rollers 18, the vehicle rollers 18 will be in contact with the roof of the guide channels 68 and the caravan rollers 80 will be in contact with the upper surface of the guide members 16. Because of the angle of the engagement and the momcnrum. of the reversing movement the caravan will then tend to roll onto the vehicle, or it can simply be pushed onto the vehicle otherwise. The caravan rollers 18 will descend the ramped parts of the guide members 16 to engage in the recesses 22. The vehicle rollers 18 will engage in the recesses 72 at the rear of the guide channel 68 and receipt of the four rollers 18, 80 in the recesses 22, 72 will locate the caravan on the vehicle. The caravan is then bolted into place on the vehicle by bolts (not shown) as previously explained via bolt locations X & Y.

Thj-6-6tton i7e--ef d-rMM560sTape of the rollers 80 in engagement with the guide members 16 will tend to centre the caravan on the guide members 16. The rollers 18 will engage with the sides of the guide channel 68 as well as the roof thereof and the tapered shape of the guide channel 68 will also act to centre the caravan. The castor wheels on the ends of the rear jacks 60 permits sideways movemcnt.

The front jacks 42 may have wheels as well in which case the wheels will have brakes to prevent the caravan being pushed backwards by the vehicle. The brakes could then be released however to enable the caravan to be aligned by hand with the vehicle, or to cater for gross misalignment.

A horizon -0-1-fl4nASis defLed around the lower edges of the inwardly facing surfaces of the guide channels 68 and cross member 78. A floor of the caravan is supported on this flange. In an alternative embodiment, the flanges are omitted and the floor can be located at the level of the longitudinal members 76 which support the floor at the rear of the caravan. The action of remounting the caravan on the vehicle may raise the floor to the original level.

9 The fact that the upper surface of each jack engages the longitudinal side member 32 ensures that the jacks are strongly held against relative vertical movemen.-Si he uxights 40, 44, 58, 62 ensure that the jacks do not bow - - _t_ -imilarly.0t forwards and backwards but are securely held.

The chasses 10, 12 are made of aluminium. Less critical joints are welded, but aluminium does riot weld well and, in more critical areas, such as the fish plate 54 over the wheel arch 50 bolts are used in addition to minimal welding.

The aforedescribed embodiment has significant advantages over the known demountable motor homes which have a pick-up back. Not only does the embodiment permit self-centering, but the use of space at a low level is significantly improved because the pick-up back does not have to be catered for. As well as improved space this also allows a lower centre of gravity which improves safety and stibilkT.__ I Side plates or boards may be provided so that when the caravan 3 has been demounted from the vehicle 2, the vehicle can be turned into a pick-up truck with upright sides and a floor. The cross-section of a side plate 82 and mounting uprights 84 are shown in FIGURE 3.

The demountable manner of the side plates is important and said plates can conveniently be stored and canied horizontally on the vehicle as a snug fit along the sides of the vehicle. Thus, the side plates can slot into purpose made matching recesses on the vebicle (truck) and travel with the vehicle even when not being used as side boards.

Advantageously, the provision of the pick up truck with removable side boards allows the truck to be positioned more easily under the caravan (avoiding hitting the jacks and enabling the jacks to support the caravan at a lower height then would otherwise be required), in a manner which should be readily envisaged. Also, it is convenient that the side plates can be carried conveniently on the truck in an out of the way position near the sides of the truck.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced by any equivalent or generic term. For example, the term "caravan" could be replaced by "container" or "trailer". "Tapers" could be replaced by "converges". The terms "vertical" and "horizontal" as used throughout the specification should not be interpreted as limited and are used merely to indicate the generally intended orientation in use. Further it is to be understood that individual features, method or functions related to the motor home might be individually patentably inventive. In particular, any disclosure in this specification of any selectable or derivable sub-range within that range and shall be taken to include a disclosure of any value for the variable or parameter lying within or at an end of the range. The singular may include the plural and vice versa.

Further according to the present invention there is provided in combination a vehicle and demountable container, the combination having means for self-centering or self-aligning the container relative to the vehicle during engagement or mounting of the container onto the vehicle, the engagement or mounting preferably comprising relative sliding of the front of the container onto the rear of the vehicle.

Further according to the invention there is provided a vehicle adapted for use with a demountable container or caravan, said vehicle having side plates or boards so that the vehicle can be used as a truck with the plates/boards in a first operative position, said plates or boards being movable to a second out of the way storage position on the vehicle.

Claims

11 Claims

1. A motor home comprising a motor vehicle and a demountable caravan, the motor h6 Mi-e-TH-Clualngm-ean7 TOF sMr-cenrering or self-aligning of the caravan (relative to the vehicle) during mounting of the caravan onto the vehicle.

2. A motor home as claimed in claim I in which the s elf- centering/s elfaligning means comprises at least one guide channel on one of the vehicle and caravan and at least one guide member on the other of the vehicle and caravan, to be received therein.

3. A motor home as claimed in claim 2 in which one or both of the channels or the or each channel and the or each guide member tapers to centre or align the caravan relative to the vehicle, 4, A motor home as claimed in claiin 2 and 3 in which one or both of the or each aulde channel and euide member includes a roller for engagement with the other or 0 - the or each guide channel or guide member.

5. A motor home as claimed in claim 4 in which the roller is arranged substantially horizontally.

6. A motor home as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which the roller is tapered to the middle.

7. A motor home as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 in which at least one roller is -KaOcTogou-iTe-m ember.

S. A motor home as claimed in claim 7 in which the guide member roller is arranged to engage the sides of the channel.

12 9. A motor home as claimed in claim 7 or 8 in which there is a separate roller for each side of the channel.

10. A motor home as claimed in claim 9 in which the axis of the or each guide member roller is substantially horizontal.

11. A motor home as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which means is provided to locate or hold the caravan in its final position on the vehicle.

12. A motor home as claimed in claim I I when dependent from claim 4 in which the or each roller can be received in a recess to locate/hold the caravan on the vehicle.

13. A motor home as claimed in claim 2 or any claim dependent therefrom in which the ends of the or each guide channel and the or each guide member which need to b6--aligi7e7d--io-E6iE6nce-mountEg Are given high visibility.

14. A motor home as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the caravan at the point of overbalance rolls onto the vehicle on rollers.

15. A motor home as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the caravan includes at least one ground engaging support for use when demounted from the vehicle.

16. A motor home as claimed in claim IS in which the, or at least one, support, permits sideways movement of the caravan.

17 - A motor home as claimed in claim 16 in which said support has a ground engaging wheel.

18. A motor home as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17 in which the or each support at the rear of the caravan includes a ground engaging wheel, 19.A motor home substantially as herein described with reference to the FIGURES of the accompanying drawings, 20. A vehicle including at least one downwardly extendible jack having a ground engaging end, the upper end of the jack abutting a structural member of the vehicle.

21. A vsbic1e_in_dudbzaL1=JL one downwardly extendible jack having a ground engaging end, at least one side of the jack abutting a structural member of the vehicle.

22. A vehicle as claimed in claim 20 or 21 in which front andJor rear sides of the jack abut a structural member of the vehicle.

23. In combination a vehicle and demountable container, the combination having means for self-centering or self-aligning the container relative to the vehicle during engagement or mounting of the container onto the vehicle.

24. A combination as claimed in claim I in which the engagement or mounting co'ffiri'Tcs re-IIH-ve ilidirg"70FTe-fron't of the container into the rear of the vehicle.

25. A combination as claimed in claim 23 or 24 including a guide channel on one of the vehicle and container co-operable with an associated guide member on the other one of the vehicle and container.

26. A combination as claimed in claim 25 in which there are at least two spaced guide channels in co-operation with associated guide members.

14 27. A combination as claimed in claim 25 or 26 in which the guide channels are tapered or the side walls of the or each channel converge towards the rear of the container when on the container or towards the ftont of the vehicle when on the vehicle.

28. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 27 having locating means to positively locate the vehicle relative to the container 'in a fully engaged position.

29. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 28 having rollers on the or each guide chn-nl 07/-Oras;ciatied guide element.

30. A combination as claimed in claim 29 having a tapered roller at the mouth of the or each guide channel.

3 1. A combination as claimed in claim 30 in which the tapered roller is of diablo shape with a central cylindrical portion between two fi-astroconical portions.

32. A combination as claimed in claim 31 in which the cylindrical portion has a width corresponding to the width of the associated guide element.

33,A cawbination.,aLe4 ='any one of claims 23 to 32 adapted for mounting the container on the vehicle even where the vehicle travels over undulating ground.

34. A vehicle adapted for use with a demountable container or caravan, said vehicle having side plates or boards so that the vehicle can be used as a truck with the plates/boards in a first operative position, said plates or boards being movable to a second out of the way storage position on the vehicle.

35. A vehicle as claimed in claim 34 substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURE 4 of the accompanying drawings.