GB2506511A

GB2506511A - Rear opening arrangement for a tipping body vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2506511A
Application number: GB1314226.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chandan Munot; Premkumar Karthikeyan
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2013-08-08
Filing date: 2013-08-08
Publication date: 2014-04-02
Also published as: GB201314226D0

Abstract

An arrangement of a tipper body (18, Figure 1) on a frame (12, Figure 1) of a vehicle (10, Figure 1). The tipper body (18) is pivotably mounted on the frame (12) between a non-tipped position (N, Figure 1) and at least one tipped position (F, Figure 1) about a pivot axis (X1, Figure 6). The body (18) comprising at least one flap 32 pivotably mounted on a wall (26, Figure 2), the flap 32 being pivotable between a closed position at least one open position. The arrangement comprises an actuating mechanism 44 for pivoting the flap 32. The mechanism 44 comprising a shaft 45 rotatably mounted on the tipper body about a rotation axis R1, a first link element 46 pivotably attached to the frame (12) on the one side and pivotably attached to the shaft 45 on the other side, at least one second link element 58 pivotably attached to the shaft 45 on the one side and pivotably attached to the flap 32 on the other side. The flap 32 is pivotable from the closed position into the open position via the actuating mechanism 44 by pivoting the tipper body (18) from the non-tipped position (N) into the tipped position (F).

Description

Arrangement of a Tipper Body on a Frame of a Vehicle The invention relates to an arrangement of a tipper body on a frame of a vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such arrangements of tipper bodies on frames of vehicles are well known from the series production of vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles or trucks in the form of tippers. In such an arrangement the tipper body is pivotably mounted on the frame between a non-tipped position and at least one tipped position about a pivot axis. For pivoting the tipper body from the non-tipped position into the tipped position, the vehicle can comprise an actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder.

The tipper body serves for containing and transporting payload such as, for example, gravel or sand. The tipper body comprises at least one wall bounding a receiving space for receiving payload at least partially. The wall bounds at least one outlet of the tipper body at least partially. The payload contained in the tipper body can be discharged from the tipper body when the tipper body is in its tipped position and when the outlet is uncovered at least partially.

In order to prevent accidental discharging of the payload contained in the tipper body, the tipper body comprises at least one flap, in particular a tail gate, which is pivotably mounted on the wall. The flap can be pivoted between a closed position and at least one open position. In the closed position the outlet is covered by the flap so that the payload contained in the tipper body cannot stream out of the tipper body through the outlet. In the open position the outlet is uncovered at least partially so that the payload can be discharged from the tipper body through the outlet, in particular by tipping the tipper body.

Usually, in order to discharge the payload, at least one locking element locking the flap in its closed position is unlocked so that the flap can be pivoted from the closed position into the open position by gravity when the tipper body is pivoted in the tipped position.

However, it has shown that a swing angle by which the flap is pivoted from its closed position into its open position when the tipper body is tipped is inadequate so that the tipper body can touch and slide over the already discharged payload when the tipper body is in the open position and the vehicle is moved forward. Thereby, the flap is pivoted even further open against gravity. After touching and sliding over the payload the open flap, under the effect of its own weight, swings back towards the rest of the tipper body, in particular the wall and, due to inertia, bangs against the wall. This more or less uncontrolled movement of the flap can result in unpleasant noise and deformation of the flap.

JR 57060935 A shows an automatic tail gate control unit for automatically opening and closing a tail gate of a tipper body. The use of such a control unit results in high complexity and cost.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of the previously mentioned kind, which allows for realizing a controlled movement of the flap over a particularly high range of movement in a cost-efficient way.

This object is solved by an arrangement having the features of patent claim 1 Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

In order to provide an arrangement of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1, which allows for realizing a controlled movement of the flap over a particularly high range of movement in a cost-efficient way, according to the present invention the arrangement comprises an actuating mechanism for pivoting the flap, the actuating mechanism comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on the tipper body about a rotation axis. The actuating mechanism also comprises a first link element pivotably attached to the frame on the one side. The first link element is also pivotably attached to the shaft on the other side.

Furthermore, the actuating mechanism comprises at least one second link element pivotably attached to the shaft on the one side. On the other side the second link element is attached to the flap. The flap of the tipper body is pivotable from the closed position into the open position via the actuating mechanism by pivoting the tipper body from the non-tipped position into the tipped position. In other words, the movement of the flap from the closed position into the open position is automatically effected when the tipper body is tipped from the non-tipped position into the tipped position since the flap is connected to the frame via the actuating mechanism, in particular the link elements and the rotation shaft. Thus, for moving the flap actuators, for example, hydraulic, pneumatic, and/or electrical actuators can be avoided. Thereby, a particularly low weight and low costs of the arrangement can be realized.

Moreover, by means of the actuating mechanism a very high range of movement over which the flap can be moved when the tipper body is tipped can be realized. This results in a very high distance of the flap from the ground when the tipper body is tipped. Thus, the flap can be secured against touching and sliding over discharged payload, especially when the tipper body is in the tipped position and the vehicle is moved forward since the flap can be moved across the discharged payload without touching it.

Since the flap is supported on the frame via the actuating mechanism, the flap, although it is moved from the open position into the closed position by gravity when the tipper body is moved into the non-tipped position, cannot swing back uncontrolled towards the wall so that the flap can also be protected from hitting the rest of the tipper body, in particular the wall. Thus, deformations of the flap as well as unpleasant noise can be avoided when payload is discharged. This results in an improved lifetime of the flap. Besides, a particularly good flow or stream of payload through the outlet can be realized since the flap can be opened very wide by means of the actuating mechanism. Hence, the payload can be discharged very quickly.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a commercial vehicle in the form of a tipper having an arrangement of a tipper body on a frame of the vehicle, wherein the arrangement comprises an actuating mechanism for pivoting a flap of the tipper body; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of the tipper; Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view of a portion A of the tipper, the portion A also being shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a schematic perspective view of the actuating mechanism; Fig. 5 part of a schematic side view of the tipper; and Fig. 6 part of a schematic perspective view of the tipper.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a commercial vehicle in the form of a tipper 10 having an arrangement of a tipper body 18 on a frame 12 of the tipper 10. As can be seen from an overall view of Figs. ito 3, the tipper 10 comprises the frame 12 having two longitudinal members which are arranged at a distance from each other in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The longitudinal members are connected to one another by cross members of the frame 12.

The tipper 10 comprises a mounting bracket 14 to which tail lamps of the tipper 10 are attached.

Furthermore, the tipper 10 comprises a driver's cab 16 and the tipper body 18 both of which are connected to the frame 12. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the tipper body 18 is pivotably mounted on the frame 12 about a pivot axis Xi (Fig. 6). For example, the tipper body 18 is pivotably mounted on the frame 12 by lateral hinges 20. In Fig. 6 longitudinal members 22 and a cross member 24 of the tipper body 18 can be seen, the longitudinal members 22 being arranged at a distance from each other in the transverse direction of the vehicle and connected to one another at least by the cross member 24.

The tipper body 18 can be pivoted or tipped between a non-tipped position designated with reference sign N and a fully tipped position designated with reference sign F. When the tipper body 18 is moved or pivoted or tipped from the non-tipped position N into the fully tipped position F or vice versa the tipper body 18 also reaches intermediate positions designated with reference sign M. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the tipper body 18 comprises lateral walls 26 being arranged at a distance from each other in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The tipper body 18 also comprises a front wall 28 via which the lateral walls 26 are connected to one another.

In addition, the tipper body 18 comprises a floor attached to the lateral walls 26 and the front wall 28, wherein the floor, the lateral walls 26 and the front wall 28 bound at least partially a receiving space 30 for receiving payload 38 such as but not limited to gravel, sand or the like, the payload 38 shown in Fig. 1 being already discharged from the tipper body 18.

The tipper body 18 further comprises a flap in the form of a tail gate 32. The tail gate 32 is pivotably mounted on the lateral walls 26 via lateral hinge plates 34 (Fig. 4). The respective hinge plate 34 is rigidly attached to the tail gate 32 and pivotably mounted on the respective side wall 26 via a respective mounting 36. For example, the hinge plate 34 is welded to the tail gate 32. The tail gate 32 can be pivoted between a closed position shown in Fig 2 and a fully open position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, wherein the fully open position corresponds with the fully tipped position F. The closed position corresponds with the non-tipped position N. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the tail gate 32 can be swung from the closed position into the fully open position over a range of movement. In other words, the tail gate 32 can be swung from the closed position into the open position by a swing angle 92 which is also referred to as opening angle. The tipper body can be swung from the non-tipped position N into the fully tipped position F by a swing angle 91 shown in Fig. 1.

The tipper 10 comprises an actuator in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 40 by means of which the tipper body 18 can be pivoted from the non-tipped position N into the fully tipped position F. For this purpose the hydraulic cylinder 40 is supported on the frame 12 on the one side and on the tipper body 1 B on the other side.

In the closed position of the tail gate 32 an outlet 42 (Fig. 2) of the tipper body 18 is covered by the tail gate 32 so that payload contained in the receiving space 30 can be secured against accidentally discharging through the outlet. In the open position of the tail gate 32 the outlet 42 is at least partially uncovered so that the payload can be discharged from the receiving space 30 when the tipper body 18 is tipped.

In order to realize a controlled movement of the tail gate 32 over a particularly high range of movement in a cost-efficient way, the arrangement comprises an actuating mechanism 44 for pivoting the tail gate 32. The actuating mechanism 44 can be seen in Fig. 4. The actuating mechanism 44 comprises a shaft 45 which is also referred to as "transmission shaft". The shaft 45 is rotatably mounted on the tipper body 18 about a rotation axis Ri.

The shaft 45 is pivotably mounted on lateral hinge brackets 48, 50, wherein the hinge bracket 48 is attached to, in particular welded on the right hand longitudinal member 22.

The hinge bracket 50 is attached to, in particular welded on the left hand lateral wall 26.

The shaft 45 is pivotably mounted on the hinge brackets 48, 50 by bushes respectively.

The actuating mechanism 44 further comprises a first link element in the form of a driver link 46. The driver link 46 is pivotably attached to the frame 12 on the one side and pivotably attached to the shaft 45 on the other side. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the driver link 46 is mounted on the frame 12 via the mounting bracket 14 and a hinge bracket 52 wherein the hinge bracket 56 is welded or bolted on the mounting bracket 14 and/or the mounting bracket 14 is welded or bolted on the frame 12.

The driver link 46 element is pivotably attached to the shaft 45 via a driver arm 54 connected to the shaft and perpendicularly protruding from the shaft. The driver arm 54 is welded on the shaft 45 and has a first length Li. The first Length Li reaches from the rotation axis Ri to a pivot axis about which the driver link 46 is pivotably attached to the driver arm 54. The driver link 46 has a first length adjusting device 56 by means of with the length of the driver link 46 can be adjusted.

Furthermore, the actuating mechanism 44 comprises a second link element in the form of a driven link 58. The driven link 58 is pivotably attached to the shaft 45 on the one side and pivotably attached to the tail gate 32 the other side. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the driven link 58 is pivotably mounted on the hinge plate 34 and via the hinge plate 34 on the tail gate 32. Moreover, the driven link 58 is pivotably attached to the shaft 45 via a driven arm 60 connected to the shaft and perpendicularly protruding from the shaft. The driven arm 60 is welded on the shaft 45 and has a second length L2. The second length L2 reaches from the rotation axis Ri to a pivot axis about which the driven link 58 is pivotably attached to the driven arm 60. The driven link 58 has a second length adjusting device 62 by means of with the length of the driven link 58 can be adjusted. Advantageously, the driven link 58 is at least partially arranged within the left hand lateral wall 26. As can be seen from Fig. 4, a stopper 64 is provided. By means of the stopper 64 a linear movement of the shaft 45 along its longitudinal direction is constrained.

After assembling the actuating mechanism 44 the driver link 46 and the driven link 58 and, thus, the whole actuating mechanism 44 is kept in tension by adjusting the respective length of the driver link 46 and/or the driven link 58.

As can be seen from Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the tail gate 32 is pivotable from the closed position into the fully open position via the actuating mechanism 44 by pivoting the tipper body 18 from the non-tipped N position into the fully tipped position F. Actuators for driving the tail gate 32 are not necessary. Moreover, a very high swing angle B2 can be realized which results in a very high ground clearance G (Fig. 1). Said tension in the actuating mechanism 44 holds the tail gate 32 firmly in the closed position so that the tail gate 32 can be secured from accidentally opening.

The movement of the parts of the actuating mechanism 44 is illustrated in Fig. 6 by directional arrows. With reference to Fig. 1 and its image plane the tipper body 18 rotates clockwise about the pivot axis Xl when the tippel body 18 is moved from the non-tipped position N into the fully tipped position F. The driver link 46 pushes the driver arm 54 and induces a radial force due to the eccentricity of the pivot axis Xl and a pivot axis about which the driver link 46 is pivotably mounted on the frame 12. This means that the pivot axis Xl and a pivot axis about which the driver link 46 is pivotably mounted on the frame 12 are arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The driver arm 54 and, thus, the shaft 45 rotate counter-clockwise. Hence, the driven arm GO rotates counter-clockwise as well and converts the radial force into a linear force acting upon the driven link 58. Hence, the driven link 58 pushes the tail gate 32 open so that the tail gate 32 is opened proportionally to the movement of the tipper body 18.

The swing angle 02 of the tail gate 32 is controlled or defined by the ratio of the lengths [1 and L2. The swing angle 02 can be calculated according to the following equation: = B1 x (L2/L1) For example, the swing angle 01 can be 500 and the swing angle 02 can be 1100. When the tipper body 18 is lowered, i.e. moved back into its non-tilted position N the proceeding is vice versa.

List of reference signs tipper 12 frame 14 bracket 16 driver's cab 18 tipper body hinge 22 longitudinal member 24 cross member 26 lateral wall 28 front wall receiving space 32 tailgate 34 hinge plate 36 mounting 38 payload hydraulic cylinder 42 outlet 44 actuating mechanism shalt 46 driver link 48 hinge bracket hinge bracket 52 hinge bracket 54 driver arm 56 length adjusting device 58 driven link driven arm 62 length adjusting device 64 stopper F fully tipped position G ground clearance M intermediate position N non-tipped position Li length [2 length Xl pivot axis Ri rotation axis swing angle swing angle

Claims

Claims An arrangement of a tipper body (18) on a frame (12) of a vehicle (10), in which arrangement the tipper body (18) is pivotably mounted on the frame (12) between a non-tipped position (N) and at least one tipped position (F) about a pivot axis (Xl), the tipper body (18) comprising: -at least one wall (26) bounding a receiving space (30) for receiving payload (38) at least partially, and -at least one flap (32) pivotably mounted on the wall (26), the flap (32) being pivotable between a closed position in which an outlet (42) of the tipper body (18) is covered by the flap (32) and at least one open position in which the outlet (42) is at least partially uncovered, characterized in that the arrangement comprises an actuating mechanism (44) for pivoting the flap (32) the actuating mechanism (44) comprising: -a shaft (45) rotatably mounted on the tipper body about a rotation axis (Ri), -a first link element (46) pivotably attached to the frame (12) on the one side and pivotably attached to the shaft (45) on the other side, and -at least one second link element (58) pivotably attached to the shaft (45) on the one side and pivotably attached to the flap (32) on the other side, wherein the flap (32) is pivotable from the closed position into the open position via the actuating mechanism (44) by pivoting the tipper body (18) from the non-tipped position (N) into the tipped position (F).
2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that, the first link element (46) is pivotably attached to the shaft (45) via a first arm (54) connected to the shaft (45) and perpendicularly protruding from the shaft (45).
3. The arrangement according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second link element (58) is pivotably attached to the shaft (45) via a second arm (60) connected to the shaft (45) and perpendicularly protruding from the shaft (45).
4. The arrangement according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the arms (54, 60) have different lengths (Li, L2).
5. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot axis (Xl) of the tipper body and a pivot axis about which the first link element (46) is pivotably attached to the frame (i 2) are arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (10).
6. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the link elements (46, 58) comprises a length adjusting device (56, 62) by means of with the length of the at least one link element (46, 58) isadjustable.