GB2511403A

GB2511403A - Body for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2511403A
Application number: GB1322715.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mahaganesh Rajakutty; Udayakanth Govindarajulu; Manish Saxena
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2013-12-20
Filing date: 2013-12-20
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Also published as: GB201322715D0

Abstract

A body (10, Figure 1) for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle. The body (10) comprising a loading platform 12, at least one flap 14 pivotably attached to the loading platform 12 about a pivot axis. At least one spring element 36 coupled at least indirectly to the loading platform 12 and the flap 14. The spring element 36 being capable of being loaded due to pivoting the flap 14 about the pivot axis. The spring element 36 is designed as a torque rod 36 capable of being twisted due to pivoting the flap 14 about the pivot axis. Preferably the flap 14 is attached to the loading platform 12 by at least one hinge (26, Figure 3) comprising a first part 28 attached to the platform 12 and a second part 30 attached to the flap 14. The torque rod 23 being located in at least one receptacle (46a, Figure 7) of first hinge part 28 and in at least one second receptacle (48a, Figure 7).

Description

Body for a Vehicle, in particular a Commercial Vehicle The invention relates to a body according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a body for a commercial vehicle can be found in DE 20 2004 004 923 Al. The body is also referred to as a "load body" and comprises a loading platform on which goods to be conveyed can be arranged. The body further comprises at least one flap pivotably attached to the loading platform about a pivot axis. For example, the flap is a door. The flap can be pivoted between a closed position and at least one open position. In the closed position a loading area which is also referred to as a "cargo area" of the body is bounded so that goods arranged on the loading platform are restrained and prevented from falling off the loading platform by means of the flap being in its closed position. In order to remove the goods from the loading platform or to arrange the goods on the loading platform comfortably, the flap can be moved into its open position.

The body further comprises at least one spring element coupled at least indirectly to the loading platform and the flap respectively. The spring element is capable of being loaded or tensioned due to pivoting the flap about the pivot axis. For example, the spring element is loaded or tensioned when the flap is moved from the closed position into the open position. Thereby, the spring element is pre-loaded or pre-stressed in the open position so that a spring force is exerted on the flap by the pre-loaded spring element in the open position of the flap. This spring force can be used to support the movement of the flap back into the closed position. Thus, a person, for example, the driver of the vehicle can close the flap very comfortably.

Bodies comprising loading platforms for commercial vehicles can be also found in DE 2905561 Al, DE 3046 178 Al, DE 3206320 Al, and DE 60305750 T2.

It is an object of the present invention to further develop a body of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1 in such a way that a particularly comfortable movement of the flap can be realized in a space-, weight-, and cost-efficient way.

This object is solved by a body 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 further develop a body of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1 in such a way that a particularly comfortable movement of the flap can be realized in a space-, weight-, and cost-efficient way, according to the present invention the spring element is designed as a torque rod capable of being twisted due to pivoting the flap about the pivot axis. The torque rod is also referred to as a torsion bar" which is twisted when the flap is pivoted from, for example, a closed position into at least one open position. In the closed position a loading area or cargo area of the body is bounded at least partially by means of the flap. Thus, goods arranged on the loading platform are restrained and prevented from falling off the loading platform by means of the flap being in the closed position, By moving the flap from the closed position into the open position goods to be conveyed can be arranged on the loading platform comfortably. Moreover, goods arranged on the platform can be removed from the loading platform very comfortably when the flap is in its open position.

Since the torque rod is twisted by moving the flap from, for example, the closed position into the open position, the torque rod is loaded or tensioned. Thus, the torque rod is pre-loaded or pre-stressed in the open position of the flap. Thereby, a spring force is exerted on the flap by the pre-loaded torque rod when the flap is in its open position. This spring force can be used to support the movement of the flap from the open position back into the closed position. Thereby, a person, for example, the driver of the vehicle can be supported when closing the flap.

Additionally or alternatively, the torque rod can be configured in such a way that the torque rod is pre-loaded or pre-stressed in the closed position so that the movement of the flap from the closed position into the open position can be supported by the spring force exerted on the flap by the torque rod when the flap is in its closed position. Hence, a particularly little human effort is necessary for closing and/or opening the flap so that human fatigue caused by moving the flap can be avoided or kept particularly low.

The torque rod itself has a very low weight and requires a very little installation space only so that the movement of the flap can be supported in a cost-, space-and weight-efficient way. Furthermore, a partition in the flap is not required. By using the torque rod for supporting the movement of the flap complex structures such as centre pillars of the flap can be avoided.

For example, the torque rod is configured in such a way that the torque rod is pre-loaded in the closed position thereby exerting a spring force on the flap. By means of this spring force the flap, for example, can be held in the close position so that locks for locking the flap can be avoided or the number of such locks can be reduced.

Further advantages, features, and details of the present 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 perspective view of a body for a commercial vehicle, the body comprising a loading platform, at least one flap capable of being pivoted about a pivot axis, and at least one torque rod for supporting the movement of the flap; Fig. 2 part of a schematic side view of the body; Fig. 3 part of a schematic perspective view of the body; Fig. 4 part of a schematic perspective view of the body; Fig. 5 part of a schematic perspective view of the body; Fig. 6 part of a schematic perspective view of the body; Fig. 7 part of a schematic perspective view of the body; Fig. 8 a schematic top view of the torque rod according to a first embodiment; and Fig. 9 a schematic top view of the torque rod according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a body 10 for a commercial vehicle. For example, the body 10 is designed as a tipper body. Alternatively, the body 10 is a rigid body or a cargo body. The body 10 comprises a loading platform 12 on which goods to be conveyed can be arranged. The body 10 further comprises lateral flaps 14 and 16 and a rear flap 18. The flaps 14, 16, 18 are also referred to as doors". Moreover, the body 10 comprises a front panel 20 which is attached to the loading platform 12. A cargo area 22 of the body 10 is bounded by the front panel 20 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the front.

The respective flaps 14, 16 and 18 are pivotably attached to the loading platform 12 about respective pivot axes. Thus, the flaps 14, 16 and 18 can be pivoted between a respective closed position shown in Fig. 1 and a respective open position. In the closed position the cargo area 22 is bounded in the transverse direction of the vehicle by the lateral flaps 14 and 16. Moreover, in the closed position the cargo area 22 is bounded in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the back by the rear flap 18.

Fig. 2 shows a portion A of the body 10. Fig. 3 shows a portion B of the body 10. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the lateral flap 14 is pivotably attached to the loading platform 12 by means of at least one hinge 24. This also applies for the lateral flap 16. As can be seen from Fig. 3, the rear flap 18 is pivotably attached to the loading platform 12 by means of at least one hinge 26. The hinge 24 comprises a first hinge part 28 fixed to the loading platform 12 and a second hinge pad 30 fixed to the flap 14. The hinge 26 comprises a first hinge part 32 fixed to the loading platform 12 and a second hinge part 34 fixed to the flap 18. The hinge parts 28 and 30 and the hinge parts 32 and 34 are pivotably connected to one another about the respective pivot axis. For example, the hinge parts 28, 30, 32 and 34 are designed as hinge brackets.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the body 10 comprises a spring element being designed as a torque rod 36. The torque rod 36 is coupled at least indirectly to the loading platform 12 and the flap 14 respectively. Moreover, the torque rod 36 is capable of being loaded due to pivoting the flap 14 about the pivot axis. This means the torque rod 36 is capable of being twisted due to pivoting the flap 14. The body 10 further comprises a spring element in the form of a torque rod 38 which can be seen from Fig. 3. The torque rod 38 is coupled at least indirectly to the loading platform 12 and the flap 18 respectively.

Moreover, the torque rod 38 is capable of being loaded due to pivoting the flap 18 about the pivot axis. This means the torque rod 38 is capable of being twisted due to pivoting the flap 18.

As can be seen from Figs. 5 and 4, the torque rod 38 is arranged in respective receptacles of the hinge parts 32 and 34. The receptacles of the hinge part 34 are designed as through openings 40a-c, wherein the torque rod 38 penetrates the through openings 40a-c. The receptacles of the hinge part 32 are also designed as through openings 42a and 42b wherein the torque rod 38 penetrates the through openings 42a-b.

The torque rod 38 is fixed to the hinge part 32 via the through opening 42a. The torque rod 38 is arranged in the through opening 42a in a rotationally fixed manner. Moreover, the torque rod 38 is fixed to the hinge part 34 and, thus, the flap 18 via the through opening 40. For example, the torque rod 38 is arranged in the trough opening 4Db in a rotationally fixed manner. As can be seen from Fig. 4 and 5, the hinge parts 32 and 34 are pivotably connected to one another by means of the torque rod 38. Moreover, the torque rod 38 comprises a curved portion 44 via which the torque rod 38 extends from the through opening 41Db and the through opening 42b to the trough opening 40c in which the torque rod 38 is arranged.

Since the torque rod 38 is fixed to the hinge part 32 on one side and the hinge part 34 on the other side, the torque rod 38 is twisted when the rear flap 18 is moved from the closed position into the open position. This means the torque rod 38 moves along with the rear flap 18 dropping into the open position.

As can be seen from Fig. 6 and 7, the torque rod 36 is arranged in respective receptacles of the hinge parts 28 and 30. The receptacles of the hinge part 28 are configured as through openings 46a and 46b. The torque rod 36 is arranged in the receptacles in such a way that the torque rod 36 penetrates the through openings 46a and 46b and 48a and 48b. The torque rod 36 is arranged in the through opening 46a in a rotationally fixed manner. Moreover, the torque rod 36 is arranged in the through opening 48b in a rotationally fixed manner. Thereby, the torque rod 36 is twisted when the flap 14 is moved from the closed position into the open position.

For example, by twisting the torque rods 36 and 38 due to opening the flaps 14 and 18, the torque rods 36 and 38 are pre-loaded in their respective open positions. Thus, a respective spring force is exerted on the flaps 14 and 18 by the torque rods 36 and 38.

This respective spring force can be used to support the respective movement of the flaps 14 and 18 from the respective open position into the respective closed position. Thereby, a person, for example, the driver of the commercial vehicle can be supported when closing the flaps 14 and 18.

Fig. 8 shows the torque rod 38 in a schematic top view. Fig. 9 shows the torque rod 36 in a schematic top view.

List of reference signs body 12 loading platform 14 lateral flap 16 lateral flap 18 rear flap front panel 22 cargo area 24 hinge 26 hinge 28 hinge part hinge part 32 hinge part 34 hinge part 36 torque rod 36 torque rod 40a-c through opening 42a-b through opening 44 portion 46a-b through opening 48a-b through opening A portion B portion

Claims

Claims A body (10) for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, the body (10) comprising: -a loading platform (12); -at least one flap (14) pivotably attached to the loading platform (12) about a pivot axis; -at least one spring element (36) coupled at least indirectly to the loading platform (12) and the flap (14) respectively, the spring element (36) being capable of being loaded due to pivoting the flap (14) about the pivot axis; characterised in that the spring element (36) is designed as a torque rod (36) capable of being twisted due to pivoting the flap (14) about the pivot axis.
2. The body (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the flap (14) is pivotably attached to the loading platform (12) by means of at least one hinge (26) comprising a first hinge part (28) fixed to the loading platform (12) and a second hinge part (30) fixed to the flap (14), the hinge parts (28, 30) being pivotably connected to one another, wherein the torque rod (36) is arranged in at least one first receptacle (46a) of the first hinge part (28) and at least one second receptacle (48a) of the second hinge part (30).
3. The body (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that the torque rod (36) is arranged in at least one of the receptacles (46a, 48a) in a rotationally fixed manner.
4. The body (10) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the hinge parts (28, 30) are pivotably connected to one another by means of the torque rod (36).
5. The body (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the torque rod (36) comprises a curved portion via which the torque rod extends from the second receptacle (48a) to a third receptacle of the second hinge part (30), the torque rod (36) being arranged in the third receptacle.