Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
  • B62D25/20—Floors or bottom sub-units
  • B62D25/2054—Load carrying floors for commercial vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D33/00—Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles
  • B62D33/04—Enclosed load compartments ; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains

Definitions

• the invention concerns a self-supporting floor element for the cargo space of a vehicle and a method for the manufacture of the floor element.
• floor elements for the cargo space of a vehicle are known which are composed of a structure of cellular plastic.
• Floor element constructions are known which comprise constructions of transverse beams and cellular plastic placed between them.
• Another drawback of the prior-art floor element constructions is the heterogeneity of the structure of cellular plastic.
• the object of the invention is a floor element of an entirely new type for a cargo space, wherein the above drawbacks are avoided.
• a further object of the invention is to provide a method for the manufacture of the floor element for the cargo space of a vehicle.
• the floor element such that, in the finished element, it comprises a side-wall profile fixedly connected to the element and, in said profile, attachments for a wall extension of the side-wall profile, the wall construction proper of the cargo space being fixed to said extension.
• a floor element construction as comprises a number of spaces placed between the transverse beams, which said spaces can be filled with cellular plastic and into which said spaces the cellular plastic is injected under pressure. Since said spaces are defined by wall constructions from all sides, the cellular plastic can be injected into said spaces under high pressure, and thereby it is obtained as of the desired strength.
• the decisive difference of the invention as compared with the prior art is exactly said complete filling with cellular plastic under pressure.
• the cellular plastic when defined by all of the walls, the cellular plastic, being the central component, also ultimately binds the structural components together, and in this way a compact solid floor element construction is obtained.
• the side profile advantageously such a profile is used as comprises fastening means for an extension of the side wall, said extension being a separate fastening part to which, the side walls of the van-body construction are ultimately fixed.
• the floor element in accordance with the invention for the cargo space of a vehicle is mainly characterized in that the floor element comprises, between adjoining transverse beams, cellular plastic and, at both sides of the longitudinal axis of the floor element, side members, advantageously metal profiles.
• the method of the invention for the manufacture of a floor element is mainly characterized in that in the method cellular plastic material, favourably polyurethane, is injected under high pressure into the spaces between each of the adjoining transverse beams, bottom plate, top plate and side members, i.e. side-wall profiles.
• cellular plastic material favourably polyurethane
• Figure 1 is an axonometric view and partly an illustration of prin ⁇ ciple of the fitting of a floor element in accordance with the invention onto the frame beams of a vehicle.
• Figure 2 is an axonometric partial view of a floor element in accord ⁇ ance with the invention.
• Figure 3A shows a floor element in accordance with the invention mainly as seen from the direction of the arrow k in Fig. 2.
• Figure 3B shows the side extension as installed into its position at the end of the side member and as fixed to said side member.
• Fig. 1 shows a floor element in accordance with the invention at a stage wherein it is being placed onto the frame beams of a vehicle.
• the floor element 10 comprises transverse beams 11 ,11b... connected to the side walls 12.
• the floor element 10 comprises a bottom plate
• a space E ⁇ filled by cellular plastic remains between the transverse beams 11a and lib, said space being defined at the bottom by the bottom plate 13 and at the top by the top plate
• the two side members 12 of aluminium profile, as well as the bottom plate 13 and the top plate 14, cellular plastic 15, advantageously polyurethane, has been injected under high pressure.
• the transverse beams 11 are advantageously of wood, the top plate 14 is of plywood, and the bottom plate 13 is advantageously of reinforced plastic.
• Each space E ⁇ ,E2-.. between the beams 11 can be filled to different strength.
• each space E ⁇ ,E2... can be filled with cellular plastic to the desired strength value.
• Fig. 2 is an axonometric partial illustration of one side of a floor element in accordance with the invention.
• the floor element is substantially symmetric relative the longitudinal axis X and, thus, the other side of the floor element is also similar to that shown.
• the floor element 10 comprises a transverse beam 11a.
• the figure also shows a second transverse beam lib.
• An intermediate space E ⁇ remains between said transverse beams.
• Said intermediate space E ⁇ is filled with cellular plastic material 15.
• the cellular plastic preferably polyurethane is used.
• the cellular plastic 15 is defined from below by the bottom plate 13 and from the top by the top plate 14. At the sides the cellular plastic 15 is defined by side members 12 substantially made of aluminium profile.
• the floor element 10 comprises a number of intermediate spaces E ⁇ ,E2,E3... The number of the intermediate spaces E-_ , _2.E3... to be filled depends on the spacing of the beams 11.
• the transverse beam 11 is advantageously a wooden beam and preferably a laminated wooden beam.
• laminated wood means a beam con- struction made of separate layers of wood by gluing.
• a wooden beam construction of desired strength properties and of sufficient dimensional accuracy is ob ⁇ tained.
• a groove 16 has been made into the transverse beam 11.
• a cotmter-part 17 advantageously a counter-iron, is fitted.
• the counter-iron 17 includes a hole 18 for a fastening member.
• a bolt 19 can be fitted, which is engaged further through the holes in the beam 11 and in the bottom plate 13 into the threading.
• the floor element in accordance with the invention comprises, in several different transverse beams, fastening means for attachment of the floor element further to the constructions of the vehicle, e.g. to its frame beams.
• the floor element 10 in accordance with the invention can be attached by means of bolts to counter-fastening members included in the frame beams of the vehicle.
• the bolts may also have been passed directly through the frame beams D of the vehicle.
• One transverse beam 11 includes two counter-parts 17, advantageously counter-irons, and they are fitted in the transverse beam 11 symmetri- cally at both sides of the central axis X.
• the floor element in accordance with the invention may be attached onto vehicles of different widths easily by making the vehicle-specific bores and threadings into the counter-iron 17 only on installation of the floor element 10 onto the vehicle.
• the counter-iron 17 permits making of its attachments over all of its length or width.
• the floor element 10 can be attached to vehicles of different widths readily.
• the top plate 14 shown in the figure is advantageously a plywood board. It comprises a separate coating 14' sprayed onto the plywood.
• the coating 14' is a plastic coating, preferably a plastic granulate.
• the coating 14' is rough, and consequently it provides for good friction face for persons moving in the cargo space and for the cargo.
• the coating 14' on the element 10 is a unified coating with no joints or seams.
• Fig. 3A shows the shape of the side member 12 or wall profile used in a floor element 10 in accordance with the invention.
• the side member 12 is preferably formed by casting or by drawing out of aluminium.
• the side member 12 preferably an aluminium profile is used.
• the side member 12 comprises a bottom part 12a, whose longitudinal axis X ⁇ is substan- tially perpendicular to the central axis Y ⁇ of the wall part 12b connected to the bottom part.
• a projection part 20 At the upper end of the wall part 12b there is a projection part 20, which projects from the wall part 12b in the same direction as the bottom part 12a.
• the projection part 20 comprises a central axis X2, which is substantially parallel to the central axis X ⁇ of the bottom part.
• the projection part 20 comprises an edge portion 22 that projects upwards.
• the longitudinal axis Y2 of the edge portion 22 is perpendicular to the central axis X2-
• a cavity 24 remains between the edge portion 22 and the upper end 21 of the wall part 12b, to which said cavity 24 the side exten ⁇ sion 12c can be attached.
• the side extension 12c is advantageously also an aluminium profile.
• the cavity 24 comprises toothings 23 at both of its sides.
• the side extension 12c comprises a bottom part 25 and a wall part 26 perpendicular to the bottom part.
• the longitudinal axis X3 of the bottom part is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y3 of the wall part 26.
• the bottom part 25 is connected to the wall part 26 before the end of the wall part 26.
• the bottom part 25 comprises a locking rib 27 projecting downwards from the bottom part 25.
• the locking rib 27 comprises a toothing 28, the tips of said teeth pointing upwards as shown in the figure.
• the upper end of the side wall profile 12 becomes positioned in the space 30 between the locking rib 27 and the lower end 29 of the walls part 26.
• the cellular plastic is injected into the space E i.-.-) through an opening 31 provided in the side profile 12. Since the space is from all sides defined by walls, the filler material 15 can be injected under high pressure tightly into all points, when the cellular plastic material 15 is injected through the opening (31) in the side profile 12, the openings 31 are plugged, e.g. , by means of plastic plugs after filling of the spaces E. At the same time, the other hole, provided for removal of air at the opposite side of the space, is also plugged, through which said latter hole the air and gases are removed.
• the components 11,12, 13,14 are placed in a jig.
• Glue is applied between the bottom plate 13 and the end of the bottom part 12a of the side member 12. So also between the transverse beams 11 and the side members 12 as well as between the top plate 14 and the side members 12.
• the plates are pressed together by introducing compression by means of a press between the bottom plate 13 and the top plate 14.
• the spaces E ⁇ ,E2,E3 are injected under pressure full of the cellular plastic material 15.
• the press makes the element 10 straight and permits injection under high pressure into the spaces E ⁇ ,E2...
• the cellular plastic material advantageously polyurethane, binds the structural components 11,12,13, and 14 ultimately together.
• the extension part 12c of the side profile is mounted at the end of the wall construction of the side profile 12 proper.
• the locking edge 27 of the extension part 12c extends into the cavity 24 of the side wall profile.
• Both the locking edge 27 and the sides of the cavity 24 are provided with toothings, whereby the parts 12 and 12c can be locked with each other. Said locking takes place by applying an adhesive material 32 between the locking edge 27 and the walls of the cavity 24. Upon drying of the adhesive material and since the toothings are directed in the way illustrated in the figure, detaching of the extension part 12c from the part 12 is prevented.
• the toothings 23 point downwards, and correspondingly, on the locking edge 27, the toothings 28 point in the opposite direction, upwards.
• the extension part 12c extends over the entire length of the longitudinal side of the element 10. Since the extension part 12c can be installed onto the parts 12 afterwards, the floor element in accordance with the invention can be transported from the factory to the client by stacking the floor elements 10 one above the other so that the parts 12c have not been fixed onto the wall parts 12. In this way, economies are obtained in the cost of transportation, because the floor elements can be placed in a considerably smaller space. In this way, empty space between floor elements 10 packed one above the other is avoided.
• the parts 12c can be packed separately in a smaller compact package and be sent as a unit of their own to the client.
• the side extension 12c is placed against the side member 12 proper and attached to it by means of the adhesive material 32.
• a space T ⁇ is formed, in which the top plate 14 is placed.
• the ends of the beams 11 are fitted in the space T2 between the projection part 20 of the side member 12 and the bottom part 12a.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8526382

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (3)

Citations (5)

• 1988
  • 1988-04-29 FI FI882033A patent/FI83613C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1989
  • 1989-04-07 WO PCT/FI1989/000063 patent/WO1989010292A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (5)

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