GB2156296A - Bodywork element for vehicle transporter - Google Patents

Abstract

A rear bodywork element is prefabricated as a single unit for subsequent incorporation in the rear portion of a vehicle transporter having upper and lower decks. The rear bodywork element comprises a lifting gantry 4, a towing coupling support 14, and a platform 23 for passage of vehicles between a trailer and the vehicle transporter. Means are provided to enable the rear bodywork element to be attached to the transporter chassis at any one of a plurality of different heights. This enables a single rear bodywork element to be attached to transporters having chassis of different heights, while maintaining the height of the towing coupling 18 above the ground constant. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Separable rearbody work element for vehicle carriers.

The present invention relates to a separable rear bodywork element for vehicle transporters.

Vehicle transporters are equipped with appropriate superstructures in specialised workshops where they arrive directly from the manufacturer in the form of chassis-cab units.

The rear chassis comprises only the two longitudinal side bearer members suspended over the rear driving axle and gear.

Body building workshops carry out preparatory work consisting of adapting the total length prior to fitting the rear bodywork element which serves as a lifting gantry and as a support for the tow hook and the rear lower platform.

First of all, the longitudinal members of the chassis are brought to the appropriate length by extension, sectioning or remain unchanged according to the length of rear overhang. After reducing the rear end so that it tapers off, a mixed bodywork assembly is mounted at the end of the chassis to serve as a gantry for lifting to the upper platform, as a support for the tow hook and for the rear lower platform.

Thus, a support member is attached to the chassis or to its extension and is regulable in height, carrying and integrating the trailer towing hook.

For obvious reasons of safety during towing the normal running, the tow bar of the trailer must adopt an almost horizontal attitude.

Therefore, the support member is mounted and is rigid on the chassis at an appropriate distance from ground level which is determined by the need for the draw bar to be horizontal.

The lifting gantry is then attached to overhand the end. This gantry consists substantially of two oblique lateral pillars assembled at the level of their base by metal rolled section cross-members.

The whole arrangement is made rigid on the chassis by fitting metal cross-members on the longitudinal members.

By way of continuation towards the free end of the chassis, the gantry has a rear lower platform in the form of an inclined ramp.

This rear confirmation of the bodywork and its method of assembly call for multiple operations for attachment and adaptation to each type of truck, which do not make it possible to envisage prefabrication of assemblies or sub-assemblies.

The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback by proposing a separable rear bodywork element for vehicle transporters which can be adapted to all types of truck despite the differences which exist betweem models.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a separable rear bodywork element characterised in that the lifting gantry assembly, rear lower platform and tow hook support are all provided in one single piece assembled in the workshop before being mounted on the chassis at a height which can vary according to the model of transporter.

The bodywork element according to the invention offers many and considerable advantages, the principle ones of which are mentioned hereinafter in the form of a list: - it makes it possible for the whole rear part of the transporter to be prefabricated, offering the following additional advantages: .saving on manufacturing time possibility of working from a stock industrialisation of manufacture .saving on time during mounting on the vehicle; - the bodywork builder is no longer dependent upon the type of chassis to be equipped; - easy demounting and re-use on another carrier vehicle in the event of an accident or if the truck is sold or changed; - this technique makes it possible to integrate the rear gantry below the level of the chassis;; - the adjustment of slope of the extension is no longer called for by reason of the height adjustment of the assembly which makes it possible to fix the extension at the right height at the time of prefabrication.

The technical characteristics of the invention and further advantages will become evident from reading the ensuing description which is given purely by way of non-limitative example of an embodiment, reference being made in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section through the median plane of symmetry of the chassis carrying the bodywork element according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partial plan of the separable bodywork element according to the invention mounted on the end of the chassis; Figure 3 is an elevational view of the bodywork element on a smaller scale, showing the plates for variable height attachment; Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic cross-sections showing the positions for fixing the bodywork element according to the invention in two extreme cases of low chassis and high chassis.

The separable bodywork element according to the invention is called upon to be mounted by simple detachable mechanical fitments, for example using bolts, to a support plate 1 rigidly secured to each of the ends of the longitudinal members 2 constituting the bearer chassis 3 of a vehicle transporter.

By virtue of this type of assembly, the rear bodywork element becomes adaptable to all types and models of carrier vehicle. It is possible to envisage its standardisation, allowing it to be assembled in prefabricated form and kept in stock and then fitted on demand.

As can be seen, the differences in height of chassis in relation to the ground result not only from the heights of wheels and tyres but also the heights of the suspension used, since this constitutes the only connection between the chassis and the wheels.

The height adjustment potential provided by the invention at the time of fitting makes it possible to maintain a constant distance D under load between the tow hook and the ground whatever type of bearer chassis may be used.

The height difference observed among models are completely neutralised by the possibility of height adjustment at the time of mounting on the support plate 1. The range of adjustment corresponds to the extreme variations encountered among various types of carrier chassis.

The rear bodywork element according to the invention comprises a gantry 4 consisting of two oblique pillars 5 and 6 joined to each other at the bottom part by two cross-members 7 and 8 and at the upper part by the top level platform, the height of which is adjustable. To do this, the pillars 5 and 6 have been equipped with a hoisting mechanism operated by a hydraulic motor (not shown).

More precisely, the cross-members 7 and 8 are integrated into a transverse assembly 9 which is made rigid in its centre part by a reinforcing rolled section 10 and two longitudinal members 11 and 12 which extend to the rear.

This assembly, which is more clearly visible in Fig. 2, comprises at its ends and at the roots of the pillars, reinforcing gussets and webs such as 13 intended to enhance the rigidity and mechanical strength at the level of the connection between the pillars 5 and 6 and the transverse assembly 9. In its middle lower part, this latter has a tow hook support 14 which is made rigid with the reinforcing section 10 and the cross-members 7 and 8 by the upper ends 15 of the frame 16. This latter maintains a central cross-member 17 which is slightly offset forwardly in relation to the transverse assembly 9.

Flush mounted in this central cross-member 17 is a towing hook 18, for example in a bell-shaped member 19, for rapid articulating connection of the end 20 of a draw bar 21 for towing a trailer.

As indicated hereinabove, one of the objects of the invention resides in obtaining under load a virtually constant distance D between the point of articulation 22 and the ground regardless of the differences in height observed among models on chassis.

The transverse assembly 9 is continued to the rear by an inclined flat structure forming a rear lower platform 23. This latter comprises a bearing cross-member 24 mounted on the end of longitudinal members 11 and 12. The platform 23 is on its upper face surfaced by fixed or articulated ramps 25 or by extensions which serve as runways for the vehicles to be transported.

The rear lower platform 23 constitutes the connection which provides a passage for vehicles between the truck and its trailer.

Provided on the front cross-member 7 and on each of the ends of each longitudinal member 11 and 12 is a rigid fixing plate 27 and 28 capable of being applied to and fixed at a variable height on the support plate 1 rigid with the ends of the longitudinal members of the bearer chassis 3.

Thus, these plates exhibit for example a plurality of lines of holes 29, 30, 31 for attachment of the bodywork element according to the invention at various levels in order to adjust the height of the point of articulation 22.

In the same way, a plurality of lines of holes can be provided on the support plates 1.

The technical characteristics of the invention described hereinabove demonstrate its full potential for pre-fabrication and assembly on demand. It is sufficient to prepare the carrier chassis by cutting it at a specific location, rigidly attaching the support plates 1 to each of the free ends and mounting the bodywork element at the appropriate height, employing the appropriate fixing line.

The conventional height from the point of articulation 22 in relation to ground level is thus obtained whatever type of carrier chassis may be used.

Although the invention may have been described in relation to a particular embodiment, it goes without saying that the scope of protection cannot be limited thereto and that various simple alternatives and modifications which make no inventive contribution will fall quite well within its framework.

Claims (5)

1. Separable rear bodywork element for vehicle transporter, comprising a gantry (4) consisting of a transverse assembly (9), two pillars (5) and (6) supporting the upper platform and a lower rear platform (23) providing the basic link with the trailer, characterised in that the tow hook support (14) is rigid with the transverse assembly (9) connecting the bottom ends of the pillars (5) and (6) and in that the said transverse assembly (9) has in its front part fixing means to allow rigid attachment at variable height on fixed elements provided on the longitudinal members (2) of the carrier chassis (3) in order to preserve under load a constant distance D between the point of articulation (22) of the draw bar and the ground.

2. Bodywork element according to Clairn 1, characterised in that the fixed elements are rigidly attached to the ends of the longitudinal members (2) of the carrier chassis (3) at a constant distance from the front of the transporter whatever model is to be equipped.

3. Bodywork element according to Claim 1, characterised in that the means of rigid attachment to the chassis are support plates (1) and (27, 28) mounted respectively on each of the ends of the longitudinal members of the carrier chassis (3) and on the front cross-member of the transverse assembly (9).

4. Bodywork element according to Claim 3, characterised in that rigid attachment is carried out by means of bolts, according to rows of holes (29, 30 and 31) permitting of assembly at various heights.

5. Bodywork element according to Claim 1, characterised in that the upper ends (15) of the frame (16) of the two hook support (14) are rigid with the central reinforcing rolled section (10) of the transverse assembly (9) and the cross-members (7) and (8).