GB1576342A - Chassis for a multi-terrain vehicle - Google Patents

Description

(54) A CHASSIS FOR A MULTI-TERRAIN VEHICLE (71) We, COMPAGNIE FRANCAISE DE SERVICES ET DE MARQUES, a French Body Corporate, of 26, rue de Berri, 75008 Paris, France, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - The present invention relates to a chassis for a multi-terrain vehicle intended in particular, but not exclusively, for public work undertakings and to agricultural and forestry use.

The vehicles intended for these purposes will advantageously combine robustness and simplicity.

To this end the chassis according to the invention is of the type comprising two longitudinal sills connected one to the other by three cross members, one at the front and the two others at the rear. In the chassis according to the invention each longitudinal sill comprises five tubular members of square or rectangular section, of which three lower members are provided with their upper faces in the same horizontal plane, and their lateral faces in two vertical planes, with gaps between the lower members corresponding to openings for the partial accommodation of the front and reuar wheels of the vehicle, whilst each of the two upper members of a length greater than one of the gaps referred to is connected at its bottom face to one of the extreme lower members and to the nearest end of the central lower member.

This structure has the advantage of providing large surfaces for the fixing of auxiliary parts such for example as the engine brackets, lugs for the attachment of suspension springs, and for attachment of parts of the coachwork.

In addition this structure caters for the use of coachwork members of plain sheet metal, without styling and having no special fold lines and of a very low production price.

Preferably each upper member of a longitudinal sill is of a length such that its free end is exactly superimposed on the free end of the extreme bottom member corresponding thereto, and a single closure plate covers these two.

In a simple form of the invention the connecting of the longitudinal sill members to one another and to the cross pieces, and the connection of the closure plates to the members is effected by welding.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, this being a diagrammatic perspective illustration of the chassis concerned.

This chassis is primarily composed of two longitudinal sills 2 connected to one another by a front cross piece 3 and two rear cross pieces 4 and 5 respectively. Each of the sills 2 is constituted by five tubular members of square or rectangular section and all having the same cross-sectional dimension. Three of these members, 6, 7 and 8 respectively, or bottom members are aligned with their upper faces in a single horizontal plane and their lateral faces in two like vertical planes.

Moreover gaps, denoted respectively 9 and 11 are provided between the members 6 and 7 and the members 7 and 8, these corresponding to the openings required for the partial housing of the front and rear wheels of the vehicle. The bottom members 6, 7 and 8 are connected in pairs by two top members 12 and 13 respectively, of a length which is obviously greater than those of the respective gaps 9 and 11 and are arranged with their bottom faces applied against the upper face of the corresponding bottom members. The free ends of the members 6 and 12, on the one hand, and 18 and 13, on the other hand are aligned in a single vertical plane so that they can be closed by a single vertical plate, 14 and 15 respectively.

As shown by the drawing, the opposed ends of the bottom members 6 and 7 are advantageously bevelled before being themselves closed by a closure plate, 16 and 17 respectively. The rear end likewise cut with a bevel from the central bottom member 7 is also closed by a closure plate 18, whilst the end opposite the extreme bottom member 8 is closed by a closure plate 19.

All the connections of the longitudinal members between these connections of the cross pieces to the longitudinal members are performed by welding and this, taken together with the tubular shape of all these members, affords a great rigidity and great solidity to the chassis. For this reason the chassis is particularly suited for use with vehicles which are used for public work undertakings and in agriculture and forestry.

The constitution of the members of this chassis in addition has the advantage of presenting large plane areas for the ready fixing by welding or other means of all the parts necessary for the fixing of auxiliary members such as the spring fittings 21, the brackets 22 for the engine, the steering support 23 or lugs 25 for the mounting of a protective strap of the gearbox and of the engine.

The presence of a large number of plane surfaces on the lateral faces of the chassis has in addition the advantage of enabling fixing thereto of members of the coachwork which may, moreover, be without particular style and only have rectilinear fold lines. All these facts enable the construction of the vehicle with a minimum of expensive operations and, as a consequence at an extremely small sales cost.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A chassis for a multi-terrain vehicle, of the kind comprising two longitudinal sills connected together by three cross pieces, namely one at the front and two at the rear, characterised by the fact that each longitudinal sill comprises five tubular members of square or rectangular section, of which three lower members are provided with their upper faces in the same horizontal plane, and their lateral faces in two vertical planes, with gaps between the lower members corresponding to openings for the partial accommodation of front and rear wheels, of the vehicle whilst each of the two upper members of a length greater than one of the gaps referred to is connected at its bottom face to one of the extreme lower members and to the nearest end of the central lower member.

2. A chassis in accordance with Claim 1, characterised by the fact that each top member of a sill is of a length such that its free end is exactly superimposed on the free end of the extreme bottom member corresponding thereto, and a single closure plate covers these two.

3. A chassis in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the connecting of the longitudinal sill members to one another and to the cross pieces, and the connection of the closure plates to the member is effected by welding.

4. A chassis as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. are aligned in a single vertical plane so that they can be closed by a single vertical plate, 14 and 15 respectively. As shown by the drawing, the opposed ends of the bottom members 6 and 7 are advantageously bevelled before being themselves closed by a closure plate, 16 and 17 respectively. The rear end likewise cut with a bevel from the central bottom member 7 is also closed by a closure plate 18, whilst the end opposite the extreme bottom member 8 is closed by a closure plate 19. All the connections of the longitudinal members between these connections of the cross pieces to the longitudinal members are performed by welding and this, taken together with the tubular shape of all these members, affords a great rigidity and great solidity to the chassis. For this reason the chassis is particularly suited for use with vehicles which are used for public work undertakings and in agriculture and forestry. The constitution of the members of this chassis in addition has the advantage of presenting large plane areas for the ready fixing by welding or other means of all the parts necessary for the fixing of auxiliary members such as the spring fittings 21, the brackets 22 for the engine, the steering support 23 or lugs 25 for the mounting of a protective strap of the gearbox and of the engine. The presence of a large number of plane surfaces on the lateral faces of the chassis has in addition the advantage of enabling fixing thereto of members of the coachwork which may, moreover, be without particular style and only have rectilinear fold lines. All these facts enable the construction of the vehicle with a minimum of expensive operations and, as a consequence at an extremely small sales cost. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A chassis for a multi-terrain vehicle, of the kind comprising two longitudinal sills connected together by three cross pieces, namely one at the front and two at the rear, characterised by the fact that each longitudinal sill comprises five tubular members of square or rectangular section, of which three lower members are provided with their upper faces in the same horizontal plane, and their lateral faces in two vertical planes, with gaps between the lower members corresponding to openings for the partial accommodation of front and rear wheels, of the vehicle whilst each of the two upper members of a length greater than one of the gaps referred to is connected at its bottom face to one of the extreme lower members and to the nearest end of the central lower member.

2. A chassis in accordance with Claim 1, characterised by the fact that each top member of a sill is of a length such that its free end is exactly superimposed on the free end of the extreme bottom member corresponding thereto, and a single closure plate covers these two.

3. A chassis in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the connecting of the longitudinal sill members to one another and to the cross pieces, and the connection of the closure plates to the member is effected by welding.

4. A chassis as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.