GB2166392A

GB2166392A - Vehicle body with elevatable roof

Info

Publication number: GB2166392A
Application number: GB08424632A
Authority: GB
Inventors: R P Cook; Christopher G Harris
Original assignee: COOKS
Current assignee: COOKS
Priority date: 1984-09-28
Filing date: 1984-09-28
Publication date: 1986-05-08
Also published as: GB8424632D0

Abstract

A platform (12) for carrying a load to be transported has above it a roof assembly (20) supported on pillars (22). The pillars (22) house lifting devices, preferably, rack-and-pinion arrangements or hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders by means of which the roof assembly (20) can be raised or lowered relative to the platform (12). The roof assembly (20) comprises an outer skin having elongate support members secured to its longitudinal edges and which rests on a substantially rigid inner frame disposed between the support members. Each lifting device bears on both the inner frame and the longitudinal support members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle body The present invention relates to commercial vehicles of the kind used for transporting goods in bulk. Such vehicles may included a separate trailer to which a drawing unit is attached when it is desired to move the trailer, the drawing unit being detached subsequently for use with other trailers, or the trailer and drawing unit may be permanently coupled together.

It is, of course, desirable that each vehicle should carry the largest possible load in order to make the transport of goods in such vehicles efficient and economical. However, the overall dimensions of such vehicles are restricted by law and it is, therefore, only possible to increase the load to the extent permitted by the maximum legal size of the vehicle.

It is also becoming increasingly frequent for bulk loads to be packed in steel cages for easy handling. In order to use the available space efficiently, the cages are usually of dimensions such that they just fit the interior of the vehicle trailer.

This does however give rise to difficulties when the cages are to be loaded and unloaded as there is very little room for manoeuvring the cages into and out of the trailer. To a certain extent loading is facilitated by the fact that such vehicles are often "curtainsided". That is, the trailer body has open sides closed by flexible curtains which can be drawback to provide easy access to the trailer interior. Nevertheless, manoeuvring the loaded cages remains difficult and time- consuming.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a vehicle or vehicle trailer comprising a platform for carrying a load to be transported, a roof assembly and means for supporting the roof assembly above the platform, the means for supporting including one or more lifting devices for raising and lowering the roof assembly relative to the platform.

This arrangement allows the roof assembly of the vehicle or trailer to be raised so that its height above the load-carrying platform is greater than the maximum allowed by law while goods are being loaded or unloaded to provide vertical manoeuvring space. Once the loading or unloading operation is complete, the roof assembly can be returned to a normal operating height before the vehicle is again driven onto the road.

Preferably, the means for supporting the roof assembly comprises at least one pair of pillars extending between the platform and the roof assembly; the pair of pillars being disposed at opposite ends of the platform. Because there are no pillars along the sides of the platform between its ends, the means for supporting the roof assembly provides the minimum obstruction to goods being loaded or unloaded.

However, if the roof assembly is to be supported only at its ends it must be sufficiently rigid not to become bowed under its own weight or to buckle when lifting forces are applied to it. With conventional roof constructions it is necessary to make the vertical dimension of the roof assembly relatively large in order to avoid flexing or bowing of the roof. This, of course, largely defeats the object of the vertically-movable roof assembly as the roof assembly itself must be contained within the overall allowable height and occupies valuable cargo space.

Advantageously, therefore, the roof assembly comprises an outer skin having elongate support members secured to its longitudinal edges and resting on a substantially rigid inner frame disposed between the support members; each lifting device bearing on both the inner frame and the longitudinal support members to support the roof assembly.

With this construction it is possible to provide a self-supporting roof assembly of relatively small vertical dimension.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 are simplified perspective views of three forms of vehicle trailer in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a transverse section through the roof assembly of any of the trailers of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof assembly of Figures 4 and 5; and Figures 7 and 8 show two alternative lifting mechanisms for use on the trailers of Figures 1 to 3.

Figures 1 to 3 show commercial vehicle trailers of the kind used in transporting bulk goods. Such trailers are generally moved by means of a separate drawing unit which includes the engine and drivers cab. The drawing unit is secured to the trailer as and when it is desired to move the trailer.

However, it will be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to a vehicle in which the trailer and drawing unit are permanently secured to one another to form an integral unit.

Each trailer 10 consists of a load-bearing platform 12 supported by one or more axles on which are mounted pairs of road wheels 14. At either end of the platform 12 are rigid walls 16 and 18 which assist both in supporting the roof assembly of the trailer 10 and in closing off the load-containing space to protect goods in transit from damage by external weather conditions. The wall 18 at the end of the trailer 10 which is, in use, remote from the drawing unit is preferably formed by double doors which can be opened to facilitate the loading of goods into the trailer 10.

The roof assembly 20 is supported above the platform 12 by means of vertical pillars 22. The pillars 22 are of hollow tubular construction and house lifting devices operable to move the roof assembly 20 in a substantially vertical direction.

Thus, when it is desired to load or unload the trailer 10, the roof assembly 20 can be raised by means of the lifting devices to a position up to, for example, 20cm (8 inches) above the normal maxi mum height to afford additional space to move the load more easily. Then, when loading or unloading is complete, the roof assembly 20 is lowered to the maximum legal height above the platform 12.

The sides of the trailer 10 are closed by means of curtains (not shown). The curtains can be suspended by means of any suitable rail arrangement from the longitudinal edges of the roof assembly and their lower edges are secured to the load-bearing platform 12 by means of straps with pass through buckles mounted on the platform 12. The buckles are preferably safety buckles of well-known type designed so that, should the roof assembly 20 inadvertently be raised while the curtains are still buckled down, the straps will be released, thereby avoiding damage to the trailer itself or to the lifting devices. A flexible or pelmet or rub-rail may also be provided to form a seal against the curtain to prevent water entering the interior of the trailer.

The roof structure 20 and lifting devices may be arranged so that, in its lowest position, the roof structure is slightly below the normal trailer height.

The curtains are then secured by means of the straps and buckles and the lifting devices operated to raise the roof structure to the normal height, This has the effect of tensioning the straps so that they hold the curtains in place more securely.

Clearly, it is desirable that the pillars 22 should be as widely-spaced as possible so that they form the least possible obstacle when bulky goods are being loaded into the trailer 10. As shown in Figure 1, the pillars 22, therefore, are preferably located at either end of the platform 12 so as to form part of the structure of the trailer end walls 16 and 18.

This arrangement provides a minimum obstruction to loading.

The roof assembly 20 may be secured to the uppermost ends of the pillars 22 and end walls 16 and 18 of the trailer by means of hinges 23, as shown in Figure 2. The hinges 23 enable the roof assembly 20 to be lifted one end at a time to an inclined position as indicated in dashed lines in Figure 2.

Alternatively, the pillars 22 housing the lifting devices may be located at positions intermediate the ends of the trailer 10, as shown in Figure 3, although this arrangement is not as advantageous as that of Figures 1 and 2 because the pillars 22 tend to obstruct loading and unloading operations.

Where the pillars 22 are positioned intermediate the ends of the trailer 10, it is helpful to provide downwardly extending guide rods 25 at the ends of the roof assembly 20 which slide telescopically in hollow pillars 27 similar to the pillars 22, The engagement of the guide rods 25 in the pillars 25 assists in preventing vibrational movement of the free ends of the roof assembly 20.

If the roof assembly 20 is to be supported only at its ends as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is essential that it is sufficiently rigid so that lowing or flexing is avoided. However, for the reasons stated above, it is also desirable that its vertical thickness should be as small as possible. A roof assembly 20 which may meet both criteria advantageously is shown in Figures 4 to 6.

The assembly 20 comprises an outer roof skin 24 and a substantially rigid inner frame 26.

The inner frame 26 is formed of two longitudinally extending side members 28 of C-shaped cross-section between which extend a plurality of cross-members 30. The cross-members 30 are spaced at intervals of 60 to 95 cm (2 - 3 feet) along the side members 28 and are made of pressed steel. They are shaped so that they define a channel portion 32 of trapezoidal cross-section having an outwardly-directed flange 34 extending from each free edge of the channel portion 32, The ends of the cross-members 30 are secured to the side members 28 by welding. The side members 28 are provided with vertical sots 29 aligned with the channel portions 32 of the cross-members 30. The inner frame 26 so formed is rigid and torsionally very strong.

The outer roof 24 consists of a thin outer skin 36, of, for example, aluminium, the longitudinal edges of which are welded to the uppermost outwardly extending flanges of two support members 38 of rectilinear S-shaped cross- section. Extending between the longitudinal support members 38 are a plurality of cross-pieces 40 of box-like configuration.

When the roof assembly 20 is mounted on the trailer 10, the inner frame 26 locates between the support members 38 of the outer roof 24 while the cross-pieces 40 of the outer roof rest in the channel portions 32 of the inner frame cross-members 30. The ends of the cross-pieces 40 pass through the slots 29 of the inner frame side members 28.

The inner frame 26 and outer roof 24 are then fixed to one another by means of connecting bolts 42 which pass through the cross-piece 40 and through the cross-members 30.

The lifting devices act on both the side members 28 of the inner frame and on the longitudinal support members 38 so that the inner frame 26 acts as a lifting platform for the outer roof 24. In the absence of the inner frame 26. the support members 38 of the outer roof 24 would have to be made considerably deeper in order to provide the necessary rigidity and torsional strength. Roof assemblies of this kind up to 12.60 metres in length may be supported at their ends only. Furthermore, this arrangement has the advantage that if the outer roof skin is damaged it can easily be removed and replaced without it being necessary to dismantle the entire roof assembly.

The lifting devices may comprise either pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders 50, rack and pinion devices 52 or any other convenient arrangement Preferably they are mounted within the tubular pillars 22 as indicated in Figures 7 and 8 so that they are located at the base of the pillar 22 for easy access for maintenance purposes. Movement is then transmitted to the roof assembly 20 by means of a push rod 54 extending upwardly within the pillar 22. The lifting devices can be driven by means of a power source for example, an electric or hydraulic motor or compressor located on the drawing unit.

Alternatively, a separate power source may be provided on the trailer itself.

Claims

1. A vehicle or vehicle trailer comprising a platform for carrying a load to be transported, a roof assembly and means for supporting the roof assembly above the platform, the means for supporting including one or more lifting devices for raising and lowering the roof assembly relative to the platform.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the means for supporting includes at least one pair of pillars extending between the platform and the roof assembly; the pair of pillars being disposed at opposite ends of the platform.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the pillars are tubular, the lifting devices being housed therein.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the lifting devices are mounted adjacent the platform and are coupled to the roof assembly by means of upwardly extending push rods.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the lifting devices include rack and pinion arrangements.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the lifting devices include hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the roof assembly is hinged to the means for supporting it.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the roof assembly comprises an outer skin having elongate support members secured to its longitudinal edges and resting on a substantially rigid inner frame disposed between the support members; each lifting device bearing on both the inner frame and the longitudinal support members to support the roof assembly.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the outer skin is provided with a plurality of transversely-extending cross members which locate in channel section cross-members of the inner frame.

10. A vehicle or vehicle trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.