GB2438387A

GB2438387A - Ladder mounted on a truck body

Info

Publication number: GB2438387A
Application number: GB0610510A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Richard Woods
Original assignee: KERAND AUTOMOTIVE Ltd
Current assignee: KERAND AUTOMOTIVE Ltd
Priority date: 2006-05-26
Filing date: 2006-05-26
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-26
Also published as: GB2438387B; GB0610510D0

Abstract

A truck body (2) comprising a platform (4), a ladder (6), and mounting means (8) which mounts the ladder (6) in a storage position underneath the platform (4) and which mounts the ladder (6) in a use position adjacent the platform (4), the mounting means comprising first and second members (10, 12 fig 3) which extend underneath the platform (4), which slide with respect to each other, and which rotate with respect to each other whereby the ladder (6) is slidable out from underneath the platform (4) and is then rotatable to the use position.

Description

1 2438387

A TRUCK BODY

This invention relates to a truck body.

Vehicles in the form of trucks are well known. The trucks comprise a truck body which is mounted on what is known as a chassis cab and which comprises a chassis, a driver's cab, axles, wheels, tyres, suspension, an engine and transmission. The truck body may be fitted to the chassis cab by a body builder who manufactures and installs, assembles and installs, or purely installs if the truck body has been manufactured elsewhere. The chassis cab provides the motive power for the truck. The truck body is for receiving loads to be carried.

Truck bodies may be such that they are tipping truck bodies or they are fixed non-tipping truck bodies. Tipping truck bodies are such that they tip with respect to the chassis cab for the purpose of discharging loads on the truck body. Such loads may be foodstuffs, construction materials and waste products. Typically the foodstuffs may be grain or fruit. The fixed non-tipping truck bodies are employed where the load being carried is not suitable for being discharged by tipping. Loads transported by fixed non-tipping bodies include palletised loads, large bulk loads such for example as machinery, and products not susceptible to weather such for example as metals. The fixed non-tipping truck bodies sometimes have a self-loading and unloading mechanism which is known as a lorry loader.

Trucks are produced in various sizes and the truck sizes are usually defined as gross vehicle weights. A gross vehicle weight is the potential weight of the chassis cab and the truck body, as well as the maximum potential payload of the truck. Thus, for example, a truck with a gross vehicle weight of seven and a half tonnes may weigh three and a half tonnes as a chassis cab and truck body, so that it will then have a potential payload allowance of just under four tonnes when the weight of a driver for the truck and fuel for the truck are taken into consideration.

Trucks are often referred to by the amount of axles which they have, and the number of those axles which apply power to the road. Each axle is referred to as a unit of two, based upon it having two wheels, although an axle may frequently have more than two wheels. Thus, for example, an eight by four truck has four axles with two of the axles being driven, a six by four truck has three axles with two of the axles being driven, and a four by two truck has two axles with only one axle being driven.

The trucks are such that the truck body comprises a platform for receiving loads to be carried. Access to the platform is of prime importance.

Some trucks have fixed sides, and some trucks have drop sides. The drop sides lower to give access to loads on the platform. Generally drop sides are released and lowered manually, although some automated systems exist for automatically releasing and lowering the drop sides. The sides of a truck body may be made of steel, aluminium, or composite materials such for example as plywood and glass reinforced plastics materials. Drop sides may be fitted to tipping truck bodies and fixed non-tipping truck bodies. A truck body may have one or more of the drop sides. Generally, small truck bodies have only one drop side, whereas larger truck bodies have two or more of the drop sides.

Truck bodies with drop sides often have access means for providing access to the platform. The access means may be treads, ladders, or bars fitted underneath the floor line of the platform. These access means are useful climbing aids whilst the drop sides are in their up position. However, once the drop sides have been lowered to their dropped position, then the access means is obscured and becomes completely useless. In order to deal with this problem, some truck body builders provide folding steps fitted to the inside of the drop sides. The folding steps are able to fold out as and when required. The folding steps are far from ideal because they are susceptible to damage from loads being carried on the platform, they do not provide comprehensive foot plates, and they do not offer hand holds for providing safe climbing onto the platform. It is also known to fit the truck bodies with a ladder secured to a headboard part of the truck body, the headboard part being positioned in front of the drop sides. Such a ladder requires a step sideways once floor height has been reached and this has the potential for causing accidents. In addition, there is a tendency to load vehicles from the front, and this often encumbers access to the ladder or to a part of the platform onto which a person can dismount from the ladder.

Access to truck bodies with fixed sides is limited by the overall vehicle width restriction, and also by practical considerations associated with the working environment which requires vehicles to drive up to the side of the truck body for loading and unloading purposes. Existing access into the truck body is generally achieved by climbing on one of the truck wheels and then utilising a ladder or treads fitted to the side of the body. This is inherently unsafe as the wheels may be slippery, and they have no flat surface. In addition, the ladder or treads on the body side often have insufficient depth. No part of the access can sit above the level of the top of the side of the body. A safer and alternative method of obtaining access to truck bodies with fixed sides is to climb a ladder at the front of the body.

The climbing of the ladder however requires the climber to move sideways along the body before being able to enter the body, and this again is inherently dangerous. All existing access systems require the climber to climb whilst facing the body and then turn 1800 in order to enter the body.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems by providing improved access to the platform of a truck body.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a truck body comprising a platform, a ladder, and mounting means which mounts the ladder in a storage position underneath the platform and which mounts the ladder in a use position adjacent the platform, the mounting means comprising first and second members which extend underneath the platform, which slide with respect to each other, and which rotate with respect to each other whereby the ladder is slidable out from underneath the platform and is then rotatable to the use position.

The truck body of the present invention is advantageous because the mounting means enables the ladder to be housed in a storage position which is convenient, and from where the ladder can quickly and easily be deployed. In the storage position, the ladder will normally not get damaged.

The mounting means also enables the use of a conventional style of ladder.

With an appropriate choice of ladder, the ladder is able to extend above the side of the body, in order to give a continuous hand hold to a person whilst the person enters the truck body.

The truck body is preferably one in which the mounting means mounts the ladder in the use position adjacent a side of the plafform. It is to be appreciated however that the mounting means could alternatively mount the ladder at the end of the platform furthest away from the driver's cab.

Preferably, the mounting means mounts the ladder on the kerb side of the platform in order for access to the truck body to be on the side of the truck body away from traffic flow.

In the use position of the ladder, the ladder preferably is inclined towards the rear of the truck body. The ladder may however be inclined to the front of the truck body if desired. By way of example, the ladder may be inclined at an angle of 100 towards the rear of the truck body.

Preferably, the truck body is one in which the first and second members are elongate members, and in which the second member is mounted over the first member. In this case, the second member will normally be a tube mounted over the first member. The first member will itself normally be a tube but it may be a solid rod if desired.

Preferably, the first member is a fixed member, and the second member slides and rotates over the first member. The reverse arrangement may however be employed if desired in which case the second member will be a fixed member, and the first member will slide and rotate in the second member.

With the preferred arrangement of the first member being a fixed member, and the second member sliding and rotating over the first member, the truck body may be one in which the first member is mounted to the truck body, and in which the ladder is mounted to the second member.

The first member may be mounted to the truck body by an inner mounting member and an outer mounting member. The truck body may then be one in which the inner mounting member is a plate which extends vertically with respect to the platform, and in which the outer mounting member is a downwardly extending member which extends vertically downwardly with respect to the platform.

The ladder may be welded to the second member using a pair of mounting plates which connect one to each side stile of the ladder.

The truck body may include stop means for stopping the rotation of the ladder when the ladder has rotated to the use position, the rotation of the ladder then being such that the ladder is inclined at a climbing angle.

Preferably, the stop means is of a bayonet fixing construction.

The bayonet fixing construction may comprise an L-shaped slot in the second member, and a pin which is on the first member and which is located in the slot. Other types of stop means may be employed.

The truck body preferably includes locking means for releasably locking the first and second members together when the ladder is in the storage position.

Preferably, the locking means comprises a locking member which is pivotable about a fixed member such that the locking member extends transversely of the fixed member to cause locking, and in which the locking member extends axially of the fixed member to cause unlocking. Other types of locking means may be employed.

The truck body will normally include sides which upstand from the platform. The sides may be drop sides and/or fixed sides. Thus, for example, the truck body may have one or more drop sides, all fixed sides, or a combination of drop and fixed sides.

The truck body may be a fixed truck body for being mounted to a chassis cab such that the truck body cannot move with respect to the chassis cab. Alternatively, the truck body may be a tipping truck body for being mounted to a chassis cab such that the truck body is able to tip with respect to the chassis cab. Preferably, the truck body is fixed sided tipping truck body for use on the larger trucks, the larger trucks having a gross vehicle weight of 16 -50 tonnes.

The present invention also extends to a truck when provided with a truck body of the invention.

The trucks fitted with a truck body of the present invention may be of wide use, for example to general hauliers, metal stockholders, civil engineering companies, local authorities, utility providers, truck rental * 8 companies, builder's merchants, garden centres, and to manufacturers who manufacture a complete package of a chassis cab and a truck body.

The truck of the present invention may be made of any suitable and appropriate sizes. Preferably, the truck is made in the above mentioned gross vehicle weight sizes of 16 -50 tonnes. The truck is often a four by two truck but examples of other truck may be a four by four truck, a six by two truck, a six by four truck, an eight by two truck, or an eight by four truck.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a truck body with a ladder mounted in a storage position; Figure 2 is a perspective view like Figure 1 but shows the ladder in a use position; and Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of mounting means which mounts the ladder.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a truck body 2 comprising a plafform 4, a ladder 6, and mounting means 8. As shown in Figure 1, the mounting means 8 mounts the ladder 6 in a storage position underneath the platform 4. As shown in Figure 2, the mounting means 8 mounts the ladder 6 in a use position adjacent the platform 4.

As best shown in Figure 3, the mounting means 8 comprises a first member 10 and a second member 12. The first and second members 10, 12 extend underneath the platform 4. The first and second members 10, 12 slide with respect to each other. The first and second members 10, 12 rotate with respect to each other. The first and second members 10, 12 enable the ladder 6 to be slidable out from underneath the platform and then rotatable to the use position.

As shown in Figure 2, the mounting means 8 mounts the ladder in the use position adjacent a side 14 of the platform 4. This side 14 is a kerb side which thus enables a person to use the ladder 6 away from the flow of traffic which would be on the side of the truck body 2 opposite the side 14. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the truck body 2 has a front end 16 which connects to a driver's cab 18 having wheels 20. The truck body 2 has wheels 22.

The first and second members 10, 12 are elongate members. The second member 12 is a tube which is mounted over the first member 10.

The first member 10 is also a tube. The first member 10 is a fixed member.

The second member 12 slides and rotates over the first member 10, as can be appreciated from the drawings.

The first member 10 is mounted to the truck body. The ladder 6 is mounted to the second member 12. More specifically, the first member 10 is mounted to the truck body 2 by an inner mounting member 24 and an outer mounting member 26. The inner mounting member 24 is a plate which extends vertically with respect to the platform as can be appreciated from Figure 3. The outer mounting member 26 is a depending member which depend vertically downwardly with respect to the platform 4.

As shown in Figure 3, the ladder 6 is welded to the second member 12 using a pair of mounting plates 28, 30. The mounting plates 28, 30 connect one to each side stile 32, 34 respectively. Rungs 36 extend between the side stiles 32, 34.

The truck body 2 includes stop means 38 for stopping the rotation of the ladder 6 when the ladder 6 has rotated to the use position shown in Figure 2. The rotation of the ladder 6 will then have been such that the ladder 6 is inclined to a climbing angle. As shown in Figure 2, the climbing angle is an angle of approximately 100 inclined towards a rear end 40 of the truck body 2. As can be appreciated from Figure 3, the stop means 38 is of a bayonet fixing construction comprising an L-shaped slot 42 and a pin 44.

The pin 44 is on the first member 10 and the pin 44 forms part of the outer mounting member 26. The pin 44 is located in the slot 42 as shown. Figure 3 shows the pin 44 at an end 46 of the slot 42. In this position, the ladder 6 is in the storage position shown in Figure 1. If the second member 12 is slid outwardly over the first member 10, then the slot 42 moves until the pin 44 is at the end 48 of the slot 42. The ladder 6 can then be rotated to the position shown in Figure 2 and then the pin 46 will be in the curved part 50 of the slot 42, which will thus act as a stop to prevent further rotation of the ladder 6. In Figure 3, a portion 60 of the mounting plate 28 has been removed in order to illustrate the curved part 50 of the slot 38.

The truck body 2 includes locking means 52 for releasably locking the first and second members 10, 12 together when the ladder 6 is in the storage position. The locking means 52 comprises a locking member 54 which is pivotable about a fixed member 56. The locking member 54 pivots to extend transversely of the fixed member 56 to cause locking. The locking member 54 extends axially of the fixed member 56 to cause unlocking. The locking member 54 is shown in its axially extending positioning Figure 3.

The pivoting of the locking member 54 is effected about a pivot pin 58.

The truck body 2 includes sides 62, 64 which upstand from the plafform 4. The sides are fixed sides. The truck body is a fixed sided tipping truck body which fits on a truck having a preferred gross vehicle weight of 16 -50 tonnes.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, different types of mounting means 8, stop means 38 and locking means 52 may be employed.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A truck body comprising a plafform, a ladder, and mounting means which mounts the ladder in a storage position underneath the platform and which mounts the ladder in a use position adjacent the platform, the mounting means comprising first and second members which extend underneath the platform, which slide with respect to each other, and which rotate with respect to each other whereby the ladder is slidable out from underneath the platform and is then rotatable to the use position. S.

: **
2. A truck body according to claim I in which the mounting means S... * *

* ** S mounts the ladder in the use position adjacent a side of the plafform. * .* * . S S.. S S..
3. A truck body according to claim I or claim 2 in which the first and second members are elongate members, and in which the second member is mounted over the first member.
4. A truck body according to claim 3 in which the second member is a tube which is mounted over the first member.
5. A truck body according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the first member is a tube.
6. A truck body according to any one of claims 3 -5 in which the first member is a fixed member, and in which the second member slides and rotates over the first member.
7. A truck body according to claim 6 in which the first member is mounted to the truck body, and in which the ladder is mounted to the second member.
8. A truck body according to claim 7 in which the first member is :. mounted to the truck body by an inner mounting member and an outer mounting member. S... * SI * I I
9. A truck body according to claim 8 in which the inner mounting member is a plate which extends vertically with respect to the platform, and 15I11 **: in which the outer mounting member is a depending member which depends vertically downwardly with respect to the platform.
10. A truck body according to any one of claims 3 -9 in which the ladder is welded to the second member using a pair of mounting plates which connect one to each side stile of the ladder.
11. A truck body according to any one of the preceding claims and including stop means for stopping the rotation of the ladder when the ladder has rotated to the use position, the rotation of the ladder then being such that the ladder is inclined at a climbing angle.
12. A truck body according to claim 11 in which the stop means is of a bayonet fixing construction.
13. A truck body according to claim 12 in which the bayonet fixing construction comprises an L-shaped slot in the second member, and a pin which is on the first member and which is located in the slot. I. * *
14. A truck body according to any one of the preceding claims and * S..

* : including locking means for releasably locking the first and second members together when the ladder is in the storage position.

S

S..... * .

*:*.
15. A truck body according to claim 14 in which the locking means comprises a locking member which is pivotable about a fixed member such that the locking member extends transversely of the fixed member to cause locking, and in which the locking member extends axially of the fixed member to cause unlocking.

16. A truck body according to any one of the preceding claims and including sides which upstand from the platform.

17. A truck body according to claim 16 in which the sides are drop sides and/or fixed sides.

18. A truck body according to any one of the preceding claims in which the truck body is a fixed truck body for being mounted to a chassis cab such that the truck body cannot move with respect to the chassis cab.

19. A truck body according to any one of claim I -17 in which the truck body is a tipping truck body for being mounted to a chassis cab such that the truck body is able to tip with respect to the chassis cab.

* ** * * I * SS I 20. A truck body substantially as herein described with reference to the ** accompanying drawings.

S.,...

S S

 21. A truck when including a truck body according to any one of the preceding claims.