Bodywork for a commercial vehicle

Abstract

Body (10) for a commercial vehicle (1), comprising: a loading platform with a floor element (22), a first side wall (32) which is arranged on a side edge of the floor element (22) and extends beyond it, and first and second elements (28, 30) which are arranged on or at the side edge of the floor element (22) on one of two opposite sides of the first side wall (32) and extend beyond it; a locking mechanism; and an actuating device designed to actuate the locking mechanism, wherein the first side wall (32) between the two elements (28, 30) is designed to be pivotable in a tilting movement about a horizontal tilting axis (K) oriented parallel to the ground and in a pivoting movement about a pivoting axis (S) perpendicular to it, the locking mechanism includes: a hinge bolt element (40a) for connecting the first side wall (32) to a first lower lateral section of the first side wall (32) in a manner that is detachable from one of the two elements (28, 30) or the base element (22) and pivotable about the vertical pivot axis (S) relative to one of the two elements (28, 30), a hinge joint arrangement (60) for connecting the first side wall (32) with one of the two elements (28, 30) or the bottom element (22) at a first upper lateral section of the first side wall (32) opposite the hinge bolt element (40a), wherein the hinge joint arrangement (60) is designed for both tilting movement about the tilting axis (K) and pivoting movement about the pivoting axis (S), and a locking device (50) for connecting the first side wall (32) to a second upper lateral section of the first side wall (32) opposite the first upper lateral section, which can be released with a second element (28) of the two elements (28, 30) and tilted in the tilting movement about the horizontal tilting axis (K), the operating device is designed to: In a first mode to enable the pivoting movement, the locking device (50) is to be unlocked while maintaining the connection between the hinge joint assembly (60) and the hinge latch element (40a), and in a second mode to enable the tilting movement, to release the connection of the hinge bolt element (40a) while maintaining the connection of the locking device (50) and the hinge joint assembly (60), wherein the hinge bolt element (40a) comprises a first bolt element (42a) which is oriented substantially parallel to the pivot axis (S) and a first clamp gripping element (44a) which is designed to hold the first bolt element (42a), characterized in that the first clamping element (44a) is designed in such a way that it can be lifted vertically from the first bolt element (42a).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a body for a commercial vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular a body for a motor vehicle or a trailer.

[0002] In general, a commercial vehicle is understood to mean both a motor-driven vehicle, such as a car or truck, and any type of trailer (single-axle, tandem, multi-axle, semi-trailer, etc.) that does not have its own drive and is designed to be towed behind a motor-driven commercial vehicle such as a car, truck, bus, or tractor. Specifically, a motor vehicle whose design and equipment are designed to transport people, loads and goods, and / or to tow trailers, as well as any trailer, fall under the term "commercial vehicle."

[0003] A special type of body for a commercial vehicle is a tipping body. This body has a tipping mechanism for a loading area connected to a chassis of the body and is designed for the transport of goods and products, such as bulk materials. The loading area can be tilted by operating the tipping mechanism, thus causing the load to be unloaded by deliberately sliding off the loading area. Tipping bodies usually have a fixed side wall (front wall) towards the front, towards the driver's cab or towing vehicle, which separates the loading area from the driver's cab, an opposite rear side wall (rear wall), and two side walls (side walls) extending between them at opposite edges of the loading area. The loading area is thus defined by the side walls.

[0004] In known designs, tipping bodies can be designed as single-way, double-way, or three-way tipping bodies. A single-way tipping body is a tipping body structure that allows a load to be tipped exclusively in the direction intended by the design. In this case, the tipping mechanism can only be operated in this one direction, and the side walls on the other sides are fixed. The usual form for a single-way tipping body is a rear tipper, which can only tip against the direction of travel. A two-way tipping body is a structure that can tip to the right and left. In this case, the tipping mechanism is only designed for these two tipping directions, and the rear or back side wall is usually fixed.A three-way tipping bridge is a body in which all other side walls, except for the side wall to the driver's cab, are movable so that the tipping mechanism can be operated to the right and left, as well as to the rear.

[0005] The range of vehicles with tipper bodies begins with trailers and small vans and extends to oversized dump trucks, which are used in large open-cast mines in many countries and can reach weights in the range of several hundred tons. In contrast, tipper bodies in normal road traffic are generally intended for use with all standard truck chassis, although heavy vehicles often use semi-trailers with trailers and tipper bodies mounted on them. Furthermore, tractor trailers with tipper bodies (so-called "rubber wagons") are common in agriculture. These can, for example, pick up crops from harvesters during harvest time (e.g., grain, sugar beets, or potatoes) and then tip them again at the designated storage or processing location.

[0006] In order to improve the versatile use of a vehicle with a tipping bridge, it is desirable that at least one side wall can be tilted not only about a horizontal tilting axis to allow the load to slide off, but can also be pivoted about a lateral pivot axis so that access to the loading bridge is completely freed up and larger loads, such as building rubble, rocks, shrubs and branches and the like can be unloaded or construction machinery (excavators, loaders and the like) can be loaded onto the loading bridge without having to overcome a side wall.

[0007] The generic document WO 2020 / 178 697 A1 describes a system for mounting a door on a vehicle container, wherein the vehicle container has a container body, a first pillar connected to the container body, and a second pillar connected to the container body. An opening providing access to an interior of the container body is defined between the first and second pillars, and a door selectively closes the opening. The system comprises a first base adapted for connection to an upper portion of the first pillar, a second base adapted for connection to an upper portion of the second pillar, and a hinge assembly configured to pivotally connect the door to the vehicle container, wherein the hinge assembly is configured to be detachably connected to the first and second bases and to the door.The hinge assembly is selected from a first hinge assembly and a second hinge assembly. If the first hinge assembly pivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the door has a first pivot configuration. If the second hinge assembly pivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the door has a second pivot configuration that differs from the first pivot configuration.

[0008] From the document WO 2014 / 150 191 A1, for example, a tipping vehicle in the form of a dump truck is known, which is designed as a single-sided tipper and in which the tailgate can be tilted about a horizontal tilting axis and pivoted about a vertical pivoting axis, wherein the tailgate is pivotally mounted by a single hinge, on which the entire load of the tailgate rests during a pivoting movement.

[0009] US 2 806 735 A describes an open-top truck having a rectangular tailgate for closing the end of the vehicle body. Mounted at each corner of the tailgate are hinge pins and cooperating hinge bearing elements for receiving the hinge pins, each pin comprising a hemispherical, upwardly convex body mounted on a narrow horizontal neck. Each hinge bearing element has a cup-shaped, upwardly concave spherical seat and removable hemispherical, downwardly hollow cap elements mounted over the hinge bearing elements at a distance greater than the necks of the pins to permit horizontal pivoting movement, and is hingedly mounted to the hinge seats and cooperating therewith to retain the pins, the tailgate being mounted for hinged movement relative to the vehicle body around each peripheral edge of the tailgate by releasing the bearing.

[0010] In view of the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a body for a commercial vehicle in which a side wall oriented perpendicular to the loading area can be tilted in a tilting movement about a horizontal tilting axis and pivoted in a pivoting movement about a vertical pivoting axis in a simple and improved manner.

[0011] The present invention provides, in various embodiments to achieve the above object, a body for a commercial vehicle according to independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments thereof are defined in dependent claims 2 to 10.

[0012] In the various embodiments of the invention, a body can be designed as an open box or as a closed box. A closed box represents a body variant for commercial vehicles with a loading space that is firmly enclosed on all sides, whereas an open box represents a type of body for commercial vehicles with a fixed loading area that is open at the top and can be tilted to one, two, or three sides depending on the intended use. The loading area can be provided by a floor element that is fixed or tiltable with respect to a chassis on which the body is constructed, or that can be removed therefrom. A floor element that can be removed from the chassis provides an embodiment in which the body provides an interchangeable body or an exchangeable load carrier.

[0013] Accordingly, the invention provides a body for a commercial vehicle, comprising a loading area with a floor element, a first side wall arranged on a side edge of the floor element and projecting beyond it, and first and second elements arranged on a side edge of the floor, each on one of two opposite sides of the first side wall, and projecting beyond it, a locking mechanism, and an actuating device designed to actuate the locking mechanism. The first side wall is designed to be pivotable between the two elements in a tilting movement about a horizontal tilting axis oriented parallel to the floor and in a pivoting movement about a pivot axis vertical thereto.

[0014] The locking mechanism comprises a hinge locking element which is designed to connect the first side wall to one of the two elements or the floor in a way that is releasable and pivotable about the vertical pivot axis relative to one of the two elements, a hinge joint arrangement which is designed to connect the first side wall to one of the two elements or the floor in a first upper lateral section of the first side wall opposite the hinge locking element, and a locking device which is designed to connect the first side wall to another element of the two elements in a way that is releasable and tiltable about the horizontal tilt axis in the tilting movement, at a second upper lateral section of the first side wall opposite the first upper or lower lateral section (e.g. in the case of a loading ramp).The hinge joint arrangement is designed for both tilting movement around the tilting axis and pivoting movement around the pivoting axis.

[0015] Furthermore, the actuating device is designed to unlock the locking device while maintaining the connection of the hinge joint arrangement and the hinge locking element in a first mode to enable the pivoting movement, and to release the connection of the hinge locking element while maintaining the connection of the locking device and the hinge joint arrangement in a second mode to enable the tilting movement.

[0016] By providing the hinge locking element on the first lower section of the first side wall and the hinge joint arrangement on the first upper section of the first side wall, a pivotable mounting of the first side wall by means of two hinges in the pivoting movement is advantageously provided, wherein the hinge locking element can also serve to lock the tilting mechanism.The actuating mechanism, by means of which a locking of the first side wall as well as the pivoting movement and the tilting movement can be triggered, can be designed simply in such a way that, with a selective actuation of only the hinge locking element and / or the locking device, it either achieves a locking of the side wall by locking the locking device while simultaneously locking the hinge locking element, or achieves the tilting movement by locking the locking device while simultaneously releasing the hinge locking element, or achieves the pivoting movement by unlocking the locking device while simultaneously locking the hinge locking element. Thus, a suitable actuation of an actuating device allows for simple switching between different operating modes of the body.

[0017] Furthermore, the hinge locking element has a first bolt element oriented substantially parallel to the pivot axis, and a first clamp gripping element configured to hold the first bolt element. The first clamp gripping element is configured such that it can be lifted vertically from the first bolt element. This ensures, on the one hand, that the first clamp gripping element easily permits a hinge function in a locked state of the hinge locking element, and, on the other hand, that a reliable locking state is provided that can be easily released.In some examples, the first bolt element may be attached to the first side wall by a horizontal bar and the first clamp gripping element may be pivotally connected to one of the two elements by a linkage oriented transversely to the first bolt element, which represents a simple embodiment of the hinge latch element in which the hinge latch element connects the first side wall to the one of the two elements in a locking state of the hinge latch element.

[0018] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the pivoting mechanism, through the hinge joint arrangement and the hinge locking element, provides a mounting of the first side wall to one of the two elements by means of two hinges, thus achieving advantageous load distribution during the pivoting movement between the hinge locking element and the hinge joint arrangement. This is particularly advantageous for commercial vehicle bodies with a first side wall that has a high deadweight, as this ensures secure mounting on the vehicle body when pivoting the first side wall. In particular, it prevents the first side wall from loading a single hinge on one of the two elements with its entire deadweight.Thus, on the one hand, this vehicle body allows the vehicle body to be used as a tipping bridge if a load stored on the loading area of ​​the vehicle body is to be unloaded by tipping, as is advantageous with bulk goods, and on the other hand, it allows the loading area to be opened by a vertical pivoting movement of the first side wall in such a way that the vehicle body can be loaded or unloaded with goods or merchandise without the dimensions of goods or merchandise being restricted by a height dimension of the first side wall.

[0019] In some specific illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the structure may further comprise an additional hinge locking element for releasably connecting the first side wall to another of the two elements or the floor at a second lower lateral section of the first side wall opposite the first lower lateral section. The actuating device may be designed to release the connection between the first side wall and the other of the two elements or the floor in the first mode and in the second mode. In these embodiments, the additional hinge locking element provides the possibility of reliably fixing the first side wall to the two elements or the floor in a locking mode by means of an additional locking mechanism.In specific illustrative examples herein, the additional hinge locking element can have a second bolt element oriented parallel to the pivot axis and a second clamp gripping element configured to hold the second bolt element. Furthermore, by configuring the additional hinge locking element corresponding to the first hinge locking element, the actuating mechanism can be implemented simply, so that actuation of the two hinge locking elements to implement the tilting mechanism can be carried out in an identical manner, while one-sided unlocking of only the additional hinge locking element still enables the pivoting movement. For example, the second clamp gripping element can be configured such that it can be lifted vertically from the second bolt element.

[0020] In some specific examples of the embodiments described above, the actuating device for each hinge locking element may further comprise a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or a linkage configured to release a retaining connection between an associated clamp gripping element and an associated bolt element depending on the first mode, or the actuating device for each hinge locking element may comprise a linkage configured to release a retaining connection between an associated clamp gripping element and an associated bolt element depending on the first mode. This represents simple implementations of the actuating device for a hinge locking element.

[0021] In some specific illustrative embodiments of the above-described embodiments, the locking device can have a third bolt element protruding from the first side wall along the tilting axis and, on the other of the two elements, a gripping element designed to hold the third bolt element, such that the locking device permits the tilting movement about the tilting axis when the gripping element holds the third bolt element. The actuating device further comprises a coupling element arranged between the gripping element and the second clamp gripping element. Furthermore, the coupling element is designed to release a hold between the second clamp gripping element and the second bolt element when a hold of the third bolt element is released by the gripping element. This represents a simple implementation of the locking device.

[0022] In some specific examples of the specific illustrative embodiments described above, the coupling element can be a tensile force-absorbing element that extends between the gripping element and the second clamp gripping element and transmits a tensile force between the gripping element and the second clamp gripping element only upon release of a fastening between the gripping element and the third bolt element. In this way, using the coupling element simply ensures that a tensile force is transmitted between the gripping element and the second clamp gripping element only upon release of a fastening between the gripping element and the third bolt element, so that actuation of the locking device also simultaneously actuates the additional hinge locking element.On the other hand, the fact that the coupling element only transmits a force along one direction, in particular a tensile force, ensures that a force transfer for actuating the additional hinge locking element is only carried out when actuated along one direction, in particular a tensile direction on the coupling element. This provides an advantageous coupling between the locking device and the additional hinge locking element in the actuating device.

[0023] In some further specific embodiments herein, the gripping element can be manually actuated by a hand lever to release a retaining device between the third bolt element and the gripping element, as well as between the second clamp gripping element and the second bolt element. A hand lever represents an advantageous implementation of the actuating device for the gripping element.

[0024] In some specific illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the hinge assembly may comprise a first hinge band attached to the first side wall and a second hinge band pivotally connected to one of the two elements, such as the second side wall, such that it can be tilted about the tilt axis. This represents a simple and advantageous implementation of the hinge assembly.

[0025] In some specific illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the first side wall can be a discharge flap of a single-side tipping bridge, a two-side tipping bridge, or a three-side tipping bridge. Thus, the advantages of the present invention can be advantageously applied to corresponding designs of tipping bridges.

[0026] In some specific illustrative embodiments of the present invention, one of the two elements can be a second side wall connected to the first side wall or a first post, and the other of the two elements can be a third side wall connected to the first side wall or a second post. These are advantageous examples of how the first side wall can be mounted pivotably and tiltably.

[0027] Further advantages and illustrative embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the figures together with the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates in a cross-sectional view a vehicle body according to some illustrative embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 2 schematically shows in a perspective view a hinge locking element according to some illustrative embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 3 schematically shows in a perspective view the hinge locking element of Fig. 2 in an open or unlocked state; Fig. 4 schematically shows in a perspective view a locking device according to illustrative embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 5 schematically shows in a perspective view another hinge locking element in an open state; Fig. 6 Details of the hinge locking device from Fig. 5 according to some illustrative embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 7 schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, a hinge joint assembly according to some illustrative embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 8 illustrates the hinge locking element on a side of a first side wall after a pivoting movement according to some illustrative embodiments of the invention; Fig. 9 schematically shows a side wall in an open state in a perspective view; Fig. 10 shows a vehicle body with the tailgate open after a pivoting movement according to some illustrative embodiments of the invention; and Fig. 11 schematically illustrates a hinge latch element according to some embodiments of the invention.

[0028] With reference to Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a body for a commercial vehicle 1, for example a tipper. The illustrated body represents a tipping bridge 10 for the commercial vehicle 1, which is pivotably mounted on a chassis 14 of the commercial vehicle 1 about an axis 24, so that the tipping bridge 10 can be tilted relative to the chassis 14, as shown in Fig. 1 is indicated by arrows A and A1. For this purpose, a hydraulic and / or pneumatic mechanism (not shown) can be provided in the vehicle frame 14, which causes the tipping body 10 to tilt. The commercial vehicle 1 further comprises a driver's cab 12 arranged at a front end of the chassis 14. Furthermore, the commercial vehicle 1 has wheels 18, so that the commercial vehicle 1 can be moved on a mobile surface 20.

[0029] The tipping bridge 10 is formed by a trough 34, wherein the trough 34 comprises a floor element 22 which is oriented substantially parallel to the mobile surface 20 when the tipping bridge 34 is not tilted, and at least three side walls, comprising a side wall 28 shown with a side wall 32 oriented perpendicular thereto and a side wall 34 arranged in Fig. 1, which is not shown and is arranged parallel to the side wall 28. The side wall 32 is arranged on a rear side 22b of the tub 34. Furthermore, a side wall 26 can be arranged on a front side 22a of the tub 34, so that a loading area defined by the floor element 2 is separated from the driver's cab 12 by the side wall 26. With regard to the illustration in Fig. 1 is thus the side wall 32 on the side wall 28 and the parallel and in Fig. 1, not shown, such that the side wall 32 is mounted tiltably about a tilting axis K horizontal with respect to the floor element 22. For this purpose, the side wall 32 is detachably connected to the side wall 28 by a locking device 50 at an upper portion of the side wall 32 and at a lower portion thereof by a hinge locking element 40a on the same side of the side wall 32. An actuating device is in Fig. 1 not shown for clarity.

[0030] Although Fig. 1 depicts a body of a commercial vehicle 1, this does not represent a limitation for the invention and instead of the depicted commercial vehicle, the tipping bridge 34 may depict a body of a trailer (not depicted) that can be detachably coupled to a commercial vehicle. Fig. In addition to the open box construction shown in Figure 1, a closed box construction can also be realized. Regardless of the open or closed box construction, the body shown can also be a swap body or swap body.

[0031] In Fig. 1, an illustrative embodiment of the tipping bridge 10 is shown as an example of a structure for the commercial vehicle 1, comprising a loading area with the floor element 22 and at least three side walls 28, 32 arranged on the side edges of the floor element 22 and projecting beyond it (the third of these side walls is in Fig. 1 is not shown, as this is in the view of Fig. 1 behind the side wall 28 and extends substantially parallel thereto), a locking mechanism and an actuating device which is designed to actuate the locking mechanism. The side wall 32 is in this case in a tilting movement about the horizontal tilting axis K oriented parallel to the ground and relative to one of two opposite sides connected side walls (including the one in Fig. 1) is designed to be tiltable. In addition, the side wall 32 is also designed to pivot about a pivot axis vertical thereto adjacent to the Fig. 1 not shown (as it is in the view of Fig. 1 behind the side wall 28 and extends substantially parallel thereto). In addition, the locking mechanism comprises a hinge locking element, a hinge joint arrangement 60 and the locking device 50. Furthermore, the actuating device is designed to unlock the locking device 50 in a first mode to enable the pivoting movement while maintaining the connection of the hinge joint arrangement 60 and the hinge locking element, and to release the connection of the hinge locking element in a second mode to enable the tilting movement while maintaining the connection of the locking device 50 and the hinge joint arrangement 60.

[0032] With reference to Fig. 2 schematically shows the hinge locking element 40a according to various illustrative embodiments of the invention in greater detail in a perspective view. The hinge locking element 40a comprises, as shown, a vertically oriented bolt element 42a, which in the illustrated locking state is oriented substantially perpendicular (or vertical) to the base element 22. The bolt element 42a is fastened to the side wall 32 by means of a rod 45a oriented horizontally thereto. In the Fig. In the closed or locked state shown in Figure 2, the bolt element 42a is positively received in a recess 43a formed in a band element 41a. The bolt element 42a is held in the recess 43a by a clamp gripping element 44a, which, as shown in Fig. 2 is attached to the side wall 28. However, this does not represent a limitation of the present invention and the clamp gripping element 44a can instead be attached to the base element 22. In any case, the clamp gripping element 44a is attached to the side wall 28 (see illustration in Fig. 2) or the floor (not shown) so that an engagement between the bolt element 42a and the clamp gripping element 44a can be released by an unlocking movement of the clamp gripping element 44a.

[0033] With reference to Fig. 3, in which an open state of the hinge locking element 40a is shown, and Fig. 2, the clamp gripping element 44a has a recess 47a which engages around the bolt element 42a at its upper end on an upper end face of the bolt element 42a and a portion of a lateral surface of the bolt element 42a on the end face of the bolt element 42a or hooks therewith. In some illustrative examples, such as in the open state of Fig. 3, the clamp gripping element 44a can be configured such that the recess 47a positively receives the bolt element 42a at its upper portion in a manner that at least partially azimuthally encompasses the bolt element 42a. This means that the recess at least partially azimuthally holds the bolt element 42a in a positive manner, preventing pivoting movement of the bolt element 42a out of the recess 43a of the hinge locking element 40a, but allowing rotation of the bolt element 42a within the recess 43a.

[0034] With reference to Fig. 11, a clamp gripping element 44c is shown according to alternative embodiments, wherein the clamp gripping element 44c is used instead of the clamp gripping element 44a in Fig. 3. The clamp gripping element 44c is as shown in Fig. 11 in a form which allows the clamp gripping element 44c to hook with a bolt element (in Fig. 11 not shown) so that an upper portion of the bolt element (in Fig. 11 not shown) is held only along a direction corresponding to an extension direction of the clamp gripping element 44c.

[0035] With regard to the terms "vertical" and "horizontal" as used in this description, these terms are to be understood as being defined with reference to the floor element 22 of the tilting bridge 10. "Horizontal" means that a surface element is oriented and arranged parallel to the floor element 22, while "vertical" means that a surface element is not oriented parallel. For example, a vertical element can be arranged such that a surface normal of a surface element of the vertical element is not oriented parallel to a surface normal of a surface element of the floor element 22. A surface element is understood here to be a hypothetical surface piece that is tangential to a surface piece of the element.

[0036] In the illustrative embodiments presented herein, the clamp gripping element 44a can be actuated by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 48a applying hydraulic or pneumatic pressure via a suitable supply line 49a to release the engagement between the clamp gripping element 44a and the bolt element 42a. For actuation, the cylinder 48a has an elongated hole to release pivoting of the clamp gripping element 44a. However, this does not represent a limitation of the present invention, and instead of the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 48a with the supply line 49a as the actuating means of the actuating device, a mechanical linkage can be provided as the actuating means, which can be actuated, for example, by a hand lever (not shown), to release an engagement between the clamp gripping element 44a and the bolt element 42a.For this purpose, for example, the clamp gripping element 44a is hinged to the side wall 28 by a bolt 46a, so that the clamp gripping element 44a can pivot about an axis defined by the bolt 46a. A spring (not shown) can apply a preload to the clamp gripping element 44a, causing the clamp gripping element 44a to pivot about the axis defined by the bolt 46a, so that the action of the cylinder 48a is counteracted by applying pressure through the supply line 49a.

[0037] According to the presentation in Fig. 2, a hinge locking element 40b is formed on the lower section of the side wall 32 opposite the hinge locking element 40a. The hinge locking element 40b is described below with reference to the Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 described in more detail.

[0038] With reference to some illustrative embodiments, not shown in the figures, the supply 49a can be connected to a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure reservoir (not shown) which is designed to actuate the cylinder 48a and, under the control of a control signal, selectively apply a pressure to the cylinder 48a via the supply 49a. For this purpose, an electrical and / or electronic control (not shown) can also be provided, which can be installed, for example, in the driver's cab 12 of the commercial vehicle 1 in Fig. 1 and / or on the tipping bridge 34 in order to be actuated by an operator in the vehicle cab 12 and / or on the tipping bridge 34. This enables very simple operation, according to which actuation of the hinge locking element 40a can be triggered by issuing a control signal from the driver's cab 12 and / or on the tipping bridge 10. For example, it is not necessary for a driver to leave the driver's cab 12 to actuate the hinge locking element 40a. In this case, no further manual steps are required; in particular, no removal of part of the hinge locking element 40a and / or re-insertion and / or re-bolting of the hinge locking element 40a is required. The risk of incorrect operation can be reduced in this way.

[0039] In the presentation of Fig. 3, the hinge locking element 40a is shown in a state in which an engagement between the bolt element 42a in Fig. 2 and the clamp gripping element 44a in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is released. For this purpose, for example, a pressure signal can be applied to the cylinder 48a by means of the supply 49a in order to cause the clamp gripping element 44a to be raised by the cylinder 48a and an engagement between the bolt element 42a in Fig. 2 and the clamp gripping element 44a is released. In the Fig. In the released state shown in Figure 3, the bolt element 42a is no longer held in the recess 43a by the clamp gripping element 44a and the bolt element 42a can be pivoted out of the recess 43a in a tilting movement. As further shown in Fig. 3, the floor element 22 is tilted relative to the chassis, so that the side wall 32 forms an angle greater than 0 relative to a normal of the floor 22, which angle depends on the degree of tilting of the floor element 22.

[0040] With reference to Fig. 4 shows the locking device 50 in greater detail according to some exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention. The locking device 50 has a bolt element 52 protruding from the side wall 32 along the tilting axis K, which engages with a gripping element 54 attached to the side wall 28. The gripping element 54 is designed such that it rotatably supports the bolt element 52. This allows the side wall 32 to be tilted about the tilting axis K by the bolt element 52.

[0041] In the presentation of Fig. 4, the locking device 50 is shown in a state in which the hinge locking elements 40a and 40b are released, in particular the hinge locking element 40a is in a state as shown in Fig. 3 and is described above in this regard. Due to the tilting of the tipping body relative to the chassis, the floor element 22 (see illustration in Fig. 3) tilted relative to the chassis, so that an angle between a surface normal of the floor element 22 and the side wall 32 is greater than 0. In particular, an angle between the surface normal to the floor element 22 and a surface normal of the side wall 32 is different from 90°. By retaining the bolt element 52 in the gripping element 54, the side wall 32 is locked by the locking device 50; in particular, the upper section of the side wall 32 is locked only at the bolt element 52 by the gripping element in the locking device 50.

[0042] With further reference to Fig. 4, the gripping element 54 may further comprise a hand lever 56 which, when actuated, causes the gripping element 54 to pivot such that the gripping element 54 releases the engagement with the bolt element 52 and releases the bolt element 52 from being locked by the gripping element 54. As further shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, a coupling element 58 in the form of a chain is formed on the hand lever 56, which is connected to the clamp gripping element 44a of the hinge locking element 40a. The chain 58 represents a specific, but non-limiting, example of a coupling element that only absorbs tensile force. Instead of the chain 58, a rope, tension band, or the like can also be provided. It is preferred here that the coupling element absorbs a force only in one direction, while no force is absorbed in the opposite direction.As a result, a one-sided force transmission can take place between the hinge locking element 40a and the locking device 50, so that preferably when the hinge locking element 40a is actuated, no force is transmitted to the locking device, while on the other hand when the locking device is actuated, for example by actuating the hand lever 56 of the locking device 50, a force is transmitted to the hinge locking element 40a in such a way that the clamp gripping element 44a releases an engagement with the bolt element 42a of the hinge locking element 40a.

[0043] However, the use of a coupling element which is merely a tensile force absorbing element does not represent a limitation of the present invention and instead a rod assembly can also be provided as a coupling element between the locking device 50 and the hinge locking element 40a, in which case, however, a corresponding mechanical lock must then ensure that the rod assembly only allows a force transmission upon actuation of the locking device to the hinge locking element 40a, while a force transmission from the hinge locking element 40a to the locking device 50 is prevented upon actuation of the hinge locking element 40a.

[0044] According to some exemplary embodiments and as described in Fig. 4, the hand lever 56 can be provided with an actuation safety device SE, which only permits actuation of the hand lever 56 when the actuation safety device SE is in an unlocked state in which actuation of the hand lever 56 is permitted. Otherwise, the actuation safety device SE is in a locked state in which the actuation safety device SE blocks actuation of the hand lever. This can prevent unintentional opening of the locking device 50. In some specific illustrative examples, the actuation safety device SE can be operated by an operator on the side of the hand lever 56, so that the actuation safety device SE can be unlocked. According to the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 4, the actuation safety device SE can comprise a locking hook RH, which is attached to a handle of the hand lever 56 and is hooked to a locking element R of the actuation safety device in the closed state. This hooking can be released by the operator of the actuation safety device by releasing the locking hook RH and the locking element R from the hooking. However, this does not represent a limitation and instead of the Fig. 4, any other type of detachable connection between the hand lever 56 and the side wall 28 can be implemented, such as a detachable pin or bolt connection between the hand lever 56 and the side wall 28, which can detachably fix a position of the hand lever 56 relative to the side wall 28 in the closed state of the locking device 50. Additionally or alternatively, the actuation safety device SE can be operated by an operator in the driver's cab 12 of the commercial vehicle 1 in Fig. 1 and / or on the chassis 14 at a location remote from a corner between the side wall 28 and the side wall 32, so that the actuation safety device SE can be unlocked remotely from the hand lever 56. The actuation safety device SE can further be configured to cause a locking of the hinge locking element 40b and / or an unlocking of the hinge locking element 40a simultaneously with an unlocking of the hand lever 56.

[0045] As continued in Fig. 4, an (optional) safety latch R1 may also be provided on the side wall 32, the function of which is explained below with reference to Fig. 9 is described.

[0046] With reference to Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the hinge locking element 40b. In particular, with regard to the illustration in Fig. 5, the hinge locking element 40b is shown in a state in which an engagement between a clamp gripping element 44b of the hinge locking element 40b and a bolt element 42b is released. Here, the hinge locking element 40b can be designed in correspondence with the hinge locking element 40a, as in Fig. 5. Reference is made to the preceding description of the hinge locking element 40a, which is to be read accordingly for the hinge locking element 40b, wherein the disclosure with respect to the hinge locking element 40a is to be applied to the hinge locking element 40b by reference at this point. Thus, the hinge locking element 40b can be used instead of the clamp gripping element 44b according to the Fig. 11 shown clamp gripping element 44c. Furthermore, the hinge locking element 40b in the illustration of Fig. 5 in a state in which an engagement between the bolt element 42b in Fig. 2 and the clamp gripping element 44b is released, wherein in addition the hinge locking element 40a is also released as shown in Fig. 3 with the associated description above. For this purpose, pressure can be applied to a cylinder 48b (as actuating means), for example, by means of a supply 49b, to cause the clamp gripping element 44b to be raised by the cylinder 48b and an engagement between the bolt element 42b and the clamp gripping element 44b to be released. For this purpose, the cylinder 48b has an elongated hole for actuation to release pivoting of the clamp gripping element 44a. As further shown in Fig. 5, the floor element 22 is tilted relative to the chassis, so that the side wall 32 assumes an angle greater than 0 relative to a normal of the floor element 22, which angle depends on the degree of tilt of the floor element 22. The feed 49b can also be connected to the pressure reservoir (not shown) described above, so that the hinge locking element 40b is selectively opened or closed by applying pressure to the cylinder 48b under a selective control. For this purpose, as described above, an electrical and / or electronic control (not shown) can also be provided, which can be installed, for example, in the driver's cab 12 of the commercial vehicle 1 in Fig. 1 and / or on the tipping bridge 34 to be actuated by an operator in the vehicle cab 12 and / or on the tipping bridge 34. This enables very simple operation, accordingly, actuation of the hinge locking element 40b (together with actuation of the hinge locking element 40a) can be triggered by outputting a control signal from the driver's cab 12 and / or on the tipping bridge 10. Furthermore, by appropriately controlling the actuating device, only pressure can be applied to the cylinder 48a, while the hinge locking element 40b is not actuated. Thus, only the hinge locking element 40a can be selectively opened, while the hinge locking element 40b remains in the locked state.In an illustrative example, the locking device 50 can also be opened by a hydraulic mechanism (not shown in the figures), so that a purely hydraulic opening for pivoting is then achieved. This can be triggered, for example, by means of a suitable control of the actuating device from the driver's cab 12. Alternatively or additionally, the locking device 50 can be released by actuating the hand lever 56, so that the hand lever 56 provides the option of opening the side wall 32 in a pivoting movement at the rear of the tipping body 10. In the case of . Fig. 5, both hinge locking elements 40a and 40b are open, so that the side wall 32 can execute a tilting movement about the tilting axis K. For example, for the selective control of the hinge locking elements 40a, 40b, it is not necessary for a driver to leave the driver's cab 12 in order to actuate the hinge locking element 40a. In this case, no further manual intervention is required; in particular, no removal of a part of the hinge locking element 40a and / or the hinge locking element 40b and / or re-plugging and / or re-bolting of at least one of the hinge locking elements 40a, 40b is required. The risk of incorrect operation can be reduced in this way. Although hydraulic and / or pneumatic actuation is described here, this does not constitute a limitation, and instead, purely mechanical actuation by means of rods and / or lever arrangements as purely mechanical actuation means can be provided.

[0047] With regard to Fig. 6, the hinge locking element 40b is shown in greater detail. In particular, the illustration in Fig. 6 shows that a spring F is provided which prestresses the clamp gripping element 44b such that the clamp gripping element 44b is prestressed into a state in which the clamp gripping element 44b engages the bolt element 42b without the action of the cylinder 48b. In other words, the cylinder 48b is used to move the clamp gripping element 44b against the prestress of the clamp gripping element 44b by the spring F while performing mechanical work in order to release an engagement between the clamp gripping element 44b and the bolt element 42b.For this purpose, for example, the clamp gripping element 44b is articulated to a side wall 30 by a bolt 46b, so that the clamp gripping element 44b can pivot about an axis defined by the bolt 46b, and a preload is applied to the clamp gripping element 44b by the spring F, which causes the clamp gripping element 44b to pivot about the axis defined by the bolt 46b, which counteracts the action of the cylinder 48b upon application of a pressure signal through the supply line 49b. A corresponding preload can also be provided in an analogous manner on the hinge locking element 40a. Although in . Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 no spring is shown, a spring corresponding to spring F may be provided for biasing the hinge locking element 40a into its closed state.

[0048] With reference to Fig. 7 shows an upper section of the side wall 32 in a state in which the side wall 32 is pivoted about a pivot axis S. The pivot axis S is oriented perpendicular to the tilt axis K, which in other words means that a straight line parallel to the pivot axis and intersecting the tilt axis K is oriented substantially perpendicular to the tilt axis K.

[0049] According to the presentation in Fig. 7 shows a hinge joint arrangement 60 by means of which the side wall 32 is pivotally connected to the side wall 30 about the axis S and tiltably about the axis K. For this purpose, the hinge joint arrangement 60 has a hinge pin 62, to which a hinge band 64a is rotatably connected, which is fixed to the side wall 32, and a hinge band 64b which is rotatably connected to the hinge pin 62, wherein the hinge band 64b is attached to the side wall 30 by a pin 66 such that the hinge band 64b is rotatably mounted about the pin 66. The pin 66 thereby defines, in particular, the tilt axis K; in particular, the pin 66 extends along the tilt axis K.

[0050] With reference to Fig. 8, the hinge locking element 40b is shown in a state in which the hinge locking element 40b is locked, and the hinge locking element 40b is in the locking state. With regard to the hinge locking element 40a, this is in an open state (in a state corresponding to the open state as shown in Fig. 3. Furthermore, the locking device 50 is in an unlocked state, in particular, an engagement between the bolt element 52 of the locking device 50 and the gripping element 54 is released. Thus, the side wall 32 is pivotable about the pivot axis S and is located in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 in a swung-open state. With regard to Fig. 8, in this state, loading of the loading area can be carried out by means of the floor element 22, and, for example, a ramp R is attached to the floor element 22. This allows the tipping bridge to be loaded without any restriction on the dimensions of the goods to be loaded due to a conflict with the tipping axis K.

[0051] With reference to Fig. 9, the side wall 32 is shown in the open state, with the locking element R1 inserted into a locking mechanism R2 provided on the side wall 30. The locking mechanism R1, R2 thus ensures that the open side wall 32 is locked, so that the tipping body can be loaded without the risk of the side wall 32 accidentally swinging back. Furthermore, a lashing recess AE is provided on the side wall 30, according to illustrative examples.

[0052] In a specific illustrative example, the safety latch R1 may be a hooking pin fixed to the side wall 32 and configured to engage with a safety notch that implements the locking R2.

[0053] With reference to Fig. Figure 10 shows the tipping body in a view in which the side wall 32 is opened by pivoting about the pivot axis S and, for example, one (of two) loading ramps R is attached to the tipping body. Thus, with the side wall 30 pivoted out, a self-propelled vehicle, such as a small excavator, can drive onto the tipping body. The loading ramps can be stowed in a suitable receptacle in the chassis below the floor of the tipping body.

[0054] The above description describes illustrative embodiments in which the hinge locking element 40a and the hinge locking element 40b are provided. This does not represent a limitation of the invention, and instead, only the hinge locking element 40b may be provided, wherein the hinge locking element 40a (with associated actuating means) may be omitted. In this case, the locking device 50 can only be unlocked when the hinge locking element 40b is in a locked state. On the other hand, the hinge locking element 40b can only be unlocked from the locked state to an open state when the locking device 50 is locked.Accordingly, in this case, the actuating device is designed to unlock the locking device 50 in one mode only when the hinge locking element 40b is in a locked state, and to unlock the hinge locking element 40b from the locked state to an open state in another mode only when the locking device 50 is locked.

[0055] In the above-mentioned Fig.In the embodiments described in Figures 1 to 10, the side wall 32 is described as being directly adjacent to the side walls 28 and 30, which are arranged on opposite sides of the side wall 32. This does not represent a limitation of the present invention, and a post (not shown) can be provided between the side wall 32 and at least one of the side walls 28 and 30, to which the side wall is connected in a tiltable and / or pivotable and tiltable manner. For example, a post can be provided between the side wall 32 and the side wall 28, wherein the locking device 50 and the hinge locking element 40a are provided on this post, so that the side wall 32 is designed to be detachable with this post and tiltable about the tilt axis K.Additionally or alternatively, a further post may be provided between the side wall 32 and the side wall 30, so that the side wall 32 can be pivoted about the pivot axis S and tilted about the tilt axis K relative to this further post (not shown). For this purpose, the hinge joint arrangement 60 and the hinge locking element 40b can be provided accordingly on this further post.

[0056] Although illustrative embodiments are described with reference to the figures with respect to a single-side tipper, this does not constitute a limitation of the invention, and instead of a single-side tipper, the invention is equally applicable in an analogous manner to a two-side tipper and a three-side tipper. For example, in the case of a two-side tipper, each side wall corresponding to the side walls 28 and 30 in the figures would be connected to the adjacent side walls corresponding to the above-described side wall 32. In specific examples herein, the side wall 28 would be pivotally and tiltably connected to the side walls 26 and 32 by means of the above-described locking device 50, the above-described hinge joint arrangement 60, and at least one of the above-described hinge locking elements 40a, 40b (in particular, at least the hinge locking element on the same side as the hinge joint arrangement).Accordingly, the side wall 30 would be pivotably and tiltably connected to the side walls 26 and 32 by means of the above-described locking device 50, the above-described hinge joint arrangement 60, and at least one of the above-described hinge locking elements 40a, 40b (in particular, at least the hinge locking element on the same side as the hinge joint arrangement). In the case of a three-way tipper, at least one post can be provided between two adjacent side walls. This post can then be provided with either a hinge locking element and a locking device or a hinge locking element and a hinge joint arrangement as described above. In this way, a structure can be provided in which each side wall of the tipping body can be designed to be both pivotable and tiltable in a direction in which the tipping body can be tilted.It is also possible, regardless of the design as a one-way to three-way tipper, to provide at least one side wall as a pivoting and tilting side wall.

[0057] In summary, the invention provides a vehicle body (for example according to a tipping bridge 10 as shown in the figures) comprising a loading area with a floor, a first side wall (for example corresponding to the side wall 32 in the figure) arranged on a side edge of the floor (for example as a floor element corresponding to the floor element 22 in the figure) and projecting beyond it, and two elements, for example a second and third side wall (for example corresponding to the side walls 28 and 30 in the figure as a first element and a second element) or vertical posts arranged on either side of the side wall, between which the first side wall is arranged, a locking mechanism and an actuating device designed to actuate the locking mechanism.The first side wall is designed to be tiltable in a tilting movement about a horizontal tilting axis oriented parallel to the ground (for example, corresponding to an axis K in the illustration of the figures). Furthermore, this side wall is designed to be pivotable in a pivoting movement about a pivot axis vertical thereto (for example, corresponding to the axis S in the illustration of the figures). The locking mechanism comprises a hinge locking element (for example, corresponding to the hinge locking element 40a in the illustration of the figures), a hinge joint arrangement (for example, corresponding to the hinge joint arrangement 60 in the illustration of the figures), and a locking device.Furthermore, the actuating device is designed to unlock the locking device in a first mode to enable the pivoting movement while maintaining the connection between the hinge joint arrangement and the hinge locking element, and to release the connection of the hinge locking element in a second mode to enable the tilting movement while maintaining the connection between the locking device and the hinge joint arrangement. The hinge locking element has a first bolt element (for example, corresponding to bolt element 42a in the illustration of the figures), which is oriented substantially parallel to the pivot axis, and a first clamp gripping element (for example, corresponding to clamp gripping element 44a in the illustration of the figures), which is designed to hold the first bolt element. Furthermore, the first clamp gripping element is designed such that it can be lifted vertically from the first bolt element.

[0058] In illustrative embodiments herein, the structure may further comprise an additional hinge locking element (for example corresponding to the hinge locking element 40b in the illustration of the figures) for releasably connecting the first side wall to another of the two elements or the floor element at a second lower lateral section of the first side wall opposite the first lower lateral section, wherein the actuating device is designed to release the connection between the first side wall and the other of the two elements or the floor element in the first mode and in the second mode.For example, the additional hinge locking element can have a second bolt element (for example corresponding to the bolt element 42b in the illustration of the figures) which is oriented substantially parallel to the pivot axis, and a second clamp gripping element (for example corresponding to the clamp gripping element 44b in the illustration of the figures) which is designed to hold the second bolt element.Alternatively or additionally, the locking device can have a third bolt element (for example corresponding to the bolt element 52 in the illustration in the figures) projecting from the first side wall substantially along the tilting axis, and a gripping element on the other of the two elements which is designed to hold the third bolt element, so that the locking device allows the tilting movement about the tilting axis when the gripping element holds the third bolt element, wherein the actuating device can comprise a coupling element (for example corresponding to the chain 58 in the illustration in the figures) which is arranged between the gripping element and the second clamp gripping element, and the coupling element is designed to release a holder between the second clamp gripping element and the second bolt element when a holder of the third bolt element is released by the gripping element.

[0059] In illustrative embodiments herein, the hinge assembly may comprise a first hinge band (e.g., corresponding to hinge band 64a in the illustration of the figures) which is fastened to the first side wall, and a second hinge band (e.g., corresponding to hinge band 64b in the illustration of the figures) which is pivotally connected to one of the two elements about the tilt axis.

Claims

[1] Body (10) for a commercial vehicle (1), comprising: a loading area with a floor element (22), a first side wall (32) which is arranged on a side edge of the floor element (22) and projects beyond it, and first and second elements (28, 30) which are arranged on or on the side edge of the floor element (22) each on one of two opposite sides of the first side wall (32) and project beyond it; a locking mechanism; and an actuating device designed to actuate the locking mechanism, wherein the first side wall (32) is designed to be pivotable between the two elements (28, 30) in a tilting movement about a horizontal tilting axis (K) oriented parallel to the ground and in a pivoting movement about a pivoting axis (S) vertical thereto, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a hinge locking element (40a) for connecting the first side wall (32) to a first lower lateral section of the first side wall (32) in a manner which is releasable with one of the two elements (28, 30) or the floor element (22) and pivotable relative to one of the two elements (28, 30) about the vertical pivot axis (S), a hinge joint arrangement (60) for connecting the first side wall (32) to one of the two elements (28, 30) or the floor element (22) at a first upper lateral section of the first side wall (32) opposite the hinge locking element (40a), wherein the hinge joint arrangement (60) is designed both for tilting movement about the tilting axis (K) and for pivoting movement about the pivoting axis (S), and a locking device (50) for connecting the first side wall (32) to a second element (28) of the two elements (28, 30) in a manner which can be released and tilted about the horizontal tilting axis (K) during the tilting movement, at a second upper lateral section of the first side wall (32) opposite the first upper lateral section, wherein the actuating device is designed to: in a first mode to enable the pivoting movement, to unlock the locking device (50) while maintaining the connection of the hinge joint arrangement (60) and the hinge locking element (40a), and in a second mode to enable the tilting movement, to release the connection of the hinge locking element (40a) while maintaining the connection of the locking device (50) and the hinge joint arrangement (60), wherein the hinge locking element (40a) has a first bolt element (42a) which is oriented substantially parallel to the pivot axis (S), and a first clamp gripping element (44a) which is designed to hold the first bolt element (42a), characterized by , the first clamp gripping element (44a) is designed such that it can be lifted vertically from the first bolt element (42a). [2] Structure (10) according to claim 1, further comprising an additional hinge latch element (40b) for releasably connecting the first side wall (32) to another of the two elements (28, 30) or the floor element (22) at a second lower lateral portion of the first side wall (32) opposite the first lower lateral portion, wherein the actuating device is designed to release the connection between the first side wall (32) and the other of the two elements (28, 30) or the floor element (22) in the first mode and in the second mode. [3] The assembly (10) of claim 2, wherein the additional hinge locking element (40b) comprises a second bolt element (42b) oriented substantially parallel to the pivot axis (S) and a second clamp gripping element (44b) configured to retain the second bolt element (42b). [4] The assembly (10) of claim 3, wherein the second clamp gripping element (44b) is configured to be vertically liftable from the second bolt element (42b). [5] Structure (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the locking device (50) has a third bolt element (52) projecting from the first side wall (32) substantially along the tilting axis (K), and on the other of the two elements (28, 30) has a gripping element (54) which is designed to hold the third bolt element (52), so that the locking device (50) allows the tilting movement about the tilting axis (K) when the gripping element (54) holds the third bolt element (52), and wherein the actuating device comprises a coupling element (58) which is arranged between the gripping element (54) and the second clamp gripping element (44b), and the coupling element (58) is designed to release a hold between the second clamp gripping element (44b) and the second bolt element (42b) when a hold of the third bolt element (52) is released by the gripping element (54). [6] Structure (10) according to claim 5, wherein the coupling element (58) is a merely tensile force absorbing element which extends between the gripping element (54) and the second clamp gripping element (44b) and transmits a tensile force between the gripping element (54) and the second clamp gripping element (44b) only upon release of a retainer between the gripping element (54) and the third bolt element (52). [7] Assembly (10) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the gripping element (54) is manually operable by a hand lever (56) to release a retention between the third bolt element (52) and the gripping element (54), as well as between the second clamp gripping element (44b) and the second bolt element (42b). [8] Structure (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hinge joint arrangement (60) has a first hinge band (64a) which is fastened to the first side wall (32) and a second hinge band (64b) which is hinged to one of the two elements (28, 30) so as to be tiltable about the tilt axis (K). [9] Body (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first side wall (32) is a discharge hatch of a single-side tipping bridge or a two-side tipping bridge or a three-side tipping bridge. [10] Structure (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein one of the two elements (28, 30) is a second side wall (30) connected to the first side wall (32) or a first post, and wherein the other of the two elements (28, 30) is a third side wall (28) connected to the first side wall (32) or a second post.

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