Subframe for supporting a body part of a vehicle and vehicle with the subframe

Abstract

Subframe (A) for supporting a body part (2) of a vehicle (V), wherein the subframe (A) has two support beams (A1, A2) which are configured to be attached to longitudinal members (M1, M2) of a main frame (M) of a chassis (C), wherein each support beam (A1, A2) is configured to extend upwards from a longitudinal member (M1, M2) of the main frame (M), wherein each support beam (A1, A2) has a cross-sectional profile with a straight web section (10) and a hook-shaped end section (20), wherein the straight web section (10) is configured to be attached to a longitudinal member (M1, M2) of the main frame (M), and the hook-shaped end section (20) is configured to support the vehicle body part (2), wherein the hook-shaped end section (20) has a horizontal lower section (22) which extends extending laterally from the straight bridge area (10), characterized bythat the hook-shaped end region (20) further exhibits , - a horizontal, upper section (24), and - a curved section (26) located between the horizontal lower section (22) and the horizontal upper section (24), connecting the upper and lower sections (22, 24).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to an auxiliary frame for supporting a body part of a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a vehicle. background

[0002] Certain heavy vehicles, such as construction vehicles and mining dump trucks, require a subframe to support the dump body. The subframe is attached to the longitudinal members of the chassis's main frame, with the longitudinal members having a C-profile and mutually facing openings. The subframe is needed both to raise the chassis above the vehicle's wheels and to increase the chassis's bending strength and torsional rigidity.

[0003] One solution is to provide a subframe with two support beams that have rectangular profiles, e.g., beams with C-profiles that have been modified into rectangular profiles by welding on vertical plates to close the open side of the C-profile in order to increase strength and torsional stiffness. These beams with essentially rectangular profiles must then be attached to the longitudinal beams of the main frame by fasteners that are attached to the longitudinal beams by means of bolted connections and welded to the subframe support beams.

[0004] In the operation of, for example, a mining tipper vehicle, the vehicle may in certain situations be subject to twisting and tilting of the chassis during tipping when transporting a heavy load, which can lead to cracks in the support beams of the subframe.

[0005] The closest prior art is disclosed in DE 10 2014 225 753 A1, which is therefore the generic publication. Further prior art is disclosed in DE 20 2016 001 857 U1, DE 298 00 368 U1, EP 3 296 186 A1 and EP 0 827 896 B1. Object of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a robust and durable auxiliary frame for supporting a body part of a vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0007] One solution to the problem consists of an auxiliary frame for supporting a portion of a vehicle body panel, comprising the features of claim 1. The auxiliary frame has two support beams designed to be attached to longitudinal members of a main frame of a vehicle chassis. Each support beam has a cross-sectional profile with a straight web section and a hook-shaped end section. The straight web section is designed to be attached to a longitudinal member of the main frame, and the hook-shaped end section is designed to support the portion of the vehicle body. The hook-shaped end section comprises a horizontal lower section extending laterally from the straight web section, a horizontal upper section, and a curved intermediate section connecting the lower and upper sections.

[0008] This allows for a lighter and more robust subframe. By using a lighter subframe in this way, the weight of the vehicle chassis will have a lesser impact on the vehicle's load-bearing capacity, thus allowing for a larger load on the vehicle, such as a dump truck. The shape of each support beam, with its cross-sectional profile featuring a straight web and an opposing, hook-shaped end, eliminates the need for welding to attach the beam to the corresponding longitudinal member. The beam's shape facilitates attachment to the longitudinal member using bolted connections, which in turn minimizes the need for cross members.The shape of the corresponding support beam, which has a cross-sectional profile with a straight web area and an opposing, hook-shaped end area, achieves a resiliently flexible function. This shape facilitates the use of materials, such as steel, with a high yield strength. The hook-shaped end area of ​​the support beam allows for a more evenly distributed pressure between the portion of the vehicle body supported by the two beams and the chassis encompassing them, without the need for heavy rectangular-profile support beams.The shape of the respective support beam with the cross-sectional profile, which has a straight web area and an opposite, hook-shaped end area, facilitates a more favorable force distribution onto the associated longitudinal beam with a C-shaped profile by hitting the shear center of the associated C-shaped longitudinal beam.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the auxiliary frame, the straight web area is designed to be arranged vertically to form a lower part of the auxiliary frame.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the auxiliary frame, the hook-shaped end area is designed to extend laterally from the web area and form a horizontal support area.

[0011] According to the invention, the support beam is designed to extend upwards from a longitudinal beam of the main frame.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the subframe, the straight web section is designed to be attached to a web section of a longitudinal beam using screw connections. By using screw connections for attachment in this way, the need for chassis cross members is reduced to a minimum.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the subframe, the longitudinal beams have a C-shaped cross-sectional profile, with the longitudinal beams spaced apart and their respective C-shaped openings facing each other, and the openings of the hook-shaped end regions of each support beam facing each other. This results in a more favorable force distribution on the associated longitudinal beams, with the force essentially acting on the shear center of the respective C-shaped longitudinal beam. This provides wider support for the vehicle body section, as the distance between the hook-shaped regions of each support beam of the subframe is greater compared to the use of support beams with rectangular cross-sectional profiles.

[0014] Another solution to the problem, according to claim 6, consists of a vehicle that has the subframe. Brief description of the characters

[0015] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which the same reference numerals denote the same parts in the different views and in which: Fig. 1 schematically represents a side view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 2 schematically a top view of a vehicle made of Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing its chassis and wheel axles with vehicle wheels, Fig. 3a schematically represents a spatial view of part of a support beam of an auxiliary frame which, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is attached to a longitudinal member of a main frame of a vehicle, Fig. 3b schematically represents a spatial view of part of a support beam of an auxiliary frame which, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is attached to a longitudinal member of a main frame of a vehicle, Fig. 3c schematically represents a profile of a support beam of an auxiliary frame which, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is attached to a longitudinal member of a main frame of a vehicle, and Fig. 4 schematically a rear view of the vehicle from Fig. 1 represents. Detailed description

[0016] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of a vehicle V according to the present invention. The exemplary vehicle V is a commercial vehicle in the form of a truck. The exemplary vehicle V is a tipper truck. The vehicle V has a cab 1 and a tiltable, load-bearing body 2.

[0017] The vehicle according to the present disclosure could be any suitable vehicle that requires an auxiliary frame according to the present disclosure, such as a construction vehicle. The vehicle according to the present disclosure could be an autonomous vehicle.

[0018] Vehicle V has front wheels LF, of which the left front wheel LF is shown. Vehicle V has drive wheels LD, of which the left wheel LD is shown. Vehicle V has rear wheels LR, of which the left wheel LF is shown.

[0019] Vehicle V has a chassis C. The chassis C comprises a main frame M and a subframe A. The chassis C is designed to support the tiltable load-bearing body 2 by means of the subframe A. The subframe A is designed to support the tiltable load-bearing body 2.

[0020] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a top view of a vehicle V made of Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which shows its chassis and wheel axles with vehicle wheels.

[0021] Vehicle V has a front axle X1 with left and right front wheels LF and RF. The vehicle has a drive axle X2 with left and right drive wheels LD and RD. The vehicle has a rear axle X3 with left and right rear wheels LT and RT. According to one embodiment, the rear axle X3 is a trailing axle.

[0022] As with reference to Fig. As described in 1, the vehicle V has a chassis C with a main frame M and a subframe A.

[0023] The main frame M comprises a left longitudinal member M1 and a right longitudinal member M2. The left and right longitudinal members M1, M2 are arranged to run at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V.

[0024] The auxiliary frame A comprises a left support beam A1 and a right support beam A2. The left and right support beams A1 and A2 are designed to be attached to the longitudinal members M1 and M2 of the main frame M. The left support beam A1 is designed to be attached to an upper outer section of the left longitudinal member M1; see also Fig. 4. The right support beam A2 is designed to be attached to an upper, outer section of the right longitudinal beam M2, see also Fig. 4. The left and right support beams A1, A2 are arranged to run longitudinally along the left and right longitudinal members M1, M2 from a rear point of the vehicle and for a certain distance along the vehicle in order to provide support for a vehicle body part, e.g. a tiltable load-bearing body 2 as shown in Fig. 2 shown, to provide. The left and right support beams A1, A2 are thus arranged to run at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V.

[0025] The chassis C of vehicle V can comprise a set of cross members C1, C2, C3, C4, C5. Cross members are arranged at a suitable distance from one another between the longitudinal members M1, M2 of the main frame M and the support beams A1, A2 of the subframe. The solution according to the present invention allows the number of cross members of the subframe to be reduced.

[0026] A part of a beam M1 of the main frame M and a part of a support beam A1 of the subframe A attached to the beam M1 are described in more detail with reference to Fig. 3a to 3c described.

[0027] Fig. Figure 3a schematically shows a spatial view of part of a support beam A1 of an auxiliary frame which is attached to a longitudinal member M1 of a main frame of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3b schematically shows another spatial view of the part of the support beam A1 and the part of the longitudinal beam M1 to which the support beam is attached, and Fig. Figure 3c schematically shows a profile of the support beam A1 attached to the longitudinal beam M1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] The support beam A1 has a cross-sectional profile with a straight web area 10 and a hook-shaped end area 20. The straight web area 10 is designed to be attached to a longitudinal beam M1 of a main frame of the chassis of a vehicle.

[0029] The hook-shaped end section 20 is designed to function as described in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 4 shows how to support part of a vehicle body.

[0030] The longitudinal beam M1 has a C-shaped cross-sectional profile. The C-shaped longitudinal beam M1 has a substantially horizontal lower section 32, a substantially horizontal upper section 34, and an intermediate straight web section 36 connecting the lower section 32 and the upper section 34. The intermediate straight web section 36 has an outer surface 36a facing away from the direction of the horizontal lower section 32 and the horizontal upper section 34, and an opposite inner surface 36b. The C-shaped cross-sectional profile of the longitudinal beam M1 forms an opening O1 with the inner surface 36b forming the end of the opening O1.

[0031] According to this embodiment of the support beam A1, the straight web section 10 has a lower end section 12, which is configured to be attached to an upper section of the beam M1. The lower end section 12 of the straight web section 10 is configured to be attached to an upper section of the intermediate straight web section 36 of the horizontal beam M1. The inner side 10b of the straight web section 10 is arranged to face the outer side 36a of the intermediate web section 36 when the support beam A1 is attached to the longitudinal beam M1.

[0032] The straight bridge area 10 has an outside 10a and an opposite inside 10b.

[0033] According to this embodiment of the support beam A1, the hook-shaped end region 20 has a substantially horizontal lower section 22 extending laterally from the straight web region 10, a substantially horizontal upper section 24 and an intermediate curved section 26 connecting the lower section 22 and the upper section 24.

[0034] The essentially horizontal upper section 24 of the hook-shaped end region 20 has a top surface 24a on which a body part of the vehicle is to be supported.

[0035] The hook-shaped end region 20 of the support beam A1 forms an opening O2 that points in the same direction as the opening O1 of the C-shaped cross-sectional profile of the longitudinal beam M1 when the support beam A1 is as shown in Fig. 3a to 3c shown attached to the longitudinal beam M1.

[0036] As in Fig. 3a and Fig. As shown in 3c, the straight web section 10 of the support beam A1 is designed to be attached to the straight web section 36 of the longitudinal beam M1 by means of screw connection elements J according to this embodiment.

[0037] The shape of the supporting beam A1, which has a cross-sectional profile with a straight web area 10 and an opposing, hook-shaped end area 20, achieves a resiliently flexible function, see Fig. 3c.

[0038] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3c, the hook-shaped end region 20 will provide a resilient deformation when a force F is applied to it. Due to the shape of the supporting beam A1 with the cross-sectional profile that has the straight web region 10 and the opposite, hook-shaped end region 20, the deformation will be relatively small, and the substantially horizontal upper section 24 of the hook-shaped end region 20 will remain substantially horizontal, but slightly sagging, as indicated by the dotted line of the upper section 24'. The deformation of the substantially horizontal lower section 22 of the hook-shaped end region 20 is also shown with dotted lines as the lower section 22'.

[0039] Due to the shape of the supporting beam A1 with the cross-sectional profile having the straight web area 10 and the opposite, hook-shaped end area 20, and its attachment to the longitudinal beam M1 with the C-shaped profile, wherein the opening O2 of the hook-shaped end area 20 and the opening O1 of the C-shaped longitudinal beam are facing in the same direction, a more favorable force distribution is made possible, in which the force is essentially transferred to the shear center of the C-shaped longitudinal beam M1.

[0040] Accordingly, when the support beam A1 is attached to the longitudinal beam M1, the substantially horizontal lower section 22 of the hook-shaped end region 20 of the support beam A1 extends laterally from the straight web region 10 in a direction opposite to the direction of the substantially horizontal lower section 32 and the substantially horizontal lower section of the C-shaped longitudinal beam M1.

[0041] Fig. Figure 4 schematically shows a rear view of vehicle V. Fig. 1. The vehicle V comprises a vehicle body part 2 of a tiltable, load-bearing body 2. As with reference to Fig. As described in section 1, vehicle V has a chassis with a main frame M and a subframe A. The chassis is designed to support the tiltable, load-bearing body 2 by means of the subframe A. The subframe A is thus designed to support the tiltable, load-bearing body 2. In Fig. Figure 4 shows the X3 rear axle with the LT and RT rear wheels.

[0042] As with reference to Fig. As described in Figure 2, the main frame M has a left longitudinal member M1 and a right longitudinal member M2. The left and right longitudinal members M1, M2 are arranged to run at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V.

[0043] According to this embodiment, the longitudinal beams M1 and M2 have a C-shaped cross-sectional profile. The longitudinal beams M1 and M2 are arranged to run at a distance from one another, with their respective C-shaped openings facing each other. The C-shaped longitudinal beams M1 and M2 are thus arranged with their lower and upper, essentially horizontal sections oriented in the transverse direction of the vehicle V, and the essentially straight web section connecting the upper and lower, essentially horizontal sections runs in a direction essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the vehicle. The longitudinal beams M1 and M2 are supported by the wheel axles of the vehicle V.

[0044] The subframe A has a left support beam A1 and a right support beam A2. The left and right support beams A1 and A2 are designed to be attached to the longitudinal members M1 and M2 of the main frame M. The left support beam A1 is designed to be attached to an upper, outer section of the left longitudinal member M1. The right support beam A1 is designed to be attached to an upper, outer section of the right longitudinal member M2. The left and right support beams A1 and A2 are arranged to run along the left and right longitudinal members M1 and M2 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V.

[0045] The respective support beam A1, A2 has a cross-sectional profile with a straight web area 10 and a hook-shaped end area 20. The straight web area 10 of the left support beam A1 is attached to the left longitudinal beam M1 and the straight web area 10 of the right support beam A2 is attached to the right longitudinal beam of the main frame M of the chassis of a vehicle V.

[0046] The hook-shaped end region 20 of the respective support beam A1, A2 is designed to support the body part 2, e.g., a tiltable, load-bearing body 2. The left and right support beams A1, A2 are thus arranged to run at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V.

[0047] In this embodiment, the straight web section 10 of the respective support beam A1, A2 is arranged to be substantially vertically oriented in order to form a lower section of the auxiliary frame A. The straight web section 10 of the respective support beam A1, A2 therefore extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the vehicle V. A lower section of the straight web section 10 of the respective support beam A1, A2 is attached to the outside of an upper section of the straight web section of the associated C-shaped longitudinal beam M1, M2.

[0048] In this embodiment, the hook-shaped end region 20 of the respective support beam A1, A2 is designed to extend laterally from the web region 10 and to form a substantially horizontal support section.

[0049] In this embodiment, the respective support beam A1, A2 is configured to extend upwards from the associated longitudinal member M1, M2 of the main frame M. In this embodiment, the respective support beam A1, A2 is configured to extend upwards from the associated longitudinal member M1, M2 of the main frame M in such a way that the hook-shaped end section 20 is located above the level of the vehicle wheels, shown here with wheels LT, RT.

[0050] The opening of the hook-shaped end section 20 of the respective support beam A1, A2 faces each other.

Claims

[1] Auxiliary frame (A) for supporting a body part (2) of a vehicle (V), wherein the auxiliary frame (A) has two support beams (A1, A2) which are configured to be attached to longitudinal members (M1, M2) of a main frame (M) of a chassis (C), wherein each support beam (A1, A2) is configured to extend upwards from a longitudinal member (M1, M2) of the main frame (M), wherein each support beam (A1, A2) has a cross-sectional profile with a straight web section (10) and a hook-shaped end section (20), wherein the straight web section (10) is configured to be attached to a longitudinal member (M1, M2) of the main frame (M), and the hook-shaped end section (20) is configured to support the vehicle body part (2), wherein the hook-shaped end section (20) has a horizontal, lower section (22) exhibits, which extends laterally from the straight bridge area (10), characterized by, that the hook-shaped end region (20) further exhibits - a horizontal, upper section (24), and - a curved section (26) located between the horizontal lower section (22) and the horizontal upper section (24), connecting the upper and lower sections (22, 24). [2] Auxiliary frame according to claim 1, characterized by , that the straight web area (10) is designed to be arranged vertically to form a lower section of the auxiliary frame (A). [3] Auxiliary frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the hook-shaped end section (20) is designed to extend laterally from the web section and to form a horizontal support section. [4] Auxiliary frame according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the straight web area (10) is designed to be attached to a web section (36) of a longitudinal beam by means of screw connecting elements (J). [5] Auxiliary frame according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the respective support beam (A1, A2) is designed to be connected to longitudinal beams (M1, M2) which have a C-shaped cross-sectional profile and run at a distance from each other, wherein the respective C-opening (O1) faces each other, wherein the opening (O2) of the hook-shaped end region (20) of the respective support beam (A1, A2) faces each other. [6] Vehicle (V) with a subframe (A) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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