DYNAMIC PENCILM SUPPORT FOR TORSIONALLY RIGID BODYWORKS ON ROAD ROAD CHASSISES

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a subframe construction for mounting superstructures on so-called ladder frames.

[0002] Such subframe constructions are required for vehicles with torsionally rigid structures, such as tanks or containers, and especially for expedition vehicles. Expedition vehicles, which primarily operate on uneven terrain, face a multitude of requirements. These purpose-built vehicles are typically based on commercial vehicles with ladder frames and all-wheel drive. To ensure ground contact of all driving wheels with as equal a load as possible, torsionally flexible ladder frames are required.

[0003] In contrast to torsionally flexible vehicle frames, the frames of superstructures mounted on them, such as tanks, containers, or living cabins, are made of torsionally rigid profiles. To meet these complementary requirements, it is necessary to use a connection in the form of a suitable superstructure mount.

[0004] The state of the art in the construction of rough-road vehicles includes body mounts that must meet the requirements of high torsional freedom. Common mount types include spring mounts, three-point mounts, and four-point mounts (also known as diamond-shaped mounts or double three-point mounts). Publicly available information from the body guidelines, using the example of the Mercedes-Benz Zetros from Daimler AG, describes the current state of the art. Furthermore, the mount types are explained on the websites of well-known expedition vehicle manufacturers. Problems with existing mount systems with spring mounts include the use of fixed bearings in the rear axle area. The subframe and body thus follow the movement of the torsion-prone vehicle on difficult terrain and are therefore prone to tipping. In addition, a subframe construction is used that rests continuously on the vehicle's longitudinal members.This severely limits the torsional potential of the longitudinal members.

[0005] The principle of three- and four-point mounting thus represents a further development. However, it is necessary to mount the mounting points along the neutral axis of the vehicle's side members. Due to drivetrain or chassis components, mounting on the neutral axis is only partially feasible. With complex side member geometries, locating the neutral axis is even more difficult. If the mounting points are located above or below the neutral axis in the vehicle's z-axis, stresses are introduced into them, thus limiting the torsional freedom of the side members. Their full articulation potential cannot therefore be utilized. Stresses are introduced into the body, and tire contact with the ground decreases in difficult terrain.

[0006] Further prior art is known from the documents WO 86 / 00270 A1, WO 2011 / 056153 A1, FR 2 523 539 A1, and EP 1 231 129 A2.

[0007] Body mounts known from the state of the art do not meet the requirements of ensuring strong torsion of the chassis and at the same time protecting the body from forces.

[0008] The aim of the invention is therefore to find a suitable connection between a chassis designed for difficult terrain and a torsionally rigid structure such as a tank, container or a living cabin.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by the device claimed in claim 1, i.e. the use of a dynamic pendulum support bearing as a superstructure bearing.

[0010] Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0011] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Figure 1a chassis designed for mounting a body with a body support attached to it and described in more detail below, Figure 2a representation of the body support from Figure 1 alone, Figure 3 an exploded view of the Figure 2 shown superstructure bearing, Figure 4 a rocker of the Figures 2 and 3 shown superstructure bearing, and Figure 5 a pendulum support of the Figures 2 and 3 shown body storage.

[0012] The body mount presented here is a dynamic pendulum support mount formed by a subframe construction 3 and is suitable for use in converted series commercial vehicles. It enables a connection between a chassis designed for heavy-duty off-road use and a torsionally rigid body such as a tank, container, or a living cabin 1, as shown in Fig. 1 can be seen. For simplicity, the representation of the structure has been reduced to its supporting frame.

[0013] The dynamic pendulum support bearing, see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 , offers an optimization of conventional mounting concepts. The subframe construction (3), consisting of several components, only minimally restricts torsion of the longitudinal members of the ladder frame (2). Thus, the design allows for large differences in inclination of the respective vehicle axles, compared to, for example, completely supported subframes with spring mounts.

[0014] Furthermore, the large number of connection points enables a good distribution of the forces introduced by the cabin structure to the chassis.

[0015] The arrangement of the rockers (6) is as in Fig. 2visible. The upper bolt connection points are aligned. The rockers (6) connect the basic frame of the living cabin (1) with the individual components of the subframe (3).

[0016] Due to the structural design of the rockers (6), which are Fig. 4 As can be seen, and their choice of material, they can be easily twisted transversely to the direction of travel. Thus, they follow the movement of the longitudinal members when the ladder frame (2) twists. This allows the alignment of the bolt connections to be maintained and a horizontal alignment to the ground.

[0017] Due to the linearly arranged, pivot-mounted bolt connections of the rockers (6), lateral tipping of the body or living cabin must be prevented. This task is fulfilled by the pendulum supports (5). They thus largely take over the function of the longitudinally arranged, cylindrical bearings of the diamond-shaped bearing concept.

[0018] The advantage of the pendulum supports (5) is their constructive inclination, as in Fig. 5 can be seen. Due to the aforementioned possible twisting of the rockers (6), the longitudinal axis of the living cabin rotates with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. The pendulum supports (5) are able to accept an angular change and thus follow the movement of the living cabin along the x-axis of the vehicle. This is made possible by simply screwed plastic bearings that connect the lower area of ​​the pendulum supports (5) to the subframe (4) and allow rotational movements. The upper connection of the pendulum supports (5) to the body is realized by rubber bearing bushes, which compensate for axial, radial and gimbal movements.

[0019] The aforementioned plastic bearings of the pendulum supports (5) also serve as predetermined breaking points in the event of excessive stress and are easy to replace due to their design characteristics. This prevents extensive damage to the chassis or body.

[0020] The aforementioned design feature of the rockers (6) promotes axial movement of the living cabin in the vehicle's longitudinal direction during acceleration and braking. The hat profile (7) and the push rod (8) mounted on it thus ensure the stability of the living cabin and dampen any forces acting upon it.

Claims

1. Subframe construction (3) of a vehicle for mounting superstructures (1) on what are known as ladder frames (2), wherein the subframe construction has subframe components (4), and two hinged supports (5), characterized in that the subframe construction has a plurality of rockers (6), which are arranged in a vehicle longitudinal direction, with a top-hat-shaped profile (7) with a thrust rod (8), and wherein the hinged supports (5) are capable of adopting an angle change and have, for this purpose, easily screwed plastic bearings which connect a lower region of the hinged supports (5) to the subframe (4) and permit rotational movements.

2. Subframe construction (3) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the subframe components (4) connect the ladder frame (2) to the rockers (6) by way of screw connections on the outer web of the vehicle longitudinal members.

3. Subframe construction (3) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the subframe components (4) consist of a plurality of individual parts in order to ensure twisting movements of the ladder frame (2).

4. Subframe construction (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body-side bearings of the rockers (6) are designed by rubber bearing bushings, longitudinally with respect to the direction of travel, and in that the bearing connections arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle are aligned.

5. Subframe construction (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rockers (6), due to their construction, can be easily twisted transversely to the direction of travel and thus follow the movement of the ladder frame (2).

6. Subframe construction (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinged supports (5) are mounted laterally and parallel to one another by screwed-on plastic bearings on the outer side of a longitudinal member web, and in that the connecting points with respect to the body form a row along the transverse axis of the vehicle and are realized by rubber bearing bushings.

7. Subframe construction (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that translational forces due to acceleration and braking operations are absorbed by a top-hat-shaped profile (7) with a thrust rod (8).

8. Subframe construction (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that lower plastic bearings of the hinged supports (5) are designed as a predetermined breaking point in order to avoid cost-intensive damage due to overloading.