Multifunctional municipal vehicle comprising means for rapid tool changing

Abstract

The invention relates to a municipal vehicle of the type composed of a chassis (1) that accommodates a driver's cabin (2) and a tool (3) for treating the road, associated with means for loading and unloading tools. Said vehicle comprises, on the chassis (1), centring and guide means (24, 28) and locking and unlocking means (11, 11', 13, 22) and, on the tool (3), centring and guide means (14, 18) and locking and unlocking means (10, 10', 19, 21, 29, 30), which are designed to cooperate with means for loading and unloading said tool, said loading and unloading means being independent of the vehicle. The means for loading and unloading tools comprise a carriage (4) consisting of a base (7) that accommodates a loading / unloading support (5), said carriage (4) comprising, on the one hand, centring and guide means (17, 27) which are designed to cooperate with the corresponding centring and guide means (24, 28) of the chassis (1) and, on the other hand, locking and unlocking means (20, 23) which are designed to cooperate with the corresponding locking and unlocking means (10, 10', 19, 21, 29, 30) on said tool and the corresponding locking and unlocking means (11, 11', 13, 22) on said chassis.

Description

MULTIFUNCTION ROAD VEHICLE WITH MEANS FOR QUICK CHANGE OF TOOLS

[0001] The invention relates to a road vehicle intended to perform various functions for the treatment of road surfaces, comprising mechanical means to enable the rapid assembly and disassembly of the tools required for each of the tasks to be carried out. The vehicle may be, for example, an urban sweeper or a dust removal, snow removal or watering vehicle.

[0002] Vehicles of this type are essentially composed of an articulated or non-articulated chassis, comprising at least two axles and to which cleaning means such as brushes, blades or brooms, suction means, a receptacle for receiving the vacuumed residues, possibly a water tank of sufficient capacity and a control station can be connected.

[0003] To avoid the significant costs that would arise from the acquisition and maintenance of a fleet of single-purpose vehicles, i.e. each of which can only perform a single task, or to avoid the cost and time that would be involved in the need to immobilize a vehicle and intervene each time it is necessary to equip it in anticipation of a specific task, it may be useful to have simple mechanical means allowing, where appropriate, a single operator, who may be the one driving the vehicle, to ensure the removal or loading of the tool that will be necessary for the vehicle to be able to perform the task assigned to it.

[0004] Various methods are known from the prior art which make it possible to maintain a single vehicle for carrying out different tasks by using means for interchanging the tools.

[0005] Thus, document FR2641743 describes a vehicle designed to be equipped with an interchangeable tool, the vehicle comprising a conventional fixed chassis on which is mounted a chassis tilting around a pivot axis at the rear part of the fixed chassis, so that the loading and unloading of the tool are carried out after tilting of the chassis, by traction or respectively progressive release by traction means, the tool being designed to rest on the ground in an inclined position before loading and after unloading,

[0006] This method, although it fulfills the desired purpose, nevertheless remains extremely complex insofar as it provides for the use of a double chassis permanently mounted on the vehicle, and more particularly of a tilting chassis articulated at the rear of a fixed chassis to allow the tool to be loaded or unloaded by sliding, retractable feet being provided to be deployed from the mobile chassis to ensure the stability of the assembly during its use.

[0007] This system is complex and significantly modifies the design and structure of the vehicle, making it heavier since the elements which allow the unloading, respectively the loading, of the tools are permanently present on the chassis.

[0008] Finally, planning a switchover can complicate and slow down operations, in particular by requiring a larger useful volume in the workshop.

[0009] However, for obvious reasons of economy and efficiency, tool replacement operations must be able to be carried out in a minimum of time, with a minimum of material and human resources, the essential thing being to avoid the vehicle being immobilized for too long a period.

[0010] A variant is also described in document US5542815, which has the same drawbacks, even if here the tilting is controlled and stabilized not by means of retractable feet but by a jack which deploys from a fixed chassis.

[0011] The closest prior art to the applicant's knowledge is document CH707468 which describes a road vehicle, of the type composed of a chassis receiving a driver's cab and a tool for treating the road, associated with means for loading and unloading said tool, the vehicle comprising on the chassis, centering and guiding means and locking and unlocking means, and on the tool, centering and guiding means and locking and unlocking means designed to cooperate with means for loading and unloading said tool which are independent of the vehicle.

[0012] The invention proposes to overcome these drawbacks by producing a road vehicle in which the vehicle itself and the means for removing and loading the tools are independent, so that the tool changing operations can be carried out in a limited space, without the need for substantial modification of the chassis of the vehicle and avoiding having to tilt the means to load or unload the tool, or to use additional means to move the tool to store it after removal or to remove it from stock before installation.

[0013] More particularly, the vehicle comprises centering and guiding means, respectively locking and unlocking means, mounted on the chassis and on the tool, these means being designed to cooperate with the tool loading and unloading means which are independent of the vehicle.

[0014] The invention will be better understood with reference to the appended figures in which the removal of a tool, in this case a tank, with means for loading and unloading the tools consisting of a mobile carriage, will be described by way of example.

[0015] It should be noted that if the tool removal phase is described in detail, the same operations apply in reverse to carry out the coupling of a tool.

[0016] is a partial sectional side view of a road vehicle with its various component parts and its quick-change trolley.

[0017] is a three-quarter rear elevation view, showing the approach phase of the cart.

[0018] is a rear view showing the centering phase of the carriage.

[0019] is a broken-down three-quarter view showing the means of centering the carriage.

[0020] is a detail view illustrating the means of locking and guiding the carriage during tool change.

[0021] shows the tool before unloading onto the cart.

[0022] shows the removal phase of the carriage with the tool.

[0023] shows the tool after unloading onto the cart.

[0024] shows the carriage in the rest position, with the tool ready to be picked up.

[0025] is a partial side view of a vehicle with an implementation variant allowing manual tipping of the tool

[0026] shows two detail views of the variant shown in.

[0027] is a partial side view of a vehicle, with the manual tipping means of the variant shown in.

[0028] is a detail view of the tilting means shown in the.

[0029] With reference to the attached figures, the figure represents a road cleaning vehicle on which a tool is mounted, in this case a tank for the collection by suction of waste or dust present on the ground.

[0030] It should be noted that other types of tools could perfectly well be used or represented to fulfill other tasks and that this representation is only one of the possibilities of use which can be implemented by means of the invention.

[0031] Each tool has a self-contained hydraulic power supply, so there is no hydraulic connection between the tool and the vehicle, simplifying installation and removal operations and increasing system reliability. Only electrical connections are provided.

[0032] In the following description of an example of implementation, it will be considered that the word tool, when used, designates a tank.

[0033] As is known, the vehicle is composed of a chassis (1), which may or may not be articulated, and which accommodates a cabin (2) from which the operator can drive and steer the vehicle and control various tools in order to perform the treatment functions of a specific area.

[0034] The front and rear parts of the chassis refer to the direction of travel of the vehicle when in normal operating mode, the front part of the chassis being the one that receives the vehicle cabin, and the rear part the one that receives the tool.

[0035] In front of the cabin (2) in the lower part of the chassis (1) and close to the ground, there are cleaning means which are neither detailed nor shown here insofar as they do not form part as such of the invention, and which are mounted on a structure which allows them to be moved. These may be, for example, rotating brushes.

[0036] The rear part of the chassis receives the tank (3) as well as the means for suctioning waste or dust collected from the ground, said suction means cooperating with the tank (3) via a suction duct (not shown).

[0037] The vehicle according to the invention comprises on the chassis (1), centering and guiding means (24, 28) and locking and unlocking means (11, 11', 13, 22), and on the tool (3), centering and guiding means (14, 18) and locking and unlocking means (10, 10', 19, 21, 29, 30), designed to cooperate with means for loading and unloading said tool which are independent of the vehicle.

[0038] In the implementation example described here and shown in the figures, the means for loading and unloading the tools consist of a trolley (4).

[0039] An essential characteristic of the trolley (4) is that it is movable and adjustable in the vertical plane between two end positions between the ground and the horizontal plane of the chassis (1) intended to receive the tool (3), to be used independently of the vehicle in order to move the tool (3) once it has been picked up, or conversely before it is loaded, to carry out tasks of transporting or storing said tool.

[0040] Translation means for moving the tool (3) between the chassis (1) and the carriage (4) may possibly be associated with said carriage (4).

[0041] As illustrated in the, the trolley (4) consists of a base (7) mounted on wheels (8), on which is arranged a loading / unloading support (5) which can be mechanically lowered or mounted between a working position and a rest position, by means of an articulated crosspiece (9), itself of a known type.

[0042] The working position means the position in which the support (5) of the trolley (4) is unfolded, its height being adjusted according to that of the chassis with which it is to cooperate. The rest position means that in which the support (5) of the trolley (4) is folded onto the base (7).

[0043] A handle (6) is provided at its end opposite that facing the vehicle, to allow the trolley (4) to be moved on the wheels (8).

[0044] More particularly, when the tool (3) is locked on the carriage (4) in the rest position, it can be handled without additional packaging, and be transported in a truck or stored high up on pallet racks, the carriage (4) then acting as a pallet puller.

[0045] In the figure, we see the trolley (4) arranged at the rear of the chassis (1) of the vehicle, in order to carry out the removal of a waste collection tank (3) mounted on said chassis.

[0046] The dimensions of the trolley (4) are defined in such a way that the base (7) on wheels which allows the movement of this trolley can be slid under the chassis (1) of the vehicle, the support (5) being in itself arranged at the rear of said trolley with a length less than that of said base to allow the trolley to be placed in abutment against said chassis.

[0047] The support (5) is in fact composed of two parallel guide rails (17) which, according to the method of implementation illustrated in the figures, surround a worm screw (12), the role of which will be specified later.

[0048] According to a simplified embodiment, intended to be used for handling small or light tools, the support (5) may consist only of the two parallel guide rails (17).

[0049] Figures 2 to 4 illustrate the phases of alignment and centering of the carriage (4) in relation to the chassis (1) of the vehicle.

[0050] The carriage (4), the tool (3) and the chassis (1) each comprise centering and guiding means provided to cooperate with each other and ensure optimal alignment of said carriage relative to said chassis before proceeding with the removal or installation of the tool.

[0051] The carriage (4) further comprises locking and unlocking means designed to cooperate with corresponding locking and unlocking means provided on the tool (3) and on the chassis (1).

[0052] The parallel guide rails (17) each have a fixed hook (27) at their free end, the assembly constituting the centering and guiding means provided on the carriage (4). By free ends, we mean those located opposite the handle (6).

[0053] The centering and guiding means provided on the chassis (1) in correspondence with the centering and guiding means of the carriage (4) comprise two parallel guide rails (28) and two centering orifices (24) of truncated cone shape.

[0054] The centering and guiding means on the tool (3) comprise at least one pair of lifting rollers (14) and two centering cleats (18), the role of which will be specified later.

[0055] To ensure the centering of the carriage (4) once it is aligned with respect to the chassis (1) of the vehicle (), the rails (17) of the carriage (4) are slid to the same height as the rails (28) of the chassis (1), until the carriage comes to a stop (figure 4A), the centering being achieved by the fixed hooks (27) of the carriage (4), shown in figure 4C, which engage the centering holes (24) of the chassis (1), shown in figure 4B, and which are arranged in correspondence.

[0056] The truncated cone shape of the centering holes (24) ensures that the centering is held in position by preventing any accidental disengagement of the hooks (27) once they have been engaged.

[0057] Furthermore, the carriage (4), the chassis (1) and the tool (3) each comprise locking and unlocking means to cooperate and ensure their securing before proceeding with the removal or installation of the tool.

[0058] The locking and unlocking means on the carriage (4) comprise two end-of-travel locking stop hooks (23) at the rear.

[0059] By free end, we mean the one intended to butt the chassis.

[0060] According to a possible embodiment, the locking and unlocking means on the carriage (4) further comprise two so-called "front" forks (20) mounted at the free end of each of the two guide rails (17), as shown in the.

[0061] The locking / unlocking means on the chassis comprise a locking stop (11), preferably vertical, which is provided at the front end of the receiving zone of said chassis opposite the cabin (2) to delimit the upward movement of the tool (3), said stop comprising two holes (11') intended to receive the centering lugs (18) of the tool, and two housings (13) acting as shock absorbers for the movement permitted by the centering lugs (18) of the tool once they are engaged in said holes (11').

[0062] According to a possible embodiment, the locking and unlocking means on the tool (3) comprise at the front two locking axes (19) arranged in the horizontal plane and intended to be engaged by the front forks (20) of the carriage (4) when the latter is aligned and centered, and at the rear a locking hook (21).

[0063] The tool also includes two lifting rollers (14) more particularly intended to ensure the lifting of the tool after unlocking, with a view to its transfer to the carriage (4).

[0064] According to a first implementation variant, the tilting of the tool (3) is carried out remotely, for example by means of an electrical control, by a lifting cylinder (10).

[0065] According to a second simplified implementation variant, the tilting of the tool (3) is carried out manually around the rollers (14) by means of two eccentrics (10') arranged on either side of the tool, and actuated by a lever (30), the rollers then being associated with compression springs (29).

[0066] Once the tool has been transferred onto the carriage, the end-of-travel locking hooks (23) act as a stop, which secures the tool which can no longer be lifted, said rear hooks (23) being able to be tilting or not.

[0067] The locking of the tool (3) on the carriage (4) is achieved by engaging the front forks (20) of the carriage (4) in the rear locking pins (19) of the tool.

[0068] According to an embodiment variant more particularly intended for the handling of heavy or large tools, mechanical translation means can also be provided to facilitate the sliding of the tool from the chassis onto the carriage.

[0069] According to this variant which is the one illustrated in the figures, the translation means on the carriage (4) comprise an endless screw (12), it being recalled that according to a simplified variant intended for the handling of light tools, the movement can be done manually, using only the strength of the arms, without the need to provide mechanical translation means.

[0070] When the tool is tilted, as here in the case of a waste tank, it can be subjected to a tearing force on the front.

[0071] To prevent unwanted movement of the tool in such a situation, the two fixed centering pins (18) provided in the upper part of the locking stop (11) will block and push back the lifting rollers (14) if they are moved upwards in the event of an impact that they could not absorb.

[0072] In the simplified variant allowing manual tilting of the tool (3), the lifting rollers (14) are equipped with compression springs (29) to hold them in position, and allow them to absorb the shock and absorb the pressure once the tool is loaded, the tool being held on the chassis by the stop (11) with the holes (11') in which the cleats (18) come to bear.

[0073] The process of removing a tank (3) from the chassis (1) of a road vehicle will now be described step by step.

[0074] The control handle (6) allows the carriage (4) to be manually moved closer to the vehicle in order to align and center it with respect to the chassis (1).

[0075] The loading / unloading support (5) of the trolley (4), which has previously been adjusted to the correct height so that it can be presented in the same plane as that of the chassis (1) of the vehicle, is aligned with respect to the chassis (1), as seen in figures 2 and 3.

[0076] The base (7) of the trolley (4) which can be moved thanks to the presence of the lower wheels (8) and by means of the handle (6) slides freely under the chassis (1) of the vehicle, until the front part of its support (5) comes into abutment at the rear end of the chassis (1), as shown in figures 3 to 5.

[0077] At this stage, the lifting rollers (14) of the tool, and the lifting cylinder (10) or the eccentric (30) depending on the variant considered, are inactive, said rollers being locked in position in housings (13) provided in correspondence with each lateral end of the base of the locking stop (11), as seen in the.

[0078] As indicated above, the centering of the carriage (4) is achieved by engaging the fixed centering hooks (27) of the rails (17) of the carriage in the centering openings (24) of the chassis (1).

[0079] The unlocking of the tool is then controlled by means of a sensor (not shown) mounted in the chassis (1) or a switch (not shown), to cause the front part of the tool to raise.

[0080] Depending on the variant considered, the unlocking is carried out by the lifting cylinder (10), which lifts the front of the tool by means of the lifting rollers (14), or manually using the lever (30) of the eccentrics (10'), around the rollers (14),

[0081] According to the first variant, the lifting rollers (14) are pushed backwards, out of their respective housings (13) in the locking stop (11), and the rear of the tool is then unlocked by the rear hook (21).

[0082] According to the second variant, the fixed centering cleat (18) of the tool (3) is lifted by rotation around the lifting wheel (14) and the hook (21) is actuated by the lever (30).

[0083] Then the electrical connections, which are of a known type and are therefore not shown, are removed and the carriage (4) is lifted to align it with the chassis (1).

[0084] By unfolding the crosspieces (9), the carriage (4) rises and the support (5) lifts the tool (3) by centering itself on the locking axis (19) of the tool with the front forks (20).

[0085] Then the worm screw (12) is operated to pull the tank onto the support (5) of the carriage (4), by sliding the lifting rollers (14) on the guide rails (17) of said carriage (4), as seen in the figure.

[0086] When the tank (3) has been completely pulled onto the trolley (4), the latter is moved back, releasing it from the chassis (1), and using it in the same way as a pallet truck, the tank (3) is transported to the place chosen for its storage or maintenance ().

[0087] Then, the crosspiece (9) is lowered to fold the support (5) and bring it into its rest position, until the feet (16) come into contact with the ground ().

[0088] List of digital markers

[0089] 1. Chassis

[0090] 2. Cabin

[0091] 3. Tank

[0092] 4. Cart

[0093] 5. Loading / unloading support

[0094] 6. Control handle

[0095] 7. Cart base

[0096] 8. Wagon wheel

[0097] 9. Articulated crosspiece

[0098] 10. Lifting cylinder

[0099] 10'. Eccentric

[0100] 11. Chassis locking stop

[0101] 11'. Oblong hole of the stop

[0102] 12. Worm screw

[0103] 13. Housing in the chassis stop

[0104] 14. Lifting wheel

[0105] 15. Thrust axis

[0106] 16. Feet

[0107] 17. Carriage guide rail

[0108] 18. Fixed centering pin of the tool

[0109] 19. Tool locking axis

[0110] 20. Front fork of the trolley

[0111] 21. Rear tool locking hook

[0112] 22. Rear chassis locking axle

[0113] 23. Hook-Lock Stop for Trolley End of Travel

[0114] 24. Chassis centering holes

[0115] 27. Fixed hook for centering the trolley rail

[0116] 28. Chassis guide rail

[0117] 29. Compression spring

[0118] 30. Lever

Claims

Road maintenance vehicle, of the type comprising a chassis (1) receiving a driver's cab (2) and a tool (3) for road maintenance, associated with means for loading and unloading said tool, the vehicle comprising on the chassis (1), centering and guiding means (24, 28) and locking and unlocking means (11, 11', 13, 22), and on the tool (3), centering and guiding means (14, 18) and locking and unlocking means (10, 10', 19, 21, 29, 30), designed to cooperate with loading and unloading means for said tool which are independent of the vehicle, characterized in that the centering and guiding means on the tool (3) comprise at least one pair of rollers (14) and two fixed centering cleats (18). Road vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking and unlocking means (10, 10', 19, 21, 29, 30) on the tool (3) comprise two eccentrics (10') arranged on either side of the tool, and actuated by a lever (30). Road vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the wheels (14) are associated with compression springs (29). Road vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking and unlocking means (10, 10', 19, 21, 29, 30) on the tool (3) comprise a lifting cylinder (10). A road maintenance vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for loading and unloading the tool comprise a trolley (4) consisting of a base (7) receiving a loading / unloading support (5), said trolley (4) comprising: on the one hand, centering and guiding means (17, 27) designed to cooperate with the corresponding centering and guiding means (24, 28) of the chassis (1), and on the other hand, locking and unlocking means (20, 23) designed to cooperate with the corresponding locking and unlocking means (10, 10', 19, 21, 29, 30) on said tool, respectively (11, 11', 13, 22) on said chassis, each tool (3) mounted on the chassis (1) comprising an independent hydraulic supply, such that there is no hydraulic connection between said tool and said vehicle. Road vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the trolley (4) is mobile and adjustable in the vertical plane between two end positions between the ground and the horizontal plane of the chassis (1) intended to receive the tool (3), to be used independently of the vehicle to carry out tasks of transporting or storing said tool. Road vehicle according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the centering and guiding means (17, 27) of the trolley (4) are composed of two parallel guide rails (17) each having at their free end a fixed hook (27). Road vehicle according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the centering and guiding means (24, 28) provided on the chassis (1) corresponding to the centering means (17, 27) of the trolley (4) are composed of two parallel guide rails (28) and two centering holes (24) of truncated cone shape. Road vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the locking and unlocking means (20, 23) on the trolley (4) comprise two front forks (20) mounted at the free end of each of the two guide rails (17) and two end-of-stroke locking stop hooks (23). Road vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking and unlocking means (10, 10', 19, 21, 29, 30) on the tool (3) comprise at the front two locking pins (19) arranged in the horizontal plane and intended to be engaged by the front forks (20) of the trolley (4) when the latter is aligned and centered, and at the rear a locking hook (21). Road vehicle according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the trolley (4) includes translation means for moving the tool (3) on said trolley (4). Road vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that the translation means consist of a worm screw (12). Road vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the worm screw (12) is arranged between the two guide rails (17) of the loading / unloading support (5) of the trolley (4).

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