OPTIMIZED DUMP TRUCK CHASSIS

Abstract

A one-piece tipper chassis comprising two longitudinal members (2, 4) connected by at least two cross members (8, 10), a first rear cross member (10) and a thrust cross member (8). The longitudinal members (2, 4) are angle members, each having a first flange (12) and a second flange (14) substantially perpendicular to the first flange (12). The first flange (12) of the first angle member (2) is substantially coplanar with the first flange (12) of the second angle member (4). The second flanges (14) of the angle members are arranged opposite each other towards the inside of the chassis. (Short drawing: Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: OPTIMIZED DUMP CHASSIS

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optimized dump body chassis. Technical field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of industrial bodywork. It is known to equip a vehicle, for example a truck, with a box or a platform for the transport of goods. The term "tipper" will subsequently refer to the various devices intended for the transport of goods on a utility vehicle. Prior art

[0003] It is known to manufacture a utility vehicle on the one hand, at a manufacturer's, and to equip it on the other hand, at a bodybuilder, with a personalized layout. The utility vehicle then comprises a vehicle chassis provided for example with fixing points, or crowbars, to receive all types of layouts, not only skips but any other type of equipment (van, etc.). The equipment, here more particularly a skip, is provided with an interface, subsequently called the skip chassis which cooperates with the fixing points to secure the skip to the vehicle chassis.

[0004] Most often, the attachment points of the vehicle chassis define a (horizontal) attachment plane and the dump body with its chassis is arranged above this attachment plane. It is also possible to have a vehicle chassis with a flat (and horizontal) surface and to provide for attaching the dump body chassis using vertically oriented connecting plates connecting the dump body chassis to the vehicle chassis. The dump body chassis then comprises, for example, C-shaped side members: one wing of the C then rests on the vehicle chassis and the other wing of the C carries the dump body. The attachment is ensured by the wing of the C resting on the vehicle chassis in the case of attachment by attachment points or by the base of the C in the case of attachment by connecting plates.

[0005] For certain uses in particular but also in general, it may be desirable to limit the height of the vehicle and / or to lower the loading threshold.

[0006] While generally a tipper chassis is a single-piece, it is known to limit the construction height by separating the chassis into several elements, each of which performs a particular function: for example, there is a structural element to carry an articulation of the tipper (to allow it to pivot), a structural element (thrust beam) to carry a tipping control actuator for the tipper and a holding beam to ensure correct positioning of the tipper on the vehicle when the tipper is in a horizontal position, in particular during a phase of movement of the vehicle.

[0007] This solution makes it possible to limit the overall height of the vehicle equipped with its dump body but has drawbacks. Since the elements are no longer connected, each of them must be reinforced to ensure the rigidity of the dump body. Then, the assembly of the elements on the vehicle chassis takes longer: on the one hand, a greater number of separate elements must be fixed and on the other hand, each of these elements must be individually adapted to the chassis. Summary

[0008] The present disclosure improves the situation. Its aim is in particular to provide a dump chassis which is a single-piece and which makes it possible to limit the overall height of the vehicle.

[0009] A single-piece tipper chassis is proposed comprising two side members connected by at least two cross members, a first rear cross member and a thrust cross member.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, the side members are angles each having a first wing and a second wing substantially perpendicular to the first wing; the first wing of the first angle is substantially coplanar with the first wing of the second angle; the second wings of the angles are arranged opposite each other towards the inside of the chassis.

[0011] In this way, the horizontal wings of the side members can come directly to bear on the upper plane of the vehicle chassis intended to receive a bodywork element. The second wings are designed so as to be able to be integrated into the structure of the vehicle chassis (truck), below the upper plane of the vehicle chassis. Thus, the dump chassis protrudes very little above the vehicle chassis (truck). In addition, the assembly time is reduced because only one element has to be mounted on the chassis and all the fluid lines (hydraulic, electrical) can be pre-wired in the factory. The number of cross members can be greater than two depending for example on the length of the chassis, or there can be two thrust cross members, an actuator then being mounted to bear on these two thrust cross members.

[0012] The features set out in the following paragraphs may, optionally, be implemented, independently of one another or in combination with one another:

[0013] - the first rear cross member has a general Z-shaped profile with a wing upper, a web and a lower edge, the web connecting the upper wing to the lower edge, the first wing extends parallel to the first wings of the angles, above them, and said rear crosspiece carries at least two longitudinal legs each with at least one bore defining a pivot axis (the center of which may be, for example, in an advantageous embodiment, located below the plane defined by the first wings of the angles);

[0014] - the thrust crosspiece comprises a first tubular part welded between the two second wings of the angles and which carries two support legs intended to receive an actuator axis, in particular a cylinder axis;

[0015] - the chassis has a third cross member which may be a front cross member end and which may comprise a second tubular part and said second tubular part has two slots, each slot receiving one end of a first wing of an angle iron;

[0016] - each first angle wing forming a spar has at least two ex outward growths extending in the plane of said first wings, said outgrowths being provided with a fixing bore.

[0017] According to another aspect, there is provided a utility vehicle provided with a dump body, characterized in that said dump body comprises a dump body chassis as described above.

[0018] The characteristics set out in the following paragraphs may, optionally, be implemented, independently of one another or in combination with one another for such a vehicle:

[0019] - said vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis provided with fixing points, the chassis of the skip is fixed on said fixing points by the first wings of the angles, and the second wings of the angles forming the side members of the skip chassis extend downwards;

[0020] - the overall height of the vehicle is less than 1.90m. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the attached drawings, in which: Fig.l

[0022] [Fig.l] shows a dump chassis in perspective according to one embodiment. Fig. 2

[0023] [Fig.2] shows the dump chassis of [Fig.l] in top view. Fig. 3

[0024] [Fig.3] shows the dump chassis of [Fig.l] in longitudinal section along the line section III-III of [Fig.2]. Fig. 4

[0025] [Fig.4] shows the dump chassis of [Fig.l] in cross-section along the line of section IV-IV of [Fig.2]. Fig. 5

[0026] [Fig.5] shows a detail of [Fig.4]. Fig. 6

[0027] [Fig.6] shows in more detail the right end of [Fig.3]. Fig. 7

[0028] [Fig.7] shows in perspective the two side members of the dump chassis of [Fig.l] according to a different orientation. Description of the embodiments

[0029] Reference is now made to [Fig.l]. This figure shows a skip chassis structure with a right side member 2, a left side member 4 and three cross members.

[0030] As regards the orientation, in the remainder of this description, it is considered that the dump chassis illustrated is mounted on a utility vehicle which is on flat - horizontal - ground: this defines a low (towards the ground) and high (towards the sky), front and rear / right and left orientation according to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0031] Thus, among the cross members, there is a front cross member 6, a central cross member 8 and a rear cross member 10. The front cross member 6 and the rear cross member 10 are in the illustrated embodiment end cross members in that the right side member 2 and the left side member 4 do not extend beyond these cross members. The front cross member 6 has the function (among others) of holding a bucket in the lowered position during transport. The central cross member 8 has the function (among others) of serving as a support for a jack used to tip the bucket. The rear cross member 10 has the function (among others) of supporting a pivot axis of the bucket and carrying the latter in the tilted position.

[0032] [Fig.6] shows more particularly the right-hand side member 2 and the left-hand side member 4. Each side member is in the form of an angle iron and thus comprises a first wing, or horizontal wing 12, and a second wing, or vertical wing 14.

[0033] The two horizontal wings 12 are arranged in the same (horizontal) plane and extend parallel to each other. Each vertical wing 14 extends perpendicularly downwards from an inner edge, i.e. oriented towards the other side member, of the corresponding horizontal wing 12. The side members (the right side member 2 and the left side member 4) are intended to extend in the direction of travel of the vehicle on which they are intended to be mounted. The direction given by the extension of these side members will be called the longitudinal direction.

[0034] The right side member 2 and the left side member 4 are each intended to be fixed to a chassis of a utility vehicle such as a truck. It is assumed that this vehicle, and more precisely its chassis, is provided with fixing points commonly called "crows" in the field of bodywork. In the embodiment illustrated without limitation in the drawing, each horizontal wing 12 has a protrusion 16 which comprises a bore and which extends in the horizontal plane. The position of the protrusions 16 is determined as a function of the position of the crows of the corresponding utility vehicle. There are a priori at least two fixing points, therefore at least two protrusions 16 per spar. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three protrusions 16 per spar, the protrusions 16 of one spar being arranged symmetrically with respect to the protrusions 16 of the other spar.

[0035] On the side of the front end of each spar, we note the presence of a connecting plate 18 which is of overall rectangular shape and which extends in the plane of the horizontal wings 12. Each connecting plate 18 can be in a single piece with the spar. In the illustrated form, it is of elongated rectangular shape and the long sides of the rectangle are oriented transversely. The front end of each spar thus has a T shape in the illustrated example.

[0036] Each vertical wing 14 extends as already indicated from an edge of a horizontal wing 12 and thus stiffens said horizontal wing 12 and thereby the corresponding side member. If additional stiffening is necessary, local reinforcement may be provided, for example by securing - by bolting for example - a reinforcement plate to the vertical wing, thus for example doubling its thickness. The shape of the vertical wing 14 is adapted to the vehicle on which it is mounted. It can also be used for fixing accessories and / or pipes.

[0037] In the embodiment illustrated in particular in Figures 1 to 3, the front cross member 6 has, for illustrative purposes, a profiled overall shape of rectangular section. The front cross member 6 comprises an upper face 20, a lower face 22, a front lateral face 24 and a rear lateral face 26.

[0038] The upper face 20 of the front cross member 6 rests on the connecting plates 18 of the side members. The size of the connecting plates 18 is adapted to that of the front cross member 6 so that each connecting plate 18 can be housed in the front cross member 6. The rear lateral face 26 of the front cross member 6 has two slots allowing the connecting plates 18 to be inserted into the front cross member 6. These slots each have a width corresponding to the thickness of the connecting plates 18 and are arranged so that when the connecting plates 18 are located in the interior space of the tubular front cross member 6, the upper face 20 can rest on said connecting plates 18. A connection, for example by welding, is provided to secure the connecting plates 18 to the front cross member 6 at the upper face 20.

[0039] It is intended to fix the front cross member 6 to the chassis of the vehicle (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing of the front cross member 6 to the chassis of the vehicle is provided at the ends (right and left) of the lower face 22 of the front cross member 6. Here, a shim 28 is provided under the front cross member 6 to adapt to the position of the corresponding corbel of the vehicle. It is noted that the ends of the front cross member 6 are cut at an angle so as to facilitate access to each point of fixing of the front cross member 6 to the chassis of the vehicle. Side members can extend the entire length of the vehicle chassis. They can also extend beyond and be cantilevered at either end relative to the chassis. It is also possible for the side members to extend along the chassis and along a structure called a chassis extension which is used in a known manner to extend (most often towards the rear) the chassis of the vehicle and thus allow, for example, from the same chassis to offer different body lengths.

[0040] Finally, it is noted that the upper face 20 of the front crossmember 6 has two bucket guides 30. Such guides are known to those skilled in the art. Each time, it is a folded plate having a vertical part fixed longitudinally on the upper face 20 of the front crossmember 6 and an inclined part, the two inclined parts being arranged symmetrically so as to converge towards the space between the bucket guides 30. As already known, these bucket guides 30 have the function of guiding an associated bucket when said bucket passes from a tilted position to its horizontal position and then of holding the bucket in its horizontal position to prevent this bucket from moving transversely.

[0041] The central cross member 8 is made around a tubular element 32 of substantially square section in the embodiment illustrated in the figures. This tubular element 32 extends from the vertical wing 14 of the right side member 2 to the vertical wing 14 of the left side member 4. Thus this tubular element 32 reinforces the structure of the bucket chassis. To further reinforce the structure, it may be provided, as illustrated in the embodiment of the drawing, to have ribs 34 between the tubular element 32 and each vertical wing 14. Figures 1 to 3 show the presence of four ribs 34 at each end of the tubular element 32. We therefore have here a particularly rigid structure which is intended in particular to serve as a support for a jack (not shown) making it possible to control a tilting of the bucket. The tubular element 32 then carries a jack shaft support 36, a pump support 38 and a crutch support 40.The cylinder shaft support 36 comprises two bearings intended to receive a cylinder shaft. Each bearing is formed from a sheet metal cut and welded longitudinally to the tubular element 32. The sheet metal is cut to form a housing for the cylinder shaft and said housing is open upwards to allow the introduction of the cylinder shaft into its housing. The pump support 38 in the purely illustrative example shown in the figures is fixed to a front face of the tubular element 32. Finally, the stand support 40, which here is in the form of a U-shaped profiled part, is fixed to an upper face of the tubular element 32.

[0042] The rear cross member 10 connects the rear end of the right side member 2 with the rear end of the left side member 4 and extends beyond said side members. It comprises a Z-shaped section with a central body 42, an upper flange 44 and a lower edge 46.

[0043] The upper wing 44 rests on the rear ends of the horizontal wings 12. The central body 42 extends vertically transversely at the level of the vertical wings 14 of the side members. The lower edge 46 extends substantially horizontally from the lower edge of the central body 42 towards the rear. It makes it possible to stiffen the rear cross member 10.

[0044] The central body 42 carries, among other things, two articulations 48 to allow the pivoting of a skip mounted on the skip chassis. These articulations 48 can for example rest on the lower edge 46. [Fig.7] shows in more detail an articulation 48 and its positioning in the skip chassis. The articulation 48 comprises a housing 50 intended to receive a skip pivot axis. It is noted that the center of this housing 50 is arranged here below the lower plane of the horizontal wings 12 of the side members. This means that the (geometric) pivot axis of the skip is then below the plane defined by the fixing points, or corbels, of the vehicle chassis. Industrial application

[0045] The present disclosure is suitable for mounting a dump body on a utility vehicle by limiting the overall height of the vehicle (for equivalent loading volume and mass).

[0046] The dump chassis concept proposed by the present disclosure is such that the dump chassis is not placed on a truck chassis (utility vehicle) as in the prior art but this dump chassis is inserted into the chassis of the truck (utility vehicle). The two side members in the form of an angle iron can match the shapes of the structure of the truck (utility vehicle). Thus, it is possible to have a reduced loading height. Indeed, the upper plane of the dump chassis is raised by only a few millimeters (less than 10 mm, for example 6 mm) above the plane of the vehicle chassis whereas in a conventional structure this difference in height is of the order of 150 mm. This allows two important advantages: for given dump dimensions, it is possible to limit the height of the corresponding vehicle, for example to less than 1.90 m. The vehicle can then access, for example, underground parking lots.Another advantage is that the loading threshold is lowered. This significantly improves ergonomics and allows a user to lift loads less high to load the skip.

[0047] This chassis structure can be adapted to many types of vehicles and can be combined with various accessories. For example, a chassis as illustrated in the figures can be shortened at the front (the front cross member is brought closer to the central cross member and the side members are shortened) so as to allow the mounting on the vehicle chassis of a storage box, a crane or another more or less bulky accessory.

[0048] The present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above, solely by way of example, but it encompasses all the variants that may be envisaged by those skilled in the art within the framework of the protection sought.

Claims

Claims

1. One-piece dump chassis comprising two side members (2, 4) connected by at least two cross members (8, 10), a first rear cross member (10) and a second thrust cross member (8), characterized in that the side members (2, 4) are angles each having a first wing (12) and a second wing (14) substantially perpendicular to the first wing (12), in that the first wing (12) of the first angle (2) is substantially coplanar with the first wing (12) of the second angle (4), in that the second wings (14) of the angles are arranged opposite each other towards the inside of the chassis.

2. Chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the first rear cross member (10) has a generally Z-shaped profile with an upper wing (44), a web (42) and a lower edge (46), the web (42) connecting the upper wing (44) to the lower edge (46), in that the first wing extends parallel to the first wings of the angles, above them, and in that said rear cross member (10) carries at least two longitudinal tabs each with at least one bore defining a pivot axis.

3. Chassis according to claim 2, characterized in that the center of the pivot axis is located below the plane defined by the first wings (12) of the angles.

4. Chassis according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thrust crosspiece (8) comprises a first tubular part (32) welded between the two second wings (14) of the angles and which carries two support lugs (36) intended to receive an actuator shaft.

5. Chassis according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a third cross member which is a front end cross member (6)

6. Chassis according to claim 5, characterized in that the third crosspiece (6) comprises a second tubular part, in that said second tubular part has two slots, each slot receiving one end of a first wing (12) of an angle iron.

7. Chassis according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each first wing (12) of angle iron forming a side member has at at least two outwardly extending protrusions (16) extending in the plane of said first wings (12), said protrusions (16) being provided with a fixing bore.

8. Utility vehicle equipped with a dump body, characterized in that said dump body comprises a dump body chassis according to one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Utility vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a vehicle chassis provided with fixing points, in that the dump chassis is fixed to said fixing points by the first wings of the angles, and in that the second wings of the angles forming the side members of the dump chassis extend downwards.

10. Utility vehicle according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that its overall height is less than 1.90m.

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