AUTOMATIC REAR DOOR BOX FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE

Abstract

The industrial vehicle body (11) includes a rear door comprising a first leaf (120a) having an operational position in which said first leaf can rotate between a closed position of the body and an open position in which it is oriented parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane (X,Z) of the body (11). The first leaf is movable in translation to a retracted position outside the body and along a first lateral face (11e) of the body (11). The body is equipped with an automatic opening / closing system (13) comprising a first actuator adapted to actuate the first leaf in rotation between said closed position of the body and said open position when the first leaf is in said operational position, and a second actuator adapted to move the first leaf in the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position.Fig.1.

Description

Title of the invention: AUTOMATIC REAR DOOR BOX FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a body with an automatic rear door for an industrial vehicle and to an industrial vehicle comprising such a body with an automatic rear door. Prior art

[0002] In this text, the term "industrial vehicle" refers indifferently to a truck, a trailer and a semi-trailer. The term "body" refers indifferently to any type of receptacle or container intended to be placed, in particular for its transport, on a rolling supporting chassis. The body may be intended to be mounted in a fixed position or be mounted tilting for its dumping around an axis either parallel or transverse to the front / rear longitudinal axis of the body. The body may, depending on the case, be non-removable or be removable relative to the rolling supporting chassis, in order to be able to be placed on the ground. The body may in particular be of the tipper type (tilting or non-tilting) open on top for its gravity loading or may be a closed container-type box. The body may indifferently be used to transport any type of load.

[0003] A body generally comprises a bottom (fixed or moving), right and left side walls respectively, a front wall and a rear wall, the terms front, rear, right and left being understood in relation to the direction of forward travel of a vehicle on which the body is installed.

[0004] When the box is a container intended in particular to be loaded and unloaded from the rear, it has an upper wall. When the box is of the tipper type and is intended to be loaded by gravity, it is open at the top and can in this case be equipped with a tarpaulin to protect its load, said tarpaulin being able to be removable or rollable.

[0005] When it is intended to be unloaded from the rear, the rear wall of the body comprises or forms a rear door allowing the body to be opened at the rear in order to provide an opening at the rear of the body and allow it to be unloaded and possibly loaded.

[0006] There are several solutions for facilitating the unloading from the rear of a box for an industrial vehicle, when the rear door is open. These technical solutions include, but are not limited to, the use of a moving floor or a mobile push shield, which is mounted inside the box and which can be actuated by at least one jack, in order to push the load towards the rear. of the body. The body can also be mounted tilting upwards and backwards and can be operated by one or more lifting cylinders, in order to allow the load to be dumped backwards. Optionally, the body can also be equipped with a roll-up tarpaulin which is interposed between the bottom of the body and the load and which, by unrolling, facilitates the sliding of the load backwards during dumping.

[0007] A known type of rear door for an industrial vehicle body comprises one or two leaves hinged in rotation around a vertical axis, and lockable in the closed position, for example by means of a cremone bolt.

[0008] These rear doors have the disadvantage of occupying a significant amount of space laterally when they are opened by pivoting them around their vertical axis.

[0009] It has already been proposed in the Chinese utility models CN203186182U and CN206202452U to produce a leaf whose opening / closing kinematics combine a rotation of the leaf around a vertical axis and a front / rear longitudinal translation of the leaf. Rotating the leaf through an angle of 90° from its closed position makes it possible to orient the leaf parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane of the body. Translating the leaf towards the front of the body makes it possible to move the leaf so as to store it along the external face of one of the side walls of the body.

[0010] This opening / closing kinematics disclosed in Chinese utility models CN203186182U and CN206202452U makes it possible to resolve the aforementioned drawback by reducing the lateral bulk of the door when it is opened or closed.

[0011] The technical solutions described in these publications, however, have the major drawback of requiring tedious and painful manual action to open or close the rear door.

[0012] Furthermore, with this type of technical solution, when the driver of the vehicle transporting a box has to unload the load contained in the box from the rear or, on the contrary, has to load the box from the rear, he must firstly maneuver the industrial vehicle so as to position the rear wall of the box close to the unloading or loading point, for example a loading / unloading dock or a dumping area, leaving sufficient space at the rear of the box so that he can access and manually open the rear door. In a second step, the driver must manually open the rear door of the box by pivoting it 90° and pushing it back by hand towards the front of the box. This opening operation is tedious and can present risks for the driver.Then, in a third step, the driver must get back into the industrial vehicle and must maneuver the vehicle again, moving it back enough to correctly position the rear of the body. Objective of the invention

[0013] The present invention aims to propose a new solution for a rear door for a body for an industrial vehicle which overcomes at least the aforementioned drawbacks of the technical solutions of the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0014] The invention thus relates to a body for an industrial vehicle with an automatic rear door having the following technical characteristics.

[0015] The industrial vehicle body comprises a rear door comprising at least a first leaf, which is hinged in rotation about a first vertical axis and which comprises an operational position, in which said first leaf can pivot in rotation between a position for closing the body and an open position in which it is oriented parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane (X,Z) of the body; said first leaf is movable in translation towards the front of the body from said operational position and in its open position to a retracted position in which it is stored outside the body and along a first lateral face of the body, and reciprocally in translation towards the rear of the body from said retracted position to said operational position;said body is equipped with a system for automatic opening and automatic closing of said rear door, which comprises a first actuator adapted to actuate the first leaf in rotation between said closed position of the body and said open position when the first leaf is in said operational position, and a second actuator adapted to move the first leaf into the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position.;

[0016] More particularly, the body of the invention may include the following additional and optional features, each additional and optional feature being able to be combined with any of the other technical features of the body: - The automatic opening and automatic closing system of said rear door comprises at least a first carriage, which is mounted outside the body on the first lateral face of the body; said first leaf is integral with the first carriage by being articulated in rotation about the first vertical axis relative to the carriage; said first carriage is movable in translation towards the front of the body and allows the first leaf to be driven from said operational position to said retracted position, and reciprocally is movable in translation towards the rear of the body and allows the first leaf to be driven from said retracted position to said operational position; the first actuator is carried by the first carriage and is adapted to actuate the first leaf in rotation relative to the first carriage between said closed position of the box and said open position when the first leaf is in said operational position; the second actuator is fixed to the box and is adapted to move the first carriage and the first leaf in translation forwards in the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position, and vice versa backwards between said retracted position and said operational position. The rear door comprises a second leaf which is pivoted in rotation about a second vertical axis and which has an operational position in which said second leaf can pivot in rotation between a position for closing the body and an open position in which it is oriented parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane of the body, said second leaf being movable in translation towards the front of the body from said operational position and in its open position to a retracted position in which it is stored outside the body and along a second lateral face of the body, and reciprocally in translation towards the rear of the body from said retracted position to said operational position;the automatic opening and automatic closing system of said rear door comprises a third actuator adapted to actuate the second leaf in rotation between said closed position of the body and said open position when the second leaf is in said operational position, and a fourth actuator adapted to move the second leaf into the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position.; The automatic opening and automatic closing system of said rear door comprises a second carriage which is mounted outside the body on the second lateral face of the body; the second leaf is integral with the second carriage by being articulated in rotation around the second vertical axis relative to the second carriage; the second carriage is movable in translation towards the front of the body and makes it possible to drive the second leaf from said operational position to said retracted position, and conversely is movable in translation towards the rear of the body and makes it possible to drive the second leaf from said retracted position to said operational position;the third actuator is carried by the second carriage and is adapted to actuate the second leaf in rotation relative to the second carriage between said closed position of the box and said open position when the second leaf is in said position; operational; the fourth actuator is fixed to the body and is adapted to move the second carriage and the second leaf in translation forwards into the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position, and vice versa backwards between said retracted position and said operational position. Each carriage is slidably mounted in two longitudinal slides which are spaced vertically. Each carriage has rollers positioned in the slides. Each carriage has a vertical plate capable of sliding in translation from the rear to the front of the body between a rear position and a front position and vice versa. Each leaf is hinged in rotation by means of hinges fixed in the region of the rear edge of said plate. The first actuator is positioned under the body; if necessary the third actuator is positioned under the body. The first actuator comprises a cylinder, preferably a double-acting cylinder, and where appropriate the third actuator comprises a cylinder, preferably a double-acting cylinder. The second actuator is positioned under the body, and if necessary the fourth actuator is positioned under the body. The second actuator comprises a ball screw and optionally the fourth actuator comprises a ball screw. Said at least first leaf or each leaf, once stored in the retracted position, is entirely positioned along the side face of the body, without protruding beyond the rear of the body. The body comprises two upper longitudinal edges and said at least one leaf in the retracted position or each leaf in the retracted position is positioned under one of the upper longitudinal edges while being entirely overhung by said upper longitudinal edge. Said first carriage or each carriage is positioned under one of the upper longitudinal banks while being entirely overhung by said upper longitudinal bank. The system for automatically opening and closing said rear door comprises a control interface, which allows a user to trigger a sequence for opening the rear door and to trigger a sequence for closing the rear door, and a control unit which is adapted to control the first actuator and the second actuator or where appropriate the first actuator, the second actuator, the third actuator and the fourth actuator, so as to automatically execute the rear door opening sequence or the rear door closing sequence triggered by the user. - The control unit (1335 is adapted to automatically execute the rear door opening sequence by controlling the first actuator or by controlling the first actuator and the third actuator, so as to pivot the first leaf or each leaf into its open position, then by controlling the second actuator or by controlling the second actuator and the fourth actuator so as to move the first leaf or each leaf into its retracted position towards the front of the body. - The control unit is adapted to automatically execute the rear door closing sequence by controlling the second actuator or by controlling the second actuator and the fourth actuator, so as to move the first leaf or each leaf to the open position and to its operational position relative to the rear of the body towards the rear of the body, then by controlling the first actuator or by controlling the first actuator and the third actuator, so as to pivot the first leaf or each leaf into its body closing position. - The rear door is equipped with a locking / unlocking system for the first leaf or both leaves, which is controlled by the control unit. - The control unit is adapted to, once the first leaf or each leaf has been brought into its closed position of the body, control the locking / unlocking system so as to lock the first leaf or each leaf, then to control the second actuator or to control the second actuator and the fourth actuator, so as to compress the door seals of the body by means of the first leaf or the two leaves.

[0017] The invention also relates to an industrial vehicle comprising a supporting chassis on which is mounted a body equipped with a system for automatic opening and automatic closing of the rear door of the body as defined above. Description of figures

[0018] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description below, which is given by way of example not limiting and non-exhaustive, and with reference to the appended drawings in which: - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is an isometric perspective view of an example of an industrial vehicle, of the semi-trailer type, which conforms to a particular variant embodiment of the invention and in which the rear door comprises two pivoting leaves which are closed. - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a partial view of the rear of the vehicle in [Fig.l] showing the underside of the body. - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a partial view of the rear of the vehicle in [Fig.l] showing the underside of the body with the left rear door leaf in the open position. - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a partial view of the rear of the vehicle in [Fig.l] which shows the underside of the body, with the left rear door leaf stored in the retracted position on the left side of the body. - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a side view of the rear of the vehicle in [Fig.4]. - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle of [Fig.5] in the VLVI section plane. - [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is an enlargement of part of [Fig.6]. - [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a synopsis of the main constituent elements of a automatic opening and closing system for the rear door of the body. Detailed description

[0019] [Fig.l] shows an example of an industrial vehicle 1, in the form of a semi-trailer, comprising a rolling carrier chassis 10, on which is mounted a body 11, which is adapted to be unloaded from the rear.

[0020] In the attached figures, the X axis represents the longitudinal direction, oriented from front to rear, of the body 11. The X' axis represents the longitudinal direction, oriented from rear to front of the body 11. The Y axis represents the transverse direction, oriented from right to left, of the body 11. The Z axis, which is perpendicular to the X and Y axes, represents the vertical direction, oriented from bottom to top, of the body 11. The plane (Y,Z) defines a vertical transverse plane of the body 11 and the plane (X,Z) defines a vertical longitudinal plane of the body 11.

[0021] The box may, indifferently according to the invention, be non-removable or be removable relative to the rolling carrier chassis 10, so as to be able to be placed on the ground.

[0022] The rolling carrier chassis 10 of the semi-trailer 1 is, in a manner known per se, capable of being coupled at the front to a towing vehicle (not shown) by means of a coupling device. When the semi-trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle, the rolling carrier chassis 10 of the semi-trailer rests at the rear on one or more axles and at the front on the towing vehicle by means of said coupling system, so that the towing vehicle supports part of the weight of the semi-trailer and its load.

[0023] The invention is not limited to an industrial vehicle of the semi-trailer type. In another variant of the invention, the industrial vehicle may also be a truck or a trailer comprising a body placed on a rolling carrier chassis.

[0024] In the example illustrated in the figures, the box 11 is of the bucket type open on top for its gravity loading with any type of products or materials, and more particularly in this example, but not exclusively, bulk products or materials such as for example, and in a non-exhaustive manner, bulk agricultural materials (cereals, beets, potatoes, etc.), earthwork materials or bulk waste (earth, sand, rubble, etc.).

[0025] The invention is not limited to a box of the open-topped skip type, but in another variant of the invention, the box 11 may be a closed container-type box, adapted to be loaded and unloaded from the rear.

[0026] In the particular example of the appended figures, this box 11 is of parallelepiped shape and comprises ([Fig.2]) a bottom 11a, ([Fig.l]) a front wall 11b, a rear wall 11c, and two side walls 11d and 11e forming the two lateral faces of the box 11. The bottom 11a and the walls 11b, 11c, 11d, 11c delimit an internal loading volume of the box 11.

[0027] Usually and optionally according to the invention, the upper edge of each side wall 11d, 11e of the body 11 forms or is provided with a longitudinal upper edge 11f, which projects slightly towards the outside of the body 11 relative to the external face of the side wall 11d, 11e. The distance L ([Fig.l]) between these two edges 11f, measured in the transverse direction Y, defines the maximum width of the body 11 and corresponds to the maximum transverse size of the body 11.

[0028] In a usual and optional manner according to the invention, each side wall 11d, 11e is further reinforced by means of external vertical stiffeners 11g ([Fig.l]), which are spaced in the longitudinal direction (axis X) of the body 11 and which are preferably entirely overhung by the upper longitudinal edges 11f.

[0029] The invention is not limited to a parallelepiped-shaped body, but can be applied to any body geometry and in particular can be applied to a half-round tipper type body. The body can for example be a half-round push tipper adapted in particular to the transport of bituminous products.

[0030] In order to allow the unloading of the box 11 from the rear, the rear wall 11c of the box 11 comprises a rear door 12, which comprises, in this particular example, two leaves 120a and 120b. Each leaf 120a, 120b is articulated in rotation about a vertical axis R.

[0031] In another variant of the invention, the rear door of the body may comprise a single leaf of larger dimension articulated in rotation around a vertical axis.

[0032] The body 11 is equipped with a system 13 for automatic opening and automatic closing of said rear door 12, which is specific to the invention and a particular variant embodiment of which will be described later.

[0033] Optionally according to the invention, the rear door 12 comprises ([Fig.2]) a locking / unlocking system 121 for rotating the two leaves 120a, 120b. This locking / unlocking system 121 more particularly comprises a rotating cremone bolt 121a that can be actuated in rotation by means of two jacks 121b, so as to be able to lock the two leaves 120a and 120b in rotation in their position for closing the body 11 ([Fig.1] and [Fig.2]) and to be able to unlock the two leaves 120a and 120b in rotation.

[0034] In another less sophisticated variant embodiment, the locking in rotation of the leaves 120a, 120b in their closed position, as well as their unlocking in rotation, can be carried out by means of a cremone bolt or equivalent that can be operated by hand or any other system.

[0035] With reference to [Fig. 5], the body 11 is articulated in rotation relative to the chassis 10, around a transverse axis of rotation 1 Ih, which is positioned at the rear of the chassis 10 and is oriented transversely to the vertical longitudinal plane (X,Z). In a manner known per se, the semi-trailer 1 is also equipped with one or more hydraulic lifting cylinders (not visible in the figures) which are usually mounted between the chassis 10 and the front of the body 11 and which make it possible to tilt the body 11 upwards and backwards around this axis 1 Ih, in order to unload the body 11 by gravity from the rear once the rear door 12 of the body has been opened (so-called tipping operation).

[0036] The box 11 can also, and optionally, be equipped with a roll-up tarpaulin which is interposed between the bottom 11a of the box 11 and the load and which, by unrolling, facilitates the sliding of the load towards the rear during a tipping operation.

[0037] In another variant embodiment of the invention, the body 11 may not be tilting, but may be mounted in a fixed position on the rolling carrier chassis 10. In this case, but not necessarily, the body is preferably equipped with additional means to facilitate its unloading from the rear, such as, for example, and in a known and non-exhaustive manner, the implementation of a moving floor or a mobile pusher shield, which is mounted inside the body and which can be actuated by at least one jack, in order to push the load towards the rear of the body.

[0038] System 13 for automatic opening and automatic closing of the rear door 12

[0039] In the particular variant of figures 1 to 8, for each leaf 120a, 120b, the system 13 for automatic opening and automatic closing of the rear door 12 comprises a sliding external carriage 130, which is mounted on the external face of one of the side walls of the body 11, namely the side wall 11c for the leaf 120a and the side wall 11d for the leaf 120b.

[0040] In the figures, only the first carriage 130 associated with the leaf 120a is visible, knowing that the second carriage 130 associated with the other leaf 120b and mounted on the external face of the other side wall 11d is identical to this first carriage 130.

[0041] Each sliding carriage 130 is mounted on the side wall 11c (11d) while being movable and guided in translation in the longitudinal direction X front / rear of the body 11 and in the longitudinal direction X' rear / front of the body 11 between two extreme positions: a “rear” position, illustrated in figures 1 to 3 and 5, and a “front” position, illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0042] More particularly, with reference to figures 1 and 5 to 7, each carriage 130 comprises a rigid vertical plate 130a, of small thickness, for example a steel sheet, which is movable and guided in translation between said front position and said rear position, by means of two external longitudinal slides 131 ([Fig.l]), which are preferably rectilinear and fixed to the side wall 11c (11d) while being spaced vertically from each other.

[0043] This plate 130a is provided, for each slide 131, with several rolling rollers 130b ([Fig.7]), which are aligned and spaced in the longitudinal direction (X) of the body 11 and which are mounted in the slide 131.

[0044] In the example of [Fig.7], each slide 131 more particularly comprises a C-shaped metal profile 131a, which forms a rolling path for the rollers 130b. Each rolling roller 130b is further associated with an upper pad 130c, which is fixed to the plate 130a, and which is positioned in the profile 131a, above and in contact with the rolling roller 130b while being in sliding contact with the profile 131a. This pad 130c makes it possible to hold the rolling roller 130b vertically in the profile 131a and to prevent the plate 130a from coming unhinged.

[0045] With reference to [Fig.l], each leaf 120a (120b) is fixed to the plate 130a, at the vertical rear edge of the plate 131a, by means of hinges 132, which allow rotational articulation of each leaf 120a (120b), relative to the plate 130a, around the vertical axis of rotation R.

[0046] Each leaf 120a, 120b has a so-called “operational” position, in which the movable plate 130a is in its extreme rear position of [Fig.l] or 3, and in which each leaf 120a, 120b, once unlocked, can pivot 90° between: - a so-called “closed” position of the box 11, which is illustrated in figures 1 and 2 and in which the leaf 120a (120b) is oriented parallel to the vertical transverse plane (Y, Z) of the box 11, and - a so-called “open” position, which is illustrated in [Fig. 3], and in which the leaf 120a (120b) is oriented parallel to the vertical longitudinal plane (X, Z) of the body 11 [in other words perpendicular to the vertical transverse plane (Y, Z) of the body 11] and is substantially in alignment with the external face of the side wall 11e (in alignment with the external face of the side wall 11d for the leaf 120b).

[0047] With reference to [Fig. 2], the system 13 for automatic opening and automatic closing of the rear door 12 comprises, for each leaf 120a, 120b, an actuator 133 which generally has the function, when the leaf is in said operational position and is unlocked in rotation, of pivoting the leaf 120a (120b) around its vertical axis R between said closed position of the body illustrated in [Fig. 1] or 2 and said open position of [Fig. 3].

[0048] In the particular embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, this actuator 133 comprises a cylinder 1330, which may be a double-acting cylinder of the pneumatic or hydraulic type or an electric cylinder.

[0049] This jack 1330 is preferably positioned under the body 11.

[0050] The body 1330a of this jack 1330 is fixed to the lower part of the plate 130a, by means of a rigid connecting piece 1331, being articulated in rotation (articulation 1332) around a vertical axis of rotation relative to this connecting piece 1331. The distal end of the movable rod 1330b of this jack 1330 is fixed to the lower part of the leaf 120a (120b), being articulated in rotation (articulation 1333) around a vertical axis of rotation relative to the leaf 120a (120b).

[0051] When the leaf 120a is in its open position of [Fig. 3], the rod 1330b of the cylinder 1330 is in its final extended position. To pivot the leaf 120a into its closed position of [Fig. 2], it is sufficient to control the cylinder 1330 so as to retract the rod 1330b to a final retracted position, the rod 1330b pulling on the leaf 120a and thus allowing it to pivot into its closed position. Conversely, when the leaf 120a is in its closed position of [Fig.2], to pivot the leaf 120a into its open position of [Fig.3], it is sufficient to control the jack 1330 so as to extend the rod 1330b and bring it into its final extended position, the rod 1330b pushing the leaf 120a and thus allowing it to pivot into its open position of [Fig.3].

[0052] The cylinder 1330 may have a different positioning than that of figures 1 to 3 and may be replaced by any equivalent actuator fulfilling the same function.

[0053] With reference to [Fig.2], the automatic opening and closing system 13 at The rear door automation 12 comprises, for each plate 130a, a second actuator 134 which allows: - when the plate 130a is in its rear position and the leaf 120a (120b) is in its open position ([Fig. 3]), to drive in translation, towards the front (direction X') of the body 11, the plate 130a, the leaf 120a (120b) fixed to this plate and the actuator 133, to a position of the leaf called "retracted", in which the plate 130a is in its front position and the leaf 120a (120b) is stored outside and along one side of the body 11, that is to say is stored in the particular example of [Fig. 4] along the external face of the side wall 11e for the leaf 120a (of the side wall 11d for the leaf 120b). - when the plate 130a is in its front position and the leaf 120a (120b) is in its retracted position of [Fig.4], to drive in translation, towards the rear (direction X) of the body 11, the plate 130a, the leaf 120a (120b) fixed to this plate and the actuator 133, until bringing the plate 130a into its rear position of [Fig.3], the leaf 120a (120b) being in the open position.

[0054] In the particular example of [Fig. 2], and in a non-limiting manner of the invention, this actuator 134 comprises a ball screw 1340, which is positioned under the bottom 11a of the box 11 and an electric motor 1341 making it possible to drive the ball screw 1340 in rotation in both directions of rotation. This ball screw 1340 is rotatably mounted on two front and rear bearings 1342, fixed under the bottom 11a, and the nut 1340a of the ball screw 1340 is fixed to the plate 130a of the mobile carriage 130, by means of the aforementioned connecting piece 1331. Rotation in one direction or the other of the ball screw 1340 makes it possible, by means of the nut 1340a, to push the plate 130a towards the rear of the body 11 and conversely to pull the plate 130a towards the front of the body 11. The two extreme rear ([Fig.2]) and front ([Fig.4]) positions of the plate 130a can be detected by means of end-of-travel sensors or by means of a time delay.

[0055] In another variant, the ball screw 1340 may have a different positioning, and may for example be positioned in a longitudinal housing of the side wall lie (lld) of the body.

[0056] In another variant, the ball screw 1340 can be replaced by any other type of actuator fulfilling the same function, that is to say allowing the leaf 120a (120b) to be moved longitudinally from its operational and open position of [Fig. 3] to its retracted position of [Fig. 4] and vice versa. For example, and in a non-exhaustive manner, the second actuator 134 can for example comprise a translational drive system of the pinion / chain type or of the toothed wheel / rack type or of the jack type.

[0057] When the leaf 120a (120b) is in the retracted position ([Fig.4]), the leaf 120a (120b) and the plate 130a are positioned on the side of the body 11 under one 1 If ([Fig.6]) of the upper longitudinal edges, preferably being entirely overhung by said edge 1 If. Thus, advantageously, the leaf 120a (120b) and the plate 130a do not protrude laterally from the edge 1 If and therefore do not increase the lateral size of the body 11. In addition, during their opening kinematics and during their closing kinematics, the leaves 120a, 120b never extend laterally beyond this maximum volume of the body 11.

[0058] Furthermore, in the retracted position of [Fig.4], the leaf 120a (120b) and the plate 130a are preferably positioned entirely on the side of the box without protruding at the rear of the box 11, which advantageously reduces the space requirement at the rear of the open box 11, in particular during unloading operations.

[0059] Operation of the system 13 for automatic opening and automatic closing of the rear door 12

[0060] With reference to [Fig. 8], the system 13 for automatically opening and closing the rear door 12 comprises a control unit 1335, for example in the form of a programmable controller, which is programmed to automatically carry out the successive steps of a sequence for automatically opening the rear door 12 and the successive steps of a sequence for automatically closing the rear door 12.

[0061] This control unit 1335 can be positioned in a protective housing fixed to the body 11 or can be installed in the driver's cab of the industrial vehicle, that is to say for example in the cab of the towing vehicle of the semi-trailer 1.

[0062] The automatic opening sequence and the automatic closing sequence can be triggered manually or vocally by an operator, in practice the driver of the vehicle, by means of a suitable control interface 1336.

[0063] This control interface 1336 can preferably be positioned inside the driver's cab of the industrial vehicle, so as to allow the driver of this vehicle to trigger an automatic opening sequence or an automatic closing sequence of the rear door 12 from this cab, without having to leave the vehicle.

[0064] This control interface 1336 may for example be a simple control button with at least two positions (close / open). In a more sophisticated variant, this control interface 1336 may include a touch screen allowing the driver of the vehicle to select from a menu displayed on this screen, an opening command or a closing command.

[0065] In another variant, the driver may be equipped with a portable device, mobile phone or tablet type, communicating with the control unit 1335, and allowing the driver of the vehicle to remotely trigger an automatic opening sequence or an automatic closing sequence of the rear door 12. Example of automatic opening sequence

[0066] It is assumed that the two leaves 120a, 120b of the rear door 12 are in their position for closing the body 11 and are locked in rotation (Figures 1 and 2).

[0067] When the control unit 1335 receives an opening command, it automatically executes the following successive steps (01) to (03):

[0068] (01) The control unit 1335 controls the rotational unlocking of the two leaves 120a, 120b by means of the jacks 121b and the cremone bolt 121a. Alternatively, this unlocking could be carried out manually before triggering the opening sequence.

[0069] (02) The control unit 1335 controls the actuators 133 so as to do pivoting the leaf 120a into its open position ([Fig.3]) and symmetrically pivoting the leaf 120b into its open position, each leaf 120a, 120b in the open position being oriented parallel to the vertical longitudinal plane (X,Z) of the body 11 and being substantially in alignment with the external face of the corresponding side wall 11e or 11d; the actuators 133 can be controlled sequentially or in parallel.

[0070] (03) The control unit 1335 controls the actuator 134 associated with the leaf 120a, so as to slide forward (X direction) the sliding carriage 130 / leaf 120a / actuator 133 assembly, until the leaf 120a is in its retracted position illustrated in [Fig.4] and also similarly controls the actuator 134 associated with the other leaf 120b, so as to slide forward the other sliding carriage 130 / leaf 120b / actuator 133 assembly until the leaf 120b is in its retracted position. These two controls can be carried out sequentially or in parallel.

[0071] The final retracted position of each leaf 120a, 120b can usually be detected by means of end-of-travel sensors ([Fig.8]) associated with each actuator 134 or in another variant by means of a time delay.

[0072] Once opened, the box 11 can be unloaded from the rear and can optionally also be loaded from the rear. Example of automatic closing sequence

[0073] It is assumed that the two leaves 120a, 120b of the rear door 12 are in their retracted position along the body 11 (Figures 4).

[0074] When the control unit 1335 receives a closing command, it executes automatically the following successive steps (Fl) to (F3):

[0075] (Fl) The control unit 1335 controls the actuator 134 associated with the leaf 120a, so as to slide backwards (direction X') the sliding carriage 130 / leaf 120a / actuator 133 assembly into the operational position at the rear of the body 11 which is illustrated in [Fig. 3], and also similarly controls the actuator 134 associated with the other leaf 120b, so as to slide backwards the other sliding carriage 130 / leaf 120b / actuator 133 assembly into the operational position at the rear of the body 11. These two controls can be carried out sequentially or in parallel. The operational position at the rear of the body 11 of each leaf 120a, 120b can usually be detected by means of limit switches associated with each actuator 134 or in another variant by means of a time delay.

[0076] (F2) The control unit 1335 controls the actuators 133 (so as to make pivot each leaf 120a, 120b into its position for closing the box 11 ([Fig.l] and [Fig.2]); the actuators 133 can be controlled sequentially or in parallel.

[0077] (F3) The control unit 1335 controls the rotational locking of the two leaves 120a, 120b by means of the jacks 121b and the cremone bolt 121a. Alternatively, this locking could be carried out manually.

[0078] In a particular variant embodiment, the closing sequence may optionally include an additional step, between the two steps (F2) and (F3) mentioned above, consisting of controlling the actuators 134, in order to compress the door seals of the body 11 by means of the two leaves 120a and 120b.

Claims

Claims

1. Industrial vehicle body (11) comprising a rear door (12) comprising at least one first leaf (120a), which is articulated in rotation about a first vertical axis (R) and which comprises an operational position in which said first leaf (120a) can pivot in rotation between a position for closing the body (11) and an open position in which it is oriented parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane (X,Z) of the body (11), said first leaf (120a) being movable in translation towards the front of the body from said operational position and in its open position to a retracted position in which it is stored outside the body (11) and along a first lateral face (11e) of the body (11), and reciprocally in translation towards the rear of the body from said retracted position to said operational position,said body being equipped with a system (13) for automatic opening and automatic closing of said rear door (12), which comprises a first actuator (133) adapted to actuate the first leaf (120a) in rotation between said closed position of the body and said open position when the first leaf is in said operational position, and a second actuator (134) adapted to move the first leaf into the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position.,

2. Industrial vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the system (13) for automatically opening and closing said rear door (12) comprises at least one first carriage (130), which is mounted outside the body on the first lateral face (11e) of the body (11), wherein said first leaf (120a) is integral with the first carriage (130) by being articulated in rotation about the first vertical axis (R) relative to the carriage (130), wherein said first carriage (130) is movable in translation towards the front of the body (11) and makes it possible to drive the first leaf (120a) from said operational position to said retracted position, and conversely is movable in translation towards the rear of the body and makes it possible to drive the first leaf (120a) from said retracted position to said operational position,wherein the first actuator (133) is carried by the first carriage (130) and is adapted to actuate the first leaf (120a) in rotation relative to the first carriage (130) between,

3.

4. said closed position of the box (11) and said open position when the first leaf (120a) is in said operational position, and in which the second actuator (134) is fixed to the box (11) and is adapted to move in translation forwards the first carriage (130) and the first leaf (120a) in the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position, and reciprocally backwards between said retracted position and said operational position. Industrial vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the rear door (12) comprises a second leaf (120b) which is articulated in rotation about a second vertical axis (R) and which has an operational position in which said second leaf (120b) can pivot in rotation between a position for closing the body (11) and an open position in which it is oriented parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane (X,Z) of the body (11), said second leaf (120b) being movable in translation towards the front of the body from said operational position and in its open position to a retracted position in which it is stored outside the body (11) and along a second lateral face (11d) of the body (11), and reciprocally in translation towards the rear of the body from said retracted position to said operational position,wherein the system (13) for automatically opening and closing said rear door (12) comprises a third actuator (133) adapted to actuate the second leaf (120b) in rotation between said closed position of the body and said open position when the second leaf (120b) is in said operational position, and a fourth actuator (134) adapted to move the second leaf (120b) into the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position., Industrial vehicle body according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the system (13) for automatically opening and closing said rear door (12) comprises a second carriage (130) which is mounted outside the body on the second lateral face (11d) of the body (11), wherein the second leaf (120b) is integral with the second carriage (130) by being articulated in rotation about the second vertical axis (R) relative to the second carriage (130), wherein the second carriage (130) is movable in translation towards the front of the body (11) and makes it possible to drive the second leaf (120b) from said operational position to said retracted position, and vice versa is movable in translation towards the rear of the body and makes it possible to drive the second leaf (120b) from said retracted position to said operational position, in which the third actuator (133) is carried by the second carriage (130) and is adapted to actuate the second leaf (120a; 120b) in rotation relative to the second carriage (130) between said closed position of the body (11) and said open position when the second leaf (120b) is in said operational position, and in which the fourth actuator (134) is fixed to the body (11) and is adapted to move in translation towards the front the second carriage (130) and the second leaf (120a;120b) in the open position, between said operational position and said retracted position, and reciprocally rearwardly between said retracted position and said operational position.;

5. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 2 or 4, in which each carriage (130) is slidably mounted in two longitudinal slides (131) which are spaced vertically.

6. An industrial vehicle body according to claim 5, wherein each carriage (130) comprises rollers (130b) positioned in the slides (131).

7. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 2, 4, 5, 6, in which each carriage (130) comprises a vertical plate (130a) capable of sliding in translation from the rear to the front of the body between a rear position and a front position and vice versa.

8. Industrial vehicle body according to claim 7, wherein each leaf (120a; 120b) is pivotally hinged by means of hinges (132) fixed in the region of the rear edge of said plate (130a).

9. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the first actuator (133) is positioned under the body (11), and in which, if applicable, the third actuator (133) is positioned under the body (11).

10. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first actuator (133) comprises a cylinder (1330), preferably a double-acting cylinder, and wherein where appropriate the third actuator (133) comprises a cylinder (1330), preferably a double-acting cylinder.

11. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the second actuator (134) is positioned under the body (11), and in which, if applicable, the fourth actuator (134) is positioned under the body (11).

12. An industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second actuator (134) comprises a ball screw (1340) and wherein, if applicable, the fourth actuator (134) comprises a ball screw (1340).

13. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said at least first leaf (120a) or each leaf (120a; 120b), once stored in the retracted position, is entirely positioned along the lateral face (11e; 11d) of the body (11), without protruding at the rear of the body (11).

14. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the body (11) comprises two upper longitudinal edges (1 If) and wherein said at least one leaf (120a) in the retracted position or each leaf (120a; 120b) in the retracted position is positioned under one of the upper longitudinal edges (1 If) while being entirely overhung by said upper longitudinal edge (no.

15. Industrial vehicle body according to claim 14 and any one of claims 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 wherein said first carriage (130) or each carriage (130) is positioned under one of the upper longitudinal edges (llf) while being entirely overhung by said upper longitudinal edge (llf).

16. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the system (13) for automatically opening and closing said rear door (12) comprises a control interface (1336), which allows a user to trigger a sequence for opening the rear door and to trigger a sequence for closing the rear door, and a control unit (1335) which is adapted to control the first actuator (133) and the second actuator (134) or where appropriate the first actuator (133), the second actuator (134), the third actuator (133) and the fourth actuator (134), so as to automatically execute the sequence for opening the rear door or the sequence for closing the rear door triggered by the user.

17. An industrial vehicle body according to claim 16, wherein the control unit (1335) is adapted to automatically execute the sequence of opening the rear door by controlling the first actuator (133) or by controlling the first actuator (133) and the third actuator (133), so as to pivot the first leaf (120a) or each leaf (120a; 120b) into its open position, then by controlling the second actuator (134) or by controlling the second actuator (134) and the fourth actuator (134) so as to move the first leaf (120a) or each leaf (120a; 120b) into its retracted position towards the front of the body (11).

18. Industrial vehicle body according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the control unit (1335) is adapted to automatically execute the rear door closing sequence by controlling the second actuator (134) or by controlling the second actuator (134) and the fourth actuator (134), so as to move towards the rear of the body (11) the first leaf (120a) or each leaf (120a; 120b) in the open position and to its operational position relative to the rear of the body (11), then by controlling the first actuator (133) or by controlling the first actuator (133) and the third actuator (133), so as to pivot the first leaf (120a) or each leaf (120a; 120b) into its position for closing the body (11).

19. Industrial vehicle body according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the rear door (12) is equipped with a locking / unlocking system (121) of the first leaf (120a) or of the two leaves (120a; 120b), which is controlled by the control unit (1335).

20. Industrial vehicle body according to claim 19, in which the control unit (1335) is adapted to, once the first leaf (120a) or each leaf (120a; 120b) has been brought into its position for closing the body (11), control the locking / unlocking system (121) so as to lock the first leaf (120a) or each leaf (120a; 120b), then to control the second actuator (134) or to control the second actuator (134) and the fourth actuator (134), so as to compress the door seals of the body (11) by means of the first leaf (120a) or of the two leaves (120a; 120b).

21. Industrial vehicle (1) comprising a supporting chassis (10) on which is mounted a body (11) equipped with a system (13) for opening au- automatic and automatic closing of the rear door (12) of the body (11) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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