VEHICLE TRANSPORT STRUCTURES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle transport structure (1a; 1b) comprising a base (3), stacking means (2) for said structure, and means (4) serving as a lifting bridge for a handling device. The base (3) comprises first and second parallel side members (3a, 3b) and a front cross member (3c). The base (3) is a U-shaped structure having an opening (3d) opposite the front cross member (3c) for the passage of a vehicle. The base also includes two parallel guide tracks (5, 6) fixed longitudinally to said first and second side members (3a, 3b) and positioned on the inner edge of the U-shape. Said guide tracks (5, 6) are adapted for the passage and positioning of a vehicle by rolling the vehicle along said guide tracks through the opening (3d). Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE TRANSPORT STRUCTURE

[0001] The field of the invention relates to a vehicle transport structure, a truck for the transport structure and a method for loading such a truck.

[0002] Currently, the transport of new vehicles from a manufacturing site to sales outlets is carried out using specific car carrier trucks equipped with a tilting ramp to load the vehicles onto two superimposed platforms. In the case of microcars, which are generally less than 2.50 meters long and less than 1.50 meters wide, a problem is that these trucks travel with a lot of empty space, particularly widthwise, resulting in a loss of loading space. These trucks are therefore unsuitable, leading to increased costs and a more unfavorable environmental impact on the manufacturing logistics for these vehicles. Manufacturers are therefore seeking to improve the logistics of microcar vehicles by using standard trucks.

[0003] Prior art is known from patent document WO0069677A1 describing a vehicle loading platform that can be mounted in a container. This structure provides a loading bridge configured as a movable flap designed for loading vehicles and optimizing loading space by allowing the roof of vehicles loaded on the lower deck to pass through a space on the upper deck. However, this platform is not optimal for loading microcars because there is still a loss of width.

[0004] Patent document FR2856667A1 is also known, describing a crate for transporting equipment, particularly equipment that can be transported after purchase on road trailers towed by a motor vehicle. This structure is stackable and allows for the stacking of several crates. It also comprises a rectangular frame including two lateral longitudinal members and two cross members made from metal profiles. The crates are stacked by means of four posts on the lower crate that fit into four openings on the upper crate. The crate also includes wheel chocks that can also serve as lifting brackets for handling equipment.

[0005] The drawback of this structure is that it is not suitable for microcars with a height greater than these vehicles, as their stacking would exceed 3 meters in height, including the space occupied by the structure. It is therefore not possible to stack two microcars inside a standard truck.

[0006] There is therefore a need to address the aforementioned problems. One objective of the invention is to design a transport structure that allows two microcars to be stacked in a standard truck. Another objective is to optimize cargo space and reduce the environmental impact of vehicle transport logistics.

[0007] More specifically, the invention relates to a vehicle transport structure comprising a base, means for stacking said structure and means serving as a lifting bridge for a handling device, the base comprising a first and a second parallel side rails and a front cross member, the first and second side rails and the front cross member being made from metal profiles and being connected by their adjacent ends.

[0008] According to the invention, the base is a U-shaped structure having an opening opposite the front cross member and intended for the passage of a vehicle, and it further comprises two parallel guide tracks fixed longitudinally to said first and second longitudinal members and positioned on the inner edge of the U-shape, said guide tracks being adapted for the passage and positioning of a vehicle by rolling the vehicle on said guide tracks through the opening.

[0009] The transport structure according to the invention may include the following additional features, alone or in combination:

[0010] - Said guide tracks are arranged so as to form in a central area of the U shape a free space provided for, when said structure is stacked on another transport structure, the accommodation of a pavilion of a lower vehicle loaded on said other structure.

[0011] - The means serving as a lifting bridge are made by means of through holes the first and second stringers, said orifices being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first and second stringers.

[0012] - The means serving as a lifting bridge are made by third and fourth parallel stringers assembled by central cross members and arranged in the central area of ​​the U-shape, said third and fourth stringers being fixed on one side to said guide tracks by their longitudinal edges and, on the other side to the front cross member by ends, said third and fourth stringers being made from hollow metal profiles and having openings on opposite ends.

[0013] - The guide tracks are made from plates made of material metallic with a thickness between 4mm and 10mm.

[0014] According to the invention, an assembly for the transport of two vehicles comprising at least two transport structures according to any one of the preceding embodiments.

[0015] An assembly is provided for the transport of two stacked vehicles in which one of said stacked transport structures is a lower transport structure according to the previous embodiments comprising the third and fourth parallel longitudinal members assembled by central cross members and arranged in the central area of ​​the U-shape, and one of said stacked transport structures is an upper transport structure according to the previous embodiments in which the means serving as a lifting bridge are made by means of openings passing through the first and second longitudinal members, said openings being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first and second longitudinal members.

[0016] A transport truck is also provided, comprising a loading platform equipped with at least one assembly of any of the preceding embodiments.

[0017] A method for loading such a transport truck is further provided, comprising the following successive steps:

[0018] - the placement on the ground of a first and a second transport structure of said together,

[0019] - the loading of a first vehicle by rolling the first vehicle onto the first transport structure,

[0020] - stacking the first transport structure onto the second structure of transportation,

[0021] - the loading of a second vehicle by rolling the second vehicle onto the second transport structure,

[0022] - stacking the assembly on the truck's loading platform.

[0023] According to a variant of the method, stacking the assembly consists of loading the first and second vehicles so as to arrange the longitudinal axis of the vehicles perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the truck.

[0024] The invention is a vehicle transport structure, particularly for vehicles belonging to the micro-city car category, that optimizes the loading space of a transport truck. Thanks to the invention, the truck platform can be loaded by stacking the vehicles and arranging them perpendicular to the truck's longitudinal axis. The invention advantageously allows two vehicles to be stacked in a space less than 3 meters high.

[0025] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, which includes embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] [Fig. 1] represents a transport assembly according to the invention allowing two vehicles to be stacked in a truck.

[0027] [Fig.2] represents a transport truck in which several transport structures according to the invention are loaded.

[0028] [Fig.3] schematically represents a perspective view of a first embodiment of the transport structure according to the invention.

[0029] [Fig.4] schematically represents a top view of the first embodiment of the transport structure according to the invention.

[0030] [Fig.5] schematically represents a perspective view of a second embodiment of the transport structure according to the invention.

[0031] [Fig.6] graphically represents the method of loading a transport truck equipped with a transport unit according to the invention.

[0032] [Fig.7] schematically represents two variant embodiments of an assembly according to the invention comprising two stacked transport structures.

[0033] In [Fig. 1], a preferred embodiment of a transport assembly 1 according to the invention is schematically illustrated in perspective view in a stacked configuration. This configuration comprises a first upper transport structure 1a stacked on a second lower transport structure 1b. The transport structures 1a and 1b are separable from each other. In a separate configuration, where each structure 1a and 1b is placed on the ground, they offer the advantage of allowing the loading of a vehicle by rolling the vehicle before loading it onto a truck.

[0034] Each transport structure 1a and 1b comprises a base 3 including first and second parallel side members 3a and 3b and a front cross member 3c. The first and second side members 3a and 3b and the front cross member 3c are made from metal profiles and are connected at their adjacent ends. The metal profiles are joined by welding their sides using corner pieces provided for this purpose. Alternatively, the profiles can be joined by bolted connections using corner pieces. Other assembly methods for the side members and cross members are possible.

[0035] More specifically, for each transport structure 1a and 1b, the base 3 is a U-shaped structure with an opening 3d opposite the front cross member 3c, designed for the passage of a vehicle. The base 3 has a single front cross member 3c to facilitate the passage of a vehicle through the opening 3d when the transport structure is on the ground, ready for loading. The base 3 also has two parallel guide tracks 5 and 6 fixed longitudinally to the first and second longitudinal members 3a and 3b and positioned on the inner edge of the U-shape. The guide tracks 5 and 6 are adapted for the passage and positioning of a vehicle by rolling the vehicle. The guide tracks 5 and 6 are made from metal plates with a thickness between 4 mm and 10 mm, for example, 5 mm thick.

[0036] This configuration of the base and guide tracks allows a vehicle to be loaded into the transport structure while it is on the ground, so that the structure and vehicle can be loaded together onto the truck by stacking. A first advantage is that the structure can be stacked on top of another structure. A second advantage is that the structure can be loaded into the truck in several possible configurations to optimize loading space.

[0037] In [Fig. 2], a vehicle transport truck schematically illustrates the loading of micro-city cars onto its loading platform using a transport unit 1 according to the invention. In this example, the micro-city cars, measuring 2.41 m in length, 1.39 m in width, and 1.52 m in height, can be arranged so that the longitudinal axis of each vehicle is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the truck. The width of the truck platform is thus fully utilized.

[0038] Referring back to [Fig. 1], each transport structure 1a and 1b includes means for stacking with other transport structures and means serving as a lifting bridge. These means are made in various forms depending on their use in the upper or lower position of the transport structure and will be described in more detail for each variant in the following figures.

[0039] Figure 3 schematically represents the upper transport structure, the advantage of which is that it includes a free space 7 allowing the passage of the roof of another vehicle placed below between the wheels of the vehicle. In this upper transport structure, the guide tracks 5 and 6, positioned on the inner edge of the U-shape, have a width substantially equal to the width of the wheels of the vehicle to be loaded, thus leaving the free space 7 between the guide tracks for the roof of a vehicle loaded onto a lower structure.

[0040] In [Fig. 2], it can be seen that the roofs of the lower vehicles are positioned between the wheels of the upper vehicles in the underbody area. This optimizes the loading space vertically and ensures that the combined height of a transport unit 1 and the two loaded vehicles does not exceed 3 m. The transport structure can be used in a standard truck.

[0041] Furthermore, the first and second side members 3a and 3b of the base 3 have through holes 4. In this example, each side member has two through holes 4 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the side member. The holes 4 function as lifting lugs integrated into the structure of the base 3 for a handling device. They are positioned in a free area between the wheels of a vehicle when it is loaded onto the transport structure so as to allow the passage of a lifting fork through the holes in each side member.

[0042] Furthermore, the first and second longitudinal members 3a and 3b of the base 3 have lower openings 8 distributed at each corner of the base 3 and serving as interfaces for stacking posts of a lower structure. In addition, each guide track 5 and 6 has wheel chocks 9 to immobilize vehicles loaded onto the tracks.

[0043] Furthermore, the upper transport structure comprises deployable posts 13, which are rotationally movable and connected to the base 3 by connecting means 14. These connecting means 14 allow the posts 13 to pivot between a vertical deployed position and a horizontal stowed position. The posts have a length similar to the height of the vehicle to be loaded. When in the deployed position, the posts serve as visual cues for the handling operator regarding the structure's footprint and delimit the space occupied by the vehicle within the structure. The posts 13 also provide a protective function for the vehicle, preventing any of its parts from coming into contact with an external element, for example, the roof of the truck's loading platform. When the posts 13 are stowed horizontally against the base 3, the transport structure occupies less space.This makes empty transport easier.

[0044] Figure 4 schematically represents the upper transport structure in a top view during vehicle loading. The vehicle is loaded while the structure is on the ground and in motion.

[0045] Figure 5 schematically represents the lower transport structure 1b in perspective view. Identical to the upper structure, it comprises a base 3 with an external U-shaped frame and two parallel longitudinal beams 3a and 3b, and a front cross member 3c. The beams and the cross member are connected at their ends and are made of metal profiles. An opening opposite the front cross member allows a moving vehicle to pass over two guide tracks 5 and 6 made of metal plates with a thickness of, for example, between 4 mm and 10 mm. The metal plates of the guide tracks have the advantage of occupying little vertical space. The loading space can thus be optimized.

[0046] The base 3 further comprises, in the central area of ​​the U-shape, third and fourth parallel longitudinal members 10a and 10b assembled by central cross members 11 and fixed on one side to the guide tracks 5 and 6 by their longitudinal edges and, on the other side to the front cross member 3c by their ends. The third and fourth longitudinal members 10a and 10b are made from hollow metal profiles and have openings 12a and 12b on opposite ends. These third and fourth longitudinal members serve as lifting lugs integrated into the lower structure for a handling device. The location of the openings 12a and 12b on the rear side of the Structure 1b has the advantage of allowing it to be stacked lengthwise. These additional stringers and crossbeams on base 3 also reinforce the transport structure, particularly for the stacking operation.

[0047] Furthermore, the lower structure 1b comprises four stacking posts 2, each post being connected at one end to the base 3 by connecting means 15 and having at its upper end a recessed piece for engaging with an opening in the upper structure. These connecting means 15 allow the posts 2 to pivot between a vertically deployed position and a horizontally stored position. The posts 2 in the deployed position perform the stacking function. In the stored position against the base 3, the transport structure 1b occupies less space when empty of its load.

[0048] Figure 6 shows a sequence of a loading method for a transport assembly comprising a stacked lower and upper structure. In a first step E1, the method involves placing the lower structure 1b and the upper structure 1a on the ground. The posts 2 and 13 are shown in their stowed position. In a second step E2, the method involves loading a first vehicle by rolling it onto the upper transport structure 1a. The posts 13 are in their deployed position. Next, the method includes a third step E3 of stacking the upper transport structure 1a onto the lower transport structure 1b. The posts 2 and 13 are in their deployed position. Finally, the method includes a fourth step E4 of loading a second vehicle by rolling it onto the lower transport structure 1b.The roof of the lower vehicle is housed in the underbody space of the upper vehicle between the wheels. This optimizes the vertical loading space. The process then includes a fifth step, E5, of stacking the two stacked transport structures (1a and 1b) onto the truck's loading platform. The posts (13) serve as visual guides to assist the handling operator during the loading operation.

[0049] In an optimal vehicle loading mode, this last stacking step of the assembly consists of loading the first and second vehicles so that the longitudinal axis of the vehicles is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the truck.

[0050] Finally, this sequence is repeated until the truck is fully loaded during a sixth step E6 of the loading process. It is possible to load sixteen micro-city cars onto a transport truck platform.

[0051] In [Fig. 7], two embodiments of a transport assembly are shown. In a first preferred embodiment 7A, the assembly comprises an upper structure incorporating integrated lifting brackets made in the The transport system consists of external side members and a free space between the guide rails to allow the passage of a vehicle roof, and a lower structure incorporating integrated lifting brackets within the internal side members of the base. In a second embodiment, 7B, the transport assembly comprises two identical stacked transport structures. This structure reinforces the rigidity of the transport assembly.

[0052] A transport assembly comprising three or more stacked structures is also envisaged.

[0053] The invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention by combining, for example, the different features above taken alone or in combination, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A vehicle transport structure (1a; 1b) comprising a base (3), stacking means (2) for said structure, and means (4) serving as a lifting bridge for a handling device, the base (3) comprising first and second parallel side rails (3a, 3b) and a front cross member (3c), the first and second side rails (3a, 3b) and the front cross member (3c) being made from metal profiles and being connected at their adjacent ends, characterized in that the base (3) is a U-shaped structure having an opening (3d) opposite the front cross member (3c) and intended for the passage of a vehicle, and in that it further comprises two parallel guide tracks (5, 6) fixed longitudinally to said first and second side rails (3a, 3b) and positioned on the inner edge of the U-shape, said guide tracks (5,6) being adapted for the passage and positioning of a vehicle by rolling the vehicle on said guide tracks through the opening (3d).

2. Transport structure (la) according to claim 1 in which said guide tracks (5, 6) are arranged so as to form in the central area of ​​the U-shape a free space (7) provided for, when said structure is stacked on another transport structure, the housing of a canopy of a lower vehicle loaded on said other structure.

3. Transport structure (la) according to claim 1 or 2 in which the means serving as a lifting bridge are made by means of orifices (4) passing through the first and second longitudinal members (3a, 3b), said orifices (4) being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first and second longitudinal members (3a, 3b).

4. Transport structure (1b) according to claim 1, wherein the means serving as a lifting bridge are constituted by parallel third and fourth longitudinal members (10a, 10b) assembled by central cross members (11) and arranged in the central area of ​​the U-shape, said third and fourth longitudinal members (10a, 10b) being fixed on the one hand to said guide tracks (5, 6) by their longitudinal edges and, on the other hand, to the front cross member (3c) by their ends, said third and fourth longitudinal members (10a, 10b) being made from hollow metal profiles and having openings (12a, 12b) on opposite ends.

5. Transport structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the guide tracks (5, 6) are made from plates made of metallic material with a thickness between 4mm and 10mm.

6. Assembly for the transport of two vehicles comprising at least two transport structures according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Assembly (1) for the transport of two stacked vehicles in which one of said stacked transport structures is a lower transport structure according to claim 4 and one of said stacked transport structures is an upper transport structure according to claim 3 stacked on said lower structure.

8. Transport truck comprising a loading platform equipped with at least one assembly (1) according to claim 6 or 7.

9. A method of loading a transport truck according to claim 8 comprising the following successive steps: - placing (E1) on the ground a first (E1) and a second transport structure (E2) of said assembly (E1), - loading (E2) a first vehicle by rolling the first vehicle onto the first transport structure (E1), - stacking (E3) the first transport structure (E1) onto the second transport structure (E2), - loading (E4) a second vehicle by rolling the second vehicle onto the second transport structure (E2), - stacking (E5) the assembly (E1) onto the truck's loading platform.

10. A loading method according to claim 9 in which the stacking (E5) of the assembly (1) consists of loading the first and second vehicles so as to arrange the longitudinal axis of the vehicles perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the truck.

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