Fender structure for transport vehicle

Abstract

To provide a fender structure of a transport vehicle that can be attached and detached in a narrow space.SOLUTION: A fender structure for a transport vehicle includes a fender 8 supported by a bent bracket 21 projecting in the vehicle widthwise direction from a fastening portion 5 provided at the lower part of a tank so as to cover a tire from the upper space. The bent bracket 21 is divided into: a support member 32 fastened to the fastening portion 5; and a projecting member 33 with a bent portion. This fender structure for a transport vehicle also includes coupling portions 45 and 46 that attache or detach the support member 32 to or from the projecting member 33 integrally formed with the fender 8. For example, the fender 8 covers from the upper space of the tire to the fastening portion 5 provided at the lower part of the tank.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fender structure for a transport vehicle such as a tank truck or a tank trailer, which enables the fender to be attached and detached in a narrow space. [Background technology]

[0002] Transport vehicles such as tank trailers and tank trucks, which are towed by or integrated with a tractor and transport LNG (liquefied natural gas) or the like by filling their tanks with the fuel, are provided with fenders that cover the tires from above, similar to other trucks. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional fender structure in a tank trailer disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 1. In this transport vehicle, a subframe 103 is joined to the bottom of a tank 101, and the tank 101 is mounted to a vehicle body frame on which a tire 105 is journaled via the subframe 103. A bent bracket 110 that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the subframe 103, and a fender 120 is further detachably attached to the bent bracket 110.

[0003] This tank trailer has two axles, two left and two right tires 105 arranged at the front and rear, and a fender 120 is provided to cover the upper parts of the four tires 105. The fender structure has a bent bracket 110 extending from the subframe 103 to the outside in the vehicle width direction (the right side in the figure), and the fender 120 placed on the bent bracket 110 can be attached and detached by screwing. The bent bracket 110 is configured in a roughly V-shape with an inclined portion 113 extending outward and upward along the curved surface of the tank from a fixed portion 111 joined to the subframe 103, and a horizontal portion 115 above the tires 105. The plate-shaped fender 120 is formed to a size that covers the upper surface of the tires 115 with the entire horizontal portion 115 and a part of the inclined portion 113. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-33888 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, in the conventional fender structure described above, the fender 120 is configured with a dimension shorter than the bent bracket 110 extending from the subframe 103. In other words, when viewed in the vehicle body width direction, the end of the fender 120 is separated from the subframe 103 on the inside side where the tire 105 is located, leaving a gap with no partition between the tire 105 and the tank 101. As a result, mud and other particles splashed by the tire 105 adhere to the tank 101 through the gap, which deteriorates the paint on the tank 101 and, depending on the degree of deterioration, can cause rust.

[0006] On the other hand, in the case of a tank trailer, the piping 200 is located above the fender 120 in the vehicle body longitudinal direction along the tank, and there is only a small space K between the upper surface of the bent bracket 110 and the piping 200. In such a place, the conventional fender 120 is removed by moving it upward and pulling it outward in the vehicle body width direction as shown by the dashed line and arrow, and then inserted in the reverse direction and bolted for installation. Since such installation and removal work is performed in a small space K, the three-dimensional dimensions (vertical dimensions) of the fender bent in an "L" shape cannot be increased, and the conventional fender 120 has a short inner dimension (part corresponding to the inclined part 113). This has caused concerns about the occurrence of rust as described above.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a fender structure for a transport vehicle that enables the fender to be attached and detached in a narrow space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The fender structure for a transport vehicle of the present invention has a fender supported to cover the above of the tire on a bent bracket that protrudes widthwise from a fixed part provided on the lower part of the tank, and the bent bracket is divided into a support member fixed to the fixed part and an overhanging member with a bent part, and has a connecting part that allows the overhanging member which is integrated with the fender to be attached and detached from the support member. Effect of the Invention

[0009] With the above configuration, even if the fender is large enough to cover from above the tire to the fixed part provided at the bottom of the tank, the bent bracket supporting the fender makes it possible to remove the fender even in a narrow space by detaching the protruding member integrated with the fender from the support member fixed to the fixed part side. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a tank vehicle of a tank trailer, which is an example of a transport vehicle. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a side view of the bent bracket when the bent bracket and the fender are attached to a tank truck. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a side view of the bent bracket when removing the bent bracket and the fender. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bent bracket when attached and detached, taken along the line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional fender structure for a tank trailer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment of a fender structure for a transport vehicle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a tank vehicle of a tank trailer, which is an example of a transport vehicle. As shown in the figure, in the tank vehicle 1 of this tank trailer, a tank 2 is mounted integrally on a body frame on which tires 3 serving as rear wheels are supported. In the tank trailer, the front side of the tank vehicle 1 is connected to a tractor (not shown) which is a towing vehicle equipped with a driver's seat (cabin). In this embodiment, the tank vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 excluding the tractor will be referred to as a tank trailer 1 in the following description.

[0012] The tank trailer 1 is a vehicle that fills its tank 2 with high-pressure liquefied gas such as LNG. To this end, piping is connected to the tank 2, and a valve operation box 2a is provided at the rear. The valve operation box 2a is configured with a fluid circuit equipped with fluid devices such as valves and gauges so that the supply and discharge of the liquefied gas can be controlled. The tank 2 is mounted on a vehicle body frame on which the tires 3 are journaled via a subframe 5, and is joined together by welding.

[0013] The tank trailer 1 has a running gear mounted on the rear of the body frame, and like the conventional example, it has two axles with four tires 3 arranged front and rear on each side. A jack 4 is provided on the front side of the tank trailer 1, which is connected to a tractor (not shown). Side guards 6 are provided on both sides of the body between the jack 4 and the tires 3 to prevent entrapment. And like the conventional example, the tank trailer 1 of this embodiment also has fenders 8 that cover the four tires 3 on each side.

[0014] Here, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fender, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fender from below. The fender 8 is three-dimensionally configured by roughly dividing it into four planes. Specifically, it is configured by an outer portion 11 located above the tire 3, an inner portion 12 inclined toward the tank 2, and a front portion 13 and a rear portion 14 inclined forward and backward, respectively. And, as shown in Fig. 3, a mudguard 9 is attached to the lower end of the rear portion 14 so as to be suspended. Such a fender 8 is supported by two types of brackets 21, 22 that protrude from the underside of the tank 2 outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0015] Two brackets 21 are provided corresponding to the outer portion 11 and inner portion 12 of the fender 8, and one bracket 22 is provided corresponding to each of the front portion 13 and rear portion 14 of the fender 8. Specifically, bracket 22 is a straight member (hereinafter referred to as straight bracket 22) to which the flat front portion 13 and rear portion 14 are respectively fixed, but bracket 21 is configured in a V-shape similar to the conventional example (hereinafter referred to as bent bracket 21) because bracket 21 is to which the outer portion 11 and inner portion 12 are fixed.

[0016] The tank 2 is integrally provided with a subframe 5 (see FIG. 4) similar to the subframe 103 shown in FIG. 7, and the bent bracket 21 and the straight bracket 22 are both fixed in a cantilevered state to the subframe 5, which corresponds to the fixed portion. Therefore, the bent bracket 21 and the straight bracket 22 protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from the subframe 5, and the fender 8 is fixed in a state where it is placed on top of them.

[0017] The bent bracket 21 configured in an "L" shape has approximately the same shape and dimensions as the conventional bracket 110 shown in Fig. 7. In contrast, the fender 8 that covers the entire longitudinal direction of the bent bracket 21 is formed so that the inner portion 12 extends deeply into the subframe 5, and therefore its three-dimensional dimensions (dimensions in the vertical direction) are larger than in the past. On the other hand, above the attached fender 8, piping 10 exists in a position in a very small space K as shown in Fig. 7. Therefore, the fender structure of this embodiment is configured so that the large, three-dimensionally formed fender 8 can be attached and detached even in such a narrow space K.

[0018] Figures 4 to 6 are views showing the bent bracket 21. Figure 4 is a side view of the bent bracket 21 and fender 8 when attached to the tank trailer 1, and Figure 5 is a side view of the bent bracket 21 and fender 8 when removed. Furthermore, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 5 when attached and removed. The bent bracket 21 is made up of a fixing member 31 joined to the subframe 5 by welding, a support member 32 formed integrally with the fixing member 31 by welding, and an overhanging member 33 that can be attached to and detached from the support member 32.

[0019] As in the conventional example, the bent bracket 21 is formed in an L-shape so that it is inclined upward from the fixed portion to the subframe 5 towards the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body and is horizontal on the tire 3. Therefore, the bent bracket 21 is broadly divided into an inclined portion 35 and a horizontal portion 36, and the inclined portion 35 in particular is divided into a support member 32 and an overhanging member 33, and is configured to be detachable.

[0020] In the bent bracket 21 of this embodiment, the overhanging member 33 which is a part of it is handled as one unit with the fender 8. That is, the front and rear straight brackets 22 shown in Fig. 3 are fixed to the subframe 5, and the fender 8 can be attached and detached to the straight bracket 22 by bolts. On the other hand, in the bent bracket 21, the fender 8 is fixed to the overhanging member 33 by bolts, but can be attached and detached to the support member 32 via the overhanging member 33.

[0021] Incidentally, the fender 8 of this embodiment is formed large enough to reach the subframe 5 provided under the tank 2, and when attached to the tank trailer 1, as shown in Fig. 3, it covers the tire 3 up to a position that reaches the subframe 5. However, since this would cause interference with the fixing member 31 and supporting member 32 of the bent bracket 21, the fender 8 has a rectangular cutout 16 formed at the corresponding end of the inner part 12 as shown in Fig. 2. And, in order to stabilize the fender 8 on the fixing member 31 side of the bent bracket 21, a spring plate 41 is provided on the upper surface of the supporting member 32 to hold down the end of the fender 8.

[0022] The fixed member 31, supporting member 32 and overhanging member 33 of the bent bracket 21 are made of channel steel with a U-shaped cross section, and are configured into the shape shown in the figure. That is, the supporting member 32 is inserted into the fixed member 31 at a specified angle and welded together to form a single unit. The overhanging member 33 is made by butting the ends of two channel steels together at a specified angle to form a bent portion, which is then welded to form an "U" shape. The bent bracket 21 thus separated into two parts has connecting portions at both ends of the supporting member 32 and the overhanging member 33 for butting them together to join them.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 6, connecting plates 43, 44 that cover the ends of the channel steel are joined by welding to the support member 32 and the protruding member 33, and through holes 431, 441 are formed in the center of the connecting plates 43, 44. The through holes 431, 441 are formed so that their central axes are on the same line when the support member 32 and the protruding member 33 are overlapped in the longitudinal direction as shown in Fig. 4. A bolt 45 is passed through the through holes 431, 441 from the support member 32 side, and is fastened with a nut 46 from the protruding member 33 side.

[0024] In this way, the bolt 45 and nut 46 are fastened with the connecting plates 43, 44 between them, and the overhang member 33 is fixed to the support member 32. At this time, since the connecting portion is supported by a single bolt 45, the overhang member 33 rotates. To prevent this rotation, the overhang member 33 is provided with a pair of side plates 47 on the parallel side portions. The side plates 47 are joined by welding so as to protrude in the longitudinal direction from the end of the overhang member 33 with the connecting plate 43. Therefore, when the overhang member 33 and the connecting plate 43 are joined, the side plates 47 sandwich the support member 32 from the width direction. The side plates 47 prevent the overhang member 33 from rotating after the connecting portion, and also serve as guide members for butting the connecting plates 43, 44 of the overhang member 33 against the support member 32 when the overhang member 33 and the connecting plate 43 are joined.

[0025] Therefore, according to the fender structure for the transport vehicle in this embodiment, the fender 8 covers from above the tire 3 to the subframe 5 provided under the tank, so mud and the like splashed up by the tire 3 can be prevented from adhering to the tank 2. And even with such a large fender 8, this embodiment is structured so that the overhanging member 33 of the bent bracket 21 can be attached and detached while remaining fixed, so work can be done without being affected by the piping located directly above. For example, when removing the fender 8, the fender 8 can be pulled outward simply by raising the overhanging member 33 from the fixed position shown by the dashed line in Fig. 5 to the position shown by the solid line, and the range of movement in the vertical direction during attachment and detachment can be accommodated within the space K shown in Fig. 7.

[0026] Attaching and detaching the fender 8 is easy because, for the bent bracket 21, which has a narrow working space, it is only necessary to fasten the nut 46 to the bolt 45 from the outside of the vehicle body. Furthermore, since the bolt 45 is designed to fall out if the nut 46 becomes loose or is not fixed due to damage, etc., it is easy and reliable to check whether the nut 46 has been left tightened on the bolt 45, that is, whether the bent bracket 21 has been left fastened. In this way, the fender structure of this embodiment improves the effectiveness of the fender itself while improving the ease of attachment and detachment.

[0027] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the tank trailer 1 has been taken as an example of a transport vehicle equipped with a tank, but the fender structure can also be applied to a tank truck. In addition, in the above embodiment, the support member 32 and the overhang member 33 are joined together by one bolt 45, but the number of bolts 45 may be increased.

[0028] Also, in the above embodiment, a pair of side plates 47 are provided parallel to both side surface portions of the overhanging member 33, but the side plate 47 may be provided on only one side, or may be provided on one side of the side surface and the top surface of the overhanging member 33. It may also be provided on the support member 32 side. That is, the side plate 47 is joined to the end portion of one of the overhanging member 33 and the support member 32 so as to protrude in the longitudinal direction toward the other side, and it is sufficient that when the overhanging member 33 is fixed to the support member 32 and attempts to rotate relative to the support member 32, the rotation can be suppressed by interfering with the other side. In the above embodiment, the bent bracket is made of a channel steel, but it is possible to form the bracket by processing a steel plate. is also good. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...tank trailer 2...tank 3...tire 5...subframe 8...fender 21...bent bracket 22...straight bracket 31...fixing member 32...support member 33...extending member 35...inclined portion 36...horizontal portion 43, 44...connecting plate 45...bolt 46...nut 47...side plate

Claims

1. A fender structure for a transport vehicle, comprising a fender supported on a bent bracket extending in a vehicle width direction from a fixing portion provided on a lower portion of a tank so as to cover an upper portion of a tire, The bent bracket is divided into a support member fixed to the fixed portion and an extension member with a bent portion, and has a connecting portion for attaching and detaching the support member and the extension member which are integrated with the fender.

2. 2. The fender structure for a transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fender covers an area extending from above the tires to a fixing portion provided on a lower portion of the tank.

3. 3. A fender structure for a transport vehicle as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bent bracket is constructed of a channel steel, and the connecting portion is formed by overlapping connecting plates joined to the ends of the extension member and the support member, and fastening them together with bolts and nuts passed through through holes formed in the connecting plates.

4. 4. A fender structure for a transportation vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said bolt is joined to and integrated with a connecting plate of said support member and protrudes from an end of said support member.

5. 4. The fender structure for a transport vehicle as described in claim 3, wherein the connection portion is fastened by a single bolt and a nut, and a side plate is joined to one or both of the parallel side portions of the protruding member or the support member, which is a channel steel, so as to protrude from an end portion.

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