Vehicle loading platform

Abstract

A loading platform for mounting on a vehicle is described. This platform is generally rectangular and includes a front area, two lateral areas, a rear area, and a centrally located loading area, and when installed on a vehicle, the front area faces the direction of the vehicle's movement. The front area of ​​the platform includes a front edge, the cross-sectional shape of which generally includes a rounded nose area, and the slope of the front edge changes gradually from the nose area toward the rear, both above and below the nose area, starting as a vertical slope and transitioning to the upper and lower horizontal planes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle loading platforms.

Background Art

[0002] To expand the loading options for a vehicle, it is common to adapt a loading platform to the vehicle. This platform is generally adapted to the roof of the vehicle. Items can be loaded onto this platform, thereby maximizing the interior space available in the vehicle for passengers and other items.

[0003] It has been confirmed that after adapting a loading platform to a vehicle, the platform may sometimes generate a wind noise when the vehicle is moving fast. Thereafter, the wind noise can discomfort the vehicle passengers.

[0004] With the emergence of quieter vehicles such as electric vehicles, it has been found that the noise generated by a platform mounted on the roof can affect the comfort of vehicle passengers, even if at a low level.

[0005] To reduce the wind noise, attempts have been made to fit corrective accessories such as wind deflectors or deflecting plates. While they may be effective, they increase the weight of the loading device and the total cost of the loading solution.

[0006] There continues to be a desire to provide a vehicle loading platform that does not generate a large wind noise.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a loading platform for mounting on a vehicle. The platform is generally rectangular and includes a front area, two lateral areas, a rear area, and a centrally located loading area, the front area facing the direction of vehicle movement when installed on a vehicle; the front area of ​​the platform includes a front edge, the cross-sectional shape of which includes a generally rounded nose area. The slope of the front edge changes gradually from the nose area toward the rear, both above and below the nose area, starting as a vertical slope and transitioning to the upper and lower horizontal planes.

[0008] The outermost edge of the rounded region may be located above the lower horizontal plane, at a height of approximately one-third of the distance between the upper and lower horizontal planes.

[0009] The front of the platform may include a trailing edge. The cross-sectional shape of this trailing edge includes a tapered tail region.

[0010] The upper horizontal plane can begin at a point approximately one-quarter of the distance between the edge of the nose region and the edge of the tail region.

[0011] The lower horizontal plane can begin at a point approximately 1 / 8 of the way from the edge of the nose region to the edge of the tail region.

[0012] The outermost edge of the tail region may be located above the lower horizontal plane, at a height of approximately 4 / 5 of the distance between the upper and lower horizontal planes.

[0013] The front region of the platform may include a front member. The rear region of the platform may include a rear member. The platform region may include several spaced platform members, which may extend between the front and rear members. The rear edge may be formed from several rear edge segments, which are arranged between the platform members.

[0014] The trailing edge segments may be provided by filler elements. They are located adjacent to the front members and between the platform members.

[0015] The platform may further include several crossbars, which are located beneath the platform members.

[0016] The transverse members may include a leading edge. The cross-sectional shape of this leading edge may include a generally rounded nose region.

[0017] Next, an embodiment is described as an example, with reference to the attached diagram. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the loading platform. [Figure 2] This is a detailed view of area A in Figure 1, with the corner members and side rails removed. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a top view of the platform. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a side view of the loading platform. [Figure 5] This is a detailed view of area B in Figure 2, with the corner members and side rails removed. [Figure 6] This is an enlarged view of the front member in Figure 4. [Figure 7] This is a side view of the loading platform shown in Figure 1, which is mounted on the roof of the vehicle. [Figure 8] This figure shows a computer-generated fluid dynamics plot of the platform configuration shown in Figure 1, mounted on a vehicle. [Figure 9] This is a diagram showing a different plot of the same platform on a different similar vehicle, viewed from a different angle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the loading platform 10 is shown as being attached to a vehicle (not shown). The platform 10 includes a rectangular frame formed by a front member 12, two side members 14, 15, and a rear member 13. Each of the members is joined by a corner molding 16.

[0020] A series of platform members 17 extend between the front member 12 and the rear member 13. The platform members rest on the support flanges 22 (see FIG. 5) of the front member 12 and the rear member 13 and are attached by screw fasteners. The upper surfaces of the side members and the platform members include channels. It can be used to attach fixtures and brackets to secure the load on the platform.

[0021] Three cross members 18 are attached to the underside of the platform members and the side members. The cross members are then sequentially attached to the vehicle to be used by attachment brackets (not shown). The platform 10 is adapted to the vehicle such that the front member 12 faces forward in the direction in which the vehicle moves. A series of five identically shaped and continuous filling elements 20 are located at the rear of the front member 12 in the space between the platform members 17.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 5, the front region of the platform has a leading edge formed in the front member 12, which includes an overall rounded nose region 24. The gradient of the leading edge starts with a vertical gradient and gradually changes rearward from the nose both above and below the nose region and transitions to the upper and lower horizontal planes 26, 27.

[0023] The front region also includes a trailing edge formed by a series of filling elements 20. Each of the filling elements 20 includes a tapered tail region 25. The filling elements are supported by the same flanges 22 that support the platform members on the front member 12.

[0024] Each of the cross members 18 also includes a leading edge having a rounded nose region 18a.

[0025] The filler elements are set between the platform members 17 during platform assembly. Referring to Figure 6, each filler element 20 is supported on the flange 22. Ribs 32 in the filler element engage with slots 30 formed in the flange 22, preventing the filler element from moving longitudinally. Slots 34 on each side of the filler element 20 engage with ribs formed on the sides of the platform members, preventing the filler element from moving vertically.

[0026] Referring further to Figure 6, the outermost end E of the rounded nose region is located above the lower horizontal plane 27 by a distance of x. This end is located below the upper horizontal plane 26 by a distance of 2x. Therefore, end E is located at a height of 1 / 3 of the distance between the upper horizontal plane 26 and the lower horizontal plane 27.

[0027] The transition of the slope from the nose region to the upper horizontal plane 26 ends at point F, which marks the beginning of the upper horizontal plane. Point F is 2y from the end E of the nose 25. Point F is 6y from the end H of the tail 25. Therefore, point F is located at a distance of 1 / 4 of the distance from the end of the nose region to the end of the tail region.

[0028] The transition of the slope from the nose region to the lower horizontal plane 27 ends at point G, which marks the beginning of the upper horizontal plane. Point G is a distance of y from the end E of the nose 25. Point G is a distance of 7y from the end H of the tail 25. Therefore, point G is located at a distance of 1 / 8 of the distance from the end of the nose region to the end of the tail region.

[0029] The outermost edge H of the tail region is located above the lower horizontal plane 27 by a distance of 4z. The end H is located below the upper horizontal plane 26 by a distance of z. Therefore, the end H is located at a height of 4 / 5 of the distance between the upper horizontal plane 26 and the lower horizontal plane 27.

[0030] Next, referring to Figure 7, the platform 10 is attached to the roof area of ​​the vehicle 100 by a pair of side brackets 40 (one of which is visible at the front). The side brackets 40 engage with the roof and cross members 18 of the vehicle.

[0031] The leading and trailing edges described above are shaped to minimize the noise that may be generated by the loading platform when the vehicle 100 moves rapidly forward. As the vehicle moves forward, the rising air A is deflected upward by the vehicle's windshield area as the vehicle moves through the air.

[0032] The gradually rounded shape of the Nose 25 is designed to promote laminar flow and delay the onset of flow separation from the top of the forward outer shape, thereby reducing unstable and turbulent flow.

[0033] Furthermore, the end E of the nose 25 is positioned at a height closer to the lower horizontal plane than the upper horizontal plane of the front member. In this way, the nose portion 25 strikes the rising air A, encouraging the air to continue flowing upward and backward, away from the front region of the platform, thereby moving any turbulent areas upward and away from the vehicle occupants. This reduces noise in the driver's seat of the vehicle by ensuring that any turbulent pockets are located away from the vehicle occupants.

[0034] Similarly, the tapered tail region is positioned at a height close to the upper horizontal region of the front member. This encourages the airflow passing beneath the tail section to be directed upward as it leaves the tail region, further assisting in directing the airflow upward away from the vehicle.

[0035] Referring to Figure 8, a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) plot of platform 10 mounted on vehicle 100 is shown. This plot, generated by software, predicts the acoustic power generated by the fluid flow as air rises from the vehicle's windshield region and passes through the platform. The shadows of the represented airflow change with the calculated acoustic power at various points in the figure. Of note in the figure is the large region of laminar flow B with very low sound pressure in the area between the platform and the vehicle. Region A shows gentle turbulence, which is directed to flow above the vehicle. A small turbulent region C is observed at the point where the airflow leaves the tail portion of the trailing edge of the front member.

[0036] Referring to Figure 9, another CFD plot is shown, in this case an orthogonal projection of the left half of platform 10. Of particular note in this figure is the absence of any shadow in the region up to the rear of the filling element 20, represented by arrow D, which means that this region is expected to have very low sound pressure.

[0037] Performance predicted by CFD analysis indicates that embodiments of the present invention provide a loading platform that results in low levels of noise in the vehicle cabin caused by wind noise generated by the loading platform.

[0038] While the Disclosure has been described above in exemplary and preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that the Disclosure may be embodied in many other forms, variations, and modifications, but is not limited to those embodiments. The Disclosure includes all such variations and modifications. The Disclosure also includes all steps, features, components, and / or devices mentioned or represented individually or collectively herein, as well as any all preferred combinations, or any two or more steps or features.

[0039] In this specification, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise, the term "equipped" is not intended to have the exclusive meaning of terms such as "consisting of only," but rather is non-exclusive in the sense of "containing at least." The same applies to other derived forms of terms such as "equipped," with corresponding grammatical changes.

[0040] Other definitions of selected terms used herein are found in the "Modes for Carrying Out the Invention" section and are applicable thereto. Unless otherwise defined, all other scientific and technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0041] Any promises made herein should be understood to apply to certain embodiments of this disclosure and not to all embodiments. Where any promises exist that are deemed to apply to all embodiments of the invention, the applicant / patent holder reserves the right to remove them from the description at a later date and shall not rely on such promises for the granting or subsequent awarding of a patent in any combination.

[0042] In some of the aforementioned specific embodiments, certain technical terms have been used for clarity. However, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terms thus selected. The specific terms should be understood to include other technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to achieve a similar technical purpose. Terms such as “left” and “right,” “front” and “rear,” “up” and “down” are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and should not be interpreted as limiting terms.

[0043] Any reference to prior art included herein should not be construed as an acknowledgment that such information is generally known, unless otherwise indicated.

[0044] Finally, it should be understood that various substitutions or additions may be made to the parts described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A loading platform for attachment to a vehicle, wherein the platform is generally rectangular. It comprises a front area, two side areas, a rear area, and a centrally located loading area, and when set on a vehicle, the front area faces the direction in which the vehicle is moving. The forward region of the platform includes a leading edge, and the cross-sectional shape of the leading edge includes a generally rounded nose region. The slope of the leading edge starts as a vertical slope and gradually changes both above and below the nose region, moving backward from the nose region, transitioning to the upper horizontal plane and the lower horizontal plane. Loading platform.

2. The loading platform according to claim 1, wherein the outermost edge of the rounded region is located above the lower horizontal plane at a height of approximately one-third of the distance between the upper horizontal plane and the lower horizontal plane.

3. The loading platform according to claim 2, wherein the front of the platform includes a trailing edge, and the cross-sectional shape of the trailing edge includes a tapered tail region.

4. The loading platform according to claim 3, wherein the upper horizontal plane begins at a point approximately one-quarter of the distance from the end of the nose region to the end of the tail region.

5. The loading platform according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lower horizontal plane begins at a point approximately 1 / 8 of the distance from the end of the nose region to the end of the tail region.

6. The loading platform according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the outermost end of the tail region is located above the lower horizontal plane at a height of approximately 4 / 5 of the distance between the upper horizontal plane and the lower horizontal plane.

7. A loading platform according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the front region of the platform includes a front member, the rear region of the platform includes a rear member, the platform region includes several spaced platform members which extend between the front member and the rear member, and the rear edge is formed from several rear edge segments which are arranged between the platform members.

8. The loading platform according to claim 7, wherein the trailing edge segments are provided by filling elements and are located adjacent to the forward members and between the platform members.

9. The loading platform according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising several horizontal members, which are located below the platform members.

10. The loading platform according to claim 9, wherein the transverse member includes a front edge, and the cross-sectional shape of the front edge includes a nose region that is rounded overall.

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