DE20220225U1 - Loading area of bigger van or lorry has compartments to be lifted or lowered individually for loading or removal of goods - Google Patents

Abstract

Two loading compartments (7) are located laterally behind the driver's cabin, a third compartment (9a) is positioned transversally behind the rear axle (3). Each of the compartments (7, 9a) can be opened and closed with a sash door (15, 20) or a sliding door (16) and individually lifted or lowered for the loading or removal of the transported goods. The mechanism (11) is operated with hydraulic cylinders (12) accommodated inside the vertical struts (B, C) and joined with a transversal element (14) at the ceiling (13) of the loading area.

Description

PATENT AND LAW FIRM Alte Ulmer Straße 2 LORENZ & KOLLEGEN D-89522 Heidenheim

10.01.2003 LO/UL
File: HNR 5883GM/DE

Applicant:

Walter Hurler
Breitenbergweg 8
86391 Stadtbergen

Vehicle with loading boxes or loading areas

The invention relates to a vehicle with at least one front axle and at least one rear axle, with loading boxes or loading areas for receiving cargo, with a vehicle frame and with a loading ramp in the rear region of the vehicle frame, wherein at least some of the loading boxes or loading areas can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction by lifting devices arranged on the vehicle frame.

A vehicle of this type is described, for example, in EP 0 733 003 Bl and DE-GM 298 13 993.

For loading and unloading trucks, forklifts or similar lifting equipment often have to be used to lift the load from the ground onto the often relatively high loading area and then set it down again.

To facilitate loading and unloading, trucks are often fitted with loading ramps on the outside of the rear, which are generally around 2 m deep. When the vehicle is in motion, the loading ramp is folded up vertically at the rear of the vehicle. For loading and unloading, the first step is to bring it into a horizontal position using lifting cylinders. The rear of the vehicle is opened and the goods to be unloaded are pushed onto the loading ramp. The loading ramp is then lowered to the ground using additional cylinders.

The disadvantage of this method, however, is that a correspondingly large maneuvering distance or space requirement behind the vehicle is required to set down the loading ramp.

This often leads to problems due to the lack of parking spaces. In addition, the loading ramp in its raised horizontal position is not only an obstacle to traffic, but also a hazard, especially for motorcyclists and cyclists.

Since the loading ramp is at a height of more than 1 m in the upper position, there is also a risk of accidents during loading and unloading, especially if the loading ramp is slippery due to snow or rain.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of further improving a vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the lowerable loading boxes or loading surfaces make loading and unloading much easier, and in particular of creating a loading and unloading option that saves traffic space.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the at least one loading area or loading box is arranged behind the at least one rear axle in such a way that it is designed as an internal loading ramp, wherein at least one lateral opening area and one rear opening area arranged on the vehicle frame are provided, which open up loading openings for loading or unloading.

The design according to the invention means that the previously external loading ramp is practically moved to the inside of the vehicle, which results in a significant reduction in the public traffic area for loading and unloading. For example, space can be saved at the rear by eliminating an external loading ramp. Since opening areas are also provided on one or both sides of the vehicle, no space is required behind the vehicle for loading and unloading if necessary.

In the embodiment according to the invention, for example, the entire overhang of the vehicle frame behind the rear

rear axle can be designed as an internal loading ramp. This means that the area behind the rear axle acts as a loading ramp thanks to one or more movable loading boxes or loading surfaces that can be moved from a driving position to an unloading position on the ground using lifting devices. Likewise, any intermediate position is possible for the loading ramp according to the invention. It can also be raised to ramp height on buildings.

In this case, it can be provided, for example, that a roller door is arranged on the rear of the vehicle, which can be moved in lateral guides, for example. In one embodiment of the invention, one or preferably both side surfaces can be provided with sliding doors that can be pushed forward for unloading and thus completely expose the side opening surfaces.

In a very advantageous development of the invention, two sliding doors with vertical side guides can be provided on both sides, in which

the rear roller shutter runs, which, when opened, is pushed into a storage space in the roof structure.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the sliding door or doors can be provided with inward-facing bends on their rear side, to which the vehicle rear lighting and, if applicable, other devices required on the rear of the vehicle are attached.

With such a configuration, in the lowered state but also in intermediate positions or at ramp height of the at least one rear loading box or loading area, this is accessible from all three sides, namely from the rear and from both sides, without disturbing holding members or stabilizing devices.

The fastening and also the guide for the sliding door or for the two sliding doors plus roller shutter

can be done in the roof construction that extends backwards over the rear axle.

If the side sliding gate(s) are not laid out over the entire height of the vehicle, but rather an area is left free in the lower area for a side wall or additional space is provided, then the side wall can be used as a ramp when lowered, for which purpose it is swung out to the side. The same applies to the rear of the vehicle with the roller door.

A further advantage of the solution according to the invention is that vehicles can be easily retrofitted in the manner according to the invention. To do this, it is only necessary to separate the ladder frame in the area of the rear axle in a vehicle with a ladder frame, where two longitudinal members are arranged at a distance from each other with cross members in between. If the C-pillar, which is arranged in the area of the rear axle of the vehicle, is then provided with a lifting device,

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device, one or two lifting and lowering loading boxes or loading surfaces can be attached as a complete assembly, whereby the loading boxes or loading surfaces can be supported on the lifting device in conjunction with a portal-like structure. In this case, only the roof structure protrudes backwards beyond the rear axle in its original form. It is then only necessary to provide a receiving device for the rear opening surface, e.g. a roller door, in the roof structure and to attach holding devices and guide rails for the sliding door or sliding doors.

Alternatively, it is also possible to leave the vehicle structure with the ladder frame unchanged, which also makes it possible to tow a trailer. In this case, narrower, height-adjustable loading boxes or loading areas can be provided on one or both sides of the ladder frame. The height of these loading boxes or loading areas can then be adjusted in the same way using a lifting device arranged on the C-pillar with a portal structure.

In this case, however, the internal loading ramp is split in two and can only be accessed from the side.

A very advantageous development of the invention can consist in the provision of an auxiliary frame for a chassis structure with loading boxes or loading areas, with lifting devices for the loading boxes or loading areas, with the internal loading ramp together with roof construction and opening areas, which can be fastened to the longitudinal members of the ladder frame.

The subframe makes it possible to practically prefabricate the vehicle body according to the invention, whereby the subframe can be firmly connected to the normal ladder frame of the vehicle essentially in one assembly step by means of appropriate fastening elements after such prefabrication.

In addition to such ease of assembly and the advantages of prefabrication, this design

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The design also has the advantage that the vehicle and vehicle body can be easily replaced in the event of repairs or an accident.

Advantageous further developments and embodiments of the invention emerge from the remaining subclaims and from the exemplary embodiments described in principle below with reference to the drawing.

It shows:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the vehicle according to the invention with an internal loading ramp;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the vehicle according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the vehicle body in principle;

Fig. 5 shows a modification of a vehicle according to Fig. 1 for trailer operation; and

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged detail of a subframe with a fastening device of a prefabricated vehicle body on a ladder frame.

A vehicle shown in Figures 1 to 3 with a vehicle frame 1 has a front axle 2 and a rear axle 3 in the usual way. Of course, more than one front axle 2 or rear axle 3 can also be provided. On the vehicle frame 1, which is provided with a ladder frame with two longitudinal beams 4 and 5 running at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction and with cross members 6 in between, a total of two loading boxes or loading areas 7 and 8 that can be adjusted in the vertical direction are provided, which are located on both sides of the longitudinal beams 4 and 5 of the ladder frame next to it. A third loading box or loading area 7 is provided in the vertical direction.

adjustable loading box or loading area 9 is located behind the rear axle 3. The third loading box 9 can extend over the entire width of the vehicle.

There is another loading box 10 above the rear axle 3, which, however, is not height-adjustable.

The height-adjustable loading boxes 7, 8 and 9 can be lowered from a driving position to an unloading position via lifting devices 11 (not shown in detail) with lifting cylinders 12 to which they are connected, whereby in the fully lowered position the loading surfaces of the loading boxes 7, 8, 9 are at roadway level.

It is also possible, if necessary, to raise the loading boxes 7, 8 or 9 to a ramp height of e.g. 1100 mm for loading and unloading. For this purpose, a corresponding free space is kept between the upper edges of the loading boxes 7, 8 and 9 to a roof structure 13.

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Two lifting cylinders 12 for the loading boxes 7 and 8, arranged on both sides of the vehicle, are connected to one another via their lifting device 11 and a side portal 14, which results in corresponding stability and an increase in the vehicle's rigidity. The rear loading box 9 is height-adjustable by a lifting device 11 provided with a transverse portal 14. The loading boxes 7, 8 and 9 can each be adjusted in height independently of one another using the separate lifting devices 11.

On one or preferably on both sides of the vehicle, the loading boxes 7, 8 and 10 are closed by roller doors 15, which, when opened, can be pushed into or under the roof structure 13 in a manner not shown in detail.

While the vehicle frame 1 with the two longitudinal members 4 and 5 of the ladder frame normally extends to the rear end of the vehicle, the vehicle frame 1 or the two longitudinal members 4

and 5 are cut off just behind the rear axle 3, as can be seen from Figures 1 and 2. The vehicle usually has three pillars for stabilization, namely a so-called α-pillar, B-pillar and C-pillar. The C-pillar is located just behind the rear axle 3. At this point the two longitudinal members 4 and 5 are cut off. A lifting device 11 with a lifting cylinder 12 arranged on each side is also attached to the C-pillar. A portal structure 14 connects the two lifting cylinders 12 to one another. The loading box 9 is attached to the lifting device 11 in a manner not shown in detail and is height-adjustable. The loading box 9 essentially consists of a lower loading surface 9a.

Sliding doors 16 are arranged as opening surfaces on both sides of the vehicle in the area of the loading box 9. The sliding doors 16 are connected to the roof structure 13 on their upper side via a guide rail 17 (not shown in detail) so that they can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The sliding devices for the sliding doors 16 can be

Sliding joints with a toggle lever, as is generally the case with van vehicle doors. The two sliding doors 16 swing out slightly to the side so that in the open state they are located between the B-pillar and the C-pillar above the rear axle 3, as can be seen from Fig. 2.

The two sliding doors 16 have inward-facing bends 18 at their rear ends. Vertical guide rails 19 (not shown in detail) are located on the bends 18. The slats of a roller door 20 are guided in the two guide rails 19 when the two sliding doors 16 are closed.

As can be seen, the rear loading box 9 with its loading area 9a is designed as an internal loading ramp. When the vehicle is in motion, the loading box 9 with the loading area 9a as a loading ramp is at the same height as the other loading boxes 7 and 8 with a corresponding ground clearance. The loading box 9 represents

In this case, it represents a normal loading space inside the vehicle that is closed off from the outside.

For loading and unloading, e.g. of crates of drinks, the loading box 9 can be lowered to the road level. While for loading and unloading the loading boxes 7 and 8 only the two roller doors 15 have to be opened, which allows access to the loading boxes 7 and 8 from the sides, the rear loading box 9 can be accessed from all sides. To do this, in a first step the roller door 20 is pushed upwards and inserted in a manner not shown in detail into a guide or a box in the roof structure 13. The two sliding doors 16 can then be pushed forwards in the direction of the arrow according to Fig. 2 between the B-pillar and the C-pillar on the outside. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the opening areas are thus freed up on all sides for accessibility, without any supports, supports or other built-in components being present in a disruptive manner. The loading box 9 with the loading area 9a functions in this position like a normal

male loading ramp with accessibility from all sides, because the loading area 9a is at road level.

In addition, a pivoting side wall 21 can be provided on the rear side, which in the lowered state is lowered from the vertical position in which it is in the driving state to a horizontal position, as can be seen from Fig. 1 (dashed representation). In this case, an inclined ramp to the loading area 9a is also provided to facilitate access.

In the same way, side walls 22 can of course also be provided on both sides of the loading boxes 9, which also serve as loading ramps when the loading area 9a is lowered (see dashed illustration in Fig. 3).

As can be seen, the vehicle according to the invention requires a significantly smaller traffic area for loading and unloading than conventional vehicles

with an external loading ramp, which can generally extend up to 2 m or more to the rear of the vehicle. In this case, it is no longer necessary to provide such a free space.

As can also be seen, it may also be possible, in limited traffic space conditions, to load and unload the loading ramp from one or both sides with the sliding door or doors 16 open.

After loading or unloading has been completed, the loading box 9 can be easily raised back into the driving position using the lifting device 11 with the lifting cylinders 12. In contrast to the known external loading ramps, in this case it is no longer necessary to move the load on the loading area 9a and transport it into the interior of the vehicle, but it can remain on the loading area 9a, since the loading box 9 is inside and can be moved after

Closing the opening surfaces with the sliding doors 16 and the roller shutter 2.0 inside the vehicle.

The usual rear lights 23, such as indicators, tail lights, rear fog lights, reversing lights and the like, can be mounted in the bends 18 of the two sliding doors 16, as only indicated in principle in Fig. 3. A license plate 24 can also be arranged on a slat on the roller door 20.

The loading box 9 with the loading area 9a can also be retrofitted to vehicles already in use if necessary. To do this, it is only necessary to separate the two longitudinal members 4 and 5 on the C-pillar and to attach the lifting device 11 with the lifting cylinders 12 to the C-pillar together with the loading box 9 and the loading area 9a. In this case, the vehicle only has a height-adjustable loading box 9 behind the rear axle 3, which, however, fulfills all of the advantages described above.

In addition to an assembly structure on a vehicle with a ladder frame, it is also possible to prefabricate the vehicle structure completely together with the loading boxes 7, 8, 9 and if necessary 10 and the associated devices, such as lifting devices 11 with the lifting cylinders 12, as a unit and then to connect it to the ladder frame with the longitudinal members 4 and 5 and if necessary the cross members 6 of a vehicle. An auxiliary frame 25 with longitudinal members 25a and 25b is used for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4, which shows a schematic representation of such a prefabricated vehicle structure.

To assemble the prefabricated vehicle body according to Fig. 4, it is placed on the ladder frame with the auxiliary frame 25, whereby the two longitudinal members 25a and 25b are placed on the longitudinal members 4 and 5 of the ladder frame. The two auxiliary frame longitudinal members 25a and 25b can then be connected to the two longitudinal members 4 and 5 in any way. One possibility for this is shown in Fig. 6. As shown,

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As can be seen from , the connection is made via several screw connections 26 arranged at a distance from one another with clamping elements, e.g. fastening plates 27, wherein the screws of the screw connections 26 are connected via corresponding holes and fastening rails to the subframe longitudinal members 25a, 25b and the longitudinal members 4 and 5.

Just like the loading boxes 7 and 8, the loading box 9 can also be raised to a ramp height for loading and unloading if necessary, in which case, after removing the roller door 20, loading and unloading can be carried out in the conventional manner to the rear onto a ramp or similar.

Instead of a vehicle frame 1 with a ladder frame with longitudinal members 4 and 5 and cross members 6, a single central member can also be provided if necessary, as can be seen from DE-GM 298 13 993.

If it is intended to operate the vehicle in trailer operation, the two longitudinal members 4 and 5 can no longer be cut off behind the rear axle 3, but must extend to the rear of the vehicle in the usual way. However, it is also possible in this case to provide the vehicle with internal loading ramps, as can be seen in Fig. 5. There is still a rear of the vehicle with a D-pillar behind the rear axle 3, but on both sides of the ladder frame with the longitudinal members 4 and 5 there are loading boxes 9' that can be lowered to road level and are also attached to a lifting device 11 with lifting cylinders 12. The two loading boxes 9' can be height-adjustable independently or together, as is basically the case with the two loading boxes 7 and 8. As can be seen, two internal loading ramps are created in this way, which are accessible from the side via opening surfaces. In this case, instead of sliding doors 16, side roller doors 28 may be sufficient.

Claims (22)

1. Vehicle with at least one front axle and at least one rear axle, with loading boxes or loading surfaces for receiving cargo, with a vehicle frame and with a loading ramp in the rear region of the vehicle frame, wherein at least some of the loading boxes or loading surfaces can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction by lifting devices arranged on the vehicle frame, characterized in that the at least one loading box or loading surface ( 9 ) is arranged behind the at least one rear axle ( 3 ) in such a way that it is designed as an internal loading ramp, wherein at least one lateral and one rear opening surface are provided on the vehicle frame ( 1 ), which open up loading openings for loading or unloading. 2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the loading openings are released in a preselected position of the lifting device ( 11 ). 3. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that a gate-like device ( 20 ) is provided as an opening surface on the rear of the vehicle. 4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the gate-like device is designed as a roller gate ( 20 ). 5. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the roller shutter ( 20 ) is guided in lateral guides. 6. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that a sliding door ( 16 ) is provided at least on one side of the vehicle in the region of the at least one lifting and lowering loading box or loading area ( 9 ). 7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that a sliding door ( 16 ) is provided on both sides in the region of the lifting and lowering loading box or loading area ( 9 ). 8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the sliding doors ( 16 ) are provided at their rear ends with vertical guide rails ( 19 ) for guiding the roller door ( 20 ). 9. Vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the sliding door ( 16 ) is provided at the rear end with an inwardly directed bend ( 18 ) on which lighting devices ( 23 ) for the rear of the vehicle are arranged. 10. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the sliding door or sliding doors ( 16 ) are fastened to the roof structure ( 13 ) behind the rear axle ( 3 ) and are guided in horizontal guide rails ( 19 ). 11. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the roller shutter ( 20 ) is accommodated in the roof structure ( 13 ) behind the rear axle ( 3 ) in the raised state. 12. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lifting device ( 11 ) for the at least one loading box or loading area ( 9 ) arranged behind the rear axle ( 3 ) is arranged on the C-pillar of the vehicle frame. 13. Vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the lifting device ( 11 ) is provided with lifting cylinders ( 12 ) which are arranged on vertical rails of the C-pillar. 14. Vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that the lifting device ( 11 ) forms a portal structure ( 14 ) with the rails. 15. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that a side wall part ( 22 ) is arranged under the sliding door(s) ( 16 ) or in front of each of them, which is provided as a loading ramp in the lowered state of the loading box or loading area ( 9 ). 16. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a side wall part ( 21 ) is arranged on the rear of the vehicle, which is provided as a loading ramp in the lowered state of the loading box or loading area ( 9 ). 17. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 16 with a ladder frame as part of the vehicle frame, which has two longitudinal members ( 4 , 5 ) arranged at a distance from one another and cross members ( 6 ) connecting the longitudinal members ( 4 , 5 ) to one another, characterized in that for the subsequent installation of the internal loading ramp, the ladder frame is cut off in the region of the at least one rear axle ( 3 ) and that a lifting device ( 11 ) for the at least one loading box or loading area ( 9 ) can be attached behind the rear axle ( 3 ) to the C-pillar of the vehicle frame ( 1 ). 18. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 16 with a ladder frame as part of the vehicle frame, which has two longitudinal members ( 4 , 5 ) arranged at a distance from one another and cross members ( 6 ) connecting the longitudinal members ( 4 , 5 ) to one another, characterized in that the at least one loading box or loading area ( 9 ) is arranged laterally on the ladder frame behind the at least one rear axle ( 3 ). 19. Vehicle according to claim 18, characterized in that a loading box or loading area ( 9 ) is arranged on both sides of the ladder frame. 20. Vehicle according to one of claims 17 to 19 with a ladder frame as part of the vehicle frame, which has two longitudinal members ( 4 , 5 ) arranged at a distance from one another and cross members ( 6 ) connecting the longitudinal members ( 4 , 5 ) to one another, characterized in that an auxiliary frame ( 25 ) for a chassis structure with loading boxes or loading areas ( 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ), with lifting devices ( 11 ) for the loading boxes or loading areas, with an internal loading ramp together with a roof structure ( 13 ) and opening areas is provided, which can be fastened to the longitudinal members ( 4 , 5 ) of the ladder frame. 21. Vehicle according to claim 20, characterized in that the auxiliary frame ( 25 ) is detachably connected to the longitudinal members ( 4 , 5 ) of the ladder frame via connecting members ( 26 , 27 ). 22. Vehicle according to claim 21, characterized in that the connecting members comprise fastening plates ( 27 ) and screw connections ( 26 ).