IE20190044A1

IE20190044A1 - Vehicle body

Info

Publication number: IE20190044A1
Application number: IE20190044A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Robinson Jamie; Mitchell Chris
Original assignee: S Cartwright & Sons Coachbuilders Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-26
Filing date: 2019-03-22
Publication date: 2020-06-24
Also published as: GB2573270A; GB201804809D0

Abstract

A vehicle body has two side walls, a front end, a rear end, a roof and a floor which are arranged to enclose a goods storage space, the vehicle body further comprises an intermediate deck which extends between the roof and the floor to substantially bisect the goods storage space to form a lowermost storage space and an uppermost storage space, wherein the roof, the floor and the intermediate deck diverge from each other from the front end towards the rear end, and wherein at least one of the roof, the floor and the intermediate deck follow(s) the path of a curve from the front end towards the rear end.

Description

Title: Vehicle Body Description of lnvention The present invention relates to a vehicle body, in particular to a body of a vehicle used for the transportation of goods, such as a trailer or semi-trailer of an articulated heavy goods vehicle.

Where a plurality of relatively small items are to be transported in the body of a goods vehicle, it is known to place the items in a wheeled wire cage, which may be pushed by an operative into the vehicle body. In order to maximise the number of such cages which may be transported by a goods vehicle of a given length, it is known to provide the goods vehicle with a “double deck” trailer. Such a trailer has a lowermost ﬂoor, two sides, two ends (front and rear), and a roof, which together enclose a generally cuboid storage space, and an intermediate deck which extends generally centrally between the roof and the lowermost floor, to substantially bisect the storage space to form an uppermost storage space and a lowermost storage space. By virtue of this, a first set of wire cages may be wheeled along the floor into the lowermost storage space, and a second set of wire cages wheeled along the deck into the uppermost storage space.

Rather than configure the trailer such that the lowermost and uppermost ﬂoors and roof are all parallel, in order to maximise the usable storage space in the vehicle body, it is known to arrange the uppermost and lowermost ﬂoors so that they diverge from one another and from the roof, towards the rear of the vehicle body. An example of such a double deck trailer is disclosed GB2532839. In this example, the uppermost and lowermost floors and roof are parallel in a ﬁrst portion at the front end of the trailer, and diverge in a second portion towards the rear of the trailer.

A problem with the double deck trailers taught by GB2532839 is that a kink must be provided on the uppermost and lowermost ﬂoors which separates the A14403lE first and second portions of the trailer. Although it is stated in GB2532839 that these kinks present only minor obstacles to overcome when loading I unloading, it has been found that in practice the kinks can, in certain circumstances, for example, when cages are loaded I unloaded with particularly heavy goods, be challenging to overcome. This can result in it being time consuming to load I unload the trailer.

It is an object of the present invention to seek to overcome the problems associated with prior art trailers by providing an improved conﬁguration of vehicle body.

According to a ﬁrst aspect of the invention, we provide a vehicle body having two side walls, a front end,a rear end, a roof and a floor which are arranged to enclose a goods storage space. the vehicle body further comprising an intermediate deck which extends between the roof- and the floor to substantially bisect the goods storage space to form a lowermost storage space and an uppermost storage space, wherein the roof. the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck diverge from each other from the front end towards the rear end, and wherein at least one of the roof, the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck follcw(s) the path of a curve from the front end towards the rear end.

Accordingly, there is no portion at the front end of the trailer in which the roof. the floor and the intermediate deck are parallel because all three surfaces diverge from each other from adjacent the front end of the vehicle body.

Advantageously, this configuration does not require for there to be a kink provided on the floor and the intermediate deck, which has the effect that the uppermost and lowermost storage areas of the vehicle body are easier and hence quicker to load I unload than vehicle bodies of the prior art.

Optionally, the radius of curvature of one or any combination of the roof. the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck change(s) from the front end towards the rear end.

A14403lE Optionally, the radius of curvature of one or any combination of the roof, the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck decrease(s) or increase(s) from the front end towards the rear end.

Optionally, the radius of curvature of one or any combination of the roof, the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck remain(s) constant from the front end towards the rear end.

Optionally, the ﬂoor has a smaller radius of curvature than the intermediate deck towards the rear end.

Optionally, the intermediate deck has a smaller radius of curvature than the roof towards the rear end.

Optionally, at least two of the roof, the floor and the intermediate deck follow the path of a curve from the front end towards the rear end.

Optionally, the roof, the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck follow the path of a curve from the front end towards the rear end.

Optionally, a portion of the ﬂoor adjacent the rear end is, in use, substantially parallel with a surface upon which the vehicle body sits.

Optionally, the portion of the ﬂoor extends across substantially the entire width of the vehicle body from one side wall to the other side wall.

Optionally, the surface area of the portion of the floor constitutes from approximately 5 % to approximately 15 % of the total surface area of the floor.

Optionally, the surface area of the portion of the floor constitutes from approximately 8 % to approximately 12 % of the total surface area of the floor.

Optionally, a portion of the intermediate deck adjacent the rear end is, in use, substantially parallel with a surface upon which the vehicle body sits.

A14403lE Optionally, the portion of the intermediate deck extends across substantially the entire width of the vehicle body from one side wall to the other side wall.

Optionally, the surface area of the portion of the intermediate deck constitutes from approximately 5 °/o to approximately 15 % of the total surface area of the intermediate deck.

Optionally, the surface area of the portion of the intermediate deck constitutes from approximately 8 % to approximately 12 % of the total surface area of the intermediate deck.

Optionally, the rear end is provided with a door assembly having a door frame and at least one door mounted thereto, the or each door being moveable relative to the door frame between a closed conﬁguration in which the door assembly prevents access to the goods storage space and an open conﬁguration in which the door assembly provides access to the goods storage space.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a trailer having a vehicle body according to the ﬁrst aspect of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing: FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view of a trailer incorporating a vehicle body according to the invention.

There is shown a trailer, indicated generally at 10, having a vehicle body 12 comprising two side walls (for clarity, only side wall 14a is shown), a front end 16, a rear end 18, a roof 20, and a ﬂoor 22 which are arranged to enclose a goods storage space, indicated generally at 24. It will be appreciated that the roof 20 and the ﬂoor 22 extend across substantially the entire width of the vehicle body 12 from one side wall to the other side wall.

A1-4403|E In some embodiments. the vehicle body 12 may be mounted on ground engaging wheels 26 provided adjacent the rear end 18 thereof. A prop (not shown) may be provided towards the front end 16 of the vehicle body 12 to support the vehicle body 12 in a rest position. Coupling means (not shown) may be provided towards the front end 16 of the trailer 10, by means of which the trailer 10 may be coupled to a tractor. The coupling means is typically what is known as a fifth wheel coupling.

Whilst the invention is, in this example, illustrated in conjunction with a trailer , typically of the sort which is coupled to a tractor to form a heavy goods vehicle. it will be appreciated that a vehicle body 12 according to the invention may equally be provided on the rear of the chassis of a non-articulated goods vehicle (eg. a rigid vehicle). or on a semi—traiIer.

In some embodiments. the vehicle body 12 further comprises an intermediate deck 28 which extends between the roof 20 and the floor 22 tosubstantially bisect the goods storage space 24 to form a lowermost storage space 24a and an uppermost storage space 24b. It will be appreciated that the intermediate deck 28 extends across substantially the entire width of the vehicle body 12 from one side wall to the other side wall.

The roof 20, the ﬂoor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 all diverge from each other from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18. Since the roof 20. the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 all diverge from the front end 16 of the vehicle body 12 there is no portion at the front end 16 where the roof 20. the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 are parallel.

In the illustrated embodiment, the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 each follow the path of a curve from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the radius of ‘curvature of each of the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 decreases from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18. In other words, the degrees of curvature of A14403|E the roof 20. the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 increase from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18. in this embodiment. the floor 22 has a higher degree of curvature than the intermediate deck 28 towards the rear end 18.

Moreover, the intermediate deck 28 has a higher degree of curvature than the roof 20 towards the rear end 18. In other words. the floor 22 has a smaller radius of curvature than the intennediate deck 28 towards the rear end 18, which in turn has a smaller radius of curvature than the roof 20 towards the rear end 18. By configuring each of the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 to have degrees of curvature that differ from each other in this way has the effect that all three surface diverge from each other from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18.

In some embodiments. the radius of curvature of each of the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 may remain constant from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18. in other words, each of the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 follow the path of an arc. It is to be appreciated that in such embodiments, the radius of curvature of the floor 22 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the intermediate deck 28, which in turn has a radius of curvature which is smaller than that of the roof 20. This means that the degree of curvature of the ﬂoor 22 is greater than that of the intermediate deck 28. which in turn is greater than that of the roof 20 to provide the effect that all three surfaces diverge from each other from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18.

Since each of the roof 20, the ﬂoor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 diverge from each other it is to be appreciated that the heights of the lowermost storage space 24a and the uppermost storage space 24b at the rear end 18 of the vehicle body 12 are greater than the heights at the front end 16. For example, the heights of the lowermost storage space 24a and the uppennost storage space 24b at the front end 16 may be from approximately 1770 mm to approximately 1780 mm and the heights of the lowermost storage space 24a and the uppermost storage space 24b at the rear end 18 may be from A1 4403approximately 1840 mm to approximately 1860 mm. The heights of the lowermost storage space 24a and the uppermost storage space 24b at the front end 16 may be the same or different. Similarly, the heights of the lowermost storage space 24a and the uppermost storage space 24b at the rear end 18 may be the same or different.

It is not an essential requirement of the invention that all three of the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 follow the path of a curve from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18. For instance. in some embodiments only one or two of the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 may follow the path of a curve from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18. in such embodiments, the surface or surfaces that do not follow the path of a curve may be straight. However, it is to be appreciated that in such embodiments, the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 all diverge from one another from the front end 16 towards the rear end 18.

In some embodiments, any one or any combination of the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 may follow a curve from the front end 16 to the rear end 18. In other words, the entire lengths of any one or any combination of the roof 20, the floor 22 and the intermediate deck 28 may be curved.

In some embodiments, a portion 22a of the floor 22 and I or a portion 28a of the intermediate deck 28 adjacent the rear end 18 may be, in use, substantially parallel with the road surface 100 upon which the vehicle body 12 sits. By providing .such parallel portions 22a, 28a at the rear end 18, in conjunction with the greater space already provided by the diverging surfaces the inventors have found that loading I unloading of the vehicle body 12 can be achieved quicker when compared to_prior art solutions.

In some embodiments, one or both of the portions 22a, 28a may extend across substantially the entire width of the vehicle body 12 from one side wall to the other side wall.

A1-4403|E The surface area of the portion 22a of the floor 22 may constitute from approximately 5 °/o to approximately 15 % of the total surface area of the floor 22, such as from approximately 8 % to approximately 12 %, e.g. approximately 8 %. or approximately 9 % or approximately 10 % or approximately 11 % or approximately 12 %.

The surface area of the portion 28a of the intermediate deck 28 may constitute from approximately 5 % to approximately 15 % of the total surface area of the intermediate deck 28, such as from approximately 8 % to approximately 12 %, e.g_ approximately 8 % or approximately 9 % or approximately 10 % or approximately 11 °/o or approximately 12 %.

In some embodiments. the rear end 18 of the vehicle body 12 may be provided with a door assembly. indicated generally at 30. having a door frame and at least one door mounted thereto, the or each door being moveable relative to the door frame between a closed configuration in which the door assembly 30 prevents access to the goods storage space 24 and an open configuration in which the door assembly 30 provides access to the goods storage space 24.

The door or doors may be any design of door which is conventionally used to close the rear end 18 of a heavy goods vehicle, for example comprise a roller shutter or two side-hung barn doors.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their speciﬁc forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate. may, separately, or in any A14403|E combination of such features,‘ be utilised for realisiny the invehtion in diverse forms" thereof. .

A144-03|E

Claims

1. ‘IO 25 ‘I0 CLAIMS .

2. A vehicle body having two side walls, a front end, a rear end, a roof and a floor which are arranged to enclose a goods storage space. the vehicle body further comprising an intermediate deck which extends between the roof and the floor to substantially bisect the goods storage space to form a lowermost storage space and an uppermost storage space. wherein the roof, the floor and the intermediate deck diverge from each other from the front end towards the rear end, and wherein at least one of the roof, the floor and the intermediate deck follow(s) the path of a curve from the front end towards the rear end. .

3. A vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of one or any combination of the roof. the floor and the intermediate deck change(s) from the front end towards the rear end. . vehicle body according to claim 2, wherein the radius of curvature of one or any combination of the roof, the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck decrease(s) or increase(s) from the front end towards the rear end. .

4. A vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of one or any combination of the roof, the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck remain(s) constant from the front end towards the rear end. .

5. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim, wherein the ﬂoor has a smaller radius of curvature than the intennediate deck towards the rear end. .

6. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate deck has a smaller radius of curvature than the roof towards the rear end. A14403|E

7. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim, wherein at least two of the roof, the floor and the intennediate deck follow the path of a curve from the front end towards the rear end.

8. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim, wherein the roof, the ﬂoor and the intermediate deck follow the path of a curve from the front end towards the rear end.

9. A vehicle body according to any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the floor adjacent the rear end is, in use, substantially parallel with a surface upon which the vehicle body sits.

10.A vehicle body according to claim 9, wherein the portion of the floor extends across substantially the entire width of the vehicle body from one side wall to the other side wall.

11.A vehicle body according to claim 9 or claim 10. wherein the surface area of the portion of the floor constitutes from approximately 5 % to approximately 15 % of the total surface area of the ﬂoor.

12.A vehicle body according to claim 11, wherein the surface area of the portion of the floor constitutes from approximately 8 % to approximately 12 % of the total surface area of the floor.

13.A vehicle body according to any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the intermediate deck adjacent the rear end is, in use, substantially parallel with a surface upon which the vehicle body moves.

14.A vehicle body according to claim 13, wherein the portion of the intermediate deck extends across substantially the entire width of the vehicle body from one side wall to the other side wall.

15.A vehicle body according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the surface area of the portion of the intermediate deck constitutes from A14403|E 12 approximately 5 % to approximately 15 % of the total surface area of the intermediate deck.

16.A vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein the surface area of the portion of the intermediate deck constitutes from approximately 8 ‘V0 to 5 approximately 12 % of the total surface area of the intermediate deck. ‘

17. l7.A vehicle body according to any preceding claim, wherein the rear end is provided with a door assembly having a door frame and at least one door mounted thereto. the or each door being moveable relative.to the door frame between a closed conﬁguration in which the door assembly ‘I0 prevents accessto the goods storage space and an open conﬁguration in which the door assembly provides access to the goods storage space.

18. A trailer having a vehicle body according to any preceding claim. A14403|E