Patent ID: 7357457
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A vehicle for use with a plurality of different functional units, said vehicle comprising: a chassis; an engine mounted on said chassis; a cab mounted on said chassis, said chassis extending rearwardly from said cab from a first location adjacent said cab to a second location defining a rear end of said chassis; a first mounting interface disposed on said chassis proximate said first location, said first mounting interface including a substantially horizontal support surface and a first guide member; and a second mounting interface disposed on said chassis proximate said second location, said second mounting interface including a substantially horizontal support surface and a second guide member, wherein any one of a plurality of functional units is mountable on said vehicle by supportably engaging the functional unit with said first and second mounting interfaces and wherein the functional unit is positioned on said first and second mounting interfaces by engagement with said first and second guide members; wherein said chassis includes two parallel structural rails extending between said first and second locations and wherein said vehicle further comprises first and second elongate mounting rails, said first and second mounting rails extending parallel to said structural rails and disposed opposite one another laterally outwardly adjacent said structural rails wherein said first and second mounting rails are adapted to secure a fifth wheel on said structural rails longitudinally between said first and second locations and laterally between said first and second mounting rails; and further comprising first and second L-brackets, said first L-bracket secured to a laterally outward side of one of said structural rails and said second L-bracket secured to a laterally outward side of the other of said structural rails, said first mounting rail being secured to said first L-bracket, said second mounting rail being secured to said second L-bracket.