Transport vehicle

A transport vehicle providing for a light-weight frame structure including a plurality of transversely extending, longitudinally spaced divider members for supporting bulk cargo in individual bays, and with the loads and stresses being dispersed throughout the frame structure. The frame structure extends into a goose-neck connection for a tractive vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention generally relates to transport vehicles and, more 
particularly, pertains to an integrally joined frame assembly for a 
transport vehicle wherein loads which are transported in the vehicle are 
supported primarily by an upper frame structure of the vehicle. 
Heretofore, bulk goods such as bottle cases employed in the soft drink 
industry and the like have been loaded on delivery trucks or trailer 
bodies, frequently in palletized manner, whereby such transport vehicles 
are subjected to appreciable degrees of deflection as a result of the 
vertical load components imposed thereon. 
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART 
In order to alleviate stresses and deflections caused by the rather heavy 
loads acting on the support platform or floor members of the delivery 
vehicles, it has previously been proposed to suspend the loads from an 
upper frame structure of the vehicle which extends generally in the 
direction of travel of the vehicle above the spaces or bays containing the 
bulk loads or bottle cases. 
Thus, Hummel U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,794 proposes a truck body adapted to 
transport bulk goods in which the goods, such as bottle cases and the 
like, are adapted to be suspended, while contained within cages or cases, 
from a longitudinally extending upper or vehicle roof frame structure 
which incorporates transverse structural elements for supporting the 
cages. Upon the cages being loaded with the goods, the upper beam 
structure is frequently subjected to significant deflecting loads which 
will cause it to assume a downwardly curved or arcuate configuration. This 
downward deflection will result in generating relatively high structural 
stresses and cause untoward displacements of the loads during the loading 
and travel of the vehicle. 
In another earlier proposal, as disclosed in Kramer U.S. Pat. No. 
3,501,195, the bulk goods are suspended through the intermediary of 
transverse beams from an upper structural frame member of the vehicle 
extending longitudinally in the direction of the vehicle. Quite similar to 
the structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,794 any heavy loads will 
produce a downward deflection on the upper beam structure so as to cause 
the latter to assume a concavely curved or arcuate configuration which, 
frequently, will incline or shift the loads and cause the loading and 
unloading of the bulk goods to be rendered somewhat difficult while 
rendering the support thereof somewhat unsure. 
In addition to the foregoing, the above-mentioned patents are subject to 
the limitation in that substantially the major proportion of the forces 
and stresses which are generated by the loads act on a single upper frame 
structure of the vehicle so as to generate maximum bending stresses at 
approximately the center of the upper frame structure span. This, of 
necessity, will either limit the extent of loading to which the upper beam 
structure can be subjected or, alternatively, require the utilization of 
extremely heavy and bulky structural components in forming the structure. 
Particularly in the soft drink industry in which the transport of cases of 
packaged or crated materials, such as soft drinks, requires the need for 
maintaining different types of trunks which are capable of carrying bulky 
and heavy loads, it is advantageous to provide a simplified trunk body 
design and a frame structure therefore which will afford the conveyance of 
such bulk goods through the intermediary of a vehicle providing the 
lightest and simplest structural support frame design. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a 
transport vehicle of the above-mentioned type which incorporates an 
integrally joined load-supporting frame assembly, and which has the 
capability of transporting large and heavy loads without the vehicle body 
or structural frame being subjected to undue deformations, deflections or 
excessive stresses. 
Another more specific object of the present invention resides in providing 
a transport vehicle incorporating a load-supporting frame structure in 
which a major proportion of the load to which the vehicle is subjected is 
carried by an upper frame structure and including further structure 
integrally joined therewith whereby the forces resulting from the loads, 
and any resultant stresses, are so distributed over the span of the upper 
frame structure as to avoid the formation of unduly high stress 
concentrations and deflections or deformations of the vehicle frame 
assembly. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a transport 
vehicle incorporating an integrally joined load-supporting frame assembly, 
which includes a number of bays in the vehicle for receiving and storing 
heavy bulk goods, such as soda cases and the like common in the soft drink 
industry, and in which the bays are separated through the intermediary of 
divider members or stringers constituting components of the frame 
assembly, and with the divider members affording a generally uniform load 
and load distribution over the upper frame structure and towards a lower 
frame structure which is joined thereto. 
The foregoing and other objects are inventively achieved in that the 
present invention provides for a transport vehicle for bulk goods, such as 
cases containing soft drinks and the like, incorporating an integrally 
joined load-supporting frame assembly constituted of the combination of an 
upper frame structure of at least one elongate beam extending in the 
direction of vehicle travel, with the beam having a forwardly projecting 
downwardly inclined portion forming a goose-neck connection to a tractive 
vehicle; with the upper frame structure being integrally joined to a lower 
frame structure which provides a platform for supporting the bulk goods; 
and a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversally extending divider 
members connecting the upper and lower frame structure so as to thereby 
form separate bays for receiving the bulk goods. The divider members also 
constitute vertical support connections between the upper and lower frame 
structures which will permit the loads or forces acting on the upper frame 
structure or the elongate beam thereof to be distributed therethrough and 
transmitted to the lower frame structure. This box-like integrally joined 
frame assembly will allow for a generally uniform stress distribution 
throughout the upper and lower frame structures, and will concurrently 
reduce or substantially eliminate any flexure and stress concentrations in 
the upper load-supporting frame structure or other portions of the frame 
assembly. 
A particular advantage of the inventive integrally joined frame assembly 
consists of in that the various components thereof are constituted of 
commercially available structural members, such as channels, I-beams, 
angle irons and plates, thereby maintaining the cost of the frames 
assembly at a low and competitive level as contrasted with present 
transport vehicle designs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a transport 
vehicle 10 which is adapted to be coupled or hitched to a tractive vehicle 
12, such as a truck cab, or half-truck and the like. 
The transport vehicle 10 comprises a load-supporting frame assembly 
including an upper frame structure 14 which is integrally fastened to a 
lower frame structure 16, and with the vehicle being divided into a number 
of goods-receiving bays 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 through the 
intermediary of divider members 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 which 
interconnect the upper and lower frame structure. Suitable ground engaging 
wheels 48 supporting the rear portion of vehicle 10 are adapted to have 
their axles mounted on the lower frame structure 16. The frame structures 
14, 16 and divider members 32 to 46 are described hereinbelow in greater 
detail with reference to FIGS. 2 through 7 of the drawings. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings, the upper frame structure 14 
of the transport vehicle 10 includes a pair of parallel spaced I-beams 50 
extending in the direction of travel of the vehicle and straddling the 
longitudinal axial centerline of the latter. Fastened to the front ends of 
beams 50 are forwardly projecting and downwardly inclined I-beams 52, the 
latter of which converge in a V-shape and are joined at their apex by a 
horizontal plate 54. Suitable coupling means, such as a pivot connection 
(not shown), may communicate with the plate 54 for coupling the upper 
frame structure 14 to the tractive vehicle 12, and thereby form a 
so-called "gooseneck" connection between vehicles 10 and 12. Employing 
this type of vehicle connection, rather than a hitch, will avoid 
jack-knifing when backing up, and will also reduce any "sidewinding" or 
slewing of vehicle 10 during forward motion thereof. The leading edge of 
plate 54 may be bent slightly upwardly in order to facilitate sliding 
engagement with any coupling means which may be provided on the tractive 
vehicle 12. 
The lower frame structure 16 is basically constituted of a number of joined 
structural elements, such as channels or angle irons, which are profiled 
or contoured so as to assume the general configuration of the 
undercarriage of a vehicle. Thus, the lower frame structure 16 may consist 
of parallel spaced beams 58 which are located on each respective side of 
the transport vehicle 10, having upstanding structural components 60 and 
62 provided at opposite ends thereof and connected to respective 
horizontal structural elements 64 and 66. A supporting floor structure, as 
shown in FIG. 5, may be constructed of a plurality of contiguously 
arranged channel members. 
Structural element 64 has a vertically depending structural element 68 
fastened thereto, which connects with a horizontal structural element 70 
extending towards the rear end of transport vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 2 
of the drawings, floor plates 72 and 74, which slope slightly inwardly 
towards the center of the transport vehicle, are supported on the lower 
frame structure 16 so as to be able to support various pallets or crates 
containing goods which are to be transported in the vehicle. Suitably 
inclined stiffener members, which may also be constituted of I-beams or 
similar structural elements, are provided along and transverse of the 
longitudinal axial centerline of the transport vehicle 10 to thereby 
rigidly interconnect the various structural elements of the lower frame 
structure 16 and to restrain deflection thereof upon loading of the 
vehicle. These elements are identified by references numerals 76, 78 and 
80. Additionally, a shaped beam 90 extends between inclined I-beams 52, 
being fastened to the latter by means of a transversely arranged plate 92, 
and a cross-member interconnecting beams 66 and 62 on both sides of the 
vehicle. Beam 90 is located along the central longitudinal axis of the 
vehicle and, in conjunction with structural elements 80, 66 and 52, 
constitutes an A-frame arrangement for transmitting the loads to the beams 
50. The structural elements 76, 78, 80 and 90 may be covered by upright 
wall structures (not shown) which extend proximate the centerline of the 
vehicle so as to divide the latter into right and left-hand 
cargo-supporting bays. 
Support brackets and structure 82 may be provided below the lower frame 
structure 16 in the space defined between structural components 60, 64 and 
68 for mounting of the axles for ground-engaging wheels 84, the latter of 
which support the rear portion of the transport vehicle 12, the front 
portion thereof being supported on the tractive vehicle 12 through 
intermediary of the beams 52 and plate 54 forming a "gooseneck" 
connection. 
It is readily apparent that the lower frame structure 16 may have the 
longitudinally extending structural beams thereof interconnected by 
transversely extending structural members, the latter of which will also 
provide support for the various floor portions constituted by plates 72, 
74. 
The transport vehicle 10 is divided into separate goods-receiving bays 
through the utilization of the dividing members or stringers 32 through 
46, as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5 through 7 of the drawings. 
Each of the divider members is essentially constituted of an inverted 
U-shaped frame, which may consist of angle irons. Interposed within the 
frame is a plate structure which may consist of individual panels, and 
which extend from the upper region of the U-shaped frame downwardly to the 
floor plate 72 or 74 on the lower frame structure 16. Essentially, the 
construction of each of the divider members may be in the form of a hollow 
partition structure, as shown and described in applicants' copending U.S. 
patent application No. 
Basically, the hollow partition structure incorporates two parallel spaced 
rows of channel-shaped elements 94 having their flanges 96 facing each 
other. Interposed between the rows of elements 94 and the adjoining 
flanges 96 thereof are transversely extending spacers 98, preferably 
formed of extruded aluminum. The spacers 98 are rectangular in 
cross-section and have set-back end portions forming recessed surfaces for 
engaging the flanges 96 of the elements 94 in cooperative mating 
engagement. The elements 94 and spacers 98 may be suitably spot-welded 
together to form a rigid, box-like structure. 
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, each inverted U-frame may 
consist of a plurality of angle members 100 which are located in a spaced 
back-to-back relationship having the panels interposed therebetween, and 
which may be rigidly interconnected through suitable welding procedures. 
The divider members may, of course, be made in different heights, dependent 
upon the vertical distances between the upper and lower frame structures 
14 and 16 at the particular axial or longitudinal location in the 
transport vehicles wherein the divider members are to be installed. 
As shown in FIG. 7, suitable bolts 102 may be provided at the upper ends of 
the divider members, having recessed diameter portions for facilitating 
movement of vehicle sliding doors (not shown). The upper ends of the bolts 
may be fastened to the beam structure 50. 
In order to impart a slope to the floor structure of the vehicle towards 
the center of the latter to thereby inhibit loads from sliding out of the 
vehicle, a tapered A-frame-like structure 104 may be provided at the 
vertical centerline of each divider member. 
Preferably, although not necessarily, the elements 94 may be formed of 
0.040 inch sheet gauge aluminum, while the floor structure is formed of 
0.080 inch sheet gauge plate. 
As may be readily ascertained, the interposition between the upper and 
lower frame structures of the longitudinally spaced divider members, as 
shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, will provide for a rigid box-like 
interconnection between the upper and lower frame structures 14 and 16 so 
as to impart a high degree of rigidity and stability to the vehicle frame 
and to thereby prevent stress and load concentration and undue deflections 
when the vehicle is loaded with goods. 
Although the transport vehicle 10 is illustrated as having a twelve-bay 
construction, in effect, six full-sized goods-receiving bays on either 
side of its longitudinal centerline, it is readily inherent that transport 
vehicles of different lengths may be constructed having differing numbers 
of bays provided therein for receiving the goods. 
In order to reduce vehicular weight, with attendant savings in 
expenditures, it is possible that the divider members 32 through 46 and 
other parts of the frame assembly, be constituted of aluminum or other 
light-weight material. 
The entire frame structure and divider members may, of course, be 
encompassed by suitable exterior panels or walls forming the exterior of 
the vehicle so as to enclose the goods within the transport vehicle 10 
during conveyance thereof. 
From the foregoing, it thus becomes quite readily apparent that the entire 
transport vehicle structure is of a simple and inexpensive design which 
will afford the greatest degree of strength and rigidity, allowing for a 
minimum degree of deflection or distortion during the loading of the 
vehicle with bulk goods, such as cases of soda, soft drinks and the like, 
and during the conveyance thereof.