COMMERCIAL VEHICLE CAB WITH AN UPPER OPEN SPACE

Abstract: A cab (1) for commercial vehicles has an upper open space (6) for allowing the functional equipment and internal finishing and furnishing components (7 - 16) of the cab to be introduced from above and to be assembled by automated techniques. The edge (17) of the open space (8) is arranged for the fixing of a roof panel (18) which is intended to be fitted after the introduction and assembly of the functional equipment and internal finish­ ing and furnishing components (7-16), in order to complete the cab.

Description: The present invention relates to cabs for commercial vehicles, of the type including a metal structure within which the functional equipment and internal finishing and furnishing components of the cab are inserted. Conventionally, such cabs for commercial vehicles are made by first completing the entire metal structure with all its parts and then, after the metal structure has been treated with corrosion-proofing substances applied by immersion techniques, preparing the interior by the assembly of various pieces of functional equipment and furnishing and finishing components which are introduced into the metal structure, usually through the apertures for the side doors of the cab. This involves considerable difficulty both in connection with the operations of immersion in the proofing baths, since air bubbles can be generated within the metal structure during the immersion and may prejudice the effectiveness of the proofing treatment, and with the subsequent assembly of the various pieces of equipment and internal components. In fact, the side apertures of the metal structure are rather narrow so that the insertion of the equipment and internal components is often difficult and usually requires considerable human assistance, precluding the use of robotised assembly techniques. The object of the present invention is to avoid this disadvantage and this object is achieved by means of a commercial vehicle cab of the type defined at the beginning, characterised in that the metal structure has an upper open space for allowing the functional equipment and internal finishing and furnishing components of the cab to be introduced from above and to be assembled by automated techniques, the edge of the open space being arranged for the fixing of a roof panel which is intended to be fitted after the introduction and assembly of the equipment and internal components, in order to complete the cab. The presence of the upper open space also facilitates the proofing treatments by immersion of the metal structure before the introduction and assembly of the equipment and internal components, and renders them more effective since it eliminates the risk of air bubbles forming in the metal structure. The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawing, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, which is a schematic exploded perspective view of a commercial vehicle cab according to the invention. With reference to the drawing, the cab according to the invention comprises a metal structure, generally indicated l, with a front wall 2, two side walls 3, a rear wall 4, and a base wall 5. According to the invention, the metal structure l is incomplete, in that it differs from the structures of conventional cabs in having an open upper space 6. This open space 6 is provided to enable the functional equipment and internal finishing and furnishing components of the cab to be introduced from above and to be assembled by automated techniques. The equipment and internal components include, for example, the seats 7, the dashboard 8, a compartment 9 for carrying loose objects, bunks l0, instruments ll, the steering wheel l2 with its steering column l3 and control units l4, the gearbox l5, and furnishing parts l6. In addition, the upper open space 6 enables the metal structure l to be treated with corrosion-proofing substances applied by conventional immersion techniques before the introduction and assembly of the various pieces of equipment and components listed above, avoiding the risk of air bubbles forming within the structure l which could reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. The edge of the upper open space 6, indicated l7, is arranged to receive a roof panel l8 of sheet metal or plastics material, in order to complete the cab. The roof panel l8 is fixed to the edge l7 of the upper space 6 by glueing or like systems after the introduction and assembly of the pieces of equipment and internal components.

Claims: 1. Cab for commercial vehicles, including a metal structure within which the functional equipment and internal finishing and furnishing components of the cab are inserted, characterised in that the metal structure (l) has an upper open space (6) for allowing the functional equipment and internal finishing and furnishing components (7 - l6) of the cab to be introduced from above and to be assembled by automated techniques, the peripheral edge (l7) of the open space (6) being arranged for the fixing of a roof panel (l8) which is intended to be fitted after the introduction and assembly of the equipment and internal components (7-l6), in order to complete the cab. 2. Cab according to Claim l, characterised in that the metal structure (l) is treated with corrosion-proofing substances applied by conventional immersion methods before the introduction and assembly of the equipment and internal components (7-l6).

Inventors: SAVIO, PIERO
Applicants: IVECO FIAT S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B62D33
IPC codes: B62D65, B62D33