Abstract:
The invention relates to a module for the modular frame of a heavy load transport vehicle, characterized in that it comprises, at one end thereof, a junction surface having an oblique bearing surface extending between two parallel planar surfaces inclined relative to the previous one. The invention also relates to a method for mounting such modules. The invention relates to a frame that comprises at least two such modules in which the junction surfaces together define an assembly with an oblique scarf joint, an unabutting scarf joint or key joint. The invention also relates to a harbor vehicle comprising at least one such frame and at least one such module.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a module for a modular chassis of a vehicle for transporting heavy loads. 
     The invention also relates to a method of mounting such modules and to a tool for implementing this method. 
     The invention also relates to a modular chassis of a vehicle for transporting heavy loads having at least two modules each having at at least one end a joining surface designed to be able to engage with a complementary joining surface on the other module. 
     The invention also relates to a port vehicle having at least one such chassis or at least one such module. 
     The present invention relates more particularly to the field of heavy handling, and in particular port handling. 
     The development of port handling is characterized by the carrying, on one and the same ship, of ever larger loads. In particular, containers represent the essence of the commercial payload transported other than in bulk. The immobilization of a ship at the dock is expensive and handling means must be suitable for emptying or introducing as rapidly as possible the entire load that must be carried on or unloaded from a ship during a stopover. 
     A port services provider has to adapt his ground handling fleet to the developing nature of the load. This load generally consists of containers of the maritime type, the most common ones having a length of 20, 30, 40 or 45 feet, from among the known standards of 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, 48, 50, 53 or even 60 feet. The volume of a 20-foot container serves nowadays as a comparative unit of measurement, known as TEU, or twenty-foot equivalent unit. 
     Special loads can consist of large-dimension assemblies, both in terms of length and of width and height, and in some cases have a very high mass. The services provider does not have special vehicles for every scenario and must envision adapting or/and combining the multipurpose means that he has available. 
     Telescopic semitrailers, of the low-floor type or having a single beam, are known in the road transport of vehicles or of logs. However, these vehicles are poorly suitable for transporting heavy loads which have very variable centering, such as can be the case with containers, it being possible for a single 20-foot container, according to the standard NG ISO 668, to have a total loaded mass of 34 800 kg. The twinning of such containers is frequent. Cross-bars, known as spreaders, which load/unload docked ships are already capable of transporting at least four containers arranged in two rows of two, which can represent, with small 20-foot containers, a load of around 140 metric tons, this not being compatible with a telescopic system of beams that slide in one another, as are known from the prior art. Specifically, in heavy handling, and in particular in port handling, it is generally desired to arrange the load as close as possible to the ground, for obvious safety reasons, and this stops the chassis or vehicles and trailers from being overdimensioned. 
     It is also known to form chassis of modular trailers in the manner of engineering military bridges, the modules consisting of prismatic box structures fitted together end to end with a straight edge. Here again, the problem arises of dimensioning for flexural strength, which is often estimated empirically and translates into large sections, high consumption of steel, a high weight, which harms the energy performance of the tractor-trailer assembly or the train of trailers as the case may be. This design also has the problem of the shear strength of the connection pieces, in particular of the bolts. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the invention is to enable a port services provider to adapt his ground handling fleet to the nature of the load. The invention also proposes making it easier to maintain his fleet of rolling stock. 
     To this end, the invention relates to a module for a modular chassis of a vehicle for transporting heavy loads, characterized in that it has at at least one of its ends a joining surface which has at least one oblique support surface that extends between two planar surfaces that are parallel to one another and inclined with respect to said oblique support surface. 
     The invention also relates to a method of mounting such modules, and a tool for implementing this method. 
     The invention also relates to a modular chassis of a vehicle for transporting heavy loads, having at least two modules, each having at at least one end a joining surface designed to be able to engage with a complementary joining surface on another module, characterized in that said joining surface and said complementary joining surface form together an assembly having an oblique scarf joint, having an unconnected skew scarf joint or having a key. 
     According to one feature of the invention, said chassis is dimensioned to carry marine containers of 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, 48, 50, 53 or 60 feet. 
     The invention also relates to a port vehicle having at least one such chassis or at least one such module. 
     According to one feature of the invention, this vehicle is a trailer or a semitrailer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows a perspective and exploded view of a chassis having modules according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  schematically shows an elevation view of a first variant of fitting such modules together; 
         FIG. 3  schematically shows an elevation view of a second variant of fitting such modules together; 
         FIG. 4  schematically shows a partial elevation view of an example of the combination of modules, in a longitudinal direction, similar to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  schematically shows a partial elevation view of another example of the combination of modules; 
         FIG. 6  schematically shows a partial elevation view of an example of the combination of two modules; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  schematically show partial elevation views of yet more examples of the combination of modules; 
         FIG. 9  schematically shows a perspective view of a combination of modules in a transverse direction; 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of the combination from  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  schematically shows a perspective bottom view of a detail of a module according to the invention; 
         FIG. 12  schematically shows a perspective top view of another detail of a module according to the invention; 
         FIG. 13  schematically shows a perspective top view of yet another detail of a module according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  16  schematically show respectively a self-propelled vehicle, a semitrailer and a trailer for transporting containers according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates more particularly to the field of heavy handling, in particular port handling. 
     The invention relates to a module  10  for a modular chassis  1  of a vehicle  100  for transporting heavy loads. 
     Such a module  10  can have different forms, as shown in the rest of the description, with examples of modules  10  under the references  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  200 ,  201 ,  202 ,  300 ,  400 ,  401 . 
     According to the invention, in order to ensure at the same time the best flexural behavior of the chassis  1  of the vehicle  100  formed by such modules  10 , a module  10  has at at least one of its ends a joining surface  12  which has at least one oblique support surface  13  that extends between two planar surfaces  14  and  15  that are parallel to one another and inclined with respect to said oblique support surface  13 . 
     Such a module  10  is designed to be able to engage with, as the case may be, a structure to which it is attached, or else with another module  10 A, said structure or said other module  10 A having a complementary joining surface  12 A which has at least one complementary oblique support surface  13 A that extends between two complementary planar surfaces  14 A and  15 A that are parallel to one another and inclined with respect to said oblique support surface  13 A, as is shown in  FIG. 2 , the module  10  then forming with said structure or with said other module  10 A an assembly having an oblique scarf joint, known as an unconnected skew scarf joint. 
     The load applied to the module  10 A is absorbed by the oblique surface  13 , and such an assembly, which is only used in wooden framework, and is introduced here in an innovative manner in metal structures, provides very good flexural strength. Such an assembly is designed to hold, statically, under the effect of the weight of each of its components, and of forces applied thereto parallel to the planes of their planar surfaces  14 ,  14 A,  15  and  15 A. Since the vehicles  100  are intended to travel on uneven ground, and to perform turns, it is nevertheless necessary to add mechanical fastening means, if only to ensure transverse retention. To this end, fitting elements such as bolts or the like are deployed in a direction D perpendicular to the planes of the planar surfaces  14 ,  14 A,  15  and  15 A and at the level of the latter. The assembly having a scarf joint makes it possible for these fitting elements to operate only in traction without any shear forces. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a fitting variant having a scarf joint having a key: the joining surface  12  then has two oblique support surfaces  131  and  132  which are parallel to one another, and the joining surface  12 A also has two oblique support surfaces  131 A and  132 A which are parallel to one another. The length of the surface  132  is less than that of the surface  132 A and the length of the surface  131 A is less than that of the surface  131 . Thus, in the mid part of the assembly, there is left a space which is designed to be able to hold a key  11  that secures the assembly known as an oblique scarf joint having a key. Such a key  11  improves the behavior in traction of the connected assembly. It also makes it possible, in certain cases, to dispense with fitting screws. Such a key  11  can have parallel faces or else be in the form of a wedge. 
     The invention also relates to a modular chassis  1  of a vehicle for transporting heavy loads having at least two such modules, each having at at least one end a joining surface designed to be able to engage with a complementary joining surface on another module. In this chassis  1 , according to the invention, said joining surface and said complementary joining surface form together an assembly having an oblique scarf joint, having an unconnected skew scarf joint or having a key. Such a modular chassis  1  makes it possible in particular to construct vehicles  100 , in particular port vehicles, for transporting ISO containers. Such a chassis  1  can of course be used for other applications, on account of its highly multipurpose nature. 
       FIGS. 4 to 8  show a plurality of types of modules  10 , and a plurality of conceivable combinations, depending in particular on the nature of the load to be transported and on the distribution of its mass. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the preferred configuration, with an intermediate module  200  of a first type enclosed by end modules of a first type  300  and  400 , the intermediate module  200  then forming a keystone. The module  400  can in particular be identical to the module  300 .  FIG. 7  illustrates an extended variant thereof, having extension modules  201 , the oblique surfaces of which are parallel to one another. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another variant, combining an end module of the first type  300  and an end module of a second type  401 , the joining surface  12  of which is complementary to that of the end module of the first type  300 .  FIG. 5  illustrates an extended variant thereof with an extension module  201  inserted. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another variant, incorporating an intermediate module  202  of a second type, each of the joining surfaces  12  of which is complementary to that of the end module of the first type  300 . This example combines an intermediate module  202  of a second type which is enclosed by two intermediate modules  200  of a first type, which are themselves enclosed by end modules of a first type  300  and  400 . 
     It is understood that numerous configurations can be produced with a small number of types of modules, in this case limited to five within the scope of these examples. 
     A chassis  1  according to the invention has a plurality of connected modules  10 . It is understood that while connection in the lengthwise, or longitudinal direction, as shown in  FIG. 1  and in  FIGS. 4 to 8 , is the preferred application, the chassis  1  can also be composed of a plurality of modules connected in the widthwise, or transverse direction, as shown in  FIG. 9  and in  FIG. 10  as seen in the frontal direction A, in order to carry very bulky loads, or quite simply to multiply the carrying capacity for containers by a whole number. A vehicle  100  can thus have a matrix-type chassis  1  with elements connected both lengthwise and widthwise, like the one shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The same organization of the space is also possible in the third, height direction, which is advantageous in ports or in the field of the handling of very heavy loads, in particular in order to act on the distribution of loads on the load-bearing axles or/and engines, and in particular to carry ballast located in appropriate regions of the vehicle structure. This ballast is preferably loaded on top of a basic chassis  1  and can itself result from stacking a plurality of ballast sheets. 
     Consequently, the chassis  1  according to the invention can have three-dimensional modularity. 
     Preferably, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , the module  10  has at least two side members  21  and  22 , in particular having a U-shaped profile with a variable section that is optimized for mechanical strength in a longitudinal direction. The module  10  advantageously has at least one cross member submodule  24  for taking the load in a transverse direction, said side members and cross member forming a flexurally and torsionally rigid box assembly. 
     The cross member submodule  24  is fitted on the side members  21  and  22  by a mechanical connection of the half-length type. The cross member submodule  24  ensures the function of guiding and retaining the load, in particular containers, on the chassis  1  and forms a V-block for centering at the same time as means for stopping at sloped wedges  50 . The latter are terminated at their upper end or turned toward the load by radiused regions that are obtained by shaping sheet metal, or by connected tubes or rounds  240 , so as to enable nonaggressive contact between the cross member submodule  24  and the containers, as is shown in  FIG. 12 . The parts of the cross member submodule  24  that are offset with regard to the side members  21  and  22  form arms  241 ; the latter and the sloped wedges  50  are advantageously produced as per application FR 07 59762 from the same applicant. 
     In an innovative and advantageous manner, the most protruding regions of the chassis  1 , which are generally formed by such arms  241 , extending toward the outside of the chassis, of cross member submodules  24 , are protected, preferably on either side, by oblique bumpers  242 . The latter, which have a rigid design in the form of a slide, are designed to be able to deflect the module  10  during a collision with an obstacle, and thus make it possible to divert the path of the vehicle  100  incorporating such a module  10  away from the obstacle. Moreover, they form stiffening means for the arms  241  in a horizontal plane. The module  10  also has cross members  25  and gussets  26  for stiffening purposes. 
     The module  10  preferably has inertial blocker submodules  27 , each having at least one mobile stop  271  which is designed to come into abutment against a fixed stop  272 , as can be seen in  FIG. 13 . Advantageously, these modules  27  are produced as per application FR 07 56916 from the same applicant. 
     The chassis  1  according to the invention has at least two modules. In one particular exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the chassis  1  forms the structure of a port semitrailer  103 , as shown in  FIG. 15 , which has three modules:
         a first end module  3 ;   a second end module  4 ;   an intermediate connecting module  2 .       

     The module  2  in  FIG. 1  has two side members  21  and  22  and two cross member submodules  24 . This particular module  2 , called the intermediate module, has four joining surfaces  12  at the ends  28  of the side members  21  and  22 . The modules  3  and  4  are fitted to the module  2  at these ends  28  by using fitting elements  29  such as bolts or the like. The specific forms of the joining surfaces  12  and the complementary joining surfaces  12 A on the opposing modules enable the precise and rigid interlocking of the modules  2 ,  3  and  4  with one another and avoid any shear stress in the fitting elements  29 . The latter can, depending on the type of stressing of the chassis assembly formed by the fitting together of the modules, be mounted, as shown in the figures, parallel to the lengthwise direction of the chassis, or else in the direction perpendicular to this same direction. 
     Similarly, the end module  3  of the example in  FIG. 1  has two side members  31  and  32  of a type similar to the side members  21  and  22 , and a submodule  24 . The module  3  also has cross members  25  and inertial blocker submodules  27 . The module  3  in this example has a box-like structure at its end opposite the one where it is fitted to the module  2 , in order to support the loads generated by a semitrailer kingpin  30 , as can be seen in  FIG. 11 . This module  3  has complementary joining surfaces  12 A designed to be able to engage with joining surfaces  12  of the module  2 . 
     The end module  4  of the example in  FIG. 1  has two side members  41  and  42  of a type similar to the side members  21  and  22  and has a box-like structure at its end opposite the one where it is fitted to the module  2 , in order to support the loads generated by at least one axle  31 , as can be seen in  FIG. 15 . This module  4  has complementary joining surfaces  12 A designed to be able to engage with the joining surfaces  12  of the module  2 . 
     Preferably, the chassis  1  consisting of these modules of type  10  is dimensioned to carry ISO maritime containers of 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, 48, 50, 53 or 60 feet. To this end, the modules of type  10  are advantageously each longitudinally dimensioned to hold a submultiple, the exact number or a multiple of the length of standard containers. Preferably, they are each longitudinally dimensioned to hold a submultiple, the exact number or a multiple of a 20 foot ISO 668 standard container. Preferably, the modules  10  are equipped to hold length stops in order to longitudinally stop containers, or incorporate such stops in their structure. Advantageously, these longitudinal stops are also formed by blocker submodules  27 . 
     In an innovative and particularly advantageous manner, at least one module  10  has such sub-blocker modules  27 , which are designed to be able to act in a transverse direction of the module  10 , and preferably of the chassis  1 , and not just in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the length of the containers. Consequently, the module  10  has sub-blocker modules  27 , some of which are designed to be able to act in a longitudinal direction of the module  10  and others of which are designed to be able to act in a transverse direction of the module  10 , these latter not being shown in the figures. This is particularly advantageous if the module  10  is designed to hold a plurality of containers side by side in the transverse direction, in particular to directly hold the load of a multi-container cross-bar, or spreader. 
     The invention also relates to a port vehicle  100  having at least one chassis  1 , or at least one such module  10 . This vehicle  100  can be, as the case may be, a self-propelled vehicle  101  for transporting containers, as is shown in  FIG. 14 , a port trailer  102  for transporting containers, as is shown in  FIG. 16 , or a semitrailer  103  for transporting containers, as is shown in  FIG. 15 , these examples of combinations of modules being in no way limiting. 
     The invention also relates to a method of fitting together such modules  10  in pairs, according to which two modules  10  are placed end to end in order to engage a joining surface  12  on one of said modules with a complementary joining surface  12 A on the other module, such that said joining surface  12  and said complementary joining surface  12 A form together an assembly having an oblique scarf joint, having an unconnected skew scarf joint or having a key  11 , and said modules  10  are then secured with at least one key  11  or/and fitting means  29 . 
     The invention also relates to a mounting tool for implementing this method, having means for lifting one of the modules  10  with respect to the other in order to engage said joining surface  12  with said complementary joining surface  12 A, and means for guiding, in a direction perpendicular to the planar surfaces of said joining regions, one of said modules  10  with respect to the other. 
     To this end, each module  10  advantageously has indicating or/and aligning means for making it easier to position it next to another module  10  and to fit it to the latter. In a first variant, the module  10  has at least two bores, or trunnions, near the joining surface  12  and facing toward the outside of the module, these bores or trunnions being designed to be able to engage with at least two trunnions, or two bores, on or in the mounting tool. In another variant, which can be combined with the preceding variant, the indicating or/and aligning means are formed by at least one surface designed to be able to take the load. Advantageously, this surface is complemented by a surface which is perpendicular to it and is directed toward the outside of the module and at the joining surface on the module. 
     The invention makes it possible to envision all kinds of loading, including bulk, by carrying suitable buckets, which can also be modular, or else tanks, said accessory containers or tanks of the invention advantageously being produced with a support base having dimensions identical to those of an ISO standard container. 
     In this connection, dimensions in feet are usually used in the field of containers and are used in French standards such as NF ISO 668. The reader will find below the approximate metric values, to one decimal place, of the dimensions mentioned in the present application:
         8 feet: 2.4 m   10 feet: 3.0 m   15 feet: 4.6 m   20 feet: 6.1 m   30 feet: 9.1 m   40 feet: 12.2 m   45 feet: 13.7 m   48 feet: 14.6 m   53 feet: 16.2 m   60 feet: 18.3 m.