Abstract:
A console is provided for attachment to a vehicle chassis. The console includes a bracket body for a truck. The bracket body is formed by a casting which at least partly encloses a cavity for storing a fluid.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a console for attachment to a vehicle chassis and a vehicle comprising a console. 
         [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,031 discloses air tanks arranged in axles, cross members, stabilizer bars or control arms of a truck for storing pressurized air used for air suspension and/or for air brakes. In order to form a cavity for storing the pressurized air, partition walls can be welded to the structure. 
         [0003]    U.S. 2005 0062251 A1 teaches an air tank as structural element being arranged between the two parallel main beams of a vehicle&#39;s frame. The air tank replaces a conventional cross beam. The air tank is integral part of the frame construction. 
         [0004]    DE 10 2006 010 185 A1 reveals an air tank assembly fixed to a frame of a vehicle such that additional constructional elements like car wing or splashboard can be attached to the air tank assembly. The air tank is located inside the frame assembly at the frame&#39;s main construction level. 
         [0005]    It is desirable to improve the fabrication of additional fluid storage room. It is also desirable to provide a vehicle with such a fluid storage room. 
         [0006]    According to an aspect of the present invention, a console for attachment to a truck chassis is proposed, wherein the console comprises a bracket body which bracket body is formed by a casting which at least partly encloses a cavity for storing a fluid. 
         [0007]    The console is particularly a suspension carrying console. Expediently, a casing of the bracket body surrounds the cavity forming a fluid tank. The fluid can be a gas or a liquid, and the fluid can be pressurized or under ambient pressure. 
         [0008]    Particularly, the fluid can be pressurized air. Favourably, the cavity enclosed by the console as well as the casing surrounding the cavity is easily accessible and service friendly. Despite the very restricted space in a truck frame, additional space is made available by using the bracket body as storage space. The console can easily provide a storage volume of several litres without colliding with other components between the vehicle frame rails. Particularly when used for pressurized air, for instance in the vehicle suspension, long piping can be avoided as the console is automatically located close to the wheel suspension where the pressurized air may be needed. 
         [0009]    According to a favourable embodiment of the invention, the bracket body can at least partially be integrated in a casing surrounding the cavity. Advantageously, a portion of the bracket body itself can form a container or, alternatively, the bracket body can be a support for a container constituting the casing. Expediently, the bracket body can be cast enclosing a cavity. The manufacturing of the bracket body is simple. The attachment points for components such as reaction stays or fastening rods and the like can remain unaltered. Only a middle region of the console is used for forming or supporting a cavity for storing a fluid. 
         [0010]    Advantageously, the casing can have an oval or ellipsoid shape. Other shapes can be employed, of course. The shape of the casing can be adapted to the kind or state of fluid stored in the container. Expediently, the shape of the casing can be easily designed for the requirements of a pressurized fluid, for instance pressurized air. 
         [0011]    According to a favourable embodiment of the invention, the console can be embodied as a reaction-stay console to which reaction stays are attachable. The console can carry forces of the wheel holder over the reaction stays or suspension elements and introduce these forces into the chassis. The console can also be called a reaction stay console. Production of the console can be technical simplified when the console acts as carrier and takes the function of a tank at the same time. The integration into a bracket body can reduce the number of construction parts. Favourably, it is possible to produce the console and the hollow casing in the bracket body in one production step, particularly by casting the console and the casing enclosing the cavity in one casting mould. The casing can be defined by a sand core which can be removed after casting the console. Thus, various three-dimensional forms and volumes can be manufactured. 
         [0012]    According to a favourable embodiment of the invention, the bracket body of the console can provide an opening for mounting the casing to the bracket body. In this case, the bracket body forms a frame around the casing. An advantage is that the casing, for instance forming a pressurized air tank, is easily accessible for servicing purposes or for an exchange of the casing. Fixing the casing to the console can be achieved by well known techniques, as for example by welding, riveting, screwing or the like. 
         [0013]    According to a favourable embodiment of the invention, the tank can be inserted and fixed in a corresponding opening of the console. 
         [0014]    According to a favourable embodiment, the casing of the tank can protrude from one side of the bracket body only. The opposite side of the bracket body can be used, for other installations. 
         [0015]    According to a favourable embodiment, the casing of the tank can protrude from both sides of the bracket body. In this case, the volume of the cavity which is partially enclosed by the bracket body is doubled compared to a one-sided arrangement. 
         [0016]    According to a favourable embodiment, the casing can provide a minimum volume of 5 litres, preferably a volume of at least 10 litres, preferably of up to 15 litres. Expediently, additional storage volume can be provided for a fluid, e.g. for pressurized air or another fluid such as oil or the like. 
         [0017]    Favourably, by integration of the casing or tank into the bracket body, the number of parts in the vehicle can be reduced thus providing a weight and space efficient packaging of components. It is possible to integrate stabilizing or stiffening structures in the casing enclosing the cavity. 
         [0018]    According to a favourable embodiment, one or more attachment ducts can be provided at the console as inlet and/or outlet for the fluid in the cavity. Expediently, the attachment ducts can be connected to openings which are used for removing a sand core used during casting. The attachment ducts can connect the fluid, e.g. pressurized air, to consumers in the vehicle, e.g. an air suspension. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The present invention together with the above-mentioned and other objects and advantages may best be understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments, but not restricted to the embodiments, wherein is shown schematically: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  a perspective partial view of a truck-chassis with a console attached to a truck chassis; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  a perspective view of a first example embodiment of a console comprising a casing of a tank; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3   a ,  3   b  a perspective view of another example embodiment of a console enclosing a casing of a tank ( FIG. 3   a ) and a cut-open view of the tank ( FIG. 3   b ); 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  a perspective front view of another example embodiment of a console with a receptacle for a casing of a tank and a separate tank attached to the console; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  an example embodiment of a vehicle comprising a console enclosing a cavity for storing a fluid. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    In the drawings, equal or similar elements are referred to by equal reference numerals. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. Moreover, the drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  depicts for example a frame  10  of a vehicle such as a truck with an air suspension  12  comprising air bellows  16  and dampers  22  for damping vertical movements of wheel holders  14  attached to wheel axles. A console  100  is arranged between the two wheel holders  14  and attached with an upper part  116  to the frame  10  for introducing forces from the wheels (not shown) on the wheel holders  14  into the frame  10 . The console  100  is a suspension carrying console. 
         [0027]    The wheel holders  14  are connected to the console  100  via reaction stays  18  at a lower bifurcated receptacle  114  of the console  100 . One of the air bellows  16  is attached to the console  100  via a fastening rod  20 . The console  100  comprises a casing  120  in its bracket body  110 . The casing  120  can be used as a tank for storing a fluid such as pressurized air. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2 and 3   a ,  3   b  depict two designs of a console  100  with a bracket body  110 . The bracket body  110  comprises a side wall  112 , a bifurcated receptacle  114  for the reaction stays  18  ( FIG. 1 ) at its lower end and a plate like holder  116  at its upper end which can be attached to the vehicle frame  10  ( FIG. 1 ). The fastening rods  20  ( FIG. 1 ) can be attached to the console  100  via openings  118 . 
         [0029]    The console  100  has in its middle part an integrated tank with a casing  120  for pressurized air so that the bracket body  110  forms the casing  120  of the tank enclosing a cavity  150 . The casing  120  has a projecting outer surface  122 . 
         [0030]    Favourably, the wall thickness of the tank can be several millimetres thick, i.e. of about the same thickness as the middle part of the console  100  without the tank. 
         [0031]    As a result, the mechanical strength and stability of the console  100  remains virtually unchanged. The side wall  112  of the console  100  is typically thicker for providing the attachment for the reaction stays  18  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0032]    The projecting outer surface  122  in  FIG. 2  comprises a front surface  126  substantially parallel to the plate like holder  116  and thus parallel to the frame rail  24  ( FIG. 1 ) and has side walls  124 . Two borings  128  in the front surface  126  are used to remove a sand core which is used as a place holder during casting the bracket body  110 . The borings  128  can be used to attach valves and pipes for connecting the tank to consumers for e.g. pressurized air stored in the cavity  150  of the tank. 
         [0033]    The casing  120  can be embodied to project only on one side of the bracket body  110  or it can be arranged to project on both sides of the bracket body  110 . The casing  120  in  FIG. 3   a ,  3   b  exhibits an oval shaped projecting surface  122  which protrudes on both sides of the bracket body  110  as can be seen in  FIG. 3   b.    
         [0034]    Stiffening corrugations  130  can be provided in the surface  122  of the casing  120  if required for better stability. The shape of the casing  120  can be chosen to available space in the vehicle, the required stability and the like. An appropriate shape of the casing  120  can be easily fabricated by casting the bracket body  110 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  depicts an alternative example embodiment of a console  100 . The bracket body  110  comprises a central opening which is a receptacle  130  for a tank with a casing  120 . By way of example, the tank can have the shape of a cylinder. Of course, the tank can have other shapes as desired. 
         [0036]    The tank is plugged into the receptacle  130  and attached to the bracket body  110 . The connection of the casing  120  of the tank onto or into the bracket body  110  can be performed by way of known techniques in the art as, for example, releasably with screws or permanently by welding and the like. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  depicts a vehicle  30  which is equipped at both sides of its frame  10  with a console  100  enclosing the afbrementioned tank for storing a fluid in a cavity  150 , particularly for storing pressurized air. The vehicle  30  is embodied as a tractor vehicle of a truck and comprises an air suspension  12  which is connected to the cavity  150  of the console  100  for supplying at least a part of the pressurized air in the air suspension  12 . Of course, the pressurized air stored in the cavity  150  in the console  100  can be used in other consumers of pressurized air in the vehicle  30 .