Patent GB-392205-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in motor vehicle bodies specially applicable to motor buses and coaches
IPC: B62D31/02
Filed: 1931-08-13
Abstract: 392,205. Vehicle bodies ; doors for passenger vehicles ; steps. BURLING- HAM, Ltd., H. V. and BURLINGHAM, H. V., Preston New Road, Blackpool. Aug. 13, 1931, Nos. 22835/31 and 6884/32. [Classes 103 (ii), 103 (iv), and 108 (i).] Vehicle bodies are built up of a series of unit metal frame members, each adapted to carry its own section of panelling, lining and if desired windows, the vertical sides of the units being so shaped as to enable adjacent units to be bolted together with an intervening yielding packing member of wood &c. and each unit being provided with means whereby it may be secured to the chassis and to the top rail so that in the case of damage any one unit may be removed and replaced. Figs. 1 and 3 show the invention applied to a single deck omnibus comprising frame members A<1> .. A<7> some of which form door members such as A<2>, A <6>, A<7> and wheel housing members A<3>. The vertical sides a<4>, Figs. 9A, 9B, and 13, are of angle section and the sides a<4> of adjacent frame members are connected together by means of bolts e<1>, a packing E of wood intervening. The exterior panelling F is secured as shown to the limbs as of the sides a<4> and the lining H or windows to the limbs a<6>. The sides a<4> are provided with gusset plates or feet a<13>, Fig. 9B, which project inwardly and embrace the web of H-section floor joists which are secured to the chassis members. The bolts e<1>, as shown in Figs. 9A and 13, are clear of interior lining to permit easy access. The top a<1>, Fig. 9A, is bolted to the channel-shaped cant-rail D suitably recessed as shown and the angle section roof members B are bolted to the top flange of the cant-rail D, a spring plate d4 being provided to hide the bolts. A waist rail a<7> of channel section is provided and serves to facilitate the attachment of the panelling F and lining while the window frames G are positioned as shown by capping members g<2>. The unit frame members A<3>, A<4>, A<5> are in general similar to A<1>, the member A<3> being however provided with a curved part to accommodate the wheel housing and the corner members A<4> being curved, as shown in Fig. 3. The frame member A2 is arranged to accommodate the hinged and sliding doors Kl, K2 and is provided with sides a<14>, Fig. 17, adapted to be secured with intervening packing-pieces E<2> to the side a<4> of a frame A<1> and to the member Z of the bulkhead separating the drivers' cab from the passenger cabin. The door is hinged at k<2>, the opposite side k<9> being adapted to contact with a buffer k<3> and the door is formed in two parts hinged at k<5> the side k<9> being adapted to slide and be guided in a top rail. The bulkhead comprises a frame member having vertical and horizontal bracing members with panelling &c. and adapted to be secured to the sides of the exterior frame members by bolts with wood &c. packing. The rear emergency door A is arranged between the frame members A<5> one side a<4> of the door being hinged at m<1>, Fig. 28, to the side a4 of the member A5 a buffer m<3> being arranged as shown, while the other side a<4> of the door abuts against a rubber stop secured by means of a sheet-metal member to the frame member A5. The frame member A comprises the usual sides a<4>, top a<1>, front members al<21>, a<22>, vertical member a<20> to which the door K<3> is hinged and bottom curvilinear member a<23>, Fig. 32. A step a<24> of the form shown is secured to the frame member A<7> below the door K<3>. In the case of a double deck vehicle the frame members are in two tiers and comprise for example upper members A<10>, Fig. 39, and lower members A<1>, the upper members A<10> being provided with inwardly projecting feet similar to a<13> for securing them to the floor joists T of the upper deck. The upper and lower frame members are adapted to be firmly secured together by channel members R, Figs. 40 and 43, which take, together with the packing wood strips E, between the sides a<4> of adjacent frame members, bolt-holes r<1> .. r<4> being provided for this purpose. The roof may be a fixed one or arranged to open, in which case the central panels are fixed and the lateral panels are arranged to slide in the roof members B below the central penels. In a modification the roof members B<1> are of the shape shown in Fig. 38, the exterior panelling being secured to wood packing-pieces b3 and capped by strips b<5> and the interior lining b<6> secured to packing strips b<2>.