Patent Publication Number: US-8523508-B2

Title: Vehicle with loading boxes or loading surfaces

Description:
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/534,838 filed May 13, 2005, which is a national stage completion of PCT/EP2003/012548 filed Nov. 11, 2003 which claims priority from German Patent Application Serial No. 102 52 682.6 filed Nov. 12, 2002. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a vehicle provided with at least one front axle and at least one rear axle, with loading boxes or loading surfaces to accommodate cargo, with a vehicle frame and with a loading ramp situated in the rear area of the vehicle frame, in conjunction with which at least one part of the loading boxes or the loading surfaces is capable of being raised and lowered in a vertical direction by means of lifting devices arranged on the vehicle frame. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A vehicle of this kind is described, for example, in EP 0 733 003 B1 and in DE 298 13 998 U. 
     For the purpose of loading and unloading goods vehicles, it is often necessary to use forklift trucks or similar lifting devices in order to lift the cargo from the ground onto the frequently relatively high loading surface, and to set it down again. 
     In order to facilitate the loading and unloading procedure, goods vehicles are frequently also equipped externally at the rear with loading ramps, which generally exhibit a depth of ca. 2 m (about 2 m or 6.56 ft). In the driving mode, the loading ramp is folded vertically upwards against the rear end of the vehicle. For loading and unloading purposes, this ramp is brought into a horizontal attitude as a first stage by means of hydraulic lifting cylinders. The rear end of the vehicle is opened, and the goods to be unloaded are pushed onto the loading ramp. The loading ramp is then lowered to the ground by means of further cylinders. 
     A disadvantage associated with this process, however, is the need for a correspondingly large maneuvering distance or space behind the vehicle for lowering the loading ramp, which often leads to problems due to a lack of available parking space. Moreover, the loading ramp in its raised, horizontal position not only constitutes a traffic obstruction, but also represents a source of danger, in particular to the riders of motorcycles and bicycles. 
     Since, with the loading ramp in its upper raised position, the ramp is situated at a height of more than 1 m (3.28 ft), an additional risk of accident exists in conjunction with loading and unloading, especially if the loading ramp is made slippery by snow or rain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is thus, in the case of a vehicle of the aforementioned nature, in conjunction with which the facility for significantly easier loading and unloading is created by means of the loading boxes or the loading surfaces that are capable of being lowered, additionally to improve these even further, and in particular to create a means of loading and unloading which saves maneuvering space. 
     This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the at least one loading surface or loading box behind the at least one rear axle is arranged in such a way that it is executed as an internal loading ramp, in conjunction with which at least one lateral opening surface and at least one rearward-facing opening surface are arranged on the vehicle frame, which opening surfaces expose loading openings for the purpose of loading or unloading. 
     By means of the embodiment in accordance with the invention, the previously externally arranged loading ramp is practically relocated in the interior of the vehicle, in conjunction with which a clear reduction is achieved in the external maneuvering space required for loading and unloading. Space can be saved at the rear in this way, for example, by dispensing with an external loading ramp. The fact that opening surfaces are also provided on one or both sides of the vehicle means that no space at all is now required behind the vehicle for loading and unloading, should this situation arise. 
     In the embodiment in accordance with the invention, the whole of the overhang of the vehicle frame behind the rear axle can be executed as an internal loading ramp, for example. This means that the area behind the rear axle essentially acts as a loading ramp in the form of one or more moving loading boxes or loading surfaces, which are capable of being displaced by lifting devices from a driving position to an unloading position on the ground. Any desired intermediate positions are likewise possible for the loading ramp in accordance with the invention. In exactly the same way, it can also be raised to the ramp height of buildings. 
     It is possible in conjunction with this, for example, to provide for the arrangement of a roller door on the rear of the vehicle, which is capable of being displaced in lateral guides, for example. One, or preferably both, of the lateral surfaces can be provided with sliding doors in one embodiment of the invention, which doors can be slid in a forward direction to permit unloading and in so doing completely expose lateral opening surfaces. 
     In a highly advantageous further development of the invention, two sliding doors arranged on either side can be provided with vertical guides, in which the rear roller door runs, which roller door in its opened state is slid into a stowage area in the roof structure. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the one or more sliding doors can be provided on their rear side with inward-facing angled sections, to which the rear lighting of the vehicle and, if necessary, other arrangements that are required at the rear of the vehicle are attached. 
     In an embodiment of this kind, in the lowered state or even in intermediate positions, or with the at least one rear loading box or loading surface at ramp height, this is accessible from all three sides, namely from the rear and from both sides, without the need for inconvenient retaining limbs or stabilizing devices. 
     The attachment and also the guide for the sliding door, or for the two sliding doors, and for the roller door can be effected in the roof structure that is present at the rear above the rear axle. 
     If the one or more lateral sliding doors are not arranged over the total height of the vehicle, but if an area for a lateral enclosing wall is left in the lower area, or if space is provided additionally thereto, the lateral enclosing wall can then serve as an access ramp in its lowered state, for which purpose it is caused to pivot laterally outwards to a corresponding extent. The same is true of the rear of the vehicle with the roller door. 
     A further advantage of the solution in accordance with the invention is embodied in the fact that existing vehicles can also be converted in accordance with the invention without problem at a later date. All that is necessary for this purpose, in the case of a vehicle with a ladder frame, in which two longitudinal members arranged laterally at a mutual distance from one another with interjacent transverse members are provided, is to cut the ladder frame in the vicinity of the rear axle. If the C-pillar, which is arranged in the vicinity of the rear axle of the vehicle, is then provided with a lifting device, one or more loading boxes or loading surfaces that are capable of being raised and lowered can be attached as a complete subassembly, in conjunction with which the loading boxes or loading surfaces can be supported on the lifting device in association with a portal-like construction. In this case, only the roof structure projects rearwards in its original nature and manner beyond the rear axle. All that then remains in this case is to provide a receiving device in the roof structure for the rear opening surface, for example a roller door, and to install retaining devices and guide rails for the one or more sliding doors. 
     As an alternative to this, it is, however, also possible to leave the vehicle superstructure with the ladder frame unchanged, in conjunction with which the possibility of operation with a trailer is also afforded. In this case, it is also possible to provide correspondingly narrower, height-adjustable loading boxes or loading surfaces on one side, or also on both sides of the ladder frame. These loading boxes or loading surfaces can then be adjusted vertically in an identical fashion via a lifting device with a portal construction arranged on the C-pillar. In this case, however, the internal loading ramp is divided into two and is only accessible from the side in each case. 
     A highly advantageous further development of the invention may involve the provision of an auxiliary frame for a chassis superstructure with loading boxes or loading surfaces, with lifting devices for the loading boxes or loading surfaces, with the internal loading ramp together with the roof structure and opening surfaces, which auxiliary frame is capable of attachment to the longitudinal members of the ladder frame. 
     Prefabrication of the vehicle superstructure in accordance with the invention is a practical possibly thanks to the auxiliary frame, in conjunction with which the auxiliary frame can be securely attached to the standard ladder frame of the vehicle essentially in a single assembly process by means of corresponding attachment members after prefabrication of this kind. 
     In addition to facilitating assembly in this way, and to the advantages associated with prefabrication, this embodiment also offers the advantage that, in the case of repairs or in the event of an accident, the vehicle and the vehicle superstructure can be replaced in a simple fashion. 
     Advantageous further developments and arrangements of the invention can be appreciated from the other subordinate claims and from the following illustrative embodiments described in principle below with reference to the drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The Figures show the following: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the vehicle in accordance with the invention with an internal loading ramp; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the vehicle in accordance with  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the vehicle in accordance with  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the vehicle superstructure illustrated as a representation in principle; 
         FIG. 5  is a modification of a vehicle in accordance with  FIG. 1  for operation with a trailer; and 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed enlargement of an auxiliary frame with an attachment device for a prefabricated vehicle superstructure on a ladder frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A vehicle with a vehicle frame  1  as represented in  FIGS. 1 to 3  generally exhibits a front axle  2  and a rear axle  3 . Of course, more than one front axle  2  or rear axle  3  may be provided in each case. A total of two loading boxes or loading surfaces  7  and  8  that are capable of adjustment in a vertical direction are provided on the vehicle frame  1 , which is equipped with a ladder frame having two longitudinal members  4  and  5  running at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction, and with interjacent transverse members  6 , which boxes or surfaces are situated on both sides of the longitudinal members  4  and  5  of the ladder frame and adjacent to it. A third loading box or loading surface  9  that is capable of adjustment in a vertical direction is present behind the rear axle  3 . The third loading box  9  can extend over the entire width of the vehicle. 
     Present above the rear axle  3  is a further loading box  10 , although this is not capable of vertical adjustment. 
     The loading boxes  7 ,  8  and  9  that are capable of vertical adjustment can be lowered from a driving position to an unloading position by means of lifting devices  11 , not illustrated in detail here, with lifting cylinders  12 , to which they are attached, in conjunction with which, in the fully lowered position, the loading surfaces of the loading boxes  7 ,  8 ,  9  are present at the level of the road surface. 
     It is similarly possible, if the need arises, to raise the loading boxes  7 ,  8  or  9  to a ramp height of 1100 mm (3.61 ft), for example, for loading and unloading. An appropriate free space below a roof structure  13  is kept clear for this purpose between the upper edges of the loading boxes  7 ,  8  and  9 . 
     Two lifting cylinders  12  arranged for the loading boxes  7  and  8 , on either side of the vehicle in each case, are attached to one another via their lifting device  11  and a lateral portal  14  in each case, as a consequence of which corresponding stability and an increase in the rigidity of the vehicle are achieved. The rear loading box  9  is capable of vertical adjustment by means of a lifting device  11  provided with a transverse portal  14 . The loading boxes  7 ,  8  and  9  are capable in each case of vertical adjustment independently of one another by means of the separate lifting devices  11 . 
     On one side of the vehicle, or preferably on both sides of the vehicle, the loading boxes  7 ,  8  and  10  are closed by means of roller doors  15 , which in the opened state can be slid in and under the roof structure  13  in a manner that is not represented here in detail. 
     Whereas the vehicle frame  1  with the two longitudinal members  4  and  5  of the ladder frame does not normally extend as far as the rear end of the vehicle, the vehicle frame  1  and the two longitudinal members  4  and  5  are cut shortly behind the rear axle  3 , as can be appreciated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The vehicle generally possesses three pillars for stabilization in the customary fashion, namely a so-called A-pillar, B-pillar and C-pillar. The C-pillar in this case is located shortly behind the rear axle  3 . The two longitudinal members  4  and  5  are cut at this point. A lifting device  11  with a lifting cylinder  12  is arranged on vertical rails  30  on a floor of the vehicle, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and on either side of the vehicle in each case and is also attached to the C-pillar. A portal structure  14  connects, via the vertical rails  30  and lifting device  11 , the two lifting cylinders  12  to one another. The loading box  9  is attached to the lifting device  11  in such a way as to be capable of vertical adjustment in a manner that is not illustrated here in any detail. The loading box  9  consists essentially of a lower loading surface  9   a.    
     Sliding doors  16  are arranged on both sides of the vehicle as opening surfaces in the vicinity of the loading box  9 . The sliding doors  16  are attached on their upper side to the roof structure  13  via a guide rail  17 , not illustrated in detail here, in such a way as to be capable of displacement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The sliding arrangements for the sliding doors  16  may exhibit in a previously disclosed fashion sliding links with a knuckle joint, of the kind commonly encountered generally in goods vehicle doors. In conjunction with this, the two sliding doors  16  swing out slightly to the side, so that in the opened state they lie between the B-pillar and the C-pillar above the rear axle  3 , as can be appreciated from  FIG. 2 . 
     The two sliding doors  16  exhibit inward-facing angled sections  18  at their rear ends. Present on the angled sections  18  are vertical guide rails  19  that are not illustrated in detail here. The slats of a roller door  20  are guided in the two guide rails  19  with the two sliding doors  16  in the closed state. 
     As can be appreciated, the rear loading box  9  with its loading surface  9   a  is executed as an internal loading ramp. With the vehicle in driving mode, the loading box  9  with the loading surface  9   a  is present as a loading ramp at the same height as the other loading boxes  7  and  8  with a corresponding ground clearance. The loading box  9  in this case represents a normal, outwardly closed loading space in the interior of the vehicle. 
     For the purposes of loading and unloading drinks crates, for example, the loading box  9  can be lowered to the level of the road surface. Whereas only the two roller doors  15  need to be opened for the purposes of loading and unloading the loading boxes  7  and  8 , in conjunction with which access is afforded to the loading boxes  7  and  8  from the sides, accessibility from all sides can be achieved in the case of the rear loading box  9 . For this purpose, in a first stage, the roller door  20  is pushed upwards and is slid into a guide or a box in the roof structure  13  in a manner that is not represented here in detail. The two sliding doors  16  can then be slid on the outside, in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 2 , towards the front between the B-pillar and the C-pillar. As can be appreciated from  FIG. 2 , the opening surfaces are thus exposed to permit access on all sides, and without the presence of any inconvenient supports, bearers or other built-in devices. The loading box  9  with the loading surface  9   a  functions in this position as a normal loading ramp with accessibility from all sides, because the loading surface  9   a  is also at the level of the road surface. 
     An additional, folding enclosing wall  21  can also be provided at the rear, which wall, in the lowered state, is lowered from the vertical position in which it is present in the driving mode to a horizontal position, as can be appreciated from  FIG. 1  (illustrated with broken lines). To make the task easier, an additional, inclined access ramp to the loading surface  9   a  is also provided in this case. 
     In a similar fashion, of course, enclosing walls  22  can also be provided on both sides of the loading boxes  9 , which walls also serve as access ramps with the loading surface  9   a  in the lowered state (see the representation with broken lines in  FIG. 3 ). 
     As can be appreciated, in the case of the vehicle in accordance with the invention, the maneuvering space required for loading and unloading is significantly smaller than in the case of conventional vehicles with an externally situated loading ramp, which can generally extend for up to 2 m (6.56 ft) and more behind the rear of the vehicle. In the present case, it is no longer necessary to make such a clear space available. 
     As can also be appreciated, it is also possible, should the need arise, and where the available maneuvering space is limited, to load and unload the loading ramp from one or both sides with the sliding door or sliding doors  16  open. 
     Once loading or unloading is complete, the loading box  9  can be raised once more to the driving position in a simple manner with the lifting cylinders  12  by means of the lifting device  11 . Unlike the previously disclosed, externally situated loading ramps, it is no longer necessary in this case to move the cargo that is present on the loading surface  9   a  and to transfer it into the interior of the vehicle, but it can remain on the loading surface  9   a , since the loading box  9  is internal and is situated in the interior of the vehicle after closing the opening surfaces with the sliding doors  16  and the roller door  20 . 
     The customary rear lights  23 , such as turn indicators, tail lamps, rear fog lamps, reversing lamps and similar, can be attached to the angled sections  18  of both sliding doors  16 , as indicated in principle only in  FIG. 3 . A license plate  24  can also be arranged on one slat on the roller door  20 . 
     The loading box  9  with the loading surface  9   a  can also be retro-fitted, should the need arise, to vehicles that are already in service. All that is required for this purpose is to cut the two longitudinal members  4  and  5  at the C-pillar and to attach the lifting device  11  with the lifting cylinders  12  together with the loading box  9  and the loading surface  9   a  to the C-pillar. In this case, the vehicle then has a vertically adjustable loading box  9  only behind the rear axle  3 , although all of the previously described advantages are still satisfied in conjunction with this. 
     It is also possible, moreover, in addition to a superstructure on a vehicle with a ladder frame, to prefabricate the vehicle superstructure complete with the loading boxes  7 ,  8 ,  9  and, where appropriate,  10 , and with the associated arrangements, such as lifting devices  11  with the lifting cylinders  12 , as a single unit, and then to attach it to the ladder frame with the longitudinal members  4  and  5  and, where appropriate, the transverse members  6  of a vehicle. An auxiliary frame  25  with longitudinal members  25   a  and  25   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , which shows a prefabricated vehicle superstructure of this kind as a representation in principle, is used for this purpose. 
     For the purposes of assembling the prefabricated vehicle superstructure in accordance with  FIG. 4 , this is positioned on the ladder frame together with the auxiliary frame  25 , in conjunction with which the two longitudinal members  25   a  and  25   b  are placed on the longitudinal members  4  and  5  of the ladder frame. The two longitudinal members  25   a  and  25   b  of the auxiliary frame can then be connected as required to the two longitudinal members  4  and  5 . One possibility in this respect is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As can be appreciated, the connection in this case is effected by a plurality of screwed connections  26  with clamping devices, such as fixing plates  27 , arranged at a mutual distance from one another, in conjunction with which the screws in the screwed connections  26  are attached in each case via corresponding holes and attachment rails to the longitudinal members  25   a ,  25   b  of the auxiliary frame and to the longitudinal members  4  and  5 . 
     Like the loading boxes  7  and  8 , the loading box  9  can also be raised, should the need arise, to the height of a ramp for the purposes of loading and unloading, in conjunction with which loading and unloading in this case can take place in the customary fashion towards the rear onto a ramp or similar after removing the roller door  20 . 
     In place of a vehicle frame  1  with a ladder frame having longitudinal members  4  and  5  and transverse members  6 , a single central member can also be provided, if required, as can be appreciated from DE 298 13 993 U. 
     If it is envisaged that the vehicle will also be operated with a trailer, the two longitudinal members  4  and  5  may no longer be cut off behind the rear axle  3 , but must extend to the rear of the vehicle in the customary fashion. It is also possible in this case, however, to provide the vehicle with internal loading ramps, as can be appreciated from  FIG. 5 . Present behind the rear axle  3  in this case is a further vehicle rear section with a D-pillar, and present, however, to either side of the ladder frame with the longitudinal carriers  4  and  5  are loading boxes  9 ′ that are capable of being lowered to the level of the road, which boxes are also attached to a lifting device  11  with lifting cylinders  12 . The two loading boxes  9 ′ in this case can be capable of vertical adjustment separately or jointly, as is also fundamentally the case with the two loading boxes  7  and  8 . As can be appreciated, two internal loading ramps are created in this way, which are accessible from the side via opening surfaces. Instead of sliding doors  16 , lateral roller doors  28  are sufficient in this case if required.