WO1996002403A2

WO1996002403A2 - Demountable vehicular body system and winch

Info

Publication number: WO1996002403A2
Application number: PCT/GB1995/001667
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald Derek Pye; Michael Kenneth King
Original assignee: Gibson Roy Alan; Graham Ronald Thomas
Current assignee: Gibson Roy Alan; Graham Ronald Thomas
Priority date: 1994-07-16
Filing date: 1995-07-14
Publication date: 1996-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1997-01-16
Also published as: AU2932595A; WO1996002403A3

Abstract

A demountable vehicular body system involves the use of a lorry or similar transportation vehicle (6) having a chassis (8) for use with a demountable lorry body (10), and mounting means (20) to enable the body to be moved from a position behind an adjacent to the lorry chassis to a position fully mounted on the chassis. The system comprises twin drives, the construction and arrangement being such that on loading, the first drive (42) lifts one end of the body (10) on to the rear of the chassis (8) to a set position, then pulls the body on to the chassis, whilst for unloading a second drive (44) pulls the body rearwardly of the chassis to the set position, and subsequently the first drive (42) lowers the body to the ground. Sensing means is provided to sense movement of the body (10) to the set position, said sensing means comprising a cam (90) drivingly connected to a drive shaft of the first drive means by a worm gear (89), said cam being arranged to operate a microswitch (92a, 92b, 92c) of a control device (92) when the body arrives at the set position. The driving means also comprises a winch comprising a drum (50) provided with a helical channel or groove in the circumference thereof, and a resiliently deformable roller (56) urged against the circumference of the drum to press the cable wound on to the drum into the circumferential groove. This enables the cable (58) to be entered into the circumferential groove correctly, even when the tension in the cable is at a low level.

Description

Title: Demountable Vehicular Body System and Winch

Description of Invention

This invention is concerned with improvements relating to vehicular transport, and in particular to the provision of a demountable body system. The invention will be described hereinafter in relation to lorries, which term is deemed to be used generically to include similar items of vehicular transport where problems similar or analogous to those dealt with by this invention are encountered. The invention is also concerned with a winch particularly but not exclusively suitable for use in a demountable body system.

It is becoming increasingly common to utilise with a lorry chassis a selected one of the plurality of interchangeable bodies, so that a loaded body may be exchanged for an unloaded body (or vice versa) so that the lorry is not delayed whilst loading or unloading of the body is carried out.

Additionally it is becoming increasingly common for a lorry chassis to be capable of accommodating bodies of different design or construction, to be utilised for different transport purposes.

Conventional systems for mounting and demounting a replaceable lorry body as currently available tend in general to be one of three types.

A first of said types involves providing the body with retractable legs, which when extended enable a lorry to be reversed thereunder, or to be driven therefrom. This requires the use of expensive hydraulic mechanism for each of the lorry bodies.

A second of said types involves the utilisation of a tipping chassis, which may be inclined to an angle of (typically) 45°, and the body is hauled up the ramp prior to lowering thereof, whilst for unloading the ramp is raised and the body is slowly lowered to the ground. Again, such systems tend to be expensive, in that they require rigid heavy duty super-structures.

A third type involves the use of twin drives, the construction and arrangement being such that, on loading, the first drive lifts one end of the body onto the rear of the chassis to a set position, and then pulls the body onto the chassis, whilst for unloading a second drive pulls the body rearwardly of the chassis to the set position, and subsequently the first drive lowers the body to the ground. This type is hereinafter referred to as being a demountable body system of the kind specified.

Conventionally the "set" position is the position of the lorry body at which it becomes capable of being lowered to the ground under its own weight.

Conventionally available demountable body systems of the kind specified tend to be unreliable in that they are generally of a construction and operation which is difficult to control by automatic means, and this results in a high level of user control which may result in unsafe and possibly dangerous operation, and it is one of the various objects of this invention to provide a demountable body system of the kind specified which may be operated with a high degree of safety.

According to this invention there is provided a demountable body system of the kind specified, comprising sensing means to sense movement of the body to the set position to terminate operation of the drive means.

By the use of sensing means to sense movement of the body to the set position, an operator who may otherwise exercise manual control over movement of the body in an unsafe manner cannot do so, and termination of operation of the drive means by said sensing means ensures that the body is halted at a required position.

Thus during loading of the body after the set position the second drive means may be connected to the body, prior to recommencement of operation of the first drive means, whilst during an unloading operation subsequent to cessation of the drive means at the set position, the second drive means may be disconnected from the body prior to recommencement of operation of the first drive means to lower the body to the ground.

Preferably the sensing means is operated by the drive means, and preferably by the first drive means. Thus preferably the first drive means is rotatably connected to a sensing device which responds at a specific rotational position of the first drive means to terminate operation of the drive means. For example the sensing device may comprise a cam drivingly connected to a drive shaft of the first drive means by (for example) a worm gear, said cam being arranged to operate a microswitch of a control device, conveniently the microswitch being positionally adjustable.

In this manner during setting up of the demountable body system, the drive means may be operated manually to move the body to the set position, and the microswitch positioned in relation to the cam such that, for subsequent operations, the drive means is terminated at that position automatically.

Preferably the sensing means is also operative to sense further specific rotational positions of the drive means to terminate operation thereof, particularly a) subsequent to the body having been lowered to the floor; b) when a maximum desired wind-out of the cable has been attained. Thus the sensing means may comprise three cam members each operative to engage a microswitch at a specific rotational position of the first drive means.

Preferably the sensing means forms part of overall control mechanism of the system, comprising one or more of a) means to sense the condition of locking devices to hold the body securely to the lorry chassis; b) sensing means to sense the presence or absence of a means connecting the cables of the drive means to the body.

Conventionally used as drive means in a demountable body system of the kind specified is a winch comprising a drum to which one end of a cable may be affixed, such that as the drum is rotated by a power means, the cable is rotated onto the drum to pull or lift the body to which the opposite end is attached. Conventionally to provide for properly laying the cable onto the drum, the drum is provided with a continuous circumferential helical channel or groove (hereinafter referred to as a groove for convenience) in its outer surface, so that as the cable is wound in, the cable is laid in the helical groove. Where the cable is wound in under tension, it is relatively easy to ensure that the cable stays within the helical groove, by virtue of the sideways force exerted on the cable by the walls bounding the side edges of the groove. However where the cable is wound in under no or low tension, difficulty is encountered in ensuring that the cable is properly laid on the drum.

Conventional methods for solving this problem are complicated and expensive, and include the provision of a member which is movable longitudinally of the drum, spaced a short distance therefrom, providing a guide such as an aperture through which the cable extends, longitudinal movement of the guide member being geared to the rotation of the drum, so that the cable is probably laid in the groove by the guide member.

According to this invention there is also provided a winch comprising a drum, the drum being provided with a helical groove or channel in the circumference thereof, comprising resiliently deformable means urged against the circumference of the drum to press a cable wound onto the drum into the circumferential groove.

Preferably the resiliently deformable means is provided by an elongate member extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum, and urged against the drum at a point a short distance downstream from the point at which the cable moves into engagement with the drum, to control the cable so as to ensure that it properly lies in the groove as soon as it becomes entrained upon the drum.

Preferably the resiliently deformable member is in the form of a "squeegee", and is pressed against the circumference of the drum to resiliently "wipe" the cable into the groove as the drum rotates.

Advantageously the resiliently deformable member is in the form of a roller, which is preferably mounted for rotation with the drum, preferably being rotatable, in the opposite direction to the drum, at the same or substantially the same circumferential speed as the drum.

The roller preferably comprises an axle, which is conveniently of metal, provided with a sleeve of resiliently deformable material, such as rubber. If desired the sleeve may be provided with an outer circumferential groove of similar pitch to the groove of the drum, but preferably the surface of the sleeve is generally cylindrical.

Conveniently the resiliently deformable roller is driven by a pulley from the winch drum.

Difficulty is also encountered in winches in providing for a convenient means for determining overload of the winch, enabling the drive motor to be cut out to prevent the winch from being overstrained.

According to this invention there is also provided a winch comprising a drum mounted for rotation about an axis in opposed circumferential bearings, the housing for one of the bearings at least being mounted for movement in a plane extending at right angles to the axis of the drum, means being provided to constrain the housing from movement from said axial position, and sensing means to detect movement of the housing from said axial position.

Preferably said means to detect movement comprises a microswitch, preferably being responsive to movement of the housing outside limits of tolerable movement from the desired position.

Conveniently the bearing for the drum is mounted in a housing having two walls at least one of which comprises a resiliently deformable material such as rubber, enabling the bearing to be moved from the longitudinal axis against the restoring force provided by the rubber, when load is applied to the drum in a tangential direction.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a demountable lorry body system which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example, and of a winch which is also illustrative of certain aspects of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figures la to le are schematic views illustrating movement of a lorry body onto a lorry chassis in the performance of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view showing a stage in the movement of the lorry body;

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing engagement between the drive means of the demountable body system with the lorry body;

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the drive means of the system; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a frame of the lorry body.

The demountable lorry body system which is the preferred embodiment of this invention involves the use of a lorry or similar transportation vehicle 6 having a chassis 8, for use with a lorry body 10 comprising a frame 14 (Figure 5), and mounting means 20 to enable the body to be moved from a position behind, and adjacent to the lorry chassis as shown in Figure la to a position fully mounted on the chassis, as is shown in Figure le, the stages through which the body passes on being so mounted onto the lorry being shown in Figures lb, lc and Id.

The mounting means 20 is also operative, as will be described in detail hereinafter, to demount the lorry body 10, effectively moving the lorry body from the position shown in Figure le back to the position shown in Figure la.

In this manner a lorry body may easily be mounted on and demounted from a lorry, enabling lorry bodies readily to be substituted. This enables for example a lorry body of particular design to be selected, to enable the lorry to carry out a particular vehicular transportation function, or enables two lorry bodies to be interchanged to reduce waiting time whilst loading/unloading is being carried out.

Thus whilst the preferred embodiment will be described hereinafter in relation to the mounting and demounting of a single lorry body, it is envisaged that the practical use of the system will involve a large number of lorry bodies, together with a number of lorries, which may be readily interchanged as is desired. The lorry body 10 comprises a base frame 22 comprising longitudinal rails 24 and transverse rails 26, the longitudinal rails being provided with rollers on the underside thereof, and being provided at their rear ends with heavy duty wheels 28.

The forward end of the frame 22 is curved, and extends upwardly, against which a front end of the lorry body may be located, said front end including a cross bar 30.

Mounted between a pair of transverse rails 26 at the forward end of the frame is receiving means, afforded by a shaped slot 32 across which a locking member in the form of a bar 34 is slidably mounted. Carried by the cross bar 30 is a connection member 36.

The mounting means 20 is mounted at the forward region of the chassis 8 of the lorry, comprising first and second driving devices 42, 44 driven by a single motor 46 through a gear box 48.

The driving device 42 comprises a drive shaft 85 mounted between bearings 86 which carries an elongate drum 50 which is provided with a circumferential groove 54 within which a cable may be laid, the device 42 comprising a resilient presser member 56 which extends alongside the drum 50 and which is resiliently urged into engagement therewith. The resilient presser member 56 is mounted on a shaft 55 extending parallel to the drive shaft 85, and is driven by a twisted belt 57. Twin cables 58a, 58b. are secured to the drum 50, and extend to a connection member 52 slidably receivable in the slot 32, and capable of being retained therein by the locking member 34.

The second drive device comprises a drive shaft 87 mounted between bearings 88 which carries a drum 60 similarly provided with a circumferential groove 61 and to which a single cable 62 is connected, a resilient presser member 64 similarly being provided which is urged into engagement with the drum as it rotates. The resilient member 64 is mounted on a shaft 63 parallel to the drive shaft 87, and is driven by a twisted belt 65. The construction and arrangement of the diameters of the pulleys over which the twisted belts 57 and 65 are mounted is such as to cause the resilient presser members 56 and 64 to be rotated at approximately the same circumferential speed as their associated drums 50 and 60 respectively, in the opposite direction. The separation of the axes of the shafts 55 and 63 from the respective drive shafts 68 and 87 is such that in both cases, the resiliently deformable member is pressed into the groove provided on the elongate drum.

Thus as the drum is rotated so as to wind the cable thereon, shortly downstream of the point of contact of the cable with the drum, the cable passes beneath the sleeve, and is pressed or wiped into firm contact within the groove, to ensure that the cable is properly laid onto the drum.lt has been found that it is not necessary to utilise a driven roller to ensure that the cable is properly entrained within its groove, correct laying of the cable into the groove being achievable by a fixed resilient-deformable member which "wipes" over the rotating drum to press the cable into the groove. However the use of a roller driven with the same circumferential speed as that of the drum reduces wear on the sleeve.

One of the bearings 88a is mounted in a fixed bearing housing on the housing whilst the other bearing 88b. is mounted in a bearing housing comprising resiliently-deformable material. Conveniently the bearing 88b_ has an outer race which is cylindrical in profile, and is mounted in a cylindrical rubber sleeve 67, which is itself retained within an end wall of the housing. The axial depth, radial extent and shore hardness of the material used for the sleeve 67 is such that the bearing 88b_ and the shaft 87 upon which the drum 60 is mounted is retained on the axis under loads close to the normal load. A microswitch 68 secured to the housing is responsive to movement of the bearing 88b. against the resilience of the sleeve 67 by a distance in excess of a predetermined maximum permitted movement, to trip the motor 46. Conveniently the microswitch 68 is positionally adjustable on the housing, so that the degree of movement executed by the bearing 88b from the axis prior to tripping of the motor may be preset. In this manner when the drum is subjected to a load greater than a desired load, whether determined by the winch itself, the cable, or other factors which are desired to be taken into account extraneous of the winch, the motor 46 will be tripped and undesired operation terminated.

At the rear end of the chassis 8 a mounting assembly 70 is provided, comprising a central guide roller 72 comprising a central groove 74, bounded by spaced circumferential grooves 76a, 76b, whilst provided at the outer regions of a central axle 71 are outer guide rollers 78a, 78b,

The cable 62 is provided at its front end with a mounting pin 37, the cable extending from the drum 60 around the roller 72, being entrained within the central groove 74 thereof, and the mounting pin 37 is releasably mountable within the connecting member 36.

The motor 46 comprises an output shaft 80 which is connected to the input shaft 82 of the gear box 48, said gear box 48 comprising a first output shaft 83 engageable with the drive shaft 85 on which the first drum 50 is mounted, and a second output shaft 84 engageable with the drive shaft 87 on which the second drum 60 is mounted.

Extending from the drive shaft 85 at the opposite end is a worm gear 89 which as the drive shaft 85 rotates, rotates in turn a cam 90 comprising three cam plates 90a, 90b, 90c. Mounted alongside the cam 90 is a switching device 92 comprising three microswitches 92a, 92b, 92c. The positions of the microswitches circumferentially of the cam 90, and/or the positions of the cam plates 90a, 90b, 90c may be adjusted to enable the microswitches to be closed by the cam plates at selected rotational positions of the drive shaft 85.

The demountable body system which is the preferred embodiment of this invention also comprises control mechanism (not shown) including manually operated control members, conveniently in the form of one or more joysticks, and automatic operating mechanism which will be described hereinafter.

In the use of the demountable body system which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, with the lorry 6 positioned adjacent to the body 10 in the position shown in Figure la, the twin cables 58a. and 58b_ are connected by the locking plate 52 to the frame 22, the locking plate being retained within the receiving slot 32 by the locking bar 34.

Provided that various safety interlocks are in place, the operator may now proceed with commencement of operation of the control mechanism to cause the motor 46 to be engaged with the first drive device, to rotate the drum 50. The leading end of the body 10 is lifted, the body rolling forwardly slightly on the wheels 28, to the "set position" shown in Figure lb, in which the curved leading edges of the longitudinal side rails 24 of the frame 22 are seated on the rear guide rollers 78a, 78b.

This position corresponds to a particular arcuate position of the cam 90, and arrival of the lorry body in this position causes the cam plate 90s. to engage the first microswitch 92a, causing an electrical contact on the control mechanism to trip, terminating operation of the drive motor 46.

The operator may now connect the mounting pin 37 of the cable 62 within the connection member 36 of the cross bar 30. Such location of the mounting pin within the connection member is registered by a microswitch, which permits the operator to commence further operation of the control mechanism, and a resumption of the operation of the drive motor 46.

Resumption of rotation of the drive shaft 85 by the gear box causes the cables 58a, 58b_ to be wound onto the drum 50, engagement of the circumference of the drum by the resilient presser member 56 ensuring that the cables are retained tight within the circumferential groove 54.

The lorry body is thus drawn onto the frame 22, to the position shown in Figure le, cable 62 being unwound during this operation from the drum 60.

A microswitch of the control mechanism located at a front end of the chassis 8 senses movement of the body 10 into its final position, and causes the control mechanism to terminate operation of the drive motor 46. A manually operated device of the control mechanism may be actuated by the operator to cause locking mechanism to engage the pins 27 on the transverse rails 26 of the frame, to lock the frame 22 and hence the lorry body securely to the chassis 8.

On demounting the lorry body the operator first releases the locking mechanism, and a microswitch of the control mechanism senses that this has been accomplished, and releases the mounting means 20 for commencement of operation.

The gear box 48 operates to engage the second drive device 44, to wind in the cable 62, resilient presser member 64 ensuring that the cable is correctly wound onto the drum 60. The cable 62, being reversed around the rear roller 72, causes the body to be moved in the reverse direction (from the position shown in Figure le to the position shown in Figure Id), such movement being resisted by a tension applied by the gear box to the drum 50, ensuring that the cables 58a, 58b_ whilst being unwound from the drum 50 remain taut (see also Figure 2).

Lowering of the rear end of the lorry body onto the ground as the lorry body moves through the position shown in Figure lc is thus restrained by the tension in the cables 58a, 58b, and when the rear end of the body engages the ground, continued rotation of the drum 60 moves the body into the "set position" shown in Figure lb, at which the microswitch 90a. terminates operation of the drive motor 46.

The operator may now disconnect the mounting pin 37 from the connection member 36, and locate the mounting pin in a storage aperture on the underside of the chassis 8. Location of the mounting pin in this aperture is sensed by a microswitch, which permits the operator to continue operation of the control mechanism. Such continued operation allows the body to be lowered by the cables 58a, 5812. under gravity to the position shown in Figure la, as the curved leading edge portion of the frame 22 passes around the guide rollers 78a, 78b_. On completion of lowering of the body to the ground, the drive motor 46 continuing to rotate to the drum 50 until actuation of the second microswitch 90b. by cam plate 92b terminates operation, at a position consistent with sufficient slack in the cables 58a, 58b_ being generated.

The operator then removes the locking bar 34, and actuates an ejector bar 35, to remove the locking plate from the receiving slot 32, and the locking plate may similarly be located in a parking slot on the chassis 8, location of the mounting pin and the locking plate in their correct parking places to pressing respective microswitches, signifying to the control mechanism a completion of the demounting operation.

Whilst the second microswitch 90b signifies the arrival at a desired unwind position from the drum 50 (corresponding to a desired wind up position of the drum 60), the third microswitch 92c. is operative to terminate operation of the drive motor 46 on detection of a desired unwind position of the drum 50.

Whilst in the preferred embodiment the first driving device 42 comprises a single drum 50 from which the two cables 58a. and 58b_ extend in relatively close proximity, if desired the drum 50 may be extended longitudinally, to enable the cables 58a. and 58b_to be connected to the body 10 at more laterally spaced positions, which may under certain circumstances provide increased stability when the body is being loaded onto the chassis 8. Conveniently the drum 50 may be split into two drum parts, although conveniently both drum parts will be driven by the same drive shaft.

Whilst the winch system has been described above as constituting part of the mounting means of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the winch system can be used to advantage in other situations where similar or analogous problems arise.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A demountable body system comprising a chassis (8) and a body (10) mountable and demountable on the chassis, the system comprising a first driving device (42) operative to lift one end of the body (10) onto the rear of the chassis and to pull the body onto the chassis, and a second driving device (44) to pull the body rearwardly of the chassis, characterised by the provision of sensing means (89, 90, 92) to sense movement of the body (10) to the set position to terminate operation of the drive means (42, 44).

2. A demountable body system according to Claim 1 wherein the sensing means (89, 90, 92) is operated by the drive means (42, 44).

3. A demountable body system according to Claim 3 wherein the sensing means (89, 90, 92) is operated by the first drive means (42).

4. A demountable body system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the set position is the position of the body (10) at which it becomes capable of being lowered to the ground under its own weight.

5. A demountable body system according to Claim 4 wherein the sensing means comprises a cam (90) drivingly connected to a drive shaft (84, 85) of the first drive means by (for example) a wormgear (89), said cam (90) being arranged to operate a microswitch (90a, 90b, 90c) of a control device (92).

6. A demountable body system according to Claim 4 wherein the sensing means is also operative to sense further specific rotational positions on the drive means to terminate operation thereof, including:- a) subsequent to the body (10) having been lowered to the floor; b) when a maximum desired wind-out of the cable has been attained.

7. A demountable body system according to any of the preceding claims wherein the sensing means comprises three cam members (90a, 90b_, 90c) each operative to engage a microswitch (92a, 92b_, 92c) at a specific rotational position of the first drive means (42).

8. A demountable body system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sensing means forms part of overall control mechanism of the system, comprising one or more of:- a) means to sense the condition of locking devices to hold the body securely to the lorry chassis; b) sensing means to sense the presence or absence of a means connecting the cables of the drive means to the body.

9. A winch comprising a drum (50, 60) the drum being provided with a helical groove (54, 61) or channel in the circumference thereof, comprising resiliently deformable means (56, 4) urged against the circumference of the drum to press a cable (58, 62) wound onto the drum into the circumferential groove.

10. A winch according to Claim 9 wherein the resiliently deformable means is provided by an elongate member (56, 64) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum (50, 60), and urged against the drum at a short distance downstream from the point at which the cable moves into engagement with the drum, to control the cable so as to ensure that it properly lies in the groove (64, 61) as soon as it becomes entrained on the drum.

11. A winch according to Claim 10 wherein the resiliently deformable member is in the form of a "squeegee", and is pressed against the circumference of the drum to resiliently wipe the cable into the groove (54, 61) as the drum rotates.

12. A winch according to Claim 9 wherein the resiliently deformable member is in the form of a roller (56, 64) mounted for rotation with the drum in opposite directions to the drum, at the same or substantially the same circumferential speed as the drum.

13. A winch according to Claim 12 wherein the roller comprises an axle of metal provided with a sleeve of a resiliently deformable material.

14. A winch according to Claim 12 wherein the resiliently deformable roller is driven by a pulley (57, 65) from the winch drum (50, 60).

15. A winch comprising a drum (50) mounted for rotation about an axis in opposed circumferential bearings (88), one of the bearings (88b being mounted for movement in a plane extending at right angles to the axis of the drum, means (67) being provided to constrain the bearing from movement from said axial position, and sensing means (68) to detect movement of the bearing from said axial position.

16. A winch according to Claim 15 wherein said means to detect movement of the bearing is responsive to movement of the bearing outside limits of tolerable movement from the desired position.

17. A winch according to Claim 16 wherein the bearing for the drum is comprises a resiliently deformable material enabling the bearing to be moved from the longitudinal axis against the restoring force provided by the resiliently deformable material when load is applied to the drum in a tangential direction.

18. A demountable lorry body system according to Claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises a winch according to Claim 9.

19. A demountable lorry body system according to Claim 1 wherein the mounting means (20) comprises a winch according to Claim 15.

20. A demountable lorry body system constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A winch constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.