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`PCT/EP2016/082364
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`REAR DOOR OF BODIES OF LORRIES OR LORRY TRAILERS
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`The invention relates to a rear door of bodies of heavy goods vehicles or heavy goods vehicle
`
`trailers, as per the preamble of claim 1.
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`In the case of most heavy goods vehicle bodies or bodies of heavy goods vehicle trailers of
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`all types, this distinction will hereinafter be made only where technically expedient, because
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`these two objects do not differ from one another as far as the invention is concerned; a two-
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`leaf door is provided, wherein each of the two door leafs can be turned from the closed
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`position about one or two (double-j oint hinge) vertical axles in the region of the vertical rear
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`edge of the body through 2700 until it at least substantially bears against the outer side of
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`the longitudinal wall of the body, which permits the best possible access into the interior of
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`the body. Here, in many cases, the two door leafs are fixed in their closed position by means
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`of a so-called rotary bar locking means.
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`Such bodies and doors are extremely well proven, but nevertheless have inadequacies:
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`Firstly, the outer surfaces of such bodies constitute ideal advertising surfaces, and the side
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`walls are, in this regard, already commonly utilized in their entirety by means of tensioned
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`tarpaulins with corresponding print, but the rear surfaces of the door leafs, which are
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`particularly relevant for following traffic, can in fact not be utilized owing to the hinges and
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`fittings.
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`WO 2018/113971
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`PCT/EP2016/082364
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`REAR DOOR OF BODIES OF LORRIES OR LORRY TRAILERS
`
`The invention relates to a rear door of bodies of heavy goods vehicles or heavy goods vehicle
`
`trailers, as per the preamble of claim 1.
`
`In the case of most heavy goods vehicle bodies or bodies of heavy goods vehicle trailers of
`
`all types, this distinction will hereinafter be made only where technically expedient, because
`
`these two objects do not differ from one another as far as the invention is concerned; a two-
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`10
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`leaf door is provided, wherein each of the two door leafs can be turned from the closed
`
`position about one or two (double-j oint hinge) vertical axles in the region of the vertical rear
`
`edge of the body through 2700 until it at least substantially bears against the outer side of
`
`the longitudinal wall of the body, which permits the best possible access into the interior of
`
`the body. Here, in many cases, the two door leafs are fixed in their closed position by means
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`15
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`of a so-called rotary bar locking means.
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`Such bodies and doors are extremely well proven, but nevertheless have inadequacies:
`
`Firstly, the outer surfaces of such bodies constitute ideal advertising surfaces, and the side
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`walls are, in this regard, already commonly utilized in their entirety by means of tensioned
`
`tarpaulins with corresponding print, but the rear surfaces of the door leafs, which are
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`particularly relevant for following traffic, can in fact not be utilized owing to the hinges and
`
`fittings.
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`Secondly, during the operation of heavy goods vehicles, in particular when driving in cross-
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`country traffic, a major air resistance which must be overcome and which therefore requires
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`a large amount of fuel arises owing to the dead air behind the rear of the vehicle, and this
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`dead air is dragged along like a sack. This effect is similar to the base drag in the case of
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`projectiles, and is similarly impedimentary and unpleasant. Here, in order to reduce the fuel
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`consumption, it has recently been permitted in many countries to provide guide vanes or the
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`like at the vertical side edges of the body in the rear region, by means of which guide vanes
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`this effect is reduced. These guide vanes which are arranged in the region of the joints of
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`the rear door leafs now constitute a major obstruction to the mobility of the rear door leafs,
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`and there is a major demand to eliminate this problem.
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`Thirdly, there is a demand to provide information items, warning notices, illumination
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`devices, reversing lights, dirt collectors, cameras, proximity sensors, ladders and much more
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`in any combination in the rear region of the body without the need for the corresponding
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`alterations and fixtures to be made and provided on the body.
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`The invention has the aim of specifying a solution to these problems both individually and
`
`in combination.
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`The invention achieves this aim by means of the features specified in the characterizing part
`
`of claim 1. In other words, on the door leafs, hereinafter only one will be referred to, at
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`vertical joints or hinges which are preferably correspondingly provided in the region of the
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`main closing edge of the door leaf, in the example shown in alignment with the vehicle
`
`central plane, there is articulated a supporting frame, the outline of which covers at least a
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`part of the door leaf and which, in the region of the vertical rear corner edge of the body, is
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`connectable or fixable to said body and/or to the door leaf. Furthermore, on the supporting
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`frame, at its free vertical edge and over at least a part of its height, there is formed a
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`projection which, in the closed, ready-for-driving state of the rear door, engages into a
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`groove-like depression, congruent therewith, on the body or on a component connected to
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`the latter.
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`This makes it possible that, during the course of the normal closing of the door,
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`the
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`supporting frame is connected fixedly to said door without the need for a dedicated specific
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`action to be performed. This measure makes the supporting frame highly practicable for the
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`first time, because in the high-stress delivery business, additionally required activities and
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`handling operations face stubborn resistance from the users involved and lead to omissions
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`and safety problems. The final closure and locking is realized by means of the routine rotary
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`bar locking means, without additional components.
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`It is possible firstly for a guide vane to be provided on said frame in a fixedly fastened
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`manner or so as to be rotatable relative to the supporting frame about at least one vertical
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`axle and fixable, it is possible, independently of this, for a horizontal guide vane to be
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`provided in the roof region, which horizontal guide vane diverts the clean air from the top
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`downward, and it is possible, independently of this, for a tensioning frame for a tarpaulin,
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`which possibly has information items or advertising printed thereon, to be fastened to the
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`supporting frame, and it is also possible for a corresponding panel to be provided. It is also
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`possible for articles such as information carriers of all types, warning notices, illumination
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`devices, reversing lights, dirt collectors, cameras, proximity sensors, ladders, reversing
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`cameras, warning lamps and the like to be fastened to the supporting frame.
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`The invention will be discussed and described in more detail below on the basis of the
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`drawing, without being restricted thereto. Here,
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`figure 1 shows a perspective view of a rear end designed according to the invention, with a
`
`tarpaulin on the left and with a guide vane on the right,
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`figure 2 shows a plan view of the right-hand comer region viewed in a direction of travel,
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`figures 3 and 4 show two horizontal sections in said comer region on an enlarged scale,
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`figure 5 shows a schematic horizontal section in the case of a partially opened door,
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`figure 6 shows a view as in figure 2 in the case of a door that has been opened further,
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`figure 7 shows a view as in figure 7 in the case of a fully opened door,
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`figure 8 shows a variant in a view similar to figure 2,
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`figure 9 shows the variant of figure 8 in a fully opened position,
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`figures 10-11 show a development of the variant in views similar to figures 8-9.
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`Figure 1 shows a schematic rear view showing the overall construction of a door according
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`to the invention: two door leafs 4 are articulated on a body 7 so as to be pivotable about
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`associated door axles 3, which may also be double-joint hinges. Said door leafs 4 are held
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`in the closed position thereof by means of fasteners, in most cases rotary bar locking means
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`14. According to the invention, vertically running frame axles 5 are preferably, as shown,
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`arranged in the region of the main closing edges 15 of the two door leafs 4, in each case one
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`supporting frame 1 being articulated so as to be pivotable about said frame axles.
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`Said supporting frames 1 may now bear a guide vane 8 for reducing rear drag, as in the case
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`of the right-hand supporting frame in figure 1, or a tarpaulin 16, which is tensioned on its
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`own tensioning frame or on a tensioning frame integrated in the supporting frame 1, as in
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`the case of the left-hand supporting frame. It is self-evidently also possible for the
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`abovementioned accessories to be mounted on said supporting frame without the need for
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`additional fittings or fixtures or the like to be installed.
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`As can be clearly seen from the illustration in figure 1,
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`these two measures may be
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`implemented independently of one another and therefore also in combination. The
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`supporting frame 1 preferably does not cover the entire rear surface or door leaf surface, but
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`rather extends to slightly above the fixtures 17 of the closure means of the doors so as not
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`to complicate the opening and closing thereof. The design and vertical extent of the guide
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`vane 8 may be freely selected within wide limits.
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`Figure 2 shows a schematic view in the direction of the arrow 11 of figure 1: on a door leaf
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`4 which is fastened to the body 7 so as to be pivotable about the axle or double axle 3, in
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`the region of the vertical vehicle central plane 2 which is shown by dash-dotted lines and
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`which in this case coincides with the main closing edge of the door leaf 4, the supporting
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`frame 1 is articulated so as to be pivotable about the vertical frame axle 5. The gap between
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`door leaf 4 and supporting frame 1 can be clearly seen, along with the ”accommodation” of
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`the rotary bar locking means 14 which is thus made possible.
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`In the region of the vertical axle 3, that is to say in the region of the outer edge of the body
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`7, the guide vane 8 running in a vertical direction is provided on the supporting frame 1,
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`which guide vane, in the operational position illustrated in figures 1 and 2, directs air from
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`the outer region of the vehicle toward the central plane 2 and thus reduces the detrimental
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`base drag (in actual fact rear drag).
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`Figures 3-4 illustrate two horizontal sections through the region of the axle 3 at different
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`heights: figure 3 shows the hinge region in a preferred embodiment, and figure 4 shows a
`
`further region, from which the automatic locking between door leaf 4 and supporting frame
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`1, which relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention, can be seen: on the supporting
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`frame 1, there is provided a projection 9 which, in the locking position, engages into a quasi-
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`congruent (in the technical sense, not in the strictly mathematical sense), groove-like
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`depression 19 on the body 7 or on a component fastened to the latter. Owing to the curved
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`design of the two cooperating elements 9, 19, the supporting frame 1 is held in positively
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`locking fashion without the need for the user to perform any active operations.
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`Figure 5 shows how, during the opening of the door leaf 4 with the frame 1 about the axle
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`3,
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`the two cooperating elements 9,
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`l9 gradually disengage; figure 6 shows the final
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`separation in this region, and figure 7 shows the end position along the lateral outer wall 10;
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`the separation of the supporting frame from the door leaf thus occurs automatically during
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`the opening of the doors, making the complete opening process easy and uncomplicated.
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`From figures 3-5, it is also possible to clearly see the shape of the projection 9 and of the
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`groove-like depression 19: the projection 9 is hook-shaped, and the ”tip” of the hook is (in
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`the operational position) directed toward the vehicle central plane. The groove is V-shaped
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`and, owing to the mechanical stability and the relatively easy insertion of the projection, is
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`asymmetrical, with the opening (in the operational position) directed away from the vehicle
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`central plane and with the flank averted from the body 7 running approximately parallel to
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`the door leaf plane.
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`In a manner not illustrated in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, stops may be provided
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`between the frame 1 and the outer side of the door leaf 4, which stops serve for mechanical
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`stabilization and for preventing rattling and vibration, in particular in the case of the variant
`
`with a tarpaulin, and which may also be omitted depending on the stability and the structure
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`of the construction.
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`The form and installation and design of the guide vane 8 is likewise illustrated merely
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`schematically, and it may be composed of a wide variety of materials and is therefore shown
`
`as a separate component, which need not be the case; under some circumstances, it may also
`
`be produced as a single piece with the supporting frame 1, it may be designed to vary over
`
`the height, or it may have interruptions or narrowed portions for fittings of any type, as
`
`indicated in figure 1.
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`As already mentioned, independently of this guide vane, a similarly designed guide vane
`
`may be arranged in a horizontal direction in the upper region of the supporting frame 1,
`
`which directs air from the region above the roof of the body downward and thus contributes
`
`to the reduction of the rear drag and to the cleaning of all coated surfaces.
`
`The shape and the size of the projection 9 and therefore also of the groove 19 into which
`
`said projection engages into the position illustrated in figure 4 may be varied in a variety of
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`ways, and it is also possible to dispense with the projection 9 in this form as long as the
`
`quasi-automatic fixing, which during the opening process requires a practical sequence of
`
`movements and effects the fixing automatically during the closing process, is realized, for
`
`example by means of the hook strip 12. What is possible in some cases, and advantageous
`
`under some circumstances, is an arrangement (not illustrated) of an elastically deformable
`
`groove in the region of the body 7, which is illustrated at the very bottom in figure 7, into
`
`which the projection 9 can be engaged with snap action in order to fix the door leaf in the
`
`open position.
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`The projection 9 may extend over the entire height of the body 7 or else may be formed only
`
`over partial sections of the height; this is dependent on the desired mechanical strength of
`
`the fixing and the available special conditions, because different fixtures permit or require
`
`different measures here.
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`A variant of the embodiment as per figures 1 to 7 is illustrated in figures 8 and 9. Here, the
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`guide vane 8 is mounted on the supporting frame 1 so as to be rotatable about a vane axle
`
`11 and can thus, in the position illustrated in figure 9 when the doors are fully opened, be
`
`pivoted such that it does not project outward from the vehicle side wall 10. To nevertheless
`
`realize automatic mechanical fixing of the supporting frame 1 in the fully closed position,
`
`the projection 9 in the form of a hook strip 12 is formed on the vane 8, which projection
`
`always has the position illustrated in figure 9 in relation to the supporting frame 1, and, as
`
`can be seen from figure 6, engages into a recess (without reference designations) of the body
`
`7, in the manner of the projection 9 into its counterpart groove 19. During operation, the
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`guide vane 8 is held in its working position as a result of its end surface bearing against the
`
`corresponding frame region.
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`The embodiment as per figure is 10 and 11 has, as a special feature, that the guide vane 8 is
`
`actively, for example by means of a gas spring 13, held in non-positively locking stable
`
`fashion in one of two end positions during the rotation about its vane axle 11, in the manner
`
`of an over-center mechanism, and that said guide vane is not, as in the variant as per figures
`
`8 and 9, moved into a straightened-out position, but is rather pulled with its free edge against
`
`the door leaf. Here, too, a projection in the form of a hook strip 12 is provided which realizes
`
`the mechanical fixing in the operational position. Instead of the gas spring 13, a hydraulic
`
`or pneumatic piston-cylinder unit with the corresponding fluid lines and control elements
`
`may be provided for the active operation.
`
`The supporting frame 1 preferably extends, as illustrated, in a horizontal direction from the
`
`main closing edge substantially to the lateral outer wall 10. Here, ”substantially” means at
`
`least 80% and preferably at least 90% of the spacing B between the main closing edge and
`
`the lateral outer wall 10, as shown in figure 8.
`
`In special cases, it is possible for the frame axle 5 to be relocated outward out of the region
`
`of the main closing edge, and for the horizontal extent of the supporting frame to be
`
`correspondingly reduced. Here, although the usability as an advertising carrier is reduced,
`
`the other fields of use remain unaffected. Here, a lower limit is to be regarded as a horizontal
`
`extent of 50% of the spacing B, because then the supporting frame will no longer pass the
`
`main closing edge during the opening process.
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`The invention is not restricted to the examples described and illustrated, but may be
`
`modified, varied and supplemented in a wide variety of ways.
`
`As already stated,
`
`the illustration and description of stops, securing elements,
`
`locks,
`
`blocking means, locking means and the like has been omitted, because these are familiar to
`
`a person skilled in the art with knowledge of the invention and are clear in terms of their use
`
`and their construction. It is merely pointed out that, by way of example, as already
`
`mentioned, the rotary axles 3 and 5 may be formed in the manner of double joint hinges,
`
`and that such variants and equivalents are themselves familiar to a person skilled in the art
`
`and, with knowledge of the invention, may be easily used. The door leafs need not be of the
`
`same width; asymmetrical designs are known from the prior art, and the width of the
`
`supporting frame is then adapted to the respective door leaf width.
`
`The projection 9 and its counterpart, the groove 19, may, within a certain scope, be provided
`
`at a different location than that illustrated; with the knowledge of the opening movement of
`
`the door leaf 4 and thus of the hinges used, and of the invention, a person skilled in the art
`
`can easily identify what geometrical ranges may be considered for these.
`
`The final locking is, as mentioned in the introduction, realized as before, after the closing
`
`of the door, by means of the rotary bar locking means or other closing mechanisms known
`
`from the prior art. The construction according to the invention can be retroactively installed
`
`on virtually all known doors, and it may be prefabricated and distributed as a construction
`
`kit both for retroactive installation and for first-time fitting.
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`The materials that may be used are widely varied; it is not of importance whether the door
`
`leaf 4 is composed of a panel or of a thermally insulated panel, and the question of whether
`
`the supporting frame 1 has, on its outer side, a tensioning frame for a tarpaulin which may
`
`be used for advertising purposes or has an integrated tensioning frame of said type or has
`
`no such tensioning frame whatsoever has no influence on the essence of the invention and
`
`is therefore mentioned only briefly here. For the supporting frame 1, aluminum profiles are
`
`preferred, and metal-plastic composites are possible; this is dependent on the acting forces
`
`and thus also on the dimensions of the moving parts, and under some circumstances, use
`
`may also be made of steel profiles, composed in particular of rust-resistant steel. A form or
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`covering with a panel is also possible.
`
`The form of the joints or hinges or axle bearings for the various rotary axles discussed and
`
`described correspond substantially, in terms of their loading and dimensions, to the axles,
`
`bearings and joints already known in heavy goods vehicle engineering, and therefore also
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`15
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`require no further explanation here.
`
`The profile of all parts in this regard over the height may differ on a case-by-case basis; the
`
`guide vane may have recesses in order to provide space for holders, hinges, actuating
`
`elements, fasteners etc., or may be of multi-part design; all of these things have been omitted
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`20
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`from the drawing or are illustrated merely schematically, because they do not affect the
`
`essence of the invention and can be easily provided and dimensioned by a person skilled in
`
`the art with knowledge of the invention.
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`List of reference designations:
`
`01
`
`02
`
`03
`
`Supporting frame
`
`Central plane
`
`Vertical door axle
`
`04
`
`Door leaf
`
`05
`
`Vertical frame axle
`
`06
`
`not used
`
`07
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`Body
`
`11
`
`Vane axle
`
`12
`
`13
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`14
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`15
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`16
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`17
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`Hook strip
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`Gas spring
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`Rotary bar locking means
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`Main closing edge
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`Tarpaulin
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`Fittings
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`08
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`Guide vane
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`18
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`not used
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`09
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`10
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`Projection
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`Lateral outer wall
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`19
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`Groove-like depression
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`{00263573 }
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`12
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