EP1663765A1

EP1663765A1 - Modularly built driver cab model range

Info

Publication number: EP1663765A1
Application number: EP04764717A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herbert Fischer; Ingrid Lindemann
Original assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2003-09-27
Filing date: 2004-09-02
Publication date: 2006-06-07
Also published as: JP2007506612A; CN1860058A; KR20060129179A; DE10344994A1; WO2005039960A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a modularly built driver cab model range for utility vehicles, comprising a substantially standardized basic module (2) having a front wall (3), two side walls (4, 4 `) each having a side door and a back wall (5) and a driver cab bottom (6), wherein both side walls (4, 4 `) are interconnected in the area of the B columns by means of a transversal roof arch (7) on the roof side. One essential element of the invention is that a modularly built driver cab roof (8) is provided, the transversal roof arch (7) is a component of the modularly built driver cab roof (8) and forms part of the outer surface of the roof. The transversal roof arch (7) is also connected to a front roof module (9) and to a rear roof module (10), wherein at least two different front roof modules (9) and/or two different rear roof modules (10) that differ from one another at least in terms of form and/or function are provided.

Description

Modular cab series

The invention relates to a modular driver assembly series according to the preamble of claim 1.

DE 101 18 344 AI discloses a modular driver's cab series for trucks for forming driver's cab variants of different dimensions. In this case, a basic module that is constructed uniformly for all cab variants and an add-on module that can be attached to it are provided, which have different length dimensions for each cab variant. The basic module comprises a front wall, two side walls, each with a door and a door frame, a floor and a front roof section, is designed to be open to the rear and has an annular, closed first flange area at the rear. The add-on module, on the other hand, has a rear wall, two side wall sections, a bottom section and a rear roof section, is designed to be open at the front and has a second flange area closed at the front and complementary to the first flange area. In the add-on module, the side wall sections, the floor section and the roof section have different length dimensions for each cab variant.

DE 43 02 489 AI cab series modular construction for trucks with cabs of different lengths, widths and heights are known. Various roof attachments are provided, which can be detached or non-detachable, with or without intermediate parts uniform cab body parts are connectable. The cab side walls and the cab rear wall are designed in the connection area of the roof attachment as a profile frame that runs on three sides and reinforces a roof attachment zone, and the profile frame is closed on all sides on the cab front side by a separate profile bracket.

From DE 38 23 161 AI a kit for wind control devices for trucks, in particular for semitrailers, with cabs of different external dimensions and trailers of different heights is known. In order to reduce the flow resistance of the truck and to achieve a uniform, closed appearance with the same flow conditions, the use of the wind deflector in the transition between cabs of different external dimensions and subsequent trailers of different heights is proposed. The wind deflector consists of a height-adjustable wind deflector, which is arranged on the rear part of the driver's cab roof and is uniform in its dimensions for all driver's cab variants, uniformly attached to the rear wall of the driver's cab, uniform wind deflectors and between wind deflector and driver's cab roof, and between wind deflector and wind deflectors, connecting these uniform intermediate elements.

From US 6,178,612 B1 a method for attaching or detaching a sleeping cabin to a truck is known. For this purpose, a rear wall of a driver's cab of the truck is designed to be removable and, when removed, can be replaced by a sleeping cabin which can be easily connected to the driver's cab of the truck. The truck can thus be easily and quickly adapted to different requirements, such as local or long-distance traffic. The retrofitting work that can be carried out on the truck cab is essentially limited based on the removal or attachment of the removable cab rear wall and the attachment or removal of the sleeping and / or living cabin.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of specifying an improved embodiment for a modularly constructed series of cabs of the type mentioned at the outset, in which in particular the variant formation for the cab is simplified.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim, advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general idea of providing, for a modularly constructed series of cabs with an essentially uniform basic cab module, a modularly constructed cab roof which is divided by a transverse bow into a front roof area with a front roof module and into a rear roof area with a rear roof module. In this case, at least two different front roof modules and / or two different rear roof modules are provided, which differ from one another at least in terms of their shape and / or function, and thereby enable a variable structure of the cab roof.

The basic cab module has a front wall, two side walls and a rear wall and a cab floor, the cross bow according to the invention connecting the two side walls in the area of their B-pillar on the roof side, the cross bow, however, being a component of the modular cab roof.

In the direction of travel at the front, the front roof module is connected to the cross bar and in the direction of travel at the rear the rear roof module, which is constructed identically or differently and which, according to one embodiment variant, form a continuous roof outer surface together with the transverse bow.

This offers the advantage that the modular cab roof of the cab series can be adapted to different requirements by simply exchanging one or both roof modules. This in particular creates the possibility of adapting a rear area of the roof to a vehicle body using a correspondingly designed rear roof module. The front roof module and the rear roof module can have a different height or a different roof shape independently of one another.

In general, the solution according to the invention offers the advantage of using an identical basic module of the driver's cab series in the manufacturing process and of adapting it to the later requirements which are placed on the commercial vehicle only in a later manufacturing step by means of a differently designed transverse bow and / or by means of different roof modules. The possibility of late creation of variants in the manufacturing process makes it more flexible and also enables the manufacturing process to be kept simple and rational.

This makes it possible, for example, to intervene in the manufacturing process at a very advanced manufacturing stage and to convert the cab from a cab with a normal roof to a cab with a very low roof (for example for a car transporter) by changing the cross member or the roof modules.

According to a preferred embodiment of the solution according to the invention, a variant of the front roof module can be used as a rear roof module or vice versa. This makes it possible to provide roof modules for both a rear and a front roof opening, which were originally for the other roof opening was provided. Roof modules of identical construction are thus produced with uniform dimensions, as a result of which the flexibility during the production process and the flexibility with regard to retrofitting the cab roof can be significantly increased. At the same time, a number of identical parts are increasing, which can thus be produced more efficiently and cost-effectively.

It can expediently be provided to design the front roof module and / or the rear roof module as an assembly carrier. This offers the advantage that the roof modules can already be prepared in the factory and thereby securely and reliably hold the unit to be carried in each case, for example a cab air conditioning system, an additional heating system or a cooling system for the body. Subsequent, time-consuming and expensive retrofitting work for an aggregate carrier can thus be dispensed with. At the same time, it is also possible in principle to adapt the roof module to new requirements when the truck changes use by simply replacing the roof module.

Furthermore, provision is made for the front roof module and / or the rear roof module to be designed as a wind deflector. In particular, commercial vehicles with a large cargo space, such as furniture vehicles, offer a high flow resistance and thus cause high fuel costs. By designing the front roof module and / or the rear roof module as a wind deflector, it is possible to significantly reduce the flow resistance of the commercial vehicle and thereby save costs. In this case, similar to the aforementioned statements, the driver's cab can be adapted to changed usage requirements by exchanging the roof modules during the manufacturing process and in particular also retrospectively. In general, further design variants of the front roof module and / or the rear roof module, for example as storage space and / or as a bunk, can be provided in accordance with further advantageous embodiments.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least two different types of crossbars can be provided. The cross braces, which according to one embodiment variant can be an integral part of an outer roof surface, can significantly influence the roof shape of the driver's cab series in the case of different types, for example with different heights. A transverse bow is conceivable here, for example, which significantly increases the height of the driver's cab and thereby creates additional space for objects to be stowed or a bunk. Another crossbar, which runs almost at the same height as the top of the side walls, enables the driver's cab to be used for car transporters, for example.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one roof module can have a roof window. Nowadays, roof windows are often ordered as additional equipment for motor vehicles and increase the driving comfort of the driver through the additional, roof-side and natural light and also avoid a feeling of isolation, which often occurs in modern cabins.

Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention. Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, the same reference numerals referring to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

Show:

1 is a perspective view of a modular cab roof,

Fig. 2 is an illustration as in Fig. 1, however, in a different embodiment.

According to FIG. 1, a modularly constructed driver's cab 1 of a driver's cab series for commercial vehicles has an essentially uniform basic module 2, which has a front wall 3, two side walls 4, 4 'and a rear wall 5 and a driver's cab floor 6. The basic module 2 of the driver's cab 1 can be mounted on various vehicle chassis, not shown, so that a wide variety of commercial vehicles can be implemented. The two side walls 4 and 4 each have a door opening, on each of which a vehicle door, not shown, can be arranged. In addition, the two side walls 4, 4 'are connected to one another at a front end viewed in the direction of travel via the front wall 3 and at a rear end viewed in the direction of travel via the rear wall 5 in the transverse direction of the commercial vehicle.

On the roof side, the basic module 2 has a transverse bow 7, which connects the two side walls 4 and ^λ and is arranged on them in the region of their B-pillars. The transverse bow 7 additionally stiffens the driver's cab 1 in the transverse direction, is part of a modular driver's cab roof 8 and forms part of an outer roof surface. 1, the modular cab roof 8 is formed by a front roof module 9, a rear roof module 10 and the transverse bow 7, which on the one hand connects to the front roof module 9 and on the other hand to the rear roof module 10 and separates them from one another. An upper frame section 11 of the front wall 3, an upper front area 13, 13 'of the two side walls 4 and 4 ^λ and the transverse bow 7 serve as the support surface or connection surface of the front roof module 9 on the basic module 2. The support surface or connection surface of the rear Roof module 10 on basic module 2 serves the respective rear upper regions 14, 14 'of the two side surfaces 4 and 4 *, an upper region of rear wall 5, which is not described in any more detail, and also the transverse bow 7.

According to the illustration in FIG. 1, the front roof module 9, the transverse bow 7 and the rear roof module 10 form a continuous roof outer surface. The two roof modules 9 and 10 can be designed such that a variant of the front roof module 9 can be used as the rear roof module 10 or vice versa. In general, at least two different front roof modules 9 and / or two different rear roof modules 10 are provided, which differ from one another at least in terms of their shape and / or their function.

The basic module 2 shown by way of example in FIG. 1 is designed such that the transverse bow 7 essentially divides the modular cab roof 8 in half. However, an embodiment variant is also conceivable in which the front roof module 9 is longer or shorter than the rear roof module 10 and thus the transverse bow 7, the cab roof 8 divided into two differently sized roof areas.

According to various design variants, the front roof module 9 and / or the rear roof module 10 can be designed, for example, as an assembly carrier, for example for a cabin air conditioning system (not shown), an additional heating system or cooling device (not shown). thinking It is also possible that at least one of the two roof modules 9, 10 is designed as a wind deflector. Such a wind deflector (not shown) is adapted to a particular structure of the commercial vehicle and reduces its flow resistance and thus the energy costs.

Additionally or alternatively, further embodiments of the roof modules 9, 10 according to the invention are conceivable, for example as storage space or as a bunk.

Due to the simple interchangeability of the two roof modules 9 and 10, a high degree of flexibility is achieved during the production process and, moreover, a possible modification of the truck, for example in the event of a change in use, can also be simplified. If, for example, a truck previously used as a general cargo transporter is to transport frozen food in the future, after the body has been replaced, only the rear roof module 10 has to be replaced by a roof module 10 designed as an assembly carrier. The required cooling device for cooling the body can now be mounted on it. If an improvement in aerodynamic resistance is also desired, it is possible to replace the front roof module 9 with a corresponding roof module 9 with a wind deflector. This example shows the wide range of applications and the associated advantages of the solution according to the invention.

In addition, the solution according to the invention offers the advantage that the manufacturing process can be greatly rationalized by producing and prefabricating an essentially uniform basic module 2 and merely adapting the modularly designed cab roof 8 to the specific later requirements.

2 shows a further embodiment variant of the modular cab roof 8 is shown. Compared to Fig. 1, the front roof module 9, the transverse bow 7 and the rear roof module 10 have almost no curvature. This leads to a greatly reduced roof height, which is particularly advantageous in the case of car transporters, since the space above the driver's cab 1 can thus also be used as a loading space.

According to one embodiment variant, a roof window 12 can be provided in the front roof module 9 and / or in the rear roof module 10, through which natural or tinted daylight enters the driver's cab 1 and thereby increases driving comfort.

In summary, the essential features of the solution according to the invention can be characterized as follows:

The invention proposes to provide a modular cab roof 8 on a modular cab 1, which essentially has a unitary basic module 2 with a front wall 3, two side walls 4 "and a rear wall 5. The modular cab roof 8 comprises a transverse mirror 7, a front roof module 9 and a rear roof module 10, which are arranged in the direction of travel in front of or behind the cross bow 7, which connects the two side walls 4 and 4 'in the area of their B-pillars with each other and at the same time part of an outer roof surface At least two different front roof modules 9 and / or two different rear roof modules 10 are provided, which differ from one another at least in terms of their shape and / or their function.

The roof modules 9 and / or 10 can be designed, for example, as unit carriers for cooling devices, as wind deflectors, as storage space or as bunk beds.

Claims

claims

1. Modular cab series for commercial vehicles, - with an essentially uniform basic module (2), which has a front wall (3), two side walls (4, 4 ^λ ), each with a side door and a rear wall (5) and a cab floor (6) - The two side walls (4, 4) are connected to each other in the area of their B-pillars via a crossbar (7) on the roof, characterized in that - a modular cab roof (8) is provided, - that the crossbar (7) is a component of the modular cab roof (8) and forms part of an outer roof surface, - that the transverse bow (7) connects on the one hand to a front roof module (9) and on the other hand to a rear roof module (10), - that at least two different front roof modules ( 9) and / or two different rear roof modules (10) are provided, which differ from one another at least in terms of their shape and / or function.

2. Modular cab series according to claim 1, characterized in that a variant of the front roof module (9) can be used as a rear roof module (10) or vice versa.

3. Modular driver's cab series according to claim 1 or 2, so that the front roof module (9) and / or the rear roof module (10) are / are designed as assembly carriers.

4. Modular driver's cab series according to one of claims 1 to 3, that the front roof module (9) and / or the rear roof module (10) are / are designed as a wind deflector.

5. Modular driver's cab series according to one of claims 1 to 4, that the front roof module (9) and / or the rear roof module (10) are / are designed as storage space.

6. Modular driver's cab series according to one of claims 1 to 5, so that the front roof module (9) and / or the rear roof module (10) are / are designed as a bunk.

7. Modular cab series according to one of claims 1 to 6, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that at least two different types of crossbars (7) are provided.

8. Modular cab series according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one roof module (9, 10) has a roof window. Modular cab series according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one roof module (9, 10) is adapted to a structure of the commercial vehicle.