LOWER BUNK SYSTEM FOR AN INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE

Abstract

A bunk system for a truck, comprising a structural board, wherein the structural board comprises a main portion having a main front edge, extending in the longitudinal direction, and a main rear edge; and at least a movable secondary portion linked elastically to the main portion, having a secondary rear edge, and a secondary front edge. The secondary portion is movable between a first position in which the main rear edge, the main front edge, the secondary rear edge, and the secondary front edge are substantially in a same plane and the secondary portion may move in at least one of a translation or a rotational motion into a second position in the event of a crash, thereby contracting the length of the bunk.

Claims

1. A bunk system for an industrial vehicle, comprising a structural board designed for receiving a mattress and an occupant thereon and having a length defining a longitudinal direction and a width smaller than the length and defining a transversal direction, wherein the structural board comprises: a main portion extending substantially along the entirety of the length of the bunk system and having a front edge, or main front edge, extending in the longitudinal direction, and an opposite edge, or main rear edge; and at least one movable secondary portion elastically linked to the main portion, the secondary portion having: a rear edge, or secondary rear edge, facing the main front edge; and a front edge, or secondary front edge, opposite to the secondary rear edge; and wherein the secondary portion is movable between: a first position in which the main rear edge, the main front edge, the secondary rear edge, and the secondary front edge are positioned in a same plane; and a second position in which the secondary front edge is closer to the main rear edge than it is in the first position.

2. The bunk system of claim 1, wherein the at least one movable secondary portion is movable in translation relative to the main portion between the first position and the second position.

3. The bunk system of claim 2, wherein the main portion comprises at least two shafts and the secondary portion comprises at least two tubes in which the at least two shafts can respectively slide; and wherein a coil spring is arranged around each of the at least two shafts and the coil spring is arranged between the main portion and the secondary portion.

4. The bunk system of claim 2, wherein the secondary portion comprises at least two shafts and the main portion comprises at least two tubes in which the at least two shafts can respectively slide; and wherein a coil spring is arranged around each of the at least two shafts and the coil spring is arranged between the main portion and the secondary portion.

5. The bunk system of claim 1, wherein the at least one movable secondary portion is movable in rotation relative to the main portion, the at least one movable secondary portion being hinged to the main front edge of the main portion.

6. The bunk system of claim 5, wherein the secondary front edge has a sloped surface.

7. The bunk system of claim 6, wherein a seat is provided with an actuator; and wherein upon the seat being pulled back in the event of a crash, the actuator cooperates with the sloped surface, thereby making the secondary portion rotate.

8. The bunk system of claim 1, wherein the at least one movable secondary portion extends substantially along the entire length of the bunk system; wherein the main front edge and the secondary rear edge are elastically hinged; and wherein the bunk system further comprises guiding means for guiding the secondary front edge in translation.

9. The bunk system of claim 1, wherein the secondary portion performs at least one of a translational movement and a rotation movement with respect to the main portion, thereby causing the bunk system to contract an elastic member between the main portion and the secondary portion.

10. A truck comprising a cabin having a rear wall, at least one seat, and a lower bunk system between the at least one seat and the rear wall, wherein the bunk system comprises a structural board designed for receiving a mattress and an occupant thereon and having a length defining a longitudinal direction and a width smaller than the length and defining a transversal direction, wherein the structural board comprises: a main portion extending substantially along its entire length and having a front edge, or main front edge, extending in the longitudinal direction, and an opposite edge, or main rear edge; and at least one movable secondary portion elastically linked to the main portion, the secondary portion having: a rear edge, or secondary rear edge, facing the main front edge; and a front edge, or secondary front edge, opposite to the secondary rear edge; wherein the secondary portion is movable between: a first position in which the main rear edge, the main front edge, the secondary rear edge, and the secondary front edge are positioned in a same plane; and a second position in which the secondary front edge is closer to the main rear edge than it is in the first position; and wherein the longitudinal direction of the bunk system is a transverse direction of the truck perpendicular to a direction of displacement of the truck.

11. The truck of claim 10, wherein the main portion of the bunk system is hinged to the rear wall of the cabin.

12. The truck of claim 10, wherein the cabin comprises a lower storage space that is arranged below the bunk system, the lower storage space being circumscribed by the rear wall, by a floor of the cabin, by the bunk system, and by a forward wall; and wherein the forward wall is below or behind the secondary front edge, when the secondary portion is in the second position.

13. The truck of claim 10, wherein the truck comprises actuators configured to pull back each of the at least one seat towards the rear wall, upon occurrence of a crash.

14. The truck of claim 10, wherein the main portion is hinged to the rear wall; wherein the front edge is hinged to the secondary rear edge; and wherein the secondary portion is configured to move from the first position to the second position in such a way that the secondary front edge glides translationally along guiding means causing the secondary portion to rotate with respect to the main portion and causing the main portion to rotate with respect to the rear wall.

15. A bunk system for an industrial vehicle, comprising a structural board designed for receiving a mattress and an occupant thereon and having a length defining a longitudinal direction and a width smaller than the length and defining a transversal direction, wherein the structural board comprises: a main portion extending substantially along the entirety of the length of the bunk system and having a front edge, or main front edge, extending in the longitudinal direction, and an opposite edge, or main rear edge; and a secondary portion elastically hinged to the main portion, the secondary portion having: a secondary rear edge, facing the main front edge; and a secondary front edge, opposite to the secondary rear edge; and wherein the secondary portion is pivoted upon occurrence of a crash: from a first position in which the main rear edge, the main front edge, the secondary rear edge, and the secondary front edge are positioned in a same plane; into a second position in which the secondary portion is angled relative to the main portion.

16. The bunk system of claim 15, wherein the secondary portion is pre-stressed by an elastic member maintaining the secondary portion in the first position, and in the event of crash, the pre-stressed force causes the secondary portion to pivot to the second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Other features, details and advantages will be shown in the following detailed description and on the figures, on which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a truck with a lower bunk,

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a cabin with a lower bunk in accordance to the disclosure,

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a first modification brought by the disclosure to a lower bunk of the prior art,

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a second modification brought by the disclosure to a lower bunk of the prior art,

[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a first example of a lower bunk according to the disclosure,

[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 5, with a seat in a backward position,

[0035] FIG. 7 is a detailed side view of a second example of a lower bunk according to the disclosure,

[0036] FIG. 8 is a side view of the second example showing a seat in a forward position and in a backward position, and

[0037] FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8 for a third example of a lower bunk according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In order to make the figures easier to read, the various elements are not necessarily represented to scale. In these figures, identical elements receive the same reference number. Certain elements or parameters can be indexed, i.e., designated for example by first element or second element, or first parameter and second parameter, etc.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows an industrial vehicle V, or truck. It comprises a cabin with a cabin floor 2, a rear wall 4, at least a seat 6 and a bunk 8. In the non-limitative example shown on the figures, the cabin comprises two seats 6 (FIG. 2). The bunk is also named lower bunk 8 since it is placed between the seats 6 and the rear wall 4. In some cases, not concerned by the present disclosure, the bunk can be placed at a higher level than the seats and is then a higher bunk. FIG. 1 also shows a driver, or occupant, which mainly seats on a seat 6, the driver's seat in regard to a steering wheel 14 or lies on the bunk 8 when the truck is stopped. The bunk 8 comprises a structural board 10 and a mattress 12 covering the structural board 10.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a truck which can receive a lower bunk according to present disclosure (but shown here with a prior art lower bunk).

[0041] FIG. 2 is a top view of the cabin of the truck of FIG. 1. The bunk 8 has a substantially rectangular shape having a length defining a longitudinal direction for the bunk 8 and a width which is smaller than the length. The bunk 8 is oriented so that the longitudinal direction of the bunk 8 is perpendicular to the displacement direction 16 of the truck.

[0042] The present disclosure provides necessary survival space/cushioning effect to the occupant in case of a frontal crash or a rear crash. Starting from the configuration of the lower bunk 8 shown on FIGS. 1 and 2, the disclosure proposes to split the structural board 10 along a line extending mainly along the longitudinal direction of the bunk 8. The split line 18 can extend in longitudinal direction along all the length of the bunk 8 (example of FIG. 9) or only behind the seats 6 as shown on FIG. 2 (corresponding to the examples of FIGS. 4-8). In the case shown on FIGS. 2 and 4, the split line 18 also comprises a portion extending along the width of the bunk 8. The split line 18 divides the bunk 8, more especially the structural board 10, into a main portion 20 and at least one (two in the examples of FIGS. 2 and 4-8) secondary portions 22.

[0043] The disclosure advantageously also proposes to reduce a lower storage space 24 (FIG. 3) in a preferred example. Usually, the space below a lower bunk forms a storage space. This lower storage space 24 is formed between the cabin floor 2 and the bunk 8 on the one side and between the rear wall 4 and a partition 26 on the other side. Starting from a prior art configuration, the partition 26 is moved backward, i.e., it is brought closer to the rear wall 4. The displacement of the partition 26 is for example about 100 mm (for example between 50 and 250 mm). On FIG. 3, 26A shows a position of partition 26 corresponding to the prior art and 26B a position of partition 26 according to the present disclosure.

[0044] Three alternative examples are proposed thereafter. According to a first example, a space is left free between each secondary portion 22 and the main portion 20 of the structural board. According to a second example, each secondary portion can bend and is pivoting in regard to the main portion. According to the third example, the entire bunk can be folded with the split line in-between. These examples are described more in details hereafter in relation to the corresponding figures.

[0045] According to the first example (FIGS. 4-6), the secondary portions 22 can move in translation relative to the main portion 20. As shown on FIG. 4, in normal conditions, i.e., with no constraint exerted on the secondary portion 22, a free space 28 exists between the considered secondary portion 22 and the main portion. Shaft(s) 30, preferably at least two shafts, extend between each secondary portion 22 and the main portion 20. The shafts 30 can be carried either by the secondary portions 22 or by the main portion 20. The portion that does not carry the shafts 30 comprises tubes (not shown) for receiving and guiding the shafts 30. The portion of each shaft 30 extending between a secondary portion 22 and the main portion 20 is surrounded by a coil spring 32. The shafts 30 and the coil springs 32 are designed so that each secondary portion 22 can moved relative to the main portion 20 about a predetermined stroke, for example between 50 and 250 mm, for example 100 mm.

[0046] The main portion 20 of the structural board 10 comprises a rear edge, or main rear edge 200 extending along the rear wall 4. This main rear edge 200 can be hinged to the rear wall 4 so that the bunk can be raised up by pivoting, providing thereby an access to the lower storage space 24. The main portion 20 also has a front edge, or main front edge 202 opposite to the main rear edge 200. This main front edge 202, in the example of FIGS. 4-6 is omega-shaped. Lateral edges, or main lateral edges 204, connect the main front edge 202 to the main rear edge 200.

[0047] Each secondary portion also comprises a rear edge, or secondary rear edge 220, a front edge, or secondary front edge 222, and lateral edges or secondary lateral edges 224 connecting the secondary rear edge 220 to the secondary front edge 222. Each secondary rear edge 220 is facing the main front edge 202 and each secondary front edge 222 is facing a seat 6.

[0048] Concerning the mattress 12, no change is foreseen. It still covers the structural board 10. With it, an occupant does not remark that the structural board 10 comprises several portions and the comfort of an occupant resting on the bunk is not affected.

[0049] The partition 26 can also be omega-shaped. It can be placed below the main front edge 202 or slightly behind (closer to the rear wall 4) than the main front edge 202.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a side view of the bunk of FIG. 4 in normal conditions, i.e., prior to a crash for example. The secondary portions 22 are far from the main portion 20 and the coil spring 32 is in an uncompressed state. For the comfort of an occupant resting of the bunk 8, the bunk 8 in its width occupies as much space as possible between the seats 6 and the rear wall 4. The secondary portions 22 of the structural board 10 (and the mattress 12) are so near as possible from the seats 6 to optimize the space available in the cabin.

[0051] Once a crash happens, the seat is pulled back towards the rear wall 4. The corresponding system (for pulling the seat) is known from a person with ordinary skill in the art. When the seat is pulled backwards, since the seat 6 is very near of the bunk 8, each seat 6 comes rapidly in contact with the bunk 8, and more specifically with the secondary portion 22 facing the considered seat 6. Each seat 6 pushes the spring-loaded secondary portion 22 of the structural board 10 to move rearward. In this movement, the secondary rear edges 220 get closer to the main front edge 202. During this movement, which is a translation, the main rear edge 200, the main front edge 202, the secondary rear edges 220 and the secondary front edges 222 (and also the lateral edges) remain substantially in a same plane.

[0052] The stroke of the movement of the secondary portions 22 is adapted to the stroke of the corresponding seat 6. Preferably, the stroke of the movement of the secondary portions 22 can be slightly greater than the stroke of the seat 6.

[0053] During a crash, the deformation of the mattress is not taken into account and the forces exerted by the mattress are considered as negligible.

[0054] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the second example of a lower bunk according to the present disclosure. According to this example, there are also a main portion 20 with a main rear edge 200, a main front edge 202 and main lateral edges 204; two secondary portions 22 each with a secondary rear edge 220, a secondary front edge 222 and secondary lateral edges 224. The form of the main portion 20 of this second example can be the same as the form of the main portion 20 of the first example.

[0055] This second example differs from the first one namely in that each secondary portion 22 does not translate relative to the main portion 20 but pivots. The secondary rear edge 220 of each secondary portion 22 is hinged to the main front edge 202. As shown on FIGS. 7-8, the secondary front edge 222 also differs from the corresponding edge of the first example in that it comprises a sloped face.

[0056] Each secondary portion 22 is pre-stressed by a spring which maintains it in a resting position. In this position, the secondary portion 22 is substantially coplanar with the main portion 20.

[0057] When a crash occurs, each secondary portion 22 pivots around the main front edge 202 downwards, and can pivot eventually until coming into contact with partition 26.

[0058] As shown on FIG. 8, each seat 6 advantageously comprises an actuator 36 designed for cooperating with the sloped face 34 of the secondary portion 22. The actuator is a rigid part and is for example metallic. When the seat 6 is pulled back, the actuator 36 comes in contact with the sloped face 34 of the secondary portion 22. When it goes further back, it pushes the secondary portion 22 down and the secondary portion 22 pivots down towards the partition 26 and stresses the elastic means between the secondary portion 22 and a fixed part, for example the main portion 20 of the structural board or a fixing point of the partition 26. The elastic means can also be incorporated in the hinge between the secondary portion 22 and the main portion 20. The pre-stress force of the elastic means is high enough to allow an occupant resting on the bunk 8 without causing a swivelling of the secondary portion(s). On another side, the pre-stress force of these elastic means is also predicted by the amount of force generated during a crash.

[0059] FIG. 9 shows the third example. This example foresees that the entire bunk buckles in case of a crash. In this example, there is only one secondary portion 22. In the example as shown, the split line between the main portion 20 and the secondary portion is a middle line (along the length) of the bunk. The split line extends over all the length of the bunk and can be positioned in another position as the central position. The width of the secondary portion 22 should be at least as great as the stroke of the seats when they are pulled back. The mattress 12 can also be divided into two mattresses but the system also works with a mattress 12 covering all the structural board 10 (main portion 20 and secondary portion 22). The secondary portion 22 is hinged to the main portion 20 which on its turn is hinged to the rear wall 4. In other words, the main front edge 202 is hinged to the secondary rear edge 220. The hinge between the main portion 20 and the secondary portion 22 is pre-stressed so that in the resting position the main portion and the secondary portion are coplanar.

[0060] The secondary front edge 202 has two ends which are guided along a substantially horizontal direction, i.e., parallel to the cabin floor 2. For example, each end of the secondary front edge 202 can be provided with a pin extending outwardly. This pin can cooperate with for example a rail or be guided in a C-profile 38. The rail or the C-profile (or other guiding means) can be attached to a side wall 40 (FIG. 2) of the cabin.

[0061] A buckling of the lower bunk 8 happens with a movement of the secondary portion 20 caused by a movement backwards of the seats 6 against the secondary front edge 222 of the secondary portion, since the secondary front edge 222 is guided horizontally.

[0062] FIG. 9 shows the bunk 8 in a normal state (NS) and in its bucked state. The seat 6 is also shown in his normal position and in its pulled back position (dotted line).

[0063] The three proposed solutions and their variations work as good for a crash from the front than for a crash from the rear. They guarantee the survival space of the occupant of the seat in case of a crash. The lower bunk does not disturb the movement of the seat when it is pulled backwards. The proposed solutions are clearing the obstruction which otherwise would stop the seat from moving behind and work also when the force is coming from the rear of the cabin due to the inertia load coming from different sources like the trailer and/or compressed natural gas (CNG) system or hydrogen fuel system fitted behind the rear wall of the cabin.

[0064] The proposed solutions allow to maximise the size of the bunk without limiting the security on board.

[0065] The solutions disclosed hereabove are also easy to adapt to prior art bunks.

[0066] This disclosure is not limited to the three systems and their variations described here, which are only examples. The present disclosure encompasses every alternative that a person skilled in the art would envisage when reading this text.