Modular cab and sleeper structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle

• US 5,310,239 A
• Filed: 02/22/1993
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Chapman, Richard D., Marlowe, Huston R., Bingaman, James P., Paul, Jeffrey E., Koske, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/020,353
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 296/190, 296/24.1, 180/89.12
• US Class Current: 296/26.08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0612 Cabins with living accommodation, especially for long distance road vehicles, i.e. sleeping, cooking, or other facilities beds in general adapted to be used in vahicles A47C17/80; sanitation devices in vehicles in general B60R15/00; living accommodation in vehicles in general B60P3/32; passenger fittings in general B60N3/00

Abstract

A modular cab/sleeper structural assembly (31) for a truck-tractor vehicle (30) is provided which improves ride quality and structural integrity without substantially increasing the overall weight or sacrificing any advantages of separate cab and sleeper units. The assembly (31) includes a chassis frame (33) extending substantially longitudinal of the vehicle (30) and a cab unit (35) having a cab structural assembly (37) mounted to the chassis frame (33) by a first mount (42). A sleeper unit (38) having a sleeper structural assembly (40) is mounted to the chassis frame (33) by a second mount (43). A coupling member (41), coupled between the cab structural assembly (37) and the sleeper structural assembly (40) and independent of the chassis frame (33), rigidly couples the sleeper structural assembly (40) and the cab structural assembly (37) together to produce a substantially unified composite structure for increased structural integrity. A method for improving ride quality and structural integrity of the modular cab/sleeper structural assembly (31 ) is also provided.

Claims

1. A modular cab/sleeper structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle comprising:

chassis frame means extending substantially longitudinal of the vehicle,

a cab portion having a cab structural assembly and being mounted to said chassis frame means by first mounting means positioned proximate a front end portion of said cab structural assembly;

a sleeper portion having a sleeper structural assembly positioned behind said cab portion and mounted to said chassis frame means by second mounting means coupled proximate a rear end portion of said sleeper structural assembly; and

coupling means coupled between said cab structural assembly and said sleeper structural assembly independently of said chassis frame means, said coupling means fixedly joining said sleeper structural assembly and said cab sleeper structural assembly together at discrete locations forming a substantially unified composite structure and causing said composite structure to function as an integral unit.

2. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said coupling means includes a pair of lower coupling members and a pair of upper coupling members.

3. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein,

said sleeper structural assembly includes a substantially peripherally extending lower sleeper frame member formed to couple to said lower coupling members, and a substantially peripherally extending upper sleeper frame member formed to couple to said upper coupling members.

4. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein,

said pair of lower coupling members are formed and dimensioned, and positioned in a spaced-apart relation, to substantially relate said cab structural assembly and said sleeper structural assembly in yaw, roll, heave, and surge and slip directions therebetween, and

said pair of upper coupling members are formed and dimensioned, and positioned in a spaced-apart relation, to substantially relate said cab structural assembly and said sleeper structural assembly in relative pitch therebetween, said lower coupling members and said upper coupling members causing said cab structural assembly and said sleeper structural assembly to act as a unit.

5. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 3 further including:

a beam member laterally extends between said pair of upper coupling members.

6. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein,

said beam member is further mounted to said upper sleeper frame member.

7. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein,

said beam member is substantially C-shaped.

8. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein,

each said lower coupling member includes a lower cab bracket member mounted to said cab structural assembly and a lower sleeper bracket member mounted to said lower sleeper structural assembly, said lower cab bracket members being formed and dimensioned to rigidly couple to respective lower sleeper bracket members, and

each said upper coupling member includes an upper cab bracket member mounted to said cab structural assembly and an upper sleeper bracket member mounted to said upper sleeper structural assembly, said upper cab bracket members being formed and dimensioned to rigidly couple to respective upper sleeper bracket members.

9. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said cab portion includes a fire wall portion contained in a substantially vertical plane proximate a front portion thereof;

and

said first mounting means is disposed substantially within said vertical plane.

10. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein,

said first mounting means includes a pair of mounts spaced-apart in a transverse orientation relative said cab portion.

11. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein,

said first mounting means are comprised of rubber.

12. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein,

said second mounting means includes a pair of rear suspension mounts spaced-apart in a transverse orientation relative said sleeper portion.

13. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein,

each said rear suspension mount is provided by a damping component and a support suspension/isolation component.

14. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein,

said rear suspension mounts are positioned proximate the intersection between a plane containing sleeper portion rear wall and said chassis frame means.

15. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein,

said damping component is provided by a hydraulic shock absorber, and

said suspension/isolation component is provided by an air bag.

16. The modular cab/sleeper structural assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein,

said second mounting means includes a single mount positioned intermediate a rear portion of said sleeper portion.

17. A modular cab/sleeper structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle comprising:

chassis frame means extending substantially longitudinal of the vehicle,

a cab portion having a cab structural assembly and being mounted to said chassis frame means by first mounting means positioned proximate a front end portion of said cab structural assembly;

a sleeper portion, including a sleeper structural assembly having a peripherally extending upper frame portion and a peripherally extending lower frame portion, said sleeper portion being positioned behind said cab portion and mounted to said chassis frame means by second mounting means coupled proximate a rear end portion of said sleeper structural assembly;

an upper pair of bracket members coupled between said cab structural assembly and said upper sleeper frame portion at spaced-apart locations exterior to said cab portion and said sleeper portion; and

a lower pair of bracket members coupled between said cab structural assembly and said lower sleeper frame portion at spaced-apart locations exterior to said cab portion and said sleeper portion;

both said upper pair of bracket members and said lower pair of bracket members coupling said cab structural assembly and said sleeper structural assembly together at discrete locations independently of said chassis frame means and forming a substantially unified composite structure, and both cooperating to fixedly join said sleeper structural assembly and said cab structural assembly and causing said composite structure to function as an integral unit.

18. A method of improving ride quality and structural integrity of a modular cab/sleeper assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle including chassis frame means, a cab portion having a cab structural assembly and being mounted to said chassis frame means by first mounting means positioned proximate a front end portion of said cab structural assembly, and a sleeper portion having a substantially peripherally extending upper sleeper structural assembly and a substantially peripherally extending lower structural assembly, said sleeper portion being mounted to said chassis frame means by second mounting means positioned proximate a rear end portion of said sleeper structural assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

coupling a lower portion of said cab structural assembly to said lower sleeper structural assembly at spaced-apart lateral locations by lower coupling members to produce substantially decreased relative motion therebetween, and

coupling an upper portion of said cab structural assembly to said upper sleeper structural assembly at spaced-apart lateral locations by upper coupling members to produce substantially decreased relative motion therebetween.

19. The method as defined in claim 18 further including the step of:

mounting said cab structural assembly proximate a front portion thereof to said chassis frame means by said first mounting means at spaced-apart location transverse to said cab portion to produce a substantially stable mount thereof; and

mounting said lower sleeper structural assembly proximate a rear portion thereof to said chassis frame means by said second mounting means at spaced-apart location transverse to said sleeper portion to produce a substantially stable mount thereof.

20. A modular cab/sleeper structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle comprising:

chassis frame means extending substantially longitudinal of the vehicle,

a cab portion including a fire wall portion contained in a substantially vertical plane proximate a cab front portion thereof, and a cab structural assembly mounted to said chassis frame means by a pair of mounts disposed substantially within said vertical plane and spaced-apart in a transverse orientation relative said cab portion;

a sleeper portion including a rear wall and a sleeper structural assembly positioned behind said cab portion, said sleeper portion mounted to said chassis frame means by a pair of rear suspension mounts positioned proximate an intersection between a plane containing said rear wall and said chassis frame means, said pair of suspension mounts being spaced-apart in a transverse orientation relative said sleeper portion, and each rear suspension mount being provided by a damping component and a support suspension/isolation component; and

coupling means coupled between said cab structural assembly and said sleeper structural assembly independently of said chassis frame means, said coupling means fixedly joining said sleeper structural assembly and said cab sleeper structural assembly together at discrete locations forming a substantially unified composite structure and causing said composite structure to function as an integral unit.

21. A method of improving ride quality and structural integrity of a modular cab/sleeper assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle including chassis frame means, a cab portion having a cab structural assembly and being mounted to said chassis frame means by first mounting means positioned proximate a front end portion of said cab structural assembly, and a sleeper portion having a substantially peripherally extending upper sleeper structural assembly and a substantially peripherally extending lower structural assembly, said sleeper portion being mounted to said chassis frame means by second mounting means positioned proximate a rear end portion of said sleeper structural assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

coupling a lower portion of said cab structural assembly to said lower sleeper structural assembly at spaced-apart lateral locations by lower coupling means to produce substantially decreased relative motion therebetween,

coupling an upper portion of said cab structural assembly to said upper sleeper structural assembly at spaced-apart lateral locations by upper coupling members to produce substantially decreased relative motion therebetween;

mounting said cab structural assembly proximate a front portion thereof to said chassis frame means by said first mounting means at spaced-apart location transverse to said cab portion to produce a substantially stable mount thereof; and

mounting said lower sleeper structural assembly proximate a rear portion thereof to said chassis frame means by said second mounting means at spaced-apart location transverse to said sleeper portion to produce a substantially stable mount thereof.