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EP-4737212-A1 - SUPPORTING STRUCTURE OF ROAD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT COUPLEABLE TO THE FRAME OF A VEHICLE HAVING A LOADING PLATFORM

EP4737212A1EP 4737212 A1EP4737212 A1EP 4737212A1EP-4737212-A1

Abstract

A supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment coupleable to the frame (2) of a vehicle having a loading platform is disclosed, wherein: it comprises a first tubular element (3) and a second tubular element (4) which are arranged opposite each other; it comprises a first plurality of longitudinal elements (5) which are carried by the first tubular element (3) and by the second tubular element (4); it comprises a second plurality of longitudinal elements (6) which are arranged to connect the first tubular element (3) and the second tubular element (4) to each other; it comprises: a first coupling element (13) which comprises a first seat (17), a second coupling element (14) which comprises a second seat (19), a third coupling element (15) which comprises a third seat (21), a fourth coupling element (16) which comprises a fourth seat (23), it comprises moving means (25) which are connected to the longitudinal elements of the first plurality of longitudinal elements (5) to move them in sliding motion with respect to the first tubular element (3) and to the second tubular element (4): moving away, so that they assume a first operational configuration (PC); moving closer, so that they assume a second operational configuration (SC). The supporting structure (1) is configured so that, during use, when it is positioned above and resting on the frame (2) of the vehicle, the moving means (25) move the longitudinal elements (8, 9, 10, 11) to pass from the first operational configuration (PC) to the second operational configuration (SC) so that the terminals (18, 20, 22, 24) of frame (2) are received in the corresponding seat (17, 19, 21, 23) to couple with each other so as to determine the hooking between the supporting structure (1) and the frame (2) of the vehicle.

Inventors

  • RICCI, GIACINTO
  • RICCI, MONICA

Assignees

  • Hymach S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251028

Claims (9)

  1. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment coupleable to the frame (2) of a vehicle having a loading platform, wherein: it comprises a first tubular element (3) and a second tubular element (4) arranged opposite each other; it comprises a first plurality of longitudinal elements (5) carried by the first tubular element (3) and the second tubular element (4); it comprises a second plurality of longitudinal elements (6) arranged to connect the first tubular element (3) and the second tubular element (4) to define, together with the first tubular element (3) and the second tubular element (4), a support (7) for road maintenance equipment; the first plurality of longitudinal elements (5) comprises a first longitudinal element (8) and a second longitudinal element (9), telescopically coupled to the first tubular element (3) so that the first longitudinal element (8) and the second longitudinal element (9) slide relative to the first tubular element (3); the first plurality of longitudinal elements (5) comprises a third longitudinal element (10) and a fourth longitudinal element (11), telescopically coupled to the second tubular element (4) so that the third longitudinal element (10) and the fourth longitudinal element (11) slide relative to the second tubular element (4); the first longitudinal element (8) and the second longitudinal element (9) are arranged opposite each other; the third longitudinal element (10) and the fourth longitudinal element (11) are arranged opposite each other; it comprises a plurality of coupling elements (12) comprising: a first coupling element (13) carried by the first longitudinal element (8) so as to arrange protruding from the support (7); a second coupling element (14) carried by the second longitudinal element (9) so as to arrange protruding from the support (7); a third coupling element (15) carried by the third longitudinal element (10) so as to arrange protruding from the support (7); a fourth coupling element (16) carried by the fourth longitudinal element (11) so as to arrange protruding from the support (7); the first coupling element (13) comprises a first seat (17) configured to receive a first terminal (18) of the frame (2) of a vehicle having a loading platform; the second coupling element (14) comprises a second seat (19) configured to receive a second terminal (20) of the frame (2) of the vehicle having a loading platform; the third coupling element (15) comprises a third seat (21) configured to receive a third terminal (22) of the frame (2) of the vehicle having a loading platform; the fourth coupling element (16) comprises a fourth seat (23) configured to receive a fourth terminal (24) of the frame (2) of the vehicle having a loading platform; it comprises moving means (25) carried by the first tubular element (3) and the second tubular element (4), connected to the longitudinal elements of the first plurality of longitudinal elements (5) to move them in sliding motion relative to the first tubular element (3) and the second tubular element (4); the moving means (25) are arranged to: move the first longitudinal element (8), the second longitudinal element (9), the third longitudinal element (10), and the fourth longitudinal element (11) away from the first tubular element (3) and the second tubular element (4) so that the first longitudinal element (8), the second longitudinal element (9), the third longitudinal element (10) and the fourth longitudinal element (11) assume a first operational configuration (PC); move the first longitudinal element (8), the second longitudinal element (9), the third longitudinal element (10), and the fourth longitudinal element (11) towards the first tubular element (3) and the second tubular element (4) so that first longitudinal element (8), the second longitudinal element (9), the third longitudinal element (10) and the fourth longitudinal element (11) assume a second operational configuration (SC); the supporting structure (1) is configured such that, during use, when it is positioned above and resting on the frame (2) of the vehicle, the moving means (25) move the first longitudinal element (8), the second longitudinal element (9), the third longitudinal element (10), and the fourth longitudinal element (11) from the first operational configuration (PC) to the second operational configuration (SC) so that the first terminal (18) of the frame (2), the second terminal (20) of the frame (2), the third terminal (22) of the frame (2), and the fourth terminal (24) of the frame (2) of the vehicle are received in the corresponding first seat (17), second seat (19), third seat (21), and fourth seat (23) to couple with each other, thereby creating a coupling hook up between the supporting structure (1) and the frame (2) of the vehicle.
  2. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment according to the previous claim, wherein: the first seat (17) and the second seat (19) comprise respective openings (29, 30) facing the first tubular element (3) and a respective side wall (31) that is at least partially inclined; the third seat (21) and the fourth seat (23) comprise a respective opening (33, 34) facing the second tubular element (4) and a respective side wall that is at least partially inclined.
  3. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: the first longitudinal element (8) carries the first coupling element (13) so that the first seat (17) is disposed below the support (7) and, during use, faces the first terminal (18) of the frame (2); the second longitudinal element (9) carries the second coupling element (14) so that the second seat (19) is disposed below the support (7) and, during use, faces the second terminal (20) of the frame (2); the third longitudinal element (10) carries the third coupling element (15) so that the third seat (21) is disposed below the support (7) and, during use, faces the third terminal (22) of the frame (2); the fourth longitudinal element (11) carries the fourth coupling element (16) so that the fourth seat (23) is disposed below the support (7) and, during use, faces the fourth terminal (24) of the frame (2).
  4. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the moving means (25) comprise: a first piston (41) and a second piston disposed inside the first tubular element (3), with the first piston (41) connected to the first longitudinal element (8) and the second piston connected to the second longitudinal element (9); a third piston and a fourth piston disposed inside the second tubular element (4), with the third piston connected to the third longitudinal element (10) and the fourth piston connected to the fourth longitudinal element (11).
  5. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: the first longitudinal element (8) comprises a first end (8a) and a second end (8b) arranged opposite each other; the second longitudinal element (9) comprises a third end and a fourth end (9b) arranged opposite each other; the third longitudinal element (10) comprises a fifth end and a sixth end (10b) arranged opposite each other; the fourth longitudinal element (11) comprises a seventh end and an eighth end (11b) arranged opposite each other; the first longitudinal element (8) and the second longitudinal element (9) are carried by the first tubular element (3) so that the first end (8a) and the third end are positioned inside the first tubular element (3) and so that the second end (8b) and the fourth end (9b) protrude from the first tubular element (3); the third longitudinal element (10) and the fourth longitudinal element (11) are carried by the second tubular element (4) so that the fifth end and the seventh end are disposed inside the second tubular element (4) and so that the sixth end (10b) and the eighth end (11b) protrude from the second tubular element (4).
  6. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment according to the preceding claim when dependent on claim 4, wherein: the first piston (41) and the first end (8a) of the first longitudinal element (8) are connected to each other; the second piston and the third end of the second longitudinal element (9) are connected to each other; the third piston and the fifth end of the third longitudinal element (10) are connected to each other; the fourth piston and the seventh end of the fourth longitudinal element (11) are connected to each other.
  7. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: the side wall (31) of the first seat (17), the second seat (19), the third seat (21), and the fourth seat (23) forms a truncated cone.
  8. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: it comprises a first abutment wall (45) carried by the first tubular element (3), which extends from the first tubular element (3) so as to protrude from it.
  9. Supporting structure (1) of road maintenance equipment according to the preceding claim, wherein: it comprises a pair of abutment walls (46, 47); the second plurality of longitudinal elements (6) comprises a first end longitudinal element (48) and a second end longitudinal element (49) arranged opposite each other; each wall of the pair of abutment walls (46, 47) is carried by, respectively, the first end longitudinal element (48) and the second end longitudinal element (49) and extends from, respectively, the first end longitudinal element (48) and the second end longitudinal element (49) so as to protrude from them.

Description

The present invention falls within the technical field relating to the support of road maintenance equipment for vehicles having a loading platform. In particular, the invention relates to a supporting structure of road maintenance equipment coupleable to the frame of a vehicle having a loading platform. A supporting structure (100) of road maintenance equipment is known, comprising: a first plurality of longitudinal elements (101) comprising, in turn, a first longitudinal element (102) and a second longitudinal element (103) which are arranged opposite and parallel to each other, a third longitudinal element (104) and a fourth longitudinal element (105) which are arranged opposite and parallel to each other; a second plurality of longitudinal elements (106) which are arranged to connect to each other the longitudinal elements of the first plurality of longitudinal elements (101) so as to define, together with the latter, a support (107) for road maintenance equipment (see figs. 1 and 2). Moreover, the supporting structure (100) comprises a plurality of coupling elements (108) which comprise: a first coupling element (109) which is carried by the first longitudinal element (102) so as to be arranged protruding with respect to the support (107); a second coupling element (110) which is carried by the first longitudinal element (102) so as to be arranged protruding with respect to the support (107); the first coupling element (109) and the second coupling element (110) are arranged opposite each other; a third coupling element (111) which is carried by the second longitudinal element (103) so as to be arranged protruding with respect to the support (107); a fourth coupling element (112) which is carried by the second longitudinal element (103) so as to be arranged protruding with respect to the support (107); the third coupling element (111) and the fourth coupling element (112) are arranged opposite each other (see figs. 1 and 2). The first coupling element (109), the second coupling element (110), the third coupling element (111) and the fourth coupling element (112) comprise a respective first seat (not illustrated), second seat (114), third seat (not illustrated) and fourth seat (116), each shaped to receive a corresponding terminal (117, 118, 119, 120) of frame (125) of a vehicle having a loading platform (see figs. 1A and 1B). Each first, second, third and fourth seat (114, 116) comprises an opening (121) which shapes an upside-down U and each coupling element (109, 110, 111, 112) comprises a pair of through holes (122), which are aligned with each other and which are shaped to be crossed by locking means (123) to lock the terminal (117, 118, 119, 120) of frame (125) in the corresponding seat (113, 114, 115, 116) (see figs. 1A and 1B). During use, when the supporting structure (100) is arranged above and resting on the frame (125) of the vehicle, the first coupling element (109), the second coupling element (110), the third coupling element (111) and the fourth coupling element (112) are arranged so as to face the corresponding terminals (117, 118, 119, 120) of frame (125) to be received so that, once the terminal (117, 118, 119, 120) of frame (125) has been received in the corresponding seat (114, 116) and the locking means (123) have been arranged, the coupling elements (109, 110, 111, 112) and the terminals (117, 118, 119, 120) of frame (125) are coupled to each other ensuring the hooking between the supporting structure (100) and the frame (125) of the vehicle (see figs. 2 and 1B). In figure 1 and in figure 2 the known supporting structure (100) and the frame (2) of a vehicle having a loading platform are illustrated when there occurs the condition therebetween, respectively, of non-hooking and of hooking. In figure 1A, the detail W of figure 1 is illustrated, that is to say the condition in which the supporting structure (100) is arranged above the frame (125) of the vehicle and the second seat (114) faces the terminal (118) of frame (125) that it will have to receive; whereas, in figure 1B, the detail S of figure 2 is illustrated, that is to say the condition in which the supporting structure (100) is arranged above and resting on the frame (125) of the vehicle and the second seat (114) receives the corresponding terminal (118) of frame (125). In figures 1A and 1B the second seat (114) and the corresponding terminal (118) of frame (125) are illustrated but similar considerations apply to the first seat, the third seat and the fourth seat (116) and the corresponding terminals (117, 119, 120) of frame (125). Therefore, during the positioning of the supporting structure (100) on the loading platform of the vehicle, the operator assigned to such positioning will have to proceed carefully and make sure of the insertion of the terminals (117, 118, 119, 120) of frame (125) in the corresponding seats (114, 116) of the coupling elements (109, 110, 111, 112). This requires time and skilled operators. Moreov