Vehicle body with a curved metal plate floor

Abstract

A load carrying body for a vehicle includes a curved metal plate floor ( 10 ) and a floor attachment system that attaches the floor to opposite sides of the body so that the floor is suspended between the sides. The floor attachment system includes a plurality of tensile members ( 38 ) which are the principal means for transferring forces from the floor to the remainder of the body. Each tensile member is coupled at one end to one of the sides of the body of the vehicle and at the other end to a side edge of the floor.

1 . A load carrying body for a vehicle, the load carrying body including a curved metal plate floor and a floor attachment system that attaches the floor to opposite sides of the body so that the floor is suspended between the sides, the floor attachment system including a plurality of tensile members, each of which is coupled at one end to one of the sides of the body of the vehicle and at the other end to a side edge of the floor, with each tensile member having a coupling element that is retained within an opening that extends through the floor from an upper surface to a lower surface of the floor, with the tensile members being at least the principal means for transferring forces from the floor to the remainder of the body, and with the coupling element and the opening being formed to allow swivelling movement of the coupling element in the opening in two mutually perpendicular directions to accommodate variations in alignment of the floor and the body. 
     
     
         2 . The body defined in  claim 1  wherein one of the two mutually perpendicular directions is a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the floor at the side edge of the floor. 
     
     
         3 . The body defined in  claim 1  wherein the coupling element and the opening are formed to accommodate variations in alignment of the floor and the body in a longitudinal direction of the floor and the body. 
     
     
         4 . The body defined in  claim 1  wherein the tensile member includes an elongate element. 
     
     
         5 . The body defined in  claim 4  wherein the coupling element and the elongate element are separate elements that can be coupled together. 
     
     
         6 . The body defined in  claim 1  wherein the coupling element is a clevis and clevis pin assembly, with the clevis pin extending through the opening in the floor. 
     
     
         7 . The body defined in  claim 6  wherein the openings are at least 1 mm inboard of the closer side edge of the floor. 
     
     
         8 . The body defined in  claim 1  wherein the tensile members are releasably coupled to one or both of the body and the floor to allow replacement of the floor. 
     
     
         9 . The body defined in  claim 1  wherein the tensile members apply a tension load to the floor plate at or close to a centre-line of the thickness of the plate. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle that includes the load carrying body having a curved metal plate floor and a floor attachment system that attaches the floor to the remainder of the body defined in  claim 1 .