Structural units adaptable to preexisting chassis and vehicle assembled therefrom
A structural unit comprising an assembly of bows longitudinally spaced and secured together by structural members, which is easily and rigidly assembled by using sliding connections of extrusions, for subsequent fitting to a range of preexisting chassis, to yield specific vehicles.
1. A central structural unit for a vehicle, comprising bows extending transversally across a top of the central structural unit, spaced at intervals along a length of the central structural unit, said bows being supported on a floor level of the vehicle and secured together at an upper part thereof by continuous longitudinal structural members;
wherein said continuous longitudinal structural members comprise extrusions assembled by sliding connections, said sliding connections being formed of main extrusion plates and secondary extrusion plates sliding into said main extrusion plates, said consecutive secondary extrusion plates being separated by bolting plates sliding into said main extrusion plates; said continuous longitudinal structural members maintaining a spacing between consecutive bows and providing rigidity to the assembly of bows.
2. The structural unit of claim 1 , said continuous longitudinal structural members further comprising rolled formed metallic members.
3. The structural unit of claim 1 , assembled to an independent floor structure.
4. The structural unit of claim 1 , assembled to independent accessory units.
5. The structural unit of claim 1 , wherein said bows are rolled formed metallic bows, and said structural members comprise rolled formed metallic members and extrusions.
6. The structural unit of claim 1 , wherein said secondary extrusion plates have a length corresponding to a spacing between two consecutive bows, said bolting plates allowing assembling to the bows.
7. The structural unit of claim 6 , wherein each bolting plate is provided with a fastener for assembly to a bow.
8. The structural unit of claim 1 , wherein said continuous longitudinal structural members comprise an upper side member on each upper side of the assembly of bows.
9. The structural unit of claim 1 , said assembly of bows accommodating at least one aperture for a door.
10. The structural unit of claim 8 , wherein said upper side members form continuous longitudinal structural elements on each upper side along a length of the structural unit.
11. The structural unit of claim 1 , wherein said bows and continuous longitudinal structural members are pre-perforated.