Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A cargo vehicle (100), comprising:
a frame (120) having a pair of long members (124) extending in a vehicle front-rear direction between a front end (124A) and a rear end (124B), and one or more cross members (122) extending transversely between the pair of long members (124);
a cargo deck (110) hingedly mounted on the frame (120), the cargo deck (110) configured to be operable between a lowered position and a raised position; and
one or more actuators (140), each of the actuators (140) having a first end (140A) connected to one of the cross members (122) and a second end (140B) connected to the cargo deck (110) for operating the cargo deck (110) between the lowered position and the raised position.

2. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more cross members (122) comprise a trailing cross member (122A) extending transversely between the pair of long members (124), such that a swing arm (160) extends rearwardly from an end of the trailing cross member (122A) to support a rear wheel (170).

3. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2, comprising one or more first brackets (150) to connect the first end (140A) of each of the actuators (140) with the trailing cross member (122A).

4. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the one or more first brackets (150) comprises at least one fixture bracket.

5. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the actuators (140) comprise a cylinder (142), a piston configured to move in the cylinder (142), and a rod (144) connected to the piston and protruding out from the cylinder (142).

6. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claims 2 and 5, wherein the cylinder (142) of each of the actuators (140) is connected to the trailing cross member (122A) and the rod (144) is connected to the cargo deck (110).

7. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claims 2 and 6, comprising one or more second brackets (152) for connecting the rod (144) of the each of the actuators (140) to the cargo deck (110).

8. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one or more second brackets (152) comprise at least one fixture bracket.
9. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the actuators (140) is connected to the trailing cross member (122A) such that each of the actuators (140) is at an angle (?) from a plane (X-X’) parallel to the ground.

10. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the angle (?) formed by the each of the actuators (140) from the plane (X-X’) parallel to the ground is ranges between 55o to 60o.

11. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one rear longitudinal member (126) wherein the cargo deck (110) is hingedly mounted on the rear longitudinal member (126) of the frame (120).

12. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cargo deck (110) is operable between the lowered position and the raised position such that the cargo deck (110) forms an angle between 0o-45o with the horizontal plane (Y-Y’).

13. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a hydraulic power source (130) for driving the one or more actuators (140).

14. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hydraulic power source (130) comprises: a motor (132); a hydraulic tank (134); and an oil pump located inside the hydraulic tank (134) and operatively connected to the motor (132) through a connector (136).

15. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hydraulic power source (130) is disposed on the frame (120), under a front end of the cargo deck (110) when the cargo deck (110) is in the lowered position.

16. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the motor (132) is disposed on top of the hydraulic tank (134).

17. The cargo vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the motor (132) is driven by a battery (138), the motor (132) thereby operating the oil pump to drive the one or more actuators (140).

, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a cargo vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] In conventional cargo vehicles, especially cargo vehicles that implement a hydraulic load hoisting mechanism require an additional base support structure in order to mount hydraulic actuators for suitable load bearing capability. This is because the reaction force on the support structure is very high while actuating the hydraulic actuators for hoisting a load bed. Absence of an additional load structure often results in frequent damage on the load bearing base structure of the vehicle. The introduction of the additional base support structure makes the overall layout complex and increases the height of the load bed base, while adding additional cost. The height of the load bed base is a critical user requirement as it ergonomically affects the loading and unloading of goods and cargo on to the load bed.
[003] Further, toppling of the cargo vehicles at the instance of the load bed being hoisted remains a major safety concern. In that, hinged attachment of the hydraulic actuators on the load bed may lead to vehicle instability. A non-optimum position of the hydraulic actuators also leads to requirement of greater power for hoisting of the load bed, resultantly requiring larger and bulkier hydraulic components such as actuators, hoses, motor and oil container.
[004] In most conventional cargo vehicles, the load bed hoisting is powered by hydraulic pump which is driven by the engine. This is achieved by introducing a flexible coupling between the engine and the hydraulic pump. However, such a mechanism is susceptible to high torque fluctuations in the engine, and results in frequent failures of the flexible coupling.
[005] Also, when the hydraulic pump is coupled to the engine, the hydraulic pump is powered under all vehicle running conditions instead of being powered only when load bed needs to be hoisted making the system extremely inefficient. Attempts to decouple the hydraulic pump from the engine have been made by the means of a clutch-like mechanism which makes the system highly complex, expensive and difficult to service and maintain.
[006] Thus, there is a need in the art for a cargo vehicle which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[007] In one aspect, the present invention is directed at a cargo vehicle having a frame with a pair of long members that extend in a vehicle front-rear direction between a front end and a rear end. The frame further has one or more cross members that extend transversely between the pair of long members. A cargo deck is hingedly mounted on the frame. The cargo deck is configured to be operable between a lowered position and a raised position. One or more actuators have a first end connected to one of the cross members and a second end connected to the cargo deck for operating the cargo deck between the lowered position and the raised position.
[008] In an embodiment of the invention, the one or more cross members have a trailing cross member extending transversely between the pair of long members, such that a swing arm extends rearwardly from an end of the trailing cross member to support a rear wheel.
[009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the cargo vehicle has one or more first brackets to connect the first end of each of the actuators with the trailing cross member. In an embodiment, the one or more first brackets comprises at least one fixture bracket.
[010] In a further embodiment of the invention, each of the actuators have a cylinder, a piston configured to move in the cylinder, and a rod connected to the piston and protruding out from the cylinder. In an embodiment, the cylinder of each of the actuators is connected to the trailing cross member and the rod is connected to the cargo deck.
[011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the cargo vehicle has one or more second brackets for connecting the rod of the each of the actuators to the cargo deck. In an embodiment, the one or more second brackets comprise at least one fixture bracket.
[012] In a further embodiment of the invention, each of the actuators is connected to the trailing cross member such that each of the actuators is at an angle from a plane parallel to the ground. In an embodiment, the angle formed by the each of the actuators from the plane parallel to the ground is ranges between 55o to 60o.
[013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the frame has at least one rear longitudinal member wherein the cargo deck is hingedly mounted on the rear longitudinal member of the frame.
[014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the cargo deck is operable between the lowered position and the raised position such that the cargo deck forms an angle between 0o-45o with the horizontal plane.
[015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the cargo vehicle has a hydraulic power source for driving the one or more actuators. In an embodiment, the hydraulic power source has a motor, a hydraulic tank, and an oil pump that is located inside the hydraulic tank and operatively connected to the motor through a connector.
[016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic power source is disposed on the frame, under a front end of the cargo deck when the cargo deck is in the lowered position. Further, the motor is disposed on top of the hydraulic tank.
[017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the motor is driven by a battery, and the motor thereby operates the oil pump to drive the one or more actuators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[018] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 illustrates a left-side view of an exemplary cargo vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the cargo vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 illustrates the left-side view of the cargo vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a left-side perspective view of the cargo vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 illustrates the left-side view of the cargo vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6 illustrates the left-side view of the cargo vehicle with a cargo deck in a raised position, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[019] The present invention relates to a cargo vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cargo vehicle with an onboard cargo deck.
[020] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary cargo vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The cargo vehicle 100 has an Internal combustion engine (not shown) or an electric powertrain (not shown) for driving the cargo vehicle 100. The cargo vehicle 100 has a front wheel 14, a rear wheel 170, a frame 120, a seat assembly 18 and a fuel tank (not shown). In an embodiment, the IC engine is disposed on the frame 120 under the seat assembly 18. The frame 120 includes a pair of long members 124 (shown in Figure 4) that extend in a vehicle front-rear direction between a front end 124A and a rear end 124B (shown in Figure 4). The pair of long members 124 extend in the vehicle front-rear direction substantially parallelly to each other. The frame 120 further has one or more cross members 122 (shown in Figure 2) that extend transversely between the pair of long members 124. A head pipe (not shown) supports a steering shaft and front suspensions attached to the steering shaft through a lower bracket. The front suspensions support the front wheel 14. The upper portion of the front wheel 14 is covered by a front fender 28 mounted to the lower portion of the front suspensions at the end of the steering shaft. A handlebar 30 is fixed to upper bracket and can rotate to both sides.
[021] A front portion of the frame 120 supports a plurality of body panels to form a rider deck 40, wherein the seat assembly 18 and the handlebar 30 are disposed inside the rider deck 40. A headlight 32 is provided on a front face of the rider deck. A pair of swing arms 160 are configured to extend rearwardly from the frame 120 and support a pair of rear wheels 16. Generally, the swing arms 160 are further supported by a dual rear suspension (not shown). Each of the rear wheels 170 are covered by a rear fender 38 that is disposed above each of the rear wheels 170. In an embodiment, the rear wheels 170 rotate by the driving force of the Internal combustion engine transmitted from differential unit of the Internal combustion engine through propeller shafts.
[022] The cargo vehicle 100 further has a cargo deck 110 that is hingedly mounted on the frame 120. In an embodiment, the frame 120 has at least one rear longitudinal member 126 such that the cargo deck 110 is hingedly mounted on the rear longitudinal member 126 of the frame 120. The cargo deck 110 is configured to be operable between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein the cargo deck 110 hinges about the frame 120, so as to allow loading and unloading of goods and cargo on the cargo deck 110. When the cargo deck 110 is in the raised position, the goods or cargo can be unloaded from the cargo deck 110 with lesser human effort. The cargo deck 110 has been illustrated to be in the lowered position in Figure 3.
[023] As illustrated in Figure 3 and referenced in Figure 2, the cargo vehicle 100 has one or more actuators 140 that operate the cargo deck 110 between the lowered position and the raised position. Herein, each of the actuators 140 have a first end 140A (shown in Figure 4) that is connected to one of the cross members 122. A second end 140B (shown in Figure 4) of each of the actuators 140 is connected to the cargo deck 110, thereby operating the cargo deck 110 between the lowered position and the raised position. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the cargo vehicle 100 has two actuators 140, with the first end 140A of both the actuators 140 connected to one of the cross members 122. In an embodiment of the invention, the first end 140A of each of the actuators 140 is connected at the ends of one of the cross members 122.
[024] As referenced in Figure 2, the one or more cross members 122 have various cross members 122 extending in the width of the vehicle at different longitudinal positions in the frame 120.
[025] As illustrated in Figure 4, the one or more cross members 122 have a trailing cross member 122A. The trailing cross member 122A extends transversely between the pair of long members 124, such that the swing arm 160 extends rearwardly from an end of the trailing cross member 122A to support the rear wheel 170. The trailing cross member 122A is disposed in front of the rear wheel 170 in the vehicle front-rear direction. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the first end 140A of each of the actuators 140 are connected to the ends of the trailing cross member 122A. The first end 140A of each of the actuators 140 is connected with the trailing cross member 122A by the means of one or more first brackets 150 (shown in Figure 5). In an embodiment of the invention, the one or more first brackets 150 have at least one fixture bracket. Such a connection of the actuators 140 on the trailing cross member 122A is the most advantageous mounting location of the actuators 140 for raising or lowering the cargo deck. This is because the load of the goods or cargo in the cargo deck 110 while raising the cargo deck 110, is bore by the trailing cross member 122A. The load on the trailing cross member 122A is further distributed to the pair of long members 124 and hence is distributed throughout the frame 120. Such a distribution of the load while raising the cargo deck 110 negates the requirement of an additional base for bearing the load while raising the cargo deck 110.
[026] Herein, each of the actuators 140 are piston type actuators wherein each of the actuators have a cylinder 142 (shown in Figure 6), and a piston (not shown) is configured to move in the cylinder 142 in response to hydraulic fluid being pumped in and out of the cylinder 142. Further, a rod 144 (shown in Figure 6) is connected to the piston and the rod 144 protrudes out from the cylinder 142. In that, the cylinder 142 of each of the actuators 140 is connected to the trailing cross member 122A, and hence the cylinder 142 which remains fixed with respect to the trailing cross member 122A acts as the first end 140A of the actuators 140.
[027] One end of the rod 144 of the actuators 140 is connected to the piston while the other end of the rod 144 of the actuators 140 is connected to the cargo deck 110. Therefore, as the piston moves inside the cylinder 142, the movement of the piston is transmitted to the cargo deck 110 via the rod 144 of the actuators 140, thereby raising or lowering the cargo deck 110. The other end of the rod 144 that is connected to the cargo deck 110, hence acts as the second end 140B of the actuators 140. The rod 144 of the actuators 140 is connected to the cargo deck 110 by means of one or more second brackets 152. In an embodiment, the one or more second brackets 152 have at least one fixture bracket. The fixture brackets allow a swivel movement along the second end 140B of the actuators 140, hence allowing the cargo deck 110 to pivot on the frame 120 as the rod 144 of the actuator 140 is raised.
[028] As illustrated in Figure 5, each of the actuators 140 is connected to the trailing cross member 122A such that each of the actuators 140 is at an angle (?) from a plane (X-X’) parallel to the ground. The connection of the actuators 140 at the trailing cross member 122A must be done in a manner that the angle (?) so formed, is mechanically, the optimum angle. An optimum angle ensures that the power required for raising the cargo deck 110 is at a minimum level. This also negates the need for bulky power packs for raising the cargo deck 110. In an embodiment of the invention, the angle (?) formed by the each of the actuators 140 from the plane (X-X’) parallel to the ground is ranges between 55o to 60o which is mechanically the most advantageous angle requiring lesser power and providing greater stability in raising the cargo deck 110.
[029] Figure 6 illustrates a left side view of the cargo vehicle 100 with the cargo deck 110 in the raised position, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hinged mounting of the cargo deck 110 on the rear longitudinal member 126 of the frame 120 allows for a larger range in the pivot angle of the cargo deck 110. A larger pivot angle thereby allows for a larger range in the raising of the cargo deck 110. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the cargo deck 110 is operable between the lowered position and the raised position such that the cargo deck 110 forms an angle between 0o-45o with the horizontal plane (Y-Y’).
[030] Reference is made to Figure 3, wherein as illustrated, the cargo vehicle 100 has a hydraulic power source 130 for driving the one or more actuators 140. In that, the hydraulic power source 130 can be a rotary hydraulic oil pump driven directly by a motor by drawing current from the battery 138 (shown in Figure 2) of the cargo vehicle 100, or the internal combustion engine of the cargo vehicle 100 via a pressure diaphragm mechanism which drives a reciprocating hydraulic oil pump. Accordingly, the hydraulic power source 130 will be suitably powered when the cargo vehicle 100 is an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle or an internal combustion engine vehicle.
[031] In the illustrated embodiment, the hydraulic power source 130 has a motor 132, a hydraulic tank 134, and an oil pump. The oil pump is located inside the hydraulic tank 134. In an embodiment, the motor 132 of the hydraulic power source 130 is driven directly by drawing current from the battery 138 of the cargo vehicle 100. Further, the oil pump is operatively connected to the motor 132 through a connector 136. In operation, the oil pump, powered by the motor 132 pushes the hydraulic fluid, which is oil in this embodiment, in and out of the cylinder 142 of the actuators 140. When the oil pump pushes the oil into the cylinder 142 of the actuators 140, the oil pushes the piston causing the rod 144 to move away from the cylinder 142, thereby raising the cargo deck 110. Conversely, when the oil pump causes the oil to move out of the cylinder 142, the piston and the rod 144 move in the cylinder, thereby lowering the cargo deck 110.
[032] The packaging of the hydraulic power source 130 must be done in a manner that the presence of hydraulic power source 130 does not affect the packaging of any other vehicle component. To achieve that the hydraulic power source 130 is disposed on the frame 120 in a way that the hydraulic power source 130 is placed under a front end of the cargo deck 110 when the cargo deck 110 is in the lowered position. Further, in the hydraulic power source 130, the motor 132 is disposed on top of the hydraulic tank 134. Such a packaging of the hydraulic power source 130 in the cargo vehicle 100 ensures that the hydraulic power source 130 is packaged in a location which is not otherwise occupied by any other vehicle components. The location of the hydraulic power source 130 is also vicinal to the actuators 140, thereby reducing hydraulic transmission losses.
[033] Advantageously, the present invention provides a cargo vehicle in which an additional load bed base is not required for operating the cargo deck between the raised and the lowered position. The elimination of an additional load bed base reduces the complexity of the vehicle layout, lowers the weight of the frame of the cargo vehicle and brings down the cost associated with the cargo deck operation of the cargo vehicle. Elimination of the additional load bed base also lowers the height of the cargo deck in the cargo vehicle to the ergonomic advantage of the user.
[034] Further, the cargo vehicle of the present invention ensures that raising of the cargo deck is associated with a lesser power requirement and mounting of the actuators on the trailing cross member ensures that the load distribution is even. The even load distribution not only reduces the chances of failure of the actuators and the frame, but also reduces the chances of vehicle toppling when the cargo deck is in the raised position.
[035] Furthermore, the dedicated hydraulic power source provided on the cargo vehicle provides a cost-effective and reliable mechanism in comparison to the conventional load deck hoisting mechanisms. The hydraulic power source enables the operation of cargo deck in accordance with the present invention in an electric cargo vehicle, an electric hybrid cargo vehicle or an internal combustion engine cargo vehicle. In addition, the packaging of the hydraulic power source ensures that the hydraulic power source can be directly accessed at all times, increasing the ease of serviceability and maintenance.
[036] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.