STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLICATIONS

This application is based on the specification filed in relation to New Zealand Patent Application No. 751419, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a programmable multi-purpose machine that is attached (on top of) the chassis of a heavy transport vehicle, to automatically complete a number of varied machine operations.

BACKGROUND ART

A heavy vehicle such as a truck comprises a chassis mounted on wheels, and with the chassis supporting an engine, transmission and cab. The chassis also supports a trailer coupling and/or other equipment depending on the truck’s utility. For example, a dump truck comprises an open top box hinged to the chassis at a rear end and with hydraulic rams to lift a front end, and a tanker for transporting liquids has a tank and associated equipment such as pumps mounted to the chassis. A multitude of truck uses and configurations are known, a further example being a firetruck comprising firefighting equipment mounted to the chassis.

A motor and transmission are mounted at or towards a front end of the chassis. A cab is provided over or adjacent the motor, with one of two configurations typically provided, one configuration with a hood provided over the engine over the front axle and with the cab provided behind the front axle, or a flat-front over-the-engine configuration where the driver sits forwards of the front axle. Other heavy vehicle configurations are known. For example, the engine and transmission may be mounted towards the rear of the chassis such as in buses or may be mounted centrally such as in direct drive electric motor configurations.

The chassis of a heavy vehicle typically comprises two parallel spaced apart beams secured together by cross members. The beams extend substantially the full length of the truck, or at least from a rear of the truck’s cab to the rear of the truck. A truck can have many axles e.g. 2, 3, 4 or more, depending on an overall length of the truck and axle loading requirements.

Truck manufacturers may provide a truck complete with rolling chassis with engine,

transmission, drivetrain and cab fitted, and with the beams of the chassis extending rear of the cab provided bare without equipment or equipment mounting details. Truck manufactures may provide mounting guidelines. An end user requiring a truck for a specific purpose may employ a specialist fabrication or specialist truck-type building company to design and fit equipment to the chassis beams. These companies are typically called body builders, or in the case of tankers, tanker builders. For example, a specialist truck manufacturer may provide tanker trucks to the petrochemical industry. The specialist truck manufacturer may purchase a truck as described above from an original truck manufacturer, and design, fabricate, and fit tanks and pumps and associated equipment to the chassis beams rear of the cab. Custom modifications may also be provided to the cab, for example cab interior.

To fit equipment to the truck it is necessary to machine the beams of the truck chassis. The beams are machined by cutting, drilling or by other machining operations to provide mounting details to fit brackets or other equipment to the chassis beams. This process is labour intensive, time consuming and costly. Extreme care is required to ensure correct details are machined into the chassis beams; errors can be costly.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile machining apparatus for machining a vehicle chassis in situ, comprising:

a programmable machining tool (PMT) with one or more (cutting or drilling) implements thereon to work on the chassis,

at least one rail along which the PMT can travel,

a drive mechanism to move PMT along said rail, and

at least one releasable attachment assembly adapted to hold the rail onto chassis and/or a locating arrangement which locates the rail onto the chassis, to enable the PMT to traverse along member(s) of the member to be machined and to perform one or more machining tasks on the chassis member(s) whilst the apparatus is directly secured or located on the chassis. Preferably, the releasable attachment assembly is adapted to attach the apparatus onto the chassis member(s) without mounting details such as holes or slots provided to the chassis member(s).

In some embodiments, the vehicle/truck comprises two spaced apart and parallel chassis members, the releasable attachment assembly adapted to attach to the parallel chassis members.

Preferably the attachment assembly bridges across the two chassis members.

Preferably the releasable attachment assembly is adapted to be laterally adjusted to fit between the two chassis members to suit a plurality of different vehicles/trucks.

Preferably, the releasable attachment assembly comprises at least two securing devices, each securing device configured to releasably secure the attachment assembly to a said chassis member.

Preferably, the releasable attachment assembly clamps solely to the chassis members.

In some embodiments, the chassis member is a C-section member and the attachment assembly releasably attaches to an upper flange of the C-section member.

Preferably, the attachment member comprises a securing device, the securing device comprising a first and a second arm movably attached together, wherein the first arms rests on an upwardly facing surface of the chassis member and the second arm bears against a downwardly facing surface of the chassis member.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a carriage that runs along the rails, and wherein the PMT is carried by the carriage to traverse along the chassis members.

Preferably, the carriage comprises wheels, and the rails comprise at least one track, wherein the wheels run on the track and are captured by the track in a lateral direction.

Preferably, each rail comprises an upper track and a lower track, and the wheels are captured vertically between the upper and lower tracks. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a base, the base comprising the rails, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a rail extension unit comprising rails, in use the rails of the extension unit aligned with the rails of the base.

In some embodiments, the PMT comprises a robotic arm.

In some embodiments, the implement comprises:

a machining bit to work on the chassis member,

a magnetic member to clamp to the chassis to retain the implement to the chassis during a drilling/cutting operation,

a shroud surrounding the machining bit, the shroud having an opening facing away from the magnetic member, and

a pneumatic outlet to provide a pneumatic flow to an inside of the shroud to direct debris/swarf through the opening and away from the magnetic member.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a pneumatic power supply and a pneumatic linear actuator to advance the bit during a machining operation, and wherein the pneumatic power supply provides a flow of air to the pneumatic outlet and pneumatic power to the pneumatic linear actuator.

In some embodiments, the locating arrangement comprises at least one guide to align the apparatus laterally and/or longitudinally with respect to the chassis.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for supporting a programmable machining tool (PMT) on a vehicle chassis, the apparatus comprising:

at least one rail,

a carriage mounted to the at least one rail to traverse along the rail, a drive mechanism to move the carriage along the at least one rail, and at least one releasable attachment assembly adapted to secure the rail onto the vehicle chassis, and/or a locating arrangement to locate the rail onto the chassis,

wherein the carriage is adapted to carry the PMT along the rail to enable the PMT to traverse along member(s) of the chassis to be machined and perform one or more machining tasks on the chassis members whilst the apparatus is directly secured or located on the chassis.

The second aspect may comprise any one or more features described above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of machining a vehicle chassis in situ on an at least partially assembled vehicle comprising the steps of:

temporarily placing a machining apparatus comprising a programmable machining tool (PMT) onto the chassis; and

machining the chassis with the PMT while the PMT is in place on said chassis. Preferably, the method comprises:

placing the machining apparatus on top of the chassis, and releasably and rigidly securing the machining apparatus to the chassis.

Preferably, the method comprises setting a datum point for the PMT with respect to the chassis.

Preferably, the method comprises securing the machining apparatus to the chassis without mounting details such as holes or slots provided to chassis member of the chassis.

Preferably, the method comprises locating the apparatus onto the chassis with locating guides attached to the apparatus prior to securing the apparatus to the chassis.

In some embodiments the vehicle/truck comprises two spaced apart and parallel chassis members, and the method comprises adjusting attachment assemblies of the machining apparatus to fit bridge across and secure to the two chassis members.

Preferably the machining apparatus comprises at least one rail, and the method comprising moving the PMT along the rail(s) to work on a vehicle/truck chassis member(s).

In some embodiments, the machining apparatus comprises a base, the base comprising the rail(s), and wherein the machining apparatus further comprises a rail extension unit comprising rails, and the method comprising securing the rail extension unit to the chassis with the rails of the extension unit aligned with the rails of the base.

The apparatus comprises an implement to work on the chassis carried by the PMT and preferably the method comprises clamping the implement to the chassis, performing work on the chassis, and unclamping the implement from the chassis.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise" or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic or incomplete view of a truck with an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to a chassis of the truck;

Figure 2 is an elevation view of the truck and apparatus of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the truck and apparatus of Figure 1 ; Figure 4A is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing an attachment assembly of the apparatus in a secured configuration attached to the chassis;

Figure 4B is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing an attachment assembly of the apparatus in an un-secured configuration;

Figure 4C is a sectional view on line ll-ll in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an isometric close up view showing one end or side of an attachment assembly of the apparatus including a securing device attached to a beam of the chassis;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of another truck with the apparatus of Figure 1 attached to the truck chassis, and with an extension set of rails to allow a programmable machining tool to traverse a greater distance along the chassis; and

Figure 7 is an elevation view of the truck and apparatus of Figure 6. Figure 8 shows a lateral position guide and a longitudinal position guide to set the position of the apparatus with respect to the chassis.

Figures 9 and 10 show a machining tool of the apparatus for working on a chassis of a vehicle. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate components of a truck 1. The truck 1 includes a chassis 2, wheels 3 mounted via axles (not shown) to the chassis, and a cab 4, also mounted to the chassis 2. In the illustrated example, the cab 4 is a flat-front over-the-engine configuration, presenting a seat position for the driver forward of the front axle and wheels (engine, axle and wheels not shown).

The chassis 2 comprises two parallel spaced apart beams 5, 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the beams 5, 6 extend rearwards of the cab 4 from a chassis front portion (not shown) to which the cab and engine are mounted.

The truck 1 comprising rolling chassis with engine, transmission, drivetrain and cab is provided by an original truck manufacture to a customer or specialist truck company with the beams 5, 6 extending rearwards of the cab bare without equipment or equipment mounting details, other than for mounting generally essential components such as the truck axles, petrol tanks and the like.

To fit specialist or proprietary equipment to the truck 1 , the specialist truck manufacturer provides mounting details to the beams 5, 6 by machining mounting details into the beams, for example by cutting, drilling or by other machining operations.

According to the present invention, a mobile machining apparatus 10 is temporarily attached or located onto the chassis 2 in situ. The mobile apparatus comprises a programmable machining tool (PMT) or robot 12a with one or more cutting, drilling or machining implements or tools 12b to work on the beams 5, 6 in a cutting, drilling or machining operation whilst the apparatus is directly secured or located on the chassis. The apparatus comprises at least one rail 13 along which the PMT travels. A drive mechanism 14 drives the PMT along the rail to work on the vehicle/truck chassis members. The apparatus 10 further comprises a clamping arrangement or releasable attachment arrangement 15 adapted to hold the one or more rails 13 to the chassis members 5, 6, with the apparatus in situ and on top of the chassis. The releasable attachment arrangement 15 rigidly retains the rail(s) 13 to the chassis 2. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus comprises a locating arrangement to locate the apparatus directly on the chassis in a defined position.

With the apparatus attached and/or located directly onto the chassis, the PMT 1 1 can traverse along the rail(s) 13 and therefore along the chassis members 5, 6. The PMT 1 1 can be used to quickly and accurately machine mounting details into the chassis members 5, 6. Once a machining operating or sequence has been completed, the apparatus 10 is removed from the chassis 2. Equipment can then be fitted to the truck chassis 2 via the newly machined mounting details. As described and as illustrated in the Figures, the truck 1 comprises two spaced apart and parallel chassis members 5, 6. Different trucks have different spacing between chassis members. Preferably the releasable attachment arrangement 15 is adapted to be laterally adjustable to fit between the two chassis members 5, 6 so that the apparatus is adjustable to fit to a range of different vehicles/trucks.

The apparatus preferably has at least two spaced apart attachment arrangements 15. In the example embodiment of Figure 1 , the apparatus comprises two attachment arrangements 15, and in the embodiment of Figure 6 the apparatus has four attachment arrangements 15. Depending on the length of the chassis beams there may be 2, 3, 4 or more attachment arrangements 15 to secure the apparatus 10 to the truck 1.

The attachment arrangement is described in more detail with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The attachment arrangement 15 releasably and rigidly attaches the rails 13 onto the chassis. In a most preferred embodiment, the attachment arrangements attach the apparatus 10 to the chassis 2 without penetrating the chassis members 5, 6, or without requiring mounting details provided to the chassis members.

The attachment arrangement or assembly 15 comprises a cross bar 16, a first securing device 17 attached at or towards a first end of the cross bar 16, and a second securing device 18 attached at or towards an opposite second end of the cross bar 16. The first securing device 17 is adapted to rigidly and releasably attach to one of the beams 5, 6, and the second securing device 18 is adapted to rigidly attach to the other one of the beams 5, 6. With the first and second securing devices 17, 18 attached to the beams 5, 6, the cross bar 16 is supported by and extends between the beams 5, 6. Preferably the support bar 16 extends orthogonal to the beams 5, 6 when attached thereto. The rails 13 are supported on the cross bar 16. With the apparatus secured to the chassis, the rails 13 are supported on the cross bar 16 and are located between the chassis beams 5, 6. The rails are fixed to the cross bar, for example by bolting, welding or other fixing method, such as by clamps. In the illustrated embodiment the cross bar 16 is a C section member with the inside of the C section facing downwards.

Preferably the first and second securing devices 17, 18 are rigidly attached to the cross bar and may be permanently attached to the cross bar. Each of the first and second securing devices 17, 18 is configurable to a secured or closed configuration in which the apparatus 10 is secured to the chassis members 5, 6 (Figure 4A), and an unsecured or open configuration in which the apparatus 10 is unsecured to the chassis members 5, 6 (Figure 4B). Each securing device 17, 18 comprises a first member 19 and a second member 20. The first member 19 is attached rigidly attached to the cross bar 16, so that the first member 19 of the first securing device 17, the cross bar 16 and the first member 19 of the second securing device 18 span and bridge across the two chassis beams 5, 6, to support the rails 13 thereon.

In the unsecured configuration, the first member 19 of the first securing device 17 and the first member 19 of the second securing device 18 rest on a top or upwardly facing surface of the chassis members 5, 6. To locate the apparatus on to the chassis, the apparatus is lifted onto the chassis, to rest on top of the chassis, for example by a crane via lifting eyes 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus is placed onto the beams 5, 6 with the apparatus 10 resting on the first members 19 of the first and second securing devices 17, 18 of each attachment assembly 15.

The apparatus 10 may be provided with a locating arrangement comprising one or more guides to set a lateral and/or longitudinal position of the apparatus onto the chassis. Figure 8 shows the apparatus 1 1 fitted with a guide 31 for setting a lateral position of the apparatus with respect to the chassis. The guide 31 provides a member 31 a to bear against a lateral facing surface of the chassis or member attached to the chassis to locate the apparatus laterally with respect to the chassis. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus is provided with four guides 31 , two at or towards each end of the apparatus 1 1 and on each side of the apparatus 1 1. Each guide bears against an outboard side of a chassis member 5, 6. The member 31 a is provided with a ramp surface 31 b to help align and locate the apparatus 1 1 to the chassis as the apparatus is lowered onto the chassis.

Figure 8 also shows the apparatus fitted with a guide 32 for setting a longitudinal position of the apparatus with respect to the chassis. The guide 32 provides a member 32a to bear against an axial facing surface of the chassis or member attached to the chassis to locate the apparatus longitudinally with respect to the chassis. In the illustrated embodiment, member 32a comprises a slot 32b to bear on a pin on the chassis. The pin may be temporarily located in a hole in the chassis provided by the original truck manufacturer. The slot is open downwardly and has a mouth wider than the slot to help locate the guide with the pin and therefore the apparatus with respect to the chassis.

In some embodiments, a guide may locate the apparatus to the chassis in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, member 32a may bear against a lateral facing surface of the chassis or a member attached to the chassis to also locate the apparatus laterally with respect to the chassis. Flowever, it may be preferable to have lateral guides separate from longitudinal guides. Preferably the lateral guides are spaced as far apart as possible along the chassis. Where the longitudinal guides engage a pin or other feature that is located in between ends of the chassis, the lateral guides are preferably separate from the longitudinal guides so that the lateral guides may be located at or towards ends of the chassis.

In other embodiments, the original truck manufacture may provide locating details for locating the apparatus onto the truck chassis. For example, the original manufacture may provide locating holes, with the apparatus comprising corresponding pins to be received in the holes to locate the apparatus on the chassis, or the chassis may be provided with pins, with corresponding holes provided in the base of the apparatus. The pins and/or holes may be provided on the securing devices 17, for example on or in the first or upper member 19 of the securing devices.

Once the apparatus 10 is correctly located on the chassis 2, the apparatus 10 is then secured to the chassis 2, by moving the securing devices 17, 18 from the unsecured position to the secured position. In the illustrated embodiment, each securing device 17, 18 has a second member 20 to act on a downwardly facing surface of the respective beam 5, 6, as shown in Figure 4A. Each securing device 17, 18 includes an actuator 21 to capture a portion of the beam 5, 6 between the first and second members 19, 20. In the illustrated embodiment, each chassis beam 5, 6 comprises a C-section member with an inside of the C-section facing towards a centerline of the truck (or towards the other beam), and the securing device 17, 18 acts on an upper flange of the C-section. The first member 19 rests on an upwardly facing surface of the upper flange, and the second member 20 acts against a downwardly facing surface of the upper flange, with the upper flange clamped between the first and second members 19, 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 21 of the securing device is or comprises a bolt and nut. The bolt extends through a slot or aperture in the first member and a slot or aperture in the second member. The second member is movably coupled to the first member. The nut is tightened on the bolt to adjust the relative position of the first and second members 19, 20 to clamp the first and second members onto the beam 5, 6. In the illustrated embodiment the second member 20 is pivotally attached to the first member 19 via a pin joint 29. The attachment members may secure the apparatus to the rails by clamping solely to the chassis members.

As described above, preferably the releasable attachment assembly 15 is adapted to be laterally adjustable to fit between the two chassis members 5, 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the position of each securing device 17, 18 is adjustable relative to the cross bar, so that a distance between the securing devices 17, 18 is adjustable, to fit a range of spacings between the two chassis members 5, 6 to suit different trucks. In the illustrated embodiment, the first member 19 comprises a slot 22. The first member 19 is attached to the cross bar 16 by a fastener, e.g. bolt, applied through the slot 22. The slot 22 allows for adjustment of the relative position between the securing device 17, 18 and the cross bar 16 in a direction orthogonal to the chassis beams 5, 6, to suit a spacing between the beams 5, 6.

The apparatus 10 comprises a carriage 24 that runs along the rails 13. The PMT 1 1 is carried by the carriage 24 along the rails 13, to traverse along the chassis 2. The carriage 13 comprises wheels 25 that run along each rail 13. Each rail 13 includes a track 26 on which the wheel runs, and in the illustrated embodiment each rail includes a lower track 26 and an upper track 27 with the wheels 25 captured vertically between the upper and lower tracks 26, 27. In the illustrated embodiment, each rail 13 comprises a C-section member 28. The C-section members are arranged with the inside of the C-section facing a centerline of the truck (or towards the other rail). The tracks 26, 27 are mounted to an inside of the C-section of the member 28. The tracks may be received in a groove in the wheel 25, or the wheels 25 may be received in a groove in the tracks 26, 27, to accurately locate the lateral position of the carriage 24 and therefore PMT 1 1. One or more wheel 25 may be driven by the drive mechanism to move the carriage along the rails, or the wheels may be undriven. The drive mechanism 14 may comprise a rack attached to one of the rails 13 and a pinion rotationally attached to the carriage. As shown in Figures 4b and 4c, the drive mechanism may comprise a first rack 14a attached to one rail and a corresponding first pinion 14b rotationally attached to the carriage engaging the first rack, and a second rack 14a attached to the other rail and a corresponding second pinion 14b rotationally attached to the carriage engaging the second rack. The first and second pinions are coupled together, for example both mounted on a common shaft, so that the carriage is driven along the rails by the first rack and pinion on one side of the carriage and the second rack and pinion on the other side of the carriage. A drive motor 14d mounted to the carriage is controlled by a controller to drive rotation of the shaft and pinions to move the carriage along the rails. The shaft extends from the motor on each side of the motor. The carriage may comprise driven wheels 25a and undriven wheels 25b. In the illustrated embodiment the driven wheels are attached to the shaft 14c.

Figures 6 and 7 show the apparatus 10 attached to a truck 1 with a longer chassis. To allow the PMT 1 1 to traverse the full length of the beams 5, 6 of the chassis 2 a rail extension assembly 100 is provided. The rail extension assembly is secured to the chassis beams 5, 6, preferably by attachment assemblies 15 described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the rail extension assembly is secured to the chassis by two attachment assemblies 15. The rail extension unit comprises rails 1 13 on which the carriage 24 traverses. The rails 1 13 of the extension unit 1 10 are aligned with the rails 13 of the apparatus, to allow the carriage to traverse continuously between rails 13 and rails 1 13. The rails 1 13 are as described above for rails 13. The apparatus 10 may be described as having a base comprising rails 13. Preferably the rail extension unit is fixed to the base of the apparatus 10, for example by bolting the unit 100 to the base of the apparatus, so that the rails 1 13 and 13 are aligned.

As described above, the apparatus may be mechanically located to the chassis, so that the position of the apparatus with respect to the chassis is known. This sets a datum position to enable the PMT to run through a programmed machine sequence or operation, to machine details into the chassis 2 for the subsequent mounting of equipment to the chassis. The apparatus comprises a controller, to control the PMT and also the drive mechanism to traverse the carriage and the PMT along the rails to carry out a sequence of machining operations. The controller may be mounted to a base of the apparatus and connected by power and communication lines (e.g. electrical cables and/or pneumatic lines) carried by a flexible cable tray connected between the carriage and the base of the apparatus. The controller synchronizes/coordinates the robot/PMT motion and the operation of a metal working instrument carried by the PMT and the position of the carriage along the rails. In some sequences, the controller may control the operation of the machining instrument and the carriage to move between drilling/machining positions, without changing the pose of the robot/PMT.

The PMT preferably comprises a robot 12b providing multiple axes of movement. An example PMT 1 1 comprises a Nachi MC20 robotic arm with 6 axes of movement carrying a tool 12b for working on the chassis. One or more tools 12b may be provided to work on the chassis, such as welding, cutting, drilling and measuring tools. Such tools are available and known in the art. A laser measurement tool may be provided for checking position of cut or hole centres, and a cutter such as a plasma cutter and/or annular cutter (e.g. Rotorbroach™) for drilling/machining holes. Tools 12b may be mounted to the robot 12a manually, or tools may be automatically selected by the robot from a range of tools following a programmed machining sequence.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a tool or implement 40 for drilling/machining holes in the chassis member. The tool comprises a magnetic clamping member 41 to clamp to the chassis member to retain the tool to the chassis member during a drilling/cutting operation. The electromagnet 41 is energized by a controller of the apparatus to clamp to the chassis to form a drilling/machining operation and de-energized by the controller to unclamp from the chassis to move to a next location in a sequence of drilling/machining steps. The tool has a drill or machining bit 43 to work on the chassis member. The bit is advanced by a mechanism controlled by a controller of the apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanism comprises a linear actuator 44 to move a rack 45 to drive rotation of a pinion 46. The pinion 46 is connected via a shaft to another pinion and rack coupled to the bit 43 (not shown). A controller of the apparatus controls the linear actuator to advance the machining bit in a drilling/machining operation.

The tool comprises a shroud 42 surrounding the machining bit 43. The shroud surrounds the machining bit 43 to deflect or shield machining debris away from the magnet 41 during a machining operation. The shroud has an opening or open side 48 located or facing away from the magnet, so that machining debris or swarf is deflected by the shroud through the opening and away from the magnet. A pneumatic outlet is located within an area or volume envelope enclosed by the shroud to provide a pneumatic flow to the inside the shroud to direct debris/swarf through the opening and away from the magnet. In some embodiments, the linear actuator 44 is a pneumatic linear actuator and the apparatus comprises a pneumatic power supply that provides both a flow of air to the pneumatic outlet and pneumatic power to the actuator 44. The shroud and pneumatic outlet directing a pneumatic flow to the inside of the shroud prevents debris/swarf attaching to the magnet which may cause difficultly when clamping the tool to the chassis member during a sequence of machining operations.

Once the machine operation has been completed on the chassis, the securing devices 17, 18 are configured to the open or unsecured position, and the apparatus 10 is lifted off the chassis. Building of the specialist truck can then proceed, with equipment fixed to the mounting details machined in the chassis 2 by the apparatus 10.

An apparatus according to the present invention provides a means whereby machining details can be made quickly and accurately to a truck chassis. Labour time and cost is reduced, and defect rate is reduced, providing reduced truck build time and improved build quality with improvement accuracy, precision and repeatability of mounting details provided to the chassis.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

1 Truck

2 Chassis

3 Wheels

4 Cab

5, 6 Chassis beams/members 10 Machining apparatus

1 1 Programmable machining tool

12a Robot

12b Machining implement

13 Rails

14 Drive mechanism

15 Releasable attachment arrangement or assembly

16 Cross bar

17, 18 Securing devices

19, 20 First and second members of securing device

21 Bolt and nut

23 Lifting eyes

24 Carriage

25 Carriage wheels

26 T rack, lower track

27 Upper track

28 C-section rail member

29 Securing device pin

31 lateral guide

32 longitudinal guide

40 tool

41 magnet

42 shroud

43 bit

44 linear actuator

45 rack

46 pinion

47 pneumatic outlet

100 Rail extension unit

1 13 Rails of rail extension unit