Loading system and method for laterally loading and unloading an upper body structure onto and from a vehicle platform of a motor vehicle

A loading system for laterally loading and unloading an upper body structure onto and from a vehicle platform of a motor vehicle, the loading system comprising:

• two loading arms pivotably mounted on respective lengthwise ends of the vehicle platform, the loading arms being configured to jointly swivel between an upward orientation and a lateral orientation with respect to the vehicle platform and to jointly extend and retract,
• wherein each loading arm includes an engaging portion at a distal end of the respective loading arm configured to engage a correspondingly formed support portion at a respective lengthwise end of the upper body structure,
• wherein the loading arms are configured to engage and release, respectively, the upper body structure by swiveling into the lateral orientation and by extending and retracting, respectively, within the lateral orientation, and
• wherein the loading arms are configured to mount the engaged upper body structure on top of the vehicle platform by swiveling with the engaged upper body structure into the upward orientation and by retracting with the engaged upper body structure within the upward orientation;
• wherein the vehicle platform and the upper body structure include a plurality of connection pins and correspondingly formed connection holes, into which the connections pins are inserted when the upper body structure is mounted on top of the vehicle platform;
• wherein each connection hole includes a movable locking pin configured to lock the connection pin within the connection hole;
• and
• wherein each locking pin and the corresponding connection pin together form a switchable magnetic latch, wherein each locking pin is configured as a permanent magnet and each connection pin is configured as a rotatable permanent magnet to switch the magnetic latch.