GB2524996A - Support assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A support assembly attached to a vehicle 10 for carrying at least one elongate construction component, such as a utility pole, comprises front 31 and rear 75. The supports are attached to the side of the vehicle and at least one of them can be moved from a deployed to a retracted position to minimise the width of the vehicle. At least one of the supports may be detached from the vehicle. The front support may be attached to a loader arm of the vehicle, such as a shovel. The rear support may be attached to a stabilising leg 60 of the vehicle. The supports may be deployed with a sliding motion and may be adjustable to support different size components. At least one of the supports includes a restraint such as a strap, rope or chain to minimise movement of the components. The vehicle may be a backhoe loader.

Description

P75 1717 GB Support assembly

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support assembly, particularly but not exclusively in S relation to a support assembly attachable to a materials handling machine in order to support utility poles and the like thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide attachments for backhoes that are able to manipulate utility poles such as wooden, concrete, composite or metal poles for suspending telephone or electricity wires and to plant these substantially vertically in the ground. It is also known to provide supports for such poles to transport them on machines such as backhoe loaders, However, lmown supports are typically provided above the cabs of such machines increasing the overall height of the machine to a very significant degree, and also raising the machine's centre of gravity and therefore negatively affecting stability. In addition planting of poles from this transport location utilises an attachment on the front loader ann. This means the machine must be repositioned between a hole digging/boring operation and a planting operation. This slows the operation may increase land damage from the wheels. Further, it is difficult to accurately plant a pole using the loader because visibility may be worse due to the vehicle bonnet and the vehicle's steering and forward/reverse motion must be used instead of manipulating a working arm.

In another prior art system the supports are located directly adjacent the cab. As a result, the capacity of such supports may be limited if the machine is to remain road legal with such supports in place.

It is also known to use attachments mounted to working arms of tracked excavators or tracked crawlers to dig or bore holes and position poles. Such machines minimise soil damage, but are expensive, cannot be used on road, and in the case of crawlers may be configured solely for the purpose of pole planting, and therefore cannot be used for other materials handling functions.

It is desirable to overcome, or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention provides a support assembly for supporting at least one elongate construction component, such as at least one utility pole, for transportation on a materials handling vehicle, the assembly comprising: a rear support configured for attachment towards a rear of a materials handling vehicle; a front support configured for attachment forward of the rear support on a materials handling vehicle; wherein the assembly is arranged to support the or each pole in a position laterally offset with respect to the vehicle, and wherein at least one of the front and rear supports comprise a support surface moveable from a retracted position in which the overall width of the vehicle is minimised to a deployed position in which the or each component may be supported thereon. Advantageously this provides a support assembly that may have an increased capacity to reduce vehicle movements during a planting operation and therefore time and land damage, be more stable, and also enables the vehicle to be quickly adapted for travel on public roads.Both the front and rear supports preferably comprise support surfaces moveable from a retracted to a deployed position.

At least one of the front and rear supports may be releasably securable to the vehicle to enable the support to be switched between vehicles The front support may be configured for aftachment towards a front of the vehicle to maximise the stability of the component(s) placed thereon The front support is advantageously configured for attachment to a loader arm of the vehicle, to enable rapid fitting thereof The front support may be mounted on an implement, such as a shovel or dozer blade, arranged to perform another materials handling function.

The rear support may advantageously be configured for attachment to a stabiliser leg of the vehicle. The stabiliser leg has significant structural strength so, provides a solid mounting location for the support At least one of the front and rear supports comprises a support surface which may be deployable in a pivoting motion and/or a sliding motion.

At least one of the support surfaces may be adjustable to support different numbers and/or different sizes of elongate building components.

The support assembly advantageously comprises an arrangement to restrain movement of the at least one component in a fore-afi direction.

tO The arrangement may comprises at least one of a strap, rope, chain, clamp, grip, high friction material surface, textured surface or toothed surface.

At least one of the front and rear supports advantageously further comprises a lateral support surface to restrain lateral movement of the construction component.

A second aspect of the invention provides a front or rear support configured to form part of a support assembly for transporting an elongate construction component on a materials handling vehicle, the support comprising a support surface moveable from a retracted position in which the overall width of the vehicle is minimised to a deployed position in which the or each component may be supported thereon.

A third aspect of the invention provides a materials handling vehicle incorporating a support assembly according to the first aspect or a support according to the second aspect.

The vehicle may comprise a backhoe and may be a backhoe loader.

The vehicle advantageously may have a width of 2.75m or less when the assembly or support is retracted, so as to be road legal.

The vehicle advantageously may have a width of less than 3m when the assembly or support is deployed, so as to permit the vehicle to drive through the majority of farm gates.

The vehicle may comprise a stabiliser leg and a front or rear support may be mounted thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWiNGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a materials handling vehicle including an assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a simplified plan view of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of the machine of Figure 2 with the assembly in a retracted position; Figure 4 is an isometric similar to that of Figure 3 but with the assembly in a deployed position; Figures 5 and 6 are isometric and side views respectively of a front support of the assembly of the present invention; and Figures 7 and S are isometric views of a rear support of the assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

With reference to the figures there is shown a materials handling vehicle 10, in this embodiment a backhoe loader of a known type, but incorporating a support assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. The support assembly is intended to support elongate structures such as utility poles U down the side of the machine, as is described in more detail below.

The vehicle 10 includes a chassis 12, a cab 14, a pair of front wheels 16L, 16R (see figure 2), a pair of rear wheels 18L, 18R (see figure 2). The pair of front wheels and pair of rear wheels include elastomeric tyres, in this case off-road pneumatic tyres.

Just the front wheels or both the front arid rear wheels may be steered. The cab includes an operator seat 20 and a steering wheel 22. The cab also includes various controls 24 and 25 which enable an operator to operate the machine.

Mounted on the chassis at the front of the machine is a loader arm 28 which is pivotally mounted to the chassis at pivot 29 either side of an engine and ancillaries (not shown) positioned forward of the cab N, The pivot 29 has an axis which is horizontally orientated relative to the chassis and extends laterally relative to the chassis. The loader arm 28 can be raised and lowered by operation of actuator 30.

Releasably mounted on the front of the loader arm 28 is an implement 31, which in this embodiment is a front support 31 according to an embodiment of the present invention, IS The support 31 is pivotable about a generally horizontal axis via pivot 32 relative to the loader arm 28. A linkage mechanism 33 including at least links 34, 35, 36 arid 38 and a hydraulic ram 37 is operable to selectively pivot the loading shovel 3] relative to the loader arm 28. The loader arm 28 and linkage mechanism 33 and their attachment to the machine and operation are well known in the art. It should be noted that in the figures the linkage mechanism 33 is shown fully retracted, but would in use be connected indirectly or directly to the front support 3 1.

The vehicle 10 also includes a rear mounted backhoe indicated generally at 39 and comprising a rear arm 40 (also known as a boom). The boom 40 is pivoted about a pivot 43 relative to an arm mount 44. The axis of pivot 43 is horizontal. The arm mount 44 is pivotally mounted about pivot 45 relative to a carriage 46. Pivot 45 has an axis which is vertical. The carriage 46 is slideably mounted relative to the chassis such that the carriage can move laterally relative to the chassis.

An actuator (not shown) can be operated to slide the carriage laterally relative to the chassis to any desired position. An actuator (not shown) can be selectively operated to pivot the arm mount 44 about pivot 45 to any desired location within an approximate 180° arc. An actuator (not shown) can be selectively operated to pivot the rear arm 40 relative to the arm mount about pivot 43 to any desired position within its range of extension.

As best seen in figure 4, a dipper arm 50 is pivotafly mounted via pivot 51 to the boom 40. The pivot 51 has an axis which is horizontal. An actuator 52 is selectively operable to pivot the dipper arm 50 about pivot 5] relative to the boom 40.

An attachment, in this embodiment a known combination bucket and grab 54, is pivotally mounted to the dipper via a pivot 55. Examples of such buckets and grabs are a pole erecting bucket as supplied by the JCC Engcon Group of Thornhill, Stirling, UK, a Grab John" bucket manufactured by Oil Quick AB of I-Iudiksvall, Sweden and the Rotoclaw which is the subject of European patent EP0154439B1, The pivot 55 also has an axis that is horizontal. An actuator 56 and linkage 57 is selectively operable to pivot the bucket and grab 54 relative to the dipper arm 50 about a pivot 53 about a horizontal axis.

The bucket and grab 54 comprises a bucket 58 capable of excavating soil and the like IS from the ground and a pair of grab jaws 59 pivotable with respect to the bucket in order to clamp around and hold items therebetween. The bucket and grab 54 may be mounted in combination with a so-called "tiltrotator" (not shown) so as to be pivotable about an axis normal to the axis of pivot 53, or having such a rotating mechanism built into the bucket so as to facilitate the planting of poles in the ground.

The vehicle] 0 also includes rear stabilisers 60 and 61 (see figures 1 and 4). Stabiliser is mounted on the right hand side of the vehicle and stabiliser 61 is mounted on the left hand side of the vehicle. Each stabiliser has a stabiliser foot 60A, ÔIA which is selectively engageable with the ground. Operator controls allow the stabiliser 60 to be selectively extended from a retracted position to a position where the foot 60A engages the ground. Similarly, the stabiliser 61 may be selectively extended from a retracted position to a position where foot 61A engages the ground. The stabilisers 60 and 6 are independently extendible, and therefore when the vehicle is on uneven ground, the operator can "level" the vehicle in a lateral sense by differentially extending stabilisers 60 and 61. Typically the operator will extend the stabilisers such that the rear wheels 18 are off the ground or only in relatively light contact with the ground.

With particular reference to Figures 5 and 6 the front support 31 is shown in more detail. The front support comprises a standard interface 64 for mounting to the front loader arm 28 including hooks 65 and bores 66 for receiving a locking pin for each part of the arm on either side of the vehicle. Such an interface is standard for the present applicant's materials handling machines, but other manufacturers may use different interfaces and the front support can be adapted accordingly.

A frame 67 is mounted to the interface and extends generally laterally with respect to the vehicle. In this embodiment, the frame comprises a trapezoidal fabrication of box sections which are welded together such that the longest side of the trapezium defines a main support member 68. It will however be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous alternative configurations of similar structural members may be utilised to construct such a frame. An upright support 69 arm is secured to the right hand extremity of the main support member 68, and in this embodiment a similar upright support 69L is mounted to the left hand side.

IS An L shaped support extension 70 is telescopically mounted within the main support member by virtue of being fabricated from box section that is slightly smaller than that of the main support member 68 so as to be slidable therein, The support extension provides a support surface 89 upon which utility poles may be placed and suspended above the ground, and a lateral restraint surface 91 to restrain the poles from sliding or rolling off the support 31 laterally.

The support extension is provided with two transverse through holes 71 (only one visible in Figure 5) and a corresponding hole 72 is provided on the main support member such that when a pin 73 is located therein, the support extension may be releasably secured in either a deployed position illustrated in Figure 5 or a retracted position as illustrated in Figure 3, In other embodiments, further holes 71 may be provided to enable the extension to be positioned in multiple locations and therefore adjusted to securely laterally retain different numbers of poles and/or poles of differing diameters.

It will further be appreciated that the support extension 70 may be fitted to the left hand side of the main support member 68 and that a further hole 72 is provided in an equivalent position to receive and retain the support extension of this side using the pin 73.

The front support further comprises a number of vertical recesses generally indicated at 74 that may be utilised to store tools and accessories that may be required in conjunction with the pole planting operation, such as compactors, hand shovels and similar. In other embodiments the front support 3] may be combined with other functions that may be incorporated into loader implements such as a shovel, dozer blade or the like, Indeed a conventional shovel (e.g. a 6 in 1 bucket) may be adapted by the addition of a support member.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 a rear support of the support assembly 75 shown in more detail in a deployed state. The rear support 75 includes a mount 76 for releasable securement to the right hand stabiliser 60 as can be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The mount 76 is formed from a generally U shaped section having a vertical longitudinal axis and dimensioned so as to fit around three sides of the stabiliser leg 60 (which is IS generally square in plan view).

An upper cross bar 78 and a lower crossbar 79 are arranged to extend across a mouth of the U shape. At least the lower crossbar 79 is arranged to be removably secured to the U shaped plate. As can be seen most clearly in Figure 8, to fit the mount 76 over the stabiliser leg 60 the lower crossbar 79 is removed and the mount lowered until the upper crossbar 78 comes into contact with a horizontal bar 80 which forms part of the track along which the carriage 46 of the backhoe may laterally slide, Once the lower crossbar 79 is positioned under the horizontal bar 80, the mount 76, and therefore the rear support 75 are securely held in place.

The mount further comprises a bracket 82 arranged to pivotally receive a rear support arm 84 via a suitable pivot pin 85.

The rear support arm 84 is generally L shaped, being formed from similar box section steel to the main support member 68 of the front support 3]. A triangular plate 86 is in this embodiment secured to the underside of the rear support arm 84 in order to help transmit any load imposed on the arm through to the mount 76. The support arm 84 provides a support surface 89 upon which utility poles may be placed and suspended above the ground, and a lateral restraint surface 91 to restrain the poles from sliding or rolling off the support 75 laterally, in a similar way to the front support 31.

The rear support arm 84 further includes a vertical through hole 88. If the support arm 84 is pivoted upwardly to the retracted position shown in Figure 3, this enables a pin S to be inserted through the hole 88 and a corresponding through hole 90 of the mount 76, which together with a suitable retainer clip (not shown) will hold the support arm 84 in the retracted position. In other embodiments, the support arm 84 may be telescopic.

Use of the support assembly 3], 75 is as follows. The vehicle 10 is driven to the site to with the front support 31 and rear support 75 in their respective retracted positions as shown in Figure 3. In these positions, the vehicle is less than 2,75m wide and therefore legal to drive on the road, since there is not an excess overall width to the vehicle and in this position a lateral overhang that may be consider dangerous is avoided.

IS Once at a site where the utility poles are to be planted, both the front and rear supports 31, 75 may be moved into their deployed positions by removal of the pins 73 and 92, the lowering of the rear support arm 84, the extension of the support extension 70 of the front support, and the re-fitting of the pin 73 with the support extension in the deployed position as depicted in Figures 2 and 4, In the embodiment illustrated, the backhoe 39 may be manipulated by the vehicle operator to grab and subsequently deposit two typically wooden utility poles U on the support extension of the front support 4] and the rear support on 84 of the rear support 75. Utility poles of this type U typically have markings to indicate the centre of gravity thereof, which as they typically taper from bottom to top, will be offset from the longitudinal mid-point thereof Thus, it is important that the operator deposits the poles U with this centre of gravity located between the front and rear supports 31, 75 in order that they may be safely transported.

It is often the case that poles U need to be planted in locations which are away from metalled roads, arid so cannot be reached by the tmcks that would typically transport a load of such poles to a general site area, However, the off road capability of a materials handling vehicle 10 of the type depicted (having 4-wheel drive and large deep treaded wheels and high ground clearance) typically enables such a vehicle to reach the actual location where the pole is to be planted (eg. on farmland, in forests, a construction site or on waste ground). Thus, once loaded with the utility poles, the operator drives to the location where one is to be planted. Tf required, the pole(s) may be fitted out or "dressed" with hardware for attaching cables etc. at this stage. It will be appreciated that one advantage of the side mounted arrangement of the present invention is that the poles are accessible to operatives for dressing at ground level, in contrast to prior art arrangements where they are above the cab, thereby improving the safety of the operation.

The operator may then lower the stabiliser feet 60A, 61A, dig a hole using the bucket 58 or grab a suitable auger (not shown) using the jaws 59 and bucket 58 to auger a hole. The operator may then use the jaws 59 to grab a utility pole Ii as shown in Figure 4 and, with the backhoe 39, manipulate it into an upright position and lower it into the hole. Depending upon the relative size of the hole with respect to the diameter of the pole, the pole may be temporarily secured in an upright position and the bucket 58 utilised to bacldill the hole, or operatives may manually backfill the hole. The operator then drives to a second location where the second pole is to be installed and repeats the operation. The operator then returns to the main pole deposit location to collect further utility poles U before repeating.

In this embodiment, the assembly has been designed to hold two such poles U in order to enable the vehicle to pass through farm gateways which are typically at least three metres wide. In addition, the laterally off centre loading of two 250kg (medium sized) wooden telephone! electricity poles is safely within the limits of the stability of such a vehicle (a 4CX model manufactured by the present applicant in this embodiment). In other embodiments, it is envisaged that more poles may be transported using such an assembly, either by making it wider or stacking them in multiple layers, or a combination of the two, In addition, a suitable counter-weight may be provided on the left hand side of the vehicle to maintain stability, or an additional assembly may be provided on the left hand side of the vehicle to hold further poles and to act as a counter balance, if overall width is not at issue.

It will be appreciated that the ability of the backhoe 39 to shift laterally using the carriage 46 both enables it to counterbalance the weight of the utility poles U to some extent and also enables the backhoe to both reach the poles in the transport position on the vehicle 10, as well as to be able to manipulate them to a suitable plant location.

By having a capacity of two or more poles, the number of trips to a central pole deposit location are minimised, improving the planting speed and minimising land damage.

It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the retraction and deployment mechanisms in particular may be implemented in numerous different ways including folding about a vertical rather than a horizontal axis, being extendible using actuators to automate the process, being extendible to multiple different positions to accommodate different numbers of poles as required or being mounted to the vehicle in different ways, and in different locations. One or both of the supports may be height adjustable. Further, one or both of the supports may have a section (including the support surface) that is removable and stowed elsewhere when not in use to reduce the width, The term "retracted" as used herein should be read as including this within its scope.

Alternative support surface arrangements may be used, such as a surface that is angled to provide both vertical and lateral support, or in a "w" shape to cradle individual poles. Other adjustment arrangements for the width of the support surface such as ratchets or clamps may be used.

Whilst the embodiment above has been illustrated with a focus on using the support system for utility poles, it will be appreciated that the system may also be used for other elongate components such as street lamps, pipes (e.g. water and gas pipes), piles (sheet piles, pile liners, screw piles, cages etc), reinforcing bars for concrete, girders and other building materials. In such embodiments, different attachments may be used on the backhoe for manipulating the components, or the jaws described above may be adapted to prevent surface damage to the component by limiting the pressure the jaws can apply, or using a softer elastomeric coating on contact surfaces. In addition the side mount location may be advantage for accessing such components from ground level, for example to attach joints to pipes or fitting bulbs to street lights.

Where components are shorter than the spacing between the front and rear supports as illustrated, one or both supports may be have a portion offset towards the mid-point of the vehicle so the fore-aft spacing between the supports is reduced.

Additional supports may be provided between the front and rear supports if the component to be supports has insufficient strength to be supported just by the front and rear supports. Such a support may, for example, be mounted to the chassis between the front and rear wheels and may be retractable in a similar way to either the front or the rear support.

In addition, the assembly may be reconfigured for use with different vehicles such as, for example, a skid steer loader with a backhoe attached to its loader arm or to a tractor with a backhoe attached to its three point linkage.

The supports may have additional features, such as teeth or a ratchet strap, clamps, grips, high friction materials, a rope, chain, clamp, grip, and/or a textured surface to secure the poles and prevent them sliding off the supports in a fore-aft direction.