AU2005100397A5 - Trailer - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention title: TRAILER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2

TRAILER

Field of the invention This innovation patent application is divided from Australian patent application no 2003203715, and relates to trailers. More particularly it relates to trailer floors for freight and container freight carrying trailers.

Background to the invention In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

Whilst the following description is in terms of container freight trailers, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to that particular use.

Typically, freight and container freight trailers have a tray or flat section extending from the rear of the trailer to an area near its front end. At this front end area, the level of the tray is stepped to a higher height. This is necessary to permit the location of the wheels and connection of a prime mover. Accordingly, when seeking to utilise all the tray area of such trailers, difficulties arise because of this stepped area as it is necessary to lift container freight to a higher level.

The form of typical container freight trailers fall into three basic constructions.

The first is the most basic and is merely an open tray. trailer having the stepped-up' portion as described above.

The second known arrangement is a fully enclosed version of the open container with a pair of doors being provided at the rear of the trailer. In this embodiment, the full enclosure is by way of rigid panels at the sides, front and roof of the container. The rigid side form covering of the trailer means that loading of cargo must take place via the pair of doors at the end of the trailer.

These trailers are usually backed up to a loading dock which is at a height approximating the height of the trailer floor.

arsmMOll 1692116vl 000000 11.5.2005 The third arrangement is similar to the second except that at least the side panels are comprised of a number of sections of flexible material. In this arrangement, access to the trailer floor may be gained via the side panels.

Typically when in transit, these flexible panels are secured to the trailer floor by way of straps which may be appropriately placed in tension to ensure that the freight is not open to weather elements and cannot fall from the container floor.

The flexible sided trailer permits easier location of freight in the elevated area as a fork lift truck may be used from the side of the container to place cargo at that level.

However, with each of these arrangements the location or removal of freight on the upper plateau is time consuming or involves alternate loading techniques to that used for the rest of the trailer. Typically difficulties will arise where a number of trailers have been located side by side with their end doors at loading docks. If the trailers are closely adjacent to one another it is not possible to manoeuvre a fork lift to fill the upper plateau simultaneously. Delays result.

Likewise it is difficult and time consuming to locate a fork lift up on to a loading dock so that it can enter the trailer to enable freight to be placed on the elevated area. Safety issues also arise when using fork lifts in such restricted conditions.

Description of the invention In accordance with one form of the invention, a trailer is provided having: first and second ends; a trailer floor between said ends and comprising a substantially horizontal load carrying section, said load carrying section having at least one conveyor to permit freight to be moved along the load carrying section in a loading or an unloading mode; and a pair of doors to close one of the ends of the trailer following loading or unloading, wherein each of the pair of doors is attached to the trailer by at least one set of double pivot hinges to permit each of the pair of doors to be rotated about two spaced axes.

arsm MO 111692116vl 000000 11.5.2005 The door arrangement according to the invention permits a door to be rotated so that it does not obstruct the defined loading width of the trailer.

Typically the conveyor will comprise a plurality of rollers over which the freight is movable. The rollers will preferably be fixed to the trailer floor. The rollers will typically be oriented so that they rotate about an axis which is transverse to the direction of travel of freight moving along the conveyor. Typically the rolling axis of a roller will be substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of freight along the conveyor.

The rollers may be arranged in a series of rows or strips spanning the longitudinal dimensions of the trailer floor. Preferably the rows or strips of rollers are arranged in a substantially parallel configuration of spaced apart conveyors to evenly distribute the weight.of freight as it moves, or is moved, along the load carrying sections. Typically a configuration of six conveyor rows or strips will be used when the freight or freight container is initially placed on and/or secured to a standard sized pallet. That type of configuration may assist in distributing the pallet weight evenly across the vehicle and in reducing the incidence of the pallet 'bowing'.

A trailer according to the invention may further include at least one restraint in one or more of the load carrying sections to inhibit undesirable movement of freight located thereon. The restraint may take any suitable form.

The restraint may in one embodiment comprise at least one removable upright having an end which can be fixed to the trailer floor in such a way as to constitute a barrier to freight moving longitudinally along the trailer floor. The upright may be of any suitable length. The upright may be about 20-40 centimetres in length. According to this embodiment an end is located in a complementary opening in the trailer floor and provides a restraint that extends several centimetres from the trailer floor once placed in the opening. This type of restraint is useful in providing a barrier to the unwanted longitudinal movement of freight or freight containers that are initially placed on and/or secured to a standard sized pallet with the height of the projecting restraint approximately corresponding to the height of the standard sized pallet.

arsm MO 111692116vl 000000 11.5.2005 According to an alternative form of the invention, the upright may be of a length substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the space between the trailer floor and upper structure of the trailer. Typically, according to this embodiment, the end of the restraint is located in a complementary opening in s the trailer floor whilst the other end is fixed to the upper structure of the trailer.

This type of restraint is useful in providing a barrier to the unwanted longitudinal movement of freight or freight containers that are initially placed on and/or secured to a standard sized pallet.

In a further form of the invention, a plurality of restraints may be located along the trailer floor. The restraints may be located at any position on the trailer floor. The restraints may be located around the perimeter of any freight loaded onto the trailer. The restraints may be locatable along the perimeter of the trailer.

The restraints may also support the upper structure of the trailer and therefore reduce the need for side wall(s).

It is envisaged that restraints of a length of about 20-40 centimetres, of a length substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the space between the trailer floor and upper structure of the trailer or of any length can be used at the same time depending on the nature of the freight that has been loaded onto the trailer and whether the freight or freight container is initially placed on and/or secured to a pallet. The combination of restraints provides a barrier to the unwanted longitudinal movement of freight or freight containers that are initially placed on and/or secured to a standard sized pallet.

The trailer according to the invention may further include: a substantially horizontal second load carrying section vertically displaced upwardly from said load carrying section; a substantially horizontal third load carrying section interposed between said load carrying section and the second load carrying section and being movable between a first position substantially coplanar with said load carrying section, to a second position substantially coplanar with the second load carrying section; and arsmMO111692116vl 000000 11.5.2005 a lift to move the third load carrying section between the first position and the second position.

The second and third load carrying sections of the trailer floor will typically also be provided with at least one conveyor to permit the freight to be moved between and within each load carrying section.

In accordance with another form of the invention, one or more of the load carrying sections is provided with a guide to assist the location of freight in predetermined locations. Typically, the guide defines the lateral extremities of the width of the section. In a further preferred form, the guide may also be adapted to assist the easy movement of freight there along. An example of such a guide is a plurality of parallel rollers extending along a side of the trailer floor. Preferably such a guide will be provided along'both sides of the trailer floor.

In another preferred form of the invention, the lift to move the third load carrying section comprises hydraulics, electronics and/or mechanisms.

Particularly preferred are hydraulics actuated by an electric motor. In such an arrangement, hydraulic cylinders are positioned beneath the third load carrying section and adjacent to each corner.

The operation of these hydraulic cylinders may be coordinated by the use of appropriate hydraulic fluid lines communicating between the hydraulic cylinders to permit the uniform lifting and lowering movement of the third load carrying section between the first and second positions.

The control of these arrangements may be via an electric motor (as mentioned above) which may be actuated by an operator either from a location adjacent to the hydraulic cylinders at the side of the trailer, or from a position on top of the trailer floor, or from a position remote of the trailer.

Description of the drawings The invention will be further illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a container freight trailer with a freight container in a first position; arsm MO111692116vl 000000 11.5.2005 Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the container freight trailer of Figure 1 with the freight container in a second position; Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of the container freight trailer of Figure 1 with the freight container in a third position; Figure 4 is a vertical cross section of the container freight trailer of Figure 1 with the freight container in a fourth position; Figure 5 is a vertical cross section of the container freight trailer of Figure 1 fully loaded with containers; Figure 6 is a view along A-A of the container freight trailer of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a view along B-B of the container freight trailer of Figure 4; and Figure 8 is a magnified view in area C in Figure 6 depicting the sequential movement I-IV of the double hinged rear trailer doors.

In the drawings, like components are provided with the same number designation.

As shown in the drawings, a container freight trailer 4 has first and second ends 100, 200 and a floor between the ends 100, 20. The floor comprises a substantially horizontal load carrying section 1. A conveyor is provided to permit freight to be moved along the load carrying section 1. A pair of doors 9 is provided to close end 100 of the trailer.

In the embodiment shown, the conveyor of load carrying section 1 comprises a plurality of rollers 7. Typically rollers 7 will be fixed to the floor of trailer 4. As can be seen from, for example, Figures 1 and 2, rollers 7 can extend from end 100 to ledge 300 of trailer 4.

To assist quick loading of the trailer 4, it is desirable for the pair of doors 9 to be positioned so they do not encroach upon the width of the trailer 4. As shown in Figure 8, the pair of doors 9 have a double hinge 13 to permit each one of the pair to be rotated about two spaced axes.

In the embodiments shown, and depending on trailer configuration, trailer 4 can be provided with a substantially horizontal second load carrying section 2 arsm MO 111692116vl 000000 11.5.2005 i vertically displaced upwardly from load carrying section 1. In this arrangement load carrying section 1 may be interrupted by a substantially horizontal third load carrying section 3 interposed longitudinally between load carrying section 1 and load carrying section 2.

Load carrying section 3 is movable between a first position where it is coplanar with load carrying section 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a second position where it is coplanar with load carrying section 2 as shown in Figures 3 to As shown in Figure 6, load carrying sections 2 and 3 may also be provided with a pair of parallel roller strips 7 in the same manner as load carrying section 1.

Strips 7 are aligned with each other. Each strip 7 is made up of rollers which are individually orientated so that they rotate about an axis which is transverse to the direction of travel of freight 6 as indicated by the heavy arrow, and protrude partially above the floor. In use the container 6 sits on these roller strips 7 and may be easily moved horizontally along the strip by hand, by reason of the rotation of these rollers.

The movement of the load carrying section 3 between the first position and the second position may be achieved by hydraulics which are electrically actuated.

As shown in Figures 3 and 7, hydraulic cylinders 8 are positioned beneath load carrying section 3 and adjacent to each of its corners. These hydraulic cylinders 8 are connected together by conventional hydraulic fluid lines (not shown) and the movement of the third section up and down is activated by a conventional electric motor (not shown).

In order to load container freight into the trailer 4, the truck rig 5 positions the trailer 4 adjacent a suitable loading dock (not shown). As will be apparent from Figure 1, the container 6 is initially loaded into rear of the trailer 4 through open double hinged doors 9 into the first position.

The container 6 is then moved in the direction of the arrow along roller strips 7 until it reaches the second position at which it is fully supported by load carrying section 3 as shown in Figure 2.

arsm MO 111692116vl 000000 11.5.2005 To locate the container 6 on load carrying section 2, the hydraulic cylinders 8 are actuated to allow the uniform vertical movement of load carrying section 3 from the second position as shown in Figure 2 to the third position as shown in Figure 3. Thereafter the container 6 is moved in the direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 4 from load carrying section 3 into the fourth position at which the container is fully supported by load carrying section 2. Once again, such horizontal movements are facilitated by the roller action of the roller strips 7.

As shown in Figure 5 subsequent containers 6 are moved along load carrying section 1 and load carrying section 3 until the trailer 4 is full.

As will be readily appreciated, trailer 4 may be operated so that load carrying section 3 is not raised to the position shown in Figures 3 to 5 and 7. This simply means that the trailer 4 can be transported in a number of load configurations as determined by the operator.

Accordingly in that arrangement load carrying section 1 and the conveyor associated with load carrying section 1 will extend essentially continuously from end 100 to ledge 300 of trailer 4.

To restrict unwanted longitudinal movement of the containers 6, restraints in the form of posts 10 and 11 are installed at the perimeter of second load carrying section 2 and third load carrying section 3, as shown in Figure Although not illustrated, unwanted longitudinal movement of freight or freight containers can be restrained by installing posts of a shorter length than that illustrated in Figure 5 particularly when freight or a freight container is loaded onto a standard sized pallet. The shorter post can be installed into the floor of the trailer 1.

During loading, it important to inhibit the containers 6 from skewing and becoming damaged. To achieve this, a pair of roller strips 12 are provided along the lower area of each of the walls adjacent to load carrying section 1. The distance between the pair of strips 12 is designed to be only marginally greater than the width of the containers. This maintains the containers substantially in straight alignment.

arsm MO 111692116vl 1 000000 11.5.2005 As shown in Figure 8, in position I, door 9 is closed. In position II, door 9 has been partially opened by rotation of door 9 about first hinge 14. As the door is opened to position III, door 9 also rotates about second hinge With such double hinged arrangement, a door 9 may be opened in to a position where it is essentially completely clear of the walls adjacent load carrying section 1 so the full width of the rear of trailer 4 can be utilised to load the containers 6. Obviously, it is also possible with this arrangement to have a door 9 further rotated to position IV where it is substantially parallel to the sides of the trailer 4.

The word 'comprising' as used in this description and in the claims does not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions which are obvious to the person skilled in the art and which do not have a material effect upon the invention.

Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

arsm MO 111692116vl 1 000000 11.5.2005

Claims (4)

1. A trailer having: first and second ends; s a trailer floor between said ends and comprising a substantially horizontal load carrying section, said load carrying section having at least one conveyor to permit freight to be moved along said load carrying section; and a pair of doors to close one of said ends of said trailer, wherein each of said pair of doors is attached to said trailer by at least one set of double pivot hinges to permit each of said pair of doors to be rotated about two spaced axes.

2. The trailer according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises a plurality of rollers.

3. The trailer according to claim 1 or claim 2, and further comprising at least one restraint in said load carrying section to inhibit undesirable movement of freight located thereon.

4. The trailer according to claim 3, wherein said restraint comprises at least one removable upright having an end which can be fixed to said trailer floor to constitute a barrier to freight moving longitudinally along said trailer floor. The trailer according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a plurality of restraints are located along the perimeter of said trailer floor. Rosemary Close Pty Ltd 11 May 2005 arsm MO111692116vl 000000 11.5.2005