AU2005272205B2

AU2005272205B2 - Adapter for converting a transport arrangement

Info

Publication number: AU2005272205B2
Application number: AU2005272205A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anders Ahlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-13
Filing date: 2005-08-12
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2025-08-12
Also published as: SE0402021L; WO2006016849A9; CA2576997C; AU2005272205A1; WO2006016849A1; SE528106C2; SE0402021D0; CA2576997A1

Abstract

The invention is directed to an arrangement, a system and a method for converting a transportation arrangement wherein the transportation arrangement prior to converting his adapted for transportations over an even and/or firm transportation surface and subsequent to converting is adapted for transportations over an uneven and/or soft transportation surface. More precisely, the invention is directed to a adapter for converting a transportation arrangement, for example a trailer, wherein the transportation arrangement at least comprises a hub, for example a wheel hub that is adapted for a detachable mounting of a first transportation means, for example a wheel, that can cooperate with a first transportation surface. In turn, the adapter comprises a fastening arrangement that is adapted for a detachable mounting of the adapter onto said hub and at least one connecting arrangement that is adapted to connect at least a second transportation means to said fastening arrangement, wherein said second transportation means is adapted to cooperate with a second transportation surface, for example woodlands or fields. Said a second transportation means can for example be terrain wheels or similar.

Description

Title Adapter for converting a transport arrangement The Technical Area of the Invention The invention is related to transport arrangements in general and in particular to load 5 carrying transport arrangements or similar. Even more particular, the invention relates to load carrying transport arrangements and similar for a combined transport over an even surface and/or a firm transport surface, and an uneven and/or soft transport surface. Background of the invention Introduction 10 Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. For a long time there have been different kinds of transport arrangements that are adopted to transport objects over even and firm surfaces, such as for example floors, 15 asphalted roads, dirt roads, foot paths and better paths or similar. The transport arrangements can for example be motorized vehicles, trailed vehicles, and manually conveyed vehicles of similar. Typical examples are trailers in the form of traditional carts and carriages or similar that can be conveyed by a motor vehicle or a draught animal or in some other way, for example manually. Other examples are sack carts and 20 similar arrangements for transport of materials and goods etc. It may also be ordinary wheelchairs and other arrangements for transport of persons. Moreover, for a long time there have been different kinds of transport arrangements that are adapted to transport objects over such surfaces that are not directly suitable for transportation purposes. It may for example be a matter of transportation in terrain with 25 a soft and/or uneven surface, for example over fields or through woodland. It can also be a matter of transportation in stairs or other more or less shaped or machined surfaces that are not directly suitable for transportation purposes. Arrangements for transportation over such surfaces can be motorized, trailed or manually conveyed, for example trailed vehicles in the form of carts and carriages or similar. These 30 transportation arrangements are typically adapted for the purpose by the wheels WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 2 of the arrangement and/or the wheel suspension or similar being particularly adopted to facilitate the transport over soft and/or or uneven surfaces. Background of the invention 5 There is a wide and well known spectrum of different transport arrangements that are adapted to transport objects over firm and even surfaces. In particular there is a plurality of trailers in the form of carts and carriages or similar that are adapted to transport objects over firm and even surfaces. A trailer that is intended to be pulled by a car is for example described in the 10 patent US 4.621.857 (Jegers). Regarding transport arrangements that are adapted to transport objects over such even and/or soft surfaces that are not directly suitable for transportation purposes the following can be mentioned as examples. 15 US 1.857.343 (Armington et al.) from 1929 describes a trailer whose transportation essentially comprises to wheel pairs. Their wheels in a pair of wheels are connected by a horizontal beam or similar, which beam in turn is more or less pivotally mounted on the trailer to form a swiveling or pivoting boogie construction (a walking beam). It can be noted that the wheel pair 20 in Armington are provided with an endless band, which together with the wheel pair can be said to form a kind of transportation means provided with caterpillar drive. US 1.887.427 (Porcello) from 1932 describes a wheel construction that can be said to be useful for such different transportation arrangements as baby carriages, wheelbarrow and 25 airplanes. The wheel construction comprises several rotational wheels that are arranged on a support, which support in turn is rotationally mounted on said transport arrangement. US 4.064.956 (Wildey) from 1977 describes, similar to Armington above, a pivoting bogie construction (walking beam) wherein the wheels on the bogie have been provided with a 30 propelling capacity. The force for the propelling is supposed to primarily come from the engine of a motor vehicle on which the bogie construction is mounted. US 4.457.526 (Persson) from 1984 describes a wheel construction that is primarily intended for a so-called sack cart. The wheel construction comprises several rotational wheels that are WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 3 arranged on an adapter, which adapter in turn is rotationally mounted on said transport arrangement. US 5.273.269 (Lepek) from 1993 describes a wheel construction for such different transport 5 arrangements such as: a manually convey to transport carriage, a cross-country vehicle, a rescue vehicle, an amphibious vehicle and a wheelchair. Their weekly construction comprises several rotational wheels that are arranged on a support, which support irj turn is rotationally mounted on said transport arrangement. 10 US 5,782,490 (Kendall et al.) from198 describes, similar to Armington and Wildey above, a trailer wherein the transportation means comprises at least two wheels, which wheels are connected by a horizontal beam or similar. In Kendall the beam is also more or less pivotally mounted on the trailer and forms a pivoting or swiveling bogie construction (walking beam). As an option, the wheels in Kendall can be provided an endless band, which together with the 15 wheel pair form a kind of transportation means provided with caterpillar drive. US 6.742.787 (Wheeler) from 2004 describes a transportation arrangement that, similar to Persson above, relates to a wheel construction with several rotational wheels that are arranged on a support, which support in turn is rotationally mounted on the transportation arrangement. 20 However, there is a difference in that Persson essentially relates to a so-called sack cart, while Wheeler relates to a trailer. The transportation arrangements and their transportation means mentioned above are either particular adapted for transportation of objects over firm and/or even surfaces, for example 25 roads (c.f. Jegers), or particularly adapted for transportation of objects over such uneven and/or soft surfaces that are not particularly adapted for transportation purposes, for example over fields or through woodland (c.f. Armington, Wildey, Kendall and Wheeler) or in the stairs or in other more or less shaped or machined surfaces that are not directly suitable for transportation purposes. 30 Now, a certain mission that requires transportation over firm and/or even surfaces as well as soft and/or uneven surfaces will therefore usually require two vehicles: one vehicle for transportation over the even surfaces, and one vehicle for transportation over the uneven surfaces, for example a road vehicle and a cross-country vehicle. One example may be work -4 that is executed in woodland or in fields, which requires road transportation to the place of work, while the work itself requires transportation in the woodlands or in the fields. In such situations, a car is usually provided with a trailer to transport a cross-country vehicle to the place of work. Consequently, this requires a road vehicle provided with a 5 trailer, and a cross-country vehicle to perform the work on the spot, while the work itself only requires a cross-country vehicle. If the work in question moreover requires a cross country trailer, this trailer must also be transported on the trailer of the road vehicle. The trailer of the road vehicle will then be cumbrous and bulky, at the same time as it will usually have a limited use besides said transportation of other vehicles. Moreover, such 10 a trailer is rather expensive. Hence, except the logistic problems in connection with the use of several vehicles, several vehicles may also require a considerable investment directed to a very limited area of use. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. 15 Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an adapter for converting a load carrying transportation arrangement, which transportation arrangement includes at least one wheel hub or one rotatably wheel drum adapted for a detachably mounting of a first transportation means in the form of a wheel, which is adapted to cooperate in the 20 transportation direction with a first transportation surface, wherein said adapter includes, - a fastening arrangement that is adapted for a detachably mounting of said adapter onto said wheel hub or wheel drum; and - at least two separated connecting arrangement each adapted to connect at least a second transportation means to said fastening arrangement, wherein 25 said second transportation means is adapted to rotatably or pivotally cooperate with a second transportation surface; wherein - said fastening arrangement and said connecting arrangement are connected to each other so that a connected second transportation means can cooperate with said second transportation surface in the transportation direction when 30 said adapter is mounted onto said hub.

-5 In the light of what has been said above there is a need to be able to use the same vehicle as extensively as possible for transportation over firm and/or even surfaces, as well as for transportation over soft and/or uneven surfaces, for example of such even surfaces as roads uneven surfaces as fields and woodlands, it may also be a question of 5 transportation in stairs or other more or less shaped or machined surfaces that are not directly suitable for transportation purposes. The present invention, in some embodiments, is therefore directed to an adapter for a transportation arrangement, for example an adapter for a trailer. Said transportation arrangement preferably includes one or several hubs that are adapted for a detachable 10 mounting of a first transportation means, for example a wheel, which first transportation means after a mounting onto the hub is adapted to cooperate with a first transport surface, for example such even surfaces as a floor or a road. The invention is not limited to said kind of hub for a wheel or similar. On the contrary, the adapter can be used in connection with a plurality of different kind of hubs, for example different kind of 15 centrums, such as different centers of rotation or in certain cases even different kind of centers of construction, such as a center of gravity or similar. An adapter in accordance with the present invention, in some embodiments, includes a fastening arrangement that is adapted to detachably mount the adapter towards the hub or the hubs of said transportation arrangement. The adapter further includes one or 20 several connecting arrangements that each is adapted to connect the fastening arrangement to at least one second transportation means, wherein said second transportation means is adapted to cooperate with a second transportation surface. Said second transportation means can for example be a cross country wheel that is adapted for transportation over such soft and/or uneven transportation surfaces as fields and/or 25 woodlands. Said fastening arrangement and said connecting arrangement are connected to each other in such a way that the second transportation means that has been connected to said adapter can cooperate with said second transportation surface in the transportation direction when the adapter is mounted onto a hub of said transportation arrangement. 30 An adapter according to the present invention, in some embodiments, can preferably be arranged onto said hub in a swiveling or pivoting manner, e.g. swiveling or pivoting in a - 5a plane which, after mounting of the adapter towards a hub on said transport arrangement, is essentially vertical and essentially parallel to the transportation direction of the transportation arrangement. The swiveling or pivoting property can preferably be achieved by utilizing the rotational property of said hub. Said rotational property can 5 alternatively be arranged in the adapter itself The present invention, in some embodiments, is also directed to a system including a transportation arrangement with at least one hub provided with a first detachable transportation means adapted to cooperate with a first transportation surface in the transportation direction, which system includes at least one adapter in accordance with 10 the above. The present invention, in some embodiments, is further directed to a method for converting a transportation arrangement that includes at least a hub with a detachable first transportation means adapted to cooperate with a first transportation surface in the transportation direction, wherein said method includes the steps of: 15 - dismounting of said first transportation means from said hub; - mounting an adapter onto said hub in accordance with the above, which adapter includes a second transportation means adapted to cooperate with a second transportation surface in the transportation direction. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, 20 the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 6 Short descriDtion of the drawings Some of the preferred embodiments of the invention with now be described in more detail with a reference to the attached and exemplifying drawings, in which: 5 Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a car 100 and a trailer 200 viewed from the side, wherein the trailer 200 is connected to the car 100 and loaded with an all-terrain vehicle 300 (ATV) and two bogie adapters 400 provided with wheels in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 10 Figure 2 shows the same all-terrain-vehicle 300, trailer 200 and bogie adapter 400 as in figure 1, with the difference that the trailer 200 has been provided with said bogie adapter 400 and connected to the all-terrain-vehicle 300. 15 Figure 3 shows a view from above of a bogie adapter 500 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows a view from the side of the bogie adapter 500 in figure 3. 20 Figure 5 shows a view from above of a bogie adapter 600 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6a shows a view from above of a bogie adapter 700 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 25 Figure 6b shows a view from above of the bogie adapter 700 in figure 6a mounted with the wheels turned in opposite directions. Figure 7 shows a few in perspective of the bogie adapter 700 in figures 6a-6b. 30 Figure 8 shows a view in perspective of a bogie adapter 800 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 7 Detailed description of preferred embodiments In the following preferred and boredom ends of the invention will be described as a reference 5 to the enclosed exemplifying drawings. It should be emphasized that the embodiments are intended to explain and clarifying the invention and they should therefore in no way be perceived as limiting for the invention. Figure 1 shows a motorized traction vehicle in the form of a car 100 and a not motorized trailer 10 200, wherein both are intended for road transportations. Figure 1 is also showing a motorized terrain vehicle 300 and two bogie adapters 400 provided with wheels according to an embodiment of the present invention. The traction vehicle 100 is connected to the trailer 200, which in turn is loaded with the terrain vehicle 300 that the two bogie adapters 400. The bogie adapters 400 are provided with terrain wheels and positioned in an inactive storage position on 15 said trailer 200. Figure 1 shows the bogie adapters 400 with the accompanied terrain wheels viewed in a longitudinal direction. Even if the traction vehicle in figure 1 has been illustrated by a car 100, said traction vehicle is not limited to cars 100 or other motorized traction arrangements. On the contrary, principle it 20 may be an arbitrary traction arrangement that is adapted to pull the trailer in question. Even draught animals and human hand-power or similar can be used for certain types of trailers. As already mentioned, the trailer is loaded with a terrain vehicle 300. The terrain vehicle 300 in figure 1 has been illustrated by a so-called ATV, which is an English abbreviation for the 25 expression "All-Terrain-Vehicle". However, the load is not limited to terrain vehicles or other vehicles. On the contrary, in principle it may be an arbitrary load that is transported by the trailer 200 in question. In principle, the nature of the load is unimportant for the invention and then maybe embodiments of the invention wherein a load is not present at all. 30 The exemplifying trailer in figure 1 is intended to illustrate an ordinary trader 200 with ordinary road wheels 205. Such wheels 205 is typically provided with mounting holes 206 for connecting the wheel 205 towards a wheel drum (wheel hub?) by a means of for example nuts or screws. Ordinary trailers 200 of this kind can be connected to most commercially available cars or similar vehicles that are provided with a tow hook. Even if figure 1 shows a transportation WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 8 arrangement in the form of a trailer 200that can be connected to a car 100 the invention is not limited to such transport arrangements. On the contrary, the invention can be used in connection with a plurality of other wheel provided transportation arrangements, regardless if they are pulled or pushed. The conveying of the transportation arrangement - regardless if it is 5 pulled or pushed - must not be performed by motorized vehicles. Draught animals and human hand-craft or similar can be used for certain types of transportation arrangements. Figure 2 shows the same trailer 200 terrain vehicle 300 and bogie adapter 400 as in figure 1. However, in figure 2 the traction vehicle 100 has been detached from the trailer 200 and the 10 terrain vehicle 300 has been unloaded. The road wheels 205 on the trailer 200 have been dismounted and instead the bogie adapters 400 provided with terrain wheels have been mounted on the wheel drum of the trailer, which converts the traded 200 from a vehicle for transportation on roads to a vehicle for transportation in terrain. Figure 2 shows said bogie adapter 400 seen from the side. It can also be noted that the terrain vehicle 300 has now been 15 connected as a traction vehicle to the converted transport arrangement. i.e. connected to the trailer 200 that as being converted from transportation on roads to transportation in terrain. The Bogie Adapter 20 In figure 3 a bogie adapter 500 is shown in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The bogie adapter 500 is illustrated shown from above. Figure 3 also showing a wheel a hub or a wheel drum 210, and an ax is 215 on which the wheel drum 210 is rotationally arranged. Said wheel drum / wheel hub can for example be an ordinary wheel drum on an axis of a trailer 200 of the kind shown in figure 1, wherein the wheel drum is so adopted 25 that a road wheel 205 can be detachably mounted thereon. However, the invention is not limited to such vehicles 200 or such wheel drums. The bogie adapter 500 comprises a preferably flat and essentially circular mounting arrangement in the form of a fastening plate 510, which is adapted to mount the adapter 500 30 towards the wheel drum 210. However, the invention is not limited to fastening plates 510 which is flat and circular. On the contrary, a fastening plate 510 can assume a variety of other shapes. In case the wheel drum is adopted for a detachably mounting of a road wheel 205 it is particularly preferred that the fastening plate 510 is formed so that it can be mounted onto the wheel drum 210 by means of the nuts (not shown) that is screwed onto the threaded parts that -9 are typically arranged on such wheel drums 210 for mounting the wheel 205 onto the drum 210. This implies that the fastening plate 510 is typically showing the same pattern of fastening holes 515 as the fastening holes 206 on said wheel 205. In figure 1 it is shown a pattern of four fastening holes 206 for a wheel 205. 5 Except wheel drums with protruding threaded parts that are adapted for nuts, or wheel drums with threaded holes that are adapted for wheel bolts, there are many other fastening arrangements with the same function, i.e. the function of detachably fastening a wheel towards a wheel drum / wheel hub. The fastening plate 510 on the bogie adapter 500 must therefore be adapted so that the fastening plate 510 resembles the fastening 10 arrangement that is used to mount a wheel on the wheel drum in question or the wheel hub in question, i.e. resembles the fastening arrangement on the wheel or similar that is to be mounted on the wheel drum or similar. This means that the fastening plate 510 can have a variety of different designs, wherein the used fastening arrangement differs from one fastening plate 510 to another. This also means that the fostering plate 510 can 15 assume a variety of different designs in addition to the flat and circular embodiment as now described. In particular, there may be wheel drums or similar that display one, two or more threaded parts or threaded holes. The invention may also have embodiments wherein the wheel 205, which is intended to be mounted on a wheel drum 210, has a rotational fastening arrangement, while the 20 wheel drum 210 on the other hand is unyielding and not rotational. In such cases it is preferred that the fastening arrangement on the bogie adapter is arranged to have a rotational fastening towards the wheel drum 210 similar to said wheel 205. The bogie adapter can for example include a fastening plate 510 that is swiveling or pivoting in a plane, which after a mounting of the adapter 500 onto a wheel drum of a trailer 200 is 25 essentially vertical and essentially parallel to the transportation direction for the trailer 200. In other words, a plane that is essentially parallel to the plane in which said wheel 205 is rotating when the wheel 205 is mounted onto said wheel drum 210. In addition to the fastening plate 510 now discussed the bogie adapter 500 in figure 3 includes two adapter arms 520 where each arm 520 is integrally connected to the 30 fastening plate 510 via an angled connecting section 525. The connecting sections 525 are kind of such that the adapter arms 520 are extending along a plane that is parallel to -10 but displaced from the fastening plate 510, i.e. parallel displaced with respect to the fastening plate 520. Moreover, the arms 520 extend along said plane in one direction each, which directions are essentially opposite with respect to each other. However, this does not mean that the arms 520 must extend along directions that are 180' displaced 5 with respect to each other. Other angular relationships are conceivable, e.g. from below 450 to above 315*. It should be emphasized that the invention on the whole does not presuppose that the bogie adapter 500 is provided with arms. Other arrangements with similar functions as the arms 520 are conceivable. In addition, each adapter on 520 in figure 3 includes a wheel axis 530 with a rotational 10 wheel drum 535, wherein the wheel axis 530 is arranged at the adapter arm 520 in the part of the arm 520 that extends away from the fastening plate 510. The wheel axis 530 is attached to the adapter arm 520 in such a way that the wheel drum 535 on the axis 530 can rotate in a plane that is essentially parallel to the fastening plate 510. In other embodiments the wheel drum 535 can rotate in a plane that is essentially parallel but 15 displaced with respect to the fastening plate 510. On the whole, it is a question of the wheel drum 535 being able to rotate in a plane that is essentially parallel to and possibly displaced with respect to the plane in which the wheel drum / wheel hub 210 is rotating after a mounting of the bogie adapter 500 onto the wheel drum / wheel hub 210. In some embodiments the wheel drum 535 on a first adapter arm 520 can rotate in different 20 plane than the wheel drum on a second adapter arm 520, even if both arms 520 are attached to the same fastening plate 510. The two wheel drums 535 on the bogie adapter 500 in figure 3 are arranged and adapted so that terrain wheels 305 (illustrated by dashed lines in figure 3) can be mounted thereon. Such terrain wheels 305 are typically having a larger diameter and a larger 25 width compared to the above mentioned road wheels 205 and are also in other respects showing properties that makes them particularly suitable for transportation over fields or through woodlands or similar. This already follows from the size of the wheels which distribute the weight of the vehicle over larger surface, which provides a better caring capacity and with that; better passable properties and less damages on the ground under 30 transportation over softer surfaces. Such parameters as the air pressure in the wheels, the material of the wheels (preferably softer rubber) and the shape the wheels contributes - lOa to suitable properties for transportation in terrain. At the same time, it should be noted that these terrain properties normally gives disadvantages in connection with transportation at comparably high speed on roads or similar, e.g. in the form of higher fuel consumption, more wear on the wheels and sometimes even instability. 5 WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 11 In figure 4 the bogie adapter 500 in figure 1 is illustrated viewed from the side, whereby for example the fasting holes 515 on the preferably flat and essentially circular fastening plate 510 appears more clearly. The fastening plate 510 and is embodiment displays for fastening holes 515 that are arranged according to the same pattern as the fastening holes 206 on said wheel 5 205. In other embodiments the fastening plate 510 can show a less number of fastening holes than the four fastening holes 206 in the wheel 205. The fastening plate 510 can for example display only two fastening holes 515, which then are arranged according to a part or a multiple of the pattern for the four holes 206 in the wheel 205. However, the intention is not limited to four fastening holes or a multiple thereof. On the contrary, other fostering plates can display 10 more fastening holes and/or multiples of more fastening holes, e.g. six fastening holes or multiples of six fastening holes. Moreover, it can be seen in figure 4 that the fastening plate 510 is positioned between the two connecting sections 525, which connecting sections 525 integrate the two adapter arms 520 15 with the fastening plate 510. It can also be seen that a wheel drum 535 is arranged in the end of each adapter arm 520 that extends away from the fastening plate 510. The terrain wheels 305, which the wheel drums 535 have been adapted to fasten onto the bogie adapter 500, are illustrated by dashed lines in figure 4. This indicates that the terrain wheels 305 can be a detachable accessory to the bogie adapter 500. Figure 4 clearly illustrates how the arms 520 20 are angularly displaced 180* with respect to each other. However, as previously mentioned other angular relationships can be used and in principle the arms 520 can, with or without associated connecting sections 525, be mounted on the fastening plate 510 so that the angle between the arms 520 is determine within an interval from for example below 450 two over 315 (c.f. for example the pointer on a clock). For the sake of clarity it can be mentioned that the axis 25 215 with the rotational wheel drum 210 and the wheel axes 530 of the bogie adapter 500 are hidden in figure 4 and therefore not shown. Figure 5 shows a bogie adapter 600 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 shows the bogie adapter 600 viewed from above. The bogie adapter 600 is 30 to the most parts the same as the bogie adapter 500 in figures 3 and 4. However, one difference is that each wheel axis 630 with its associated wheel drum 635 is fastened at the opposite side (c.f. backside and front side) of the adapter arm 620 respectively compared to the case regarding the bogie adapter 500. Another difference is that the fastening plate 610 is adapted so that the bogie adapter 600 can be attached to the wheel drum 210 in a position WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 12 turned 1800 compared to how the bogie adapter 500 in figure 3 and 4 shall be attached to the wheel drum 210, i.e. turned around a contemplated axis that is perpendicular with respect to the axis 215 of the wheel drum 210. When the bogie adapter 600 is mounted onto the wheel drum 210 the wheel drums 635 of the adapter and their associated terrain wheels 305 will 5 therefore be placed in a position that is more distant from the wheel drum 210 than the corresponding wheel drums 535 and terrain wheels 305 on the bogie adapter 500. The attention is now directed to figure 6a showing a bogie adapter 700 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6a shows the bogie adapter 700 viewed from 10 above. The bogie adapter 700 is to the most parts the same as the bogie adapter 500 in figures 3 and 4. However, one difference is that a bogie adapter 700 does not have any connecting sections 525. Instead the adapter arms 720 are directly integrated with a fastening plate 710, such that the arms 720 together with the fostering plate 710 forms an essentially straight and beam-like arrangement. In other words, the fastening plate 710 and the adapter 15 arms 720 differ slightly from the fastening plate 510 and the adapter arms 520 in figures 3-4. However, the wheel axis 730 and the rotational wheel drum 635 correspond to the wheel axis 530 and the wheel drum 535 in figures 3-4. Figure 6b illustrates the bogie adapter 700 mounted onto the wheel drum 210 in a reversed 20 direction compared to the bogie adapter 700 in figure 6b. The wheel axes 730 with an associated rotational wheel drum 735 respectively are therefore pointing in towards the vehicle on which the axis 215 is arranged, i.e. not out from this vehicle as is the case in figure 6a. Figure 7 shows a perspective drawing of the bogie adapter 700 in figures 6a-6b. In the 25 perspective drawing the fastening holes 715 on the preferably flat and essentially circular fostering plate 710 can be seen. Here it can also be seen that the fastening plate 710 is placed essentially in the middle between the two adapter arms 720, which are integrally attached to the fastening plate 710. Moreover, it can be seen that a rotational wheel drum 735 is arranged at the part of each adapter arm 720 that extends away from the fastening plate 710. Said 30 wheel drum is also showing attachment arrangements 740 for adapter wheels, which arrangements 740 e.g. can comprise threaded holes or threaded protruding pins. Figure 8 shows a perspective drawing of a bogie adapter 800 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In a similar way as in the previously described - 13 embodiments the bogie adapter 800 includes a preferably flat and essentially circular mounting arrangement in the form of a fastening plate 810 that is adapted to mount the adapter onto a wheel drum, a wheel hub or similar. The bogie adapter 800 in figure 8 further includes two essentially elongated adapter 5 arms 820 that are both integrally connected to the fastening plate 810. The adapter arms 820 extend essentially in a plane that is essentially parallel to the fastening plate 810. The arms 820 are displaced with respect to each other by an angle a that is typically below 1800 and is preferably chosen close to 350-550, most preferably close to 45*. Some embodiments of the present invention can have adapter arms 820 that are more or less 10 resilient. The resiliency can for example be so arranged that the angle a between the adapter arms 820 is dynamically changed as the load on the suspension changes when the bogie adapter 800 is used. Unlike the terrain wheels 305 that constitute the transportation means in the previously discussed embodiments each adapter arm 820 in the bogie adapter 800 includes eight 15 transportation means in the form of a ski 830 or similar, e.g. runner-like transportation means that has been adapted for sliding transportation over such surfaces as snow or ice or similar. The ski 830 is attached to the adapter arm 820 at the end of the arm 820 that extends away from the fastening plate 810. The ski 830 includes two attachment clamps 840 that via a center pin 845 are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the adapter arm 20 820. More precisely the ski 830 is attached in such a way that it can pivot around the center pin 845 in plain that is essentially parallel to the fastening plate 810. The fastening plate 810 is in turn adapted so as to enable, after being mounted onto a wheel drum or a wheel hub or similar, that the ski 830 can cooperate in a sliding way in the transportation direction with the surface over which a transport is to be performed, even 25 if the surface is comparably uneven. It shall be emphasized that the embodiments of the bogie adapter that has been discussed above are merely examples of the present invention. Hence, there may be other kind of fastening plates with totally different designs that are adapted to be fastened towards arrangements than the wheel drums or wheel hubs or similar as mentioned above. There 30 may also be bogie adapters that have one, two or more transportation means, for - 13a example three wheels 305 or three skis 830. Bogie adapters with adapter arms or similar may even be provided with two or several transportation means arranged on one or several of the adapter arms. Moreover, a bogie adapter can be provided with other types of transportation means 5 WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 14 than the above mentioned wheels or skis or similar, for example transportation means in the form of caterpillar threads and similar transportation belts etc. Use and function 5 As previously mentioned the same trailer 200 and the same bogie adapter 400 are shown in both figure 1 and figure 2. However, in figure 2 the road wheels 205 on the trailer 200 has been dismounted from their wheel drums respectively, and instead of bogie adapter 400 provided with wheels has been mounted tools said wheel drum. The bogie adapter 400 can for example 10 be one of the above mention bogie adapters 500, 600 or 700 that has been provided with terrain wheels 305 and being mounted onto a wheel drum 210 that is rotationally arranged on axis 215, which axis 215 is connected to the trailer 200. In this way the trailer 200 is converted from a vehicle adapted for road transportations in to a vehicle that is now adapted for terrain transportations. 15 Since the bogie adapter 400 is mounted onto a rotation of wheel drum 210 the bogie adapter 400 can also rotate or at least pivot around the axis of rotation for said wheel drum 210, c.f. a pivoting bogie construction in the form of a so called "walking beam". In figure 2 it is shown how a mounted bogie adapter 400 can pivot during transportation over uneven surfaces. The 20 pivoting is illustrated by the front wheel of the adapter 400 being placed on a ground surface that this a little bit lower than the ground surface on which the rear wheel is placed. The arrow directed downwards at the front wheel on the adapter 400 and the arrow directed upwards at the rear wheel of the adapter 400 indicates how the adapter 400 in this situation pivots counter-clockwise towards the lower ground surface in figure 2. 25 There may be situations in which the wheel drum or the wheel hub or similar is unyielding and not rotational. In such cases it is preferred that the fastening arrangement of the bogie adapter is adapted such that the adapter list and has a turnable or pivoting attachment towards the wheel drum / wheel hub. 30 To stop the bogie adapter 400 from turnaround - i.e. rotate a half turn or more - in connection with transportations over uneven surfaces certain applications may require some kind of hindering stop and/or shock absorber that is arranged on the bogie adapter and/or the trailer or similar vehicle.

WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 15 Regarding the particular embodiments of the invention shown in figures 1-8 it is preferred that the vehicle to be converted has wheels that is detachably arranged on wheel drums or wheel hubs, with the consequence that the wheel can be dismounted to leave room for a mounting of 5 a bogie adapter onto the wheel drum or the wheel hub. Such an operation may require an arrangement that holds the vehicle up when a wheel has been dismounted, for example a jack or similar. If the vehicle is a trailer 200 as in figure 1-2 the vertically adjustable wheel 220 at the front of the vehicle can be used together with a vertically adjustable rear support (not shown) to hold up the vehicle when one of the road wheels 205 has been dismounted. The 10 front wheel 220 and one or several vertically adjustable rear supports can also be utilized for vertically positioning the trailer 200, which can facilitate a mounting of the bogie adapter onto the wheel drum. Other kind of support arrangements can be arranged on trailers and similar, if the vehicle can not suitable be held up in any other way, e.g. due to the weight of the vehicle. 15 The present invention has now been described by means of different embodiments. However, the embodiments are only example that are intended to explain the invention and to simplify the discussion in connection with described in the same and they are not in any way intended to limit the invention.

WO 2006/016849 PCT/SE2005/001209 16 Reference Signs 100 Traction Vehicle 715 Fastening Holes for Adapter 200 Trailer 720 Adapter Arm 205 Road Wheels 730 Wheel Axis 206 Fastening Holes for Road Wheels 740 Fastening Holes for Adapter Wheel 210 Wheel Drum / Wheel Hub 735 Wheel Drum 215 Axis 800 Bogie Adapter 220 Vertically Adjustable Front Wheel 810 Fastening Plate 300 Terrain Vehicle (ATV) 815 Fastening Holes for Adapter 305 Terrain Wheel 820 Adapter Arm 400 Bogie Adapter 830 Ski 500 Bogie Adapter 840 Attachment Clamps 510 Fastening Plate 845 Center Pin 515 Fastening Holes for Adapter 520 Adapter Arm 525 Connecting Section 530 Wheel Axis 535 Wheel Drum / Wheel Hub 600 Bogie Adapter 610 Fastening Plate 620 Adapter Arm 625 Connecting Section 630 Wheel Axis 635 Wheel Drum 700 Bogie Adapter 710 Fastening Plate

Claims

1. An adapter for converting a load carrying transportation arrangement, which transportation arrangement includes at least one wheel hub or one wheel drum adapted for a detachably mounting of a first transportation means in the form of a wheel, which 5 is adapted to cooperate in the transportation direction with a first transportation surface, wherein said adapter includes, - a fastening arrangement that is adapted for a detachably mounting of said adapter onto said wheel hub or wheel drum; and - at least two separated connecting arrangement each adapted to connect at 10 least a second transportation means to said fastening arrangement, wherein said second transportation means is adapted to rotatably or pivotally cooperate with a second transportation surface; wherein - said fastening arrangement and said connecting arrangement are connected to each other so that a connected second transportation means can cooperate 15 with said second transportation surface in the transportation direction when said adapter is mounted onto said hub.

2. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein said first transportation means is adapted to cooperate with a firm and even first transportation surface, for example a floor or a road, and that said second transportation means is adapted to cooperate with a soft or 20 uneven second transportation surface or a soft and uneven transportation surface, for example fields or woodlands.

3. An adapter according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fastening arrangement includes one or several fastening holes for mounting the adapter onto the hub.

4. An adapter according to claim 3, wherein said one or several fastening holes are 25 adapted according to a pattern that fully or partly correspond to the pattern according to which corresponding fastening holes on the first transportation means is arranged.

5. An adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adapter is mounted onto the hub by means of at least one screw or at least one nut.

6. An adapter according to any one of claims I to 5, wherein the adapter includes a 30 fastening arrangement that can rotate or pivot in a plane that is adapted to be - 18 substantially vertical and substantially parallel to the transportation direction when the adapter is mounted onto the hub.

7. An adapter according to any one of claims I to 6, wherein said second transportation means is a wheel. 5

8. An adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said second transportation means is a ski.

9. A system including a load carrying transportation arrangement including at least one wheel hub or one wheel drum with a detachable first transportation means in the form of a wheel, which is adapted to cooperate in the transportation direction with a first 10 transportation surface, wherein said system includes at least one adapter in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A method for converting a load carrying transportation arrangement that includes at least one wheel hub or wheel drum with a detachable first transportation means in the form of a wheel, which is adapted to cooperate with a first transportation surface in a 15 transportation direction, wherein said method includes, - dismounting said first transportation means in the form of a wheel from said wheel hub or wheel drum; - mounting an adapter in accordance with any one of claims I to 8 onto said hub, wherein the adapter includes at least two second transportation means 20 that are adapted to cooperate with a second transportation surface in the transportation direction.

11. A system according to claim 9 or a method according to claim 10, wherein said load carrying transportation arrangement is a trailer.

12. An adapter substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the 25 embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples.