AU2007200472A1 - Vehicle recovery - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: KALBELA PTY LIMITED Actual Inventor(s): STANLEY JOSEPH DAY Address for Service: INTELLEPRO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 7 102 Adelaide Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) Invention Title: VEHICLE RECOVERY Details of Associated Australian Patent Application No 2006900519 Provisional Application No: filed 03.02.2006.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 VEHICLE RECOVERY FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to vehicle recovery and in particular but not limited to recovery of broken down buses. The invention also relates to a recovery vehicle. More particularly the invention relates to a recovery vehicle which pulls a bus up onto a deck or bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tipping trailers are known in the patent literature. Many trailers employ a chassis with a tilting or sliding and tilting bed which pivots and then tips over the end of the trailer onto the ground to load or unload. Many are designed for loading and unloading rolling loads including wheeled vehicles. So called tow trucks or slide tray or bed trucks have been used in vehicle recovery including recovery of broken down busses. Efforts have been made to provide low loading angles for the tilted bed to facilitate ease of loading and unloading.

For Example, Australian Patent application 89432/82 describes a tipping trailer for shipping containers where the trailer has an articulated tilt frame or bed pivoting both on the chassis and a rear wheel assembly at the end of the bed so that load is evenly distributed on the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly limits the angle that can be achieved.

US 4,225,280 describes a trailer for transporting and launching floating box caissons. It has a tilt frame supported on a chassis with a bed that translates horizontally and tilts rearwardly of the chassis to load and unload.

See also DE 298 13 522 where a low angle of loading is accomplished using a bed which translates horizontally and tilts rearwardly of the chassisto load.

DE 296 22 456 describes a semi-trailer where the bed has an intermediate section which is pivoted at links at each end so that the bed may be raised and lowered.

GB 2320229 describes a tipping trailer for carrying large bales of fodder and the like particularly round bales, wrapped or unwrapped. The trailer has a tipping body and a tailgate where the tipping body has a rest portion which is parallel to the ground and effects a stop for the tipping body when the rest engages the ground, the tail gate then extends from the rest at a shallower angle as a ramp to provide an "off-ramp" for bales to "gently" roll onto the ground.

GB 2386352 describes a tilting trailer where a rear deck extension is pivoted to the main deck as a means for moving the centre of gravity so that when the extension is raised the trailer has "nose weight" to provide improved stability when towing.

US 5,249,909 describes a recovery vehicle where the to be towed vehicle is pulled up a ramp onto an elevated deck.

WO 01 /17818 describes a tipping vehicle with an adjustable tipping angle.

The hoist can be operated so the tipping body is at a steep inclination as a bulk materials transporter but also at a low angle as a heavy vehicle transporter. This is accomplished by altering the position of the tilt axis to the rear so that the end of the trailer reaches the ground at a shallower angle.

WO 93/13958 describes a multi-positionable flat bed recovery vehicle for cars where the bed is bale to swivel when in the tilted position in order to facilitate loading of cars which are oriented at awkward angles with respect to the location where the recovery vehicle may position itself.

WO 96/08389 describes a recovery vehicle with a translating and tilting deck and while addressing a number of problems deals with loading low profile automobiles that might be damaged if the lower chassis or body parts were to engage the deck due to the deck rising too abruptly from ground level. The solution adopted is to raise the wheels of the to be towed vehicle using a wheel lift device mounted on a retractable boom so that the front of the vehicle to be towed clears the rear portion of the deck during loading.

See also DE 2650270 which describes another vehicle with a hoist and able to tip but only at relatively steep angles.

Broken down vehicles have been recovered utilising tow trucks or slide tray trucks whereby in the latter case the tray on a recovery vehicle is tilted to ground level and then the vehicle being recovered is winched up onto the tray.

The tray is then pulled onto the recovery vehicle chassis and secured there in a transport position. Examples a given in the discussion above.

The present arrangements of vehicle recovery using a sliding tray arrangement suffers from a number of disadvantages. In particular the prior art configurations present a titled recovery surface that is not optimised in terms of its relative angle to the lie of certain vehicles being recovered. The winching process is prone to cause damage to the vehicle during the recovery process as the vehicle is hauled onto the tray. These general problems have been noted in the prior art and the solutions vary considerably but there is generally shown O in the patent literature a tendency to try modifications to existing recovery vehicle without any really fresh approach to these problems.

N OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly it is an object of the present invention is to alleviate at least some degree this deficiency of the prior art It is a further object to provide a trailer with a rearmost wheel axle and the trailer being tiltable to the desired loading angle by providing a pivot at or (adjacent the rearmost wheel axle to enable tilting of the whole trailer with the pivot at a predetermined low position to achieve the desired loading angle.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is a radical departure form the prior art and consequently the expression "desired loading angle" on the basis that the loading angle will vary according to application. The example below of 5 degrees is given as being applicable to a certain model of bus and is non-limiting. In relation to buses requiring this angle the invention is in the acheivement of that angle not in the specific means by which it is achieved.

The expression "recovery" herein should not be taken as meaning that the invention is limited to carrying damaged vehicles only since clearly the trailer described can be used to carrying any vehicle where practical design consideration are taken into account. The expression is used in the sense of the claimed invention having at least the capability of recovery a damaged vehicle.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION In one aspect there is provided a recovery vehicle having a desired loading angle, the vehicle including a trailer with a rearmost wheel axle and a trailer pivot at or adjacent the rearmost wheel axle and the trailer being tiltable to the desired loading angle about the pivot at or adjacent the rearmost wheel axle to enable tilting of the whole trailer with the pivot at a predetermined low position to achieve the desired loading angle.

In one preferred embodiment the present invention resides in a bus recovery vehicle having a tiltable recovery deck having a loading angle which may be lowered to about 5 degrees to the horizontal for recovery of a vehicle by reason of the bus being pulled onto the tilted deck.

In another preferred embodiment the invention resides in a bus recovery vehicle for recovery of broken down buses, the recovery vehicle having a tiltable recovery deck having a tilted recovery angle which may be lowered to an angle so that the bus may be hauled onto the tilted deck without the bus fouling the deck.

Preferably, the bus has a clearance angle at a lowered one of selectable operative suspension positions and the tilted recovery angle is marginally less than the clearance angle. The relevant angles referred to are set out below in relation to Figures 4A-4C.

Preferably, the recovery vehicle includes a tiltable trailer assembly where the whole trailer tilts rather than a tray carried by the trailer.

Preferably, the trailer assembly is a multi axle trailer assembly whereby the suspension in a rear group of axles can be dropped or otherwise released so that the axles may be lowered in order to achieve the desired loading angle.

Preferably, the recovery vehicle includes a folding ramp assembly.

Preferably, the distance from the tray of the recovery vehicle is reduced relative to the disposition of a similar tray in relation to the prior art.

Preferably, the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a chassis, the tray having front and rear ends, the wheel assembly having a rear axle group, the rear axle group having an air bag suspension, a controller enabling air to be released from the suspension of the rear axle group.

Preferably, the tray has double folding ramps at its rear end which may be lined up to provide a ramp during a loading operation.

Preferably, the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a chassis, the tray having front and rear ends, the tray being marginally longer than a bus.

Preferably, the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a telescopic chassis assembly adjustable for recovery of vehicles of different lengths.

Preferably, the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a telescopic chassis assembly extendible for recovery of vehicles of different lengths and wherein the recovery vehicle has drop in deck sections to carry passage of wheels of a recovered vehicle across the extendible telescopic chassis sections as extended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the prior art; Figure 3 is a drawing similar to Figure 2 illustrating the relationship between the wheels of the present invention compared to those of the prior art illustration of Figure 2; Figures 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate the relative loading angles in relation to a typical bus in the case of a raised suspension, the normal ride height and the lowered or kneeled position that is encountered usually when the bus is broken down and to be recovered; Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the schematic form of the present invention recovering a bus of standard length and dimension; Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the trailer of Figures 5 and 6; and Figures 9 and 10 is a drawing of an extendable trailer adapted for recovery of longer buses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated an example of the prior art where a low loader 10 for vehicle recovery comprises a trailer assembly 11 having a chassis 12 which carries a sliding deck or tray 13.

The tray 13 is adapted to slide over the rear edge roller 14 of the trailer assembly 12. The assembly has a pair of guide arms 14 travelling in respective guide ways on opposite sides of the trailer all being driven by a tipping ram 16.

The tray height is set at 940 mm as illustrated in respect of arrows 17 and 18 in Figures 1 and 2. This provides clearance at 19 so that tray 14 may pass over wheels 20 in order to be moved between the tilted position in Figure 1 and the transport position illustrated in Figure 2. In the arrangement of Figure 1 and Figure 2 the inclination of the tray 13 at 21 is about 6 degrees to 8 degrees relative to the horizontal.

Figure 3 illustrates the application of the present invention where in this case wheels 22 are located closer to the recovery tray 23 such that the recovery tray 23 is about 100 mm closer to the ground. The relevance of this will become apparent in the following description.

It will therefore be appreciated that by tipping about the axle 24 with a suitably lengthened tray that the inclination of the tray to the ground may be less than in the embodiment of Figure 1. This is illustrated in more detail in the drawings to follow. However, the implications of this in relation to the breakdown of a bus are illustrated in relation to Figures 4A through 4C.

Figure 4A is a diagram illustrating clearance angles for a bus in the raised position which is the maximum position by which the air bag suspension lifts the bus relative to the wheels. The front of the bus has a front clearance angle at of 10 degrees. If the case arose for recovery of a bus with a raised suspension if this were possible the loading angle for the tray in the recovery vehicle would only need to be less than 10 degrees. The normal ride height is illustrated in Figure 4B where at 26 the relevant angle is 8 degrees. The angles at 27 and 28 are 7 degrees and at 29 is 9.6 degrees. In Figure 4B the angles at 30 and 31 are 5.1 degrees and at 32 7.6 degrees.

In the normal course of events so passengers may climb onto a bus the suspension is automatically lowered to a "kneel" position when the bus comes to a bus stop. This is the position which is illustrated in Figure 4C whereby the angle at 33 is about 5.2 degrees, the angle at 34 and 35 is about 3.7 degrees and the angle at 36 is about 5.6 degrees. This may vary for different buses.

At breakdown the bus adopts the kneel position illustrated in Figure 4C thus any effort to recover a vehicle using the arrangement of Figure 1 will cause damage to the front of the bus which will initially collide with the deck until the wheels come onto the deck, likewise the back of the bus is prone to drag causing further damage.

Referring to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 an embodiment of the present invention as applicable to recovery for buses is illustrated. It will be appreciated that it may be used for recovery of other vehicles. The invention comprises in this case a low loader assembly 37 having a tray 38 supported by a wheel assembly 39 on a chassis 40. A controller enables air to be released from the suspension of the rear axle group 41 and double folding ramps 42 may be lined up in the position illustrated in Figure 5 so that the inclination of the tray 38 as illustrated by arrow 43 is at approximately 5 degrees to the horizontal. The bus 44 when kneeled to the position illustrated in Figure 4C may be winched onto the tray utilising the winch assembly 45 and cable 46 without damage.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 the tray or platform is 12.6 metres long and this enables a bus at 12.5 metres long to be loaded and recovered. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate an arrangement for a longer vehicle whereby the trailer 50 is shown recovering a "bend-a-bus" 51 utilising a telescopic chassis assembly 52. The recovery vehicle in this case has drop in deck sections 53 to carry the passage of the wheels 54 and 55 across the extendible telescopic chassis sections as extended and illustrated in Figure 11 Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set out in the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. A recovery vehicle having a tiltable recovery deck having a loading angle which may be lowered to about 5 degrees to the horizontal for recovery of a vehicle by reason of the vehicle being pulled onto the tilted deck.

2. A recovery vehicle having a desired loading angle, the vehicle including a trailer with a rearmost wheel axle and a trailer pivot at or adjacent the rearmost wheel axle and the trailer being tiltable to the desired loading angle about the pivot at or adjacent the rearmost wheel axle to enable tilting of the whole trailer with the pivot at a predetermined low position to achieve the desired loading angle.

3. A bus recovery vehicle for recovery of broken down buses, the recovery vehicle having a tiltable recovery deck having a tilted recovery angle which may be lowered to an angle so that the bus may be hauled onto the tilted deck without the bus fouling the deck.

4. A bus recovery vehicle according to claim 3 wherein a bus being recovered has a clearance angle at a lowered one of selectable operative suspension positions and the tilted recovery angle is marginally less than the clearance angle. A bus recovery vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the recovery vehicle includes a tiltable trailer assembly where the whole trailer tilts rather than a tray carried by the trailer.

6. A bus recovery vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the recovery vehicle includes a tiltable trailer assembly where the whole trailer tilts rather than a tray carried by the trailer and the trailer assembly is a multi axle trailer assembly 13 whereby the suspension in a rear group of axles can be dropped or otherwise released so that the axles may be lowered in order to achieve the desired loading angle.

7. A bus recovery vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the recovery vehicle includes a folding ramp assembly.

8. A bus recovery vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a chassis, the tray having front and rear ends, the wheel assembly having a rear axle group the rear axle group having an air bag suspension, a controller enabling air to be released from the suspension of the rear axle group, the tray having double folding ramps at its rear end which may be lined up to provide a ramp during a loading operation.

9. A bus recovery vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a chassis, the tray having front and rear ends, the tray being marginally longer than a bus A bus recovery vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a telescopic chassis assembly adjustable for recovery of vehicles of different lengths.

11. A bus recovery vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a telescopic chassis assembly extendible for recovery of vehicles of different lengths and wherein the recovery vehicle has drop in deck sections to carry passage of wheels of a recovered vehicle across the extendible telescopic chassis sections as extended.

12. A recovery vehicle according to claim 2 wherein a vehicle being recovered has a clearance angle at a lowered one of selectable operative suspension positions and the tilted recovery angle is marginally less than the clearance angle.

13. A recovery vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the recovery vehicle includes a tiltable trailer assembly where the whole trailer tilts rather than a tray carried by the trailer.

14. A recovery vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the recovery vehicle includes a tiltable trailer assembly where the whole trailer tilts rather than a tray carried by the trailer and the trailer assembly is a multi axle trailer assembly whereby the suspension in a rear group of axles can be dropped or otherwise released so that the axles may be lowered in order to achieve the desired loading angle. A recovery vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the recovery vehicle includes a folding ramp assembly.

16. A recovery vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a chassis, the tray having front and rear ends, the wheel assembly having a rear axle group, the rear axle group having an air bag suspension, a controller enabling air to be released from the suspension of the rear axle group, the tray having double folding ramps at its rear end which may be lined up to provide a ramp during a loading operation.

17. A recovery vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a chassis, the tray having front and rear ends, the tray being marginally longer than a bus

18. A recovery vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a telescopic chassis assembly adjustable for recovery of vehicles of different lengths.

19. A recovery vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle comprises a low loader assembly having a tray supported by a wheel assembly on a telescopic chassis assembly extendible for recovery of vehicles of different lengths and wherein the recovery vehicle has drop in deck sections to carry passage of wheels of a recovered vehicle across the extendible telescopic chassis sections as extended. A recovery vehicle substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A recovery vehicle substantially as described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.