AU2012211505B2

AU2012211505B2 - Supporting device for semi-trailer, having a supporting foot and at least one covering device for said supporting foot

Info

Publication number: AU2012211505B2
Application number: AU2012211505A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Elmar Weber
Original assignee: SAF Holland GmbH
Current assignee: SAF Holland GmbH
Priority date: 2011-08-22
Filing date: 2012-08-13
Publication date: 2013-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-13
Also published as: DE102011081338A1; AU2012211505A1; EP2562057A3; CN102951131B; EP2562057B1; EP2562057A2; DE102011081338B4; CN102951131A

Abstract

The invention relates to a supporting device for a semi-trailer or the like, comprising a supporting tube and a supporting foot arranged on the supporting 5 tube, wherein the supporting foot comprises a rolling segment, which is attached at the supporting tube, and a contact plate with a rolling area for the rolling segment. There is further provided at least one covering device arranged on the supporting device, which at least partially covers the rolling segment and/or the rolling area of the contact plate and provides protection from splash water and 10 stone chip. [Fig. 1] It C)'

Description

1 SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR A SEMI-TRAILER, HAVING A SUPPORTING FOOT AND AT LEAST ONE COVERING DEVICE FOR SAID SUPPORTING FOOT Description 5 The invention relates to a supporting device or landing gear for a semi-trailer or the like having a supporting tube, a supporting foot and a covering device. Supporting devices of the type in question are mostly arranged in pairs (pair of 10 supports) in the front portion on the frame of a semi-trailer and are employed when the semi-trailer is to be decoupled from the road tractor and parked separately. Such systems are described in particular in DE 10 2009 001 288 Al and DE 10 2009 001 299 Al filed by the applicant company. 15 The supporting devices comprise a supporting tube, mostly configured as a multi piece supporting tube, at whose bottom end there is arranged a supporting foot, which usually is height-adjustable. The supporting foot comprises a rolling segment (compensation segment), which is attached at the bottom end face of the supporting tube, and a contact plate (foot element or foot plate) having a rolling area for the 20 rolling segment. Thus, in the case of longer parking times, the semi-trailer may move forward or backward without excessive bending stress and/or buckling or collapsing stress on the supporting devices. During vehicle operation, the supporting feet of the supporting devices are positioned 25 in the splash zone of the rear wheels of the road tractor and, thus, are subject to splash water, mud/dirt and stone chip and the like. This may cause dirtying, which has to be removed at regular intervals. Furthermore, as a result, dirt, mud, stones and the like may be carried away from a site (e.g. a building site) onto the street. This causes danger in road traffic. 30 Therefore, an object underlying the present invention is to provide a supporting device for a semi-trailer or the like which has an increased operational safety. cSAF02131 amd5September2013 2 According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a supporting device or landing gear. for a semi-trailer or the like, comprising: 5 a supporting tube and a supporting foot arranged on the supporting tube, wherein the supporting foot comprises a compensation element arranged on the supporting tube and a contact plate having a support portion for the compensation element, and at least one covering device arranged on the supporting device which at least partially covers or overlaps the compensation element and/or the support 10 portion of the contact plate; and wherein the compensation element is pivotably attached at the supporting tube with a swivel joint and the covering device at least partially covers or overlaps the swivel joint as well as the compensation element and/or the support portion of the contact plate. The compensation element may be configured as a rolling segment or sliding 15 element, which is displaceable or rollable or slidable onto a support portion - e.g. a rolling area or sliding area - of the contact plate. Suitably the at least one covering device arranged on the supporting device, (in vehicle operation) at least partially covers or overlaps the compensation element or rolling segment, respectively, and/or the support portion or rolling area, respectively, of the contact plate and 20 protects it from splash water, stone chip and/or the like. The supporting tube may be configured single-piece or multi-piece. Preferably, it is a telescopic supporting tube, wherein the supporting foot is arranged at the lower portion of the supporting tube or at the inner supporting tube. The supporting foot is attached essentially by means of the compensation element or rolling segment, which is attached directly or indirectly 25 at the bottom end face of a bottom supporting tube portion or an inner supporting tube. The compensation element or rolling segment preferably has an arc-shaped rolling section. The contact plate is preferably an essentially flat component, which comprises a contact surface and a support portion or rolling area opposite of the contact surface for the compensation element (or the rolling section thereof). The 30 support portion is in particular that portion or that surface of the contact plate that is touched or contacted by the compensation element (or the rolling section section thereof, respectively) when there is a compensating movement (i.e. a positional offset of the semi-trailer). The compensation element and the contact plate are cSAF02131 amd5September2013 3 connected to one another in a known manner. The covering device for covering and protecting the compensation element and/or the support portion may be configured as a single-piece or multi-piece. Preferably, the covering device is arranged at the supporting device directly in the area of the supporting foot, which is advantageous 5 for the height-adjustability of the supporting foot. In a simple embodiment the covering device may be a protective plate (made from a metal material or possibly also from a plastic material), which is attached at the supporting foot and/or the supporting tube. During vehicle operation, the proposed covering device (there may also be provided several covering devices, as will be explained in more detail 10 hereinafter) protects the supporting foot and in particular the compensation element or rolling segment, respectively, and/or the support portion or rolling area, respectively, of the contact plate from splash water and stone chip. Hence, the disadvantages of conventional supporting devices mentioned in the introductory portion of the present application are avoided by using the supporting device of the 15 present invention. A further advantage of the proposed covering device is that at the supporting device according to the invention there will be considerably less air turbulence in vehicle operation (compared to conventional supporting devices), which reduces mainly road noise. 20 Advantageously, the covering device is made from a resilient material and expediently fixed to the supporting device such that it returns or resets the contact plate into a neutral starting position. Particularly preferably, the covering device or the tarpaulins or, if applicable, the open bellows are made from an elastic material, which make it possible to automatically return the contact plate into a neutral starting 25 position (relative to the compensation element or rolling segment and/or the supporting tube) when the supporting device is lifted or retracted. This will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the Figure. If a suitable design is used, such an automatic returning or resetting is also possible when a closed bellows or a tube-shaped tarpaulin is used. 30 Preferably, the covering device is attached at the supporting tube and at the contact plate. The covering device - when seen in the direction of travel - can be fixed at the front and at the rear on the supporting tube and/or at the front and at the rear on the cSAF02131amd5September2013 4 contact plate. A respective lateral attachment on the supporting tube and/or on the contact plate is additionally or alternatively also possible. Expediently, for attaching the covering device, there are provided latch hooks on the 5 supporting tube and/or on the contact plate. Advantageously, the compensation element is pivotably attached at the supporting tube via a swivel joint, wherein the covering device preferably at least partially covers or overlaps said swivel joint as well. The proposed covering device thus also serves 10 to protect the swivel joint for the compensation element. In a first embodiment, there is provided a single covering device, which essentially entirely encases or covers the compensation element and/or the support portion of the contact plate. To put it differently, the single covering device may essentially 15 entirely encase the supporting foot. As has already been explained above, said covering device may be single-piece or multi-piece. Particularly preferably, said covering device is a bellows, which is closed overleaf, or a tube-shaped tarpaulin, which encase the supporting foot and in particular the area of the compensation element and of the support portion of the contact plate like gauntlets. The bellows or 20 the tube-shaped tarpaulin may be attached at the top (i,e. with the upper end thereof) at the outer circumference of the supporting tube and at the bottom (i.e. with the lower end thereof) at an edge section of the contact plate. Locking may be done e.g. by a clamp or the like. A further preferred mode of attachment will be explained in more detail hereinafter. 25 In a second embodiment there is provided a plurality of covering devices, preferably two covering devices, which at least partially cover or overlap the compensation element and/or the support portion of the contact plate. Thus, there may be provided two covering devices, which cover the supporting foot and in particular the area of 30 the compensation element and of the support portion of the contact plate towards the front and towards the rear relative to the direction of travel during vehicle operation. Thus, there may be provided a first covering device, which overlaps the supporting foot, expediently the compensation element thereof and/or the support portion of the cSAF02131 amd5September2013 5 contact plate, in the front in the direction of travel, i.e. in front of the axis of symmetry or swivel axis. Analogously, there may be provided a second covering device, which overlaps the supporting foot, expediently the compensation element thereof and/or the support portion of the contact plate, in the rear in the direction of travel, i.e. 5 behind the axis of symmetry or swivel axis. Also said covering devices may be configured single-piece or multi-piece. Preferably, said covering devices are two tarpaulins. Alternatively, said covering devices may also be configured as open bellows. The tarpaulins may be attached at the top at the supporting tube and at the bottom at the contact plate. 10 Particularly preferably, attachment is done via latching, to which end the tarpaulins may be provided with suitable eyelets, thickened portions or the like, and the supporting tube as well as the contact plate may be provided with corresponding latch hooks or clamp hooks. 15 Expediently, tarpaulin refers to a cloth-like material having non-rigid properties, which is made from a textile material, a caoutchouc or rubber material, a plastic material or a synthetic material (in particular a synthetic elastomer material) or a composite material, for example. Preferably, the tarpaulin has elastic properties, as 20 will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The bellows may be made from a plastic material or a textile material. The invention will be described hereinafter by way of example and in a non-limiting manner with reference to the Figure. 25 Fig. I shows a schematic side view of the foot portion of a preferred embodiment of the supporting device according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows the bottom portion or foot portion of a supporting device 100 according 30 to the invention for a semi-trailer or the like. The supporting device 100 comprises a supporting tube 110, on which a supporting foot 120 is arranged. The supporting foot 120 comprises a compensation element or rolling segment 130 and a contact plate 140. By means of a swivel joint 135 the compensation element 130 is pivotably cSAF02131 amd5September2013 6 attached at the supporting tube 110, which may be in particular a telescopic inner supporting tube. The compensation element 130 comprises an arch-shaped rolling section, which is designated by reference numeral 131. The contact plate 140 comprises a contact surface 141 and a support portion or rolling area 142, 5 respectively, opposite thereof for the compensation element 130 or the rolling area 131 thereof, respectively. Reference numeral 143 designates raised edge sections formed at the contact plate 140, which according to the normal direction of travel x (of the semi-trailer) form a front edge and a rear edge of the contact plate 140. The supporting foot 120 is configured symmetrical with regard to the side view shown. L 10 designates the axis of symmetry, which also corresponds to the axis of movement of the supporting foot 120 during raising or lowering. In case the semi-trailer is parked for a longer period of time, there may be a forward or backward movement of the semi-trailer, for example due to the fact that 15 compressed air escapes from the pneumatic spring system. In order to compensate for such a forward or backward movement, the pivotably supported compensation element 130 may roll onto the support portion 142 of the contact plate 140, which stationarily contacts the ground; thus, excessive bending stress and/or buckling or collapsing stress on the supporting device 100 is prevented. 20 During vehicle operation, the supporting foot 120 is subject to splash water and mud/dirt, which are swirled up, as well as to stone chip and the like. In order to protect the supporting foot 120 and in particular the compensation element 130 (and mainly the rolling section 131 thereof) and the support portion 142 of the contact 25 plate 140, there are provided two covering devices 150a and 150b, which cover the supporting foot 120 relative to the direction of travel x like a tent towards the front and towards the rear. The covers 150a and 150b are configured as tarpaulins (as has been explained above), which are attached at the the top at the exterior of the supporting tube 110 and at the bottom at the raised edge sections 143 of the contact 30 plate 140. The covers or tarpaulins 150a and 150b cover or overlap the swivel joint 135, too, and, thus, serve to protect said swivel joint as well. cSAF02131 amd5September2013 7 in order to attach the tarpaulins 150a and 150b, there are provided on the supporting tube 110 and on the contact plate 140 latch hooks or clamp hooks 115 and 145 in combination with guide mechanisms. The tarpaulins 150a and 150b are accordingly configured with thickened portions 151 at the edges, which engage the latch hooks 5 115 and 145 from behind in a form-fitting manner. Alternatively, there may be also provided eyelets or the like on the tarpaulins 150a and 150b. Said fastening elements are preferably configured to withstand high tensile forces and/or resetting forces in the tarpaulins 150a and 150b (as will be explained in more detail hereinafter). 10 Preferably, the tarpaulins 150a and 150b are made from an elastic material. When the compensation element 130 rolls onto the support portion 142, which is stationary on the contact plate 140 contacting the ground, there will be an elastic stretching or elongation of one of the two tarpaulins 150a and 150b (depending on the direction of 15 rolling), wherein the other tarpaulin 150b or 150a may contract such that it is crease free. When the supporting foot 120 is raised from such a state, the elastic tensile forces in the stretched or elongated tarpaulin 150a or 150b may lead to a resetting of the contact plate 140 into a neutral starting position (as is shown in Fig. 1), wherein also the compensation element 130 may be returned into the neutral starting position 20 (as is shown in Fig. 1). Said neutral starting position is also characterized by an equilibrium of forces in the tarpaulins 150a and 150b, to which end also the symmetric design of the supporting foot 12o is advantageous. In order to achieve a sufficiently great resetting force, the tarpaulins 150a and 150b have steep spring characteristics (applied force over deflection). The spring elements for resetting 25 known from the prior art (as is shown in the prior art cited in the introductory portion, for example) thus may possibly be omitted or dimensioned to be smaller. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the supporting foot 120 is protected towards the front and towards the rear by means of the covers 150a and 150b. Likewise, it is 30 possible to provide only a single front cover 150a, which may ensure minimum protection. Furthermore, an embodiment is conceivable having a cover, which entirely encases the supporting foot 120 and protects it completely and from all cSAF02131 amd5September2013 8 sides, i.e. in the lateral direction as well. Such a cover might be configured e.g. as a bellows or tube-shaped tarpaulin, as has been explained above. oSAF02131 amd5September2013

Claims

1. A supporting device or landing gear for a semi-trailer or the like, comprising: a supporting tube and a supporting foot arranged on the supporting tube, 5 wherein the supporting foot comprises a compensation element arranged on the supporting tube and a contact plate having a support portion for the compensation element, and at least one covering device arranged on the supporting device which at least partially covers or overlaps the compensation element and/or the support portion of the contact plate; and wherein the 10 compensation element is pivotably attached at the supporting tube with a swivel joint and the covering device at least partially covers or overlaps the swivel joint as well as the compensation element and/or the support portion of the contact plate. 15

2. A supporting device according to claim 1 wherein the covering device is made from a resilient material and is expediently fixed to the supporting device such that the covering device returns or resets the contact plate into a neutral starting position. 20

3. A supporting device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the covering device is attached at the supporting tube and at the contact plate.

4. A supporting device according to claim 3 wherein for attaching the covering device there are provided latch hooks on the supporting tube and/or on the 25 contact plate.

5. A supporting device according to any one of the preceding claimswherein there is provided a single covering device which substantially encases the 30 compensation element and/or the support portion of the contact plate. cSAF02131 amd5September2013 10

6. A supporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein there is provided a plurality of covering devices which at least partially cover or overlap the compensation element and/or the support portion of the contact plate. 5

7. A supporting device according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of covering devices is two covering devices.

8. A supporting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each covering device is configured as a bellows or tube-shaped tarpaulin. 10

9. A supporting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each covering device is made from a textile material, a caoutchouc or rubber material, a synthetic material or a composite material. 15

10. A supporting device or landing gear for a semi-trailer or the like as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A supporting device or landing gear for a semi-trailer or the like substantially as 20 hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. cSAF02131 amd5September2013