Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D63/00—Motor vehicles or trailers not otherwise provided for
  • B62D63/06—Trailers
  • B62D63/061—Foldable, extensible or yielding trailers

Definitions

• the invention relates to a trailer of the type whose width can be varied as required. More particularly, the invention relates to a trailer provided with a mechanism which makes it possible to separate the carrying wheels, while obtaining a loading box which widens in the same proportions.
• the subject of the invention is a trailer, the width of which can be modified if necessary and which is inexpensive and easy to adjust.
• the invention also relates to the development of a simple, reliable and inexpensive mechanism which makes it possible to modify the width of a trailer.
• the present invention relates to a retractable and expandable trailer comprising a rectangular frame, a loading box fixed to the frame and comprising a horizontal platform, and a set of free-rotation carrying wheels for dragging the trailer.
• the trailer is characterized in that two frames are provided arranged under the frame and arranged to engage one in the other between an expanded position of the trailer where the frames are spaced from each other and a narrowed position of the trailer where the latter are brought together.
• Supports are fixed to the frame and allow it to retain the frames. These supports are arranged to allow both transverse and longitudinal movement of the reinforcements relative to the frame when the reinforcements move between the expanded position and the narrowed position.
• the supporting wheels are fixed respectively to the two frames.
• the trailer comprises longitudinal parts adapted to be juxtaposed with the horizontal platform on each side of the latter in the expanded position of the trailer.
• the frames each have a base and two legs perpendicular to the base. Each of the legs is introduced into at least one of the supports in which they can undergo transverse and longitudinal movement.
• a vertical side panel is attached to the base of each frame and rises from the base to define the two longitudinal sides of the cargo box.
• the trailer according to the invention comprises a support for each of the legs of the two frames. These supports are shaped to define a rectangular opening capable of receiving one of the legs and allow the transverse and longitudinal sliding of the legs in the supports.
• the trailer comprises a front panel rising from the front end of the rectangular frame to join the vertical side panels and, thus, constitute the loading box.
• the rectangular frame preferably has lateral sides, a rear side, a front side, as well as a central link fixed between the rear and front sides.
• the longitudinal parts are each pivotally mounted along the lateral sides of the rectangular frame.
• the longitudinal parts adopt a vertical position in the narrowed position of the trailer, that is to say that the longitudinal parts and the side panels are placed one against the other, while they adopt a horizontal position in position. expanded trailer, that is to say that the longitudinal parts then constitute the extensions of the platform.
• each longitudinal part comprises a secondary panel fixed perpendicularly to one end of each longitudinal part to constitute an extension of the front panel in the expanded position of the trailer, that is to say when the longitudinal part is in position horizontal.
• the secondary panel is placed outside the front panel and against the latter while each of the side panels is supported on the corresponding longitudinal part, the latter then being in a vertical position.
• the articulation device comprises a pivoting bar, articulated at one end along one leg of a frame and at the other end along a corresponding leg of the another frame, the pivoting bar being pivotally mounted on the frame.
• the articulation device also comprises a means making it possible to pivot the bar by 180 ° in order to bring about the bringing together or the distance of the reinforcements between the narrowed and expanded positions by articulation of the pivoting bar relative to the two legs on which it is articulated .
• the articulation device comprises two articulated bars, ensuring that each of the legs of a frame is connected to the corresponding leg of the other frame.
• the trailer comprises a pivoting pulley fixed to each of the articulated bars, at the point where the latter pivots on the frame.
• the trailer also includes a drive means for ensuring the rotation of the two pulleys and causing the 180 ° pivoting of each of the articulated bars and the spacing or bringing together of the two frames.
• Each of the pivoting bars is preferably pivotally mounted on the central link of the frame.
• the trailer comprises a drawbar fixed to the frame and a gearbox mounted on the drawbar.
• the gearbox is operatively connected to each of the hinged bars through the pivoting pulleys.
• the gearbox comprises a drive pulley as well as a crank ensuring the rotation of the drive pulley.
• the pivoting pulleys and the drive pulley are preferably grooved wheels which are functionally connected to each other by a system of belts.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective taken under a trailer according to the invention, illustrating the mechanism allowing the spreading and the narrowing of the trailer;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the trailer in the expanded position;
• Figure 3 is a perspective diagram illustrating a pivoting longitudinal part used to complete the platform when the trailer is in the expanded position;
• Figure 4 is a diagram of a section showing the longitudinal part horizontally to complete the platform when the trailer is in the expanded position;
• Figure 5 is another diagram showing the longitudinal part being lifted by pivoting when the trailer adopts the narrowed position;
• Figure 6 is a diagram of a section showing the longitudinal part in contact with the side wall of the loading box when the trailer is in the narrowed position;
• FIG. 1 is a perspective taken under a trailer according to the invention, illustrating the mechanism allowing the spreading and the narrowing of the trailer
• Figure 3 is a perspective diagram illustrating a pivoting longitudinal part used to complete the platform when the trailer is in the expanded position
• Figure 4 is a diagram of a section showing the
• FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism allowing the expansion of the trailer, in the narrowed position
• Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 in the initial intermediate expansion position
• Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 in the advanced intermediate expansion position
• FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 in the final expansion position.
• a trailer firstly consists of a frame 1 of generally rectangular shape.
• the frame 1 carries two movable armatures 3 and 5 on which are supported the carrying wheels 7 and 9 by means of free-rotation cylinders, respectively 11 and 13, retained on the armatures by means of suitable supports 15 and 17.
• the rectangular frame 1 has lateral sides 19, 21, a front side 23, a rear side 25, as well as a central link 27, which is fixed in a known manner, in particular by welding, between the front sides and rear 23, 25, as can be seen in the drawings, particularly FIG. 1.
• a draw bar 29 fixed to the front side 23 of the rectangular frame 1.
• the draw bar 29 constitutes in sum a continuity of the link central 27, as shown.
• the rectangular frame comprises four supports 31, 33, 35 and 37 in the shape of a rectangular U whose precise shape, function and characteristics will be described in detail later.
• the reinforcement 3 is generally in the form of a U-shaped element comprising a base 39 and two legs 41 and 43, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base 39.
• an oblique piece 45 has been provided connecting the base 39 to the leg 41.
• the frame 5 being identical to the frame 3, it will suffice to identify its corresponding constituent parts by reference numbers. It will therefore be seen that the frame 5 has legs 47, 49, a base 51 and an oblique reinforcement piece 53.
• the carrying wheels 7 and 9 are fixed to the two frames 3 and 5 by means of supports 15 and 17 and freely rotating cylinders 11 and 13.
• the support 15 is mounted on a plate 54 fixed to the frame 3 by welding or in any other known manner at the level of the base 39 and the oblique part 45.
• the support 17 is mounted on a plate 56 fixed to the frame 5 by welding or in any other known manner on the base 51 and the oblique part 53.
• the trailer comprises a loading box 87 first consisting of a horizontal platform 89, fixed in a known manner to the frame 1, and vertical side panels 91, 93, mounted, preferably, fixedly on bases 39 and 51 respectively reinforcements 3 and 5.
• a loading box 87 first consisting of a horizontal platform 89, fixed in a known manner to the frame 1, and vertical side panels 91, 93, mounted, preferably, fixedly on bases 39 and 51 respectively reinforcements 3 and 5.
• vertical front and rear panels 95 and 97 are provided, fixed in known manner to the front and rear sides 23 and 25, respectively, of the frame.
• the elements used to complete the loading box when the trailer is in the expanded position will be described later.
• the two frames 3, 5 it is first necessary that the latter are well retained in the frame 1 and under the latter.
• the two frames are connected together by an arrangement described later and which ensures that the two frames constitute a single whole in short.
• each U-shaped support unit comprises two vertical tabs 55, 57 oriented downwards and fixed in particular by welding or in any other way to the frame 1, on the lateral sides 19, 21 of the latter, as illustrated in the drawings, particularly Figure 1.
• the base of each U-shaped support unit is, in turn, constituted by a metal rod 59 parallel to the corresponding lateral side 19, 21 and connecting the vertical tabs 55, 57 so as to create a rectangular space 61 whose the dimensions are such that a leg 41, 43, 47 or 49 can slide therein transversely and longitudinally according to arrows 63 and 65.
• the two frames 3 and 5 can move relative to each other by spacing or approximation following an articulation caused by a mechanism also described later.
• the rectangular spaces 61 at the level of the U-shaped support units 31, 33, 35 and 37 were designed in anticipation of this relative movement of the two frames.
• the two frames 3, 5 are arranged to interpenetrate into each other at their legs 41, 47 and 43, 49. These legs are neighboring in pairs, that is to say -to say that we find the pair 41, 47 and the pair 43, 49.
• an articulation mechanism is provided, characterized in that at the meeting point between each of the pairs of legs 41, 47 and 43, 49, a swivel bar 67 is pivotally mounted on the central link 27, at its center 68. It will be noted that, to simplify the description, the two swivel bars are identified by the same reference numeral, in the occurrence 67.
• the articulation around the points 73, 75 and the pivot movement around the point 68 are made possible by a set of pulleys 77, 79 and 81 and belts 83 and 84.
• the pulleys 77 and 79 are operatively fixed on the pivoting bars 67 as seen in FIG. 1. These two pulleys 77, 79 are interconnected by the drive belt 83.
• a gearbox 85 has been provided. mounted in a known manner on the drawbar 29 and also coupled in a known manner to a crank 88 and to the pulley 81.
• the drive belt 84 connects the pulley 81 to the pulley 79.
• FIGS. 7 to 10 illustrate the modification of the position of the frames 3,5 when the trailer moves from the narrowed position to the expanded position by pivoting the bar 67.
• FIG. 7 shows the frames 3,5 when the trailer is in the narrowed position.
• Figures 8 and 9 show the frames 3,5 when the trailer is in the initial intermediate and advanced expansion position respectively.
• Figure 10 shows the frames 3,5 when the trailer is in the expanded position.
• longitudinal parts 99, 101 are provided which are pivotally mounted along the lateral sides 19 and 21 of the frame 1.
• the longitudinal part 99 completes the platform 89 of the loading box.
• the longitudinal part 99 comes to form one side of the loading box by pressing against the side panel 91.
• each longitudinal piece 99, 101 comprises a secondary panel 103 fixed perpendicularly to one end of the latter to constitute an extension of the front panel 95, when the trailer is in the expanded position and that the longitudinal part 99, 101 is placed horizontally along the platform 89.
• the secondary panel 103 is folded out and against the front panel 95.
• a second secondary panel will be provided in the case where the loading box also includes a rear panel 97.
• Figure 3 shows the longitudinal part 99 in the intermediate position between the narrowed position and the expanded position while Figure 5 shows the longitudinal part 99 in the process of lifting by pivoting when the trailer adopts a narrowed position.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=29214812

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (22)

Family Cites Families (17)

• 2002
  • 2002-04-19 US US10/125,607 patent/US6746040B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-04-16 AU AU2003226987A patent/AU2003226987A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-04-16 EP EP03746798A patent/EP1501717A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-04-16 WO PCT/CA2003/000578 patent/WO2003089289A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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