ES2700428T3 - A trailer with sliding bogie - Google Patents

Abstract

A trailer with sliding bogie (20), which has: a front part of the trailer (2) and a complementary rear part of the trailer (3) that are interconnected in a sliding manner for movement between a collapsed position and an extended position, the part front of the trailer (2) having means (4) to engage a tractor vehicle to tow the trailer (20), a reinforcement assembly (5) to mount a container on the trailer (20) at a rear end (7) From the front of the trailer (2), the rear of the trailer (3) can be moved telescopically relative to the front of the trailer (2) and is mounted on at least one axle (8, 9, 10) with wheels in contact with the ground (11), a lower part of the reinforcement assembly (5) that is located under the upper part of the wheels (11) when the trailer (20) is in the collapsed position and when the trailer (20 ) is in the extended position, the reinforcement assembly (5) being located behind the wheels (11) when the parts of the trailer (2, 3) are in the collapsed position and the reinforcement assembly (5) is located forward of the wheels (11) when the parts of the trailer (2, 3) they are in the extended position, characterized in that there is an elevator (22) for lifting the reinforcement (5) on the wheels (11) for rearward or forward positioning of the wheels (11).

Description

DESCRIPTION

A trailer with sliding bogie

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to semi-trailers and, in particular, to a trailer with a sliding bogie or a sliding skeletal trailer, as such adjustable-length semi-trailers are sometimes called.

EP 1486375 A2 describes the preamble of claim 1.

The invention relates in particular to a trailer with a sliding bogie of the type comprising a front trailer part and an associated rear trailer part on wheels that are slidably interconnected for adjustment between a collapsed position and an extended position to allow transportation of container boxes of different sizes in the trailer. Examples of such adjustable length semi-trailers are described in EP 2 090 462 A2 and GB 2 335 891. In general, each container is supported and secured in the trailer by a series of separate reinforcement assemblies comprising laterally extending arms. in a trailer chassis that carries the container and blocks it. Normally, a reinforcing assembly is disposed at the rear end of the front guard of the trailer. In the collapsed position, this reinforcement assembly is located further back from the rear wheels at the rear of the trailer, while, in the extended position, the reinforcement assembly is located in front of the rear wheels at the rear of the trailer . To allow the reinforcing assembly to pass the wheels when the trailer parts move between the collapsed and extended positions, this reinforcing assembly can be mounted on the wheels so that the wheels can freely pass. However, a relatively high mounting on the trailer can cause difficulties with the height space for the containers transported in the trailer with respect to bridges, tunnels and the like, and such a high mount is also less stable. In Europe there is currently a maximum height restriction of four meters. Therefore, it is generally convenient to mount a container as low as possible on the trailer. However, a relatively low mount would cause the rear reinforcement assembly on the front of the trailer to interfere with the wheels when extending and folding the trailer.

The present invention is directed to overcome this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is a trailer with a sliding bogie, which has:

a front part of the trailer and a complementary rear part of the trailer that are slidably interconnected for movement between a collapsed position and an extended position,

the front of the trailer has means for coupling to a towing vehicle for towing the trailer, a reinforcement assembly for mounting a container on the trailer at a rear end of the front of the trailer,

the rear of the trailer can move telescopically in relation to the front of the trailer and is mounted on at least one axle with wheels in contact with the ground,

a lower part of the reinforcement assembly located below the top of the wheels when the trailer is in the collapsed position and when the trailer is in the extended position, the reinforcing assembly located rearward of the wheels when the trailer parts are in the collapsed position and the reinforcing assembly that is located forward of the wheels when the parts of the trailer are in the extended position, characterized in that a lift is presented to lift the reinforcement on the wheels for its rearward or forward location. the wheels.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lift is operable in response to movement of the trailer parts between the collapsed and extended positions.

In another embodiment, the lift is operable for vertical displacement of the trailing end of the front of the trailer at the rear of the trailer when said parts of the trailer move between the trailers. Collapsed and extended positions.

In another embodiment, the elevator comprises a ramp in a part of the trailer that can be coupled with the other part of the trailer.

In another embodiment, the lift comprises a ramp at the rear of the trailer that can be coupled to the front of the trailer.

In another embodiment, the elevator comprises a roller in the other part of the trailer that can be coupled with the ramp.

In another embodiment, the roller is mounted on the reinforcement assembly.

In another embodiment, the roller is centrally mounted in the reinforcement assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, the rear part of the trailer comprises a pair of longitudinally substantially parallel longitudinal I-beams interconnected by transverse members extending between them, the rollers at the front of the trailer engage and run along the upper faces of the upper flanges of said I-beams by slidingly interconnecting the front and rear parts of the trailer, a ramp projecting upwardly from the upper face of each I-beam between its ends, each ramp has a raised central portion connected by inclined front and rear faces with the upper face of the I-beam, said central portion has a sufficient height above the upper face of the I-beam to raise the reinforcement above the upper parts of the wheels.

In another embodiment, the trailer with sliding bogie is a gooseneck trailer.

In another embodiment, the invention features a semi-trailer chassis with a pair of reinforcement assemblies mounted on the chassis, each reinforcement assembly being movable between a stored position lowered below the upper part of the chassis and an elevated operative position that rests on top of the chassis.

In another embodiment of the invention, each reinforcement assembly in the stored position is located between a pair of longitudinal rails spaced apart from the chassis and in the operative position projects laterally outwardly of a longitudinal rail of the chassis on one side of the chassis.

In another embodiment of the invention, the trailer is a gooseneck trailer having a front gooseneck chassis part stepped up with respect to a rear chassis part, an upper surface of the chassis part of the chassis. Goose neck located in a foreground and an upper surface of the rear chassis part located in a second plane, said planes are parallel and vertically separated, where each reinforcement set is in or under the second plane when the reinforcement assembly is in the stored position, and an upper support surface of the reinforcing assembly is along the first plane when the reinforcing assembly is in the operative position.

In another embodiment of the invention, the front part of the trailer comprises a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal beams and a pair of rotary reinforcement sets is mounted on the front of the trailer, each pivoting reinforcement is mounted on one of said longitudinal beams , each rotating boom comprises a rotating arm having an internal end pivotally mounted on an inner face of the longitudinal beam and an outer end carrying a connector for coupling with the container, each rotating arm can be pivotally moved between a position stored between the longitudinal beams and below the upper surfaces of said longitudinal beams and an operative position that covers the longitudinal beam on which it is mounted and projects laterally outwards.

In another embodiment of the invention, each pivoting arm is pivoting about an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the semi-trailer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be understood more clearly by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given only by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of a trailer with sliding bogie of a prior art, shown in a collapsed position;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the prior art sliding bogie trailer of Figure 1, shown in an extended position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the prior art sliding bogie trailer of Figure 1, shown in an extended position;

Figure 4 is an elevation view of a trailer with sliding bogie according to the invention, shown in a collapsed position.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the trailer with sliding bogie of Figure 4, shown in an extended position;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the trailer with sliding bogie of Figure 4, shown in an extended position;

Figure 7 is a detailed elevational view showing a rear portion of the trailer with sliding bogie of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the rear portion of the trailer with sliding bogie of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed view of the rear portion of the trailer with sliding bogie of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the trailer with sliding bogie of Figure 4, shown in a fully extended position carrying two 20-foot containers;

Figure 11 is a partially sectioned elevational view of a rotary reinforcement assembly of the semi-trailer of Figure 4 in an operative position; Y

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, showing the rotary reinforcement assembly in a stored non-operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference initially to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a known type of semi-trailer comprising a trailer with sliding bogie, indicated generally by the reference number 1. The trailer with sliding bogie 1 has a trailer chassis comprising a front part of the trailer 2 and an associated rear part of the trailer 3 that are slidably interconnected for a telescopic movement between a collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 1, and an extended position, as shown in Figs.

2 and 3, to transport containers of different length in the trailer with sliding bogie 1. For example, a single container of 20 feet, 30 feet or 40 feet, or two containers of 20 feet, could be mounted on the trailer with bogie Sliding 1. As illustrated in the drawings, trailer 1 is a gooseneck trailer. A king pin 4 is mounted on the front of the trailer 2, adjacent to a front end of the front part of the trailer 2 for coupling it to a towing vehicle for towing the trailer with sliding bogie 1. A reinforcement assembly 5 is presented for mounting a container on the trailer 1 at a rear end 7 of the front part of the trailer 2. Other reinforcement sets 6 are presented on the trailer 1 for coupling with the different containers that can be mounted on the trailer 1.

The rear part of the trailer 3 can be moved telescopically in relation to the front part of the trailer 2 and is mounted, in this case, in three axes, namely a front axle 8, an intermediate axle 9 and a rear axle 10, each one of which carries wheels in contact with the ground 11 on opposite sides of the rear part of the trailer 3. Each wheel 11 has an associated fender assembly 12 extending around an upper portion of the wheel 11 in the usual manner . For the purposes of this patent specification, said fender assembly is included in the term "wheel" as used in this patent specification.

It will be noted that the reinforcing assembly 5 is located rearwardly of the wheels 11, when the parts of the trailer 2, 3 are in collapsed position (Fig. 1), and the reinforcing assembly 5 is located forward of the wheels 11 on the rear axle 10, when the trailer parts 2, 3 are in the extended position (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). . 3).

The rear part of the trailer 3 comprises a pair of substantially separate parallel longitudinal rails formed by I-beams 14, 15 interconnected by transverse members 16 extending therebetween. The front part of the trailer 2 has a generally similar construction which is a pair of separate longitudinal I-beams. The rollers in the front of the trailer 2 engage and run along the upper faces 17 of the upper flanges 18 of the I-beams 14, 15 to slidably interconnect the front and rear parts of the trailer 2, 3.

The reinforcement assembly 5 has arms 19 projecting laterally outward of each beam I 14, 15 and have a container lock, such as a rotary lock, at an outer end of each arm 19 for connection to a container when the container It is mounted on the trailer.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 12, there is shown a semi-trailer with sliding bogie according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference number 20. Parts similar to those described above are assigned the same reference numerals. The general construction of the trailer with sliding bogie 20 is similar to the construction of the trailer with sliding bogie 1 described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. According to the present invention, however, in this case, there is presented an elevator, generally indicated by the reference number 22 for lifting the reinforcement 5 on the wheels 11 of the rear axle 10, since the two parts of trailer 2, 3 move telescopically between the collapsed and extended positions. This lifter 22 is operable for vertical displacement of a rear end 7 of the front part of the trailer 2 at the rear of the trailer 3, since the parts of the trailer 2, 3 move between the collapsed and extended positions, either lengthening or by shortening the trailer 20.

The elevator 22 comprises a ramp 25 at the rear of the trailer 3 that can be coupled with an associated roller 26 on the front of the trailer 2 to lift the reinforcement 5 on the wheels 11 (including the associated mudguard assemblies 12). The roller 26 is centrally mounted in the reinforcement assembly 5 (which is centrally between the front and rear faces of the reinforcement assembly 5) and projects downwardly therefrom to engage the ramp 25. Aligned ramps 25 are present in both beams in I 14, 15 forming the rear part of the trailer 3, intermediate the ends of each beam in I 14, 15 in the upper faces 17 of the upper flanges 18 and coupling with the associated rollers 26 mounted in the reinforcement assembly 5.

Each ramp 25 has a raised central portion 28 connected by the front and rear inclined faces 29, 30 with an upper face 17 of the I-beam 14 forming the rear part of the trailer 3. The central portion 28 has a sufficient height above of the upper face 17 for raising the reinforcement assembly 5 above the upper parts of the wheels 11 (including the associated mudguard assemblies 12).

With reference now in particular to Figs. 10 to 12, a pair of rotary reinforcing assemblies 40 are mounted on the front of the trailer 2 to allow the transport of smaller containers, particularly 20-ft. Containers 41 (Fig. 10) in the semi-trailer 20. Each set of Rotary reinforcement 40 comprises a rotating arm 42 having an inner end 43 mounted by a pivot 44 on the front of the trailer 2 and an outer end 45 carrying a connector 46 such as a rotary closure for engaging and securing a container 41 in the semi-trailer 20

As can best be seen in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the front part of the trailer 2 has a front part of the gooseneck chassis 47 stepped up in relation to the rear part of the chassis 48. The front part in Gooseneck 47 has a pair of separate longitudinal chassis rails formed by front I-beams 49, 50. Similarly, the rear part of the chassis 48 has a pair of separate longitudinal chassis rails formed by the rear I-beams 51. , 52. The upper surfaces 53, 54 of the front I-beams 49.50 are in a first plane and the upper surfaces 55, 56 of the rear I-beams 51, 52 are in a second plane, said planes being parallel and separate vertically

It will be noted that each pivoting arm 42 can be pivotally moved between a stored position (as shown in Fig. 12) within the rear I-beams 51, 52 and below the upper surfaces 55, 56 of the beams in I rear 51, 52 and an operative position (as shown in Fig. 11) covering the upper surfaces 55, 56, and projecting laterally outward, substantially perpendicular to said rear I-beams 51, 52. When in the operative position, an upper surface 58 of each oscillating arm 42 supporting the container is in the same plane as the upper surfaces 53, 54 of the front I-beams 49, 50 of the gooseneck front part 47 of the semi-trailer 20 .

The axis of rotation of each pivot 44 is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 13 of the semi-trailer 20. The rotating arms 42 are located below the upper support surface 55, 56 of the rear part of the chassis 48 of the semi-trailer 20 when they are in the stored inoperative position so as not to interfere with any container transported in the semi-trailer 20. These pivoting arms 42 can rotate outwards in a raised operative position to align with the upper support surfaces 53, 54 of the front part in gooseneck 47 of the semi-trailer 20.

In use, when the parts of the trailer 2, 3 extend and retract, the rollers 26 go up an inclined face 29, 30 of each ramp 25, through the central portion 28 and down the opposite inclined face 29, 30. for lifting the reinforcement assembly 5 on the wheels 11. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 illustrate the reinforcement assembly 5 in various positions, as the rollers 26 run up and cross the ramps 25 on each beam in I , 14, 15.

Although not shown in the drawings, preferably a roller, a low friction friction belt or the like is mounted on the front end of each beam in I 14, 15 of the rear part of the trailer 3 to be coupled to the associated I-beams of the front part of the trailer 2 and to avoid any clogging that may be caused between the two parts of the trailer 2, 3 by the upward movement of the forward end of the rear part of the trailer 3 during the extension and retraction of the two parts of the trailer 2. 3.

The embodiment of the invention described with reference to Figs. 4 to 12 shows the lifting ramps 25 in each of the beams in I 14, 15 of the rear part of the trailer 3. However, it is envisioned that a similar effect could be achieved by mounting the ramps 25 between the two beams in 14, 15 in a separate mounting frame.

It will be appreciated that the rotary reinforcement arrangement could also be used in other semi-trailers.

The terms "understand" and "include", and any variation thereof required for grammatical reasons, should be considered interchangeable and should be given the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described hereinabove, which may vary both in construction and in details within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. A trailer with sliding bogie (20), which has: a front part of the trailer (2) and a complementary rear part of the trailer (3) that are slidably interconnected for movement between a collapsed position and an extended position, the front part of the trailer (2) having means (4) for coupling to a towing vehicle for towing the trailer (20), a reinforcing assembly (5) for mounting a container on the trailer (20) at a rear end (7) of the front of the trailer (2), the rear part of the trailer (3) can move telescopically in relation to the front part of the trailer (2) and is mounted on at least one axle (8, 9, 10) with wheels in contact with the ground (11), a lower part of the reinforcement assembly (5) which is located below the top of the wheels (11) when the trailer (20) is in the collapsed position and when the trailer (20) is in the extended position, the assembly of reinforcement (5) being located rearwardly of the wheels (11) when the parts of the trailer (2, 3) are in the collapsed position and the reinforcing assembly (5) is located forward of the wheels (11) when the parts of the trailer (2, 3) are in the extended position, characterized in that a lifter (22) is provided to lift the reinforcement (5) on the wheels (11) for rearward or forward positioning of the wheels (11). The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 1, wherein the elevator (22) is operable in response to movement of the trailer parts (2, 3) between the collapsed and extended positions. 3. The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the elevator (22) is operable for the vertical movement of the rear end (7) of the front part of the trailer (2) in the rear part of the trailer (3) as said parts of the trailer (2, 3) move between the collapsed and extended positions. 4. The trailer with sliding bogie (20) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the elevator (22) comprises a ramp (25) in a part of the trailer (3) that can be coupled with the other part of the trailer (two). The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 4, wherein the lift (22) comprises a ramp (25) at the rear of the trailer (3) that can be coupled with the front part of the trailer (2) ). The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the elevator (22) comprises a roller (26) on the other part of the trailer that can be coupled with the ramp (25). The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 6, wherein the roller (26) is mounted on the reinforcement assembly (5). The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 7, wherein the roller (26) is mounted centrally on the reinforcement assembly (5). 9. The trailer with sliding bogie (20) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rear part of the trailer (3) comprises a pair of longitudinal, parallel and substantially separate I-beams (14, 15), interconnected by transverse members (16) extending between them, rollers in the front part of the trailer (2) that engage and run along the upper faces of the upper flanges of said I-beams (14, 15) to interconnect from In a sliding manner, the front (2) and rear (3) parts of the trailer, a ramp (25) projecting upwards from the upper face of each I-beam (14, 15) between its ends, each ramp (25) has a raised central portion (28) connected by the front and rear inclined faces (29, 30) with the upper face (17) of the I-beam (14, 15), said central portion (28) having a sufficient height above the upper face (17) of the beam in I (14, 15) to raise the reinforcement (5) ) on the upper parts of the wheels (11). 10. The trailer with sliding bogie (20) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trailer with sliding bogie is a gooseneck trailer. The trailer with sliding bogie (20) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a pair of reinforcement assemblies are mounted on the chassis (51, 52) of the front of the trailer (2), each set of reinforcement (40) can move between a stored position lowered below the upper part (55, 56) of the chassis (51, 52) and a raised operative position resting on the upper part of the chassis (51, 52). The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 11, wherein each reinforcement assembly (40) in the stored position is located between a pair of separate longitudinal rails (51, 52) of the chassis and in the operative position it projects laterally outwardly from a longitudinal rail of the chassis (51, 52) on one side of the chassis. The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the trailer is a gooseneck trailer having a front gooseneck chassis part (47) stepped up with respect to to a rear chassis part (48), an upper surface (53, 54) of the part of the gooseneck chassis (47) which is in a first plane and an upper surface (55,56) of the part of the rear chassis (48) which is in a second plane, said planes are parallel and vertically separated, where each reinforcement set (40) is in or under the second plane (55, 56) when the reinforcement assembly (40) is in the stored position, and an upper support surface (58) of the reinforcement assembly (40) lies along the first plane (53, 54) when the reinforcement assembly (40) is in the operative position. The trailer with sliding bogie (20) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the front part of the trailer (2) comprises a pair of parallel parallel longitudinal beams (51, 52) and a pair of rotating reinforcement assemblies (40) is mounted on the front of the trailer (2), each rotary reinforcement (40) is mounted on one of said longitudinal beams (51, 52), each rotary reinforcement (40) comprises a rotating arm (42) having an inner end (43) pivotably mounted (44) on an inner face of the longitudinal beam (51, 52) and an outer end (45) carrying a connector (46) for coupling with the container, each pivoting arm (42) can be pivotally moved between a stored position between the longitudinal beams (51, 52) and below the upper surfaces (55, 56) of said longitudinal beams (51, 52) and an operative position covering the beam longitudinal (51, 52) on which it is mounted and it projects laterally outwards from it. The trailer with sliding bogie (20) according to claim 14, wherein each rotating arm (42) can pivot on an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the semi-trailer (20).