FR2709722A1 - Trailer for an internal combustion engine for sloping ground - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a trailer (2) equipped with wheels for an internal combustion engine (M), this trailer being intended to move the engine and put it in place on very sloping ground, and including a chassis (4) consisting to a draught arm (6) and of a fork-shaped part including a cross-member (8) fixed to the draught arm perpendicularly to it, and two parallel teeth (10A, 10B) spaced apart and extending in the opposite direction to the draught arm, a wheel (22A, 22B) being suspended from each of the teeth, and an engine support (32). The engine support (32) is mounted so that it can rotate between the two teeth (10A, 10B) about an axis (X-X) perpendicular to the teeth, and the trailer includes removable means (30A, 30B, 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 50) for selectively locking the support with respect to the said axis (X-X) of rotation between a first position in which the support is free to rotate about its axis of rotation and a selected position for locking the support with respect to the said axis of rotation.

Description

 The present invention relates to a trailer for an internal combustion engine, intended for the displacement of the latter and its installation on very steep ground.

 Trailers are known for supporting an internal combustion engine to move the latter and position it on relatively flat or slightly sloping ground. Such a trailer generally comprises a platform constituting a support on which the engine is fixed, the platform being fixed on a chassis carried by wheels and provided with a traction arm. In such an arrangement, the platform remains parallel to the plane of the ground on which it rolls or is slightly inclined relative to the latter when it is detached from the vehicle and the coupling rests on the ground.

 When the ground is very steep, the engine is strongly tilted with respect to the vertical, which disturbs the fuel supply and the lubrication of the engine and causes a malfunction and even the complete stop of the engine operation.

 This is a major drawback which becomes an impossibility of operation, in particular when the engine is used to implement cutting or extrication tools for a person trapped inside a vehicle which has fallen into a ravine.

 If, to avoid such a disadvantage, a portable motor is used, the manual transport of the latter to the vicinity of the vehicle is very painful and dangerous for the people carrying it. In addition, it is always difficult to install the portable motor on very steep terrain.

 To overcome these drawbacks, the object of the present invention is to provide a trailer provided with wheels, intended in particular for moving and setting up an engine on very steep terrain, the engine remaining in a substantially vertical position so that it can be reliably operated, even on very steep terrain.

 To this end, the subject of the present invention is a trailer provided with wheels for an internal combustion engine, intended for the displacement and the positioning of the latter on very sloping ground, comprising a chassis consisting of a traction arm and a fork-shaped part comprising a cross member fixed to the traction arm perpendicularly to the latter and two spaced apart parallel teeth extending opposite the traction arm, a wheel being suspended from each of the teeth, and a support motor, characterized in that the motor support is rotatably mounted between the two teeth around an axis perpendicular to the latter, and in that the trailer comprises removable means for selective blocking of the support with respect to said axis of rotation between a first position in which the support is freely rotatable about its axis of rotation and a selected position for locking the support relative to said axis of rotation.

According to other characteristics
the engine support consists of a box having an engine compartment in which the engine is received and constituting a pendulum suspended from the axis of rotation of the support,
- the box is parallelepiped and has an open face intended to access the engine,
- the box also includes an auxiliary compartment intended to receive accessories,
the support is rotatably supported in each tooth by means of a respective shaft part passing through the corresponding tooth,
- the selective locking means consist of the end of a respective shaft part projecting outside the fork and provided with at least one flat stop face located in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation, of at least one cylindrical lug extending outwards from the corresponding tooth and of a removable plate cooperating with said end and said at least one lug for locking in rotation said respective shaft part,
- the removable plate has a main axis on which are arranged a first through hole having the shape complementary to said shaft end, a first cylindrical through bore of diameter slightly larger than said shaft end and a second cylindrical bore crossing intended to surround said at least one lug, the distance separating the axes of the first and second bores being approximately equal to the distance separating the axes of said shaft end from said at least one lug,
- The removable plate has at least one through bore whose axis is spaced from the main axis and located relative to the axis of the first hole at a distance approximately equal to the distance separating the axes of said end of tree and said at least one lug,
- The removable plate includes a light in an arc, the center of which is located on the axis of the first section and the radius of which is approximately equal to the distance separating the axes of said shaft end and said at least one lug , its width being slightly greater than the diameter of said at least one lug, the latter being threaded to receive a blocking screen,
a fork tooth has two cylindrical pins arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of said shaft end,
- Each said shaft end protrudes slightly outside of the corresponding tooth and comprises at least one flat face, each tooth comprising at least one lug, the removable plate being able to be arranged indifferently on each tooth.

We will now describe an embodiment of the present invention, only by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a rear view of a trailer according to the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a top view of the trailer of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a side view of the trailer in the towed position on a road, the engine being locked in the vertical position,
FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing the selective blocking means in a blocking position,
FIG. 5 is a side view of the trailer of FIG. 1 in a stopped position, resting on a road, the engine support being freely rotatable,
FIG. 6 a view on a larger scale of part D of FIG. 5,
- Figure 7 is a side view of the trailer of Figure 1 in a hooked position on a vehicle.

 In Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a trailer 2 comprising a chassis 4 consisting of a traction arm 6 and a fork-shaped part comprising a cross member 8 fixed on the traction arm 6, and two parallel teeth 10A and lOB.

 The cross member 8 is fixed perpendicular to the traction arm 6 and the two teeth 10A and 10B are fixed to the ends of the cross member 8 extending in an opposite direction relative to the traction arm 6 so as to form a fork.

 The end of the traction arm 6 opposite with respect to the cross member 8 is provided with a handle 12 for manual traction.

 A coupling 14 is arranged so that it can slide along the traction arm 6 between an active position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 in which the trailer can be towed by a vehicle and an inactive position represented in broken lines in FIG. 3.

 A stiffener 16 provides a rigid connection between the traction arm 6 and the cross-member 8.

 The teeth 10A and lOB consist of a metal plate having an inner face 18A and 18B respectively and an outer face 20A and 20B respectively.

 Wheels 22A and 22B (see FIG. 1) are suspended respectively from the teeth 10A and 10B by means of a respective support 24A and 24B.

 The axis of each wheel is located in a plane P perpendicular to the teeth and passing approximately through the middle of the latter.

 According to the present invention, a shaft 26 is arranged between the teeth 10A and 10B, being rotatably mounted through the teeth, its axis of rotation X-X being perpendicular to the teeth and located in the plane P.

 The shaft 26 has two ends 28A and 28B projecting outwards from the teeth respectively from the faces 20A and 20B of the latter.

 Each end 28A or 28B ends in a part consisting of a solid hexagon 30A and 30B respectively.

 A motor support 32 is fixed between the teeth on the shaft 26, being therefore rotatably mounted around the axis X-X.

The engine support 32 consists of a box having a lower compartment located below the axis
XX, having a bottom wall 30 on which an internal combustion engine M is fixed, and two side walls 36A and 36B fixed on the shaft 26.

 In this arrangement, the motor acts like a pendulum, that is to say that it tends to take a vertical direction below the axis X-X.

 The rear face of the box 32 is open to access the motor M, while the front wall of the box can be either closed or open.

 The box also includes an upper compartment in which accessories, such as rescue tools, are optionally arranged.

 The trailer also comprises removable means for selective blocking of the engine support 32 relative to its axis of rotation X-X.

 The selective locking means comprise two cylindrical pins 40A, 42A and 40B, 42B extending outwardly of the teeth perpendicularly from the faces 20A and 20B respectively.

 The pins 40A and 42A are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis X-X in a plane perpendicular to the plane P.

 The fingers 40B and 42B are arranged analogously on the face 20B.

 The selective locking means also comprise the hexagon 30A and 30B as well as a removable plate 50 shown in more detail in FIG. 4.

 The plate 50 has a generally triangular shape and has a through hole 52 having in cross section a shape of regular hexagon complementary to the hexes 30A and 30B to be positioned with play around one of them. Each face of the hexagon constitutes a flat stop face situated in a plane parallel to the axis X-X.

 The plate 50 further comprises four through cylindrical bores which will now be specified.

 A first bore 54 has a diameter slightly larger than the largest dimension of the hexes 30A and 30B so that when the first bore 54 surrounds one of the hexes, the plate 50 can rotate freely around the axis X-X.

 The first bore 54 has an axis parallel to the axis of the through hole 52, defining with the latter a median plane S of the plate 50 defining a main axis of the latter, and being spaced from the axis XX so that the first bore 54 and through hole 52 do not interfere.

A second bore 56 has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the pins 40A, 40A, 40B and 42B, its axis being in the plane S and located at a distance from the axis of the first bore 54 equal to the distance existing between the axis XX and the axis of a lug 40A, 42A, 40B or 42B, being opposite the first bore 54 relative to the axis
XX.

 A third and a fourth bore 58, 60 are arranged such that their axis is at a distance from the axis of the through hole 52 equal to the distance existing between the axis X-X and one of the pins. However, the axes of the bores 58 and 62 are located in planes making with the plane S different angles a and p (see FIG. 4).

 In Figure 4, there is shown the plate 50 arranged such that the through hole 52 surrounds the hexagon 30B and the fourth bore 60 surrounds the lug 42B. In this position of the plate 50, the shaft 26 is locked in rotation and the motor makes an angle a with the vertical, its axis being perpendicular to the plane S.

 FIG. 4 also shows in broken lines a different arrangement of the plate 50, such that the through hole 52 surrounds the hexagon 30B and the third bore 58 surrounds the lug 42B. In this position, 11 shaft 26 is blocked and the motor makes an angle P with the vertical.

 The hexagon having six different positions inside the through hole 52 therefore makes it possible to block the shaft 26 in twelve predetermined positions when the lug 42B is used.

 Note that although this is not shown, the plate 50 can be turned over so that one of the bores 58 or 60 cooperates with the lug 40B, making it possible to block 11 shaft 26 and therefore the motor in a position where the latter makes an angle or an angle p with the vertical in a direction opposite to that of the previous case.

Twenty-four locking positions of 11 shaft 26 are therefore obtained.

 It should be noted that in a variant not shown, the bores 58 and 60 can be replaced by a light in an arc of a circle and in this case the end of the pins is threaded to cooperate with a clamping nut of the plate, to block in a selected position the tree 26.

 Referring to Figures 5 and 6, we see that the plate 50 is arranged such that the first bore 54 surrounds the hexagon 30B and the second bore 56 surrounds the pin 42B. In this arrangement, the shaft 26 is free to rotate about the axis X-X.

 Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when the trailer is stopped and rests on any road or terrain, the traction arm is supported on the ground, as well as the wheels, and the teeth 10A and 10B are inclined relative to horizontally, while the fact that the box provided with its motor is freely rotatable around the axis XX, it constitutes a pendulum which causes the motor to remain vertical.

 In Figure 7 there is shown the trailer hooked for example to the rear of a rescue vehicle 11 through its traction handle 12 and a notch provided at the ends of each tooth 10A and 10B to cooperate with support elements 70, arranged on the vehicle, only one being shown in FIG. 7.

 In this case intended for transporting the trailer, the motor will preferably be locked in an approximately vertical position, as shown in FIG. 7.

 A trailer mounted on a wheel was thus produced, making it possible to move an M motor on flat ground, relatively little inclined or very steep while maintaining the M motor practically vertically or even by blocking it almost vertically, even on steep terrain.

 Whatever the terrain on which the engine is to be used, the trailer is therefore designed so that the engine is approximately vertical and does not undergo any inclination preventing its operation.

 Certain modifications may appear to a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, the shaft 26 can be replaced by two shaft parts corresponding to the ends of the shaft 26 and fixed to the side walls 10A and 10B respectively, thus making it possible to free the interior space of the box.

Claims (11)

 1. Trailer (2) fitted with wheels for an internal combustion engine (M), intended for moving and positioning the latter on very steep terrain, comprising a chassis (4) consisting of a traction arm ( 6) and of a fork-shaped part comprising a cross member (8) fixed to the traction arm perpendicularly to the latter and two spaced apart parallel teeth (10A, 10B) extending opposite the traction arm, a wheel (22A, 22B) being suspended from each of the teeth, and a motor support (32), characterized in that the motor support (32) is rotatably mounted between the two teeth (10A, 10B) about an axis (XX ) perpendicular to the latter, and in that the trailer comprises removable selective locking means (30A, 30B, 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 50) of the support relative to said axis (XX) of rotation between a first position in which the support is freely rotatable about its axis of rotation and a selected locking position of the support relative to said axis of rotation.  2. Trailer according to claim 1, characterized in that the engine support (32) consists of a box (32) having an engine compartment in which the engine is received and constituting a pendulum suspended from the axis of rotation of the support.  3. Trailer according to claim 2, characterized in that the box (32) is parallelepiped and has an open face intended to access the engine.  4. Trailer according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the box (32) also comprises an auxiliary compartment intended to receive accessories.  5. Trailer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support (32) is rotatably supported in each tooth by the intermediary of a respective shaft part passing through the corresponding tooth.  6. Trailer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the selective locking means (30A, 30B, 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 50) consist of the end (30A, 30B) d 'a respective shaft part projecting outside the fork and provided with at least one flat stop face situated in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation, with at least one cylindrical lug (40A, 40B, 42A, 42B) s1 extending outwards from the corresponding tooth (lOA, lOB) and a removable plate (50) cooperating with said end and said at least one lug for locking said respective shaft part in rotation .  7. Trailer according to claim 6, characterized in that the removable plate (50) has a main axis (S) on which are arranged a first through hole (52) having the complementary shape of said shaft end, a first bore cylindrical (54) through diameter slightly larger than said shaft end and a second cylindrical through bore (56) intended to surround said at least one lug, the distance separating the axes of the first (54) and the second (56) bores being approximately equal to the distance separating the axes of said shaft end from said at least one lug.  8. Trailer according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the removable plate (50) comprises at least one through bore (58, 60) whose axis is spaced from the main axis (S) and located relative to the axis of the first hole (52) at a distance approximately equal to the distance separating the axes of said shaft end and said at least one lug,  9. Trailer according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the removable plate (50) comprises a light in an arc of a circle whose center is located on the axis of the first section and whose radius is approximately equal to the distance between the axes of said shaft end and said at least one lug, its width being slightly greater than the diameter of said at least one lug, the latter being threaded to receive a locking screen.  10. Trailer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a tooth (10A, 10B) of the fork has two cylindrical pins arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of said shaft end.  11. Trailer according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that each said shaft end protrudes slightly outside the corresponding tooth (10A, 10B) and has an end forming a hexagon delimiting six faces flat stops, each tooth comprising at least one lug (40A, 40B, 42A, 42B), the removable plate (50) being able to be arranged indifferently on each tooth.