GB1587687A

GB1587687A - Trailer support member

Info

Publication number: GB1587687A
Application number: GB1754078A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: INTERTRUCK Ltd
Current assignee: INTERTRUCK Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-03
Filing date: 1978-05-03
Publication date: 1981-04-08
Also published as: FR2424835A1; DE2917120A1

Description

(54) AN IMPROVED TRAILER SUPPORT MEMBER (71) We, INTERTRUCK LIMITED, of Salisbury Road, Watling Street, Dartford, Kent DA2 6EL, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement The present invention relates to trailer support strut assemblies as are used on the front end of trailers to support same when the power unit has been disconnected.

Such support struts are well-known and utilise a single speed gearing arrangement or a two-speed gearing arrangement providing one gear, which permits, speedy engagement of the support leg with the ground and another, lower gear which enables the front of the trailer to be raised. The gearing is housed in a casing fixedly mounted adjacent the upper end of the support strut which arrangement detracts from the versatility of the strut assembly in that it cannot be used in a variety of different applications.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a support strut assembly having the gear casing detachably mounted on, and spaced from, the strut, which arrangement, in use, moves the bearing support of the actuating handle which extends or retracts the strut assembly nearer the side of the trailer thus reducing the overhang on the winding shaft, which overhang often creates stability problems when the operator puts his full weight on the handle to extend or retract the strut.

The present invention consists in a support strut assembly comprising a strut extensible by mechanical means and a gear casing forming a part of said mechanical means being detachably mounted thereon, spacer means being interposed between said strut and casing.

In the accompanying drawings:- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a trailer support strut assembly according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one mode, by way of example, the support strut assembly comprises a two-part support strut 10 which is extensible by means of gearing housed in a casing 12 at the upper end thereof. The lower end of the strut 10 is provided with spaced support wheels 14 to permit movement of a trailer (not shown) when it is supported at its front end by one or more support members.

As the internal construction of the extensible support strut and gear casing are wellknown and may take various forms, as shown for example, in U.K. Patent Specification Nos. 1,030,150 and 1,347,002, a detailed description of the internal construction is deemed to be unnecessary since it forms no part of the present invention.

The gear casing 12 is detachably mounted adjacent the upper end of the outer casing 16 by means of a spacer member 22 of generally 'U'-shaped configuration. The base 24 of the spacer member is welded to the rear surface of the gear casing 12, whilst the spaced parallel arms 26 of the spacer member are detachably connected to opposed surfaces of the outer casing 16 by vertically spaced nuts 28 and bolts 32 which pass through aligned apertures in the arms of the spacer member and outer casing. It will be appreciated that the spacing between the outer casing 16 and gear casing 12 may be varied according to requirements by merely increasing the length of the arms 26 of the spacer member 22.

If desired, each arm 26 of the spacer member 22 may be provided with more than one pair of vertically spaced apertures 32 which also permits relative adjustment to be made between the outer casing 16 and gear casing 12 to suit various applications.

Furthermore, by modifying the shape of the spacer member 22, the latter may be fixedly mounted on the outer casing 16, whilst the gear casing 12 is detachably mounted on the spacer 22 by means of threaded fasteners.

The extension or retraction of the support member is effected in known manner by means of a handle 34 which engages the drive shaft 36 of the gearing.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A support strut assembly comprising a strut extensible by mechanical means and a gear casing forming a part of said mechanical means being detachably mounted thereon spacer means being interposed between said strut and casing.

2. A support strut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extensible strut comprises an outer casing and an inner casing which is axially movable relatively thereto, the lower end of said inner casing being provided with support wheels.

3. A support strut assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein siad spacer comprises a generally 'U'-shaped member, the base of which is fixedly connected to said gear casing, whilst its spaced arms are detachably connected to said outer casing by releaseable fastening means.

4. A support strut assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spacer means comprises a generally 'U'-shaped member, the base of which is fixedly connected to said outer casing whilst its spaced arms are detachably connected to said gear casing by releasable fastening means.

5. A support strut assembly as cla.med in claims 3 or 4, wherein said fastening means comprise threaded fasteners which pass through aligned apertures in the arms of said generally 'U'-shaped member.

6. A support strut assembly substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.