GB2026429A

GB2026429A - Load lifting and transporting vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2026429A
Application number: GB7924893A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Brockadale Developments Ltd
Current assignee: Brockadale Developments Ltd
Priority date: 1978-07-28
Filing date: 1979-07-17
Publication date: 1980-02-06
Also published as: FR2433282A1; IT1162766B; IT7924724A0; DK314079A; NL7905794A; DE2930275A1; GB2026429B

Abstract

The invention relates to a self- loading vehicle for unit loads e.g. cylindrical bales of straw, the vehicle 1 comprising an elongate frame 3 having spaced apart, parallel sides 6, an openable and closable bottom 19, and at least one open end 7, the frame being supported clear of the ground 4 by at least one pair of ground engaging wheels 5, a pair of movable support elements 20 extending along lower edges of each side 6 of the frame 3, and lever means pivoted at each side 6 of the frame 3 and operable by power means 32 to displace the movable support elements 20 from a location in which they close the bottom 19 of the frame 3 during lifting and transporting of the unit loads by the vehicle 1 and open the bottom 19 of the frame 3 during discharge of the unit loads from the vehicle 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load ing and transporting vehicle This invention relates to a self-loading vehicle, for lifting, transporting and discharging unit loads e.g. articles such as 5-6ft. diameter and 4-5ft. length cylindrical bales of hay, straw, etc., or relatively large square bales e.g. of 8ft. length and 5ft. square.

The formation of hay, straw etc. into relatively large bales is effected to an increasing extent and many bale forming machines operable on various principles are in existence, a formed bale usually being discharged from the rear of the machine. There is then however the problem of transporting bales from the field in which they are formed to a storage point, and this has usually been effected with a farm-type tractor provided with a front or rear end loader e.g. a pair of parallel and forwardly directed pivot arms (on which a bucket etc. is usually mounted) the arms serving to elevate the bales onto a conventional trailer or other vehicle.

According to the present invention, a selfloading vehicle for unit loads comprises an elongate frame having spaced apart, parallel sides, an openable and closable bottom, and at least one open end, the frame being supported clear of the ground by at least one pair of ground engaging wheels, a pair of movable support elements extending along lower edges of each side of the frame, and lever means pivoted at each side of the frame and operable by power means to displace the movable support elements from a location in which they close the bottom of the frame during lifting and transporting of the unit loads by the vehicle and open the bottom of the frame during discharge of the unit loads from the vehicles.

Thus, whilst the vehicle will self-load single unit loads, it will be appreciated that if a plurality of unit loads are pre-grouped e.g.

4ft. long 5ft. diameter straw bales are arranged end-to-end in the field in which they have been formed, then with a vehicle 40ft.

long manoeuvred so as to telescope over the "tube" of bales, up to ten such bales may be self-loaded into the vehicle in a single operation, the movable support elements being moved inwards with respect to the frame sides by the levers under the influence of the power means.

Reverse operation of the power means, or return of the movable support elements under gravity, possibly assisted by spring-loading, after release of the power-actuable means, allows the unit loads to be discharged from the vehicle, to be returned to the ground or to the floor of a building for instance.

Preferably, two pairs of levers are provided at each side of the frame. Each lever may have a support arm extending in a first direction from its pivot point to a movable support element, and an actuation arm extending in a second direction from its pivot point to the power means.

The power means are preferably hydraulic rams one located on each frame side and preferably of the double-acting kind.

The vehicle may be self-propelled, i.e. provided with at least one pair of drivable wheels and at least one pair of steerable wheels. The frame may be open at both ends, so as to be drivable both over and off a unit load, or row of unit loads, in either direction. Alternatively, the vehicle may be a trailer vehicle, with a hitch for attachment to a tractor.

The movable support elements may take the form of bars or elongate doors. The movable support elements may extend the full length of the frame or may be divided into two or more groups together extending the full length of the frame. With the latter arrangement, portions of the total load contained within the frame may be deposited separately. Preferably, the frame is generally of inverted and square "U, '-shape. Thus, the frame may be constructed from a plurality of rigid, spaced apart and inverted "U"-shaped supports comprising a pair of spaced apart, vertical legs and a horizontal element connecting the legs, the supports extending transversely and being joined together by a plurality of common, longitudinally extending and parallel beams. Preferably, three transverse supports are employed, one at each end of the frame and one at a mid-length position.

Each frame side may incorporate a longitudinally extending beam which may be located towards the lower edge of each frame side, which beam may carry brackets for the pivots of the levers for the movable support elements. In one embodiment, the hydraulic rams are disposed vertically on the vertical legs of the middle support and operate on the levers via tie bars. In another embodiment the rams are carried by the lower beams of the side frames and are operable directly on the levers. Also, the or each open end of the frame is preferably provided with diverging guide plates to assist in locating the frame over a unit load.

It is however possible to obviate the need to pre-group unit loads in accordance with another feature of the invention whereby the vehicle is provided adjacent an open frame end with a receiving cradle for individual unit loads and a pusher ram for displacing a unit load from the cradle into the frame with the movable support elements in their raised position to close the bottom of the frame, together with a pick-up device having a pair of prongs extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame and provided with means to swing the pick-up device between a position alongside the cradle and closely adjacent the ground, whereby the prongs can be forced under a unit load by appropriate movement of the vehicle, and an elevated position above the level of the cradle, whereby the elevated unit load is transferred from the pick-up device and deposited on the cradle, to be displaced into the frame by the pusher ram.

Thus, the movable support elements remain raised until the vehicle has received its full capacity of unit loads, which are picked up individually from wherever they may be lying, and held raised until it is desired to deposit the full capacity of unit loads in a particular location. When the vehicle is provided with such a pick-up device, the movable support elements and power means are only required to support the unit loads and not raise them collectively from the ground, and hence the structural strength of the movable support elements and the capacity of the power means, may be decreased.

If the vehicle is a trailer vehicle then a towing hitch may be connected through the cradle, and with the pusher ram carried by the hitch, the prongs of the pick-up device thus projecting forwardly ajdacent the front end of the vehicle, convenient for visual control by the driver of a tractor towing the vehicle.

In this embodiment, the movable elements are preferably in the form of movable bottom doors, thus making the vehicle suitable for carrying a wider variety of shapes and sizes of unit loads.

The end of the vehicle remote from the cradle and pick-up device may be provided with a warning device operable when the frame is full.

The prongs of the pick-up device may be carried by lifting arms attached to a torque shaft mounted in bearings at one side of the cradle, and operated by a ram carried by the cradle.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of vehicle in accordance with the invention, and a tractor; Figure 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of Figs. 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of vehicle in accordance with the invention, and a tractor; Figure 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5; Figure 7is a plan view of Fig. 5; Figure 8is a section on the line VIll-VIll of Fig. 6; and Figure 9 is a view in the direction of arrow A of Fig 5.

In the drawings, like reference numerals are employed for like components.

In the drawings, a self-loading trailer vehicle 1 is shown hitched to a tractor 2. The vehicle 1 comprises an elongate frame 3 supported from the ground 4 by a pair of wheels 5.

The frame 3 is generally of inverted "U"shape comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel sides 6, and in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4, an open rear end 7 and a closed front end 8. Basically, the frame 3 is constructed from three similar, spaced-apart transverse elements 9, 1 0 and 11 respectively at the rear, mid-point and front of the frame 3. Each element 9, 10, 11 is of inverted "U"-shape, being provided with two spaced apart vertical legs 12, 1 3 and a horizontal connecting element 1 4 with gussetts 1 5 at the upper corners.The three supports 9 are joined together by four common, longitudinally extending, and parallel beams, constituted by a pair of upper beams 1 6 connecting the horizontal elements 14 and a pair of lower beams 17, one provided at the lower edge of each frame side 6. In the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4, the frame sides 6 are completed by a plurality of wires 1 8 extending parallel to the beams 16, 17.

The frame 3 has an openable and closable bottom 1 9 defined by a pair of movable support elements 20, one each being pivotally attached to a frame side 6. Each movable support element 20 comprises an outer bar 21 extending parallel to the beams 16, 17 for the full length of the frame 3 joined by spacer and lever elements 22, 23, 24 to one of two inner bars 25 separated at each frame side 6 by one wheel 5 and each extending over differing lengths of the frame 3.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4, the pivotal attachment of the support elements 20 to the frame 3 is effected by four brackets 26 providing pivot points 27, while at the front of the frame 3, a force-transmitting connecting arm 28 extends between the individual movable support elements 20. To each lever element 24 is attached one end of a tie bar 29, the other end of each tie bar 29 being attached to a crosshead 30 carried by a piston rod 31 of a double-acting hydraulic ram 32 which is bolted to an adjacent vertical leg 12, 1 3 of the transverse element 10. It will be appreciated that extension of the rams 32 pivot the movable support elements 20 about their pivot points 27 from the position shown in Figs. 1 to 4, where the bottom 1 9 of the frame is open, to a closed position. Furthermore, at the open rear end 7 the frame 3 carries on each vertical leg 12, 1 3 a pair of diverging guide plates 33. Finally, at the front end of the frame 3 there is provided a conventional hitch 34, for securing the vehicle 1 to the tractor 2, and also a screwjack 35.

In use, a plurality of unit loads (e.g. nine 5ft. long 6fit. diameter round bales of straw) are arranged end-to-end and with the vehicle 1 in the position shown in Fig. 1, the tractor driver telescopes the frame 3 over the tube formed by the multiple unit loads. The rams 32 are then extended to close the bottom 1 9 of the frame 3 by pivotting the movable support elements 20 inwardly, whereupon the unit loads may be transported to the desired new location and the rams 32 retracted to open the bottom 1 9 and discharge the unit loads from the frame 3.

In the embodiments of Figs. 5 to 9, it will be observed that the movable support elements 20 take the form of doors 36 which extend half the length of the frame 3, with each door of a pair associated with a ram 32A. The piston rod of each ram 32A is pivotally attached to a lever 24A which, together with similar levers 22A, carries the movable doors 36. Thus, with this embodiment of vehicle, half the frame length may be operated for loading or discharge purposes compared with full length operation only of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4.

Also as illustrated in the embodiments of Figs. 5 to 9 however, the vehicle 1 is provided with a closed end 7A and an open end 8A and in the vicinity of the latter is located a receiving cradle 37 adapted to receive individ ual unit loads e.g. straw bales, while a pusher ram 38 mounted on the hitch 34 and carrying a pusher plate 39 is attached to displace individual unit loads from the cradle 37 into and along the frame 3. Furthermore, the cradle 37 is provided at one lateral side with a stop wall 40 and at its other lateral side with a pick-up device 41 having an inner prong 42 and an outer prong 43 adjustable in position along a connecting arm 44 to suit the dimensions of the unit load involved. The inner prong 42 is carried by a plurality of lifting arms 45 attached to a torque shaft 46 mounted in a pair of spaced bearings 47, one end of the torque shaft 46 mounting a connecting arm 48 pivotally attached to the piston rod 49 of a ram 50 carried by the cradle 37. The ram 30 serves to swing the pick-up device 41 from the position alongside the ground 4 illustrated in Fig. 5 after the prongs have been forced under a bale by advancing the vehicle 1 to an elevated position with respect to the cradle 37, in which elevated position the bale falls from the pick-up device 41 on to the cradle 37.

Claims

1. A self-loading vehicle for unit loads comprising an elongate frame having spaced apart, parallel sides, an openable and closable bottom, and at least one open end, the frame being supported clear of the ground by at least one pair of ground engaging wheels, a pair of movable support elements extending along lower edges of each side of the frame, and lever means pivoted at each side of the frame and operable by power means to displace the movable support elements from a location in which they close the bottom of the frame during lifting and transporting of the unit loads by the vehicle and open the bottom of the frame during discharge of the unit loads from the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein two pairs of levers are provided at each side of the frame.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each lever has a support arm extending in a first direction from its pivot point to a movable support element, and an actuation arm extending in a second direction from its pivot point to the power means.

4. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the power means are hydraulic rams one located on each frame side.

5. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the rams are of the double-acting kind.

6. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim provided with at least one pair of drivable wheels and at least one pair of steerable wheels.

7. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, provided with a hitch for attachment to a tractor.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the movable support elements take the form of bars.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the movable support elements take the form of doors.

1 0. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the movable support elements extend the full length of the frame.

11. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the movable support elements are divided into two or more groups together extending the full length of the frame.

1 2. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the frame is open at both ends.

1 3. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the frame is generally of inverted and square "U"-shape.

1 4. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the frame is constructed from a plurality of rigid, spaced apart and inverted "U"shaped supports each comprising a pair of spaced apart, vertical legs and a horizontal element connecting the legs, the supports extending transversely and being joined together by a plurality of common, longitudinally extending and parallel beams.

1 5. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14, wherein three transverse supports are employed, one at each end of the frame and one at a mid-length position.

16. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 15, wherein each frame side incorporates a beam located towards the lower edge of each frame side.

1 7. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 16, wherein each such beam carries brackets for the pivots of the levers for the movable support elements.

18. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14 and any Claim appendant thereto, wherein the hydraulic rams are disposed vertically on the vertical legs of the middle support and operate on the levers via tie bars.

19. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14 and any one of Claims 1 5 to 1 7 when appendant to Claim 1 4, wherein the rams are carried by the lower beams of the side frames and are operable directly on the levers.

20. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the or each open end of the frame is provided with diverging guide plates to assist in locating the frame over a unit load.

21. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the vehicle is provided adjacent an open frame end with a receiving cradle for individual unit loads and a pusher ram for displacing a unit load from the cradle into the frame with the movable support elements in their raised position to close the bottom of the frame, together with a pick-up device having a pair of prongs extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame and provided with means to swing the pick-up device between a position alongside the cradle and closely adjacent the ground, whereby the prongs can be forced under a unit load by appropriate movement of the vehicle, and an elevated position above the level of the cradle, whereby the elevated unit load is transferred from the pick-up device and deposited on the cradle, to be displaced into the frame by the pusher ram.

22. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 21, of the trailer type, with a towing hitch connected through the cradle and the pusher ram carried by the hitch.

23. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 21 or 22, wherein the end of the vehicle remote from the cradle and pick-up device is provided with a warning device operable when the frame is full.

24. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 21 to 23, wherein the prongs of the pick-up device are carried by lifting ams attached to a torque shaft mounted in bearings at one side of the cradle and operated by a ram carried by the cradle.

25. A self-ioading vehicle for unit loads substantialiy as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A self-loading vehicle for unit loads substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 5 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.