GB2066167A

GB2066167A - Demountable structure for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2066167A
Application number: GB8036401A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WEISSER HUBERT KG
Current assignee: WEISSER HUBERT KG
Priority date: 1979-11-28
Filing date: 1980-11-13
Publication date: 1981-07-08
Also published as: NL8006121A; GB2066167B; SE429119B; NO803150L; DE2947904A1; SE8008282L; DE2947904C2; BE885948A; LU82889A1; DK499280A; FR2470705A1

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for setting down a transportable winter service sprinkler (12) according to choice either on the load platform (2) of a lorry (1), which is tippable about a rear horizontal tipping axis (7), or on the ground, in which two forward support legs (33) are arranged laterally and two rear support legs (52), which remain outside the load platform (2), are arranged on a carrier frame (15) of the winter service sprinkler (12). The support legs (33, 52) are telescopically lengthenable or shortenable, that is to say lowerable to the ground and raisable from the ground. The forward support legs (33) are also each pivotable about a vertical axis out of a position lying above the load platform (2) into a position lying outside this platform. In order that the hydraulic tipping apparatus of the lorry (1) may be used in the loading and unloading of the winter service sprinkler (12), the rear support legs (52) are shorter than the height of the load platform (2) and secured each to longitudinal members (17) of the carrier frame (15) which protrude to the rear beyond the rear edge of the load platform (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Demountable structure for vehicles Apparatus for setting down transportable containers, machines or appliances according to choice on the load platform of a lorry or on the ground.

The invention relates to an apparatus for setting down transportable containers, machines or appliances according to choice, especially a winter service sprinkler appliance provided with a container for material for sprinkling and a sprinkling device, on the load platform of a lorry or on the ground, where two forward, laterally arranged, telescopic, manually extensible support legs bridging over the height of the load platform and two rear telescopic, likewise manually extensible support legs remaining outside the load platform are arranged on a carrier frame, all of which legs are liftable away from the ground when the carrier frame is seated on the load platform of a lorry, the forward support legs being secured to pivot frames which are articulated to the carrier frame pivotably each about a vertical pivot axis.

In one known sprinkler appliance (US-PS 3,180,511) the rear telescopic support legs which remain outside the load platform of the lorry are arranged on a cross rail of the carrier frame secured to the container for material for sprinkling. The distance between them is less than the width of the load platform of a motor vehicle. The forward telescopic legs are each arranged laterally of the container for sprinkling material and are pivotably mounted each on a horizontal transverse spindle.

The distance between the two forward support legs is likewise less than the width of the load platform of the transport vehicle with which the entire apparatus is transported. The horizontal pivot axes are arranged only slightly above the standing surface of the carrier frame. Moreover the carrier frame is provided in its forward zone with support rollers which are raisable and lowerable by means of an eccentric mechanism so that they can be brought out of a working position, in which they protrude downwards from the seating plane of the carrier frame, into a rest position in which they carry out no further carrying function of any kind. The forward support legs are equipped at their lower ends with hydraulic hoist devices with which the carrier frame can be lifted above the level of the platform or lowered to the platform level.Moreover in the rear zone of the carrier frame there are provided additional hydraulic cylinders as hoist devices which serve to lift the rear support legs from the ground after the sprinkler has been loaded on to a lorry, so that then they can be shortened manually. Conversely these additional hydraulic hoist devices also serve to lift the carrier frame on the load platform so far that the rear support legs can be lengthened to the ground so far that after the subsequent lowering of the carrier frame the latter remains lifted away from the load platform by the support of the two rear support legs.

With this known apparatus it is in fact possible to leave all the support legs on the carrier frame of the sprinkler even during its transportable use, because the support legs do not protrude laterally beyond the load platform. The setting of the sprinkler upon a lorry and its setting down from a lorry are however very complicated and also involve dangers, quite apart from the fact that additional power-driven pneumatic hoist devices on the carrier frame or on the forward support legs, and also support rollers, are necessary so that the sprinkler can be pushed on to the load platform of a transport vehicle while the forward support legs are pivoted out of the vertical position into an oblique position in which they carry out no further support function of any kind.

In another apparatus for lifting a container away from a vehicle (Ger.Pat.Sp. 821,176) the support frame is provided with cross bars consisting of tubes into which horizontal beams of trestle-type supports can be pushed from both sides, which bridge over the width and height of the load platform of the relevant motor vehicle. So that the carrier frame with the container can be lifted above the height of the load platform, four hydraulically operable hoist devices are provided on the carrier frame, the legs of which are seated on the load platform. It is necessary here to remove the support legs, pushed laterally into the cross bars, before the transport of the container, and to insert them again before the unloading of the container. This type of operation is also complicated and dependent upon the presence of additional hydraulic hoist devices.

A hydraulically operable set-down device for a sprinkler is also already known in which the carrier frame is provided with four support legs bridging over the width and height of the load platform, and the support legs comprise hydraulic cylinders with pistons which can be charged with pressure in both directions (Ger.Pub.Sp. 1,936,567). One form of embodiment of this known apparatus differs from the known apparatus as described above in that the laterally arranged support legs are connected with the cross bars for pivoting about a horizontal axis. As a result of their arrangement bridging over the width of the load platform these support legs protrude beyond the load platform on both sides even when they have been pivoted out of their vertical support position into an oblique position lying above the load platform.The lateral protrusion of these support legs is however intolerable on account of the danger in public road traffic involved therewith.

Starting from recognition of the fact that the vehicles used for the sprinkling service, especially lorries and lorry trailers, are provided with load platforms which can be brought hydraulically into a tipped position and that in these vehicles the load platform is tippable about an axis extending trans verselyofthe longitudinal direction of the vehicle and disposed approximately above the rear wheel axle, the invention is based upon the problem of producing an apparatus of the initially stated kind which permits substantially simpler operation both in setting down the relevant container, machine or appliance upon the ground and in setting it up upon the tippable load platform of a transport vehicle, in which furthermore the forward support legs, without needing to be removed from the carrier frame, are bringable into a position in which they no longer protrude laterally beyond the load platform of the relevant vehicle and in which moreover it is ensured that the container, machine or appliance can be set even on those vehicles the load platforms of which are provided with laterally fixed shutters or stakes.

In accordance with the invention this problem is solved in that the forward support legs (33) are bringable out of a position bridging over the width of the load platform (2), in which they are lowerable or lengthenable on to the ground, into a position lying within the load platform area, and conversely, and in that the rear support legs (52, 52') are shorter than the height of the load platform above the ground and secured orsecurable each to longitudinal members (16, 17) of the carrier frame (15) reaching beyond the rear edge of the load platform (2) The main advantage of this apparatus consists in that no additional hydraulic hoist devices of any kind are necessary on the carrier frame itself or on the support legs, which not only has a cost-saving effect but also makes the operation substantially simpler and safer, as will be explained in greater detail below with reference to an example of embodiment. If the pivot arms are articulated to a cross member of the carrier frame on the front of the container at a level lying above the upper edge of the side shutters when set up, or above fixed lateral stakes of the load platform, the further advantage is obtained that with the aid of the apparatus according to the invention the container equipped with this apparatus, the machine or the appliance can also be set readily on those transport vehicle the load platforms of which are provided with lateral fixed shutters or stakes.

Due to the fact that the longitudinal members of the carrier frame extend over the whole length of the carrier frame, can be set directly upon the load platform of a transport vehicle and are connected at their forward ends each through a vertical support with the cross member to which the pivot arms are articulated, the carrier frame as a whole receives a form which is not only simple to produce but also stable for both types of setting down, is capable of carrying even great loads and is capable of guaranteeing stable standing on the ground even when set down in stilt manner.

Further advantageous developments of the invention are the object of Claims 4 to 9.

The invention wiil be explained in greater detail below by reference to two examples of embodiment which can be seen from the drawing, wherein: Figure 1 shows in lateral elevation a lorry with a sprinkler seated on its load platform, Figure 2 shows in lateral elevation a sprinkler set down on the ground by means of a set down device and a lorry driven partiy beneath it, Figure 3 shows the sprinkler as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in plan view, Figure 4 shows the left part of the set down device of the sprinkler in rear view, Figure 5 shows a plan view of Figure 4, Figure 6 shows the same view as Figure 4, only with the support leg retracted and pivoted into another position, Figure 7shows a plan view of Figure 6, Figure 8 shows a rear support leg in lateral elevation, Figure 9 shows a plan view of Figure 8, Figure 10 shows another form of embodiment of the rear support leg in lateral elevation, Figure 71 shows the support leg according to Figure 10 in the retracted condition.

The lorry 1 as illustrated in the drawing possesses a load platform 2 which is provided in known manner with a support frame 3 which is tippable by means of a hydraulic apparatus (not shown) the extensible ram 4 of which acts in the middle of the support frame, about pivot points which can be selected by means of removable couplings. Thus the load platform 2 can also be tipped about the pivot axis 6 of its rear support bearing 7, extending parallel with the rear axle 5 of the lorry 1, as may be seen from Figure 2. In the normal condition the support frame 3 of the load platform 2 rests on the one hand on the rear support bearing 7 and on the other on a forward support bearing 8 extending over the whole width of the chassis. The load platform 2 is provided at its forward end with a vertical fixed wall 10 and with fixed stakes 11 arranged along the lateral defining edges.In place of such stakes 11 the load plafforms of lorries frequently have side shutters which can be hinged down laterally.

The sprinkler 12 set upon the load platform 2 of the lorry 1 according to Figure 1 and serving to combat winter road icing, comprises a container 13 for material for sprinkling and a sprinkler device 14 and is also provided with a carrier frame 15. The carrier frame 15 consists essentially of two longitudinal members 16 and 17 extending parallel with one another and consisting of rectangular tubes, and of a cross member 18 consisting likewise of a rectangular tube. The reservoir 13 is welded by support plates or rails 19 arranged on both sides to the longitudinal members 16 and 17 in such a way that the undersides 20 of the longitudinal members 16 and 17 at the same time constitute the seating face with which the carrier frame 15 can be set down on the load platform 2.The cross member 18 is arranged on the front of the container 13 for sprinkling material at such a vertical distance from the longitudinal members 16 and 17 and extending horizontally, and is connected by vertical supports 21 with each of the longitudinal members 16 and 17 so that when the sprinkler 12 is set according to Figure 1 upon the load platform 2 the cross member is at a vertical distance still from the upper ends of the stakes 11.

On each of the two ends of the cross member 18 support parts 22 are arranged consisting of a support angle piece 23 and a horizontal beam 24.

The beam 24 is partially pushed into the tubular cross member 18 and secured by means of a peg while the support angle piece 23 is screwed fast by means of a welded-on footplate 25 to the support 21 connecting the cross member 18 with the longitudinal member 16 or 17. The support part 22 is thus connected fast but detachably with the carrier frame 15. On the support part 22 a pivot arm 26 is articulated which consists of metal plates welded together in box manner and comprises two hinge tongues 27 and 29 grasping over the support part 22, which form the cover plate and the bottom plate of the pivot arm 26. The hinge plates 27 and 28 are provided with bores aligned one above the other vertically through which a vertical bearing shaft 29 is pushed so that the pivot arm 26 is pivotable about the vertical pivot axis 30.On the forward longitudinal side 31 (Figure 5) of the pivot arm 26 a vertical square tube 32 is welded which forms the uppermost member of a three-part telescopic leg 33, the other two members 34 and 35 of which consist likewise of rectangular tubes which are telescopically slidable on within the other. While the tube 32 is provided only at its lower end with a transverse bore 36 to receive a push-through locking bolt 37, the middle member 34 has a transverse bore 38 and 39 both at its upper and at its lower end, the axes of which extend parallel with the transverse bore 36, so that the middle member, when it is pushed nearly completely into the tube 32 or is pulled nearly completely out of the tube 32, can be locked by the bolt 37 in the tube 32.So that the member 34 cannot fall completely out of the tube 32 it is connected with the tube 32 by a chain 40 limiting the maximum length of extension. The lowermost member 35 of the telescopic leg 33 is guided vertically displaceably in the middle member 34 and possesses a series of transverse bores 41 at regular vertical intervals, the axes of which likewise extend parallel with the transverse bore 36 of the tube 32 and the axis of the transverse bore 39 of the middle member 34, so that the length of extension of the lower member 35 is variable by steps and the lowermost member 35 can be locked in the middle member 34 by means of a transverse bolt 42 which is pushed through the bore 39 of the middle member 34 and one of the bores 41.

The lower end of the tube 32 lies at such a height above the longitudinal member 16 that, as illustrated in Figure 6, the two members 34 and 35 of the telescopic leg 33 can be retracted so far that the stand plate 43 arranged at the lower end of the lower member 35 lies above the seating plane of the carrier frame defined by the undersides of the longitudinal members 16 and 17, and the entire telescopic leg 33, shortened to its minimum length, can be pivoted over the load platform 2, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 3.

In the pivotal position as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the pivot arm 26 constitutes a prolongation of the cross member 18 which suffices to bridge over the width of the load platform 2 so that in this pivotal position of the pivot arm 26 the lateral telescopic legs 33 can be set upon the ground in each case outside the load platform area. In the other pivotal position which can be seen from Figures 6 and 7 and Figure 3 in dot-and-dash lines, which the pivot arm 26 can assume only when the sprinkler is set down on the load platform 2 of a lorry 1, both the telescopic legs 33 and the pivot arms 26 are situated within the load platform area.

In order that the pivot arm 26 may be fixed in one in each case of these two above-explained pivotal positions, a locking device is provided which consists of a two-armed lever 44, a locking peg 45 secured thereto, a bore 46 in the hinge plate 27 and two correspondingly arranged bores 47 in a plate 48 fitted on the beam 24. The lever 44 is pivotably mounted in a bracket 49 on the upper side of the pivot arm 26 and provided with a draw band 50 which is secured to the end of the lever 44 opposite to the bolt 45. If the draw band 50 is drawn downwards the bolt 45 moves upwards and leaves the bore 47 of the plate 48 so that the pivot arm 26 can be pivoted into the other of the two pivot positions where the bolt 45, drawn by a draw spring 44', can assume its locking seating again in a bore 47 aligned with the bore 46 of the hinge tongue 27.

In order that the middle member 34 and the lower member 35 of the telescopic leg 33 may be shifted more easily and without danger, handles 51 and51' are provided which are fitted each on the lower ends of these members.

On the rear ends of the longitudinal members 16 and 17, which protrude rearwards beyond the load platform as may be seen from Figure 1, in each case there are secured two-member telescopic legs 52 which according to Figures 8,9 and 10, 11 can be of different formations. In the form of embodiment according to Figures 8 and 9, which is also realised in Figure 2, the upper member 53, again consisting of a square tube, of the telescopic leg 52 is provided approximately in the middle of its vertical height with a tube socket 55 of rectangular profile which is supported by two gusset plates 56 and 57 and in which a beam 58 is fitted the other end of which extends in each case into one of the longitudinal members 16 and 17 respectively and is detachably connected therewith through a transverse bolt 59.

The beam 58 is also firmly connected with the tubular socket 55 by a further tranverse bolt 60.

Instead the beam 58 could also be welded to the tubular socket 55. In this form of embodiment the lower end of the upper member 53 of the telescopic leg 52 lies, as may be seen from Figure 2, somewhat above the wheel axle 5 of a lorry 1, so that the possibility exists of achieving the ground clearance necessary for safe transport when the lower member 54 is pushed fully in. As in the telescopic legs 33, in the telescopic leg 52 the lower member 54 in the form of a rectangular tube is provided with a bottom plate 61, with a handle 62 and several parallel transverse bores 63 arranged one above the other, through which a locking bolt 64 can be pushed when they are in alignment with a transverse bore 65 arranged in the vicinity of the lower end of the upper member 53.

The form of embodiment according to Figures 10 and 11 concerns a telescopic leg which is to be removed from the carrier frame during the transport of the sprinkler 12 on a lorry. This telescopic leg 52' differs from the telescopic leg 52 only in that the tubular socket 55 is arranged at the upper end of the upper member 53' so that when the beam 58 is pushed into one of the longitudinal members 16 or 17, the lower end of the upper member 53' lies lower by about half the length of the upper member 53 than in the case of the telescopic leg 52.Because thus the distance of the bottom plate 61 from the ground, or the ground clearance, under some circumstances is not adequate, it is at least advisable to remove the telescopic legs 52' from the carrier frame after the loading of the sprinkler on to a lorry, and to fit it on the longitudinal members again when the sprinkler 12 is to be set down on the ground.

The apparatus as described can most advantageously be operated in the following manner: Assuming that as illustrated in Figure 1 the sprinkler 12 is seated on the load platform of a lorry 1 and is to be set down on the ground as illustrated in Figure 2. For this purpose it is firstly necessary to secure the reartelescopic legs 52' or 52, lacking in Figure 1, to the rear ends of the longitudinal members 16 and 17 in the manner as described, that is to say in each case to push the beam 58 into one of the longitudinal members 16 or 17 and secure it by means of a transverse peg 59.When this has taken place the lower member 54 is extended so far that the bottom plate 61 comes as close as possible to the ground and one of the transverse bores 63 comes into alignment with the transverse bore 65 of the upper member 53 or 53', so that the locking bolt 54 can be pushed through. Thus the subsequently effective length of the two rear telescopic legs 52 or 52' is in fact in every case still less than the height of the platform. As will be described subsequently however this is not disadvantageous. After the fitting and adjustment of the effective length on the rear telescopic legs 52 and 52' the two forward telescopic legs are brought out of the pivotal position as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and in Figure 3 in chain lines outwards into the pivotal position illustrated in Figures 2,4 and 5.For this purpose it is necessary firstly to unlock the locking peg 45 by pulling on the band 50, and to lock the pivot arm 26 again after its pivoting. Then the two telescopic legs 33 are lengthened until the bottom plates 43 rest on the ground.

Next it is necessary, as illustrated in Figure 2, to tip the load platform 2 about the pivot axis 6 until the rear telescopic legs 52 or 52' rest on the ground, which is possible due to the fact that the part of the load platform lying behind the pivot axis 6 descends in the tipping operation, while the larger part of the load platform 2 lying in front of it rises. This tipping operation is carried out until only the forward ends of the longitudinal members 16 and 17 are still seated on the load platform 2, while the remaining part of the longitudinal members 16 and 17 is lifted away from the load platform by reason of the increase of the angle between the load platform 2 and the longitudinal members 17 with increase of the tipping angle of the load platform 2.In this raised condition of the forward part of the load platform 2 it is now possible to fix the lengths of the two forward telescopic legs 33, by corresponding fitting of the two bolts 37 and 42, namely so that the bottom plates 43 are situated as close as possible to the ground. Then the load platform 2 can be lowered again, the carrier frame also coming to stand on the two forward telescopic legs 33, since these are set longer than corresponds to the normal platform height. Here in fact as may be seen from Figure 2 a slight oblique setting of the forward and rear telescopic legs 33 and 52 or 52' occurs, which however does not have a disadvantageous effect upon the stability of standing. The lorry 1 can now be driven away in the forward direction with a still slightly tipped load platform 2, beneath the sprinkler 12 standing on its own legs.

The setting of the sprinkler 12 upon a lorry 1 takes place in the converse sequence of the abovedescribed operations. The lorry 1 drives with the slightly tipped load platform in reverse between the forward telescopic legs 33 to beneath the longitudinal members 16 and 17, namely only so far that the rear ends of the longitudinal members 16 and 17 still protrude adequately beyond the rear edge of the load platform 2. Then firstly the load platform is tilted more, that is to say its forward part is raised, until the two forward telescopic legs 33 are lifted away from the ground.Then firstly the two telescopic legs 33 are brought into their shortest position, as illustrated in Figure 6, in which the bottom plates 43 are situated above the undersides of the longitudinal members 16 and 17. Next fistly the load platform is lowered completely into its horizontal normal position, whereby the rear telescopic legs 52 or 52' are also lifted away from the ground and either removed from the longitudinal members 16 and 17 or, in the case of the form of embodiment according to Figures 8 and 9, closed up as illustrated in Figure 9 and locked in their minimum length with the locking bolt 64. Then after slackening of the locking device 44/45 the two forward telescopic legs can be pivoted inwards and locked again in the pivotal position represented in Figures 6,7 and in Figure 3 in dot-and-dash lines.

Due to the fact that the pivot arms 26 are articulated to the carrier frame 15 at a height above the stakes 11 it is ensured that the stakes 11 constitute no obstacle in the fitting or setting down of the sprinkler 12.

Claims

1. Apparatus for setting down transportable containers, machines or appliances according to choice, especially a winter service sprinkler appliance provided with a container for material for sprinkling and a sprinkler device, on the load platform of a lorry or on the ground, in which two forward, laterally arranged, telescopic, manually extensible support legs bridging over the height of the load platform and two rear telescopic, likewise manually extensible support legs remaining outside the load platform are arranged on a carrier frame, all of which legs are liftable away from the ground when the carrier frame is seated on the load platform of a lorry, the forward support legs being secured to pivot arms which are articulated to the carrier frame pivotably in each case about a vertical pivot axis, characterised in that the forward support legs (33) are bringable out of a position bridging overthewidth of the load platform (2), in which they are lowerable or extensible to the ground, into a position lying within the load platform area, and conversely, and in that the rear support legs (52,52') are shorter than the height of the load platform above the ground and are secured or securable each to longitudinal members (16, 17) of the carrier frame (15) which extend out beyond the rear edge of the load platform (2).

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the pivot arms (26) are articulated to a transverse member (18) of the carrier frame (15) on the front of the container (13) at a height lying above the upper edge of the raised lateral shutters or above fixed lateral stakes (11) of the load platform (2).

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that the longitudinal members extend over the whole length of the carrier frame (15) and can be set directly on the load platform (2) of a transport vehicle (1) and are connected at their forward ends with the transverse member (18) by a vertical support (21) each.

4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the pivot arms (26) are articulated each to a support part (22) which consists of a beam (24) pushed into the transverse member (18) and a support angle piece (23) secured to the vertical support (21).

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterised in that the beam (24) and the support angle piece (23) are connected each detachably with the transverse member (18) and the support (21) respectively.

6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pivot arms (26) are arrestable in two pivot positions and in the one arrestable pivot position they form an extension of the transverse member (18) and in the other arrestable position they extend approximately parallel with the longitudinal members (16, 17).

7. Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the forward telescopic legs (33) are arranged each on the forward longitudinal side (31) of the pivot arms (26).

8. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that the pivot arms (26) consist each of a hollow body consisting of welded-together metal plates and having approximately the height of the support part (22), the top plate and bottom plate of which body are lengthened in the form of hinge tongues (27, 28), grasp over the support part (22) and are connected with the latter by a hinge spindle (29).

9. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at least between the first and the second member (32 and 34) of the support leg (33) consisting of three telescopic members (32,34, 35) slidable one within the other there is a connection of strap or chain type which limits the maximum length of extension.

10. Working method for operating the apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that in the setting down of the container, machine or appliance, especially of the winter service sprinkler (12), from the tippable load platform (2) of a lorry (1) by limited tipping of the load platform (2) about a rear axis parallel to the vehicle wheel axle (5), firstly the rear telescopic legs (52, 52') are set upon the ground and the longitudinal members (16, 17) of the carrier frame are lifted away from the load platform (2), by increase of the angle of tipping, and in that then the forward telescopic legs (33), lengthened to the vicinity of the ground and locked, are set upon the ground by lowering of the load platform (2).

11. Working method for operating the apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that for the loading of the container, machine or appliance, especially the winter service sprinkler (12), on to the tippable load platform (2) of the lorry (1) firstly by further raising of the load platform (2), driven in a limited tipped position to beneath the carrier frame (15), the forward telescopic legs (33) of the carrier frame (15) are relieved of load and lifted slightly from the ground and then unlocked and retracted, and in that then by lowering of the load platform (2) into its horizontal normal position the rear telescopic legs (52,52') of the carrier frame (15) are lifted away from the ground and retracted or removed from the carrier frame (15).

12. Apparatus for setting down transportable containers substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.