GB2137566A

GB2137566A - Tipping vehicle bodies

Info

Publication number: GB2137566A
Application number: GB08408719A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Trigg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-04-08
Filing date: 1984-04-04
Publication date: 1984-10-10
Also published as: GB2137566B; GB8408719D0

Abstract

A trailer comprises a chassis 10 with a body 12 pivotally mounted thereon by means of an intermediate member 16 which is arranged at the rear end of the trailer and is pivotally attached to the trailer chassis at 24 and to the trailer body at 22. By selectively locking the intermediate assembly to either the chassis or the body, actuation of an hydraulic tipping ram can cause the body to tip about its pivotal connection with the intermediate member or can cause the intermediate body and the member to pivot about the pivotal connection of the intermediate member with the chassis whereby high or low tipping heights can be obtained. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle body pivot apparatus The invention relates to pivot apparatus for vehicle bodies and is particularly though not exclusively applicable to trailers. The invention also relates to a vehicle such as a trailer incorporating such pivot apparatus.

It is to be understood that the term "vehicle" hereinafter descibed includes a trailer.

It is known to provide a vehicle having a body pivotably mounted thereon so that the body can be tipped relative to the vehicle chassis to unload the contents of the body. It happens on occasion that it is necessary to tip the contents over a sill which as at a height greater than the height of pivot of the vehicle body. In this case unless the vehicle is raised for example on ramps, some of the contents will not be tipped where desired.

It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage by providing for tipping of a vehicle body about a selected one of two pivots, one higher than the other.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising a body and a chassis, and means operable to permit selective pivotting of the body relative to the chassis about one of two or more axes.

The said means may comprise two pivots each pivot having a disengageable pin associated therewith, only one pin being engaged at any one time.

Preferably an intermediate assembly includes said first pivot by which it is attached to the vehicle body for relative pivotal movement about a first axis and said second pivot by which it is attached to the vehicle chassis for relative pivotal movement about a second axis and means for receiving said pins so that the intermediate assembly may be selectively secured against pivotal movement either about the first or about the second axis.

Desirably the axis of the first pivot is at a different height from the axis of the second pivot.

The intermediate assembly may comprise a single part extending across a rear region of the vehicle or, preferably in two parts each disposed at one side of the vehicle towards a rear region thereof.

In an alternative arrangement the intermediate assembly includes said first pivot by which it is attached to the vehicle body for relative pivotal movement about a first axis and said second pivot by which it is attached to the vehicle chassis for relative movement about a second axis, the vehicle including also a first means for causing pivotal movement of the body and intermediate assembly selectively about said first and second axes and a second means for causing pivotal movement of said intermediate assembly about said first axis.

Preferably said first and second means each comprise hydraulic piston and cylinder devices. The first hydraulic piston and cylinder device may be attached between said chassis and said body while the second hydraulic piston and cylinder device may be attached between said intermediate member and said chassis.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 which show diagrammatically the rear end of the tipping trailer.

The drawings show a chassis 10 having mounted thereon a load container or body 12 and as the wheels, suspension, main trailer tipping assembly and trailer mounting means do not form part of the present invention they are not illustrated in the drawings and will not be described.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates both a simplified tipping arrangement and the preferred more sophisticated arrangement and it will be realised that only one of the arrangements need be incorporated on a trailer.

On each side of the chassis 10 near its rear end there is provided upstanding lugs 14to which are pivotally attached at each side of the vehicle intermediate assemblies 16 and as each assembly is the same only one will now be described. The assembly comprises a bell-crank member having first and second limbs 18 amd 20, the assembly being mounted to the body 12 about a first pivot axis 22 and to the chassis lug 14 about a second pivot axis 24.

Attached to the chassis towards the forward end of the trailer and inside the assembly 16 there is provided a lug 26 having a passage therein adapted to receive a locking pin (not shown) which may pass also through a locating hole 28 formed in the first limb 18 of the assembly 16 when the assembly accupies the position shown in Figure 1.

Afurther locating passage is formed in the body 12, this passage also being adapted to receive a locking pin which may pass through a further passage 30 also formed in the first limb 18 of the assembly 16, the passage 30 being aligned with the passage in the body 12 when the trailer and intermediate assembly are in the position shown in Figure 1.

Towards the leading end of the trailer there is provided a hydraulic tipping ram (not shown) which extends between the chassis 10 and the body 12.

With the locking pin passing through the upper passage 30 in the first limb 18 and engaging in the corresponding passage in the body 12, when the tipping ram is extended the body 12 and the intermediate assembly 16 will pivot as a unit about the second pivot axis 24 and will occupy a position similar to that shown in Figure 2 thereby tipping the contents of the body from a relatively low height.

On the other hand, if the pin is passed through the passage 28 into the passage of the lug 26 fixed to the chassis 10, the tipping ram, on extension, will pivot the body only about the first axis 22 to a position similar to that shown in Figure 3. In this position the contents of the body will be tipped from a greater height than from that shown in Figure 2.

It is often advantageous to be able to tip from two or more different heights. For example, if root crops are being tipped from the body it is preferable that the distance between the body end and the surface on which they are deposited is as small as possible.

If an attempt is made to tip all the crop from the body when it occupies the position shown in Figure 2 there is a possibility that the pile of tipped crop will rise to the height of the body end so that further unloading cannot take place. In the embodiment described above, if the tipping ram is contracted to return the body 12 to the position shown in Figure 1 and the position of the pin is changed from its engagement with the body 12 through the passage 30 to engagement with the lug 26 through the passage 28 when the ram is again extended a higher tip height will be obtained, as shown in Figure 3, so that the remainder of the load can be discharged onto the top of the already deposited pile so that the remaining crops fall only over a relatively small distance so that damage is minimised.

Whereas this simple arrangement has the benefit of cost saving it will be realised that it is awkward and time consuming during a tipping operation to return the body to its starting position and manually replace the locking pins on both sides of the body.

The modified embodiment illustrated also in Fig ures 1, 2 and 3 enables the operation to be carried out automatically from the vehicle towing the trailer and it is possible to ensure that during a tipping operation as a pile of tipped crops increases in heightthetipping height also increases.

In the modification the locking pins are dispensed with and a second hydraulic piston and cylinder device 32 is provided, the cylinder being pivotally mounted to the chassis 10 below the lug 14 and the piston being pivotally attahced to the limb 18. Figure 2 shows the arrangement in the low tip position and it will be realised that in reaching this position the hydraulic tipping ram for the body will extend art a rate corresponding to that of the device 32 so that as the body 12 pivots the intermediate assembly 16 also pivots at the same rate and maintains its relative orientation with the body.To move the body towards the higher tipping position shown in Figure 3 further hydraulic fluid need be supplied to the tipping ram but the double acting piston and cylinder device 32 is contracted so that the intermediate assembly 16 pivots about the axis 24 and the axis 22 from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, this action causing the body end to lift.

Various modifcations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example by altering the geometry of the intermediate assembly the pivot axis 24 could be accomodated on the chassis 10 rather than on the upstanding lug 14.

Alternative pivot axes could be provided on the intermediate assembly. In a further modification the intermediate assembly piston and cylinder device could be positioned between the chassis 10 and the second arm 20 of the assembly. In a more sophisticated embodiment of the first embodiment described above, two locking pins could be provided with means for automatically moving them through the passages 28,30. In a further modification the intermediate assembly could comprise a single member extending below the upwardly sloping rear end of the body. In a further modification the second hydraulic piston and cylinder device is fixed between the intermediate member and the body.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a body and a chassis, and means operable to permit selective pivoting of the body relative to the chassis about one of two or more axes.

2. Avehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the said means may comprise two pivots each pivot having a disengageable pin associated therewith, only one pin being engaged at any one time.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which an intermediate assembly includes said first pivot by which it is attached to the vehicle body for relative pivotal movement about a first axis and said second pivot by which it is attached to the chassis for relative pivotal movement about a second axis and means for receiving said pins so that the intermediate assembly may be selectively secured against pivotal movement either about the first or about the second axis.

4. Avehicle as claimed in claim 3, in which the axis of the first pivot is at a different height from the axis of the second pivot.

5. Avehicle as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the intermediate assembly comprises a single part extending across a rear region of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the intermediate assembly comprises two parts each disposed at one side of the vehicle towards a rear region thereof.

7. Avehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which an intermediate assembly includes said first pivot by which it is attached to the vehicle body for relative pivotal movement about a first axis and said second pivot by which it is attached to the vehicle chassis for relative pivotal movement about a second axis, the vehicle including also a first means for causing pivotal movement of the body and intermediate assembly selectively about said first and second axes and a second means for causing pivotal movement of said intermediate assembly about said first axis.

8. Avehicle as claimed in claim 7, in which said first and second means each comprise hydraulic piston and cylinder devices.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8, in which a first hydraulic piston and cylinder device is attached between said chassis and said body and a second hydraulic piston and cylinder device is attached between said intermediate member and said chassis or said body.

10. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.