GB2141399A

GB2141399A - Load-carrying vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2141399A
Application number: GB08316403A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-16
Filing date: 1983-06-16
Publication date: 1984-12-19
Also published as: IE841403L; GB8316403D0; IE55219B1; GB2141399B

Abstract

A load-carrying vehicle, for example a trailer, comprises a chassis 1 supported by at least one pair of ground-engaging wheels 6, a sub-frame 2 pivotally mounted on the chassis, means, such as a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 14, for pivoting the sub-frame to a raised position relative to the chassis, and first support means, such as struts 19, for locking the sub-frame in a raised position relative to the chassis. The vehicle further comprises a load-carrying compartment 3 pivotally mounted on the sub-frame 2, means, such as a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 33, for pivoting the load-carrying compartment to a raised position relative to the sub-frame, and second support means, such as struts 38, for locking the load-carrying compartment 3 in a raised position relative to the sub-frame 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load-carrying vehicle This invention relates to a load-carrying vehicle of the kind which is capable of discharging loads to locations situated a considerable distance, for example three metres or more, above the level of the ground on which the vehicle rests.

Vehicles of the above-mentioned kind, either in the form of self-propelled vehicles or trailers, are required for various purposes, many of which arise in the agricultural field. For example, in the operation of agricultural drills for the simultaneous distribution of seeds and fertiliser, it is necessary to discharge seeds and fertiliserfrom a vehicle into hoppers of the drill, which hoppers have openings which may be as high as three metres or more from the ground.

The present invention aims to provide a vehicle which is particularly suitable for performing such operations in a safe manner.

According to the invention a load-carrying vehicle comprises a chassis supported by at least one pair of ground-engaging wheels, a sub-frame pivotally mounted on said chassis, means for pivoting the sub-frame to a raised position relative to the chassis, first support means for locking the sub-frame in a raised position relative to the chassis, a loadcarrying compartment pivotally mounted on said su b-frame, means for pivoting the load-carrying compartment to a raised position relative to the sub-frame, and second support means for locking the load-carrying compartment in a raised position relative to the sub-frame.

Both the means for pivoting the sub-frame relative to the chassis and the means for pivoting the load-carrying compartment relative to the sub-frame are preferably power-operated, for example hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies.

The first support means may be arranged to exert its locking effect automatically when said sub-frame is pivoted through a predetermined angle away from the chassis. To this end, the first support means may comprise at least one strut pivotally mounted at one end on said chassis and having its other end engageable automatically with locking means on the sub-frame when the latter is pivoted through a predetermined angle from the chassis.

The second support means may comprise at least one strut pivotally mounted at one end on said load-carrying compartment and having its other end engageable with a latching mechanism on the sub-frame. This latching mechanism may be arranged to lock the or each strut to the sub-frame in one of a plurality of different angular positions of the load-carrying compartment relative to the chassis.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view of a trailer in accordance with the invention, the load-carrying compartment of the trailer being shown in raised position in readiness to discharge a load, Figure 2 is an end view corresponding to Figure 1, taken in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a latch mechanism of the trailer of Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 1, but showing the load-carrying compartment ofthe trailer in different positions.

The trailer shown in the drawings comprises a chassis, generally designated by the numeral 1, a sub-frame, generally designated by the numeral 2, and a load-carrying compartment in the form of a tank, generally designated by the numeral 3. The chassis 1 is of rectangular shape, viewed from above, and comprises two channel-section side members 4 rigidly joined together in spaced-apart, parallel relationship by cross-members which have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity of illustration. The chassis 1 is secured, near its rear end, to an axle 5 provided with a pair of ground-engaging wheels 6. At its forward end, the chassis 1 is provided with a draw bar 7 for attaching the trailer to a towing vehicle, for example a tractor, not shown.

The sub-frame 2 is also of rectangular shape, viewed from above, and it comprises two channelsection side members 8 rigidly joined together in spaced-apart, parallel relationship by suitable crossmembers which, apart from the cross member 9 shown in Figure 2, have beem omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity of illustration. Each of the side members 8 has outwardly-projecting, upper and lower flanges 10 and 11, respectively, connected by a web 12. At its forward end, the sub-frame 2 is pivotally mounted in a horizontal axle 13 mounted on the chassis 1 at right-angles to the side members 8, and the sub-frame is pivotable from a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 4, in which it is parallel to the chassis 1, to an inclined position, shown in Figure 1, by means of a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly, generally designated by the numeral 14.

The assembly 14 comprises a cylinder 15 which is pivotally connected to the chassis 1 and a telescopic rod 16 which has its free end pivotally connected to a cross-member of the sub-frame 2 at 17. The cylinder 15 is provided with pipes (not shown) for supplying and exhausting hydraulic fluid.

Adjacent the rear end of the chassis 1, a tube 18 is rotatably mounted in the side members 4, the axis of the tube 18 being parallel to the axle 13. Two sub-frame supporting struts 19 are rigidly secured, for example welded, to the tube 18. At their rear ends, the struts 19 are secured, for example welded, to a horizontally disposed box girder member 20 disposed parallel to the tube 18. Adjacent its forward end, each of the struts 19 carries a roller 21 which rests against the lower flange 11 of a respective one of the side members 8 of the sub-frame 2. A block 22 secured, for example welded, to the web 12 of the side member 8 defines, with the flange 11, a slot 23 along which the roller 21 can move as the sub-frame is turned from its lower, horizontal position (Figure 4) to its upper inclined position (Figure 1).At its forward end, each of the struts 19 has a short rod 24, secured, for example welded, thereto, the axis of each rod 24 being parallel to the axle 13.

A shaft 25 is rotatably mounted in the side members 8 of the sub-frame 2, the axis of this shaft being parallel to the axle 13. At each of its ends, the shaft 25 has an arm 26 secured thereto, the two arms being parallel to one another and at right-angles to the axis of the shaft 25. Adjacent its free end, each of the arms 26 has a hook-shaped locking member 27 secured, for example welded, to its underside. When the sub-frame 2 is in its lower, horizontal position (Figure 4), the struts 19 adopt the position shown in Figure 4 and the hook-shaped locking member 27 of each arm 26 rests on the upper surface of its associated strut 19.When pressurised hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 15 to raise the sub-frame 2 from the horizontal position shown in Figure 4to the inclined position shown in Figure 1, the rollers 21 on the struts 19 travel along their respective slots 23, in the direction of the arrow B, and the rods 24 pass under the locking members 27, lifting the latter by rotation of the arms 26 in an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. In the fully extended position of the piston and cylinder assembly 14, the arms 26 drop back to the position shown in Figure 1, in which the locking member 27 of each arm engages the rod 24 of its associated strut 19. If the supply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 15 is then cut off, the sub-frame 2 is locked in the position shown in Figure 1 by the engagement of the rods 24 of the struts 19 in the locking members 27.

Referring now to Figure 2, itwill be seen that a lever 28 is secured to the shaft 25 intermediate the side members 8 of the sub-frame 2. A rod 29 is connected to the free end of the lever 28 and extends between the side members 8 to the front end of the sub-frame 2. At its forward end, close to the draw bar 7, the rod 29 is provided with a handle 30. When it is desired to turn the sub-frame 2 from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 4, hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 15 to effect a slight raising of the sub-frame, and the handle 30 is pulled to cause rotation of the shaft 25 in the anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, in order to disengage the locking members 27 from the rods 24. By exhausting hydraulic fluid from the cylinder 15, the sub-frame is then lowered to its horizonal position shown in Figure 4.

The tank 3 is of generally parallelepipedic shape and has its floor 31 pivotally mounted on a shaft 32 mounted on the sub-frame 2 adjacent the rear end of the latter, the axis of the shaft 32 being parallel to the axle 13. A second piston and cylinder assembly, generally designated by the numeral 33, has its cylinder 34 pivotally mounted in a cradle 35 secured to the chassis 1 and the free end of its telescopic piston rod 36 is pivotally connected at 37 to the floor 31 of the tank.-The cylinder 34 is provided with pipes (not shown) for supplying and exhausting hydraulic fluid. When the cylinder 34 is connected to exhaust, the tank 3 lies on the sub-frame 2, as shown in Figure 4. When pressurised hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 34, the tank is tilted relative to the sub-frame 2 by extension of the piston rod 36, as shown in Figure 1.

Two tank supporting struts 38 are pivoted at one end on respective pivot pins 39 mounted on the floor 31 of the tank 3, the axes ofthe pins 39 being aligned with one another and parallel to the axle 13. At their ends remote from the pivot pins 39, the struts 38 are received in respective upwardly-open, channelsection members 40 forming part of the sub-frame 2.

The members 40 are disposed parallel to the side members 8 of the sub-frame 2 and are rigidly secured to the aforementioned cross-members (not shown) of the sub-frame.

When the tank 3 is inclined relative to the subframe 2 (as shown in Figures 1 and 5), the lower ends of the struts 38 can be latched to the members 40 by latching mechanisms, generally designated by the numeral 41. The two latching mechanisms 41 are of the same construction and the latching mechanism associated with the right-hand strut 38 (as viewed in Figure 2) will now be described with reference to Figure 3. From Figure 3 it will be seen that the latching mechanism 41 comprises three identical latch devices, generally designated by the numeral 42. Each latch device 42 comprises a bell-crank lever 43 which is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 44 secured to a bracket 45 welded to the channelsection member 40, the axis of the pivot pin 44 being perpendicular to the web 46 of the member 40.Each bell-crank lever 43 comprises two arms 47 and 48 disposed at 135'to one another, the axes of the two arms 47 and 48 being at right-angles to the axis of the pivot pin 44. The free ends of the arms 48 of the three bell-crank levers are interconnected by rods 49 which are pivotally connected at their ends to the arms 48. The arm 48 of one of the bell-crank levers 43 is pivotally connected to a rod 50 which extends between the side members 8 to the forward end of the sub-frame 2. At its forward end, close to the draw bar 7, the rod 50 of each of the latching mechanisms 41 is proivided with a respective handle 51 (see Figure 2).

In the position of the latching mechanism 41 shown in Figure 3, the arms 47 of the three bell-crank levers 43 lie across the channel-section member 40 at right-angles to the flanges 52 of the latter. In this position of the latching mechanism, which is the engaged position of the latching mechanism, each arm 47 bears against two ears 53 secured, for example welded, to the flanges 52 of the member 40.

By pulling the rod 50 in the direction of the arrow C, the three-bell crank levers 43 can be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction on their pivot pins 44 (as viewed in Figure 3) until the arms 47 no longer lie across the member 40 but are instead disposed parallel to the flanges 52 of the latter. This is the dis-engaged position of each of the latching mechanisms 41.

When the tank 3 occupies the position shown in Figure 4, the latching mechanisms 41are disposed in their dis-engaged positions and the two tank supporting struts 38 lie in their associated channelsection members 40. When the tank 3 is raised to the postion shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5, by supplying pressurised hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 34, the free end of each of the struts 38 moves into the region of the associated member 40 where the latching mechanism 41 is located. When the tank 3 has been raised to this position, the rod 50 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow C to bring the arms 47 of each of the latching mechansims 41 to the position shown in Figure 3.When the supply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 34 is cut off, the free end of each of the tank supporting struts 38 is held against movement down its associated member 40 by one of the arms 47. The tank 3 is then locked in one of three raised positions, depending on which of the three arms of the latching mechanisms 41 are engaged by the stuts 38.

To return the tank 3 into the position where the floor 31 of the tank is parallel to the sub-frame 2, hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 34 to effect a slight raising of the tank and the rod 50 is then pulled in the direction of the arrow C to move the latching mechanisms 41 to their dis-engaged positions. By exhausting hydraulic fluid from the cylinder 34, the tank 3 can then be lowered to the sub-frame 2.

Figure 4 shows the trailer in condition ready to receive a load in the tank 3. In this condition of the trailer it can be towed to a site where the load is to be discharged. If the load has to be discharged onto the ground, the tank 3 is raised relative to the sub-frame 2 to the position shown in Figure 5. To facilitate discharge of a load in this manner, the rear end of the tank may be provided with a hinged tailboard (not shown) in conventional manner.

If the load has to be discharged into a location situated above ground level, the sub-frame 2 and the tank 3 are raised to the positions shown in Figure 1.

When the trailer is in this position, it may be desirable to give the trailer additional lateral stability above that provided by the wheels 6. To this end, stabilising feet 54 (see Figures 1 and 2) may be fitted in the box member 29 prior to raising the sub-frame 2 relative to the chassis 1.

The above-described trailer is particularly suitable for the transportation of agricultural material on farms, employing a tractor for towing the trailer. For example, the tank 3 may have separate compartments (not shown) for the reception of seeds and fertiliser which can be loaded into the tank at the farm and then be transported to a field where the seeds and fertiliser are to be distributed using an agricultural drill. At the field, the trailer is set in the condition shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the sub-frame locked relative to the chassis 1 by the supporting struts 19, and with the tank 3 locked relative to the sub-frame 2 by the supporting struts 38. The tractor can then be disconnected from the draw bar 7.With the trailer in this condition, seeds and fertiliser can be discharged from the tank 3 into the seed and fertiliser hoppers of the agricultural drill. To this end, the rear end of the tank 3 may be provided with a plurality of outlets 55 (shown only in Figure 1) suitably controlled by gate valves (not shown). Due to the provision of the locking struts 19 and 38, the trailer is in a very stable and safe condition without the need to supply hydraulicfluid to the piston and cylinder assemblies 14 and 33.

The invention is not, of course, limited to the particular embodiment described above with reference to the drawings. For example, a load-carrying vehicle in accordance with the invention may be a self-propelled vehicle rather than in the form of a towable trailer. Again, instead of being provided with simple handles 30 and 51, the rods 29 and 50 may be connected to lever devices at the front end of the sub-frame 2 to provide a mechanical advantage which facilitates operation of the rods. Such lever devices may be mounted on the cross-member 9 of the sub-frame.

CLAIMS (Filed on 11.8.83.) 1. A load-carrying vehicle comprising a chassis supported by least one pair of ground-engaging wheels, a sub-frame pivotally mounted on said chassis, means for pivoting the sub-frame to a raised position relative to the chassis, first support means for locking the sub-frame in a raised position relative to the chassis, a load-carrying compartment pivotally mounted on said sub-frame, means for pivoting the load-carrying compartment to a raised position relative to the sub-frame, and second support means for locking the load-carrying compartment in a raised position relative to the sub-frame.

2. A load-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein both the means for pivoting the sub-frame relative to the chassis and the means for pivoting the load-carrying compartment relative to the sub-frame are power operated.

3. A load-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first support means is arranged to exert its locking effect automatically when said sub-frame is pivoted through a predetermined angle away from the chassis.

4. A load-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first support means comprises at least one strut pivotally mounted at one end on said chassis and having its other end engageable automatically with locking means on the sub-frame when the latter is pivoted through a predetermined angle from the chassis.

5. A load-carrying vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the second support means comprises at least one strut pivotally mounted at one end on said load-carrying compartment and having its other end engageable with a latching mechanism on the sub-frame.

6. A load-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the latching mechanism is arranged to lock the or each strut to the sub-frame in one of a plurality of different angular positions of the load-carrying compartment relative to the chassis.

7. A load-carrying vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. arms 47 of each of the latching mechansims 41 to the position shown in Figure 3. When the supply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 34 is cut off, the free end of each of the tank supporting struts 38 is held against movement down its associated member 40 by one of the arms 47. The tank 3 is then locked in one of three raised positions, depending on which of the three arms of the latching mechanisms 41 are engaged by the stuts 38. To return the tank 3 into the position where the floor 31 of the tank is parallel to the sub-frame 2, hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 34 to effect a slight raising of the tank and the rod 50 is then pulled in the direction of the arrow C to move the latching mechanisms 41 to their dis-engaged positions. By exhausting hydraulic fluid from the cylinder 34, the tank 3 can then be lowered to the sub-frame 2. Figure 4 shows the trailer in condition ready to receive a load in the tank 3. In this condition of the trailer it can be towed to a site where the load is to be discharged. If the load has to be discharged onto the ground, the tank 3 is raised relative to the sub-frame 2 to the position shown in Figure 5. To facilitate discharge of a load in this manner, the rear end of the tank may be provided with a hinged tailboard (not shown) in conventional manner. If the load has to be discharged into a location situated above ground level, the sub-frame 2 and the tank 3 are raised to the positions shown in Figure 1. When the trailer is in this position, it may be desirable to give the trailer additional lateral stability above that provided by the wheels 6. To this end, stabilising feet 54 (see Figures 1 and 2) may be fitted in the box member 29 prior to raising the sub-frame 2 relative to the chassis 1. The above-described trailer is particularly suitable for the transportation of agricultural material on farms, employing a tractor for towing the trailer. For example, the tank 3 may have separate compartments (not shown) for the reception of seeds and fertiliser which can be loaded into the tank at the farm and then be transported to a field where the seeds and fertiliser are to be distributed using an agricultural drill. At the field, the trailer is set in the condition shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the sub-frame locked relative to the chassis 1 by the supporting struts 19, and with the tank 3 locked relative to the sub-frame 2 by the supporting struts 38. The tractor can then be disconnected from the draw bar 7.With the trailer in this condition, seeds and fertiliser can be discharged from the tank 3 into the seed and fertiliser hoppers of the agricultural drill. To this end, the rear end of the tank 3 may be provided with a plurality of outlets 55 (shown only in Figure 1) suitably controlled by gate valves (not shown). Due to the provision of the locking struts 19 and 38, the trailer is in a very stable and safe condition without the need to supply hydraulicfluid to the piston and cylinder assemblies 14 and 33. The invention is not, of course, limited to the particular embodiment described above with reference to the drawings. For example, a load-carrying vehicle in accordance with the invention may be a self-propelled vehicle rather than in the form of a towable trailer. Again, instead of being provided with simple handles 30 and 51, the rods 29 and 50 may be connected to lever devices at the front end of the sub-frame 2 to provide a mechanical advantage which facilitates operation of the rods. Such lever devices may be mounted on the cross-member 9 of the sub-frame. CLAIMS (Filed on 11.8.83.)

1. A load-carrying vehicle comprising a chassis supported by least one pair of ground-engaging wheels, a sub-frame pivotally mounted on said chassis, means for pivoting the sub-frame to a raised position relative to the chassis, first support means for locking the sub-frame in a raised position relative to the chassis, a load-carrying compartment pivotally mounted on said sub-frame, means for pivoting the load-carrying compartment to a raised position relative to the sub-frame, and second support means for locking the load-carrying compartment in a raised position relative to the sub-frame.