GB2145688A

GB2145688A - Improvements relating to the displacement of sliding benches on trailers

Info

Publication number: GB2145688A
Application number: GB08323290A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erkki Tapani Ketolainen
Original assignee: NARKO Oy AB
Current assignee: NARKO Oy AB
Priority date: 1983-08-31
Filing date: 1983-08-31
Publication date: 1985-04-03
Also published as: GB8323290D0

Abstract

A trailer (1) is provided with a sliding bench (3) which is displaceable backwards and forwards in the longitudinal direction of the trailer to adjust the position of a load of rod-shaped articles on the trailer when loading or unloading the trailer. The sliding bench (3) is displaced by a transmission system comprising chain wheels (6,7,8,9,12) and chains (15,16, 19), and a rotary operating member (5) which is arranged to be driven through the timber grip of the crane used to load or unload the trailer. The operating member (5) also functions as a locking element, having a rest position in which it sits in a matching rectangular hole in a locking plate (4) to prevent rotation of the member. The member (5) is unlocked by using the timber grip to lift it clear of the rectangular hole (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to the displacement of sliding benches on trailers The invention relates to a method and a means for displacing and locking a sliding bench. The invention comes into question when loading and transporting rod-shaped pieces in a trailer. The invention will have the widest application in the transport of timber.

In practice, there exists in the transport of timber a need for displacing the load longitudinally on the trailer, because of the extension of the crane and balance problems associated with the trailer, during the loading and the load collecting step. The problem is present also when unloading the load by means of a crane.

In the transport of timber the load is displaced by means of so-called sliding benches. In the methods so far developed, the benches are displaced by means of hydraulic cylinders, either by means of one long cylinder or in jerks by means of one short cylinder.

Disadvantages associated with the abovementioned systems include, a.o., the high cost, weight, inertia, poor applicability to trailer constructions, need of bayonet couplings and the lack of a possibility to displace the bench when the tractive vehicle is disconnected from the trailer. A further drawback in such systems resides in the hydraulic pipes and cylinders which are sensitive to shocks.

Also the bayonet couplings are heavy and difficult to use especially in cold water. Also the driver must during operation leave the crane, which increases the risk of accidents in the form of slippings, fallings and similar.

By means of the method and the means according to the invention of considerable improvement in the above-mentioned disadvantages is achieved whereby most of said disadvantages have been entirely eliminated. In orderto realize this, the method according to the invention is characterized by what is defined in claim 6. The means is characterized by what is defined in claim 1.

The most important advantages of the invention include an improvement of the safety at work, no need of a separate hydraulic system, the simplicity, low weight, rapid operation and the price of the constructions, the lack of additional couplings and the possibility of use when the trailer is disconnected.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically the positioning of the assembly required by the method in a trailer.

Figure 2 is a section of the rotating and locking means.

Figure 3 is a sectional top view of the rotating and locking means.

Figure 1 shows the assembly required in the method in a trailer chassis. For the sake of clarity, only one bench is drawn in the Figure. When using the method, an element 5 included in the rotating and locking means is engaged by a timber grip of the timber loader, and said element is first lifted by means of the loader, whereby the locking is released as the element 5 is lifted from a rectangular hole in a protective plate 4. When lifting the element 5, a screw 10 and a plate element 11 welded to said screw limited the lifting of the element 5 to a suitable level. Hereafter, the displacement of the benches can be started by rotating the timber grip in the desired direction.From the timber grip the torsional moment is transmitted to the element 5 and from this element to an element 13 which is made of a square tube and from which the moment is transmitted through a shaft 14 to a chain wheel 12. From this wheel the force is further transmitted through a chain 15 to a chain wheel 6 and through a shaft 17 to a chain wheel 7, and from this further through a chain 16 to a chain wheel 8 and through a shaft 18 to a chain wheel 9 which converts the moment by means of a chain 19 into a linear movement of the benches.

The chain 19 is connected to the bench 3 from which a wire 20 extends to an idler wheel 2. One end of the wire 20 is connected to the chain 19. The idler wheel 2 permits a movement of the bench in both directions by changing the direction of rotation of the timber grip.

When the bench is in the desired location, the rotation of the timber grip is interrupted in a suitable position, and the element 5 is by means of the timber grip lowered into the rectangular hole in the locking plate 4 whereby the benches are locked in position.

Finally, the timber grip is disengaged from the elementS. All this takes place from the seat of the crane.

In the invention the rotating and locking element can be replaced by a hydraulic motor, and also the chain transmission can be replaced by one single transmission having a transmission ratio of about 1:8. Also in other respects it is to be stated that the invention has been described as a preferred embodiment only. By this it is in no way desired to limit the invention to relate to this embodiment only, but a plurality of changes are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the following claims.

1. Atrailer having a sliding bench mounted on it for displacement forwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction of the trailer to adjust the position of a load of rod-shaped articles on the trailer, and a chain wheel and chain transmission mechanism including a rotary operating member for displacing the sliding bench, the bench being moved forwards by rotation of the operating member in one direction and being moved backwards by rotation of the operating member in the opposite direction, and the operating member being lockable against rotation to lock the sliding bench in position on the trailer.

2. A trailer according to claim 1, in which the operating member is movable between a lowered locked position in which stop faces on the member and on the trailer engage each other to prevent rotation of the member, and a raised released position in which the stop faces are disengaged and

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to the displacement of sliding benches on trailers The invention relates to a method and a means for displacing and locking a sliding bench. The invention comes into question when loading and transporting rod-shaped pieces in a trailer. The invention will have the widest application in the transport of timber. In practice, there exists in the transport of timber a need for displacing the load longitudinally on the trailer, because of the extension of the crane and balance problems associated with the trailer, during the loading and the load collecting step. The problem is present also when unloading the load by means of a crane. In the transport of timber the load is displaced by means of so-called sliding benches. In the methods so far developed, the benches are displaced by means of hydraulic cylinders, either by means of one long cylinder or in jerks by means of one short cylinder. Disadvantages associated with the abovementioned systems include, a.o., the high cost, weight, inertia, poor applicability to trailer constructions, need of bayonet couplings and the lack of a possibility to displace the bench when the tractive vehicle is disconnected from the trailer. A further drawback in such systems resides in the hydraulic pipes and cylinders which are sensitive to shocks. Also the bayonet couplings are heavy and difficult to use especially in cold water. Also the driver must during operation leave the crane, which increases the risk of accidents in the form of slippings, fallings and similar. By means of the method and the means according to the invention of considerable improvement in the above-mentioned disadvantages is achieved whereby most of said disadvantages have been entirely eliminated. In orderto realize this, the method according to the invention is characterized by what is defined in claim 6. The means is characterized by what is defined in claim 1. The most important advantages of the invention include an improvement of the safety at work, no need of a separate hydraulic system, the simplicity, low weight, rapid operation and the price of the constructions, the lack of additional couplings and the possibility of use when the trailer is disconnected. In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 illustrates schematically the positioning of the assembly required by the method in a trailer. Figure 2 is a section of the rotating and locking means. Figure 3 is a sectional top view of the rotating and locking means. Figure 1 shows the assembly required in the method in a trailer chassis. For the sake of clarity, only one bench is drawn in the Figure. When using the method, an element 5 included in the rotating and locking means is engaged by a timber grip of the timber loader, and said element is first lifted by means of the loader, whereby the locking is released as the element 5 is lifted from a rectangular hole in a protective plate 4. When lifting the element 5, a screw 10 and a plate element 11 welded to said screw limited the lifting of the element 5 to a suitable level. Hereafter, the displacement of the benches can be started by rotating the timber grip in the desired direction.From the timber grip the torsional moment is transmitted to the element 5 and from this element to an element 13 which is made of a square tube and from which the moment is transmitted through a shaft 14 to a chain wheel 12. From this wheel the force is further transmitted through a chain 15 to a chain wheel 6 and through a shaft 17 to a chain wheel 7, and from this further through a chain 16 to a chain wheel 8 and through a shaft 18 to a chain wheel 9 which converts the moment by means of a chain 19 into a linear movement of the benches. The chain 19 is connected to the bench 3 from which a wire 20 extends to an idler wheel 2. One end of the wire 20 is connected to the chain 19. The idler wheel 2 permits a movement of the bench in both directions by changing the direction of rotation of the timber grip. When the bench is in the desired location, the rotation of the timber grip is interrupted in a suitable position, and the element 5 is by means of the timber grip lowered into the rectangular hole in the locking plate 4 whereby the benches are locked in position. Finally, the timber grip is disengaged from the elementS. All this takes place from the seat of the crane. In the invention the rotating and locking element can be replaced by a hydraulic motor, and also the chain transmission can be replaced by one single transmission having a transmission ratio of about 1:8. Also in other respects it is to be stated that the invention has been described as a preferred embodiment only. By this it is in no way desired to limit the invention to relate to this embodiment only, but a plurality of changes are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the following claims. CLAIMS

2. A trailer according to claim 1, in which the operating member is movable between a lowered locked position in which stop faces on the member and on the trailer engage each other to prevent rotation of the member, and a raised released position in which the stop faces are disengaged and the operating member is free to rotate.

3. A trailer according to claim 2, in which the operating member is arranged to be rotated, lifted and lowered by means of a timber grip of a loader for loading the rod-shaped articles onto the trailer.

4. A trailer according to claim 1, in which the operating member is arranged to be rotated and locked in position by means of a hydraulic or electric motor.

5. A trailer according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of displacing a sliding bench on a trailer in the longitudinal direction of the trailer to adjust the position of a laod of rod-shaped articles on the trailer, and of locking the bench when loading, unloading and transporting the rod-shaped articles, the method comprising using a trailer provided with a chain wheel and chain transmission mechanism having a lockable rotary operating member for moving the sliding bench longitudinally on the trailer, unlocking and rotating the operating member in one direction ortheotherto movethe sliding bench forwards or backwards to adjust its position as desired, and relocking the operating member to lock the bench in position.

7. A method according to claim 6, in which the operating member is unlocked by lifting it so that stop faces on the member are disengaged from stop faces on the trailer, and is locked by lowering it back so that the stop faces engage each other to prevent rotation of the operating member.

8. A method according to claim 7, in which the operating member is rotated, lifted and lowered by means of a timber grip of a loader.

9. A method according to claim 6, in which the operating member is rotated and locked in position by means of a hydraulic or electric motor.

10. A method according to claim 6, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.