GB2171748A

GB2171748A - Clamp apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2171748A
Application number: GB08502682A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Richard Marshall
Original assignee: Charles J Marshall
Current assignee: Charles J Marshall
Priority date: 1985-02-02
Filing date: 1985-02-02
Publication date: 1986-09-03
Also published as: GB8502682D0

Abstract

Clamping apparatus for a tailgate 5 of a vehicle having a body 3 and a tipping section 2 mounted on the body, comprising a clamp member 7 movable between a first position in which it exerts a force on the tailgate in a direction to close it (Fig. 1) against the tipping section and a second position in which it is spaced from the tailgate to allow the tailgate to open (Fig. 2), movement of the clamp member being actuated through a lever 10,11 arrangement by relative movement between the tipping section and the body. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clamp apparatus This invention relates to clamp apparatus, especially but not exclusively for use on the tailgates of tipper lorries and trailers.

Previously, the tailgates on tipper lorries and trailers have been provided with catch mechanisms in the form of either manually operated bolts or catches automatically operated by lever arrangements actuated by the tipping movement. Previously proposed arrangements however, generally allow the tailgate a small amount of movement when it is in the closed position. This means that lorry or trailer containers incorporating such catch mechanisms are not generally suitable for loads in the form of fluids or small particulate material.

According to the present invention there is provided clamp apparatus for the tailgate of a vehicle having a tipping section, comprising a clamp member mounted on the vehicle and movable between a first position in which it forcibly engages the tailgate to retain it in a closed position and a second position in which it is spaced apart from the tailgate, movement of the clamp member being controlled by relative movement between the tipping and non tipping sections of the vehicle.

Preferably an abutment member is included on the vehicle which cooperates with the clamp member and is adjustable so as to regulate the force with which the clamp member engages the tailgate.

Preferably also the clamp member is controlled by a lever arrangement.

Preferably also the clamp member is resiliently biased away from the tailgate.

The clamp member may be in the form of a lever pivotally mounted on the tipping section of the vehicle which is connected by a connecting rod to a second lever pivotally mounted on the tipping section of the vehicle at a position remote from the first lever, the second lever engaging the abutment member in use.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a tipper trailer, having clamp apparatus in accordance with the present invention, in a non tipped position; and Figure 2 is a side view of the tipper trailer of Fig. 1 in a tipped position.

Referring to the drawings, a vehicle in the form of a tipper trailer 1 has a container 2 mounted on a chassis 3 through a pivot member 4. A tailgate 5 is mounted on a rear portion of the container 2 by way of hinges 6.

A first lever 7 is pivotally mounted on the container 2 at 8. The first lever 7 has a flange 9 at one end portion which engages the tailgate 5 to hold it in a closed position. The other end portion of the first lever 7 is pivotally connected to a connecting rod 10 which is pivotally connected to a second lever member 11 mounted on the container 2 through a pivot 15. A spring 12 biases the connecting rod 10 away from the first lever 7.

The second lever 11 has a flange 13 which engages a corresponding flange on an upper threaded part 14 of an abutment member 16.

The threaded part 14 of the abutment member 16 is mounted in a lower part of the abutment member 16 which is in the form of a bracket 17 mounted on the chassis 3.

In use the container 2 is moved from its non tipped position, shown in Fig. 1, to its tipped position, shown in Fig. 2, by a hydraulic ram 18. As the container 2 pivots around its pivot member 4 the second lever 11 disengages from the abutment member 16 which allows the second lever 11 to pivot in an anticlockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 2 under the influence of the spring 12 which biases the connecting rod 10 in a forward direction. This movement of the connecting rod 10 also causes the first lever 7 to pivot around its mounting 8 in a clockwise direction to disengage from the tailgate 5 allowing the tailgate 5 to pivot freely around its hinges 6, under gravity, so as to hang vertically. The tailgate 5 is now open allowing the contents of the container 2 to empty.

When the container 2 is empty it is pivoted back to the position shown in Fig. 1. The flange on the abutment member 16 is engaged by the flange 13 on the second lever 11. This causes the second lever 11 to pivot around its mounting 1 5 on the container 2 in a clockwise direction. This in turn causes the connecting rod 10 to move rearwardly against the tension in the spring 12. The rearward movement of the connecting rod 10 causes the first lever 7 to pivot around its mounting 8 in an anticlockwise direction.

As the tailgate 5 closes the flange 9 on the first lever 7 engages it to hold it in the closed position.

The force with which the flange 9 on the first lever 7 engages the tailgate 5 can be altered by changing the height of the threaded part 14 of the abutment member 16. If the threaded part 14 of the abutment member 16 is adjusted to a higher position it causes the second lever 11 to pivot further in a clockwise direction which in turn increases the force with which the flange 9 on the first lever 7 engages the tailgate 5.

Similarly a reduction in the height of the threaded part14 of the abutment member 16 reduces the force with which the flange 9 on the first lever 7 engages the tailgate 5.

Thus by ensuring that the tailgate 5 is held firmly closed the container 2 may be used for carrying loads in the form of fluids or small particulate materials.

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Clamping apparatus for a tailgate of a vehicle having a body and a tipping section mounted on the body, comprising a clamp member movable between a first position in which it exerts a force on the tailgate in a direction to close it against the tipping section and a second position in which it is spaced from the tailgate to allow the tailgate to open, movement of the clamp member being actuated through a lever arrangement by relative movement between the tipping section and the body.

2. Clamping apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the clamp member is connected through the lever arrangement with an abutment member which in an untipped attitude of the tipping section engages a fixture on the body to hold the clamp member in its first position, and in a tipped attitude of the tipping section is disengaged from said fixture to allow the clamp member to move into its second position.

3. Clamping apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the clamp member is provided on a first bellcrank lever pivotally mounted on the tipping section and the abutment member is provided on a second bellcrank lever pivotally mounted on the tipping section, the first and second bellcrank levers being pivotally interconnected by a connecting rod.

4. Clamping apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the fixture on the body is adjustable towards and away from the abutment member.

5. Clamping apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the fixture comprises a screwthreaded member on the body.

6. Clamping apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the lever arrangement includes first and second pivots on the tipping section.

7. Clamping apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the clamp member is resiliently biassed into its second position.

8. Clamping apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the clamp member is resiliently biassed by a spring extending between the tipping section and the lever arrangement.

9. Clamping apparatus for a tailgate of a vehicle having a body and a tipping section on the body, substantiaily as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.