GB2172784A - Trailer for loading fertiliser - Google Patents

Abstract

A trailer for bags of (e.g.) fertiliser has a platform 46 with sites 34 for bags 36. Each side has an opening so that the underside of a bag can be slit and the contents pass into e.g. a fertiliser spinner. There may be a narrow central chassis 48, with a platform which is higher and wider to allow a spinner to be placed beneath a site. The platform may be raisable: e.g. the chassis wheels 50 may be on a pivotable arm 52 connected to a hydraulic jack 54. The trailer may include a platform at the back for carrying a spinner. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Trailer for loading fertiliser This invention relates to a trailer useful for loading bagged particulate material, such as fertiliser, into a mobile container, such as a fertiliser distributor. It also relates to a kit for converting existing trailers; and to a method of loading a mobile container.

Material to be spread over fields etc. is now commonly supplied in large plastics bags, too heavy to be lifted by hand. In the farmyard they can be handled with a fork lift truck, e.g. to load the contents of a fertiliser bag into a distributor such as a spinner. This then has to journey to and from fields, and the fork lift truck must be available each time it is required to load it.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a trailer having a platform with a plurality of sites for respective bags, each site having an opening such that the contents of a bag can discharge through the platform; the arrangement being such that a distributor attached to a tractor can be positioned under any site to receive fertiliser from a bag thereon. Preferably the height of the platform is variable, e.g. by means of the wheels being mounted at an intermediate region on a pivotable arm which is pivotable relative to the platform by jack means such as a hydraulic ram.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of loading a particulate material distributor attached to a vehicle such as a tractor comprising providing a trailer according to any preceding claim; loading at least one bag of material onto a respective site; locating the distributor beneath a bag at a site; and providing an opening in a lower region of the bag so that material from the bag pours out through the opening of the site into the distributor.

Some embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment in side elevation with a bag of fertiliser on the front corner of the platform; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a front elevation; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation (with the bag removed); and Fig. 5 is a schematic side elevation of a second embodiment.

The embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a generally conventional trailer chassis with a raised platform mounted above it. Thus the chassis provides a narrow central chassis portion 10 extending for the full length, with wider cross-pieces 12, 14atfrontand rear. In an intermediate region a pair of wheels 16 are mounted on an axle 18.

Adjacent the front a drawbar 20 is secured to the central portion 10. At either side there are support legs 22 that can be swung down as shown, or up out of the way for transit. At the rear there is a hinged platform 24 that, when horizontal, serves for carrying a fertiliser spinner.

A plurality of girder portions 26 are welded to the chassis portion 10 in two parallel lines. Crossmembers 28 extend across the trailer, each being welded to a pair of adjacent girder portions 26. They define a raised platform, substantially wider than the central chassis portion 10. At their outer ends there may be longitudinal struts 30. At intermediate regions on either side, adjacent cross-members 28 are bridged by struts 32 at the same level as the tops of the members 28. Thus sites 34 for fertiliser bags 36 are defined between transverse cross-members 28 and longitudinal struts 30, 32. There may be raised central elements, e.g. provided by crosspieces 38 mounted between the inner struts 32, so that bags 36 are tilted outwardly as shown in Fig. 3.

A suitable bag can sit directly on a site 34.

Alternatively, the site 34 may first receive a pallet (with a suitable bottom opening).

In one practical embodiment the raised platform is 5 feet (about 150 cm) above ground level, and projects laterally of the central chassis portion 10 by about 26 inches (about 65 cm) on either side. Thus a conventional spinner borne by a tractor can be backed under any site 34. The bag on that site is then cut open underneath and the contents fall into the spinner.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment. In this case the platform 46 is not substantially higher than the central chassis 48. However the whole can be raised.

The axle of the wheel unit 50 is mounted beneath the chassis 48 on pivoted arms 52. Ajack 54, which may be one or more hydraulic rams, extends at an angle between the chassis 48 and the axle housing.

Extension of the jack 54 increases the angle between the arms 52 and the chassis 48 to raise it.

Preferably the chassis has support means at the front which are also coupled to the jack. Thus there may be pivoted legs 56 coupled to the axle housing by a bar 58, so that the legs 56 move down in synchronism with the pivoting of the arms 52. As shown, the front legs 56 are pivoted at intermediate regions on the drawbar 60. Their upper ends have rollers and move in tracks on the underside of the chassis 48, the movement being terminated when the legs 56 are vertical (or overcentre) by abutment with stops. Detents may then be engaged (e.g. pins passed through apertures) to prevent the legs 56 from pivoting back. Some such locking device is desirable since the jack 54 is likely to be operated by the hydraulic system of the tractor, which will then be disengaged for use with the fertiliser spinner.

The trailer may be lowered to facilitate loading and transport.

Some large bags may tend to fall through the openings of the sites when slit open. To restrain this, a bag that is to be emptied may be supported above. Thus there may be sockets provided in the upper surface of the platform to receive (e.g.

pivotably) an upright 70 having an upper support arm 72 which can be located over an adjacent bag to engage its neck. The upright 70 and/or the arm 72 may be telescopic.

Atrailer may also be used for other purposes. To facilitate this, the platform may be provided with cladding panels to provide an unbroken platform surface.

Claims (9)

1. Atrailer having a platform with a plurality of sites for respective bags, each site having an opening such that the contents of a bag can discharge through the platform; the arrangement being such that a distributor attached to a tractor can be positioned under any site to receive fertiliser from a bag thereon.

2. A trailer according to claim 1 having a narrow longitudinally extending central chassis and a platform mounted thereon so as to project laterally, the openings being in the projecting portions.

3. A trailer according to any preceding claim wherein the height of the platform is variable.

4. A trailer according to claim 3 wherein the trailer has a set of wheels at an intermediate region mounted by a pivotable arm; and jack means are provided for pivoting the arm relative to the platform so as to vary the height.

5. A trailer according to claim 4 having pivotable support means spaced from said wheels and coupled thereto so as to be pivotable together with them by the jack means.

6. A trailer according to any preceding claim having two longitudinal rows of sites, one at either side of the trailer.

7. Atrailer according to any preceding claim having a carrierfora particulate material distributor.

8. A method of loading a particulate material distributor attached to a vehicle such as a tractor comprising providing a trailer according to any preceding claim; loading at least one bag of material onto a respective site; locating the distributor beneath a bag at a site; and providing an opening in a lower region of the bag so that material from the bag pours out through the opening of the site into the distributor.

9. A trailer or method substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.