GB2186238A

GB2186238A - Trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2186238A
Application number: GB08603355A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerrard Patrick Patterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-11
Filing date: 1986-02-11
Publication date: 1987-08-12
Also published as: GB8603355D0

Abstract

A trailer comprises a load carrying platform 11 on which, in use, a load 27 is carried, four wheels 14, 15 arranged in pairs on axles, each axle being mounted on a frame 12, 13 which frames are secured at or adjacent one end of the load carrying platform, the wheels of each pair being spaced apart a distance less than the maximum width of the load carrying platform. Preferably both frames 12, 13 are articulated relative to the platform 11 for relative pivotal movement about horizontal axes to enable the platform to be raised and lowered relative to the frames by power means 40, 42. The trailer is used for transporting a vehicle to a filming location where the platform is lowered and the filmed vehicle can then be moved at a level close to the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Trailer Description of Invention This invention relates to a trailer and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a trailer for transporting a vehicle to enable the vehicle to be filmed by a camera mounted on the trailer, or on a vehicle towing, or being towed by the trailer.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a trailer comprising a load carrying platform on which, in use, a load is carried, four wheels arranged in pairs carried on two axles, each axle being mounted on a frame which frames are secured at or adjacent one end of the load carrying platform, the wheels of each pair being spaced apart a distance less than the maximum width of the load carrying platform.

Thus a stable trailer is provided which has been found to be particularly suitable for transporting a vehicle during filming.

Of course, if desired, more than four wheels may be provided although these would preferably be arranged in pairs on axles, the axles being mounted on the frames.

Preferably both frames on which the axles are mounted are articulated relative to the load carrying platform preferably for relative pivotal movement about generally horizontal axes, to enable the load carrying platform to be raised and lowered relative to the frames. Power means may be provided to enable the load carrying platform to be raised and lowered relative to the ground.

Thus during transport, for example to a filming location, the platform may be raised well clear of the ground, whilst during filming, the platform may be lowered to a minimum distance above the ground.

Particularly for filming purposes, it is desirable for the vehicle which is being filmed to be as close as possible to the ground, in order that the film will give the illusion that the vehicle is travelling over the ground.

In a preferred embodiment, the power means comprises fluid operated means such as hydraulic rams, although pneumatic, electrical, or other power means may be provided if required.

A separate power means may be provided at or adjacent each end of the load carrying platform, which power means may be operable in synchronism, but preferably also or instead of in synchronism, independently.

The fluid operated power means may be operated by a manual pump, or the trailer may have its own powered fluid pump, or fluid lines may be connected to a powered fluid pump of the towing vehicle.

The load carrying platform may have at or adjacent one end, a part which is secured to the remainder of the load carrying platform for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, and to the frame part, and the fluid operated power means may act between the pivoted part and the remainder of the load carrying platform to lift and lower the load carrying plafform relative to the ground at that end.

Preferably such a pivoted part is pivoted at or adjacent the end of the platform which in use, is forwardmost of the normal direction of travel of the trailer. A camera may be mounted on this part during filming.

At the other end of the load carrying platform e.g. the rear end, the fluid operated power means may act between the load carrying platform and the frame to cause lifting and lowering of the load carrying platform at that end.

Preferably the frame which in use, is forwardmost of the normal direction of travel of the trailer, is also articulated to the load carrying platform e.g. the pivoted part of the load carrying platform, for relative movement about a generally vertical axis so that the trailer can be steered with the forwardmost frame.

Thus the forwardmost frame may include hitch means to enable the forwardmost frame and hence the trailer to be hitched to a towing vehicle.

The pivoted part, where provided, may have a base to support a secondary load. For example, the pivoted part of the load carrying platform may be adapted to mount a camera for filming purposes.

The pivoted part may include side guards such as rails secured to the base for safety reasons.

The load carrying platform may comprise two runners spaced apart transversely of the direction of travel of the trailer, the runners being adapted to support the load. Where the load comprises a vehicle, the wheels of the vehicle may be supported on the runners.

The rear frame may have means to permit a vehicle to be driven onto the load carrying platform. For example, the rear frame may carry two ramps which rise from the ground to the height of the frame and the vehicle may be driven onto the load carrying platform when the load carrying platform is at a height above the ground generally the same as that of the rear frame.

Preferably the ramps are removable for transport, and a stowage area is provided for them in, on, or under the rear frame.

Preferably the load carrying platform has at each side, means to releasably secure an auxiliary platform. In practice, such an auxiliary platform would be provided on one side of the trailer only at a time, to enable the vehicle on the load carrying platform to be filmed by a camera mounted on the auxiliary platform.

Thus the auxiliary platform preferably extends along the load carrying platform for a substantial part of its length. In one embodiment, the auxiliary platform may be stored between the runners of the load carrying platform for transport.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a trailer in accordance with the invention carrying a vehicle; Figure 2 is a plan view of the trailer of Fig.

1 with the vehicle omitted for clarity, and showing ramps of the trailer of Fig. 1 in a stowed position.

Referring to the drawing, a trailer 10 comprises a load carrying plafform 11 and a frame 12 which in use, is forwardmost of the direction of travel of the trailer 10, and a rear frame 13, the frames 12 and 13 each carrying a pair of wheels 14,15, respectively on an axle, the axes of rotation of the wheels 14,15, being shown at 16,17, respectively, although the axles themselves cannot be seen in the figures.

The forwardmost frame 12 has a ball hitch 20 and thus the trailer 10 is adapted to be towed by a vehicle. The usual electrical connections may be made between the towing vehicle and the trailer to enable the various lights of rear light clusters 21 to be operated from the towing vehicle, and hydraulic and/or mechanical connections may be made to enable brakes of the wheels 14,15, of the trailer 10, to be operated with the brakes of the towing vehicle.

The load carrying platform 11 comprises a well 23 in which are provided a pair of runners 24 transversely spaced of the direction of travel of the vehicle 10 and mounted on a chassis 25. The runners 24 have stiffening ribs 26 which extend transversely of the runners and which serve to prevent a vehicle 27 which is carried on the trailer 10, from moving longitudinally of the trailer 10.

The runners 24 each support wheels 28 of the vehicle 27.

The load carrying platform 11 further comprises a pivoted part 30 which is pivoted about a generally horizontal axis 31 to an upstanding part 32 of the chassis 25. It can be seen that the axis 31 is intermediate the ends of the pivoted part 30 so that the pivoted part 30 extends both forwardly and rearwardly of the axis 31. The pivoted part 30 comprises a base 37 which is adapted to support a secondary load such as a- camera C, to enable the vehicle 27 to be filmed as the trailer 10 travels. Further, the pivoted part 30 has side guard rails 33 for safety reasons.

The pivoted part 30 is articulated adjacent its end which is forwardmost, to the frame 12 for not only pivotal movement about another horizontal axis 34, but also about a generally vertical axis 35, so that the trailer 10 can be steered by the forwardmost frame 12.

The load carrying plafform 11 is also articulated to the rear frame 11 for pivotal movement but only about a horizontal axis 37.

The load carrying plafform 11 is movable up and down relative to the ground. This is achieved by fluid operated means, in the present example, hydraulic rams.

At the forward end of the trailer 10, a pair of hydraulic rams 40,41, extend generally upwardly and act between the chassis 25 and the pivoted part 30, rearwardiy of axis 31. At the rear end, a pair of hydraulic rams 42,43, act between the chassis 25 and the frame 13.

It will be appreciated that if the rams 40,41 at the forward end of the trailer 10 are retracted from the position shown in Fig. 1, that the load carrying plafform 11 will be lowered towards the ground at that end. Similarly, if the rams 42,43, at the rear of the trailer are retracted, the load carrying platform 11 will be lowered towards the ground at the rear end.

Thus a vehicle 27 may be transported on the trailer 10 with the load carrying platform 11 raised a significant distance above the ground as shown in Fig. 1, but during filming, the load carrying platform 11 can be lowered to a minimum distance above the ground so that as the vehicle 27 is filmed, this gives the illusion of the vehicle travelling over the ground.

The hydraulic rams 40,41,42,43, may be operated in synchronism so that the platform 11 tends to be raised and lowered generally parallel to the ground throughout its length.

Alternatively, hydraulic rams 40,41 may be operated independently from hydraulic rams 42,43, so that each end of the load carrying platform 11 can be raised and lowered independently.

Suitable valve means may be provided to enable this to be achieved.

In the example shown, a manually operated hydraulic pump 45 is mounted on the pivoted part 30 between the axis 31 and the hydraulic rams 40,41. Valve means may also be provided in this position to enable the rams 40,41,42,43, to be operated as described above.

In another embodiment, not shown, the trailer 10 may have power means to enable fluid to be pumped to the hydraulic rams, or in another embodiment, not shown, a power operated fluid pump is provided on the towing vehicle, and suitable hydraulic connections are provided between the towing vehicle and the trailer 10 to enable the fluid to be pumped to the rams 40,41,42,43.

In place of hydraulic rams as described, pneumatic rams could be provided, or indeed any other fluid or other power means which permit the platform 11 to be raised and lowered relative to the ground, which movement is permitted due to the articulation of the frames 12 and 13 to which the load carrying platform 11 is secured about axes 34 and 37.

To enable a vehicle 27 to be driven onto the load carrying platform 11, a pair of ramps 50,51, are provided which are pivotally mounted with respect to the rear frame 13 as shown at 53.

The rear frame 13 has a platform 55 onto which the vehicle may be driven, and provided the load carrying platform 11 is at a height corresponding to the height of the rear frame 13, the vehicle may thus be driven onto the load carrying platform 11.

The ramps 50,51, are preferably detachable, so that they may be stowed as shown in Fig.

2, under platform 55 of the rear frame 13 during transport, and during filming.

A camera C may be mounted on the pivoted part 30 as mentioned above, to enable the vehicle 27 to be filmed from the front.

Preferably, the chassis 25 of the load carrying platform also has means to enable an auxiliary platform 60 to be secured to either side of the load carrying platform 11. In Fig. 2, the auxiliary platform 60 is shown at the top of the figure.

The auxiliary platform 60 may include a side rail and end rails for safety reasons. It can be seen that the auxiliary platform 60 extends for a substantial part of the length of the load carrying platform. A camera C' may be mounted on the auxiliary platform and may be moved along the auxiliary platform as the trailer is moved to enable the side aspect of the vehicle 27 to be filmed at different positions.

Preferably when the auxiliary platform 60 is not required, this may be stowed between the runners 24 of the load carrying platform.

It can be seen from Fig. 2 that the pairs of wheels 14,15, and 16,17, do not extend outwardly of the load carrying platform. In the present example, the load carrying platform 11 is of constant width along its length, but in another embodiment, where the width of the load carrying platform 11 may vary along its length, the wheels preferably do not extend outwardly of the widest part of the load carrying platform.

The wheels 14,15,16,17, are each provided with mudguards 62 and are mounted on a suspension means which permit only minimal movement of the load carrying platform at least during filming so that the vehicle 27 does not move unduly as the trailer moves which could destroy the illusion of the vehicle itself moving over the ground. It will be appreciated that the vehicle 27 will tend to move in any case relative to the trailer due to the suspension of the vehicle.

Various modifications may be made to the construction of the trailer described without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the load carrying platform 11 need not comprise two runners 24 arranged as described, but could comprise a deck extending across the entire width of the trailer 11 if required.

The frames 12 and 13 need not be articulated relative to the load carrying platform 11 in the manner described, but could be articulated in any other manner, provided that the frames 12 and 13 are then located at or adjacent each end of the load carrying plafform 11.

The forwardmost frame 12 need not be steerable as described, although given the overall length of the trailer 10, this is preferred.

Instead of the power means acting at the front of the trailer between the pivoted part 30 and the chassis, and at the rear between the chassis 25 and the frame 13, any other means to enable the load carrying plafform 11,12, to be raised and lowered relative to the ground could be provided.

Alternative means to the ramps 50 and 51 could be devised for enabling the vehicle 27 to be driven onto or otherwise loaded onto the load carrying platform 11 of the trailer 10.

Although as described, only two pairs of wheels 14,15, and 16 and 17 have been described mounted in pairs on the respective frames 12,13, if desired, more than four weeks may be provided, although preferably these are arranged in pairs and mounted on axles on the frames 12,13, at one or other or both ends of the trailer 10.

It will be appreciated that throughout this specification, the term "filming" is to encompass video filming, and the term "camera" is to encompass a video camera, in addition to filming using film cameras and films.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A trailer comprising a load carrying platform on which, in use, a load is carried, four wheels arranged in pairs on axles, each axle being mounted on a frame which frames are secured at or adjacent at one end of the load carrying platform, the wheels of each pair being spaced apart by a distance less than the maximum width of the load carrying platform.

2. A trailer according to Claim 1 in which each frame on which an axle is mounted is articulated relative to the load carrying platform for relative pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, to permit of raising and lowering said platform relative to the frames.

3. A trailer according Claim 2 in which power means are provided to enable the load carrying platform to be raised and lowered relative to the ground.

4. A trailer according to Claim 3 in which the power means are provided at or adjacent to each end of the load carrying platform, said power means being operable in synchronism and/or independently.

5. A trailer according to Claim 4 in which the power means comprises hydraulic rams, pneumatic power means or electrical power means.

6. A trailer according to Claim 5 in which the trailer has its own powered fluid pump.

7. A trailer according to Claim 5 in which fluid lines are connectable to a powered fluid pump of a towing vehicle.

8. A trailer according to any one of Claims 3 to 7 in which the load carrying platform has provided at or adjacent one end thereof a part which is secured to the remainder of the load carrying platform for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, and to the frame part, and the power means acts between the pivoted part and the remainder of the load carrying platform to lift and lower the load carrying platform relative to the ground at that end.

9. A trailer according to Claim 8 in which said pivoted part is at or adjacent an end of the platform which is fowardmost in the normal direction of travel of the trailer.

10. A trailer according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which the frame which in use, is forwardmost in the normal direction of travel of the trailer is articulated to the load carrying platform for relative movement about a generally vertical axis so that the trailer can be steered with the forwardmost frame.

11. A trailer according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 in which the pivoted part has a base to support a secondary load such as a camera.

12. A trailer according to Claim 11 in which the pivoted part includes side guards such as rails secured to the base.

13. A trailer according to any one of Claims 8 to 12 in which the axis of the pivoted part is intermediate to its end so that the pivoted part extends both forwardly and rearwardly of the axis.

14. A trailer according to any one of Claims 8 to 13 in which the pivoted part is articulated adjacent to its end which, in use, is forwardmost, to the forwardmost frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis and about a generally vertical axis.

15. A trailer according to any one of Claims 8 to 14 in which the pivoted part has provided thereon means to manually operate the power means.

16. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims in which the forwardmost frame includes hitch means to enable the forwardmost frame and hence the trailer to be hitched to a towing vehicle.

17. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims in which the load carrying platform comprises two runners spaced apart transversely of the direction of travel of the trailer, the runners being adapted to support a load such as a vehicle.

18. A trailer according to Claim 17 in which the runners have stiffening ribs which extend transversely of the runners and which serve to prevent a vehicle which is carried on the trailer from moving longitudinally of the trailer.

19. A trailer according to any one of Claims 3 to 18 in which at the rear end of the load carrying platform the power means acts between the load carrying platform and the frame to cause lifting and lowering of the frame at that end.

20. A trailer according to any one of Claims 3 to 19 in which the rear frame has means such as a ramp to permit a vehicle to be driven from the ground onto the load carrying platform.

21. A trailer according to Claim 20 in which said ramp is removable for transport and stowable during transport in an area provided for it in, on or under said rear frame.

22. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claim in which the load carrying platform has at each side thereof means to releasabiy secure an auxiliary platform thereto.

23. A trailer according to Claim 22 in which said auxiliary platform, when secured to a side of the load carrying platform extends along said load carrying platform for a substantial part of its length and permits of filming of a vehicle on the load carrying platform by a camera mounted on said auxiliary platform.

24. A trailer according to Claim 23 when dependent directly or indirectly on Claim 17 in which said auxiliary platform is stored between the runners of the load carrying platform when not in use.

25. A trailer substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. Use of a trailer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when provided with a camera, comprising the steps of transporting a vehicle to a filming location on the trailer with the vehicle standing on the platform with the platform in a raised position relative to the ground, lowering the platform to a lowered position relative to the ground at the location, moving the trailer along the ground and filming the vehicle carried on the platform so that the film will give the illusion that the vehicle is travelling along the ground.

27. A method substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.