GB2192162A

GB2192162A - Combined landing leg & stabiliser unit for a trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2192162A
Application number: GB08616424A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George E Neville
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-04
Filing date: 1986-07-04
Publication date: 1988-01-06
Also published as: GB8616424D0

Abstract

A trailer has a combined landing leg and stabilise unit mounted on a beam (2) that can pivot about a vertical axis (3) to provide the trailer with a wider pedestal of stability when coupled to a tractor unit and engaged in tipping operations to discharge a load. The landing legs (1) are extendable and provide support within the normal operating width of the vehicle for tractor-trailer separation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Atipping vehicle with increased stability It is well known in the Road Transport industry that the removal of loads from long vehicles by means of tipping the body and discharging with the aid of gravity is a serious accident prone activity which often results in the vehicle overturning.

The common trade term used forthis is a 'Roll' (or Rollover).

Rolling is caused by one of, or a combination of the following: 1. An uneven or unstable ground surface.

2. Uneven loading or discharging.

3. Unbalanced suspensions on opposing sides of the vehicle. The term "suspension" is meant to include the support from tyres as well as springs.

4. Sticking loads.

5. Side winds.

To clarifythe objections of this invention an explanation of the causes commonly leading to a Rollover in Bulk Tipping Vehicles follows: Many bulktransported materials tend to adhere to the body front by the action of braking and to the floor and sides by their own weight and road vibrations which drive outthe air from between the load and the retaining surfaces.

In consequence of the above, before the load will discharge by tipping, the adhesion caused by large areas of partial vacuum has to be overcome in addition to overcoming the static friction existing between the load, and the front, floor and walls.

In transit road vibrations increase the wall loading of bodies to such an extentthat it is common practice in the trade to include anti-spread bars or chains in the body specification to prevent the sides from bulging outwards and thereby exceeding the permitted legal width. This increased pressure between the load and walls further increases the partial vacuum and static friction needing to be overcome in the operation of starting the discharge operation.

For the reasons stated above an evenly balanced discharge of the load, is a fortunate, rather than normal occurance. When an uneven discharge takes place, an uneven residue of loading remaining in the body frequently takes the centre of gravity of the combined body and payload residue outside the supporting fulcrum point, with a consequential rollover result. This invention aims to eliminate partially if not entirely, the risk of tipping vehicle rollovers by using suitably designed swing out supports which have the effect of moving the fulcrum point of any potential rollover, away from the vehicle longitudinal centre line.

The following text and illustrations referred to, aim to clarify the above and describe the benefits obtained.

The drawings on sheet 1 show a typical tipping trailer chassis in side elevation in Figure 1 and in plan view in Figure 2. In both these views items No.

1 represent conventional trailer landing legs which are variously operated by manual handle drive, hydraulic, or air over hydraulic means and are used to raise and support the front ofthe trailer for removal or re-coupling purposes.

In the two views on sheet No. 2, the landing legs are shown connected to both the chassis side member in their normal position item 1,and to a horizontal frame assembly item 2 which is pivotally connected to a securely housed vertical shaft item 3. By a quickly releaseable means the landing legs can now be freed and the assembly rotated outwards to the positions shown as items 4 Figure 4. When the landing legs are then brought down into firm contact with the ground the safety factors involved in any subsequenttipping operation arevastlyincreased.Thisimpro- vement is achieved because the supports items 4 are at an increased distance from the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle.The existing means of support are represented approximately as a line running through the centre of large single tyres or by a dividing line running between twin wheel tyre equipment.

Utilising the supporting Jack which is provided for Tractor-Trailer separation, in order to provide a wider pedestal of stability reduces the increased weight added to the Trailer.

1. A Combined Landing Leg and Stabiliser unit comprising a Beam structure item 2, Figure 4, sheet 2, pivotally mounted around a vertical axis, item 3, Figure 4, sheet 2, carrying an outrigged means ofvariable supportto:- a. provide support within thevehicle's road operating legal width for the purpose oftractortrailer separation, and b. providethetrailerwithawiderpedestalof stability when coupled to the tractor unit and engaged in tipping operations to discharge the load.

2. A combined landing leg and stabiliser as describes in 1 (1a & b)aboveinwhichthe supporting means is utilised for two different functions with a resultant beneficial saving in vehicle tare weight.

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

Claims

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

SPECIFICATION Atipping vehicle with increased stability It is well known in the Road Transport industry that the removal of loads from long vehicles by means of tipping the body and discharging with the aid of gravity is a serious accident prone activity which often results in the vehicle overturning.

The common trade term used forthis is a 'Roll' (or Rollover).

Rolling is caused by one of, or a combination of the following: 1. An uneven or unstable ground surface.
2. A combined landing leg and stabiliser as describes in 1 (1a & b)aboveinwhichthe supporting means is utilised for two different functions with a resultant beneficial saving in vehicle tare weight.

2. Uneven loading or discharging.

3. Unbalanced suspensions on opposing sides of the vehicle. The term "suspension" is meant to include the support from tyres as well as springs.

4. Sticking loads.

5. Side winds.

To clarifythe objections of this invention an explanation of the causes commonly leading to a Rollover in Bulk Tipping Vehicles follows: Many bulktransported materials tend to adhere to the body front by the action of braking and to the floor and sides by their own weight and road vibrations which drive outthe air from between the load and the retaining surfaces.

In consequence of the above, before the load will discharge by tipping, the adhesion caused by large areas of partial vacuum has to be overcome in addition to overcoming the static friction existing between the load, and the front, floor and walls.

In transit road vibrations increase the wall loading of bodies to such an extentthat it is common practice in the trade to include anti-spread bars or chains in the body specification to prevent the sides from bulging outwards and thereby exceeding the permitted legal width. This increased pressure between the load and walls further increases the partial vacuum and static friction needing to be overcome in the operation of starting the discharge operation.

For the reasons stated above an evenly balanced discharge of the load, is a fortunate, rather than normal occurance. When an uneven discharge takes place, an uneven residue of loading remaining in the body frequently takes the centre of gravity of the combined body and payload residue outside the supporting fulcrum point, with a consequential rollover result. This invention aims to eliminate partially if not entirely, the risk of tipping vehicle rollovers by using suitably designed swing out supports which have the effect of moving the fulcrum point of any potential rollover, away from the vehicle longitudinal centre line.

The following text and illustrations referred to, aim to clarify the above and describe the benefits obtained.

The drawings on sheet 1 show a typical tipping trailer chassis in side elevation in Figure 1 and in plan view in Figure 2. In both these views items No.

1 represent conventional trailer landing legs which are variously operated by manual handle drive, hydraulic, or air over hydraulic means and are used to raise and support the front ofthe trailer for removal or re-coupling purposes.

In the two views on sheet No. 2, the landing legs are shown connected to both the chassis side member in their normal position item 1,and to a horizontal frame assembly item 2 which is pivotally connected to a securely housed vertical shaft item
3. By a quickly releaseable means the landing legs can now be freed and the assembly rotated outwards to the positions shown as items 4 Figure
4. When the landing legs are then brought down into firm contact with the ground the safety factors involved in any subsequenttipping operation arevastlyincreased.Thisimpro- vement is achieved because the supports items 4 are at an increased distance from the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle.The existing means of support are represented approximately as a line running through the centre of large single tyres or by a dividing line running between twin wheel tyre equipment.

Utilising the supporting Jack which is provided for Tractor-Trailer separation, in order to provide a wider pedestal of stability reduces the increased weight added to the Trailer.

1. A Combined Landing Leg and Stabiliser unit comprising a Beam structure item 2, Figure 4, sheet 2, pivotally mounted around a vertical axis, item 3, Figure 4, sheet 2, carrying an outrigged means ofvariable supportto:- a. provide support within thevehicle's road operating legal width for the purpose oftractortrailer separation, and b. providethetrailerwithawiderpedestalof stability when coupled to the tractor unit and engaged in tipping operations to discharge the load.