GB2240753A

GB2240753A - Goods-carrying road trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2240753A
Application number: GB9002964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin John Ess; Jonathon Charles Ess
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-09
Filing date: 1990-02-09
Publication date: 1991-08-14
Also published as: GB9002964D0

Abstract

A goods carrying trailer having a chassis (10) adapted to carry a single ISO container (14) in a fixed position but which allows a bogie (12) carrying the road wheel axles to be rolled into a variety of positions on the trailer chassis, thus allowing the container effectively to move to the rear of the trailer for unloading by means of a fork-lift truck or similar means. The bogie has cross-members (18), each having a roller at each end, the chassis (10) being mounted on the rollers. <IMAGE>

Description

Goods Carrying Road Trailer This invention relates to a goods carrying road trailer.

Many goods carrying road trailers are used to carry containers, i.e. ISO containers. When a single heavy laden container, typically a 6.1 m container, shorter in length than the trailer, is being transported, it is necessary for the container to be positioned over a central region of the length of the trailer in order to avoid overloading the rear road axles or the king pin which joins the trailer to the towing vehicle. However, for unloading, by means of a forklift truck for example, the container is required to be located adjacent the rear end of the trailer.

It is therefore known to provide a sliding bogie under the trailer chassis, the bogie carrying the rear ground wheel axles on an associated suspension means. For transport of the container, the bogie can be slid rearwardly fro beneath the chassis which at the rear is supported by said bogie, in effect te extend the length of the trailer rearwardly se that the container is positioned fowardly of the rear end of the trailer. For unloading of the container the bogie can be retracted forwardly beneath the chassis, in effect tc shorten the trailer so that the container is now located adjacent the rear end of the trailer.The required displacement of the sliding bogie can be effected, in known manner, by appropriate use of the towing vehicle (tractor unit) and the brakes on the ground wheels on the sliding bogie. Alternatively, therefore, it can be considered that the chassis is slid forwardly or rearwardly relative to the bogie.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved sliding bogie arrangement for a road trailer.

According to the invention, there is provided a goods carring road trailer equipped with a sliding bogie carrying the rear ground wheel axles, wherein the bogie has longitudinally extending side rails and cross members therebetween, and said cross members carry rollers on which the chassis is supported, whereby the bogie can be longitudinally rolled between container transport and container unloading positions.

The arrangement in accordance with the invention has advantages, not only with respect to known sliding bogie arrangements involving metal to metal sliding, but also known arrangements in which rollers, one on each side, are operative between the chassis and the longitudinal side rails of the bogie.

A road vehicle trailer in accordance with the invention is exemplified in the following description, making reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a road vehicle trailer; Figure 2 is a pictorial view of a part of the bogie incorporating a roller; Figure 3 is an axial cross-section through a roller mounted in a bogie cross member; Figures 4A and 4B are transverse cross-sections on the lines A-A and B-B of Figure 3; and Figures 5A and 5B respectively show a roller and a pivot pin on which the roller is rotatable.

Referring to Figure 1, a road vehicle trailer has a chassis 10 which is longitudinally rollable along and between a bogie sub-frame 12. The chassis 10 has built into it bolsters to support an ISO container 14 in a fixed position. The illustrated trailer has tri-axial ground wheels 16 fitted to the sub-frame bogie, which incorporates four cross members 18 each transversely located between the bogie longitudinals 20. The cross members 18 are positioned above the suspension mounting points. The front three cross members 18 each have a roller located adjacent each end on which the trailer chassis rolls.

Figure 2 shows a part of the chassis incorporating an end region of one of the cross members 18. The cross member 18 extends across the width of the trailer from one main longitudinal side member 20 to the other (not shown), where the arrangement of Figure 2 is duplicated. An identical arrangement also exists at each end of the other two cross members 18.

The cross member 18 is constituted by an inverted channel section, and at each end has mounted within it a roller 22 which projects upwardly through an aperture 24 in the base of the channel. The sub-frame 12, shown only in Figure 1, is thus able to toll longitudinally on a set of six rollers 22, three on each side of the trailer, in particular to enable the container 14 to be-moved towards the rear end of the trailer to enable it to be-unloaded. It is important to note that, by mounting the rollers in the cross members of the chassis, as distinct from the longitudinal side members, it is more readily possible tc provide rollers 22 of sufficient bearing surface and in a sufficient number to be able to achieve an efficient rolling action in use, even when the container 14 is very heavy. If necessary, moreover, additional intermediate cross members with rollers can be incorporated.

Power for effecting the rolling of the chassis through the sub-frame on the rollers is obtained by, after first releasing the bogie locking mechanism (later described) and then ensuring that the road wheels have been fully braked on, reversing the articulated tractor, used to pull the trailer, until the chassis locates with a positive rear stop bracket on the sub-frame. After unloading, the tractor unit is moved in a forward direction until it meets another positive front stop bracket. The bogie therefore is at all times positively fixed to the chassis and is limited in the amount of travel allowed.

The bogie sub-frame can be locked into position, generally in known manner, by means of a cam system operating two locking pins on either side of the sub-frame powered by an air cylinder which receives its air from the articulated tractor pulling the trailer, or by manually operable pins.

Figures 3 to-5 show the construction of the rollers and mounting means therefor in more detail.

Each roller 22 is clindrical and is provided with an internal bush 26 of bronze or equivalent material, and rotates on a pin 28 having grease galleries 30 and a point for attachment of a grease nipple 32. The pin 28 is supported between mounting plates 34 welded in position within the channel 18 at the end thereof where it connects with the longitudinal side member of the chassis.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited in application te trailers having tri-axial ground wheels at the rear. It may also be applied to trailers having biaxial ground wheels, and in this case the chassis may incorporate only two cross members equipped with rollers.

It is also possible to use any number of intermediate cross members to ensure the chassis rolls easily through the bogie sub-frame.

The above-described and illustrated arrangement may be modified in other ways within the scope of the invention hereinbefore defined.

Claims

1. A goods carrying road trailer equipped with a sliding bogie carrying the rear ground wheel axles, wherein the bogie has longitudinally extending side rails and cross members therebetween, and said cross members carry rollers on which the chassis is supported, whereby the bogie can be longitudinally rolled between container transport and container unloading positions.

2. A trailer according to claim 1, in which the cross members of the bogie over which the chassis is to move each have two rollers mounted therein, one adjacent each end of each cross member.

3. A trailer according to claim 1 or claim 2, with triaxial ground wheels at the rear,. wherein,the bogie has at least three roller-euipped cross members respectively located above the suspension points of the bogie sub-frame where the wheel-supporting suspension units are provided.

4. A trailer according to claim 1 or claim 2 or. claims 3, wherein each roller-equipped cross member comprises a channel section with the base of the channel uppermost, and the rollers are accommodated within the channels to project upwards through apertures in the channel bases.

5. A trailer according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein each roller is rotatable on a pivot pin incorporating a grease nipple and grease galleries, the roller having an internal bush.

6. A trailer according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bogie can be locked in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment by locking pins.

7. A goods carrying road trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.