GB2255062A

GB2255062A - Apparatus for manoeuvring a wheeled vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2255062A
Application number: GB9109015A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip George Weston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-26
Filing date: 1991-04-26
Publication date: 1992-10-28
Also published as: GB9109015D0

Abstract

Apparatus for assisting in parking a caravan or other vehicle comprises a track (10) for laying on the ground and trolleys (21, 22) for receiving wheels of the vehicle and movable along the track (12). The distance between the trolleys (21, 22) can be varied to suit the lateral spacing of the wheels of the vehicle. The track (10), which may be in sections, is preferably set below the surface of the ground so that only the running surfaces of the two rails are visible as indicated at 19, 20. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Apparatus For Manoeuvring a Wheeled Vehicle Description of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for assisting in manoeuvring a wheeled vehicle to facilitate parking thereof in a desired position.

The invention has been developed in view of the problem of parking a touring caravan in a constricted space. When not in use, most touring caravans are left at the homes of their owners, and have to be positioned where least inconvenience is caused. Many houses in Britain have access which is limited to the width of a single vehicle, and to park a caravan in the required position where it does not restrict vehicular access in some way to, for example, a garage, entails some difficult manoeuvring of the caravan. Whilst it is possible to manoeuvre a caravan by man-handling it when it is supported on its road wheels and the jockey wheel which is usually provided at its tow hitch, this is an inconvenient procedure particularly if it involves moving the caravan laterally in a confined space.

It is the object of the present invention to provide apparatus for facilitating such lateral movement of a caravan. However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus according to the invention will find application more generally to assist in the manoeuvring of trailers such as load carrying trailers or boat trailers, and vehicles more generally of any type, e.g. cars.

According to the invention, therefore, I provide apparatus for assisting in manoeuvring a vehicle, comprising a track and trolley means movable along the track, the trolley means being able to receive respective wheels of the vehicle spaced laterally of the vehicle. Preferably there are two trolleys having wheels for engagement with the track.

In use of the apparatus, a caravan can, while still attached to its towing vehicle, be manoeuvred so that its wheels are positioned on the two trolleys.

Then the towing vehicle can be unhitched, and the caravan moved laterally, supported on its jockey wheel and on the two trolleys which move along the track.

This enables lateral movement of the caravan in a space which affords no freedom of movement in the direction fore and aft of the caravan, i.e. a space which would otherwise inhibit man-handling of the caravan on its own road wheels.

Preferably the track comprises two spaced rails which afford running surfaces for engagement by the wheels of the trolley, the rails being supported relative to one another by members extending transversely of the track.

The track may be in sections each of a convenient length and connectable to one another to provide a track of the total length required. For connecting such lengths of track together, there is preferably provided, for each rail, means which draws the connected lengths of rail into alignment with one another to ensure that there is no discontinuity in the running surface of the rails which rnight render it difficult to move the trolleys along the track. Such means preferably comprises respective tubular elements fixed to the rails, which tubular elements have chamfered ends or other co-operating formations which bring the rails into alignment when a fastener is passed in the direction lengthwise of the rails through the tubular elements to draw them into closely fastened proximity to one another.

Preferably there is provided means for holding the trolleys at a predetermined distance from one another in the direction lengthwise of the track, such distance corresponding to the lateral spacing of the wheels of the vehicle.

Preferably such means is adjustable to enable the distance between the trolleys to be set to suit different vehicles. Such adjustment may be provided by spacing members extending between the trolleys in the direction lengthwise of the track, and incorporating interfitting plug and socket elements with a number of spaced apertures into selected ones of which fasteners may be placed to determine the distance between the trolleys.

The track may be adapted to be either mounted on the ground surface or to be set into the ground such that only the running surfaces of the rails are visible and protrude above the ground surface. Preferably stop means is provided at the ends of the track to limit movement of the trolleys therealong, and preferably also there is provided holding means for enabling the trolleys to be held at one or more selected positions along the track. There may be provided lockable means for preventing unauthorised disengagement of the holding means.

Each trolley preferably comprises four wheels, namely a first pair engaging one of the rails and a second pair engaging the other of the rails, the four wheels being spaced from one another so as to be generally at the four corners of a rectangle as the trolley is viewed in plan. Between the corresponding wheels of both pairs there may extend wall members between which there is provided a support surface for receiving the vehicle wheel thereon. Preferably the support surface is as close as possible to the surface of the ground upon which the track is supported, so that the vehicle to be carried by the trolley does not have to be driven up a significant incline.Each trolley may be provided with a removable ramp which fits to the trolley between the wheels of either its first wheel pair or its second wheel pair, to provide for the vehicle easily to be driven so that its wheels are on the trolleys. The ramp preferably engages its trolley at a position within the wheel base thereof so that there is no tendency for the trolley to tip as the vehicle is being driven thereon. A stop member may be fittable to the trolley at the opposite end to its removable ramp, so that it is difficult for the vehicle being driven thereon to be moved too far to come off the trolley at the opposite end to the ramp.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the trolleys of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the trolley.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a track 10 which comprises two spaced rails 11, 12 extending parallel to one another.

Each rail is a steel T-section member with the leg of the T extending upwardly to provide a running surface. The two rails are connected to one another by transversely extending sleeper members 13 welded thereto and additional transverse angle section bracing members 14.

For convenience, the track is manufactured in lengths which are joined together to provide the required total track length, joins between the rails 11, 12 being visible at 15, 16 respectively. At each join, the adjacent ends of the joined rails have welded thereto tubular elements as clearly visible at 17, 18 for the rail 15, and these tubular elements have opposing chamfered ends and are able to receive a fastener such as a bolt extending through the two tubular elements in the direction lengthwise of the rails. When such bolt is tightened, the tubular elements are brought into closely fastened proximity and alignment with one another, to ensure that there is little or no discontinuity in the running surface of the rails. If there were any such discontinuacy, e.g. a step or gap, it would be difficult to move the trolleys as described hereafter therealong.It will further be noted that the joins 15, 16 between the two rails are staggered relative to one another so that a trolley moving therealong does not meet the joins in the two rails simultaneously.

The track as above described may be laid on the surface of the ground.

Preferably, however, it is set below the surface of the ground so that only the running surfaces of the two rails are visible as indicated at 19, 20.

The apparatus further comprises a pair of trolleys 21, 22 which in Figure 1 are shown positioned relative to one another on the track. One of the trolleys is shown in greater detail in Figure 2 and, on a further enlarged scale, in Figure 3. Each trolley is a generally rectangular structure in plan view, made of steel sections welded together and whose main components are a pair of spaced parallel inverted channel section members 23, 24 which extend in the direction transversely of the track when the trolley is on the track, and are connected to one another by box section members as indicated at 25 which extend in the direction lengthwise of the track when the trolley is on the track. Between walls 27, 28 of the members 23, 24, the box section members 25 carry an expanded sheet metal element 26 which provides a support surface for receiving a vehicle wheel.End ones shown at 29, 30 of the box section members joining the channel sections 23, 24, have angle section members 31, 32 welded to them, respectively, so as to define vertically extending slots. To these slots may be fitted, respectively, a downwardly extending tongue provided on a stop member 33, and a downwardly extending tongue provided on a removable ramp 34, to facilitate the driving of a vehicle's wheel onto the trolley and resist its moving off the opposite end of the trolley.

The trolley has four wheels, namely a first pair of wheels 35 running on one of the rails and a second pair of wheels 36 at the opposite end of the trolley, running on the other rail. Each wheel has a groove in its periphery, to receive the running surface of the rail. The wheels rotate about bearings provided in their centres and having inner races supported on bolts which extend between spaced parallel plates as indicated at 37, at the ends of the channel section members 23, 24.

The two trolleys 21, 22 are arranged to be secured to one another at a spacing to suit the track width of the vehicle whose wheels are to be carried thereon. To this end, the trolleys are provided with spigot members as indicated at 38 to be engaged by tubular spacing bars as shown at 39 in Figure 1. The bars 39 may be provided adjacent their ends with a number of apertures spaced longitudinally thereof, and a respective clip 40 is passed through a selected one of such apertures and an aperture in the respective spigot 38, so that the spacing between the trolleys is adjustable. The spacing bars 39 may include between their ends a further plug and socket connection incorporating a number of apertures into a selected one of which a clip may be placed, to provide a further range of adjustment of the spacing between the trolleys.

Each trolley is further provided with a vertically extending tubular member 41 for receiving a holding pin, not shown, which is engagable with a selected one of a number of apertures provided in members connected to the track rails. This enables the trolleys to be held at a desired position along the track. Locking means may be provided in association with such holding devices, to lock against unauthorised removal of such holding pins and thus secure against unauthorised moving of the trolleys along the track.

The track is preferably provided at its ends with stop members, not shown, to prevent the trolleys from running unintentionally off the end of the track.

When the apparatus is not in use, the trolleys can, of course, be lifted off the track and stored in any convenient place. It is preferable that the track structure should be buried beneath the surface of the ground, such that only the running surfaces of the rails are visible. When required to be used, the trolleys would be positioned on the track and the spacing bars adjusted to suit the track width of the vehicle to be manoeuvred. The ramps 34 would be positioned at the appropriate ends of the trolleys, and the stop members 33 at the opposite end thereof. With the trolleys preferably held at the required positions on the track, the vehicle such as a caravan can be reversed so that its wheels are carried on the trolleys, as shown in outline in Figure 1.The vehicle can then be unhitched from its towing vehicle, the holding means of the trolleys released from the track, and the trolleys with the vehicle thereon moved sideways, the vehicle being supported on the trolleys and the jockey wheel at its towing hitch. The vehicle remains parked on the trolleys.

Thus the invention provides apparatus which considerably facilitates manoeuvring and parking of a vehicle such as a caravan.

Although described alone in relation to use for manoeuvring a caravan, it will be appreciated that the apparatus is usable generally for manoeuvring vehicles of other types, and, indeed other items may be positioned on the trolleys to be moved along the track. Two tracks with respective trolleys may be provided if it is desired to manoeuvre a vehicle with two pairs of wheels, e.g. a two axle trailer or even a car.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, 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, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. Apparatus for assisting in manoeuvring a vehicle, comprising a track and trolley means movable along the track, the trolley means being able to receive respective wheels of the vehicle spaced laterally of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 comprising two trolleys.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the trolley means has wheels for engagement with the track.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the track comprises two spaced rails which afford running surfaces for engagement by the wheels of the trolley means.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the rails are supported relative to one another by members extending transversely of the track.

6. Apparatus according to Claims 4 or 5 wherein the track is in sections connectable to one another to provide a track of the total length required.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 comprising, for each rail, means for drawing the connected lengths of rail into alignment with one another.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said means comprises respective tubular elements fixed to the rails, which tubular elements have chamfered ends or other co-operating formations which bring the rails into alignment when a fastener is passed in the direction lengthwise of the rails through the tubular elements to draw them into closely fastened proximity to one another.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein there is provided means for holding the trolleys at a predetermined distance from one another in the direction lengthwise of the track.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein said holding means is adjustable to enable the distance between the trolleys to be set to suit different vehicles.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein said adjustment is provided by spacing members extending between the trolleys in the direction lengthwise of the track, and incorporating interfitting plug and socket elements with a number of spaced apertures into selected ones of which fasteners may be placed to determine the distance between the trolleys.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the track is adapted to be mounted on the ground surface.

13. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the track is adapted to be set into the ground such that only the running surfaces of the rails are visible and protrude above the ground surface.

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein stop means is provided at the ends of the track to limit movement of the trolley means therealong.

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there is provided holding means for enabling the trolley means to be held at one or more selected positions along the track.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15 wherein there is provided lockable means for preventing unauthorised disengagement of the holding means.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein each trolley comprises four wheels, namely a first pair engaging one of the rails and a second pair engaging the other of the rails, the four wheels being spaced from one another so as to be generally at the four corners of a rectangle as the trolley is viewed in plan.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein, between the corresponding wheels of both pairs, there extend wall members between which there is provided a support surface for receiving a vehicle wheel thereon.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein the support surface is arranged to be as close as possible to the surface of the ground upon which the track is supported, so that the vehicle to be carried by the trolley does not have to be driven up a significant incline.

20. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 17 to 19 wherein each trolley is provided with a removable ramp which fits to the trolley between the wheels of either its first wheel pair or its second wheel pair, to provide for the vehicle easily to be driven so that its wheels are on the trolleys.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 20 wherein the ramp engages its trolley at a position within the wheel base thereof so that there is no tendency for the trolley to tip as the vehicle is being driven thereon.

22. Apparatus according to Claim 20 or Claim 21 wherein a stop member is fittable to the trolley at the opposite end to its removable ramp.

23. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.