GB2284796A

GB2284796A - Load tipping vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2284796A
Application number: GB9324702A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Easter; Michael Ronald Chase
Original assignee: FOGG ANTHONY; PLATT KEVIN
Current assignee: FOGG ANTHONY; PLATT KEVIN
Priority date: 1993-12-01
Filing date: 1993-12-01
Publication date: 1995-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-01
Also published as: GB9324702D0; GB2284796B

Abstract

A tipping trailer for towing by a tractor, comprising a chassis (10) having ground wheels (12) and a tippable container (14) mounted on the chassis through the intermediary of supporting arms (16, 18) and a pair of rams (20, 22) which are selectively operable to act on the supporting arms to enable the container to be tipped from either a low level position in which the container is initially seated on the chassis or a high level position to which the container has been raised in a horizontal position without tipping. Preferably only one of the rams 22 is operated for tipping in either position. <IMAGE>

Description

Load Tipping Vehicle This invention relates to a load tipping vehicle, more especially although not exclusively a load tipping trailer, e.g. to be towed by a tractor.

Commonly used in the farming industry are two types of trailer, namely a low level tipping trailer and a high level tipping trailer. Low level tipping is necessary for the unloading of easily damaged root crops such as potatoes, and for tipping inside low buildings. High level tipping is necessary for tipping into a fertiliser spreader or a drill, or for dumping to a heap.

An object of the invention is to provide a tipping vehicle which provides both low level and high level tipping facilities.

According to the invention, there is provided a vehicle having a chassis, a container mounted to the chassis on supporting arms, and two hydraulic ram means selectively operative firstly to raise the container in level condition and then effect tipping from the raised level and secondly to effect tipping from the original low level.

The invention is preferably applied to a tipping trailer adapted to be towed at its front end through a tractor linkage. In this case the supporting arms preferably comprise a first pair of arms, one on each side of the trailer, pivotally connected between the rear end of the container and an intermediate position in the length of the chassis, and a second pair of supporting arms, one on each side of the trailer, underlying the container to support it over at least the major part of its length from the rear end of said container, where the second pair of supporting arms is pivotally connected to the chassis. A first ram means can then act on the first pair of supporting arms and a second ram means on the second pair of supporting arms.In raising the container in level condition, both ram means may be operative, but for tipping from the level condition (high level or low level) only the second ram means may be operative.

Preferably, the guiding action of the lower arms is such that, as the container is raised in level condition, it is also displaced forwardly relative to the chassis. This enables high level tipping to be performed with the centre of gravity of the container positioned above ground wheels which support the chassis. This has the advantage that less tipping load is imposed on the front end tractor linkage.

In order to carry out the lifting and tipping operations above described, it is preferred to employ a single stage ram means acting on the first pair of supporting arms and a multi-stage telescopic ram acting on the second pair of supporting arms. In practice, each pair of arms may be interconnected by a crosspiece, and each ram means may be a centrally positioned ram (laterally of the trailer) acting on the respective crosspiece.

While above described in relation to an agricultural trailer, the invention is not limited thereto and may, for example, be applied to a load tipping lorry.

A tipping trailer in accordance with the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the trailer in side view; and Figure 2 shows the trailer in rear end view.

Referring to the drawings, an agricultural trailer has a chassis 10 supported on ground wheels 12 Mounted on the chassis is a container 14, which although not shown may be provided with a conventional manual or powered automatic tailgate. The trailer also has not shown means at the front for connection to a three-point tractor linkage.

The container is mounted to the trailer on a frame which comprises two pairs of supporting arms 16, 18, one arm of each pair on each side of the trailer, and each pair connected by a crosspiece 20 (Figure 2).

The arms of the pair 16 are articulated between the rear end of the container 14 and an intermediate point in the length of the chassis 10. The arms of the pair 18 are longer and pivotally connected to the front end of the chassis 10 to underlie the container 14 along its entire length.

A single stage hydraulic ram 20 (shown in dotted line only) extends between the chasis 10 and the crosspiece of the first pair of supporting arms 16. A multi-stage telescopic ram 22 (also shown in dotted line only) extends between a more forward part of the chassis and the crosspiece of the second pair of supporting arms 18. These rams 20, 22 may be laterally central of the trailer.

Power for the rams is derived from the hydraulic power circuit of the tractor, if necessary through a pressurised supplementary oil reservoir on the trailer. A manually operable on/off valve (not shown) enables power to be supplied either to both rams 20, 22, via a pair of oil distribution control valves (also not shown), or to the multi-stage ram 22 alone.

In use, the arms 16, 18 normally lie down flat on the chassis and support the container 14 in low level condition, typically one metre above the ground. From this position, by use of the multi-stage ram 22 only, which moves into the position 22A, the container 14 may be tipped to a maximum tipping angle of about 55 degrees, as indicated at 14A.

Alternatively, with power distributed to both rams 20, 22, the container 14 may first be raised in level condition to a high dumping level of nearly 2 metres, as indicated at 14B. When the ram 20 reaches its maximum extension (position 20A, ram 22 in position 22B), oil is diverted to ram 22 only, so that tipping to about 55 degrees is performed from the dumping level, as indicated at 14C (ram 22 in position 22C).

By use of the hydraulic power control on the tractor, the container can be stopped in the raised level condition 14B, so that the tractor driver can see rearwardly between the chassis and the container in order to reverse, for example up to a heap on which material is to be dumped.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a chassis, a container mounted to the chassis on supporting arms, and two hydraulic ram means selectively operative firstly to raise the container in level condition and then effect tipping from the raised level and secondly to effect tipping from the original low level.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, comprising a tipping trailer adapted to be towed at its front end through a tractor linkage.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the supporting arms comprise a first pair of arms, one on each side of the trailer, pivotally connected between the rear end of the container and an intermediate position in the length of the chassis, and a second pair of supporting arms, one on each side of the trailer, underlying the container to support it over at least the major part of its length from the rear end of said container, where the second pair of supporting arms is pivotally connected to the chassis.

4. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a first ram means acts on the first pair of supporting arms and a second ram means on the second pair of supporting arms.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4, wherein, in raising the container in level condition, both ram means are operative, and for tipping from the level condition (high level or low level) only the second ram means is operative.

6. A vehicle according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the guiding action of the lower arms is such that, as the container is raised in level condition, it is also displaced forwardly relative to the chassis whereby high level tipping is performed with the centre of gravity of the container positioned above ground wheels which support the chassis.

7. A vehicle according to any of claims 2 to 6, having a single stage ram means acting on the first pair of supporting arms and a multi-stage telescopic ram acting on the second pair of supporting arm.

8. A vehicle according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein each pair of arms is interconnected by a crosspiece, and each ram means comprises a centrally positioned ram (laterally of the trailer) acting on the respective crosspiece.

9. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.