GB2298830A - Vehicle for fluid and dry cargo in which cylindrical vessels form longitudinal structural members. - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle having a lower portion 12 for carrying liquid goods and an upper portion 25 for carrying dry goods, wherein the lower portion comprises one or more elongate cylindrical vessels 10 which form substantial structural members of the vehicle. Cradles 40 around the vessels give a rigid ladder effect, support the upper floor or structure for carrying dry goods, and support the trailer or vehicle running gear.

Description

Multiple Use Trailer or Vehicle The present invention relates to a multiple use trailer or vehicle for carrying dry and/or liquid goods.

The term "dry goods" used herein is intended to mean any type of dry freight, including palleted goods, boxed goods, and individual items. The term "dry goods" includes liquids in suitable container(s); e.g. milk in bottles. The term "liquid goods" means any flowable material, including liquids and particulate solids.

Vehicles and trailers are often specifically designed and adapted for carrying particular types of goods, e.g. dry goods or liquid goods. This applies equally to a vehicles having a rigid chassis and an articulated vehicle comprising a tractor unit and a detachable trailer.

Trailers and vehicles, particularly tankers for carrying liquids, must often make journeys empty, i.e.

without any load. It is difficult to find suitable loads for a tanker to carry goods efficiently on both an outward and a return journey. Different types of products may not usually be carried in the same tanker due to residues of a first product contaminating a later product. To ensure good hygiene, an expensive washing and rinsing process may be carried out between loads.

Even so, tankers designed for carrying one type of product, e.g. petrol, are not usually suitable for carrying a completely different type of product, e.g.

milk.

There is a need for a trailer or vehicle which may carry say liquid goods on an outward journey and dry goods on a return journey. Such a trailer or vehicle has advantages both economically, in terms of lower operating costs, and environmentally, in terms of reduced vehicle use.

One known multiple use trailer has a lower level (or "deck") in the form of a rigid chassis or frame on or in which is mounted a tank, i.e. a vessel, for carrying liquid goods. Built on the chassis, above the tank, is an upper deck having a flat floor for carrying dry goods. However, the strong chassis required to hold the tank and support the upper deck adds considerable weight to the trailer.

According to the present invention there is provided a multiple use trailer or vehicle comprising: a lower portion having a vessel or a plurality of vessels for carrying liquid goods; and an upper portion for carrying dry goods; wherein the or each vessel of the lower portion forms a substantial longitudinal structural member of the trailer or vehicle.

The multiple use trailer or vehicle has a number of advantages. In particular, the trailer or vehicle may be loaded more efficiently on each journey. Further, since the vessel or vessels are used as longitudinal structural members of the trailer or vehicle, there is a significant saving in the weight of the trailer.

Consequently, there is an increase in the load which the trailer or vehicle may carry without exceeding legal weight limits.

The or each vessel is preferably elongate and of constant cross section. If a plurality of vessels are provided these may be separate or may communicate, i.e.

be interconnected to form single larger vessel.

In the preferred embodiment, which relates to a trailer, two substantially cylindrical vessels are provided which lie side by side and are joined together along their length by suitable means. The vessels run substantially the full length of the trailer and act as the main "beam" of the trailer. No separate frame or chassis is required to support the vessels. However, a supplementary frame may be provided if desired, to act in cooperation with the vessels. The external elements of the trailer, such as running gear for the road wheels, are fitted to the vessels via suitable means.

The vessels may be fitted with a ring or hoop at intervals along the length of each vessel. The rings increase the strength of each vessel.

An upper cradle, ideally in the form of a 'double bridge', may be fitted to the top of the vessels, preferably to one of the rings on each vessel. Most favourably, an upper cradle is fitted to each ring. Each upper cradle can act as a lateral member for supporting a structure of the upper portion of the trailer used for carrying dry goods. A lower cradle, also preferably in the form of a 'double bridge', may be fitted to the underside of the vessels. Preferably, a lower cradle is fitted to each of the rings which are load carrying, e.g. for the running gear.

The upper and lower cradles, which are preferably welded to the rings, also serve to join the two vessels, giving a rigid "ladder" effect.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a trailer; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the trailer of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an exploded view of two vessels, an upper cradle and a lower cradle.

The trailer 1 shown in Fig. 1 is designed to be towed by tractor unit 2. Two vessels 10 lie side by side and run substantially the entire length of the trailer 1. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), three or more vessels are provided. This alternative arrangement increases the height available for the upper portion of the trailer at the expense of reduced capacity for liquid goods.

The vessels may be of any suitable type provided that they act as substantial longitudinal structural members of the trailer, i.e. carry or help carry the weight of the trailer. An example is an elongate vessel which, in cross-section, is substantially square with rounded corners. This so-called maximum section shape is strong and minimises wasted space.

It is also possible to use a single vessel. For example, a cylindrical vessel of rectangular crosssection could be used but central internal strengthening baffles would be required, which add considerable weight. In general, the vessel or vessels together are about twice as wide as they are high in order to leave sufficient space above for the dry goods portion of the trailer.

In the embodiment of Fig.l, the vessels are substantially cylindrical and of circular cross-section.

For hazardous goods such as flammable liquids, the vessels may be pressure vessels built in accordance with national and international regulations. The vessels can be fitted with insulation during or after construction or may be left uninsulated.

Vessels 10 are each surrounded by a plurality of rings 12a-12n welded at substantially even intervals.

The rings may be of any suitable form but preferably have a "top hat" cross section (i.e. generally U-shaped with the end of each arm portion bent outwardly) to give a large contact area between the ring and the vessel.

The rings act to increase the pressure which the vessel may stand, so-called "hoop strength", and aid longitudinal rigidity.

An upper cradle 40 in the form of a 'double bridge' is fitted to the top of each ring 12 around vessels 10 to provide lateral members for supporting an upper deck structure 20. A lower cradle 50 also in the form of a 'double bridge' is fitted to those rings 12a-c,e-f,i-n which are load carrying. Mounted on the lower cradles 50 are running gear 30 for wheels 34, side impact bars 32, landing legs 36 and upper fifth wheel 38. Cradles 40 and 50 are shown in more detail in Fig. 3.

The upper cradles 40 support the upper deck 20 for carrying dry goods. The upper deck 20 can be of any suitable design, e.g. open, solid-sided, or curtain sided. The trailer in Fig. 1 is provided with a substantially flat floor 21 which extends for substantially the entire width and length of the trailer. Also provided are front wall 22, rear wall/support member 24, roof 26 and vertical support members 28. In use the sides of the trailer are curtained. As shown in Fig. 2, the rear of the trailer is fitted with doors 25.

Access and loading of the vessels 10 may be made through manways 14, which open through the floor 21 of the upper deck 20. To provide a continuous floor, manways 14 are covered when closed. Liquid goods may be gravity discharged from the vessels 10 or pump discharged using a pump or pumps (not shown) preferably located near the lowest point of the tank and toward the rear of the trailer. Dry goods may be loaded onto upper deck 20 by, for example, a lift or a forklift truck.

Claims (14)

1. A multiple use trailer or vehicle comprising: a lower portion having a vessel or a plurality of vessels for carrying liquid goods; and an upper portion for carrying dry goods; wherein the or each vessel of the lower portion forms a substantial longitudinal structural member of the trailer or vehicle.

2. A trailer or vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the or each vessel is elongate, cylindrical and of substantially constant cross-section along its length.

3. A trailer or vehicle as in claim 2, comprising at least two vessels arranged side by side.

4. A trailer or vehicle as in claim 3, comprising a plurality of joining means for joining said vessels together, said joining means being spaced apart over the length of said vessels.

5. A trailer or vehicle as in claim 4, wherein said joining means comprises a multiple bridge cradle locatable on or around said vessels.

6. A trailer or vehicle as in any preceding claim, wherein the vessel or vessels run substantially the full length of the trailer or vehicle and act as the main longitudinal structural beam member or members of the trailer or vehicle.

7. A trailer or vehicle as in any preceding claim, comprising a supplementary structural frame acting in cooperation with the vessels.

8. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a plurality of rings fitted at intervals along the length of the or each vessel, for increasing hoop strength of the or each vessel

9. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein upper and/or lower cradle members are connected to some or all of said rings.

10. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein said upper cradles support an upper structure for carrying dry goods.

11. A trailer or vehicle as in claims 9 or 10, wherein said lower cradles are load carrying for supporting running gear, landing legs or side impact bars.

12. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each vessel is of circular or maximum-section cross-section.

13. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. A trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.