GB2366253A

GB2366253A - A load transporter

Info

Publication number: GB2366253A
Application number: GB0020539A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Ian Huttlestone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-21
Filing date: 2000-08-21
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-21
Also published as: GB0020539D0; GB2366253B

Abstract

A load transporter 11 comprises a tow bar 17, a chassis frame 12 providing a load carrying platform with wheels 13 to 16 located approximately mid-length along the chassis frame 12, lifting means capable to raise at least one end of the load transporter, and retractable support legs 21 to 24 mounted onto the frame which can be adjusted to contact the ground and support the load transporter in an elevated position. The frame 12 is pivotable about the wheel at the box section 61 and at the tow bar 17 to allow the load transporter to be tilted.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> A Transporter Field This invention relates to a transporter which in use can carry motor cars, vans, or other loads and in particular to transporter that can double as a lift or hoist. Background of the Invention Vehicle trailers which are used for the transport of motor cars are well known, as are multipurpose vehicle trailers. An example of the latter is shown in US 4273 351 which describes a trailer which can functions as boat trailer, a tent trailer, a box trailer etc.. Simple vehicle trailers which are used to transport cars or other vehicles are used by for example motor vehicle racing enthusiasts to transport racing cars a race venue. It would be advantageous for the trailer to perform other functions in particular to provide a platform or ramp to facilitate maintenance.

Statements of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a load transporter, particularly but not exclusively for transporting motor vehicles, and which has an elongate frame providing a load carrying platform with a wheeled undercarriage located at its approximate mid-length, and retractable support legs mounted to the frame which can be lowered to contact the ground to maintain the frame in an elevated condition, the frame being pivottable about the undercarriage allowing one of both front and rear ends of the frame to be lowered to the ground, and lift means

operable to elevate at least one end portion of frame, preferably so that the wheels are off the ground, the frame being supportable on said legs if lowered.

Preferably the transporter is a vehicle trailer having a tow bar pivotally connected to the front end of the frame. This allows the frame to articulate around a vehicle tow hitch so that its ends can be lowered to the ground whilst the trailer is hitched to the vehicle.

Preferably, the tow bar is connected to the frame through a pair of removable pins offset relative to each other, one of said pins forming a pivotal connection between the frame and the tow bar, and the second pin forming a pivotal connection between the frame and a hydraulic actuator pivotally connected to the tow bar. The removable pins allow the tow bar to be detached from the transporter.

The support legs are mounted for substantially vertical movement relative to the frame. The vertical movement may be driven by said lifting means which could for example comprise a screw threaded drive cooperating with a screw thread formed on said legs, or hydraulic cylinders comprising said legs as retractable struts. Preferably the legs are slidably mounted in guides on the frame and a separate lifting means may be provided which comprises at least one jack, preferably mechanically operated, mounted at the front end of the frame. The legs may be locked in

selected vertical positions relative to the frame. Preferably, a ground contacting centrally located guide means is provided between the jack and the frame. Preferably, the wheeled undercarriage comprise a two pairs of wheels arranged one pair on each side of the frame, the wheels in each pair may be mounted in tandem in a sub-frame pivoted to the frame and preferably have independant suspension.

The load carrying platform may comprise a pair of spaced apart longitudinal trackways extending the full length of the frame allowing access from underneath to any load spanning the trackways when the transporter is in an elevated or tilted condition. This is particularly useful when the transporter is used for cars and provides a facility for working under a vehicle loaded thereon with the frame in either an elevated or tilted condition.

The transporter according to the invention can be used as a maintenance lift at racing circuits, in the field or garage, or as a lift to move loads or vehicle from one height to another.

A method of lifting a load which utilises a load transporter according to the Invention comprises the following steps a) tilting the trailer to lower the front

end of the frame to contact the ground, b) extending support legs at the opposite end of the trailer to contact the ground and locking said legs in position, c) raising the front end of the trailer so that the frame is substantially horizontal and extending the adjacent support legs to contact the ground and locking said legs in position.

When the Invention is used for raising a car the method further includes the initial step of loading a car onto the transporter by tilting the frame so that the rear end of the frame is in contact with the ground, driving the car onto the load platform at the rear end.

Detailed Description of Drawings The Invention will be described by way of Example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig-1 is a side elevation of a transporter .according to the invention hitched to a vehicle, Fig.2 is a plan view of the transporter of Fig.l, Fig.3 is a cross-section on the line III-III of Fig-2, Fig. 4 is a series of drawings illustrating the steps in elevation the transporter Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tow bar connection to the frame, Fig. 6 is a section on the line V-V of Fig.5,

Fig. 7 is a detail of the frame of Fig. 1 showing the guide means for the support legs and Fig. 8 is a detail through the lifting means. Detailed Description of the Invention With reference to Figs. 1-3, there is shown a transporter 11, in this case used for the transport of motor vehicle. The transporter 10 is in the form of a vehicle trailer having a generally rectangular chassis frame 12 having wheels 13-16 located at its approximate mid-length. The chassis has frame 12 has a length of about 4.5m (15ft approx) and a width of about 2m ( about 6ft 8in). The chassis frame comprises two spaced apart longitudinal members 19 which are interconnected by front, mid, and rear cross-members 31-33 respectively. A tow bar 17 attached to the front cross member 31 of the trailer. The top surface of the longitudinal members form a load bearing platform and trackways for vehicles driven onto the platform.

Support legs 21-24 are slidably mounted on the outside of the longitudinal members 19 at each corner of the frame 12. The legs 21-24 are mounted in guides 25, see Fig. 7, for substantially vertical movement relative to the frame and are secured in any desired vertical position by pins, or bolts 26, which pass though holes 28 in the respective guide and aligned holes 27 spaced along the legs.

Now with reference to Figs. 5 & 6, the tow bar 17 may be

any commercially available tow bar incorporating a castor type wheel 20 and standard brake actuation devices ( not shown) for operation of brakes associated with the trailer wheels 13-16. The tow bar 17 locates between a pair of brackets 35 fixed to the front cross-member 31 and is pivotally connected to the cross-member 31 through a removable pin 34 accommodated in aligned holes in the tow bar and brackets. An actuator, preferably a hydraulic actuator 36, is located within a hollow portion of the tow bar above the pivot pin 34. The actuator body 37 is pivotally connected to the tow bar by a removable pin 38 and the actuator strut 39 is pivotally connected by a removable pin 42 to a lug 41 fixed to the front cross- member 31 between the brackets 35. The pin 42 is offset above the pin 34 so that operation of the hydraulic actuator 36, preferably by manual means 43, causes displacement of the strut 39 to raise or lower the tow bar. Lifting means 43, best seen in Fig 4 & Fig 8, are detachably connected to brackets 44 secured to the front cross member 31. The lifting means may comprise any suitable jack, e.g a hydraulic jack, screw jack, pawl and ratchet jack etc. and is preferably a mechanically operated pawl & ratchet type known as a farm jack. The operating pawl mechanism 45 of the jack 43 clips into the brackets 44 and the rack member 46 sits on a foot plate 47 in contact with the ground. A tubular guide 48 is fixed between the brackets 44 adjacent the cross-member and this accommodates

a vertically moveable guide strut 49 which is a sliding fit within the guide 48. The foot plate 47 is connected to the base of the strut 49 by a removable pin or bolt 51 allowing the guide strut to be completely removed from the cross- member 31.

The wheels 13-16 are mounted to the chassis frame 12 so that two wheels 13,14 or 15,16 are located on each side of the trailer. The longitudinal members 19 on each side are formed with a hollow box section 61 at the mid length portion of the trailer. The top of the box section 61 forms part of the load bearing platform. Each pair of wheels 13,14, and 15,16 is arranged with the wheels in tandem on the respective side of the trailer and the suspension system will be described in relation to one pair only . Each wheel 15 and 16 is mounted on a stub axle fixed to a trailing arm 62 connected to a resilient suspension unit 63, preferably a solid rubber torsional suspension unit of the type typically used for trailers. The suspension units 63 are incorporated into rectangular subassembly 64 housed within the box section 61. The subassembly 64 is pivoted to the longitudinal member 19 by an axle 65 which passes through bearings 66 located in members of the subassembly. The frame 12 is strengthened in the area adjacent the axle 65 by the mid cross-member 32. The wheels 14 & 15 have independent suspension and the whole wheeled undercarriage unit formed by the wheels, suspension units, & subassembly

pivots relative to the chassis frame.

The rear end of the longitudinal members 19 trailer may be filled with hinged ramps 67.

The operation of the transporter will now be described with reference to Fig.l & Fig. 4. Fig. 1 shows the trailer in the towing condition with the towbar 17 locked in a straight condition and the support legs 21-24 locked in a raised position.

In Fig. 4 A the trailer is shown is a position ready to accept a vehicle. The front end has been raised by operation of the tow bar to elongate the actuator 36 causing the frame 12 to tilt around the undercarriage sub- assembly axles 65 until the rear end contacts the ground. The ramps 67 are lowered. The vehicle can be driven onto the trailer under its own power or pulled on by winch attachable to brackets 68 fixed to the front cross-member. The trailer may then be lowered by operation of the hydraulic actuator 36 to the position of Fig.l for transportation of the vehicle.

Alternatively, or additionally, if it is desired to raise the vehicle to a elevated position above the ground, the operation shown in Figs. 4B & 4C can be instigated. The trailer may be attached to the tow vehicle as shown, or detached from the vehicle , as is desired.

In Fig 4B, the front of the trailer is shown lowered by raising the tow bar by contraction of the actuator 36. This tilts the load platform to an angle of about 7.5 degrees of arc and raises the rear end of the trailer to a height of about 36" (900 mm) above the ground. The rear support legs 22,24 ( which are about 48" ( 1200mm) in length ) are unlocked, lowered preferably to contact the ground, and re- locked in an extended condition. It may be possible to works on underneath parts of a vehicle in this tilted condition.

If it desired to raise the load platform to a substantially horizontal condition then the jack 43 and guide means,49 is fitted to the front cross-member 31. The front end of the trailer is by operation of the jack 43. The guide means 49 considerably reduces, and substantially eliminates, sideways movements. Once the front end is at the desired height, preferaby with the wheels 13-16 off ground, the front support legs 21,23 are unlocked, lowered to contact the ground, and re-locked in position. The jack 43 and guide means 49 may be removed.

The distance between the longitudinal members 19 is preferably 970mm ( about 38 ins.) which is a standard distance for garage lifts and hoists allowing conventional jack supports and other garage equipment to be used in conjunction with the trailer.

Claims

Claims 1. A load transporter having an elongate frame providing a load carrying platform and having a wheeled undercarriage located at its approximate mid-length, and retractable support legs mounted to the frame which can be lowered to contact the ground and maintain the frame in an elevated condition, the frame being pivotable about the undercarriage allowing either of the front and rear ends of the frame to be lowered to the ground when the frame it tilted, and lift means operable to raise at least one end thereof, the frame being supportable on said legs if lowered.
2. A transporter as claimed in Claim 1 further including a tow bar pivotally connected to the frame.
3. A transporter as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tow bar is connected to the frame through a pair of removable pins off-set relative to each other, one of said pins forming a pivotal connection between the frame and the tow bar, and the second pin forming a pivotal connection between the frame and a hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected to the tow bar.
4. A transporter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the lifting means comprises at least one jack mounted at the front end of the frame.

<Desc/Clms Page number 11>
5. A transporter as claimed in Claim 4, wherein a single jack is detachably mounted to the front end of the frame close to the longitudinal centreline thereof.
6. A transporter as claimed in Claim 5 wherein further including a ground contacting centrally located guide means operatable between the jack and the frame.
7. A transporter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the wheeled undercarriage comprise a two pairs of wheels arranged one pair on each side of the frame, the wheels in each pair being mounted in tandem in a sub-frame pivoted to the frame and having independent suspension.
8. A transporter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the support legs are each slidably mounted in guide means on the frame for substantially vertical movement, and can be fixed in a desired vertical position relative to frame.
9. A transporter as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the support legs are fixed in position by respective pins passing through aligned holes in the respective guide means and leg.
10. A transporter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the load carrying platform comprises a pair of spaced apart longitudinal trackways extending the full

<Desc/Clms Page number 12>

length of the frame allowing access from underneath to any load spanning the tracksways when the transporter is in an elevated or tilted condition.
11. A method of lifting a load which utilises a load transporter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 and comprising the following steps:a) tilting the trailer to lower the front end of the frame to contact the ground, b) extending support legs at the opposite end of the trailer to contact the ground and locking said legs in position, c) raising the front end of the trailer so that the frame is substantially horizontal and extending the adjacent support legs to contact the ground and locking said legs in position.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11 when used for raising a car, the method further including the initial step of loading a car onto the transporter by tilting the frame so that the rear end of the f tame is in contact with the ground, driving the car onto the load platform at the rear end.