GB2399549A

GB2399549A - Combination vehicle and container/box body

Info

Publication number: GB2399549A
Application number: GB0312564A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Richardson
Original assignee: DON BUR SERVICE Ltd
Current assignee: DON BUR SERVICE Ltd
Priority date: 2003-03-17
Filing date: 2003-06-02
Publication date: 2004-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-02
Also published as: GB2399549B; GB0305987D0; GB0312564D0

Abstract

Vehicle 1 may be reversed relative to a container/box body 2 onto the chassis of the vehicle (see stage 1). The container is supported by four legs 4, 5, 6, 7. Underside 8 of container 2 has two guide wheels W that engage and ride up ramps 9 as the vehicle is reversed (see stage 2). Legs 4, 5 are lifted from the ground and are automatically unlocked by lock release member 12 prior to leg push members 18, 18a engaging the legs 4, 5 to pivot them to an out of the way position (see stage 3). Further rearward movement of the vehicle 1 causes legs 4, 5 to be retained in the out of the way positions until front wheels W descend ramps 19 (see stage 4), thus completing mounting of the container/box body 2 on the vehicle 1.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TRAILERS OR CONTAi[NERS This invention

relates to improvements in or relating to trailers or containers and is more particularly concerned with the manner of engagement of a container or demountable box body onto the chassis of a motorised vehicle.

It is known for containers or box bodies to be provided with four supporting legs that may be arranged to support the container or box body above the ground ready for collection by to a motorised vehicle (a demountable box body is shown e.g in GB patent specification No. 2294243 A). The vehicle has a long chassis that may be backed up underneath the container or box body Or engagement therewith, so that the container / box body can be carried on the chassis of the motorised vehicle. The underside of the container or box body may be provided with two spaced guide wheels at the front thereof that are able to engage respective inclined guide ramps on the rear of the chassis in order to "wide the container / box body onto the chassis as the chassis is manoeuvred thereunder whilst the motorised vehicle is reversed. An arrangement is known whereby, once the guide wheels have been guided up the ramps onto rear horizontal guide portions of the chassis in a supporting manner, the driver has to disembark the cab of the motorised vehicle and manually pivot the front legs of the container or box body into a generally horizontal position in a plane parallel with the floor of the container / box body. These front legs can then be manually locked in this out of the way position by the driver of the vehicle who can then proceed with the next stage in the process of picking up the container I box body on the vehicle chassis. Thus, the driver then needs to enter the motorised cab once again and reverse the 2s chassis further under the container / box body whilst said guide wheels continue to move along We horizontal guide portions of the chassis, until the chassis is reversed sufficiently in between the rear legs of the container / box body. At this point the front guide wheels are able to travel down inclined guide ramps to the rear of the cab of the motorised vehicle.

In this position, the entire length of the container / box body is supported on the chassis and the driver needs to disembark the cab in order to manually lift the two rear legs and s operate the twist locks to lock the container / box body to the vehicle chassis. I:t is to be noted that the height of the rear legs (which are telescopic) can be controlled by air suspension. Thus, during the process of engaging the container / box body onto the vehicle chassis, once the driver disembarks the cab to raise the front legs, the height of the rear legs can be adjusted by air suspension means so that the floor of the body / container is lo horizontal or parallel to the chassis, prior to the driver entering the cab once again to reverse the chassis all the way to the rear of the container / box body.

During the reverse process of disengaging or demounting the container / box body from the vehicle chassis, initially, the rear legs have to be extended by the air suspension means to raise the rear of the container / box body prior to the motorised vehicle being driven in a forward direction relative to the container I box body. Before the rear legs can engage the ground to manually lift the container I box body at the rear by the air suspension means, the twist IOGkS have to be actuated to release said rear legs into position. Once the motorised vehicle has been driven in the forward direction until the front guide wheels on no the container I box body are ready to descend the rear guide ramps, the inotorised vehicle is stopped. The driver disembarks the vehicle to unlock the front legs allowing them to pivot into a generally vertical position in order to support the front of the container I box body. The driver returns to the cab and, as the motorised vehicle is driven in a forward direction, the guide wheels descend the guide ramps on the chassis, to leave the container / as box body detached from the chassis and supported on the four legs.

Whilst the aforedescribed manner of attachment and detachment of the container / box body onto the chassis of a motorised vehicle is generally acceptable, it is believed that such a process tends to be disadvantageous in that the driver needs to disembark the cab of the motorised vehicle on two occasions to attend to manual movement of the legs of the container I box body into the required orientations. Of course, it is possible for another person to perform such operations but such other person may not always be available and, it is preferable that such operations are performed by the driver of the vehicle. Thus, it is believed that the aforedescribed process of both attaching a container / box body and detaching or Remounting a container I box body to and from a vehicle chassis can be lo improved in at least some respects, which may reduce the overall workload of the driver.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate one or more of the aforementioned' or other, problems associated with attaching 1 detaching a container or box body to I from a vehicle chassis.

According to the present invention there is provided the combination of a vehicle chassis and container or box body, said container having supporting legs that can be pivoted from a support position to an out of the way position, the arrangement being such that as the vehicle chassis is introduced underneath the container / box body said legs are automatically unlocked by trigger or lock release means on or associated with the vehicle chassis and/or the legs are automatically moved into an out of the way or storage position on the vehicle as the vehicle chassis moves under the container / box body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the trigger or lock release means (which may as be in the forth of a roller) is receivable in a guide entrance on the container/box body as the chassis is introduced underneath said container box body.

The containerlbox body may comprise a lock release (linkage) mechanism for said legs that may be activated by the trigger or lock release means.

s Said lock release (linkage) mechanism may be a double release mechanism that can be activated to release said (the front legs) simultaneously or in unison or sequentially The lock release mechanism may include cam members or plates rotatable by the trigger or lock release means to unlock the legs.

The chassis may be provided with leg push members adapted to automatically push said (the front) legs into an out of the way or storage position on appropriate relative movement of the chassis and container/box body, after the legs have been unlocked.

s Each said leg may be attached to an axle tube, in use, mounted transversely of the chassis (preferably to an associated side rave), said axle tube being lockable in a particular orientation by retractable (slidable) locking means (preferably in the form of a locking pin releasably engageable in a collar of the axle tube).

Where a lock release (linkage) mechanism is provided as aforesaid the retractable locking means may be operatively connected thereto.

The lock release (linkage) mechanism may comprise two (generally C-shaped) plate portions that can be urged apart by the triggerllock release means in order to operate the retractable locking means releasing said (the front legs) for pivotable movement.

The lock release (linkage) mechanism may be spring-loaded or resiliently biased to the locking position.

Each of said two plate portions may be rigidly connected to an L-shaped member pivotably mounted to a transverse plate mounted on a girder or 1beam of the floor of the container/box body and/or the L-shaped member may have a pin that can pivot an associated link to activate said retractable locking means. The L-shaped member may be connected to the associated link by spring means.

Al he lock release mechanism may also be provided with lock disabling means to prevent the lock release mechanism being actuated The lock disabling means may comprise a pivotably mounted (L-shaped) plate which, s preferably, extends across the guide entrance, where provided.

The lock disabling means may comprise a reciprocable rod that, in use, can prevent appropriate pivotal movement of the linkage to cause retraction or operation of said retraction means.

Guide means in the form of downwardly depending guide rollers may be provided on the container/ box body co-operable with guide rails on the vehicle chassis or vice versa.

Means (preferably resilient) may be provided to automatically return the (front) legs to a as generally vertical position prior to engaging the ground when demounting the containeribox body. Said means may comprise a tension spring mounted on the underside of the containeribox body and connected to one of the front legs (e.g. via an axle tube attached to said leg).

Additional means may be provide to ensure the front legs have been returned to their s correct vertical positions by said automatic return means. Said additional means may comprise a catch connected to said automatic return means co-operable with the vehicle chassis during Remounting, e.g. to increase the tension in said tension spring where provided.

lo Further according to the present invention there is provided the combination of a vehicle chassis and container or box body, said container having two supporting legs that can be pivoted from a support position to an out of the way or storage position, the arrangement being such that said legs can be automatically unlocked and/or moved into an out of the way Istorage position whilst the driver remains in the vehicle. The automatic control is, preferably, associated with the vehicle and can be effected whilst the driver remains in the vehicle. T he control may be mechanicals hydraulic or pneumatic or any suitable means.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a container! box body having two supporting legs that can be pivoted from a support position to an out of the way or so storage position, the arrangement being such that said container supporting legs can be automatically unlocked andIor moved into an out of the way/ storage position.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a vehicle having trigger or lock release means adapted to automatically unlock and/or pivot or move two supporting legs of 2s a container/box body into an out of the way or storage position, preferably as the vehicle is introduced underneath the container/box body.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of mounting a container/box body on a vehicle chassis, said method compnsing: a) introducing the vehicle chassis underneath the container/box body, and s b) automatically unlocking two supporting legs of the container/box body and/or automatically moving said two legs into an out of the way or storage position.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of Remounting a container/box body from a vehicle chassis, said method comprising: o a) automatically moving two legs into a support position from an out of the way or storage position andIor automatically locking two supporting legs of the container/box body b) removing the chassis from underneath the container/box body.

Is Further advantageous features of the present invention will be apparent from the following

description and drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention mill now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following simplified drawings in which; FIGURE 1 shows in a much simplified format the process of a container or box body being collected onto the chassis of a motorised vehicle, FIGURE 2 shows diagrammatically a rear portion ofthe vehicle chassis, FIGURE 3 shows a basic known construction of a base frame for a container / box body without side raves being shown; FIGURE 4 shows a front leg assembly of a container / box body in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of a guide entrance of the underside of a container box body in accordance with the present invention; -lo FIGURE 6 shows part of the underside of the container / box body with a front leg in a raised position; FIGURE 7 shows a detail view of the underside of the container i box body illustrating a lock means for the leg; as shown in FIGURE 6, shown in the locked position; FIGURE 8 shows a view similar to FIGURE 7 of the lock means for the opposite front leg shown in the unlocked position; FIGURE 9 shows a view of part of the underside of the container box body adjacent to the guide entrance with Lshaped plate in a first position; FIGURE 10 shows a further portion of the underside of the container / box body showing a central chassis channel and the components of a leg lock linkage in a :5 locked position, FIGURE ll shows a view similar to FIGURE 10 with components of the lock linkage mechanism in an open position; FIGURE 12 shows a view similar to FIGURE 11; s FIGURE 13 shows a more detailed view of part of the lock linkage mechanism; FIGURE. 14 shows an inverse view of the part of the linkage shown in FIGURE 13 but in the locked position; FIGURE 15 shows an inverse view of the central part of the locking mechanism linkage in the locked position; FTGlJRE 16 shows part of a modified embodiment of a vehicle chassis; FIGURE 17 shows part of the chassis of FIGURE 16 in more detail; FIGURE 18 shows a view of a lower front, central part of a mobilized container/box body showing a guide entrance on the underside thereof; 2U FIGURE 19 shows a view looking in a similar direction to FIGURE 18 but further to one side of the guide entrance; FIGURE 20 shows an underside view of various component parts shown in FIGURE 19, FIGURE 21shows an underside perspective view of spring retention means for the front legs of the container box body; FIGURE 22 shows a front and underside perspective view of part of the spring retention means shown in FIGURF, 21, FIGURE 23 shows the underside of the guide entrance and modified L shaped plate; FIGURE 24 shows an underside view of part of the L-shaped plate shown in lo FIGURE 23 and cam plates; FIGURE 25 shows a diagrammatic, schematic layout of the L- shaped plate and cam plates; FIGURE 26 shows from one side of the containerJbox body an underside, perspective view of Me L-shaped plate, and FIGURE 27 shows an underside perspective view of the cam plates.

no Referring to Fl(iURES I and 2 of the drawings, a motorised vehicle 1 is arranged in front of a container / box body 2 in stage 1 of mounting the container f box body 2 onto the chassis 3 of the vehicle. The container 2 is supported by four legs 4,S,6,7 (only one from leg and one rear leg being shown in FIGURE l).The design of rear legs 6 and 7 is known per se and, therefore, will not be described in further detail. Underside 8 of the container 2 2s is provided at the front with two transversely spaced guide wheels W (only one shown in FIGURE l) which are of known fonn and which engage rear, downwardly inclined, transversely spaced guide ramps 9 at the rear of the chassis at the beginning of the mounting process of the container 2 onto the motorised vehicle 1.

initially, as should be evident from the first stage (stage 1) of the mounting process shown s diagrammatically in l;IGlTRE 1, the rear of the chassis 3 is aligned with the front end of the container 2 and the vehicle is reversed in direction of arrow A relative to container 2 so that the wheels W engage and travel up the guide ramps 9 as the chassis 3 moves under the floor 8 of the container.

lo In the second stage (stage 2) of the mounting process as shown in PlGURE I, the chassis 3 has been reversed under the floor 8 of the container until the guide wheels W have travelled up the ramps 9 onto the horizontal guide rail sections 10 of the chassis. At this point, the front legs 4 and 5 (which are still in a locked position depending downwardly at right angles to the floor 8 of the container) have been lifted some distance oM the ground G. whilst the rear telescopic air suspension legs 6 and 7 have extended in length, still contacting the ground, thereby allowing the floor 8 of the container to rise' remaining horizontal. Thus, the rear legs 6 and 7 still contact the ground as the container 2 rises in a manner which is known per se.

In known arrangements, the driver would disembark the cab I 1 of the vehicle 1 at this stage (stage 2) in the mounting process, proceed to the container, unlock the locking mechanism for the front legs 4 and 5 and manually rotate them to an out of the way position (see the third stage 3 of the mounting process as depicted in FIGURE 1) where they can once again be locked in said out of the way position, extending parallel with floor 2s 8 of the container.

However, it is believed that the necessity for the driver to disembark the cab 11 of the vehicle to unlock the front legs 4,5 whilst in the vertical position and movement to the out of the way position (where they are once again locked to the floor 8 of the container) tends to be time consuming and disadvantageous in some respects. For example, the legs 4 and S themselves are relatively heavy and the lifting operation is inconvenient. It is also inconvenient for the driver to have to stop the vehicle 1, disembark the cab I l and manually move the front legs 4,5 into the required position before continuing the mounting process of the container 2 on the chassis 3.

lo Importantly, in the embodiment of the present invention now described, there is no requirement for the driver to disembark the cab I I in order to move the front legs 4 and 5 into the out of the way position.

Rather, the front legs 4 and 5 are automatically unlocked from their vertical positions as the chassis 11 is manoeuvred under the floor 8 of the container and, furthermore, the legs 4 and S are automatically moved to their out of the way positions parallel with the floor of the container 8 and automatically locked in their new out of the way positions, in a relatively simple manner, as the chassis 11 is further manoeuvred under the floor 8 of the container.

The vehicle chassis 3 is provided with an upstanding, trigger or lock release member l 2 (see FIGURE 2) located in the centre of the chassis at the rear thereof: An inwardly tapered guide entrance 13 (see FIGURE 5) guides the lock release member 12 into the central chassis channel 14 in which is located the central portion 15a (see FIGURE lo) of a lock Z5 release linkage mechanism Is. The lock release linkage mechanism 15 is a double release mechanism since it simultaneously locks / unlocks each of the front legs 4 and 5 to I from the floor 8 of the container (in a manner to be described).

FIGURE 4 shows a front leg assembly L having an axis 16 which in use is arranged at an s appropriate location towards the front of the base frame construction 17 (see FIGURE 3) of floor 8, extending transversely thereof. As shown in FIGURE 3, the base frame construction 17 of the floor 8 is shown prior to side raves R1, R2 (see FIGURE 4) being fitted that extend horizontally along upper and lower portions of the view shown in FIGURE 3.

Thus, as the motonsed vehicle I is reversed relative to the container 2, with the chassis 3 extending under the floor 8 of the container, Dom the position as shown in stage 2 of FIGURE] I to the position as shown in stage 3 of FIGURE! 1, the front legs 4 and 5 are automatically unlocked by the lock release member 12. Lock release member 12 is guided by entrance 13 into central channel 14 in order to actuate the lock release mechanism 15 just prior to engagement of the legs 4 and 5 with associated leg push members 18 and 1 8a located on either side of the chassis 3 extending at right angles thereto (see FIGURE 2).

Once the lock release member 12 has entered the channel 14 and released the leg locks, further movement of the chassis 3 relative to the container floor 8 in the direction of arrow A automatically causes the fixed leg push members 18, 18a (see FIGUl?E 2) to engage front legs 4 and 5 and pivot them into the out of the way position, more particularly as shown in stage 3 of the mounting process in FlClURE 1.

Further rearward movement of the vehicle I in the direction of arrow A causes the legs 4,5 to be retained in the out of the way positions until the front wheels W descend the downwardly and forwardly inclined guide ramps 19, more particularly as shown in the last stage (stage 4) of the mounting process shown in FIGIE] At this stage, the driver can disembark the cab 11 of the vehicle I and manually lift the rear legs 6 and 7 in a known manner and operate twist locks to lock the container body 2 to the chassis 3 in known fashion.

It is to be noted that, as the wheels W descend the ramps 19, the floor 8 of the container is lowered automatically by the required amount on the air suspension telescopic legs 6 and lo 7.

In the reverse (de-mounting) process, first of all the twist locks are released, then the rear legs 6, 7 are lowered into their ground engaging positions and the air suspension raised at the rear of the vehicle 1. Then the vehicle I can be driven in the forwards direction which allows the front legs 4 and 5 to automatically drop into a vertical locked position as the lock release member 12 exits the entrance 13 under floor 8 of the container FIGURES 5 to 15 show in more detail the double locking mechanism 15 (see FIGIJRF, 10) for the legs 4 and 5.

FIGURE 6 shows a partial view of the underside of the floor 8 of the container 2 with a front leg 5 extending vertically upwardly. Leg 5 is welded to one end of an axle tube 20 that in use extends transversely of the container floor 8 l he axle tube 20 extends through the leg 5 into the side rave R 1 of the container floor 8 (see FIGURES 4 and 6) so that the 2s leg 5 is pivotable on the container floor 8 in a manner that should be self-explanatory from the drawings. The other end of the axle tube 20 is provided with a collar 21 (see FIGURE ?) welded thereto.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the collar 21 is locked to vertical floor plate 22 by means of a retractable locking pin P extending through receiving hole 23 in the collar 21.

Whilst the locking pin P extends through the recess 23, the axle tube 20 and thus the leg 5 will be prevented from pivoting relative to the vehicle floor 8. In the locking position as shown in FIGURE 7 the leg 5 is locked in the upright position. In use, the leg 5 will 0 depend downwardly from floor 8, supporting the floor above the ground.

An exactly similar locking arrangement is provided for the other front leg 4, which arrangement has axle tube 24 (see FI(illRE 8) and locking collar 25. FIGURE 8 shows the position of the axle tube 24 and locking collar 25 in the unlocked position (with the leg 4 s not shown in FTGURF, 8- resting in an out of the way position parallel with the container floor 8). It is to be noted that receiving hole 26 for the associated locking pin (not shown) will receive the associated locking pin once the axle tube 24 has been rotated in the direction of arrow X the required amount in a manner that should be self- explanatory. The associated flat edge 21 a, 21 b (located at right angles to each other on collard 1) will contact the horizontal under surface 27a of the first inner elongate girder or l-beam 27 of the vehicle floor 8 in the associated locked and unlocked positions in a manner which should be self explanatory. Similarly' the flat edges 25a, 25b will contact the inner flat surface 28a of the opposite inner girder or l-beam 28 in the associated locked and unlocked positions, in unison with leg collar 21.1n this manner legs 4,5 pivot together.

Thus, in order to unlock the legs 4 and 5 whilst they are in a vertical position ready for being pivoted to an out of the way position, each locking pin P needs to be retracted from the receiving recess 23, 26 in the respective axle tube 20, 24. Simultaneous retraction of the locking pins P is effected by moving apart the central generally C-shaped plate portions 29 and 30 (see FIGURE 10) of the double lock linkage mechanism 15.

FIGURE! to shows the C-shaped plates 29 in the locking position closely adjacent with one another (see FIGURE 15 also showing an inverse view of plates 29 and 30).

0 FIGURES I I and 12 show a view similar to FIGUItE 10 but with the Cshaped plates 29 and 30 having been urged apart (in the instance for ease of illustration by block of wood B) to the release position. The block of wood B has been provided to mimic the effect of the lock release member 12 of the vehicle chassis 3. When the C-shaped members 29 and 30 are urged apart as the lock release member 12 enters the channel 14, the double lock linkage 15 moves from the configuration as shown in FIGURE 10 to that shown in FIGURES It and 12, thereby pulling release pins P from the receiving holes 23 and 26 in the collars 12 and 25 in a manner which should be self explanatory' and thereby allowing legs 4 and 5 to be pivoted from their vertical position. Each C-shaped member 29 and 30 is connected rigidly from the centre thereof to one end of a generally Lshaped member 31, 32. Each L-shaped member 31, 32 is pivotably mounted at one end thereof at 34a, 34a respectively (see FIGURE 15) to transverse plate t3, t4 connected (e.g. by welding) to a central girder 34 33 and 1-heam 27,28. Each L shaped member 31, 32 has an associated upstanding (downwardly extending in use) cylindrical pin 31 a, 32a that pivots an associated link plate 35, 36 about associated axis 35a, 36a where the link member 35, 36 is as piYotably connected to transverse plate tl, t2 attached to the floor 8 of the container (see FIG1JRF 14) e.. by welding. ]7

Each L-shaped member 31, 32 is connected by helical coiled tension springs S1, S2 at 34a,33a to link plate 35,36 at pl,p2. Springs S1,S2 resiliently bias the C-shaped members s 29 and 30 together to the position shown in FIGURES l0 and 15 in a manner which should be self evident. Pins P are pivotally connected to a free end 35c,36c of link plate 35,36 and said pins extend through mounting tube TI'T2 (fixed to 7-beam 27,28) and through the associated 1-beam 27?28 and into receiving holes 23 and 26, in the locking position. As the plates 29 and 30 are urged apart cylindrical pins 31a, 32a engage vertical extensions 35b lo and 36b in a manner which should be self evident to pivot link members 35 and 36 to the position as shown in FIGURE 11.

In this manner, pins P are pulled clear of Me receiving holes 23 and 26 in the collars 21 and respectively.

Once the locking pins P have been pulled clear of the receiving holes thereby unlocking the legs 4, 5' on further rearward movement of the chassis 3, leg push members 18, 1 8a are able to engage respective legs 4 and 5 to move them to a respective out of the way position During this process, the lock release member 12 will have travelled along the go channel 14 beyond the C-shaped plates 29 and 30 allowing them to move towards each other almost to the locked position but without the pins P being able to extend through locking holes 26. The double lock mechanism 15 is also provided with means that would disable the locking mechanism from being actuated by the lock release member and which would prevent the lock release member from travailing in the channel 14 in a manner to urge the C-shaped plates 29 and 30 apart. The lock disabling mews includes a pivotably mounted generally L-shaped plate 40 (see FIGURES 5, 910 and 11) that extends across channel 14 near the entrance 13 for pivotal movement by the lock release member in a manner to be described.

As the lock release member 12 enters the guide entrance 13, the L-shaped disabling s member 40 may be generally in the orientation shown in FIGURE 5 and the release member 12 pivots the lock disabling member 40 in the direction of arrow C (to the position shown in FIGURES 9, 1 1) causing horizontal movement of rod assembly 41 in a direction towards the front of the container 2 via engagement of member 40 with vertical carrying plate42 (see FIGURE 9). Pivotal movement of L-shaped plate 40 in the direction of arrow lo C causes rod 43 (fixed to plate 42) to slide and be retracted from extending beyond receiving sleeve 44 (see FIGURES 9, 11, 14, 15, 137 JO). Plate 42 slides on fixed rod 45.

Movement of the L-shaped disabling member 40 in this fashion withdraws the protruding end 43a (see FIGURE 15) of the rod 43 from interfering with the pivotal movement of extension piece 36b as the lock release member 12 urges apart the C-shaped members 29 s and 30 to open the double lock mechanism.

The L-shaped disabling plate is automatically returned to the original position as shown in FIGURE 5 as the vehicle is driven fonvards and the lock release member exits the entrance 13. so

Thus, the L-shaped disabling plate 40 prevents the pins P from being retracted from the associated collars21,25 (and thus prevents the legs 4 and 5 from becoming unlocked) whilst the container is standing on the four legs 4, 5, 6, 7 above the ground.

FIGURES 16 and 17 show perspective views of part of a vehicle chassis 100 which has been specially adapted to mount and demount a container /box body 200 (see FIGURES 18 to 27) in an improved manlier.

s The trigger or lock release member 12 shown in FIGURE 2 is now provided by a roller 101 that is rotatable about its own vertical axis 101a (see F1GUI?F. 16). The roller 101 greatly facilitates guiding and centring same in the guide entrance 201 (see FIGURE, 18), in a manner which should be self evident. In practice, as the vehicle chassis 100 is backed up under the container/box body 200, the roller 101 is able to engage an adjacent one of the 0 inwardly tapered or convergent faces 202, 203 of the guide entrance 201 in order to centralise the roller relative to the contained/box body 200 (thereby aligning the vehicle chassis with the container box/body). Wheels 204, 205 are able to engage "wide ramps 102 and 103 as the vehicle chassis 100 is backed up underneath the container/back body 2()), in a manner that should be self-evident. Downwardly depending guide rollers 206 and 206b (rotatable on their own axes 206a) engage, in use, outer vertical guide surfaces 104a, 105a of angle-iron sections 104, 105, of the chassis IQ0. Once the rollers 206, 206b engage guide surfaces 104a and 105a on the chassis 100, these rollers will revolve on their own axes 206a as the vehicle chassis 100 is backed up under the container box body 200 to reliably guide the vehicle chassis in alignment with the containerIbox body, all the way to the rear of the container/box body.

The underside of the container/box body 200 is provided with at least one pivotable downwardly depending catch member 207 (only one provided in this embodiment - see FIGURES 19, 20, 21). The catch member 207 is spaced from roller 26, to one side of the :5 guide entrance and attached to the front end of elongate, helical, close-coiled, tension spring member 208 (once again only one spring member 208 is provided in this embodiment). The spring member 208 is connected at its other end to axle tube 209 of leg 21 I by means of connector 210 and normally assists the front legs 21 1, 212 to return under gravity to their vertical positions on demounting of the container! box body. As the container/box body 200 is demounted from the vehicle chassis 100, catch 207 engages s raised block or runner 1 Qua thereby increasing the tension in the spring 208 ensuring that the front legs 21 1,212 are definitely urged (effectively by jerking same) into their correct vertical orientations prior to the front legs engaging the ground.

Conversely, as the vehicle chassis 100 is backed up underneath the container/box body lo 20O, raised block or runner 106 engages the catch member 207 in order to adjust tension in the spring 208 to ensure no undue forces occur on the pins 214, 216 (see FIGURE 25) as they are withdrawn from collars 215,217, thereby allowing the front legs 211, 212 to be pivoted smoothly upwardly as associated leg push members 107 and 108 engage associated front legs 211 and 212.

The lower part 207a of the catch member 207 is shaped to embrace the associated cross sectional shape of block/runner 106. Thus, the catch member 207 rides on guide block/runner 106 for the distance indicated as X along the leg push member 107 at which point the catch member 207 is bee to return to its original position. The front legs may be somewhat shorter than the rear ( e.g. 4 cm shorter).

Temsion is maintained on the front leg 211 by spring member 208 once it has been unlocked holding the leg in place ready for engagement with the push members 107 so that there is no rattling or movement of the leg prior to engagement with said push member and so that the pivoting action is smooth.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) it is possible that separate spring members' for each front leg connected to associated axle tubes, may be provided on each side of the vehicle.

As should be evident from FIGURES 23 to 27, the lock release linkage mechanism 15 of the first embodiment has been replaced by a sequentially operating cam plate mechanism 212. the cam plate mechanism 212 includes a first cam plate 212a that can be rotated lo clockwise to an appropriate position by roller 101 (see FIGURE 25), in order to rotate link arm 213 about pivotal axis 213a lo lid pin 214 from engagement with the collar 215 of the axle tube associated with front leg 212 of the containerlbox body 200.

After cam plate 212a has been rotated to an appropriate position to unlock the first front leg 212, further movement of the vehicle chassis 100 under the container/box body 200 causes the roller 101 to engage cam plate 212b rotating same anticlockwise to pivot link member 215 about axis 215a to unlock leg 211 (by withdrawing pin 216 from collar 217) in a similar manner to that already described for leg 212.

so Thus, in this embodiment, the front legs 211,212 are unlocked sequentially rather than in unison.

L-shaped member 40 (see FIGURE 9) has now been replaced by plate 220 having recess 221 shaped to snugly and smoothly receive roller 101.

It should be evident that the safety feature is provided by the cam plate mechanism 212 and plate 220 that if the front legs do not lock in place for any reason' the roller lO1 cannot be withdrawn from the guide entrance 201 and the container boxibody cannot be demounted from the vehicle chassis. L-shaped member 40 and linkage mechanism 15 may provide a s similar safety function in the first described embodiment.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific tenn may be replaced or supplemented by an equivalent or generic teen. For example, the term 'rod' could be lo replaced member'. Further it is to be understood that individual features, method or functions relating to the vehicle chassis or containerlbox body, or lock linkage/ cam plate mechanism or leg locks might be individually patentably inventive. The singular may include the plural and vice versa The word 'front' as used throughout the specification is not meant to be limiting and is used in 'front legs' to indicate generally Me first set of legs encountered by the vehicle chassis during the mounting process.

Claims

1. A combination of a vehicle chassis and container or box body, said container having supporting legs that can be pivoted from a support position to an out of the way s position, the arrangement being such that as the vehicle chassis is introduced underneath the container / box body said legs are automatically unlocked by trigger or lock release means on or associated with the vehicle chassis and/or the legs are automatically moved into an out of the way or storage position on the vehicle as the vehicle chassis moves under the container / box body.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the trigger or lock release means is receivable in a guide entrance on the container/box body as the chassis is introduced underneath said container/box body.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 2 in which the trigger or lock release means is in the form of a roller.

4. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the container/box body comprises a lock release mechanism for said legs that may be To activated by the trigger or lock release means.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the lock release mechanism is a linkage.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 which is a double release mechanism that can be activated to release said legs simultaneously or in unison or sequentially.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 6 in which said legs are the front legs.

8. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 in which the lock release mechanism includes cam members or plates rotatable by the trigger or lock release means to unlock the legs.

9. A combination as claimed in any one of the ceding claims in which the chassis is provided with leg push members adapted to automatically push said legs into an out lo of the way or storage position on appropriate relative movement of the chassis and container/box body, after the legs have been unlocked.

l O. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each said leg is attached to an axle tube, in use, mounted transversely of the chassis, said axle tube being lockable in a particular orientation by retractable locking means.

A combination as claimed in claim 10 in which the axle tube is mounted to an associated side rave.

12. A combination as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in which the locking means is slidable.

13. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the retractable locking means is in the form of a locking pin releasably engageable in a collar of the axle tube.

14. A combination as claimed in any one of claims l O to 13 when dependent from claim 4 in which the retractable locking means is operatively connected to the lock release mechanism.

15. A combination as claimed in claim 14 in which the lock release mechanism comprises two plate portions that can be urged apart by the trigger/lock release means in order to operate the retractable locking means releasing for pivotable movement.

16. A combination as claimed in claim 15 in which the two plates are generally C shaped.

17. A combination as claimed in claim 15 or 16 in which the lock release mechanism is spring-loaded or resiliently biased to the locking position.

18. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17 in which each of said two plate portions is rigidly connected to an L-shaped member pivotably mounted to a transverse plate mounted on a girder or I-beam of the floor of the container/box body and/or the L-shaped member may have a pin that can pivot an associated link to activate said retractable locking means.

19. A combination as claimed in claim 18 in which the L-shaped member is connected to the associated link by spring means.

20. A combination as claimed in claim 4 or any claim dependent therefrom in which the lock release mechanism is provided with lock disabling means to prevent the lock release mechanism being actuated.

21. A combination as claimed in claim 20 in which the lock disabling means comprises a pivotably mounted plate.

22. A combination as claimed in claim 21 in which the pivotably mounted plate extends o across the guide entrance, where provided.

23. A combination as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 in which said pivotably mounted plate is L-shaped.

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24. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 in which the lock disabling means comprises a reciprocable rod that, in use, can prevent appropriate pivotal movement of the linkage to cause retraction or operation of said retraction means.

25. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which guide means JO in the form of downwardly depending guide rollers is provided on the container/ box body co-operable with guide rails on the vehicle chassis or vice versa.

26. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including means provided to automatically return the legs to a generally vertical position prior to :5 engaging the ground when Remounting the container/box body.

27. A combination as claimed in claim 26 in which said means is resilient.

28. A combination as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27 in which said means comprises a tension spring mounted on the underside of the container/box body and connected to one of the front legs.

29. A combination as claimed in claim 28 in which the tension spring is connected to said one of the front legs via an axle tube attached to said leg.

30. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having additional means provided to ensure the front legs have been returned to their correct vertical positions by said automatic return means.

31. A combination as claimed in claim 30 in which said additional means comprises a catch connected to said automatic return means co-operable with the vehicle chassis during Remounting.

32. A combination of a vehicle chassis and container box body substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 5, or FIGURES 16 to 27 of the drawings.

33. A combination of a vehicle chassis and container or box body, said container having two supporting legs that can be pivoted from a support position to an out of the way or storage position, the arrangement being such that said legs can be automatically 2s unlocked and/or moved into an out of the way /storage position whilst the driver remains in the vehicle.

34. A combination as claimed in claim 33 in which the automatic control is associated with the vehicle and can be effected whilst the driver remains in the vehicle.

535. A combination as claimed in claim 33 or 34 in which the control is mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic.

36. A container/ box body having two supporting legs that can be pivoted from a support position to an out of the way or storage position, the arrangement being such that said locontainer supporting legs can be automatically unlocked and/or moved into an out of the way/ storage position.

37. A vehicle having trigger or lock release means adapted to automatically unlock and/or pivot or move two supporting legs of a container/box body into an out of the 5way or storage position, preferably as the vehicle is introduced underneath the container/box body.

38. A method of mounting a container/box body on a vehicle chassis, said method comprlslng: a) introducing the vehicle chassis underneath the container/box body, and b) automatically unlocking two supporting legs of the container/box body and/or automatically moving said two legs into an out of the way or storage position.

39. A method of Remounting a container/box body from a vehicle chassis, said method comprlsmg: a) automatically moving two legs into a support position from an out of the way or storage position and/or automatically locking two supporting legs of the container/box body b) removing the chassis from underneath the container/box body.

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40. A method as claimed in claim 38 or 39 and substantially as herein described.