GB2455636A

GB2455636A - Trailer including excavator tool storage

Info

Publication number: GB2455636A
Application number: GB0807880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Davis
Original assignee: Ifor Williams Trailers Ltd
Current assignee: Ifor Williams Trailers Ltd
Priority date: 2008-04-30
Filing date: 2008-04-30
Publication date: 2009-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-30
Also published as: GB2455636B; GB0807880D0

Abstract

A trailer (1, Figure 1) for transporting an excavator vehicle (not shown) having a working articulated boom which may carry a bucket, "breaker" 18 or other tool. The trailer (1) having at an end region with an openable and closeable container 10 for receiving a breaker or like tool and may also receive attached hydraulic hoses includes means enabling the container 10 to be locked to prevent removal of the tool. The container also providing a surface 15, 20 which may have an upstanding flange 16 with a recess 17 to which an excavator bucket may be secured and rest upon when attached to the boom of the excavator supported on the trailer (1). The container 10 may have a pivotable top 15 front 15B and side 15A walls, to allow easy access to attach or detach the tool to / from the boom. The container 10 may have a pivotable rear top section 20 and the front 15 and rear 20 sections may have lugs 27, 28 to allow the container 10 to be secured using a padlock.

Description

TRAI LERS

The present invention relates to an improved trailer suitable for transporting an excavator or digger vehicle and especially such vehicle having an articulated boom or backhoe boom for carrying an excavator bucket and/or a breaker" or hammer drill attachments.

Excavators commonly have various different "bucket" attachments and "breakers". A "breaker" is an impulsive impact device normally hydraulically powered and used to break through and break up hard surfaces. The breaker and the various buckets have a common interface with the excavator boom and can be interchanged reasonably easily. The hydraulic power for the breaker is taken from a point of articulation on the excavator boom -the significance of which is that breakers have two hoses, typically 1.5 metres long, permanently attached. Whereas buckets are relatively cheap breakers are expensive -and therefore vulnerable to theft. Thus although buckets are commonly carried in front of the excavator on the trailer used to transport it, breakers, for reasons of security, are usually carried in the towing vehicle -typically a van. However breakers are also heavy -at least 70 Kg and the *:::* effort of loading and unloading the breaker is always a nuisance. It is well known for operators to try to overcome this problem by reaching inside vans *..

with the boom of the excavator in an attempt to couple or uncouple the breaker within the van. This can easily result in damage to the van. S..

According to the present invention there is provided a trailer for * transporting an excavator vehicle having a working articulated boom which S. may carry a bucket or a ubreakerli or other tool, said trailer having at an end region thereof, an openable and closeable container for receiving a breaker or like tool and preferably with attached hydraulic hoses, and including means enabling the container to be locked to prevent removal of the tool; said container also providing a surface to which an excavator bucket may be secured and/or rest upon when attached to the boom of the excavator supported on the trailer.

Preferably the container has a breaker or other tool retaining means on or at its upper surface such as an upstanding wall or support flange between the front and rear ends of the top of the container with a recess for receiving part of the tool which may have portions resting on the top of the container in front and rear regions of the container.

Preferably, the container is a box-like structure fixed or secured on/or forming part of the trailer at a forward end and preferably having a pivotable or otherwise displaceable, front part comprising side walls, front walls and a top surface forming a bucket rest surface, for supporting the bucket when the bucket is attached to the boom. Preferably also said upstanding wall extending from the top surface. This preferably pivotabte front part is pivoted in a lower front region so as to be forwardly pivotable to open the container or box to enable insertion and removal of the breaker device or other tool -which preferably has its pointed or working end to the rear of the container.

Preferably the front side walls of the container are reduced in height to the front pivot point to enable unobstructed access at the sides of and along the axis of the pins which secure the breaker or other tool to the excavator boom hammer to facilitate insertion and removal and any sideways driving action of * ** :.: . a tool to achieve such. * *** *

*:*. . Preferably the upper part of the rear part of the container or box has a * hinged or otherwise displaceable part or flap to facilitate access to the interior *** of the container and insertion and removal of the breaker or other tool.

Preferably the displaceable parts (or 1ids) of the container will each have juxtaposable apertured tugs on at least one side for a receiving securing or locking device such as a padlock. The displaceable parts or uIidsI are arranged to overlap such that they interlock such that locking one secures the other.

Thus, preferably the present invention provides in a preferred embodiment a secure (lockable and robustly constructed) box embedded or fixed in the front of the excavator's trailer to carry the breaker and its attached hoses.

Preferably the box is orientated and constructed in such a way that the excavator, when it is on the trailer, can insert and remove the breaker using the available articulation of its boom assembly so that the breaker is in the correct stowage position before the pins that secure it are removed.

Preferably the box is constructed such that, when it is open, there is unobstructed access along the axis of the pins that secure the breaker to the excavator boom -because the pins often have to be driven out and in.

Excavators are almost always transported with an attachment -typically a bucket -attached to the boom. For reasons of transport safety there is almost always a "bucket rest" on the front of the excavator. When in * ** * transport, the bucket and therefore the boom of the excavator, are securely ***.

lashed to the bucket rest and for enabling such securement of the boom is the primary purpose of the bucket rest plate with the support or rest function for the bucket being secondary. In order to maintain the bucket rest feature and provide the container or box for the breaker or other tool described above, the present invention preferably provides the bucket rest feature built into or formed by the lid of the breaker box.

Where an excavator is being transported from one job where the breaker has been in use to another job where the breaker will be used, it is clearly not convenient to put the breaker in its box, disconnect it from the boom, fit a bucket to the boom (so that the boom can be secured in transport), then remove the bucket and reattach the breaker at the other end of the journey. Therefore, as well as providing safe stowage for a bucket attached to the boom, this bucket rest feature should also provide for safe transport of the breaker attached to the boom (see Fig. 4). It will be appreciated that when the breaker is transported in this manner, the breaker box is closed but empty.

Thus also according to the present invention there is provided a container having a forward side and upper part, which also forms a "bucket" securement and/or rest for the bucket or other tool of an excavator, and which forward side and upper part are displaceable preferably forwardly, to open the front of the container and to provide access from each side to the interior for permitting breaker securing-pin removal and insertion, and preferably a rear part (preferably upper) is displaceable to provide further access to the interior of the container, and said two parts are reversibly displaceable and securable together and preferably lockable e.g. by a padlock on at least one side.

Preferably the side walls of the container forwardly of the front wall of the platform of the trailer are reduced in height and the front part is displaceable away to provide said side access to the interior. Preferably the length of the rear part and/or its construction will be such as to act to stop rearward movement of a breaker or other tool when inserted therewith on an excavator * arm at a position where the securing pins are accessible from the means providing access on each side of the container. ** *

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with * reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view from the front of a standard/known trailer suitable for receiving an excavator vehicle with articulated boom (not shown) and having a rear ramp shown in its elevated position and a front fixed bucket rest; Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the front of a similar trailer but this time modified in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and including a combined container for receiving a breaker device or like tool and also forming a rest for the bucket carried by the boom of an excavator resting on the trailer; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail showing the container or box forming the novel part of the trailer according to the invention with a front portion comprising the bucket securement or rest and side walls and pivoted forwardly and with a rear upper flap pivoted rearwardly to open the container and showing a breaker device located therein and particularly the connection lugs of the breaker or other tool accessible from the sides; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of a trailer according to the present invention with the container being closed as in Fig. 2 but showing a breaker device in its stowed or resting position on the top of the container and resting on retaining means in the form of an upstanding wall or flange -the articulated boom of the excavator vehicle (which latter vehicle would in practice be resting on the trailer) would normally be connected to the breaker but it and the boom is not shown for clarity.

In Fig. I a known trailer 1 is illustrated comprising two side wheels 2 each side supporting a deck 3 which has a pivotable loading/unloading ramp 4 S...

at the rear end and with the ramp illustrated in the elevated, road-travelling position. The front of the vehicle has a draw-bar 5 extending from the frame S.. . . . . * of the trailer with the converged forward end carrying a towing hitch 6 coupling *:*. and adjustable jockey wheel 7 in known manner. An angled plate member 8 forming a bucket rest is fixedly secured to the trailer and to the ends of forwardly inclined mounting arms 9 extending from the trailer and draw-bar thereof forwardly of the connecting platform 3 for receiving and supporting the bucket of an excavator (not shown) for transporting such. As mentioned above, often a breaker or other impacting tool is carried by the end of the articulated boom and has to be removed and the bucket connected to the boom arm for transportation and then there is the need to safely store the breaker/tool to prevent theft thereof.

The embodiment according to the invention shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 comprises similar trailer I with wheels 2, support deck 3 and rear loading/unloading ramp 4 and front draw bar 5 and towing hitch 6 and jockey wheel 7 but instead of the previous simple bucket rest plate, there is provided a container in the form of a housing or box 10 such as welded or bolted to cross-frames and/or the deck 3 of the trailer. An additional cross-beam 11 is provided forwardly and another cross-beam 12 of inverted channel section is also connected across the drawbar 5 and the front wall 13 of the trailer deck -which latter has a central gap or recess 14 to accommodate the box 10.

The box 10 is generally in the shape of a truncated trapezium/trapezoid having a substantially flat top split into two parts with a front part 15 forming a bucket rest for the bucket of an excavator and having an upstanding wall or flange 16 with a recess 17 centrally as retaining means for a breaker/tool 18 and the rear part 19 having a rearwardly pivotable flap or lid 20 pivotally mounted at 20A and providing access to the interior of box 10. * S. * S S * *.

s...,, More specifically, the box 10 comprises a closed bottom 21 (not shown in full) fixed to the support frames and deck of the trailer and having vertically extending parallel side walls 22. The side and upper walls of the box are formed into distinct parts with the rear part having parallel side walls 22A carrying sloping rear walls 23 closing the rear of the box. Extending part-way along the length of the top there is a pivotally mounted access flap 20 with S..

side flanges 20A for security and flap 20 helps to provide for access to the interior of the container. The front portions 228 of the vertical side walls 22 are reduced in height considerably as they lead forwardly so as to provide access from either side to enable securing pins (not shown) which secure the breaker 18 or other tool, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to the articulated boom of an excavator (not shown). The breaker device 18 has an upper plate 24 from which apertured lugs 25, 26 extend and have apertures 25A, 26A which align with apertures in the end of the excavator boom and are secured by pins (not shown) in known manner. Thus the front of the box 10 where the side walls reduce in height is forwardly of the walls 13 of the trailer and thus not impeded to any extent by such or any frame members. The front part of the box 10 comprises shaped side wall members I 5A at each side pivotally mounted at 15C and having inclined upper walls 158 extending therebetween and a front normally vertical wall closing the bottom of such. A top flange or wall 16 in the form of a plate with forwardly angled upper lip is provided at the end of plate 15 and which, when the box is closed, acts as a rest for the bucket of the excavator when on the trailer. Upstanding wall or flange 16 with recess 17 transversely and centrally extends at the rear of this bucket plate 15. In the said recess 17, the breaker 18 or other tool may in part rest as shown in Fig. 4 to be retained in position there when being transported and so as to provide the important function of retaining the excavator boom to which it is attached.

In Fig. 4 normally the breaker device 18 would be mounted on the end of the boom which is not shown for sake of clarity. The breaker device 18 has a main body 18A with working components and a working tip 18B which is stored facing rearwardly in both Figs. 3 and 4 and is limited in its rearward *::, movement such as by the box end. * *

* ** One of the parallel side walls 22A of the rear part has an outwardly facing apertured lug 27 and the same side of the rear of the front part has an S. * outwardly extending apertured lug 28 which when the box 10 is closed align with 27 to enable a securing device such as a padlock (not shown) to be secured at the side of the box to prevent unauthorised removal of the breaker device 18 stored within the box 10. The front plate 208 of rear flap or lid 20 is trapped and retained under the rear part of 15 when the box is closed.

The spacing within the box 10 and the access opening when the box is opened are such as to enable the breaker device 18 to be located within the box when on the boom by way of manipulation of the boom of the excavator device when resting on the trailer. The securing pins (not shown) may then be removed from apertures 25A, 26A and also the hydraulic hoses (not shown) can remain attached to the breaker device 18 and can also be stowed in the box 10 which is sized to receive such.

The shaping and closure of the box 10 is such as to provide optimum security and to prevent insertion of devices which might be attempted to be used to open such. Of course, the box 10 is of a strength and durability to prevent access. Other shapes may be formed or the structure of the container may be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The upwardly extending wall or flange 16 for retaining the breaker device 18 resting on the top also has inclined forwardly facing flaps or lips 16A on either side of the recess 14 for the purpose of the teeth of an excavator bucket to grip on -buckets are not just rested on bucket rests 15 but, for added security, the operator rotates the bucket so that it "grips" this lip 16A on the back of the bucket plate 15 rest.

Then central recess 17 allows the breaker body to extend through what would otherwise be the continuous back edge of a conventional bucket rest. * I. ** * *** S

S S.. S. S * S S * .*

S *SS

S

Claims

1. A trailer for transporting an excavator vehicle having a working articulated boom which may carry a bucket or a "breaker" or other tool, said trailer having at an end region thereof, an openable and closeable container for receiving a breaker or like tool, and including means enabling the container to be locked to prevent removal of the tool; said container also providing a surface to which an excavator bucket may be secured and/or rest upon when attached to the boom of the excavator supported on the trailer.

2. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, in which the container is sized and/or shaped so as to also receive attached hydraulic hoses.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim I or 2, in which the container has a breaker or other tool retaining means on or at its upper surface.

4. A trailer as claimed in claim 3, in which said retaining means comprises *S.S : an upstanding wall or support flange between the front and rear ends of the *S*.

top of the container. * * *

* *

5. A trailer as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which said upstanding wall or recess has a recess for receiving part of the tool which may have portions resting on the top of the container in front and rear regions of the container. **.

I

6. A trailer as claimed in any of claims I to 5, in which the container is a box-like structure fixed or secured on/or forming part of the trailer at a forward end.

7. A trailer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the container has a pivotable or otherwise displaceable, front part comprising side walls, front walls and a top surface forming a bucket rest surface, for Supporting the bucket when the bucket is attached to the boom.

8. A trailer as claimed in claims 4 and 7, in which said upstanding wall extends from the top surface.

9. A trailer as claimed in claim 7, in which the pivotable front part is pivoted in a lower region so as to be forwardly pivotable to open the container or box to enable insertion and removal of the breaker device or other tool - (which tool normally has its pointed or working end to the rear of the container).

10. A trailer as claimed in claim 7, in which the front side walls of the container are reduced in height to the front pivot point to enable unobstructed access at the sides of and along the axis of the pins which secure the breaker or other tool to the excavator boom hammer to facilitate insertion and removal and any sideways driving action of a tool to achieve such.

11. A trailer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, in which the upper part of *S.S the rear part of the container or box includes a hinged or otherwise S...

displaceable part or flap (20) to facilitate access to the interior of the container and insertion and removal of the breaker or other tool. S * * S

S S..

12. A trailer as claimed in any of claims Ito 11, in which the displaceable parts (or "lids") of the container each have juxtaposable apertured lugs on at *. least one side for a receiving securing or locking device such as a padlock.

13. A trailer as claimed in claim 12, in which the displaceable parts or "lids" are arranged to overlap such that the interlock such that locking one secures the other.

14. A container having a forward side and upper part, which also forms a "bucket" securement and/or rest for the bucket or other tool of an excavator, and which forward side and upper part are displaceable (preferably forwardly), to open the front of the container and to provide access from each side to the interior for permitting breaker securing-pin removal and insertion, (and preferably a rear part (preferably upper)) is displaceable to provide further access to the interior of the container, and said two parts are reversibly displaceable and securable together (and preferably lockable e.g. by a padlock on at least one side).

15. A container as claimed in claim 14, in which the side walls of the container forwardly of the front wall of the platform of the trailer are reduced in height and the front part is displaceable away to provide said side access to the interior.

16. A container as claimed in claim 14 or 15, in which the length of the rear part and/or its construction is/are such as to act to stop rearward movement of a breaker or other tool when inserted therewith on an excavator arm at a position where the securing pins are accessible from the means providing access on each side of the container. *.S. * S S *S * *5IS

17. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. I..

18. A trailer with container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

S *SS *

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows /2

1. A trailer for transporting an excavator vehicle having a working articulated boom which may carry a bucket or a ubreake,.l or other tool1 said trailer having at an end region thereof, an openable and cioseable conta,ner for receiving a breaker or like tool, and Including means enabling the container to be locked to prevent removal of the tool; said container also providing a surface to which an excavator bucket may be secured and/or rest upon when attached to the boom of the excavator supported on the trailer.

2. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, in which the container is sized and/or shaped so as, in use, to also receive attached hydraulic hoses.

4. A trailer as claimed in claim 3, in which said retaining means comprises an upstanding wall or support flange between the front and rear ends of the top of the container, 5. A trailer as claimed in claim 4, in which said upstanding wall or support flange has a recess for receiving part of the tool which may have portions resting on the top of the container in front and rear regions of the container. * S

55.. . 6. A trailer as claimed in any of claims I to 5, in which the container is a :: box-like structure fixed or secured on/or forming part of the trailer at a forward *. end.

* s..* * 7. A trailer as claimed In any of ciaJms I to 6, in which the container has a stationary rear part arid a pivotable or otherwise displaceably mounted, front part comprising side walls, front walls and a top surface forming a bucket rest surface, for supporting the bucket when the bucket Is attached to the boom.

8. A trailer as claimed in claims 4 and 7. in which said upstanding wall extends from the top surface, 9. A trailer as claimed in claIm 7, In which the front part is pivotable and pivotally mounted in a lower region so as to be forwardly pivotable to open the container or box to enable insertion and removal of the breaker device or other tool -(which tool normally has its pointed or working end to the rear of the container).

10, A trailer as claimed In claim 7 or claims 7arid 8 or claim 9 in which the side walls of the rear part of the container reduce In height towards the front pivot point or other displaceable mounting for the front part to enable unobstructed access at the sides of and along the axis of the pins which secure the breaker or other tool to the excavator boom to facilitate insertion and removal and any sideways driving action of a tool to achieve such.

II. A trailer as claimed in any of claims Ito 10, in which the upper part of the rear part of the container or box includes a hinged or otherwise displaceably mounted top part or flap (20) to facHitate access to the interior of the container and insertion and removal of the breaker or other tool, :. 12. A trailer as claimed In claims 7 and 11, In which the displaceable parts (or lids") of the container each have Juxtaposable apertured lugs on at leasL one side for a receivIng securing or locking device such as a padlock. * p. * * *

13. A trailer as claimed in claim 12, In which the displaceable parts or lids' are arranged to overlap such that they interlock such that locking one secures 4P* o S the other.

14. A trailer as claimed In any of claims 1 to 6. In which said container has a forward side and upper part, which also forms the "bucker securement and/or rest for the bucket or other tool of an excavator, and which forward side-and-upper part is displaceable, to open the front of the container and to provide access from each side to the Interior for permitting breaker securing-pin removal and insertIon.

15. A trailer as claimed In claim 14, including a rear part which is displaceable to provide further access to the Interior of the container and said two parts are reversibly displaceable and securable together, 18. A trailer as claimed in claim 15, in which said two parts are lockable by a padlock or other locking means on at least one side.

17. A trailer as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16. in which the forward side-and-upper part Is forwardly displaceable from a closing position, 18. A trailer as claimed In any of claims 14 to 17, in which the side walls of the container forwardly of the front wall of the platform of the trailer are reduced in height from a rear region towards the front and the front part is displaceable away to provide said side access to the interior.

19. A trailer as claimed in any of claims 14 to 18, in which the length of the rear part and/or Its construction is/are such as to, In use, act to stop rearward movement of a breaker or other tool when inserted therewith on an excavator * .* arm at a position where the securing pins are accessible from the means providing access on each side of the container. s.

20. A trailer as claimed In claim 10 or 11, in which the side walls of the front part of the container reduce in height towards the pivot point or other I,....

* mounting region to facilitate access to the interior of the container.

21. A trailer with container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A container for a trailer for transporting an excavator vehicle having a working articulated boom, said container having a forward side and an upper part, which also forms a "bucker securement and/or rest for the bucket or other tool of an excavator when on the trailer, and which forward side and upper part are displaceable, to open the front of the container and to provide access from each side to the interior for permitting breaker securing-pin removal and insertion, and said two parts are reversibly displaceable and securable together by being adapted to receive locking means.

23. A container as claimed In claIm 21, In which the length of the rear part arid/or its construction Is/are such as to act to stop rearward movement of a breaker or other tool when Inserted therein on an excavator arm at a position where the securing pins are accessible from the means providing access on each side of the container,

24. A container for a trailer for transporting an excavator vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * II * S S.. * . S.'.. * 5$ *5 * V... *5I*S * S