GB2460524A

GB2460524A - Platforms for use in transporters

Info

Publication number: GB2460524A
Application number: GB0909320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Houghton
Original assignee: HOUGHTON PARKHOUSE Ltd
Current assignee: HOUGHTON PARKHOUSE Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-03
Filing date: 2009-06-03
Publication date: 2009-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-03
Also published as: GB0810100D0; GB2460524B; GB0909320D0

Abstract

A platform 10 for a transporter is arranged, in use, to rotate between a load bearing position and a cleaning position, which is particularly useful in transporters used to transport livestock. The rotation of the platform may be resisted by an elastic element 22, eg. wire rope. The platform may be rotated due to force provided by an actuator (20, figure 1), eg. a hydraulic ram. The platform may be mounted on a carrier, which may comprise support elements 14A, 14B and guide elements for the platform.

Description

PLATFORMS FOR USE IN TRANSPORTERS

Field to the Invention

The present invention relates to platforms for use in transporters, transporters comprising a platform and especially, but not limited to, platforms for use in livestock transporters and transporters for use in transporting livestock.

BackQround to the Invention Trailers and other transporters for use in transporting livestock generally comprise a number of levels each level having a platform to support the livestock. Such transporters enable livestock to be transported economically and efficiently. Transporters for supporting livestock may comprise an integrated cab plus transport area or comprise a trailer forming a livestock area to be towed behind a tractor unit.

The transport area may have at least one platform which is vertically moveable in order for the height of the level to be adjusted according to the type of goods being transported. In livestock transporters, the height of the level will be dependent upon the type of livestock being transported. For example, a level supporting cattle will require a greater height than a level supporting poultry or sheep or pigs. Accordingly, it is advantageous for a transporter to have a plafform which can move vertically in order for the transporter to transport different goods efficiently and economically.

However, transporters for use in transporting livestock need to be cleaned to a high standard frequently, and moving platforms vertically to allow access for cleaning purposes takes time and is inconvenient, particularly when multiple platforms are provided in a single transporter and when the vertical separation between platforms is small.

It is an aim of the present invention to address at least one problem associated with the prior art, whether referred to herein or otherwise.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a plafform for use in a transporter, the platform being arranged, in use, to rotate between a load bearing position and a cleaning position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a transporter having a platform located therein, the platform being arranged, in use, to rotate between a load bearing position and a cleaning position.

Preferably, the plafform is in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably, the platform is coupled to a carrier. Preferably the platform is mounted to rotate relative to the carrier. Preferably, the platform is mounted to pivot relative to the carrier.

Preferably, the platform is mounted to rotate about a generally horizontal axis. Preferably the plafform is mounted to rotate relative to an axis which runs in the axial direction of the transporter. Preferably the axial direction of the transporter is parallel to the intended direction of travel of the transporter. Preferably, the plafform is mounted to rotate relative to an axis located at a side of the transporter. Preferably the platform is mounted to rotate relative to an axis located at a side extremity of the transporter. Preferably, the plafform is mounted to rotate 1 5 relative to an axis which runs perpendicular to the axial direction of the trailer.

Preferably, relative rotation between the plafform and the carrier is resisted by an elastic element. Preferably, the elastic element provides a resistance which increases with the amount of rotation between the platform and the carrier. Preferably the angle of relative rotation between the platform and the carrier is constrained by the elastic element.

Preferably, the carrier is mounted to slide relative to the transporter. Preferably the carrier is mounted to move vertically relative to the transporter.

Preferably the platform is movable under force supplied by one or more actuator.

Preferably the plafform is movable under force supplied by one actuator alone, to control the rotation and vertical position of the platform relative to the transporter as the plafform moves.

Preferably the actuator is a hydraulic ram. Preferably the actuator is coupled to the platform using one or more tension elements. Preferably the actuator generates a force parallel to an axis which runs in the axial direction of the transporter. Preferably the actuator generates a force in a direction parallel to the intended direction of travel of the transporter. Preferably, the actuator is mounted at a side of the transporter. Preferably the actuator is mounted at a side extremity of the transporter and/or in a side wall of the transporter. Preferably the tension element(s) change the direction of the force supplied by the actuator. Preferably the tension element(s) supply vertical force to the platform. Preferably the tension element(s) supply force to the plafform at a point on the plafform between the axis of rotation of the platform and the centre of gravity of the platform. Preferably the tension element(s) supply force to the platform at a point on the plafform between the axis of rotation of the platform and the centre of gravity of the plafform/carrier combination. Preferably the tension element is a wire rope. Preferably the position of the platform as it moves is controlled by force supplied by the actuator, force supplied at the pivot and the weight of the platform or platform/carrier combination.

Preferably the platform comprises support means to engage a support structure of the transporter such that in the load bearing position the support structure and the support means support the platform. Suitably, the support means is provided at one or more edge portions of the platform. Suitably the support means is provided along one or more edge portions of the platform. Suitably the support means is provided along edges of the platform which are parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform. Suitably the support structure comprises one or more rails on which the support means rest.

Preferably, the transporter comprises guide means to guide the support means towards and/or into engagement with the support structure. Suitably, the guide means comprises a projection over which a portion of the plafform slides or rolls as the platform moves. Suitably, the guide means is movable between a guiding position, in which movement of the platform towards the load bearing position is guided thereby, and a first non-guiding position in which the platform does is not guided thereby. Suitably, movement of the guide means from the guiding position to the first non-guiding position brings the support means into engagement with the support structure. Suitably the guide means is further movable to second non-guiding position in which the platform cannot contact the guide means as it moves.

Preferably the transporter is arranged, in use, to transport dry freight. Preferably the transporter is arranged, in use, to transport livestock. Preferably, the transporter comprises a trailer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plafform according to a first example embodiment of the present invention arranged in a load bearing position in a frame; Figure 2 is a rear view of the platform and frame of Figure 1 with the platform arranged in a load bearing position; Figure 3 is a rear view of the platform and frame of Figure 1 with the plafform arranged in a cleaning position; Figure 4 is a rear view of the platform and frame of Figure 1 with the platform arranged in a storage position; Figure 5 is a rear close up view of a platform according to an example embodiment of the present invention engaged with a guide means; Figure 6 is a rear view of the platform and the guide means of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a rear view of the platform and guide means of Figure 5 with the guide 1 0 means arranged in a first non-guiding position.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

1 5 Typically a transporter for use in transporting livestock comprises a plurality of levels.

Each level has a platform for supporting the livestock thereon, with the height of each level selected dependent upon the type of livestock being transported. Accordingly, it is advantageous for each platform to movable between various support positions in which the vertical position of each platform is adapted to different types of livestock. However, the provision of multiple levels and platforms inhibits access to the transporter for cleaning purposes.

As shown in Figure 1, a platform 10 is arranged in a load bearing position within a frame 12 that forms a support structure for the platform 10 and may comprise part of the body of a transporter. The platform 10 is substantially horizontally supported in the frame 12 in a load bearing position. The platform rests on support rails 14A, 14B that engage support means on the platform. In the embodiment of Figure 1 the support means are provided on opposite edge portions of the platform and comprise hooked portions 18A, 18B extending from the main body of the platform 10. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the x direction is the direction of travel of the transporter, and movement of the platform parallel to the x-y plane is constrained as the platform 10 abuts the frame 12.

An actuator is provided to move the platform 10 between the load bearing position and a cleaning position. In the embodiment of Figure 1 the actuator comprises a hydraulic ram 20, however, pneumatic or other suitable actuators may be used. The ram 20 is coupled to the platform 10 using tension elements 22 in the form of wire rope 22. The ram 20 is mounted at a side of the frame 20 and extends in the x -z plane with the tension elements 22 used with pulley wheels 29 to change the direction of the force supplied by the ram 20 to act in the z direction. By mounting the ram 20 in this way the ram 20 occupies very little space in the transporter.

A single ram 20 is used to control the position of the platform 10 as it moves, and the operation of the plafform 10 as it moves between load bearing positions, and as it moves between the load bearing and cleaning positions.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the platform of Figure 1. The platform 10 is coupled to a carrier 30. The platform 10 is mounted to pivot relative to the carrier 30 so that the platform 10 is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis which runs parallel to the x direction, i.e. the axial direction of the transporter which is itself parallel to the intended direction of travel of the transporter. Furthermore the carrier 30 is mounted to slide in the frame in a direction parallel to the z direction, i.e. in the vertical direction. In other example embodiments the platform 10 is rotatable about an axis which runs perpendicular to the axial direction of the trailer, e.g. an axis which runs across the width of the trailer. In such embodiments the advantages provided by the ram and tension elements as described above, an by the carrier and guide means as described below are also available.

The carrier 30 is located at a side of the frame 12 so the plafform 10 is mounted to rotate about an axis which can conveniently be located at a side extremity of the transporter.

By mounting the platform on a carrier 30 in this way the carrier 30 and plafform 10 occupy very little space in the transporter.

Relative rotation between the platform 10 and the carrier 30 is resisted by an elastic element at the pivot, such that relative rotation is resisted with a force that increases with the amount of rotation between the platform 10 and the carrier 30.

From a load bearing starting position as shown in Figure 1, movement of the platform to a cleaning position will now be described. The ram 20 causes the tension elements 22 to impart a vertical force to the platform 10. The tension elements 22 are coupled to the platform 10 such that they supply force to the plafform 10 at a point on the platform 10 between the axis of rotation of the platform 10 and the centre of gravity of the platform 10. This raises the carrier 30 and the edge of the platform 10 nearest to the carrier 30, such that the platform 10 becomes disengaged from the frame 12. As the carrier 30 rises, the plafform 10 rotates and loses contact with the support rail 14A. The weight of the platform 10 causes the plafform to rotate to the position shown in Figure 3, wherein the position of the platform 10 is determined by force supplied by the tension elements 22, force supplied at the pivot, and the weight of the plafform 10. No other forces act on the platform 10 when in this configuration. A desired angle for the platform 10 when in the cleaning position is obtained by selecting suitable values for the resistance at the pivot, the weight of the platform and the location at which force is applied to the platform 10. In the cleaning position dirt and other debris can easily be cleaned off the platform 10 by rinsing. In other embodiments the plafform may adopt an angle further from the horizontal than is shown in Figure 2, allowing space at the side of the platform for an operative to gain easy access to the transporter to facilitate cleaning from within the transporter.

From the position shown in Figure 3 the platform 10 can be raised further by further movement of the ram 20 and tension elements 22, such that the carrier 30 slides upwardly in the frame 12. Upward movement of the carrier 30 is limited by engagement with a stop means on the frame 12. When the carrier 30 is at its uppermost position, further movement of the ram and tension elements 22 rotates the platform 10 towards a substantially horizontal, storage position. Figure 4 shows the plafform 10 in a storage position with the carrier 10 at its uppermost position; in this position the ram 20 is fully extended.

From a cleaning position in which the support means is positioned above the support rail 14A a guide means is used to guide the support means towards and into engagement with the support rail 14A. Figure 5 shows the guide means comprising a projection in the form of a roller 42 carried on an arm 48. Figure 5 shows the guide means arranged in a guiding position such that the roller 42 contacts the platform 10 as the platform 10 is lowered towards a load bearing position.

From the position of Figure 5, movement of the guide means from the guiding position to a first non-guiding position brings the support means into engagement with the support structure. Movement of the guide means is effected by rotation the guide means about the pivot 44. A handle 46 is provided to enable an operative to move the guide means such that the arm 48 and the roller 42 rotate anticlockwise about the pivot 44 in Figure 5. As the roller 42 rotates it moves down, lowering the hooked portion 18A into engagement with the support rail 14A. Figures 6 and 7 show the guide means arranged in a guiding position and first non-guiding position respectively. In Figure 6 the handle 46 is arranged vertically, and in Figure 7 the handle 46 is arranged horizontally. The region A of Figure 6 is shown in magnified form as Figure 5.

To allow the plafform 10 to drop below the level of the support means the guide means is mounted on a carrier 50 which can be moved so that the support means does not lie in the path of the platform 10 as it moves. The carrier 50 is shown in Figures 6 and 7, and is moveable by pivoting about a vertical axis so that the support means moves out of the plane of the Figures.

A single control means may be provided in a transporter in order to co-ordinate the lifting and lowering of multiple the plafforms in a transporter by controlling suitable actuators.

Although the movement of the support means in the example embodiment described is effected manually, additional actuators may be provided to give a fully automated system.

An advantage of the present invention is that it allows a single actuator to be used to raise and lower each platform, and to control the rotation position of each platform. The piston for each platform can be independently controlled to angle the platform as desired, for example to ease access and to ease removal of dirt and/or cleaning fluid from the plafform thereby facilitating the washing out process. This cannot be achieved so easily with prior art plafforms that move only vertically.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

C'aims: 1. A platform for use in a transporter, the platform being arranged, in use, to rotate between a load bearing position and a cleaning position.
2. The platform of any preceding claim, mounted to rotate about a generally horizontal axis.
3. The platform of any preceding claim, mounted to rotate relative to an axis which runs in an axial direction of a transporter.
4. The platform of claim 3, wherein the axial direction of the transporter is parallel to the intended direction of travel of the transporter.
5. The platform of claim 3 or 4, mounted to rotate relative to an axis located at a side of the 1 5 transporter.
6. The platform of claim 3, 4 or 5, mounted to rotate relative to an axis located at a side extremity of the transporter.
7. The platform of claim 2, mounted to rotate relative to an axis which runs perpendicular to the axial direction of the trailer.
8. The platform of any preceding claim, coupled to a carrier.
9. The platform of claim 8, mounted to rotate relative to the carrier.
10. The platform of claim 8 or 9, mounted to pivot relative to the carrier.
11. The platform of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein relative rotation between the platform and the carrier is resisted by an elastic element.
12. The platform of claim 11, wherein the elastic element provides a resistance which increases with the amount of rotation between the platform and the carrier.
13. The platform of claim 11 or 12, wherein the angle of relative rotation between the platform and the carrier is constrained by the elastic element.
14. The platform of any one of claims 11, 12 or 13, wherein the carrier is mounted to slide relative to the transporter.
15. The plafform of any one of claims 11-14, wherein the carrier is mounted to move vertically relative to the transporter.
16. The platform of any one of claims 11-15, movable under force supplied by one or more actuator.
17. The plafform of claim 16 movable under force supplied by one actuator alone, to control the rotation and vertical position of the plafform relative to the transporter as the platform moves.
18. The platform of claim 16 or 17, wherein the actuator generates a force parallel to an axis which runs in the axial direction of the transporter, i.e. in a direction parallel to the intended direction of travel of the transporter.
19. The platform of claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein the actuator is mounted at a side of the transporter.
20. The platform of any one of claims 16-19, wherein the actuator is mounted at a side extremity of the transporter and/or in a side wall of the transporter.
21. The platform of any one of claims 16-20, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic ram.
22. The platform of any one of claims 16-21, wherein the actuator is coupled to the platform using one or more tension elements.
23. The platform of claim 22, wherein the tension element(s) change the direction of the force supplied by the actuator.
24. The plafform of claim 22 or 23, wherein the tension element(s) supply vertical force to the platform.
25. The platform of claim 22, 23 or 24, wherein the tension element(s) supply force to the plafform at a point on the platform between the axis of rotation of the platform and the centre of gravity of the platform.
26. The platform of any one of claims 22-25 as dependent on claim 8, wherein the tension element(s) supply force to the platform at a point on the platform between the axis of rotation of the platform and the centre of gravity of the platform/carrier combination.
27. The platform of any one of claims 22-26, wherein the tension element is a wire rope.
28. The platform of claim 16, or any preceding claim as dependent on claim 16, wherein the position of the plafform as it moves is controlled by force supplied by the actuator, force supplied at the pivot and the weight of the platform.
29. The platform of claim 16, or any preceding claim as dependent on claim 16, wherein the position of the plafform as it moves is controlled by force supplied by the actuator, force supplied at the pivot and the weight of the platform/carrier combination.
30. The platform of any preceding claim, comprises support means to engage a support structure of the transporter such that in the load bearing position the support structure and the support means support the platform.
31. The platform of claim 30, wherein the support means is provided at one or more edge portions of the platform.
32. The platform of claim 30 or 31, wherein the support means is provided along one or more edge portions of the platform.
33. The platform of claim 30, 31 or 32, wherein the support means is provided along edges of the platform which are parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform.
34. The platform of any one of claims 30-33, wherein the support structure comprises one or more rails on which the support means rest.
35. The platform of any one of claims 30-34, wherein the transporter comprises guide means to guide the support means towards and/or into engagement with the support structure.
36. The platform of claim 35, wherein the guide means comprises a projection over which a portion of the platform slides or rolls as the platform moves.
37. The platform of any one of claims 30-36, wherein the guide means is movable between a guiding position, in which movement of the platform towards the load bearing position is guided thereby, and a first non-guiding position in which the platform does is not guided thereby.
38. The platform of claim 37, wherein movement of the guide means from the guiding position to the first non-guiding position brings the support means into engagement with the support structure.
39. The platform of claim 38, wherein the guide means is further movable to second non-guiding position in which the platform cannot contact the guide means as it moves.
40. A transporter having a plafform located therein, the platform being arranged, in use, to rotate between a load bearing position and a cleaning position.
41. The transporter of claim 40, comprising the platform of any one of claims 1-39.
42. The transporter of claim 40 or 41, arranged, in use, to transport dry freight.
43. The transporter of claim 40 or 41, arranged, in use, to transport livestock.
44. The transporter of any one of claims 40-43 comprises a trailer.
45. A plafform or transporter substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.