GB2479558A

GB2479558A - Vehicle attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2479558A
Application number: GB1006184A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurence Ross Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-14
Filing date: 2010-04-14
Publication date: 2011-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2030-04-14
Also published as: GB201006184D0; GB2479558B

Abstract

Apparatus for attachment to a vehicle 1 comprises a controllable movable arm 11-15 for use in executing tasks, such as gripping and lifting traffic cones to position them on the road surface, and a platform 20 arranged to be capable of adopting an operative condition and a stowed condition, wherein the platform and the arm are arranged to be secured at a front portion of the vehicle.

Description

VEHICLE

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to vehicles.

Background

Various procedures are required to be carried out for maintenance of highways, such as motorways. These procedures/activities include deploying, collecting and repositioning cones, performing repairs, removing debris from the highway, repairing and renovating the road surface. In the case in particular of motorways, such procedures are extremely hazardous to the maintenance operatives in view of the passing traffic, travelling potentially at very high speeds.

Summary

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprising a controllable moveable arm for use in executing tasks, and a platform arranged to be capable of adopting an operative condition and a stowed condition, wherein the platform and the arm arranged to be secured to a front portion of a vehicle.

The apparatus is preferably arranged to be attached to a forward-facing surface of the front of the vehicle.

The arm preferably comprises an articulated arm.

A free end of the arm may comprise a grab device, arranged to grip and lift objects. Preferably the grab device is arranged to be capable of gripping and lifting traffic cones.

A free end of the arm is desirably arranged to be capable of being connected to different attachments, each attachment for use in performing a particular task.

The apparatus may be viewed as maintenance apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle comprising the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.

The vehicle preferably comprises a manually operable control assembly, arranged to enable control of arm and the platform, and wherein the control assembly is located within the cab of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 to 6 show schematic perspective views of a highway maintenance vehicle.

Detailed Description

Reference is made initially to Figure 1, which shows a highway maintenance vehicle 1 (of the flat-bed type). The vehicle 1 comprises a cab 3, ie a compartment for a driver and at least one passenger. The vehicle 1 further comprises rearwardly positioned platform 5, on which stacks of traffic cones 7 are located.

The vehicle 1 further comprises an articulated arm assembly 10. The arm assembly 10 comprises a base 11, a first arm portion 12, a joint 13, a second arm portion 14 and an end portion 15. The base portion 11 comprises a motive assembly (not shown) which is operative to rotate the first arm portion 12 about a vertical axis 16 of the base portion. The motive assembly is also operative to move the first arm portion upwardly and downwardly relative to the base portion 11. The joint 13 comprises a motive assembly, which is arranged to be capable of rotating the second arm portion 14 in any direction relative to the first arm portion 12. The end portion 15 comprises a grab device comprising two moveable jaws which, as will be described below, are capable of gripping and lifting at least one traffic cone. The motive assemblies which are used to effect movement of the arm and operate the grab device comprise a mechanical hydraulic system.

The vehicle 1 further comprises an extendible/retractable platform assembly 20. In Figure 1, the platform is shown in its retracted (or stowed) condition. The platform assembly 20 arranged to extend outwardly and forwardly of the front of the vehicle to an operative condition and so provide a support surface (as will be further described below). In that regard, the platform assembly 20 comprises a concertina type mechanism. A front surface of the platform comprises head lamps 23.

In an alternative embodiment, the platform assembly comprises a hinged plate which can be selectively driven to adopt an upright stowed condition, and a horizontal operable condition. In such an embodiment, two sets of headlamps are provided. A first set is provided at an end surface of the platform which can be illuminated when the platform is in its operative (horizontal) condition. When the platform is in its stowed condition, a second, differently positioned, set of lamps is illuminated.

The articulated arm assembly 10 is attached to an uppermost surface of the platform assembly 20. In turn, the platform assembly 20 is attached to the front of the vehicle, and specifically to a front-facing surface of the cab 3. The articulated arm assembly 10 and the platform assembly 20 effectively form a single unit which may be incorporated with the vehicle at the time of manufacture of the vehicle 1, or may be attached in a retro-fit manner to the vehicle. In the latter case, a bespoke fitting kit may be employed which is configured to secure the unit to the front chassis of the vehicle. Alternatively, the unit may be attached to the snow plough attachment plate (provided on the vehicle).

Both the platform and the articulated arm are operable by way of signals output from a manual control unit 8 located within the cab 3. The control assembly comprises suitable processing capability.

Reference is now made to Figure 2, which shows the vehicle 1 in use in deploying cones onto a road surface. The operator within the cab 3 uses the control panel 8 to extend the platform 21 to the position shown in Figure 2. At a location safely away from the highway the operator can manually load cones 7 onto the extended platform 21 from their previous position on the rearwardly located platform 5. The vehicle 1 is then driven to the location from which cones are to be deployed on the road surface. At this point the operator uses the control panel 8 to move the arm assembly 10 from a stowed condition to an active position.

Specifically, the operator uses the control panel 8 to position the grab device 15 around a cone. The operator then causes the grab device to close around an outer surface of the cone so as to grip the same. The arm is then moved towards the road surface and when the cone is immediately above a required position on the road surface the operator causes the grab device 15 to release the cone onto the required position.

The operator then causes the grab device 15 to return to the cones and to grab a further cone. The vehicle is then driven further along the highway so that the further cone can then be positioned at a subsequent location on the road surface.

Figure 3 shows the vehicle 1 used to collect cones from a road surface and to place the cones onto the platform 20. This is effectively the reverse of the procedure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows the vehicle 1 used to move the cones 7 from one side of the road surface to another side of the road surface. It will be noted that the platform 20 is conveniently in its retracted position.

Reference is now made to Figure 5 which shows the vehicle 1 used for removing debris, or other objects, 12, from a road surface. A distal end of the second arm portion 14 is provided with a grab device 18, which is of different form to that of the grab device 15. In particular, the grab device 18 is better suited to be able to grip and lift objects other than traffic cones.

Figure 6 shows the vehicle 1 in which a pothole and crack repair device 19 is attached to the free end of second arm 14. The device 30 comprises a nozzle 30a through which one of high pressure air, water and liquid bitumen, which are supplied to the nozzle through a conduit 31 which is connected to a respective outlet 32 (for example by way of a bayonet connection). During the procedure, the device 30 applies high pressure water to clean out a crack 35 in the road surface. The device 30 then uses compressed air to dry the crack out. Finally, the device 30 applies liquid bitumen to fill the crack. The applied bitumen is then levelled off.

As will be appreciated from the embodiments shown in Figures 5 and 6, the distal free end of the second arm portion is advantageously configured to allow various devices to be interchangeably connected thereto. It is envisaged that different types of devices for different tasks could be attached to the arm. Such others tasks could include: Line painting Cats eye replacement Surveying and measuring Installing and removing lights and signs Crash barrier and central reservation maintenance Although the above examples relate essentially to highway maintenance, it will appreciated that the arm assembly 10 and the platform assembly 20 could be used for military vehicles in relation to mine clearance, mine detection and mine detonation procedures.

Additionally, the arm assembly may be configured to be of sufficient structural strength to be capable of lifting a person's weight so as to lift a maintenance operative to a particular height (for example to perform manual maintenance on a bridge or sign).

Advantageously, a highway maintenance vehicle has been described which has the versatility to perform a range of maintenance-related tasks.

Moreover, because the arm and the platform are at the front of the vehicle the operator, safely within the cab, has full vision of a required procedure and so can easily and accurately perform a required highway maintenance-related operation/procedure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprising a controllable moveable arm for use in executing tasks, and a platform arranged to be capable of adopting an operative condition and a stowed condition, wherein the platform and the arm arranged to be secured to a front portion of the vehicle.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 arranged to be attached to a forward facing portion of the vehicle.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the arm comprises an Q 10 articulated arm.

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4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the arm comprises a grab device, arranged to grip and lift objects. a)
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the grab device arranged to be capable of gripping and lifting traffic cones.
6. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which a free end of the arm arranged to be capable of being connected to different attachments, each attachment for use in performing a particular task.
7. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which in the operative condition, the platform is extended as compared to the stowed condition.
8. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which a front-facing portion of the platform comprises headlamps.
9. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the arm is positioned above the platform.
10. A vehicle comprising the apparatus of any of claims I to 9.
Ii. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10 which comprises a manually operable control assembly arranged to enable control of the arm and of the platform, and wherein the control assembly is located within the cab of the vehicle.
12. A vehicle as claimed in either claim 10 or claim 11 which is a highway maintenance vehicle.
13. Apparatus substantially as herein described, with reference to the drawings.
14. Vehicle substantially as herein described, with reference to the drawings.