GB2515543A

GB2515543A - Trailer edge barrier mounting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2515543A
Application number: GB1311516.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Clive Browning Davis
Original assignee: Ifor Williams Trailers Ltd
Current assignee: Ifor Williams Trailers Ltd
Priority date: 2013-06-27
Filing date: 2013-06-27
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-27
Also published as: GB201311516D0; GB2515543B

Abstract

A mounting arrangement suitable for a demountable barrier, such as a hay rave (30, Figure 1), comprising upright posts 32, 38 and a plurality of cross pieces 34, 36. The mounting arrangement comprises at least two brackets 10, 12 fixed in spaced disposition to an edge of a trailer (20, Figure 1). Each bracket has a ramp portion 11, 13, 14 inclined upwards in the direction of the edge of the trailer (20) to a nose 16 at the top of the ramp 14 and a hooked portion 18 extending downwards and forwardly from the noses, thus providing a slot 15 delimited at the front by an upstanding horn 17. Each bracket 10, 12 also has a transverse retainer peg 19 projecting laterally at or near a lower end of the bracket. The hay rave (30) can be erected from an initial position resting flat on the trailer floor with its lower cross piece 36 facing the edge of the trailer along which the brackets 10, 12 are mounted by pushing the lower cross piece 36 on to the respective ramp portions 11, 13, 14 of the brackets, then lifting of an upper section of the rave (30).

Description

Trailer edge barrier mounting arrangement

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention concerns an arrangement for mounting a barrier along an edge of a platform. Specifically, the barrier is demountable, by which is meant that it is to be erected and attached along the platform edge only when required and at other times it may be removed. Therefore the manner of mounting must not be of a fixed and permanent nature.

[0002] The mounting arrangement of the invention is, furthermore, specifically intended tor and described in respect of mounting a barrier along an edge of a trailer for towing behind a motorised vehicle. Even more specifically, the mounting arrangement of the invention has been devised in the context of a trailer for agricultural use which may be used to carry bales of hay or straw. To stop the bales, if round, from rolling off the front or rear of the trailer or to stop the bales, if square, from sliding off the front of the trailer upon braking, or sliding generally upon travelling over sloping ground, it is customary to fit a framework, namely a barrier, to the front, and often also the rear of the trailer. These frameworks (barriers) are known as front and rear "hay raves".

[0003] A typical load of hay on a standard large size agricultural trailer, particularly if the hay is wet, may be upto 18 tonnes in weight. With a trailer floor made of sheet metal, and powerful brakes on the towing vehicle and/or trailer, the force which may be executed on the front rave is quite significant. Accordingly the rave and its mounting arrangement must be robustly designed to withstand such forces, be strong and failsafe, yet allow for dismounting of the rave when it is not required. To have the required strength, the rave will be heavy, which can make it difficult for a single person, even a strong man, to mount in position.

BACKGROUND ART

[0004] Presently known hay raves are mounted without use of any fasteners (bolts etc.) and without requirement of any fastening tools (screwdrivers, wrenches etc.).

[0005] Typically front hay raves have two substantial steel posts which have to be lowered into two sockets mounted on the front of the trailer. Even a very strong farmer struggles to lift the rave to the vertical and position it such that the posts will drop cleanly into the sockets. Typically the rave will be suspended off a "front loader" attachment on a tractor (i.e. the vehicle towing the trailer) at approximately the correct height while the farmer struggles to achieve mating of posts and sockets. Alternatively, a second person may be needed to assist.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to overcome these difficulties and provide a mounting arrangement which will enable a hay rave to be mounted single handedly, with ease, whether at the front or at the rear of a trailer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention provides a mounting arrangement for a demountable barrier comprising upright posts and a plurality of cross pieces, the mounting arrangement comprising at least two brackets, each of the brackets being for attachment in spaced disposition to an edge of a platform, each bracket having a ramp portion inclined upwards in the direction of the edge of the platform to a nose at the top of the ramp portion, and a hooked portion extending downwards and forwardly from the nose (at the opposite side thereof to the ramp), thus providing a slot delimited at the front by an upstanding horn, and each bracket having a transverse retainer peg projecting laterally at or near a lower end of the bracket so that in use the barrier can be erected from an initial position resting flat on the platform with a lower cross piece of the barrier facing the edge of the platform or trailer along which the brackets are mounted by lifting of an upper section of the barrier while also pushing the lower cross piece towards the edge so as to engage and travel up the respective ramp portions of the brackets until passing over the respective noses and dropping into the respective slots, with the barrier in a substantially upright condition, restrained by the horns, and the lower ends of the main upright posts of the barrier retained adjacent the edge of the platform behind the laterally projecting pegs.

[0008] A further aspect of the invention is a trailer having such a mounting arrangement along at least one of a front, rear or side edge of the trailer floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a practical embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmenting perspective view showing the mounting arrangement fitted to the rear of a trailer with a conventional hay rave laid flat on the trailer floor in a position at the start of its mounting procedure; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the hay rave in a subsequent, partially raised condition; Figure 3 is a similar view showing the hay rave at a later stage in a raised, upright condition; and Figure 4 is an enlarged scale fragmenting perspective view showing a final, fully erected condition when a lower end of the hay rave is fully engaged with the mounting brackets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] As shown, a preferred practical embodiment of the hay rave mounting arrangement of the present invention comprises a pair of substantially symmetrical brackets 10, 12 which in use are mounted to the front end of a trailer 20 which is to be used for agricultural or other purposes for carrying loads. In the drawings cross beams 24, 26 and longitudinal beams 22 forming the floor or chassis of the trailer 20 are shown. Also shown are chassis end plates 28 which are welded to the front of the chassis 20 below the front end crossbeam 26. These end plates 28 provide essentially upright surfaces which are important in the mounting of the hay rave onto the brackets 10,12, as will be explained below.

[0011] The brackets 10, 12 are typically fabricated of steel plate. They are welded to the cross beam 26 at the front edge of the trailer 20 at a spacing apart which may be on the region of 1 m, corresponding to a distance slightly less than or slightly more than the distance between main posts 32 of a hay rave 30 (the former is shown in the illustrated embodiment).

[0012] As shown in figure 4, each bracket 10, 12 has a ramp portion which in use extends over the front edge cross beam 26. Starting from the rear the upper edge of each bracket 10, 12, referred to here as the ramp portion, has a small lead in radius 11 leading into a substantially horizontal portion 13 which, in turn, merges into a ramp 14 which slopes upwards in a forward direction to a nose 16. The nose 16 leads into a hooked portion 18 extending downwards and forwards. The hook portion 18 is formed by a slot 15 which is delimited at the front by upwardly projecting horn 17, having a tip which curves to the rear so that the mouth of the slot 15 faces to the rear.

[0013] A robust tubular peg 19 (not shown in figure 1) is bolted to the lower end region of each bracket 10, 12 and extends laterally outwards in a direction away from the other bracket.

[0014] The hay rave 30, which is to be mounted has a series of tubular cross pieces 34, 36 extending between the main posts 32 and outwards beyond these main posts 32 to side walls 38. These tubular crosspieces 34, 36 have a circular cross-section.

[0015] In order to mount the hay rave 30 in an erect condition at the front edge of the trailer 20, the rave 30 is first of all dragged and/or pushed into position on the trailer floor or chassis until it lies flat thereon with the bottom of the rave, i.e. its lowermost cross piece 36, towards the front of the trailer and adjacent the rearward ramp portions 11,13,14 of the brackets 10, 12. The main posts 32 of the rave in this example are positioned outwardly of the respective brackets. Then the rave 30 is slid forwards on the trailer until is lowest cross piece 36 hits the lead in radius 11 and is bumped up onto the respective substantially flat, horizontal portions 13 of the two brackets 10, 12. At this point the user, typically a farmer, should lift the top of the rave, which is towards the rear of the trailer.

Note the rave is intended to be capable of being fixed in position by a single person (hence "single-handedly"). Because the top of the rave 30 is much less highly loaded than the base it is much less heavy and the farmer is therefore lifting much less than half the weight ofthe rave.

[0016] As the rave 30 rotates towards the vertical its two main posts 32 contact the front edge of the platform in the form of the chassis front cross beams 26 which causes the round cross piece 36 at the base of the rave 30 to "cam" over the respective noses 16 at the top of the ramps 14. The round bar 36 (at the base of the rave 30), once over the noses 16, drops into the slot 15 behind the curved horns 17. The rave 30 will at the same time continue to rotate as the farmer continues to push the top, or by its own momentum.

As the rave cross bar 36 drops to the bottom of the slot 15 in the brackets 10, 12 and the lower ends of the main rave posts 32 hit the chassis end plates 28, limiting the forward rotation of the hay rave frame 30, they also drop behind the two laterally extending pegs 19 bolted to the base of the brackets 10, 12.

[0017] The rave posts 32, and therefore the rave 30, are now trapped in their working position, leaning about 15-20 degrees forward of the vertical. If the weight of loaded bales onto the trailer pushes the rave 30 in a forwards direction the round tubular cross bar 36 in the base of the slot 15 and the abutment of the rave posts 32 against the chassis beam 26 resist the resultant moment. If the trailer is empty any tendency for the rave to fall back, in response to a sudden lurch forwards by the tractor pulling the trailer 20, is resisted by the pegs 19 in front of the bottom of the rave posts 32.

[0018] Accordingly, it will be understood that the dimensions of the brackets and their position of mounting on the trailer edge, particularly relative to the rigid upright surface provided at the edge of the trailer must be selected appropriately so that as the top of the hay rave is lifted and the lower cross piece of the hay rave rotates where it rests on the ramp portions of the brackets, the contact of the lower ends of the hay rave main posts with that rigid upright surface happens at the appropriate point to provide the leverage to lift the rave over the noses and drop into the slots.

[0019] The whole operation can reasonably be accomplished by one man without particular skill or exceptional effort.

[0020] Removal of the rave 30 in its upright condition from engagement with the brackets 10, 12 simply requires a straight pull vertically -probably by making use of a tractor front loader attachment.

[0021] In other embodiments the exact configuration of the brackets providing the mounting arrangement may be different to the illustrated version. The number of brackets may vary and the pegs may be replaced by a transverse cross bar which extends between and through the respective brackets to extend laterally at mutually opposing sides so as to function in the same way as respective transverse retainer pegs in the illustrated version.

Also, as previously mentioned, the distance between the brackets in alternative embodiments may be selected such that the main posts of the hay rave lie inside the brackets instead of outside, as in the illustrated version, or indeed one inside and one outside, although such an asymmetrical arrangement is not likely to be so favourable.

[0022] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. Features described in conjunction with a particular embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other embodiment or example unless incompatible therewith. Thus, all of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, and drawings) may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mounting arrangement for a demountable barrier comprising upright posts and a plurality of cross pieces, the mounting arrangement comprising at least two brackets, each of the brackets being for attachment in spaced disposition to an edge of a platform, each bracket having a ramp portion including a ramp inclined upwards in the direction of the edge of the platform to a nose at the top of the ramp portion, and a hooked portion extending downwards and forwardly from the noses, thus providing a slot delimited at the front by an upstanding horn, and each bracket having a transverse retainer peg projecting laterally at or near a lower end of the bracket so that in use the barrier can be erected from an initial position resting flat on the platform with a lower cross piece of the barrier facing the edge of the platform along which the brackets are mounted by pushing the lower cross piece on to the respective ramp portions of the brackets then lifting of an upper section of the barrier so that the barrier rotates until lower ends of its upright posts contact the edge of the platform, causing the lower cross piece to travel up the respective ramp of the brackets, pass over the respective noses and drop into the respective slots where the barrier in a substantially upright condition, is restrained by the horns, and the lower ends of the main upright posts of the barrier are retained between the adjacent the edge of the platform and the laterally projecting pegs.
2. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the ramp portion of each bracket comprises a lead in radius leading to a substantially horizontal portion which merges into the ramp which is inclined upwards in the direction towards the edge of the platform.
3. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the upwardly projecting horn has a tip which curves back towards the nose so that the mouth of the slot faces back towards the edge of the platform.
4. A trailer having at least two brackets mounted in spaced disposition along a front edge, or a rear edge or a side edge of the trailer floor adjacent a rigid, upright side surface of the trailer in combination with a barrier comprising upright posts and a plurality of cross pieces, each bracket having a ramp portion above the trailer edge and inclined upwards in the direction of the edge of the trailer to a nose at the top of the ramp portion and a hooked portion extending downwards and forwardly beyond the edge of the trailer, the hook portion thus providing a slot delimited at the front by an upstanding horn, and each bracket also having a transverse retainer peg projecting laterally at or near the lower end of the bracket so that in use the barrier can be erected by pushing the lower cross piece on to the respective ramp portions of the brackets then lifting of an upper section of the barrier so that the barrier rotates until lower ends of its upright posts contact the rigid side surface of the trailer, causing the lower cross piece to travel up the respective ramp portions of the brackets, pass over the respective noses and drop into the respective slots, where the barrier in an upright condition is restrained by the horns, and the lower ends of the main upright posts of the barrier are retained behind the laterally projecting pegs. I.
5. A trailer and barrier combination according to claim 4 wherein at least the lower cross piece of the barrier is of circular cross-section.
6. A trailer having a mounting arrangement for connecting a demountable barrier along a front, or rear or side edge of the trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. aAmendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A mounting arrangement for a demountable barrier comprising upright posts and a plurality of cross pieces, the mounting arrangement comprising at least two brackets, each of the brackets being for attachment in spaced disposition to an edge of a platform, each bracket having a ramp portion including a ramp inclined upwards in the direction of the edge of the platform to a nose at the top of the ramp portion, and a hooked portion extending downwards and forwardly from the noses, thus providing a slot delimited at the front by an upstanding horn, and each bracket having a transverse retainer peg projecting laterally from a lower end region of the bracket so that in use the barrier can be erected from an initial position resting flat on the platform with a lower cross piece of the barrier facing the edge of the platform along which the brackets are mounted by pushing the lower cross piece on to the respective ramp portions of the brackets then lifting of an upper section of the barrier so that the barrier rotates until lower ends of its upright posts contact the edge of the platform, causing the lower cross piece to travel up the respective ramp of the brackets, pass over the respective noses and drop into the respective slots where the barrier in a substantially upright condition, is restrained by the horns, and the lower ends of the main upright posts of the barrier are retained between the adjacent the edge of the platform and the laterally projecting pegs.0 2. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the ramp portion of each CO 20 bracket comprises a lead in radius leading to a substantially horizontal portion which O merges into the ramp which is inclined upwards in the direction towards the edge of the platform.3. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the upwardly projecting horn has a tip which curves back towards the nose so that the mouth of the slot faces back towards the edge of the platform.4. A trailer having at least two brackets mounted in spaced disposition along a front edge, or a rear edge or a side edge of the trailer floor adjacent a rigid, upright side surface of the trailer in combination with a barrier comprising upright posts and a plurality of cross pieces, each bracket having a ramp portion above the trailer edge and inclined upwards in the direction of the edge of the trailer to a nose at the top of the ramp portion and a hooked portion extending downwards and forwardly beyond the edge of the trailer, the hook portion thus providing a slot delimited at the front by an upstanding horn, and each bracket also having a transverse retainer peg projecting laterally from a lower end region of the bracket so that in use the barrier can be erected by pushing the lower cross piece on to the respective ramp portions of the brackets then lifting of an upper section of the barrier so that the barrier rotates until lower ends of its upright posts contact the rigid side surface of the trailer, causing the lower cross piece to travel up the respective ramp portions of the brackets, pass over the respective noses and drop into the respective slots, where the barrier in an upright condition is restrained by the horns, and the lower ends of the main upright posts of the barrier are retained behind the laterally projecting pegs.5. A trailer and barrier combination according to claim 4 wherein at least the lower cross piece of the barrier is of circular cross-section.6. A trailer having a mounting arrangement for connecting a demountable barrier along a front, or rear or side edge of the trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.CD Co