GB2556353A

GB2556353A - Vehicle transportation apparatus comprising storage for buckets and/or a breaker

Info

Publication number: GB2556353A
Application number: GB1706277.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mangnall Lee
Original assignee: Indespension Ltd
Current assignee: Indespension Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-20
Filing date: 2017-04-20
Publication date: 2018-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-20
Also published as: GB2556353B; GB201706277D0; GB2556353B8; GB2567747A; GB2556353A8

Abstract

A vehicle transportation apparatus (e.g. a trailer) comprising a platform 3, (103, figure 8) for a hydraulic excavator (e.g. mini-excavator) and an equipment retaining unit 5, (105) configured to retain the excavator buckets 6 and/or a breaker (130). The transportation apparatus may comprise an openable lid 9, (109) pivoting about a hinge 10, (110) for retaining the excavator buckets 6, (106) and/or a breaker (130), preventing them from moving around and coming into contact with the hydraulic excavator in transit. Preferably, the equipment retaining unit 5, (105) can be locked to provide an anti-theft function and comprises locking members.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Vehicle transportation apparatus comprising storage for buckets and/or a breaker Abstract Title: Vehicle transportation apparatus comprising storage for buckets and/or a breaker (57) A vehicle transportation apparatus (e.g. a trailer) comprising a platform 3, (103, figure 8) for a hydraulic excavator (e.g. mini-excavator) and an equipment retaining unit 5, (105) configured to retain the excavator buckets 6 and/or a breaker (130). The transportation apparatus may comprise an openable lid 9, (109) pivoting about a hinge 10, (110) for retaining the excavator buckets 6, (106) and/or a breaker (130), preventing them from moving around and coming into contact with the hydraulic excavator in transit. Preferably, the equipment retaining unit 5, (105) can be locked to provide an anti-theft function and comprises locking members.

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Vehicle transportation apparatus comprising storage for buckets and/or a breaker

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle transportation apparatus comprising 5 storage for buckets and/or a breaker. Especially, but not exclusively it relates to a trailer, and in particular a trailer for a mini-excavator.

Background to the Invention

Many trailers for transporting mini-excavators are available. Such mini excavators are used with various attachments, for example buckets of different sizes and breakers. These attachments are typically transported along with the hydraulic excavator, but may not be carried in the trailer, or left there, because they are often expensive and prone to theft. In addition, if simply placed in the trailer unattached thereto, they could move around during transit and cause damage. A current solution to theft is keeping these attachments in a separate locked container, for example the 15 back of a van, or in on-site storage.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved vehicle transportation apparatus.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle 20 transportation apparatus comprising a platform for receiving a vehicle (for example a work vehicle, such as a hydraulic excavator, in particular a mini-excavator), the vehicle transportation apparatus comprising an equipment retaining unit configured to retain one or more buckets and/or one or more breakers.

The equipment retaining unit may comprise an openable lid. It may further comprise a front wall (optionally being the front wall of the vehicle transportation unit) 5 and one or more side walls (optionally being one or more side walls of the vehicle transportation apparatus) and the lid.

The equipment retaining unit may be provided at the front of the vehicle transportation apparatus (e.g. at the end of a trailer that is attached to the rear of a hauling vehicle). The equipment retaining unit may extend laterally across the vehicle transportation apparatus.

The equipment retaining unit may comprise one or more latching members to hold the unit in a closed configuration (it will of course also have an open configuration, and may optionally, although not desirably, have one or more latching members to hold it in the open configuration). The latching members may be provided on the or each side wall and arranged to hold the lid down. The latching members may comprise one or more shoot bolts arranged to engage in apertures in the lid. Shoot bolts are useful in aligning moving parts of the unit and are quick and easy to use.

The equipment retaining unit may comprise one or more locking members arranged to lock, or to receive a padlock to lock, the unit in the closed configuration.

This is an important preferred feature, which means that the vehicle transportation apparatus can be used both to transport the attachment units for a work vehicle and also store them securely against theft.

Whilst the invention envisages the use of integral locks, which would work, preferably the locking members comprise one or more apertures for receiving a padlock. For example, one aperture could be formed on the lid and another on one or more side walls and a suitable padlock could extend through the apertures.

More preferably still, however, the lid is provided with one or more pins, each arranged to extend through an aperture in the top of the side wall and each pin has a bore therethrough arranged to receive a padlock, whereby once a padlock is introduced through the bore, the lid cannot be lifted. This arrangement assists in alignment of the lid on the sidewalls. The locking mechanism may further comprise the padlock (and key).

The equipment retaining unit may further comprise a back wall arranged rearwardly of the front wall, so as to restrict access to the equipment from the platform.

The lid may comprise a back wall arranged to restrict access to the equipment from the platform. The back-wall may comprise an opening, preferably a central opening, the purpose of which will be set out below.

The lid may be formed of a framework or plate-work (or both), as may the walls, and may be formed, for example, from metal.

The lid may comprise sidewalls arranged to restrict access to the equipment from the side.

The lid may be pivotally mounted to the vehicle transportation apparatus, e.g.

pivotally mounted to the chassis, or preferably pivotally mounted to the front wall, for example by hinges.

The vehicle transportation apparatus may comprise a bucket support arranged to the front of the vehicle transportation apparatus and the lid may be arranged to pivot onto the bucket support in the open condition.

The lid may be arranged to pivot by at least 90 degrees to be supported on the 5 bucket support, preferably at least 100 degrees, such as between 110 degrees and 130 degrees, so that it remains open and need not be held open by a user, nor require other mechanisms to hold it in place.

The equipment retaining unit may be arranged in a plurality of sections, optionally separated by projections on the platform.

The equipment retaining unit may comprise one or more lateral sections adjacent a side wall arranged to receive a bucket and/or a central section arranged to receive a breaker.

The equipment retaining unit may be configured to enclose one or more buckets, but to at least partially expose a breaker.

The equipment retaining unit may comprise one or more stops arranged to restrict rearward and optionally sideways motion of the breaker. The one or more stops may be arranged to each side of the bit of the breaker. Because the bit is thinner than the body of the breaker, in this way, the stops can restrict rearward motion, whilst not being arranged completely behind the breaker.

The equipment retaining unit may comprise one or more side barriers arranged along one or both sides of the breaker.

The stops may be arranged such that the breaker is held longitudinally along the vehicle transportation apparatus.

The lid may be arranged to extend over the top of part of the breaker, preferably over the connection portion for connection to the work machine. It is preferred that this 5 end is covered, rather than the bit, which is preferably exposed.

As set out above, the lid may have a back wall with an opening therein - the opening may be arranged to receive the breaker. This arrangement could allow for retention without side barriers, since the back wall of the lid and the stops can prevent lateral movement of the breaker, with the stops also preventing rearward motion and forward motion only serving to push the breaker further beneath the lid, and not allowing it to escape.

The equipment retaining unit may be arranged such that in use at least part of the breaker extends between the tracks of a tracked work vehicle (e.g. a mini excavator). This provides good use of space that would otherwise go empty.

Arrangement with part of the breaker extending between the tracks, but the top part covered by the lid allows the work vehicle to easily pick up and deposit the breaker in position to be retained by the retaining unit.

Likewise, arrangement of the equipment retaining unit at the front of the vehicle transportation apparatus extending laterally across it, allows for buckets housed within it to be easily picked up and put down by a work vehicle (such as a mini excavator) to be carried on the platform.

The vehicle transportation apparatus may comprise wheels on axles and may comprise one or more ramp at the rear of the apparatus for a hydraulic excavator (e.g. a mini hydraulic excavator to be driven onto the vehicle transportation apparatus.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 1 shows a front perspective embodiment of the invention;

shows a close-up side perspective view of part of the trailer of figure 1 with the lid of the equipment retaining unit in a closed configuration;

shows a side perspective view of part of the trailer of figures 1 and 2 with the lid of the equipment retaining unit in an open configuration;

shows a side perspective view from the other side of part of the trailer of figures 1 to 3 with the lid of the equipment retaining unit in an open configuration;

Figure 5 shows another side perspective view of the trailer of figures 1-4;

Figure 6 shows a close-up side view of part of the trailer of figures 1-5 in the region of a locking mechanism;

Figure 7 shows the same view as figure 3 with the lid in the closed configuration;

and

Figure 8 shows an isometric view of a trailer according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the figures 1 to 7, a first embodiment of a vehicle transportation apparatus is shown. The vehicle transportation apparatus is in the form of a trailer 1 5 for a mini-excavator, which comprises the usual components of a trailer, such as a mechanism for connecting it to a tow-bar, arranged at the front of the trailer 1, wheels arranged on axles which extend laterally across the trailer beneath its chassis, and a platform 3 for receiving a mini excavator.

The trailer of this embodiment is provided with so-called “cowls” 4 extending longitudinally along the platform, on each side of the trailer, so as to receive the tracks of a mini-excavator, and retain the work machine in the trailer without the need for strapping it down, but of course they are not an essential feature.

The cowls 4 define a forward limit beyond which the work machine cannot travel. In front of the cowls 4 an equipment retaining unit 5 is provided. The equipment retaining unit 5 of this embodiment is configured to retain the buckets 6 of a hydraulic excavator and prevent them from moving around and coming into contact with the hydraulic excavator in transit.

The equipment retaining unit 5 is defined by a part of the platform 3 in front of the cowls, a lower front wall 7, which in this embodiment is the front wall of the trailer

1, and two lower side walls 8, which are the forward part of the side walls of the trailer

1.

The equipment retaining unit 5 further comprises an openable lid 9, which forms an important part of the equipment retaining unit. The lid 9 is moveable between a closed configuration in which it is predominately substantially horizontal (assuming the trailer is on a horizontal surface) as shown in figures 1, 2 6 and 7 and an open configuration in which it is predominantly substantially vertical (as shown in figures 3 to 5). The lid 9 extends laterally across the trailer 1 and is mounted by hinges 10 to the front wall 7. The lid comprises a front wall portion 11 and side wall portions 12 (on each side), arranged to sit above the lower front wall 7 and lower side walls 8 respectively. In this embodiment, these parts are made from perforated metal plate, and the side walls are hexagonal, with a flat bottom opposing a parallel flat top, sides perpendicular to the top and bottom, and two sloping surfaces, joining the sides to the top. However, those skilled in the art will readily conceive of alternative materials or shapes, in light of this description (for example, the side walls of the lid could be simple rectangular shapes, or if the lower side walls were higher, could be omitted entirely, and a mesh of metal, or indeed any other suitably robust material could replace the plate-work).

The lid further comprises a top, comprising a sloping front region 13 formed of perforated plate material and four laterally extending bars 14, one at the rear of the sloping front region 13, one at the back of the lid 9 near the bottom of its side walls, (and in use, in the closed position, closest to the work machine and the cowls 4) and two arranged spaced between the front and rear bars 14.

Depending downwardly from the (rearmost bar 14 of the) lid 9 is a back-wall formed by a framework of bars which are arranged to restrict access from the rear (on the platform) when the lid 9 is closed, sitting laterally inward of the lower side walls 8 and formed in two back-wall portions with a space therebetween, so as to form an opening in the middle of the back wall 15.

The bars are so spaced and the perforations in the plate-work are so shaped that no spaces are left that are large enough for a bucket 6 within the retaining unit 5 to be withdrawn therefrom when the lid 9 is closed. The retaining unit 5 is sized such that at least one bucket can be retained within it on each lateral side in front of the work machine. A low projection 17 extending longitudinally along the entire length of the platform 3 separates the retaining unit 5 into left and right hand sections.

A bucket support 16 (on which the bucket connected to a hydraulic excavator can be rested during transport) is arranged to the front of the trailer 1 and the lid 9 is arranged to pivot onto the bucket support 16 in the open condition. A gap is provided in the platework of the front wall 11 and sloping front region 13 of the lid 9 in the area opposing the bucket support 16. This allows the lid to pivot by at least 90 degrees (e.g.

about 120 degrees to be supported on the bucket support 16, with the foremost bar 14 resting thereon in the open configuration, so that it remains open and need not be held open by a user, nor require other mechanisms to hold it in place.

The equipment retaining unit 5 includes sprung shoot bolts 18 attached to the side walls of the trailer 1 in the region behind the side walls 12 of the lid 9 and arranged to extend through apertures 19 in the rear surface of the lid 9, so as to latch and hold the unit in its closed configuration.

Additionally, in order that the equipment retaining unit 5 can be locked to provide an anti-theft function, it comprises a locking member on the underside of each side wall 12 of the lid 9 at the rear thereof. The locking member on the underside of each side wall 12 takes the form of a pin 20 depending therefrom, best seen in figure 6. The pin 20 is arranged to extend through a corresponding aperture 21 in the top panel of the lower side wall 8, and the pin 20 itself has a bore 22 therethrough, through which the shackle 23 of a padlock 24 can extend. Whilst in practice, most users would be expected to purchase their own padlock 24, the padlock 24 and key 25 could be supplied with the trailer 1.

The aperture 21 through the side wall is larger than the diameter of the pin 20, but much smaller than the diameter of the pin 20, with the padlock 24 attached, therefore once a padlock is introduced through the bore 22, the lid 9 cannot be lifted. This arrangement also assists in alignment of the lid 9 on the sidewalls 8. Additionally, to provide a fairly soft closure, rubber pads 26 visible clearly in figure 6 are provided on the underside of the lid 9 adjacent to the pin 20.

In use, the shoot bolts 18 are retracted against the spring bias (and left in their retracted position), then the lid 9 of the equipment retaining unit 5 is pivoted forwards and rested on the bucket support 16, as shown in figures 3-5. The buckets 6 for use with a mini excavator can then be introduced into the cavity below, on both the left and right hand side of the trailer. After that, the lid 9 is closed (by hand) to the closed configuration shown in figures 1, 2, 6 and 7 and the shoot bolts 18 are released to latch the lid closed. If it is desired to lock the lid 9 closed, a padlock is inserted through the bores 22 through the pins 20 on the lid, to lock it closed. A mini excavator may then be driven onto the trailer and it may be taken to its destination. Indeed, the mini excavator may be driven on first, and used to position the buckets.

Once at the destination, the equipment retaining unit 5 can be opened by (first unlocking and removing the padlocks 24 if provided, then) unlatching the shoot bolts 18 and lifting the lid 9. The hydraulic excavator can then be connected to the most appropriate bucket, which can be lifted out of the equipment retaining unit 5, and the hydraulic excavator can go about its work. In order to secure the remaining bucket(s) in the equipment retaining unit, the lid 9 can be manually closed and the shoot bolts 18 latched through apertures 19. As and when the user considers it necessary (e.g. at the end of a day’s work, before leaving the site), a padlock 24 can be introduced through the bore 22 in one or both of the pins 20 to lock the lid down and secure the bucket(s) 6 in the equipment retaining unit.

Referring to figure 8, a second embodiment of the invention includes all the features of the first embodiment (labelled 101, 102 etc., in place of 1,2 etc.), which are not described here in any detail, but differs in that instead of a single projection 7 extending the length of the trailer 1 and separating the equipment retaining unit 5 into two sections (left and right), in this embodiment, two projections 1-7 extend the length of the trailer 101, and at the front, they separate the equipment receiving area 105 into two bucket receiving sections (left and right) and a central region for receiving a breaker

130.

In order to secure the hydraulic breaker with the equipment retaining unit 105, the central opening in the back wall 118 is large enough to receive the head of the breaker 130, to which the hydraulic excavator is connected. Moreover, a pair of stops 131 are provided on the platform 3 centrally disposed rearward of the back wall 115 in a region where (with the head of the breaker 130 beneath the lid 109), the bit 132 of the breaker 130 is located. The stops 131 are arranged to fit closely either side of the bit

132, and are so-disposed as to prevent rearward motion of the body of the breaker 130 (which is wider than the bit 132), whilst also preventing lateral motion of the breaker in the region of the pin. Thus, with the lid 109 closed, the breaker 130 cannot be lifted out upward (because of the lid 109), pulled out rearward (because of the stops 131) or moved laterally (because of the stops) 131.

These components allow the breaker to be locked to the trailer (by locking the lid 109 down). However, to aid the user in positioning the breaker 130 in the trailer, 5 two guide-plates 133 are also provided, each extending longitudinally in the central region of the trailer 101, between the cowls 104 which receive the tracks of an excavator and forward through the opening in the back wall 115 beneath the rearmost bar 114 of the lid 109.

The trailer 101 of the second embodiment is used in much the same way as that of the first embodiment. In use, the shoot bolts 118 are retracted against the spring bias (and left in their retracted position), then the lid 109 of the equipment retaining unit 105 is pivoted forwards and rested on the bucket support 116. The buckets 6 for use with a mini excavator can then be introduced into the cavity below, on both the left and right hand side of the trailer 101, and the breaker 130 can be introduced between the guide plates 13, such that its bit 132 extends between the stops, and its head is arranged in the region of the equipment retaining unit 105 that will be beneath the lid 109 when closed, and in the opening in the back wall 113. The head automatically ends up in this position, provided the bit 132 is correctly positioned, as guided by the stops 132 and guide plates 133. Once the breaker 130 and any buckets 6 are in place, the lid 109 is closed (by hand) to the closed configuration and the shoot bolts 118 are released to latch the lid 109 closed. If it is desired to lock the lid 109 closed, a padlock is inserted through the bores (not shown) through the pins (not shown) on the lid 109, to lock it closed. A mini excavator may then be driven onto the trailer and it may be taken to its destination.

Indeed, the mini excavator may be driven on first, and used to position the buckets and/or the breaker 130.

Once at the destination, the equipment retaining unit 105 can be opened by (first unlocking and removing the padlocks if provided, then) unlatching the shoot bolts 118 5 and lifting the lid 109. The hydraulic excavator can then be connected to the head of the breaker 130, which can be lifted out of the equipment retaining unit 105, and the hydraulic excavator can go about its work. In order to secure the remaining bucket(s) in the equipment retaining unit, the lid 109 can be manually closed and the shoot bolts

118 latched through apertures (not shown). As and when the user considers it necessary 10 e.g. at the end of a day’s work, before leaving the site, the expensive breaker 130 can be placed in the trailer 101 by opening the lid and following the steps set out above, then, a padlock can be introduced through the bore in one or both of the pins to lock the lid 109 down and secure the breaker 130 in the equipment retaining unit. Indeed, if the hydraulic excavator is attached to a bucket, rather than the breaker 130, the breaker 130 can be stored in the trailer 101, locked in place by closing the equipment retaining unit 105 and locking the lid 109 down at all times.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims

Claims:

1. A vehicle transportation apparatus comprising a platform for receiving a hydraulic excavator, the vehicle transportation apparatus comprising an equipment retaining unit configured to retain one or more buckets and/or one or more breakers.

5
2. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the equipment retaining unit is configured to retain one or more buckets and one or more breakers.
3. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to claim 2 comprising an openable lid, a front wall, one or more side walls and a back wall arranged rearwardly

10 of the front wall, so as to restrict access to the equipment from the platform; the lid arranged to extend over a top of part of the breaker and the back wall comprising an opening arranged to receive the breaker; whereby in use at least part of the breaker extends between the tracks of a tracked work vehicle.
4. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the lid 15 is arranged to extend over the top of the connection portion of the breaker for connection to the work machine.
5. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the lid comprises the back wall with an opening therein.
6. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5 20 wherein the equipment retaining unit is arranged in a plurality of sections, comprising one or more lateral sections adjacent a side wall arranged to receive a bucket a central section arranged to receive a breaker.

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7. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the equipment retaining unit is configured to enclose one or more buckets, but to at least partially expose a breaker.
8. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 7 5 wherein the equipment retaining unit comprises one or more stops arranged to restrict rearward and/or sideways motion of the breaker.
9. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the stops are arranged such that the breaker is held longitudinally along the vehicle transportation apparatus.
10 10. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to preceding claim 1 or 2 comprising an openable lid.
11. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the equipment retaining unit comprises one or more latching members to hold the unit in a closed configuration and one or more locking members arranged to lock, 15 or to receive a padlock to lock, the unit in the closed configuration.
12. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to claim 11 when dependent directly or indirectly on any of claims 3-10 wherein the locking members comprise apertures for receiving a padlock, and one aperture could be formed on the lid and another on one or more side walls, whereby a suitable padlock could extend through

20 the apertures.
13. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to claim 11 when dependent directly or indirectly on any of claims 3-10 wherein the lid is provided with one or more pins, each arranged to extend through an aperture in the top of a side wall

04 04 18 and each pin has a bore therethrough arranged to receive a padlock, whereby once a padlock is introduced through the bore, the lid cannot be lifted.
14. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising a back wall arranged rearwardly of the front wall, so as to restrict access to

5 the equipment from the platform.
15. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any of claims 3-10 or any other claim when dependent directly or indirectly thereon, wherein the lid is formed of a framework and plate-work.
16. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any of claims 3-10 or 10 any other claim when dependent directly or indirectly thereon wherein the lid comprises sidewalls arranged to restrict access to the equipment from the side.
17. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any of claims 3-10 or any other claim when dependent directly or indirectly thereon comprising a bucket support, and wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the vehicle transportation apparatus 15 and arranged to pivot onto the bucket support in the open condition.
18. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the lid comprises a front wall and a gap is provided therein, the gap opposing the bucket support to allow the lid to pivot by at least 90 degrees to be supported on the bucket support.
20 19. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any preceding claim which is a trailer, wherein the equipment retaining unit is provided at the front of the vehicle transportation apparatus, at the end of a trailer that is attached to the rear of a hauling vehicle and wherein the equipment retaining unit extends laterally across the vehicle transportation apparatus.

20. A vehicle transportation apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising wheels on axles and one or more ramp at the rear of the apparatus for a hydraulic excavator to be driven onto the vehicle transportation apparatus.

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GB1706277.9

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