GB597744A - Improvements in or relating to caravans and like road trailer vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

597,744. Road-vehicle trailers. HALL, A. R. Nov. 29, 1945, No. 32306. [Classes 103 (v), 108 (i) and 108 (ii)] A road-vehicle trailer comprises a sheetmetal body 11, 16 which may be formed of rigidly connected panels and which constitutes the main load bearing structure, the draw-bar 25 and the wheel mountings being anchored to the sheet metal shell. The roof 14 and ends 15, 16 are preferably formed of a single sheet of metal. The draw-bar 25 comprises strips 26, 27 of sheet metal passing through the end 15 forming the sides and supports 26a, 27a of bunks on each side of the trailer and the inner walls 26b, 27b of the wheel recesses 23, 24 and being anchored at 26c, 27c to vertical metal sheets 29, 30 secured to the walls, 11, 12 and the roof 14 and forming the rear walls of the recesses. The forward walls of the recesses are constructed by similar metal sheets 31, 32 and sheet metal covers 33, 34 are provided. The body may be strengthened by stiffening members extending in transverse substantially vertical planes and formed at the base as channel members with vertical sides, at the roof and sides as Z section members with the webs vertical, the stiffening members of the floor, sides and roof being welded together at the horizontal side edges of the body by their webs. A floor of plywood and wall and floor linings of wall-board or like sheet material may be supported by the stiffening members which may be secured to the outer sheet metal body to prevent drumming. Longitudinal stiffening members may also be provided. The wheel mountings may each comprise a bracket connected to the forward wall 31 or 32 of wheel recess, a lever pivoted to the bracket carrying the wheel and being supported at its rear end by a coil spring. A connector 25a is provided on the draw-bar 25 and folding struts may support the vehicle when not being towed. The reinforcing members may be rolled from sheet aluminium. A wheel may be supported from the draw-bar 25 by a folding member formed of cast or sheet metal. The body is reinforced immediately below the door by an L-section member. The body may be stiffened locally by the provision of thicker metal sheet for the shell or by the provision of two or more thicknesses of sheet where necessary. According to the Provisional Specification each of the side walls may be divided vertically half-way along its length into two parts, L-section longitudinal members running between the stiffening members may connect the floor and the roof lining to the wall lining, the sides may be connected to the ends by riveting or welding of inwardly projecting flanges on the sides or on angle irons secured thereto and the tops of the bunks may form the top closure walls for the wheel recesses.