IES66477B2 - A trailer - Google Patents

Abstract

A trailer (10) comprises a chassis (11) and loading means (21,21') movable relative to said chassis from a loading state, (Figure 1, Figure 4) in which said loading means is engagible with a load (6) to be transported, to a transportation state, (Figure 2, Figure 5), in which said load (6) to be transported, to a transportation state, (Figure 2, Figure 5), in which said load is supported on said chassis.

Description

A Trailer The present invention relates to a trailer. In particular the invention relates to a trailer for loading and transporting bales of hay.

According to the present invention there is provided a trailer comprising a chassis and loading means movable relative to said chassis from a loading state, in which said loading means is engagible with a load to be transported, to a transportation state, in which said load is supported on said chassis.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trailer according to a first embodiment of the invention in a loading state; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trailer of Figure 1 of the drawings in a transportation state; Figure 3 is a detailed view of a section of the trailer of Figure 1 of the drawings ,Figure 4 is a perspective view of a trailer according to a second embodiment of the invention in a loading state; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the underside of the trailer of Figure 4 of the drawings in a transportation state. <566477 Referring now to the drawings wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown a trailer generally indicated at 10 according to the invention. The trailer 10 comprises a chassis 11 having an elongate centre beam 12 and a cross-beam 13 traversing one end 9 of the centre beam 12. A pair of wheels 14 are mounted on respective ends 7 of the cross-beam 13 . A hitch connection 15 is provided at the end 8 of the centre beam 12 remote from the cross-beam 13 so that the trailer 10 may be coupled to a vehicle (not shown) such as a tractor, allowing the trailer 10 to be towed. In the first embodiment it is assumed that the vehicle can supply hydraulic fluid to the trailer 10.

A pair of bracing members 16 connect respective ends 7 of the cross-beam 13 to a mid-point 17 of the centre beam 12. The centre beam 12 splits at the mid-point 17 into two divergent sections 121. The sections 12' are connected to respective mutually parallel beams 12 whose opposite ends abut the cross-beam 13. The beams 12' are connected by a transverse bridge section 19 at their respective ends adjacent the sections 12. The cross-beam 13, the bridge section 19 and the beams 12 define a rectangular enclosure 18.

A loading member 21 comprises an elongate base plate 22 to which a long spike 23 and a short spike 24 are fixed at an angle of 90°, Figure 3. The spikes 23 and 24 are disposed adjacent respective ends of the base plate 22. A pair of plates 25 protrude from the cross-beam 13 into the enclosure 18. The end of the base plate 22 adjacent the long spike 23 is located between the plates 25. A bolt 26 passes through holes in the plates 23, 24 and the base plate 22 allowing the loading member 21 to rotate with respect to the chassis 11.

A double acting hydraulic ram 20 comprising a sleeve 27 and a ram 28 is located in the enclosure 18 with its sleeve 27 located adjacent the bridge section 19. A pair of plates 36 protrude from the bridge section 19 into the enclosure 18. The sleeve 27 is located between the plates 36 and a bolt 29 passes through holes in the plates 36 and the end of the sleeve 27 to allow the hydraulic ram 20 to rotate relative to the chassis 11. A pair of plates 30 extend from the base plate 22 below the bolt 26. The ram 28 is located between the plates 30 and a bolt 31 passes through holes in the plates 30 and the ram 27 allowing the loading member 21 to rotate relative to the hydraulic ram 20.

Fluid for the hydraulic ram 20 is supplied through two pipes 32 connected to the underside of the sleeve 27. The pipes 32 are fed through the centre beam 12, through a hollow vertical post 33 which stands on the centre beam 12, to a control panel 34 fixed to the top of the post 33. The control panel 34 is further connected to the hydraulic supply of the vehicle to which the trailer 10 is connected. A lever 35 controls the supply of fluid to the hydraulic ram 20 causing the ram 28 to extend and retract from the sleeve 27.

When, the ram 28 extends from the sleeve 27, the plates 3 0 are pushed below the cross-beam 13, to cause the loading member 21 to rotate through 90° from a loading state, shown in solid lines where the spikes 23, 24 protrude from the rear of the chassis 11, to a transportation state, shown in dashed lines where the base plate 22 rests on the hydraulic ram 20 and the spikes 23, 24 stand erect.

Rotation of the loading member 21 into the transportation state is limited to the point where the base plate 22 abuts the hydraulic ram 20. The underside of the base plate 22 is so shaped to enable to base plate 22 and the hydraulic ram 20 co mate, thus preventing undue stress on individual components. Rotation of the loading member 21 into the loading state is limited by the minimum length of the hydraulic ram 20 when the ram 28 is retracted fully and also by the point where the base plate 22 abuts the cross-beam 13.

In use, the trailer 10 is set to the loading state and reversed so that both spikes 23 and 24 penetrate a bale of hay 6 to be transported, Figure 1. The long spike 23 is located such that it penetrates the bale 6 below its centre, while the short spike 24 is employed to prevent the bale 6 from rotating on the long spike 23. The trailer 10 is then set to the transportation state with the bale 5 being lifted onto the trailer 10, Figure 2. In the transportation state the centre of the bale 6 lies between the long spike 26 and the hitch connection 15, thus the loaded bale does not cause the trailer 10 to tend to lift away from the vehicle towing the trailer 10.

In a second embodiment of the invention, Figure 4, a guard rail 37 is provided. The rail 37 comprises three upright beams 42, 43 and 44 projecting upwardly from either end of the cross-beam 13 and from the centre beam 12 respectively. The beams 42, 43 and 44 are linked by two curved horizontal rails 45 and 46. The guard rail 37 helps to prevent injury when loading or unloading a bale and also keeps the bale in place when loaded.

In the second embodiment, the wheels 14 are mounted on opposite ends of a transverse axle 38 disposed at 90° to the longitudinal axis of the chassis and spaced apart from the cross-beam 13 by three parallel beams 39, 40 and 41 respectively. An hydraulic ram 20 is fitted under the centre beam 40 with the ram 28 projecting to the rear of the chassis from under the axle 38, Figure 5.

The sleeve 27 of the ram 20 is pivotally fixed to the cross-beam 13 as described earlier.

A loading member 21' comprises a rectangular frame 50 comprising two horizontal beams 54 and 55 connected by three parallel beams 56, 57 and 58. The beams 56, 57 and 58 are rotatably mounted on the axle 38 on respective collar rings 51, 52 and 53, Figure 5. Two parallel plates 30' project from the beam 54 and the end of the ram 28 is pivotally connected. Thus, retraction of the ram 28 under control of the operator causes the frame 50 to rotate from a transport state in which the frame 50 rests over the portion of the chassis between the cross-beam 13 and the axle 38, Figure 5, to a loading state in which the frame 50 is disposed in a substantially vertical position, Figure 4.

In the second embodiment, the spikes 23 and 24 are replaced by a pair of cylindrical arms 60 projecting to the rear of the chassis from the respective corners of the frame where the beam 54 intersects respective beams 56 and 58. The arms 60 are bent at a point 61 disposed towards their free ends to that they tend to diverge.

It will be seen that when the loading member 21' is in the loading state, Figure 4, the arms 60 lie substantially parallel to and close to the ground. The trailer may then be reversed so that the arms lie on either side of a bale to be transported. The divergence of the arms 60 enables a bale to be gradually centered as the trailer is reversed to fully engage the bale.

Then under control of the operator, the hydraulic ram 20 is extended to lift the frame and bale into the transport state where the bale is held in place between the guard rail 37 and the frame 50. It will be seen that use of the arms 60 to lift the bale prevents damage to the bale during transport.

It will also be realised that rotation of the loading member of either embodiment can be achieved in a variety of ways, for example, by powering the trailer 10 electrically either from the vehicle towing the trailer 10 or from an independent battery housed on the chassis 11. Alternatively, the loading member can be rotated by a winch mechanism.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS :

1. A trailer comprising a chassis and loading means movable relative to said chassis from a loading state, in which said loading means is engagible with a load to be transported, to a transportation state, in which said load is supported on said chassis.

2. A trailer as claimed in Claim 1 in which the loading means comprises two substantially parallel arms which in the loading state extend rearwardly of the chassis and which are brought into engagement with said load as the trailer is reversed towards the load.

3. A trailer as claimed in Claim 2 in which the loading means is pivotable about a transverse axis with respect to the chassis from the loading state, in which the arms lie substantially parallel to the ground, to the transport state, in which said arms project substantially vertically from said chassis.

4. A trailer as claimed in Claim 3 in which a movable drive means is connected between the chassis and the loading means to cause the loading means to move from the loading state to the transport state.

5. A trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 and 2 or Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.