NZ572907A - Raised end fertilizer transport trailer - Google Patents

Abstract

A fertilizer transport trailer 1 is provided with a container 2 having an outlet at an end 3 from which fertilizer can be dispensed into a spreader hopper and a "mover" such as a belt conveyor 11 to shift the fertilizer between the interior of the container and the outlet. A lifting arrangement 14, 15 is effective to raise the outlet end of the container and draw the wheels 5 of the trailer toward a medial portion of the trailer to leave a clear space beneath the outlet end so that the fertilizer can be dispensed from the outlet into a hopper when the end of the container is raised.

Description

P572907 1 Patents Form No. 5 THE PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A Transporter I, ADAM THOMAS GLASGOW, a New Zealand citizen, of 2689 State Highway 3, RD11, Wanganui, New Zealand, hereby declare this invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be 25 performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: P572907 2 Title A transporter.

Field of Invention A preferred form of this invention relates to a transporter for carrying and dispensing fertiliser.

Background It is known to transport fertiliser in a bin. Typically the bin is placed on a trailer 10 unit capable of being towed by a truck. Often the trailer unit will have a lifting capability so that when on site one end of the bin can be raised and fertiliser dispensed from the raised end of the bin by way of a conveyor into the hopper of a fertiliser spreader. It can be a problem that the wheels of the trailer beneath the raised end of the bin make it difficult to place the hopper in an optimal position 15 beneath the bin. It is an object of a preferred form of the present invention to go at least some way towards overcoming this problem or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

The term "comprising" and derivatives thereof, eg "comprises", if and when used 20 herein in relation to a combination of features should not be taken as excluding the possibility that the combination may have further unspecified features.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a transporter 25 comprising a container, wheels to facilitate road transport of the transporter, lifting means, an outlet associated with an end of the container and contents moving means, the transporter formed such when it is in use the lifting means is able to raise the end of the container associated with the outlet such that this causes wheels of the transporter to be simultaneously drawn towards a medial portion of 30 the transporter to leave a substantially clear space beneath the container adjacent the outlet, and wherein the contents moving means can move contents within the container to and from the outlet while the end is raised.

P572907 3 Preferably the lifting means comprises a ram, a first linking member and a second linking member.

Preferably the ram is pivotally connected at an upper end to a chassis of the 5 transporter and at a lower end to a frame to which the wheels are connected.

Preferably each linking member is pivotally connected at an upper end to the chassis and at a lower end to the frame to which the wheels are connected.

Preferably the first linking member, the ram and the second linking member are substantially parallel with the chassis and the base of the container when the container is in a level disposition.

Preferably the ram is positioned between the two linking members and extends 15 telescopically to raise each linking member and to move the wheels towards a medial portion of the transporter when the lifting means is in use to raise the end of the container.

Preferably the container is partitioned to provide at least two sub-containers.

Preferably the contents moving means comprises at least one conveyor belt.

Preferably there are at least two sets of wheels.

Description of the Drawing Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a transporter; Figure 2 is a side view of the transporter; Figure 3 is side view of the transporter having a bin thereof in an elevated disposition; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of the transporter.

P572907 4 Detailed Description Referring to figure 1, there is shown a transporter 1 suitable for carrying fertiliser in bulk to a site at which the fertiliser is to be spread. The transporter 1 has a bin 2 which has tapered sides and is connected to a chassis 3 of the transporter 1. The transporter 1 has a forward set of wheels 4 and a rear set of wheels 5.

The forward set of wheels 4 is connected to a forward frame 6. A drawbar 8 is attached to the forward frame 6 for a truck or tractor to tow the transporter 1. The chassis 3 is connected to the forward frame 6 by a turntable 9 which enables side to side movement of the forward frame 6 with respect to the chassis 3 when the transporter 1 is being towed.

Referring to figure 2, the rear wheels 5 are connected to a rear frame 10. The transporter has an outlet 11 at the rear end of the bin 2 from which fertiliser is dispensed when the transporter 1 is in use on site. The bin 2 is partitioned into a forward section 12 and a rear section 13 at a midpoint of the bin 2 so that different materials may be stored in each section. Each section contains a hydraulically driven conveyor belt (not shown) to move fertiliser or other material from the forward section 12 to the rear section 13 by way of an internal opening (not shown), and from the rear section 13 via the outlet 11 respectively. The floor of the rear section 13 is deeper than that of the forward section 12.

Figure 3 shows the transporter 1 when the bin 2 is elevated so that fertiliser may be dispensed from the outlet 11. The rear frame 10 is connected to the chassis 3 by a first support 14 and a second support 15. Each support consists of one diagonal, two vertical, and two horizontal arms (see figure 4) to form a substantially rectangular frame. In an alternative embodiment of the invention each support may consist of a single arm. The supports 14 and 15 may be made of a metallic substance or another suitably strong material.

P572907 The first support 14 is pivotally connected by way of pins at its upper end to the chassis 3 and at its lower end to the front part of the rear frame 10. The second support 15 is pivotally connected by way of pins at its upper end to the chassis 3 and at its lower end to the back part of the rear frame 10.

A pair of hydraulic rams 16 are pivotally attached at their upper end to the chassis 3 adjacent the upper end of the second support 15 and at their lower end to a midpoint of the rear frame 10. When the transporter is not elevated, as shown in figure 2, the first support 14 and the second support 15 lay substantially 10 parallel with the chassis 3.

When in use the transporter 1 is filled with fertiliser, driven on site by the truck or tractor, then parked where the fertiliser is to be dispensed from the bin 2, for example into the hopper of a fertiliser spreader (not shown) to be positioned 15 beneath the rear end of the bin 2. The rams 16 are operated so that as they extend and exert force on to the chassis 3, the rear end of the bin 2 moves from a level to an elevated disposition, as can be seen in figure 3.

As mentioned, each support 14 and 15 is comprised of four arms forming a rigid 20 substantially rectangular shape with a diagonal support arm. As such they do not change in size or length but move pivotally around their respective upper and lower ends. The pair of rams 16 on the other hand does extend telescopically. The pivotal connections of the rams 16 and the supports 14 and 15 in combination with the telescopic extension of the rams 16 has the effect not only 25 of elevating the rear end of the bin 2 but also of causing the rear wheels 5, and thus also the rear frame 10, to move toward the front wheels and away from the rear end of the bin 2. The rear wheels 5 are in effect pushed under the transporter 1 away from the rear end of the bin 2 toward the forward wheels 4.

This is advantageous because not only is the bin 2 elevated but space is created beneath the outlet 11 by the movement of the rear wheels 5 toward the forward wheels 4. With the rear wheels further away from the raised end of the bin 2, the hopper is able to be more easily positioned underneath the outlet 11. As well as making it easier to position the hopper, this also avoids fertiliser spillage as the P572907 6 hopper can be positioned directly beneath the dispensing end of the bin 2 which is not always possible with some other transporters.

As can be seen more clearly in figure 4, the rams 16 consist of telescopic 5 sections which expand to lift the bin 2 and move the second support 15 and the first support 14.

Another advantage of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that the bin 2 connects directly to the chassis 3. Some transporters have a deck on top of the 10 chassis meaning an overall load which is heavier than where there is no deck. In the preferred embodiment of the invention therefore, the weight of the load to be lifted can be less than for some existing transporters.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of 15 example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims (11)

P572907 7 What I Claim Is

1. A transporter comprising a container, wheels to facilitate road transport of the transporter, lifting means, an outlet associated with an end of the 5 container and contents moving means, the transporter formed such when it is in use the lifting means is able to raise the end of the container associated with the outlet such that this causes wheels of the transporter to be simultaneously drawn towards a medial portion of the transporter to leave a substantially clear space beneath the container adjacent the 10 outlet, and wherein the contents moving means can move contents when within the container to and from the outlet while the end is raised.

2. A transporter according to claim 1, wherein the lifting means comprises a ram, a first linking member and a second linking member. 15

3. A transporter according to claim 2, wherein the ram is pivotally connected at an upper end to a chassis of the transporter and at a lower end to a frame to which the wheels are connected. 20

4. A transporter according to claim 3, wherein each linking member is pivotally connected at an upper end to the chassis and at a lower end to the frame to which the wheels are connected.

5. A transporter according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first linking member, 25 the ram and the second linking member are substantially parallel with the chassis and a base of the container when the container is in a level disposition.

6. A transporter according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the ram is 30 positioned between the two linking members and extends telescopically to raise each linking member and to move the wheels towards the medial portion of the transporter when the lifting means is in use to raise the end of the container. P572907 8

7. A transporter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is partitioned to provide at least two sub-containers.

8. A transporter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 5 contents moving means comprises at least one conveyor belt.

9. A transporter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are at least two sets of wheels.

10 10. A transporter according to claim 1, substantially as herein described.

11. A transporter according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying images. 15 20 ADAM THOMAS GLASGOW By His Attorney A.J. Pietras & Co