NZ611824A - Improvements in and relating to load transfer - Google Patents

Abstract

611824 A unitary stationary member 3 of a load transfer structure 2 is mounted beneath a tractor and connected via a shock absorber 5 to a movable tow bar 4. The front of the member 3 is stepped-shaped at 13 to pass beneath the front axle 11 of the tractor and is connected via a mount 9 to the weight frame 10 on the tractor above the front axle.

Description

James & Wells ref: 238222/14 LV Improvements in and relating to load transfer TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention concerns improvements in and ng to load transfer.

BACKGROUND ART The use of load transfer members on towing vehicles is well known in relation to load transfer applications. One such example is the use of a tow bar on the back of a vehicle such as a tractor or a car.

The inventor has previously ed a load er member in the form of a chain as described in . However, one drawback of a chain is that it can only transfer a pull (drag) force from the towed implement.

Therefore, it would be useful if there could be provided a load transfer member which can: - transfer forces in both a for and aft direction with respect to a towing vehicle; and - transfer the load from a towed implement to the front of the towing vehicle; and/or - er the load a towed vehicle so that the load passes under a front axle of the vehicle to an attachment point on the vehicle which is: in front of the front axle; and above the height of the front axle; and/or - m to a shape which closely resembles and is proximate the underside profile of the tractor chassis in at least the region between the front and rear wheel axles.

It is an object of the present invention to address the ing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, ing any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the cy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly James & Wells ref: 238222/14 LV understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these nts form part of the common general dge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other y.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the ion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the g description which is given by way of example only.

DEFINITIONS The term ‘Tow Bar’ as used herein refers to a bar at the back of a vehicle for towing a trailer or implement.

The term ‘Draw Bar’ as used herein refers to a bar at the front of a trailer or implement to be towed .

The term ‘Load transfer member’ as used herein refers to an elongate member which is fixed in place (Le. is nary) with respect to the chassis of the tractor.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus and parts therefor which can transmit load from a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle and which is configured to also transmit forces from both and forward and rearward direction.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a load transfer apparatus for a towing vehicle including a load transfer member connected to a moveable tow bar via a shock absorber; wherein said load er member passes under a front axle of said vehicle and is connected to the front of the vehicle so as to er load from a towed vehicle to a point above the front axle of said vehicle.

James & Wells ref: 238222/14 LV According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a load transfer apparatus in the form of a load transfer member which is elongate and has high tensile strength and which is bent at one end thereof to create a d side profile.

Preferably, the length of a first region of the d profile has a length which is at least substantially 30 - 50% of that of a second region of the side profile, wherein in use, the first region is the forward end of the load transfer member and wherein the load er member extends a distance spanning from a region under the front axle of a vehicle to a point at or near the rear axle of the vehicle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a use of a rigid load transfer member located on a towing vehicle to er load from towed implement, d to a rear mounted tow bar to the front of the towing vehicle.

According to a further aspect of the present ion there is provided a vehicle which makes use of a load transfer apparatus or rigid load transfer member substantially as described above.

According to another aspect of the t invention there is ed a method of modifying a tractor to transfer a towed load from the rear of the tractor to the front of the tractor comprising the steps of: a) Fitting a unitary rigid load trasfermember to the underside of the tractor‘s chassis so that: - the rigid load transfer member is substantially proximate thereto at least in the region between the front and rear axles; and - wherein the rigid load transfer member also passes under the front axle b) Adapting a tow bar at the rear of a tractor so the tow bar can slide in both a fore and aft direction; 0) Connecting the rigid load transfer member and the tow bar together via a two way shock absorber; and d) Connecting the rigid load transfer member to a weight frame on the front of the tractor.

James & Wells ref: 238222/14 LV BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further aspects of the t invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 Is a schematic side view of a tractor which includes a load transfer tus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE ION With respect to Figure 1 there is provided a tractor 1 which has a load transfer apparatus generally indicated by arrow 2. The load transfer apparatus has a single stationary member 3 made of 41-40 high tensile steel which functions as a load transfer .

The stationary member 3 is supported and held to the underside of the chassis of the tractor 1 by a Teflon mount 100. The stationary member 3 is formed to substantially conform to the underside profile of the tractor’s chassis in the region between the front axle 11 and rear axle 12 and has a gap of around 50-100mm as shown by arrow X in this . The stationary member 3 is bent in the region indicated by arrow 13 so that the front end thereof 14 passes under the front axle 11 of the tractor 1.

The front end of the stationary member 3 is bolted to a mount 9 which is welded to a weight frame 10 which is connected to the chassis of the tractor, in the conventional manner, at a point above the front axle 11 of the tractor. The stationary member 3 is indirectly connected to a le tow bar 4 via a shock absorber 5. The fon/vard (front) end of the shock absorber 5 is connected via a drop pin (not shown) to nary member 3.

The tow bar 4 is a standard factory tow bar which has been unpinned (unbolted) from the chassis so it can slide in a for and aft direction. The tow bar 4 is attached to the tractor 1 via support brackets 6 which permit the tow bar to slide.

The tow bar 4 is connected to the rean/vard end of the shock absorber 5 via a flange ng 7 via a pin 8. The flange coupling 7 is connected at the opposite end to that pinned to the tow bar to a rean/vard end of a shock absorber 5.

James & Wells ref: 238222/14 LV In use, forces received from either a d or rearward ion, are dampened by the shock absorber 5 which becomes ssed, as a result of accelerative for and aft forces being, experienced as a consequence of towing an implement.

DETAILED SION OF ALTERNATE WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION The present invention for ease of reference typically refers to the present invention being utilised on a tractor, however, this should not be seen as limiting as the t invention may be utilised on other forms of towing vehicles.

The stationary member may come in a variety of different forms provided it has the tensile strength to bear the load of the towed implement. in one ment the stationary member may be made of high tensile steel.

Ideally, the stationary member should have some flexibility to enable the stationary member to withstand any sudden forces (shock forces) that might be experienced notwithstanding the presence of a shock absorber.

In some embodiments the stationary member can be formed into a side profile which: — conforms to the underside of the chassis at least between the front and rear wheel axles; - bends under the front rear axle.

The inventor has also found for some tractors the stationary member may be able to be straight piece of material (i.e. without a bend) as the front axle does not extend very far beneath the underside of the chassis which is substantially planar at least between the front of the tractor and the rear axle.

The moveable tow bar may have a variety of different configurations t ing from the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment the moveable tow bar is created simply by removing the pin holding a rd factory tow bar to a support bracket. This then enables the drawbar to slide for and aft with respect to the support brackets.

James & Wells ref: 238222/14 LV The shock absorber may be any shock er, or pair of shock absorbers arranged to be, able to absorb forces coming from either a for or aft direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle.

In one embodiment the shock absorber may be in the form of a coil spring ement with a dual opposed piston assembly.

In another embodiment the shock absorber may be in the form of one or more nitrogen accumulators.

In a r embodiment the shock absorber may be in the form of a dual piston arrangement.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist of the parts, ts and features referred to or indicated herein, either individually or collectively, so as to encompass any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made o without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

James & Wells ref: 238222/14 LV WHAT I

Claims (4)

CLAIM 1. IS:

1. A load transfer tus for a towing vehicle including a load transfer member connected to a moveable tow bar via a shock absorber; wherein said load transfer member passes under a front axle of said vehicle and is connected to the front of the vehicle so as to transfer load from a towed e to a point above the front axle of said vehicle.

2. A vehicle which es a load transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

3. A load transfer apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to any e and/or drawing thereof.

4. A vehicle which includes a load transfer apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to any example and/or drawing thereof. Kalvin Jit Singh by his authorised agents { 7’.:\> James & Wells Intellectual Property HI-llflim/Ioflllfi _‘ mmDGE