OA16377A - A support frame for a trailer. - Google Patents

Abstract

A support frame (10) for a vehicle comprises an elongate hollow load bearing support member (12), the support member being generally horizontally disposed in relation to a support surface for supporting a load to be conveyed. The support frame includes mounting means for mounting the support member to the suspension frame assembly (14) of the vehicle. The hollow support member is internally segmented to define a plurality of stowage compartments (22) for stowing one or types of transportable goods, preferably flowable substances, in use.

Description

A SUPPORT FRAME: FOR A TRAILIER

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a support frame for relates to a support frame for a trailer.

a vehicle. More particularly, this invention

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided frame including:

a support frame for a vehicle, the support an elongate hollow load bearing support member, the support member being generally horizontally disposed in relation to a support surface for supporting a load to be conveyed;

mounting means for mounting the support rr ember to a suspension frame assembly of the vehicle;

and wherein the hollow support member defines a stowage compartiment for stowing transportable goods, in use.

The vehicle may preferably comprise a trailer of the type used to transport a load..

The support member may be manufactured from steel.

The support frame may include a plurality of supporting formations for supporting the support surface on the support member.

Each ofthe supporting formations may defin an external surface of the support memb: operatively upper end thereof for supporting :he support surface.

e a generally arcuate surface for engaging ar and a generally planar surface at an

The hollow support member may be inte separate stowage compartments for stowing nally segmented to define a plurality of transportable goods.

The transportable goods may preferably comprise one or more flowable substances.

al reinforcing means disposed

The support member may include interr;

operatively upper and lower internai surfaces thereof for enhancing the strength of the support member, in use.

between structural

The reinforcing means mean comprise extending along the length of the support mdi member a longitudinally disposed plate mber.

The support member may be tapered at orie end to define a mounting formation for mounting the support frame to a towing vehicle.

The support member may include one or more internai, transversely disposed baffle plate members for controlling the flow of the flowable substances within the support member.

The support surface may preferably comprise a fiat deck of the type used for supporting a load to be conveyed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatîc drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view frame according to the invention;

of a trailer assembly including the support

Figure 2 is a bottom view showing the support frame of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an isométrie bottom view showing the support trame of Figure 1; and )ly, showing the support frame of Figure 1 nerally vertically oriented reinforcing plate

Figure 4 is an end view of the trailer assem and, in particular, illustrating an internai, ge member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS frame for a vehicle, generally a trailer is

10. It is envisaged by the inventor that the which are used to transport loads, such as

With reference to the drawings, a support indicated generally by the reference numéral support frame of the invention will find application to a trailer vehicle of the type generally referred to as a flatbed semi-trailer shîpping containers and the like and which are towed by road tractors or trucks. Traditional semi-trailers include a châssis including a load bearing support frame or girder having an l-beam cross-sectional prsfile which is mounted upon the vehicle’s suspension assembly. The flatbed support surface rests upon the support frame. It is the înventor’s view that the support frame vfill be applicable to many different types of load-bearing transport vehicles in addition to flat-bed semi-trailers.

The support frame of the invention is intended to replace the traditional l-beam support girder and includes an elongate, generally horizontally disposed hollow tube structure 12. The tube structure is preferably manufajtured from a high strength structural steel and is mounted upon the trailer’s suspension a parallel fashion in relation to the suspension assembly. The inventer envisages that the tube structure may also be manufactured as carbon fibre or other polymer substance upon the suspension assembly in order to evenly distributed.

assembly 14 such that the tube extends in from other suitable types of materials such The support frame is centrally mounted ensure that any weight supported by it is

The support frame includes a plurality of supporting formations which 16 are securely mounted to the body of the tube structure along the length thereof. Each supporting formation defines an arcuate brace formation for mounting around the generally top portion of the support frame and wherein the surface 18 an operatively upper end thereof may be a plurality of spaced-apart supporting formations along the length of the tube structure depending on the load-bearing requirements of the vehicle. A significant feature of the supporting formations is that supported by the tube structure. The planar side of the tube structure thereby ensuring that the load will be distributed evenly across the support frame. As shown in Figure 3 of towards an operatively front end thereof to d sfine a mounting formation 20 for mounting the trailer te the truck or other vehicle.

brace formation defines a generally planar for supporting a flatbed or the like. There they generally bend around and are thus support surface extends laterally on either the drawings, the tube structure may taper

The hollow tube structure of the support frame defines one or more stowage compartments 22 which may be used to stow transportable, preferably flowable goods such as diesel, petrol and the like. ln this purpose as a load bearing structure and as inventer that the tube structure will hâve cap.

of fluid. Furthermore, the hollow support frame is substantially lighter than the conventional l-beam frame. It is the inventor’s view that the tare weight of a trailer including the support frame of the invention would be in the région of 3 600 Kgs (Kilograms) compared to the general ti approximately 6 200Kgs (Kilograms). It is lower weight of the trailer incorporating the feupport frame of the invention would resuit in a number of advantages including less wear and tear on the vehicle’s tyres, better fuel consumption, mitigation of road damage able to transport a higher payload.

manner, the support frame serves a dual a stowage facility. It is envisaged by the acity to hold approximately 6000 L (Litres) re weight of a conventional trailer of further envisaged by the inventer that the and would likely resuit in the vehicle being

The hollow tube of the support frame preferably includes an internai, longitudinally extending reinforcing plate member 24 extending along its length which dissects the

tube into two halves. The reinforcing plate is and simultaneously serves the function of a tube as a well as a baffle plate for controlling ; preferably welded to the inside ofthe tube reinforcing member against bending of the the flow of fluids contained within the tube.

le hollow tube is preferably segmented, as parafe stowage compartments suitable for

Further in accordance with the invention, th shown in Figure 1, to define a number of se| stowing different types of loads, for example diesel and petrol, simultaneously. In addition to the reinforcing plate member transversely extending baffle plates 26 alông its length to facilitate the control of flowable substances in transit. It is envisaged that the number and configuration of the baffle plates within the tube may vary ii departing from the scope ofthe invention.

24, the tube may include a number of n accordance with requirements without des for a support frame for a vehicle that requirements. Also, numerous variations

It will be understood that the invention prov has wide application potential depending on may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims (12)

1. Claims:

   1.
2. 2.
3. 3,
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.

   A support frame for a vehicle, the support frame including: a single load bearing support member having an elongate hollow tubular structure, the support member being operatively ç a support surface for supporting a load 1.· enerally horizontally disposed in relation to o be conveyed;

   mounting means for mounting the support member to a suspension frame assembly of the vehicle;

   and wherein the hollow support member defines a stowage compartment for stowing transportable goods, in use.

   A support frame for a vehicle as claîmed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a semi-trailer of the type used to transport a load.

   A support frame for a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the wherein the hollow support member is manufactured from steel.

   A support frame for a vehicle as claiined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame includes a pBurality of support formations for supporting the support surface on the support mem ser.

   A support frame for a vehicle as claiined in claim 4, wherein each supporting formation define a generally arcuate suri ace for engaging an external surface ofthe support member and a generally planar for supporting the support surface.

   surface at an operatively upper end thereof

   A support frame for a vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow support member is internally segmented to define a plurality of separate stowage compartments for stowing transportable goods.

   A support frame for a vehicle as clairied in claim 6, wherein the transportable goods comprise one or more flowable substances.

   A support frame for a vehicle as claiined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support member may inc lude internai reinforcing means disposed between operatively upper and lower i iternal surfaces thereof for enhancing the structural strength of the support member, in use
7. 7.
8. 8.
9. 9.
10. 10.
11. 11.

    A support frame for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reinforcing means comprises a longitudinally disposed plate member extending along the length ofthe support member.

    A support frame for a vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support member is tapered at an end thereof to define a mounting formation for mounting the support frame to a towing vehicle.

    A support frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow support member includes one or more nternal, transversely disposed baffle plate members for controlling the flow of th 3 flowable substances within the support member.
12. 12.

    A support frame as claimed in any one o the preceding claims, wherein the support type used for supporting a load to be surface comprises a fiat deck of the conveyed. > ; Z \ ..