WO2001045971A1

WO2001045971A1 - Trailer

Info

Publication number: WO2001045971A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/001575
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Keith Knight; Noel William Murray; Robert Edwin Randell
Original assignee: Trailer Technologies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-12-21
Filing date: 2000-12-21
Publication date: 2001-06-28
Also published as: AUPQ478099A0

Abstract

A trailer (1) for a vehicle, the trailer comprising a floor (3), a pair of opposed wheels (41), and suspension means (25) mounted beneath the floor (3), the suspension means (25) being adapted to adjust and set the height of the floor (3) with respect to the pair of wheels (41), the suspension means (25) comprising axle means for the pair of wheels (41), the axle means being constructed so as to leave a space between the wheels (41) for accommodating the centre of a railway wagon when the trailer (1) is loaded and lowered.

Description

Trailer

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to trailers for vehicles, and in a particularly preferred but non-limiting aspect relates to vehicle trailers which may be loaded on to railway wagons.

Background of the Invention

In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date.

(l) part of common general knowledge; or

(n) known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

Advances in transport systems particularly road transport systems have resulted in a variety of haulage vehicle styles. Typically, these vehicles consist of a prime mover which is designed to haul trailers. In the context of this specification, the term "trailer" should be interpreted to include trailer vans, tray trailers and any other trailer forms suitable for use with vehicles. The term "trailers" should also be taken to include vehicles with two or more trailers. Increasing economic pressures have meant that multiple trailer vehicles have become more common because of the labour savings they represent in terms of goods hauled per driver. Additionally, systems for moving goods by different transport modes have been and are continually being developed to facilitate transfer between the different transport modes and hence increase efficiency and reduce cost. Thus, for example, containers which have become a major factor in transport via shipping have been designed so that they can be readily removed from a ship and placed directly onto trailers for road vehicles. Similarly, containers for air transport have been developed using the same principles.

Systems have also been developed for transporting via road and rail. In International Application No PCT/AU97/00741 whose disclosures by this cross reference are incorporated in this specification, there is described a system in which road haulage trailers are loaded upon wagons having load bearing tops provided with lowerable sections corresponding to the positions of the trailer wheels. The sections are lowered to reduce the overall height of the loaded wagons and trailer. However, for reasons of strength and rigidity, the centre of the railway wagon is not lowered, with the result that it protrudes into the space between the opposed wheels on the trailer. Thus, the height of this space or well limits the extent to which the trailer may be lowered on the flat top. Hence the need for a trailer which can be lowered when not used on the road but which has a central space when lowered in order to facilitate loading onto railway wagons. Furthermore, the increasing sophistication of communication systems, and sensors, combined with the ever increasing need of transport managers to keep control of the movement of good means that there is scope for and a need for the development of even more complex integrated transport systems to maximise efficiencies, improve services and reduce costs. Thus there is a need for the development of trailer systems which are sufficiently flexible to be able to cope with different transport modes, such as for example train and road, and which are capable of being integrated with electronic management systems.

It is an object of this invention to provide one or more improvements or developments of trailer technologies which to some extent meet this development need.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention provides in one aspect a trailer for a vehicle, the trailer comprising a floor, a pair of opposed wheels and suspension means mounted beneath the floor, the suspension means being adapted to adjust and set the height of the floor with respect to the pair of wheels, the suspension means including axle means for the pair of wheels, the axle means being constructed so as to leave a space between the wheels for accommodating the centre of a railway wagon when the trailer is loaded and lowered. The suspension means of the trailer may include height adjustment means.

The height adjustment means may be pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically or mechanically operated. It may be operated by a combination of any two or more of these. Most suitably the height adjustment means includes pneumatic actuation. It may include an air bag. Most suitably it includes two air bags each of which is associated with one of the pair of wheels.

The height adjustment means may be operable to adjust the degree of tilt altering the centre of gravity of the trailer as well as height in order to assist with cornering.

The air bags may be housed in a casing. They may be operated by an air pump provided on the trailer. Suitably the air pump is electrically driven. The trailer may also include a power source for operating the pump. This may be in the form of a rechargeable battery.

There may be more than one pair of opposed wheels. A reference to wheels shall also be taken to include banks of wheels wherever appropriate. There may be two or more wheels immediately adjacent to each other in a bank of wheels. Thus reference to opposed wheels also encompasses opposed banks of wheels. The suspension means may include an axle. Suspension legs may extend from either side of the axle to the respective wheel. The axle is suitably constructed so that the suspension legs may pivot. The wheels may be mounted on the suspension legs. They may be mounted by means of stub axles provided thereon.

The suspension means are most suitably mounted underneath the floor of the trailer. The suspension means may be mounted by means of brackets. The brackets are suitably constructed so as to leave the well formed between the wheels relatively unobstructed.

The air bags may be arranged so as to press down upon the suspension legs when they are inflated. Thus the air bags will cause the suspension legs to pivot with respect to the floor of the trailer thereby moving the wheels down and further away from the trailer and raising the trailer height.

The trailer may be in the form of a van. It may be a van provided with movable curtaining material forming part of one or more walls of the van. Most suitably, the movable curtaining material is provided along two sides of the van. The movable curtaining mateπal may extend from a roof provided on the van to rail means provided at a lower level. The rail means may include a rail extending along the side of the van at a level immediately below or level with the floor of the van. Drawbar means may be provided in association with the trailer. The drawbar means may be used to connect a plurality of adjacent vans and/or trailers to a prime mover. The drawbar means may be movable in relation to the floor of the trailer. It may include means to lock the drawbar means in different positions relative to the floor of the trailer.

One or more stanchions may be provided underneath the trailer. Most suitably one stanchion is provided at a forward end of the trailer and one at rear end. The stanchions may be located on a line bisecting the width of the trailer.

Where the trailer is provided with a roof, the roof may be supported on a plurality of side wall struts.

Thus in another aspect, the invention provides a trailer for a vehicle, which trailer takes the form of a van, the van including a floor, and a roof supported by a plurality of side wall struts, the side wall struts including a central element having a resilient skin laminated to at least a portion thereof. The side wall struts may have a generally square or rectangular cross section.

The resilient skin may be laminated to two sides of the central element. Most suitably the skin is laminated to the two sides extending perpendicular to the sides of the trailer.

It is preferred that the central element be formed of wood. It is most suitably formed of a hard wood timber. The skin provided on either side of the elements most suitably includes spring steel.

One or more doors may be provided at the rear of the trailer. The arrangement of doors and curtains may be such as to allow placement and removal of goods via the sides when the curtaining material is opened or via the rear door or doors.

The roof of the trailer may include fibre glass. It may include a formed fibre glass roof casing over a metal base. The metal base may be aluminium. The floor of the trailer is most suitably formed of aluminium. It may be formed of corrugated aluminium. Where the trailer is in van form and it is to be used in situations where the contents of the trailer need to be protected against heat or other factors, the use of movable curtaining material for the side walls may be unsuitable Thus the van may have sokd side walls. The solid side walls may be insulated. The van may be provided with refrigeration as necessary.

Sensor means may be provided on the van to monitor various aspects of the functioning of the van. For instance, the sensor means may sense the temperature within the van. They may also give information concerning elapsed time that goods have been in the van.

The sensor means may include weighing devices which weigh the actual weight of goods in the van. They may sense the degree of inflation of the air bags in the van. They may be associated with one or more tie down mechanisms associated with the movable curtaining material to provide a confirmation as to whether the tie down mechanisms are operating. They may be able to sense when the trailer is cornering. In such situations they may be operatively associated with the height adjustment means to control the degree of tilt of the trailer. The sensor means may be associated with a monitor provided in the prime mover used to drive the trailer. Additionally and/or alternatively they may be associated with radio transmission means which broadcast the read-out or sensed inputs from the sensor means to a central location.

Position locating means may be provided on the trailer. They may be associated with satellite positioning eqmpment to accurately locate the position of the trailer. They may be associated with computer equipment and programming which gives the driver of the prime mover instructions for driving the trailer to desired locations for dropping off and picking up goods.

The computer equipment may include inventory means for recording the goods on the trailer at any time. The inventory means may include data concerning goods on-loaded and off-loaded. They may be operatively associated with the position locating means to automatically adjust the inventory as and when the trailer passes through different delivery and/or pick up points.

The present invention provides in another aspect a vehicle including a trailer, the trailer being as described herein.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a van chassis in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the van chassis of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows a front view of the van chassis of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows a rear view of the van chassis of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a section A-A of the van chassis of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a section B-B of the van chassis of Figure 1; and Figure 7 shows a section C-C of the van chassis of Figure 1. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a trailer 1 in the form of a van which may be hauled by a motoπsed vehicle. The trailer shown in the drawings, by virtue of the fact that it includes a drawbar, is particularly suitable for a double van arrangement where the first van section is mounted directly on the chassis with the prime mover. The trailer illustrated in the drawings is connected thereto by the drawbar 27 a multiplicity of vans and/or trailers can be attached by the drawbar to the prime mover.

The van includes a floor 3 formed of any suitable matenal although for reasons of strength and weight, corrugated aluminium is preferred.

Mounted on the floor are the side walls 5 and end walls 6, the rear of the end walls including one or more rear doors 11.

Side wall struts 9 form the structural portion of the side walls. These are secured to the floor of the trailer by the screw fixes 10.

The side walls struts consist of rectangular section hard wood timber laminated between two spπng steel stnps which are secured on the sides of the timber running perpendicular to the sides of the trailer. This construction gives substantial strength and durability to the sides of the trailer, both of which are required given the stresses encountered through racking during transport and wear and tear associated with loading and unloading of goods. The roof 7 mounted on the side walls struts and end walls is in the form of a fibre glass casing over a metal base which again gives substantial durability and strength.

Vertically extending channel sections 13 and 23 are provided at the corners of the trailer, the channel sections being arranged so that they can receive a curtain railing rod (not shown) for a curtain provided in the space between each side wall strut and channel. Curtains are also provided between ad_jacent side wall struts.

The rear door 11 is mounted on door hinges 15 in the conventional manner Most suitably, there are two rear doors which effectively form the rear end wall 6 of the trailer. These doors may be constructed in the conventional manner with as many wrecking lines (eg one or two per door) as are required for the operational requirements envisaged for that particular trailer.

The trailer chassis includes tapered reinforcement bars 16 chassis side rails 17, chassis rail stiffening plates 18, chassis edge rails 20 and inteπor chassis rails (in a c- shaped channel form) to provide strength and πgidity for the trailer.

Front and rear rails 22 beneath the end walls 6 are also provided to lend strength to the chassis.

The chassis is also provided with outngger reinforcement members 47 running perpendicular to the length of the chassis to assist πgidity and strength. Similarly, welded plates 53 and 55 are provided on the chassis for improving strength and πgidity.

Curtain fixing rails 21 are provided beneath the edge rails 20 in the manner illustrated on the left hand side in Figures 5 to 7. It is noted that the πght hand side of the drawings not completed in Figures 5 to 7 should be interpreted as being a mirror image of the left hand sides of the drawings.

The coaming angle 24 is mounted above the chassis side rails 17.

The trailer includes a retractable drawbar 27 mounted underneath the floor. Two elongate drawbar members 28 extend underneath the floor and include cross bracing 29. Drawbar wheels 34 are provided on the elongate drawbar members to facilitate forward and rearward movement of the drawbar as desired. The drawbar is locked in a forward or rearward position by means of the locking pins 33 which may be operated via the drawbar release handle 31 and release cable 32.

The trailer suspension generally designated 25, includes two pivotable suspension axles 35 and 37 for the front and rear wheels 41. The two suspension axles are each provided for separate banks of two wheels mounted together and located on opposite sides of the trailer. The pivotable suspension axles are mounted via the suspension fixing brackets 38.

Two longitudinally extending suspension legs 39 extending from the suspension axle are each provided with stub axles 43 at their opposite ends. The wheels 41 are mounted thereon.

An air bag 44 housed in an air bag casing 45 which is in turn held by the air bag support bracket 46 is associated with each of the four suspension legs.

The air bags are arranged so that they bear down upon the suspension legs when they are inflated, in order to raise the level of the floor of the trailer with respect to the wheels.

It can be seen that the suspension arrangement shown in the drawings, whether the suspension is lowered or raised, gives a region in the central area of the trailer generally designated 57 which forms a space. In this regard it is noted that each pivotable suspension axle is actually at a higher level than the stub axles holding the wheels thereby increasing the size of the well. This well allows the trailer to be lowered onto railway wagon flat top as descnbed with respect to International Application No PCT/AU97/00741 with the centre of the railway wagon protruding into the space 57 when the wheels 41 are lowered with respect to the top of the wagon. The trailer is provided with front and rear stanchions 49 and 51 which may be received in appropπate positioning and holding mechanisms on the railway wagon when the trailer is loaded onto a train. It is also suitably provided with a bottlejack (not shown) at its forward end.

While it has been convenient to descnbe the invention herein in relation to particularly preferred embodiments, it is to be appreciated that other constructions and arrangements are considered as falling within the scope of the invention. Vaπous modifications, alterations, vanations and/or additions to the constructions and arrangements described herein are also considered as falling within the scope and ambit of the present invention.

The word 'compnsing' and forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this descnption and in the claims does not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.

Claims

1 A trailer for a vehicle, the trailer compnsing a floor, a pair of opposed wheels and suspension means mounted beneath the floor, the suspension means being adapted to adjust and set the height of the floor with respect to the pair of wheels, the suspension means compnsing axle means for the pair of wheels, the axle means being constructed so as to leave a space between the wheels for accommodating the centre of a railway wagon when the trailer is loaded and lowered.

2. A trailer according to claim 1 wherein the suspension means compnses height adjustment means to adjust the height of the trailer.

3. A trailer according to claim 2 wherein the height adjustment means is operable to adjust the degree of tilt altering the centre of gravity of the trailer in addition to the height in order to assist with cornering.

4. A trailer according to claim 2 wherein the height adjustment means is pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically or mechanically operated.

5. A trailer according to claim 4 wherein the height adjustment means compnses at least one air bag.

6. A trailer according to claim 5 wherein the air bag is actuated by an air pump provided on the trailer.

7. A trailer according to claim 1 wherein the suspension means compnses an axle.

8. A trailer according to claim 7 wherein the suspension means compnses suspension legs extending from either side of the axle to the respective wheel.

9. A trailer according to claim 8 wherein the wheels are mounted on the suspension legs.

10. A trailer according to claim 9 wherein the axle is constructed to permit pivotal motion of the suspension legs.

11. A trailer according to claim 1 wherein the suspension means is mounted by means of brackets constructed so as to leave the space formed between the wheels substantially unobstructed.

12. A trailer according to claim 10 wherein the air bags are arranged to press down upon the suspension legs when the airbags are inflated allowing the suspension legs to pivot with respect to the floor of the trailer thereby moving the wheels down and further away from the trailer and raising the trailer height.

13. A trailer according to claim 1 and further comprising a drawbar means.

14. A trailer according to claim 13 wherein the drawbar means is capable of connecting a plurality of adjacent vans and/or trailers to a prime mover.

15. A trailer according to claim 13 wherein the drawbar means is movable with respect to the floor of the trailer.

16. A trailer according to claim 15 wherein the drawbar means comprises a locking means wherein the locking means locks the drawbar means in different positions relative to the floor of the trailer.

17. A trailer according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one stanchion locatable underneath the trailer.

18. A trailer according to claim 17 wherein the stanchions are locatable at both a forward and at a rear end of the trailer.

19. A trailer according to claim 1 wherein the trailer is in the form of a van, the van comprising a floor, a roof and side walls wherein movable curtaining material forms a part of at least one of the walls of the van.

20. A trailer according to claim 19 wherein the movable curtaining material extends from the roof of the van to rail means provided at a lower level.

21. A trailer according to claim 20 wherein the rail means comprises a rail extending along the side of the van at a level immediately below or level with the floor of the van.

22. A trailer according to claim 19 wherein the roof is supported by a plurality of side wall struts, the side wall struts comprising a central element having a resilient skin laminated to at least a portion thereof.

23. A trailer according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one door located at the rear of the trailer wherein the arrangement of doors and curtains facilitates the placement and removal of goods via the sides when the curtaining material is opened or via the rear door.

24. A trailer according to claim 23 wherein the roof of the trailer is formed from fibre glass roof casing over a metal base.

25. A trailer according to claim 1 wherein the trailer is in the form of a van and wherein the van compnses solid side walls.

26. A trailer according to claim 25 wherein the van is provided with refrigeration means.

27. A trailer according to claim 19 and further compnsing sensor means wherein the sensor means monitors various aspects of the functioning of the van.

28. A trailer according to claim 27 wherein the sensor means compnses weighing devices to weigh the actual payload of goods in the van.

29. A trailer according to claim 27 wherein the sensing means senses the degree of inflation of the air bags in the van.

30. A trailer according to claim 29 wherein the sensing means is associated with at least one or more tie down mechanisms associated with the movable curtaining matenal to provide a confirmation as to whether the tie down mechanisms are operating.

31. A trailer according to claim 27 wherein the sensing means senses when the trailer is cornering, the sensing means operatively associated with the height adjustment means to control the degree of tilt of the trailer.

32. A trailer according to claim 27 wherein the sensor means is associated with a monitor provided in a pπme mover used to drive the trailer.

33. A trailer according to claim 27 wherein the sensor means is associated with radio transmission means which broadcast the read-out or sensed inputs from the sensor means to a central location.

34 A trailer according to claim 1 and further compnsing a locating means wherein the locating means is associated with satellite positioning equipment to accurately locate the position of the trailer.

35. A trailer according to claim 34 wherein the locating means is associated with computer equipment and programming wherein the computer equipment and programming gives the driver of a pπme mover instructions for dnving the trailer to desired locations for dropping off and picking up goods.

36. A trailer according to claim 35 wherein the computer equipment comprises inventory means for recording the goods on the trailer at any time.

37. A trailer according to claim 36 wherein the inventory means is operatively associated with the position locating means to automatically adjust the inventory as and when the trailer passes through different dehvery and/or pick up points.

38. A vehicle including a trailer, the trailer being as claimed in any preceding claim.