WO2006047796A1

WO2006047796A1 - Trailer for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2006047796A1
Application number: PCT/AT2004/000384
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Varch
Original assignee: Wolfgang Varch
Priority date: 2004-11-03
Filing date: 2004-11-03
Publication date: 2006-05-11

Abstract

The invention relates to a trailer (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a forklift device (3) mounted inside the trailer (1). Said forklift device (3) can be displaced between a transport position wherein the loaded goods can be transported, and a loading position wherein the goods to be loaded can be lifted and lowered by means of the forklift device (3).

Description

Trailer for a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a trailer for a motor vehicle.

On building sites, the supply of building materials, tools, etc. is usually carried out by truck transports, which cause the freight company corresponding freight costs. Such transports cannot always be carried out in an economically sensible manner, since only the delivery of large quantities of material is economical, but this is done on site, e.g. cannot be adequately protected against theft or weather influences. In addition, there are the relatively long lead times for such transports, since the freighters need a delivery time of several days for each order.

Smaller subcontractors, on the other hand, who are only responsible for small-scale construction work on the construction site, often only require relatively little construction material, such as sand, tiles, cement or the like, and bring them with them in small vans or trailers because truck transports for them would cause excessive costs.

All in all, the transportation of small amounts of building material is desirable and sensible, but it requires a corresponding amount of time and effort because the loading areas of vans and trailers are not designed for efficient loading and unloading, and therefore laborious manipulation of the building material must be accomplished. What a delivery truck could load and unload in one operation using a crane, happens with such smaller deliveries, e.g. by shouldering and carrying sacks or other containers, since small construction sites in particular have no corresponding crane or lifting devices for this type of work.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a trailer of the type mentioned at the beginning, with which loads of a small extent can be transported, that loading and unloading the trailer is possible with little effort and time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trailer that can be implemented with simple technical means.

According to the invention, this is achieved with a forklift device mounted inside the trailer, the forklift device being movable within the trailer between a transport position in which the cargo can be transported and a loading position in which the cargo can be lifted and lowered with the forklift device.

Due to the forklift device integrated in the trailer according to the invention, the transport can e.g. only a pallet of construction material can be made very efficiently by delivering this pallet with the trailer and then unloading it with the forklift device without the need for a separate crane or forklift truck. Regardless of whether mechanical loading devices are available at the place of delivery, the load can be transported and unloaded or loaded very quickly. If, for example, additional material is required on a construction site, it can be picked up immediately from a hardware store without having to take order times and freight costs into account.

Even if the trailer according to the invention is used in a particularly needs-based manner on construction sites, the type of load transported is in no way limited to building material but can vary as desired within the scope of the invention.

The displaceability of the carriage inside the trailer according to the invention has the advantage that the forklift device from a transport position in which the load to be transported is stably supported, can be brought into a loading position in which the forklift device can be lowered to the ground level.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the space available in the trailer according to the invention can be used advantageously in that the lift truck device is in the transport position essentially in the region of the front wall of the trailer, as seen in the direction of travel, and in the loading position essentially in the region of the wheel axle ( n) of the trailer, the forklift device being in the loading position behind the wheel axle (s) can be lowered to the ground level on which the trailer is standing. In this way, conventional wheel axles can be used for the trailer without modification, as a result of which the trailer according to the invention requires little design effort.

However, the forklift device can also deviate from this in another area of the trailer according to the invention, e.g. be arranged in the transport position in the region of the rear wall and the displaceability of the forklift device can e.g. be designed in the direction of the front region of the trailer. This depends on the chosen embodiment of the invention.

The sliding carriage can also be guided, for example, from the front to the rear loading wall of the trailer according to the invention, in order to be able to lower the forklift device there to the floor level or to be able to raise it in the reverse manner. On the other hand, it is advantageous if the horizontal movement of the forklift device is provided in the region of the wheel axle or the wheel axles in order to keep the tipping moment acting on the trailer according to the invention as small as possible. For this purpose, the bottom wall of the trailer can be at least partially in a further embodiment of the invention be removable so that the forklift device can be moved up and down in the area of the wheel axles.

In particular, the bottom wall can be composed of a fixed bottom wall part which runs from the front trailer wall to the wheel axle or axles and a removable bottom wall part which extends from the wheel axle or axles to the rear trailer wall. The bottom wall part which can be removed in this way can be removed from the trailer according to the invention during loading operations and then the forklift device can be brought up to the transition between the fixed bottom wall element and the now open bottom wall area in order to be able to carry out the upward and downward movement of the forklift element.

A further development of the invention can consist in the fact that the forklift device has a vertically movable fork, preferably with two parallel fork arms. By means of the forklift fork, standardized cargo elements, such as pallets or the like, as well as bulk goods devices or concrete mixing machines, which have suitable fork slots, can be easily loaded onto or unloaded from the trailer according to the invention. The distance between the fork arms can be adjustable so that it can be adapted to different loading devices.

In order not to dimension the width of the trailer too large, the fork arms should be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the trailer. In this case, loading and unloading of the trailer from the rear of the trailer is preferred, the free ends of the fork arms preferably being oriented opposite to the direction of travel of the trailer. The fork arms can also be arranged differently according to the respective requirements. If the operation of a hydraulic or electric drive for the forklift device is structurally too complex, this can be done with a hand crank, so that unloading can be carried out regardless of the presence of an external energy source or a coupling with the train motor vehicle.

The mobility of the forklift device of the trailer according to the invention can be done in various ways, wherein according to a development of the invention the forklift device is arranged on a horizontally movable carriage which can be moved back and forth between the transport position and the loading position. The slide enables a low-friction movement on the one hand and on the other hand it offers a stable support in order to be able to absorb the forces and tilting moments that are effective during a loading process.

For the purpose of smooth movement and safe guidance of the horizontal slide within the trailer according to the invention, the latter can have laterally attached guide rollers which are guided in horizontal profile guides which are arranged parallel to the side walls of the trailer.

The profile guides can be formed, for example, by C-profiles, which enable the guide rollers of the horizontally movable slide to be held securely.

A technically easy to implement embodiment of the horizontally movable carriage can be formed by two spacers spaced apart and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the trailer, on the end faces of which the guide rollers are arranged, and that the forklift device is connected to the two carriers by a support frame.

Like the forklift device, the carriage can be used in many ways An embodiment of the invention can consist in that the horizontally movable carriage can be moved via a threaded spindle which runs along the longitudinal axis of the trailer and is in operative connection with the carriage and which can be driven via a spindle hand crank. As a result, a robust and safe manual drive of the slide is implemented without the use of external energy.

The storage of the forklift device can be realized in that two parallel, vertical C-profile rails are mounted on the horizontally movable carriage, in which a cross slide carrying the fork arms of the forklift device can be moved vertically. In the C profile rails, the cross slide can e.g. be movable over a roller bearing.

Finally, a further embodiment of the invention can consist in the fact that the cross slide is connected to one end of a toothed rack which engages in a gear driven by the hand crank attached to the outside of the trailer and moves the cross slide with the fork arms when the hand crank is actuated. This structurally simple and robust drive via a crank, a gearwheel and a toothed rack can be replaced by an equivalent device of a mechanical or hydraulic type or the like, without deviating from the principle according to the invention.

The invention is explained in detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the attached drawings. It shows

1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the trailer according to the invention with the forklift device in the transport position;

2 shows a plan view of the trailer according to the invention according to FIG

Loading position and

3 shows a side sectional view of the trailer according to FIG Loading position.

1 to 3 show an exemplary embodiment of a trailer 1 according to the invention which can be pulled by a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle of any kind, via a drawbar 49 equipped with a trailer coupling, with pairs of wheels 40, 41 and 42 on the sides of the trailer , 43 are provided for locomotion, which are supported by wheel axles 70, 71 and are partially covered by fender plates 50, 51. The trailer 1 can also be pulled and moved by hand. Equipment details such as wheel suspension, size, shape and equipment of the trailer 1 and the number of wheel axles and safety measures are not specific to the invention and can be adapted as required.

According to the invention, the trailer 1 is provided with a forklift device 3 attached inside the trailer 1, which can be transported within the trailer 1 between a transport position (FIG. 1) in which the load is being transported and a loading position (FIG. 2) in the load the forklift device 3 can be raised and lowered, is displaceable.

The lift truck device 3 is in the transport position essentially in the region of the front wall 54 of the trailer 1, as seen in the direction of travel, as shown in FIG. A load, not shown, placed by the forklift device 3 is located above the wheel axles 70, 71 and therefore does not cause a tilting moment during transportation. In the loading position shown in FIG. 2, the forklift device 3 is essentially displaced into the area of the wheel axles 70, 71 of the trailer 1, the forklift device 3 in the loading position behind the wheel axles 70, 71 up to the ground level 35 on which the trailer 1 stands, can be lowered. In this position, a load lifted with the forklift device causes a tipping moment, which, however, is caused by extendable floor supports 140 which can be operated with cranks 120. is compensated. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the bottom wall 72, 73 of the trailer 1 can be at least partially removed in order to be able to deposit or pick up the cargo moved by the forklift device as close as possible to the rear wheel axle 71 and thus to keep the tipping load as low as possible.

For this purpose, the bottom wall of the trailer 1 is composed of a fixed bottom wall part 72 held by the trailer frame, which extends from the front trailer wall 54 to the rear wheel axle 71, and a removable bottom wall part 73 (FIG. 1), which extends from the rear Wheel axle 71 extends to the rear trailer wall 15. Removable bottom wall portion 73 may e.g. As shown in Figure 1 consist of several boards that are held on the side walls 55, 56 in corresponding U-profiles and can be removed or used in the trailer 1 if necessary. 2, the removable bottom wall part 73 has already been removed from the trailer 1 and the rear wall 15, which can also be designed to be pivotable or tiltable, has been removed in order to make room for the forklift device 3. The extent of the fixed and the removable bottom wall part 72, 73 can be adapted to the requirements.

Another embodiment, not shown, of the invention can consist in that the horizontal slide 100 can be moved up to the rear wall 15 and the fixed bottom wall extends over the entire length of the trailer 1. The forklift device 3 can then be moved over the entire longitudinal extent of the bottom wall in order to then be able to move the load between floor level 35 and the bottom wall.

In the context of the invention, the forklift device 3 is understood to mean any type of lifting device with which a load can be raised or lowered. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the forklift device 3 has a vertically displaceable fork 2 which is formed from two parallel fork arms 20, 21 which fit into corresponding fork slots of a load, not shown can be introduced to raise or lower this load. In order to allow a variety of possible uses, the distance between the fork arms 20, 21 is adjustable, but can also be chosen to be rigid.

The fork arms 20, 21 of the forklift fork 2 are oriented opposite to the direction of travel of the trailer 1, so that the free ends of the fork arms 20, 21 point in the direction of the rear of the trailer 1. The lift truck device 3 is actuated with the aid of a lift truck hand crank (not shown), but it can also be driven hydraulically or in another manner known to the person skilled in the art.

Since the lift of the forklift device 3 - seen in the position of use - extends down to the floor level 35 (FIG. 3) on which the trailer 1 is standing, any load standing on the floor which does not exceed the trailer width and has corresponding fork slots can can be raised or lowered with the forklift device 3.

The movability between the transport position and the loading position is achieved in that the forklift device 3 is arranged on a horizontally movable carriage 100, which has laterally attached guide rollers 101, 102, the horizontally extending profile guides 80, 81, preferably C profiles, which are parallel are arranged to the side walls 55, 56 of the trailer 1, are guided. Corresponding locking devices, which are not shown in the drawings, secure the carriage 100 against displacement both in the transport and in the loading position. When the locking devices are unlocked, the slide 100 can then be pushed back and forth between the two working positions.

In the embodiment shown, the horizontally displaceable carriage 100 is composed of two, spaced apart from one another by spacers 132, 133, transverse to Carriers 130, 131 extending along the longitudinal axis of the trailer, on the end faces of which the guide rollers 101, 102 are arranged, which ensure that the carriage 100 can be moved easily. However, other means of achieving the displaceability of the carriage 100 can also be used.

The carriage 100 can be moved horizontally via a threaded spindle 111 running along the longitudinal axis of the trailer, which is operatively connected to the carriage 100 and can be driven via a spindle hand crank 110. If the threaded spindle 111 is guided in a correspondingly strict manner, the aforementioned locking mechanisms for the slide 100 can also be dispensed with.

The forklift device 3 itself is connected to the two carriers 130, 131 of the carriage 100 via a support frame 160. On the support frame 160, two parallel, vertical C profile rails 62, 63 are attached, in which a cross slide 24 of the forklift device 3 carrying the fork arms 20, 21 can be moved vertically by means of a roller bearing 80. The cross slide 24 can be moved up and down by means of a toothed rack (not shown) and the already mentioned but not shown lift truck hand crank. When the lift truck hand crank is actuated, the toothed rack moves the cross slide 24 with the fork arms 20, 21 in accordance with the rotational movement downwards or upwards. The type of this fork arm drive is only given here as an example and can be different, e.g. also be carried out hydraulically or by means of a cable-operated hand crank.

If the trailer 1, as shown in FIG. 1 in the ready-to-drive position, is to be loaded, the rear wall 15 is opened and the removable bottom wall part 73 is pulled out of its holder in the trailer 1 and set aside. The forklift device 3 can now be moved from the transport position into the loading position (FIG. 2) by actuating the hand crank 110 and the fork arms 20, 21 of the fork-lift fork 2 can be lowered to the floor, as shown in broken lines in FIG. The fork arms 20, 21 can in at the bottom of a load, not shown attached fork slots are inserted, and then the load is raised by actuating the forklift crank, not shown, by means of the fork arms 20, 21 above the level of the fixed bottom wall 72.

Now, by moving the carriage 100 as a result of the actuation of the hand crank 110, the forklift device 3 is brought back into the transport position and the fork arms 20, 21 are lowered with their load again towards the bottom wall 72, so that the bottom of the load comes to rest on the bottom wall 72 and the load rests securely on it during transport. Then the removable bottom element 73 is reinserted into the trailer 1 and the rear wall 15 is closed again.

For the purposes of the invention, load or cargo is understood to mean all goods or facilities that can be transported by a trailer. Simple pallets or the like are used as the load element for moving the load, but any other devices or tools or machines for transport or lifting and lowering by the trailer according to the invention are also possible, which can be raised or lowered with fork arms of a forklift device . There is a wide range of accessories here, e.g. With the fork arms 20, 21, a known tilting container for bulk goods, a known working platform, a known concrete machine etc. can be raised and lowered and transported by the trailer 1. The extent to which the load carried by the trailer according to the invention can be raised if not only the transporting and depositing of loads but also lifting beyond that is to be carried out depends on the particular construction of the forklift device 3 and is within the scope of the invention to the respective requirements customizable.

For reasons of traffic safety, taillights or reflectors 18, 19 are also provided in the rear area of the trailer 1.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. trailer (1) for a motor vehicle with a forklift device (3) attached inside the trailer (1), the forklift device (3) inside the trailer (1) between a transport position in which the cargo can be transported and a loading position, can be lifted and lowered in the load with the forklift device (3).

2. Trailer according to claim 1, characterized in that the forklift device (3) in the transport position substantially in the region of the - seen in the direction of travel - front wall (54) of the trailer (1) and in the loading position substantially in the region of the wheel axis ( n) (70, 71) of the trailer (1), the forklift device (3) in the loading position behind the wheel axle (s) (70, 71) up to the ground level (35) on which the trailer (1) stands , can be lowered.

3. Trailer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bottom wall (72, 73) of the trailer (1) is at least partially removable.

4. Trailer according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom wall consists of a fixed bottom wall part (72) which extends from the front trailer wall (54) to or the wheel axles (70, 71), and a removable bottom wall part (73) composed, which extends from the or the wheel axles (70, 71) to the rear trailer wall (15).

5. Trailer according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the forklift device (3) is a vertically movable fork (2), preferably with two parallel fork arms (20, 21).

6. Trailer according to claim 5, characterized in that the distance between the fork arms (20, 21) is adjustable.

7. Trailer according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the free ends of the fork arms (20, 21) are oriented opposite to the direction of travel of the trailer (1).

8. Trailer according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the forklift device (3) is arranged on a horizontally movable carriage (100).

9. Trailer according to claim 8, characterized in that the horizontally movable carriage (100) has laterally mounted guide rollers (101, 102) in the horizontally extending profile guides (80, 81) which are parallel to the side walls (55, 56) of Trailer (1) are arranged, are guided.

10. Trailer according to claim 9, characterized in that the profile guides (80, 81) are formed by C-profiles.

11. Trailer according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the horizontally movable carriage (100) from two spacers (132, 133) spaced apart, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the carrier (130, 131) is formed, on the end faces of the guide rollers (101, 102) are arranged, and that the forklift device (3) is connected to the two supports (130, 131) via a support frame (160).

12. Trailer according to claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the horizontally movable carriage over a along the longitudinal axis of the trailer running threaded spindle (11 1) which is operatively connected to the slide (100) and which can be driven via a spindle crank handle (110).

13. Trailer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lift truck device (3) can be actuated with a lift truck hand crank or hydraulically.

14. Trailer according to claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that on the horizontally displaceable carriage (100) two parallel, vertical C-profile rails (62, 63) are attached, in which a crossbar carrying the fork arms (20, 21) (24) of the forklift device (3) can be moved vertically.