WO2006138750A1

WO2006138750A1 - Independent suspention system

Info

Publication number: WO2006138750A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2006/000083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Bruce Cochrane; John Henry Martin Van Niekerk
Original assignee: Richard Bruce Cochrane; John Henry Martin Van Niekerk
Priority date: 2005-06-22
Filing date: 2006-06-22
Publication date: 2006-12-28

Abstract

A trailer which has wheel-engaging outwardly projecting stub axles mounted to spaced and opposing beams. Each stub axle has an axle which is fixed to an arm which is pivotally movable relatively to a respective beam and a rubber block which acts between the arm and the beam.

Description

INDEPENDENT SUSPΞNTION SYSTM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to a vehicle which may be in the nature of a trailer and to an axle which is suitable for use on a vehicle such as a trailer.

[0002] A trailer or truck typically has a load carrying area or bed which is positioned at a fixed distance above the ground with which wheels of the trailer or truck are engaged. This can make the loading or unloading of material onto the load bed awkward or cumbersome. This drawback is attributable, at least in part, to the nature of the load surface and, depending on the type of construction used in the trailer or truck, on the positioning of one or more axles which support the ground-engaging wheels referred to.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] The invention provides, in the first instance, a stub axle which includes a base which is adapted to be secured to fixed structure, an arm which is mounted to the base for limited pivotal movement relatively to the base, an axle which is fixed to the base and which projects to one side of the base, and at least one energy absorption device which acts between the fixed structure and the arm.

[0004] The energy absorption device may be resiliently compressible when the axle is moved towards the fixed structure.

[0005] The energy absorption device may be of any suitable type and preferably is a compression spring, rubber block or the like. [0006] The energy absorption device may be fixed, at opposed ends, to respective plates which are respectively attached to the arm and to the fixed structure in order to limit movement of the axle away from the fixed structure.

[0007] The pivot point of the arm may be positioned at one end of the arm and the axle at an opposing end.

[0008] The invention also extends to a vehicle which includes first and second spaced beams and first and second stub axles, each stub axle being of the aforementioned kind, with each stub axle being fixed to a respective beam so that the respective axle projects outwardly, to one side of the respective beam, when viewed in plan.

[0009] Depending on requirement each beam may have two or more of the stub axles fixed to it.

[0010] Each stub axle may have a respective wheel engaged with it.

[0011] The vehicle may be provided in any appropriate form and preferably is a trailer. In this embodiment the beams may extend from a drawbar, tow hitch or the like.

[0012] A lifting mechanism may be attached to the beams. The lifting mechanism may include supports which are movable between lowermost positions and elevated positions. The lifting mechanism may be movable using any suitable actuator and, for example, use may be made of a lifting cylinder, winch or the like. If use is made of a winch then the winch may have a motor which is electrically driven or, alternatively, the winch may be manually actuable. [0013] The winch may act on a sliding mechanism which is attached to the lifting mechanism with the sliding mechanism being engaged with support structure which, optionally, 'may be pivotal, at least to a limited extent, relatively to the beams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a stub axle according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the stub axle shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but on a reduced scale illustrating in dotted outline, a wheel attached to the stub axle;

Figure 4 is a side view of a trailer which includes four of the stub axles shown in

Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a lifting mechanism in a slightly tilted position; Figure 6 shows the trailer of Figure 4 with the lifting mechanism at an elevated position;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the trailer of Figure 4;

Figure 8 illustrates the trailer of Figure 4 in a modified form; and

Figure 9 shows the trailer of Figure 8 loaded with barbed tape cassettes.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings are different views of a stub axle 10 according to the invention fixed to a beam 12 of a vehicle such as a trailer. [0016] The stub axle include a base 14 which has a flange 16 at an upper end which provides a means whereby the base can be attached to a support plate 18 using bolts 20.

[0017] The base 14 has an outwardly projecting shaft 22 and an arm 24 is mounted to the shaft, via a bearing 26, and is held captive to the shaft by means of a nut 28.

[0018] The arm extends downwardly and an axle 30 is fixed to a lower end of the arm, projecting outwardly, as is shown in Figure 2. The axle 30 is shaped to receive one or more bearings, not shown, and a wheel 32, shown in dotted outline in Figure 3, which has a hub 34 can be mounted to the bearings for rotatable movement about the axle. This aspect is generally known in the art and therefore is not further described herein.

[0019] An end 36 of the arm has a plate 38 secured to it. The plate faces upwardly towards an underside of the beam 12.

[0020] A rubber block 40 has plates 42 and 44 bonded to opposed sides of the block. The block is positioned with the plate 42 abutting an underside of the plate 18 and with the plate 44 against the plate 38 on the arm. The components are secured to each other by means of various bolts 46.

[0021] Figure 2 shows that the stub axle 10 is fixed to the beam 12 in such a way that no portion of the stub axle extends to the left of the beam, as designated by a dotted line 50. The area to the left of the beam is referred to as the inner side 52 while the area to the right of the beam, designated 54, is referred to as the outer side. [0022] The rubber cushion 40 provides a resiliently compressible support or energy absorption device which allows limited movement of the axle 30 upwardly towards the 'beam ^'12. The rubber block thus acts as a shock absorber or suspension mechanism. Also, as the plates 42 and 44 are fixed to the beam and to the arm respectively, downwards movement of the axle, away from the beam 12, although permitted, is restricted. The stub axle thus is of compact form and provide a means whereby the wheel 32 can be attached to a beam but without the axle or the wheel extending to the inner side 52 of the beam.

[0023] Figure 4 is a side view of a trailer 56 which is constructed using four stub axles 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D respectively, each of the kind shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the trailer shown in Figure 4. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the

trailer, from the side, in different configurations.

[0024] The trailer includes two elongate spaced beams designated 12A and 12B respectively which extend rearwardly from a yoke 58 which has a tow hitch 60 attached to its leading end. The yoke is braced by a cross members 62 and 64 respectively. An electrically driven winch 66, of known construction, is attached to the cross member 62.

[0025] Two bearing blocks 68 and 70 are fixed to a side of the cross member 64. A support structure 72 is mounted via axles 74 to the bearing blocks. Pedestals 76 which extend upwardly from the cross member 64 carry respective adjusting screws

78 which act on the support mechanism and which allow the mechanism to pivot relatively to the beams 12A and 12B to a limited extent, about the axles 74. [0026] The support mechanism 72 has uprights 80 formed from channel members. Guide wheels 82 fixed to support plates 84 are movable inside the channels. An L- shaped lifting mechanism 86 is fixed to the support plates.

[0027] As is evident from Figure 7 the lifting mechanism has two tines 88A and 88B which project from the cross bar 64 towards a rear of the vehicle. The tines are similar to the forks of a fork lifter.

[0028] A cable 90 from the winch passes over a roller or idler 92 and is attached to a central point on a cross piece 94 which extends between the support plates 84.

[0029] The stub axles 10A to 10D are such that the space between arid bordered by the opposed beams 12A and 12B is unobstructed i.e. the full space is available for loading or unloading objects. If the winch is operated in one direction then the lifting mechanism 86 can be dropped to the ground (see Figure 4) while if the winch is operated in an opposing direction the lifting mechanism 86 is elevated (see Figure 6).

By actuating the adjusting screws 78 it is possible to tilt the support structure and thereby tilt the tines 88A and 88B. Depending on the load which is carried by the lifting mechanism this feature helps to ensure that the load is retained on the lifting mechanism.

[0030] The trailer can be used for diverse applications. The tines 88A and 88B can have a planar support surface or panel fixed to them and, if required, side walls, not shown, can be fixed to the support surface or panel. It is also possible to secure a cage-like structure to the tines. In these various applications the full space between the beams remains available for use. It is possible therefore to load an object of substantial size onto the lifting mechanism, between the beams. [0031] Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a particular form of the trailer, designated 56A, adapted for use with cassettes 100A, 100B and 100C of barbed tape coils 102. The coils which generally are of a helical or concertina nature are compressed between opposed plates or supports 104 and a support member 106 mounted to a tower structure 108 which extends upwardly from the beams is passed through the uppermost coil in each cassette. Lower ends of the coils, which generally are configured in a triangular or stacked arrangement, ride on two spaced guides or support rails 110 which are respectively attached to the beams and which overlie the wheels 32A to 32D fixed to the various stub axles. The full space between the beams is available for use and components of the trailer do not interfere with the loading or unloading of the trailer.

[0032] In this embodiment the lifting mechanism is not used to load or unload the coils. However the support member 106 and the guides 110 can be secured to the lifting mechanism, and not directly to the beams, and the mechanism can then be used to facilitate loading the coils onto the trailer, or unloading the coils from the trailer.

Claims

1. * A stub axle which includes a base which is adapted to be secured to fixed structure, an arm which is mounted to the base for limited pivotal movement relatively to the base, an axle which is fixed to the base and which projects to one side of the base, and at least one energy absorption device which acts between the fixed structure and the arm.

2. A stub axle according to claim 1 in which the energy absorption device is resiliently compressible when the axle is moved towards the fixed structure.

3. A stub axle according to claim 1 in which the energy absorption device is fixed, at opposed ends, respectively to the arm and to the fixed structure in order to limit movement of the axle away from the fixed structure.

4. A vehicle which includes first and second spaced beams and first and second stub axles, each stub axle being according to claim 1 , with each stub axle being fixed to a respective beam so that the respective axle projects

outwardly, to one side of the respective beam, when viewed in plan.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4 which is a trailer.

6. A vehicle according to claim 4 which includes a lifting mechanism which is attached to the beams and which includes supports which are movable

between lowermost positions and elevated positions.

7. A vehicle according to claim 6 which includes a winch for moving the lifting mechanism.

8. A vehicle according to claim 5 which includes a tower structure mounted to the beams, an upper support member mounted to the tower structure, and spaced guides attached to the respective beams.

9. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein a space between the beams is unobstructed.