WO2013053018A1

WO2013053018A1 - Side tipping trailer, door and end-wall assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2013053018A1
Application number: PCT/AU2012/001244
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Frank Lombardi
Original assignee: Roadwest Transport Equipment & Sales Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-10-13
Filing date: 2012-10-15
Publication date: 2013-04-18
Also published as: CN103998290A; ZA201403315B; AU2012323778B2; CL2014000913A1; BR112014008816A2; AU2012323778A1

Abstract

A side tipping trailer body (11) and door assembly (13), the door assembly having on the inside thereof a convex surface, the body having a base and a side wall (17) opposite said door, and forward and rearward end walls (27, 29), the opening edge of said end walls having fitted thereto on the outside a reinforcing panel (59) with an exposed edge (61) with a concave shape matching the curvature of the convex surface of the inside of the door assembly, to form a seal therewith when the door is in a closed position. The end wall having a pin (91) arranged to extend into an arcuate slot (89) located in a wing (79) of said side tipping trailer door assembly, the arcuate slot extending radially about the door pivot axis and the pin and slot being provided to limit angular travel of said door, wherein the pin extends through both the end wall and the reinforcing panel, to provide registration of said end wall and said reinforcing panel with respect to each other.

Description

"Side Tipping Trailer, Door and End-Wall Assembly" Field of the Invention

This invention relates to bulk solids material handling, and in particular to a vehicle for transporting bulk solids. This invention has particular application in bulk solids transporting vehicles that have a body that contains bulk solids, and is emptied by tipping the body about a pivot axis.

Background Art

The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Bulk solids transporting vehicles have long been used for transport of bulk solids such as rock and ore from mine sites. Typically, these vehicles often have rear or side tipping bodies for discharging of their loads. In applications on mine-sites, the vehicles can be quite large, having a payload 80 tonnes or more. Where the vehicle is to be used on the roads, the maximum payload is likely to be between 35 and 40 tonnes. Typically these vehicles are trailers, which are connected via a turntable or "fifth wheel" to a prime mover, and in road train applications, connected via a turntable or "fifth wheel" to dollies which are also hitched to like (or unlike) trailers.

Inroads have been made in reducing the weight of these trailers. This has been achieved through measures such as constructing the bodies of the trailers (the bowls) without a structural frame comprising longitudinal members and cross-members (a ladder configuration), and constructing the body from resiliently deformable sheet material, which provides inherent structural rigidity without the need for framework supporting the sheet material.

l Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "include" or variations such as "includes" or "including", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Disclosure of the Invention Notwithstanding the construction which largely obviates the need for mild steel (often RHS - rectangular hollow section) framework, the applicant's trailers have retained use of mild steel parts for some fittings, including some RHS in areas where there is unlikely to be excessive load beyond the yield strength of these parts. Hitherto, the applicant's side tipping trailer doors had been provided with front and rear end brackets, which extended inwardly from each end of the door. These end brackets have been mounted to the door side wall and coaming and welded, and braced using RHS mild steel, with exposed joins fillet welded.

In addition to this, a further length of RHS mild steel was located on the opening edge of each end wall of the body. Since the doors had a convex curvature in the side wall as viewed from the inside, the opening edges never properly mated, which could result in the loss of some fine particulate load during transport. To mitigate against this loss of load, the door was constructed with a panel or wing at each end, that extends along and nearly in contact with the proximal end wall of the body.

It is an object of this invention to provide an alternative construction for the trailer body and the door, to provide additional weight savings, and also to improve the sealing of those parts that mate when the door is closed. It is an object in an alternative embodiment of the invention to provide a side tipper end wall construction that has features providing for simplified manufacture and improved rigidity in the completed trailer.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a side tipping trailer body and door assembly, the door assembly having on the inside thereof a convex surface, the body having a base and a side wall opposite said door, and forward and rearward end walls, the opening edge of said end walls having fitted thereto on the outside a reinforcing panel with an exposed edge with a concave shape matching the curvature of the convex surface of the inside of the door assembly, to form a seal therewith when the door is in a closed position.

Preferably, the forward and rearward end walls have divergent panel portions extending toward the tipper door opening vertical edge. This assists in preventing flexing of the end walls. Preferably the reinforcing panel is in the form of an angle section having a fold extending spaced away from said exposed edge with an arm pending therefrom toward a said end wall, said reinforcing panels forming with each said respective forward and rearward end walls a vertically extending enclosure. This further assists in reinforcing the end walls against flexing, and is the most preferred arrangement of the invention.

Preferably, the fold extends at a 90 degree angle.

Preferably said door assembly is formed between its forward and rearward extents of a single sheet of material on the inside, with reinforcing coaming along an upper edge thereof. Preferably said single sheet is attached along a lower most edge to a hinge shaft for hingedly mounting the door to the body, the hinge shaft having a plurality of spaced apart bushes mounted rotatably thereon, said bushes being securable to said body to mount said door to said body.

Preferably said bushes are attached to mounting plates to mount said door to said body. Preferably said bushes are attached on arms to said mounting plates to mount said door to said body.

Preferably said door is provided with forward and rearward wings attached to and extending inwardly from the forward and rearward extents of the single sheet of material on the inside of the door assembly, to extend along the respective forward and rearward end walls of the body, said wings extending outwardly, formed integrally in a channel configuration folded inwardly back to secure to the outside of the single sheet of material on the outside of the door assembly and preferably also to the coaming. Preferably the forward and rearward wings each have an aperture through which the hinge shaft extends.

Preferably the forward and rearward wings each have an aperture through which the hinge shaft extends and is secured.

Preferably the forward and rearward wings each have an arcuate slot with said aperture at its radial centre, said forward and rearward end walls of the body each having a pin extending into said arcuate slot to limit angular travel of said door.

Preferably the pin extends through both the end wall (forward and/or rearward) and the reinforcing panel, to provide registration of said end wall and said reinforcing panel with respect to each other. The pin may be welded to at least one of the end wall and the reinforcing panel, and indeed it is most preferred that it is welded to both.

Preferably the pin extends through the divergent panel portion of a said end wall. Preferably said end wall is of single sheet construction, and includes reinforcing coaming of single sheet construction along the top thereof, said reinforcing coaming comprising an angle bracket fillet welded along a lower edge to said end wall, said end wall and coaming having a mount for a hydraulic ram fixed thereto, said mount comprising at least one plate member extending through slots in said end wall and in said coaming, and into a ram fixing bracket for attaching one end of said hydraulic ram, said at least one plate member being welded in position in said slots.

Preferably said at least one plate member comprises two or more plate members located in spaced apart relationship, each extending through and welded to slots in said end wall and in said coaming.

Preferably said ram fixing bracket includes a footing into which said at least one plate member extends.

Preferably said ram fixing bracket includes a footing into which said at least one plate member extends and is welded to. Preferably said ram fixing bracket includes a raised body welded to said footing, said raised body having a ram mounting point to which the ram is secured. The connection between the ram mounting point and the ram may be in the form of a clevis fastener. The tang for the clevis fastener may depend from the raised body. The raised body and ram mounting point (which may be the tang) may be conveniently provided as a casting, cast as a unitary construction. With such an arrangement the casting would be welded to the footing.

The plate member or plate members serve a two-fold purpose. First, during assembly of the end wall and coaming, the plate members provide registration of these parts so that their relative positions are correctly set, before welding commences. Secondly, since the ram mount is essentially secured to sheet metal, the plate member or plate members reinforce the ram mount against flexing.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided an end wall for a side tipping trailer, said end wall having an opening edge having fitted thereto on the outside a reinforcing panel with an exposed edge with a shape matching the surface shape of the inside of the side tipping trailer door assembly, to form a seal therewith when the door is in a closed position, the end wall having a pin arranged to extend into an arcuate slot located in a wing of said side tipping trailer door assembly, the arcuate slot extending radially about the door pivot axis and the pin and slot being provided to limit angular travel of said door, wherein the pin extends through both the end wall and the reinforcing panel, to provide registration of said end wall and said reinforcing panel with respect to each other and improved rigidity against outward flexing of said end wall. The pin may be welded to at least one of the end wall and the reinforcing panel, and indeed it is most preferred that it is welded to both.

Preferably, the end wall has a divergent panel portion extending outwardly (outwardly outside the trailer body) along the tipper door opening vertical edge. This also assists in preventing flexing of the end walls. Preferably the pin extends through the divergent panel portion of a said end wall.

Preferably the reinforcing panel is in the form of an angle section having a fold extending spaced away from said exposed edge with an arm pending therefrom toward a said end wall, each said reinforcing panel forming with said respective forward and rearward end wall a vertically extending enclosure. This further assists in reinforcing the end walls against flexing, and is the most preferred arrangement of the invention.

Preferably, the fold extends at a 90 degree angle.

Preferably said end wall is of single sheet construction, and includes reinforcing coaming of single sheet construction along the top thereof, said reinforcing coaming comprising an angle bracket fillet welded along a lower edge to said end wall, said end wall and coaming having a mount for a hydraulic ram fixed thereto, said mount comprising at least one plate member extending through slots in said end wall and in said coaming, and into a ram fixing bracket for attaching one end of said hydraulic ram, said at least one plate member being welded in position in said slots.

Preferably said at least one plate member comprises two or more plate members located in spaced apart relationship, each extending through and welded to slots in said end wall and in said coaming. Preferably said ram fixing bracket includes a footing into which said at least one plate member extends.

Preferably said ram fixing bracket includes a footing into which said at least one plate member extends and is welded to. Preferably said ram fixing bracket includes a raised body welded to said footing, said raised body having a ram mounting point to which the ram is secured. The connection between the ram mounting point and the ram may be in the form of a clevis fastener. The tang for the clevis fastener may depend from the raised body. The raised body and ram mounting point/tang may be conveniently provided as a casting. With such an arrangement the casting would be welded to the footing.

Preferably said door assembly is formed between its forward and rearward extents of a single sheet of material on the inside, with reinforcing coaming along an upper edge thereof.

Preferably the wings attached to the door extend inwardly from the forward and rearward extents of the single sheet of material on the inside of the door assembly, to extend along the respective forward and rearward end walls of the body, said wings extending outwardly, formed integrally in a channel configuration folded inwardly back to secure to the outside of the single sheet of material on the outside of the door assembly and preferably also to the coaming.

The side tipping trailer body and door assembly is intended for use in an arrangement on a chassis as described in the applicant's Australian patent 2005220210, although could equally easily be used on other chassis, such as those incorporating rubber mounting surfaces extending between the base of the body and the chassis. The forward and rearward end walls and reinforcing panels are preferably formed of a resiliently deformable sheet material.

The end wall coaming is preferably formed of a resiliently deformable sheet material.

The end wall and end wall coaming is preferably topped with a cover flange

Preferably said sides of said body are also formed of resiliently deformable sheet material. Reinforcing can also be provided through external flanges at the end, and coaming along longitudinal edges to prevent outward flexing of the walls.

Preferably the fixed side walls and base are fully welded, to form a rigid structure single sheet structure, lapped at the join between side wall and base. Further reinforcing can be provided by welding a web at the intersection between at least forward and rearward walls and the fixed side wall and base.

Preferably said resiliently deformable sheet material comprises sheet having at least 370 Brinell hardness. The sheet material may be quench tempered plate, wear grade steel, high impact steel or high tensile steel. In practice sheet having Brinell hardness of 400, 450, 500, 550, or 600 may be employed. A yield strength of from 1000 to 1800 Mpa, is preferred, with 1200 to 1500 Mpa being most suitable.

Brief Description of the Drawings Two preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in the following description of side tipping trailers for transporting bulk solids, made with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view from above of the trailer according to the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric view from below of the trailer according to the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the trailer of figure 1 showing the discharge door in the open position;

Figure 4 is a part isometric view from the inside of the trailer according to the first embodiment showing part of the forward end-wall, the floor, and the inside of the door;

Figure 5 is a part isometric view from outside, of the forward end-wall of the trailer according to the first embodiment, showing the door without the forward doorwing, during assembly;

Figure 6 is a part isometric view from outside, of the forward end-wall of the trailer according to the first embodiment, showing the door without the forward doorwing, during assembly;

Figure 7 is a front end view of the trailer according to the second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a front end part view of Detail D in figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross section view through section A-A in figure 7;

Figure 10 is a cross section view through section B-B in figure 7;

Figure 11 is a cross section view through section C-C in figure 7;

Figure 12 is an exploded view showing parts of the end wall of the side tipping trailer according to the second embodiment; and

Figure 13 is an isometric view showing part of the door of the side tipping trailer according to the second embodiment.

Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention

The first embodiment shown in figures 1 to 6 and the second embodiment shown in figure 7 to 13 are both side tipping bodies for trailers. Both side tipping bodies feature an open-topped body 11 and side opening door 13 for a side tipping trailer. In use the side tipping body is intended to be mounted to a chassis (not shown) for use when attached to a prime mover or dolly, to transport bulk material, both on-road and off-road at mine sites. The open topped body 11 has a unitary side 17 and base 19 construction, formed of two portions of sheet 21 and 23 fillet welded about line 25, due to stock sheet width limitations. The side 17 is formed with a curvature as illustrated, to meet the base 19.

A forward end wall 27 and rearward end wall 29 fillet welded to the side 17 and base 19 form an enclosure 31 for containing bulk solids for transport. In the second embodiment only the forward end wall 27 is shown, but in both embodiments the rearward end wall 29 is a mirror image of the forward end wall 27.

As can be seen in figures 1 , 3 and 4, webbing 33 is fillet welded to the forward end wall 27 and the rearward end wall 29, between these parts and the side 17 and base 19 attached by fillet welding. Reinforcement against flexing of the side 17 is provided by coaming 35 extending along the inside upper surface of the side 17. Further structural rigidity is provided in the upper extents of the forward end wall 27 and the rearward end wall 29 by coaming 37 topped with convex curved flanges 39, and right angle bracket 41 secured also by fillet welding at the upper corner between side 17 and the forward wall 27, and between side 17 and the rearward wall 29. The coaming 37 has an obliquely outwardly extending portion 37a (obliquely outwardly extending relative to the end wall 27) topped with a parallel extending portion 37b (extending parallel relative to the end wall 27).

The enclosure 31 is completed by the outwardly opening door 13 mounted on a hinge 43 located along the lower extent of the door 13, at the lower extent of the base 19. Movement of the door 13 between the closed position as shown in figures 1 and 2, and the open position as shown in figure 3 is controlled by two double acting hydraulic rams 45, one located at each end (forward and rearward) of the body 13.

The outwardly opening door 13 has a slight outward curve, to present a convex surface on the inside 47 thereof. Reinforcement against flexing of the door 13 is provided by coaming 49, the coaming 49 being joined to the door 13 by a longitudinally extending butt weld 51 and fillet weld 53.

The opening edges of the forward end wall 27 and rearward end wall 29 each terminate in divergent panel portions 55, diverging away from each other extending toward the tipper door opening vertical edges 57. The divergent panel portions 55 have fitted thereto, on their outsides, a reinforcing panel 59 with an exposed edge 61 with a concave shape matching the curvature of the convex surface 47 of the inside of the door 13, to form a seal therewith when the door 13 is closed.

The reinforcing panel 59 is in the form of an angle section having fold 63 extending spaced from the exposed edge 61 with an arm 65 pending from the fold 63 toward an end wall 27 (or 29). The reinforcing panels 59 are fillet welded to their respective forward and rearward end walls 27 and 29, both adjacent the exposed edge 61 where the divergent panel portions 55 meet the reinforcing panels 59 and along the edge of the arm 65 where the arm meets the respective forward and rearward end walls 27 and 29. This arrangement forms a box section at the opening of the end walls, further assisting in reinforcing the end walls against flexing, while the reinforcing panel functions as a seal with the door.

The door 13 is formed between its forward and rearward extents of a single sheet 47 of 4mm HARDOX high impact steel on the inside, with reinforcing coaming 69 of 4mm HARDOX high impact steel on the outside along an upper edge 71 of the sheet 67. The sheet 47 is attached along a lower most edge to a hinge shaft 73 which has five spaced apart bushes 75 mounted rotatably on the hinge shaft 73. The bushes 75 are attached on arms 77 to mounting plates 78 to mount by bolting to the body, to secure the door 13 to the body 11.

The door 13 is provided with forward and rearward wings 79 attached at each end of the door 13. These wings 79 extend inwardly 81 from the forward and rearward ends of the single sheet 47 of material on the inside of the door 13, to extend along the respective forward and rearward end walls 27 and 29 of the body. These wings 79 also extend outwardly 83 of the single sheet 47, and are press formed in a channel configuration, folded twice through 90 degree folds 85 to form a leg 86 spaced from the inwardly extending portion 81. The leg 86 secures to the outside of the single sheet 47 of material on the outside of the door assembly and also to the coaming 49. A ram mount 87 is secured to each wing 79, and to reinforce the wing 79 against flexing stresses transmitted through the ram mount 87 from the ram, within the channel (outwardly 83 of the single sheet 47) are welded reinforcing webs (not illustrated), proximal to the location of the ram mount 87 (but inside the channel). These reinforcing webs will be discussed later in connection with the second embodiment. All securing of parts is by fillet welding.

The forward and rearward wings 79 have an aperture through which the hinge shaft 73 extends and is secured by welding. The forward and rearward wings 79 also each have an arcuate slot 89 with said aperture (and hinge shaft 73) at its radial centre. The forward and rearward end walls 27 and 29 of the body 11 each have a pin 91 attached, extending into the arcuate slot 89 to limit angular travel of said door. This provides an opening limit for the door 13.

Figures 5 and 6 show some additional part views, absent the forward and rearward wings 79 from the door 13, as it would exist part way through assembly of the body. In essence, the door 13 is assembled with its sheet material 47, coaming 49, hinge shaft with fitted bushes 75 and mounting plates 78, and welded where necessary, as described above. This door assembly 13 is bolted onto the body 11 , and the door is closed. Tabs 93 mounted one each end on the door 13 and mating tabs 95 on the body are secured together by bolts to secure the door closed. Then a reinforcing panel 59 is secured on the outside of the forward end wall 27 and a reinforcing panel 59 is secured on the outside of the rearward end wall 29, with its inner face resting against the divergent panel portions 55 and exposed edges 61 contacting the inside surface of the door sheet 47 and an outer recess 97 contacting the hinge shaft 73. The arm 65 contacting the respective wall 27 and 29 are fillet welded, then the door is partially opened and the edge of the divergent panel portions 55 are fillet welded to the inner face of the reinforcing panel 59. The door is closed again, and the wings 79 are fitted to the door 13 and welded in place, by welding to the end of the coaming 49, down the outside of the door sheet 47, and to the exposed hinge shaft 73. The door 13 is opened so the inside of the door sheet 47 can be welded to the inside of the wings 79. The above described arrangement is manufactured from 4mm thick HARDOX™ 450 Brinell hardness high impact steel sheet, manufactured by SSAB Oxelosund AB. It is all pre-cut and folded, and provides greater precision during manufacture, provides for more secure transport particularly of fine particulate material, and greater strength and resilience, coupled with a small weight saving, that the door and body assembly hitherto manufactured by the applicant.

The side tipping trailer body of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in two respects. The first is that apertures 93 and 95 are provided in the divergent panel portion 55 and the reinforcing panel 59 respectively, to receive the pin 91 during assembly, the pin 91 providing registration of the reinforcing panel 59 with the end wall 27 during assembly of the trailer. It will be understood that the reinforcing panel 59 functions as vertical coaming along the opening edge of the end wall 27 of the side tipping trailer body.

Particularly, the pin 91 can be inserted through both apertures 93 and 95, to provide exact registration of the reinforcing panel 59 with the divergent panel portion 55 of the end wall 27, with the end of the arm 65 abutting the fold where the divergent panel portions 55 bend away from the remainder of the end wall 27. Then end of the arm 65 abutting the fold is welded to the end wall 27 and the end of the divergent panel portion 55 is welded to the reinforcing panel 59.

Simultaneous to the assembly of these described parts, the coaming 37 is located on the end wall 27 against the reinforcing panel 59 at one end and against the tipping ram mount 97 at the other end. As can be seen, the coaming 37 has an outwardly (relative to the end wall 27) extending portion 37a and a parallel (relative to the end wall 27) extending portion 37b. Two plate members 99 located in parallel spaced relationship pass through slots 101 in the parallel extending portion 37b of the end wall top coaming 37 and slots 103 in the end wall 27, to assist with registration positioning of the end wall top coaming 37 with the end wall 27, before all of these parts are welded in position. It will be understood that spacing jigs are also provided to hold the coaming 37 in the correct spaced position before welding commences.

The plate members 99 are mounted with 5 mm protrusion past the inside of the end wall 27 and welded on both sides of the end wall 27, to secure to the end wall 27. The plate members 99 are welded to the inside only of the parallel portion 37b of the coaming 37. This provides clearance for a footing plate 105 having parallel spaced slots 107 to be fitted over the protruding parts of plate members 99, to sit flush against the outside facing surface of the parallel extending portion 37b of the end wall top coaming 37, before being welded to both the protruding parts of plate members 99 and around the periphery of the footing plate 105 to the end wall 27. A ram fixing bracket 109 having a tang 111 to mount a ram 45 is positioned on the footing plate 105 and fillet welded in position. The footing plate 105 and plate members 99 being welded to the end wall 27 and coaming 37 provide reinforcing against flexing of the to the footing plate 105 relative to the surface of the end wall 27. If flexing was not mitigated or curtailed, the result would be failure of the weld between the ram fixing bracket 109 and the coaming 37.

The ram fixing bracket 109 is of pre-cast construction. The other parts, namely the plate members 99, footing plate 105, end wall 27 and coaming 37 are all constructed of HARDOX™ 450 Brinell hardness high impact steel sheet, manufactured by SSAB Oxelosund AB.

The ram mount 87 provided on the door 13 is constructed in an identical manner with plate members 99, footing plate 105 extending through slots in the wings 79 ( both in the outer surface and the leg 86). The remainder of the body can be assembled to the end wall assemblies and the door fitted to the body. As a final step the pin 91 is inserted through the arcuate slot 89 in the wing 79 and through the apertures 95 and 93, and welded to the divergent panel portion 55. The pin 91 has a flange 113 which overlies the wing 79. This takes place at both end walls. The convex curved flanges 39 can be welded in position onto the top of the end walls 27 and coaming 37, as a final step. The side tipping trailer body and door assembly is intended for use in an arrangement on a chassis as described in the applicant's Australian patent 2005220210, although could equally easily be used on other chassis, such as those incorporating rubber mounting surfaces extending between the base of the body and the chassis. Tipping mounts 115 are provided for pivotal mounting of the side tipping body to outriggers on one side of a chassis.

The side tipping trailer of the second embodiment has the most simplified construction, due to the manner in which the ram mounts 87 and ram fixing bracket 109 are fitted, and the relationship between the manner in which the

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed herein. Thinner material may be used for the body, for applications where a hard initial impact is not expected during loading. For example, trailers designed to carry fine particulate material may be constructed of 3mm plate.

Claims

The Claims Defining the Invention are as Follows

1. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly, the door assembly having on the inside thereof a convex surface, the body having a base and a side wall opposite said door, and forward and rearward end walls, the opening edge of said end walls having fitted thereto on the outside a reinforcing panel with an exposed edge with a concave shape matching the curvature of the convex surface of the inside of the door assembly, to form a seal therewith when the door is in a closed position.

2. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the forward and rearward end walls have divergent panel portions extending toward the tipper door opening vertical edge.

3. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the reinforcing panel is in the form of an angle section having a fold extending spaced away from said exposed edge with an arm pending therefrom toward a said end wall, said reinforcing panels forming with each said respective forward and rearward end walls a vertically extending enclosure.

4. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said door assembly is formed between its forward and rearward extents of a single sheet of material on the inside, with reinforcing coaming along an upper edge thereof, and said single sheet is attached along a lowermost edge to a hinge shaft for hingedly mounting the door to the body, the hinge shaft having a plurality of spaced apart bushes mounted rotatably thereon, said bushes being securable to said body to mount said door to said body.

5. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said door is provided with forward and rearward wings attached to and extending inwardly from the forward and rearward extents of the single sheet of material on the inside of the door assembly, to extend along the respective forward and rearward end walls of the body, said wings extending outwardly, formed integrally in a channel configuration folded inwardly back to secure to the outside of the single sheet of material on the outside of the door assembly and preferably also to the coaming.

6. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the forward and rearward wings each have an aperture through which the hinge shaft extends.

7. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the forward and rearward wings each have an arcuate slot with said aperture at its radial centre, said forward and rearward end walls of the body each having a pin extending into said arcuate slot to limit angular travel of said door.

8. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pin extends through both a said end wall (forward or rearward) and the reinforcing panel, to provide registration of said end wall and said reinforcing panel with respect to each other.

9. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the pin extends through the divergent panel portion of a said end wall.

10. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said end wall is of single sheet construction, and includes reinforcing coaming of single sheet construction along the top thereof, said reinforcing coaming comprising an angle bracket fillet welded along a lower edge to said end wall, said end wall and coaming having a mount for a hydraulic ram fixed thereto, said mount comprising at least one plate member extending through slots in said end wall and in said coaming, and into a ram fixing bracket for attaching one end of said hydraulic ram, said at least one plate member being welded in position in said slots.

11. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said at least one plate member comprises two or more plate members located in spaced apart relationship, each extending through and welded to slots in said end wall and in said coaming.

12. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein said ram fixing bracket includes a footing into which said at least one plate member extends.

13. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein said ram fixing bracket includes a footing into which said at least one plate member extends and is welded to.

14. A side tipping trailer body and door assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein said ram fixing bracket includes a raised body welded to said footing, said raised body having a ram mounting point to which the ram is secured.

15. The raised body and ram mounting point may be conveniently provided as a casting. With such an arrangement the casting would be welded to the footing.

16. An end wall for a side tipping trailer, said end wall having an opening edge having fitted thereto on the outside a reinforcing panel with an exposed edge with a shape matching the surface shape of the inside of the side tipping trailer door assembly, to form a seal therewith when the door is in a closed position, the end wall having a pin arranged to extend into an arcuate slot located in a wing of said side tipping trailer door assembly, the arcuate slot extending radially about the door pivot axis and the pin and slot being provided to limit angular travel of said door, wherein the pin extends through both the end wall and the reinforcing panel, to provide registration of said end wall and said reinforcing panel with respect to each other and improved rigidity against outward flexing of said end wall.

17. An end wall for a side tipping trailer as claimed in claim 16 also having a divergent panel portion extending outwardly (outwardly outside the trailer body) along the tipper door opening vertical edge. An end wall for a side tipping trailer as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein the reinforcing panel is in the form of an angle section having a fold extending spaced away from said exposed edge with an arm pending therefrom toward a said end wall, each said reinforcing panel forming with said respective forward and rearward end wall, a vertically extending enclosure.

An end wall for a side tipping trailer as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said end wall is of single sheet construction, and includes reinforcing coaming of single sheet construction along the top thereof, said reinforcing coaming comprising an angle bracket fillet welded along a lower edge to said end wall, said end wall and coaming having a mount for a hydraulic ram fixed thereto, said mount comprising at least one plate member extending through slots in said end wall and in said coaming, and into a ram fixing bracket for attaching one end of said hydraulic ram, said at least one plate member being welded in position in said slots.

An end wall for a side tipping trailer as claimed in claim 19 wherein said at least one plate member comprises two or more plate members located in spaced apart relationship, each extending through and welded to slots in said end wall and in said coaming.