ZA200904651B - Tractor accessory - Google Patents

Description

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THIS INVENTION relates to transportation. More particularly it relates to a tractor accessory.

According to the invention there is provided a tractor accessory which includes a base connectable to a tractor for displacement with the tractor; a load bed mounted on the base and displaceable relative to the base between a rest or load carrying position in which a load can be loaded onto and transported on the load bed and a tipped or discharge position in which the load can be discharged from the load bed; and a displacement arrangement which is connectable to a tractor whereby the load bed is displaceable between its rest and tipped positions.

The load bed may be pivotally connected to the base for pivotal displacement between its rest and tipped positions. The displacement arrangement may include a pair of arms pivotally connected at their one ends to the load bed and being configured to be connected at their other ends, to the lifting arms of a said tractor.

The base may include mounting formations whereby the accessory is dismountably mountable to a tractor.

The accessory may include a plurality of iegs which are connected to the base, the legs being configured such that when the accessory is not in use, or when being loaded, the accessory can be supported on its legs.

However, when the accessory is mounted on a tractor, the legs will be clear of the ground to facilitate transport of the accessory.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional perspective view of a tractor accessory in the load carrying position, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional perspective view of the tractor accessory of Figure 1, in a tipped or discharge position, in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of another tractor accessory in accordance with the invention. :

In the drawings reference numeral 10 refers generally to a tractor accessory in accordance with the invention. The tractor accessory 10 includes a base, generally indicated by reference numeral 12, a load bed, generally indicated by reference numeral 14 and a displacement arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 16 for displacing the load bed 14 156 between a rest or load carrying position (shown in Figure 1 of the drawings) and a tipped or discharge position (shown in Figure 2 of the drawings), as described in more detail herebelow.

The base 12 includes a frame 18 comprising two longitudinally extending parallel side members 20 and a plurality of transverse members 22 which extend between and are connected to the side members 20 at longitudinally spaced apart positions. The one ends of the side members 20 are provided with tractor mounting formations 24 whereby the base 12 is disconnectably connectable to a chassis of a tractor 26.

The load bed 14 includes a floor 28 and a peripheral side wall 30 which extends operatively upwardly from the edges of the floor 28 except from an operatively rear edge of the floor.

The load bed 14 is pivotally connected to the base 12 by means of pivot connections 32 which permit displacement of the load bed 14 about a pivot axis 34 relative to the base 12.

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The displacement arrangement 16 includes a pair of arms 36 which are pivotally connected to the underside of the floor 28 by pivot pins 38. The other ends of the arms 36 are configured to be pivotally connectable to the lifting arms 40 of the tractor 26. :

Four legs 42 extend operatively downwardly from the base 12. Each leg 42 comprises an upper segment 44 which is secured, towards its operatively upper end, e.g. by welding, to one of the side members 20. Each leg 42 further includes a lower segment 46 formed of square tubing which is dimensioned such that it is slidably receivable within the upper segment 44.

Accordingly, the lower segment 46 is telescopically displaceable relative to the upper segment 44 to adjust the effective length of the leg 42. A plurality of locating holes 48 is provided in the upper and lower segments 44, 46 such that the lower segment 46 is releasably lockable to the upper segment 44 in a desired position by means of a locking pin 50 which extends through registering holes 48 in the upper and lower segments 44, 46. A foot plate 52 is connected to an operatively lower end of the lower segment 46.

When not being used to transport a load, the accessory 10 is typically supported on the legs 42. However, when it is desired to use the accessory 10 to transport a load, it is mounted on a tractor 26 by connecting the mounting formations 24 to the chassis of the tractor 26. The locking pins 50 are removed and the lower segments 46 are displaced upwardly thereby effectively shortening the length of the legs where they are locked in position by means of the pins 50. In this position the foot plates 52 are supported clear of the ground. If desired the legs may be pivotally displaceable relative to the base into a stowed position in which they are releasably lockable.

The tractor 26 can then be driven to a position adjacent to a load to be transported, e.g. fertilizer, soil or any other suitable load. The load is loaded onto the load bed 14 and transported to a desired location. At the desired location, the load can be offloaded, e.g. by hand or alternatively it can be offloaded by displacing the lifting arms of the tractor in order to displace the load bed 14 to its tipped position (shown in Figure 2 of the drawings) in which

#2009 /0465 the load slides off of the rear edge of the load bed. Once the load has been discharged, the lifting arms are displaced in the opposite direction in order to lower the load bed 14. 5 Reference is now made to Figure 3 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 100 refers generally to another tractor accessory in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts.

The accessory 100 is similar to the accessory 10, the main difference ! being the fact that the side wall 30 is corrugated which improves the strength of the side walls and the structural integrity of the accessory 100.

The accessory 100 is used in substantially identical fashion to the accessory 10 described above.

The inventor believes that a tractor accessory 10, 100 in accordance with the invention will be particularly useful since it enables loads to be transported making use of a tractor and hence obviating the need for a special load transportation vehicle. In addition, by virtue of the fact that the accessory 10, 100 is mounted directly on the tractor, the inventor believes that it will be particularly maneuverable allowing its use in relatively confined spaces. In addition, the inventor believes that the accessory 10, 100 will be relatively cost effective to construct and, by virtue of its relatively simple construction will be reliable in operation.

When the accessory 10, 100 is no longer required, it is simply transported to a storage location where it can be supported on its legs.

Claims (6)

. CLAIMS NN .

1. A tractor accessory which includes a base connectable to a tractor for displacement with the tractor; a load bed mounted on the base and displaceable relative to the base between a rest or load carrying position in which a load can be loaded onto and transported on the load bed and a tipped or discharge position in which the load can be discharged from the load bed; and a displacement arrangement which is connectable to a tractor whereby the load bed is displaceable between its rest and tipped positions.

2. A tractor accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the load bed is pivotally connected to the base for pivotal displacement between its rest and tipped positions.

3. A tractor accessory as claimed in claim 2, in which the displacement arrangement includes a pair of arms pivotally connected at their one end to the load bed and configured to be connected at their other ends, to the lifting arms of a said tractor.

4, A tractor accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the base includes mounting formations whereby the accessory is dismountably mountable to a tractor.

5. A tractor accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a plurality of legs which are connected fo the base, the legs being configured such that when the accessory is not in use it can be supported on its legs but when the accessory is mounted on a tractor, the legs are clear of the ground to facilitate transport of the accessory.

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6. A tractor accessory as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings. DATED THIS 2° DAY OF JULY 2009 Conde es / ced AMS & ADAMS a