AU711523B2 - Improvements in/or relating to a multipurpose wood resource transporter unit - Google Patents

Description

-1- P/00/0011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 t COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT r r

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: McCARTHY TRANSPORT CONTRACTORS LIMITED Mark James MCCARTHY CARTER SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia IMPROVEMENTS IN/OR RELATING TO A MULTIPURPOSE WOOD RESOURCE TRANSPORTER

UNIT

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us This invention relates to a multipurpose transporter unit. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a transporter unit particularly adapted for handling a variety of wood resource products. However, the invention in its application is not limited to the handling of wood resource products and may be adapted to carry a variety of other S products.

The transportation of wood resources involves movement of wood in a number of different forms. The conventional log handling transporter and trailer unit can handle logs directly from the forest to a processing or handling plant. There is also a requirement to transport a number of wood products after processing. These include wood chips, sawn timber, bark, timber offcuts and sawdust.

Economically there is a significant advantage to be gained by having a wood resource transporter unit that has a capacity for handling all or at least a significant number of the products as this will give a greater opportunity for back loading and minimise travel without carrying a pay load.

s- To provide a multipurpose wood resource transporter unit, it is necessary to adopt a design which is robust enough to allow handling of logs with log stackers and can be converted quickly and conveniently for transportation of the other wood resource materials such as wood chips.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose transporter unit which .2a will meet the above mentioned requirements or at least provide a useful choice.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a multipurpose transporter unit including: a sub-chassis supported on a wheeled chassis; walls rising from the sub-chassis and extending about the periphery of the suba chassis, the walls incorporating two pairs of log bolsters extending from said subchassis, the bolsters of each pair disposed on opposite sides of the unit, the walls including moveable panels which in a closed position complete the walls such that the unit can hold particulate material, and in an open position provide a space on each side of the unit between the log bolsters, each space being sufficient to enable logs to be loaded and unloaded therethrough; means to discharge the particulate material from the unit when configured to carry particulate material; and bolster bed means positioned between each pair of log bolsters to support loaded logs.

S Preferably, the transporter unit includes a floor positioned transporter unit as claimed in Claim 1 including a floor positioned on said sub-chassis where each bolster bed means is moveable relative to the associated pairs of log bolsters from a first position substantially flush with the floor to a second position allowing a log to be supported with a clearance from the floor.

SPreferably the bolsters are structurally attached to transverse structural members of the sub-chassis ensuring they withstand robust usage.

S Preferably the bolsters beds are pivotally mounted to the sub-chassis. In a preferred form of the invention, the bolster beds may pivot from the first position through 900 to the second position where they are adapted to support a load spaced from the floor.

'Y Desirably, the bolster beds are in the form of transversely extending joists which in their first position are receivable within a complementary shaped recess provided in the floor.

Suitably, the joist is constructed from a rectangular metal section having a thickness that is commensurate with the thickness of the floor so that it lies flush in the first position.

Desirably, the breadth dimension of the joist is greater than the thickness.

Preferably a top perimeter frame extends from the top of the log bolsters forward above the floor perimeter to defmine the top of a front wall section and rearward above the floor perimeter to define the top of a rear wall section with infill panels being provided to complete these walls.

Preferably in the rear wall, openable doors are provided across the rear of the unit to allow 2" ready discharge of sawdust, bark and wood chips with the sub chassis being supported on the wheeled chassis so that it can be elevated into a tipping position.

Advantageously, the movable panels between the bolster units comprise pairs of hinged doors, which in the closed position complete the panelling about the periphery of the unit and in the open position, fold back and can be attached to the remaining wall panelling 3, so that they are secured in position.

Preferably a removable frame member extends across the top of the unit to hold both pairs 4 of hinged doors in their closed position. The removable frame member also provides a support for a cover that can be removably placed over the top of the unit to-ensure that a load of particulate material, such as wood chips or sawdust is appropriately confined. In a preferred form of the invention, the removable frame member comprises a first channel E member to receive the inner upper corners of both doors on one side of the unit, a second channel member to receive the upper inner corners of both doors on the other side of the unit and a brace extending from the first channel member to the second channel member.

The unit can be incorporated in a vehicle chassis or on a trailer unit with an economic rig comprising the vehicle and trailer each carrying a multipurpose wood resource transporter to unit as herein described.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features" referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where :s specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents.in the art to which 15 this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

99*9 The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the 2o accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a multipurpose wood resource transporter unit on a truck chassis with the unit configured to transport logs or sawn o o timber pallets; Figure 2 is a pictorial view of a multipurpose wood resource transporter unit as a trailer chassis configured to transport particulate wood products such as wood chips; SFigure 3 is a perspective view of a removable frame member for use with the trust chassis of Figure 1 or the trailer chassis of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a detail of a movable bolster bed; and Figure 5 is a detail of the removable frame member of Figure 3.

The unit has been illustrated with reference to a truck chassis and a trailer chassis.

o Features in the trailer chassis are similar to features described in connection with the truck chassis and like numerals represent like parts. A complete rig may comprise both the truck and trailer unit. Both the truck unit and the trailer chassis are arranged so that the multipurpose wood resource transporter unit is mounted so that it can be elevated for tipping. The technology is conventional technology and will not be described in detail.

S The truck 1 shown in Figure 1 has a chassis 2 with the conventional components attached thereto. For example an MH series Mac 8 x 4 truck could be used for the purpose.

Mounted on the chassis 2 with a pivotal connection at 3 is a sub-chassis 4 which has two longitudinal runners and a plurality of transverse members. On top of the sub-chassis is mounted a metal floor 5 giving a substantially flat surface.

o Rising from the sides of the sub-chassis 4 are two pairs of log bolsters 6 and 7, the bolsters of each pair being secured to the sub-chassis 4 on opposite side of the unit and the two pairs being longitudinally spaced relative to the chassis 2. These pairs are, for example, spaced at 3.2 metre centres. The object is to ensure that the spacing is convenient to allow for unloading by a Wagner stacker. The dimensions could be varied 2s to suit the requirements of a particular user. An upper peripheral wall frame is completed by a top frame member 8, rear posts 9 and front posts 10, with intermediate posts 11 and 12 of lesser structural strength. Infill panels 13 are connected in between these members to provide a solid container wall.

In the rear wall, two openable doors of conventional design are provided, and these doors -6allow clean discharge of particulate material transported when the multipurpose unit is used for such a purpose.

All wall panelling is mounted, for example by Huck bolting on the inside of the frame to produce a smooth inside surface which is desirable for the transportation of the particulate wood material.

The spaces between the two pairs of bolsters 6 and 7 are each filled by two pivotal doors and 16. These pivotal doors also are constructed in a manner similar to the other panels with the infill panels provided between the structural members. A top frame 8A extends across each of these members and the doors are pivotal on hinges 17 provided on bolsters 6, 7 so that they can be opened outwardly to lie substantially flat against the remaining 0% a side walls of the unit.

To connect the sections 8A together, a removable frame member as shown in Figures 3 and 5 is fitted to span the joint between both pairs of doors when they are closed. This removable frame member comprises a first pivotal channel connector 18 to which is pivotally mounted a transverse member 19, which when it is in place extends across the top of the closed doors with a similar pivotal channel connector on the other end. Each of the pivotal channel connectors include a socket which receives a downwardly extending plug provided at each end of the transverse member 9. The connection of this transverse member, provides rigidity at the top of the closed doors. For convenience, one end of the transverse member 19 may be permanently or semi-permanently attached to one of the channel connectors as shown in Figure 5 through the use of a quick release pin.

Incorporated in the floor unit is a bolster bed 20 as shown in Figure 4 which is pivotally supported and can move from within a recess 24 where it is substantially flat forming part of a flat floor of the trailer unit to an upright position as shown as the drawings. The 12% bolster bed is supported on two or more pivot arms 2 1. A bolster bed 20 is provided to extend between the bolsters of each pair 6, 7.

The unit to be used in a configuration for transporting particulate material such as wood chips, would have each bolster bed 20 pivoted to engage within the floor recess leaving a substantially flat floor. The doors 15, 16 on each side would be closed and the renewable frame member 19 connected in place. The vehicle would have the rear doors closed and would then be able to receive a load of particulate materials such as wood chips through the top. A removable cover 25 is able to be attached using conventional elasticated ropes (bungy cords) 26 to the attachment hooks 22 along the side of the panels.

-7- In this configuration, the load of particulate material is secure and can be transported.

When it is required to discharge the load, the cover is rolled forward into the cover retainer 23 and fastened in position. The back doors are opened and the floor is elevated by conventional means about pivot 3 to discharge the load.

s When it is desired to transport logs, the back doors are closed. The side doors 15 and 16 are opened to lie flat against the remaining side walls, and are held in place by snap locks.

to The bolsters beds 20 are moved from the position within the floor to the upright position as shown in Figure 4. When the bolster beds are in this position and the doors are open, the unit is ready to receive a load of logs which can be placed in the unit by a log handler.

The logs are secured in place by chains and chain hooks incorporated in the sub chassis, and the unit is then able to operate to transport logs.

The unit in the first configuration would also be able to handle bark and sawdust in a similar manner to woodchips, and in the log form, the unit would also be able to handle sawn timber, pallets. Thus the wood resource transporter is a versatile unit and because of the versatility is able to carry a variety of loads minimising the travelling that needs to be undertaken without a pay load.

Claims (12)

1. A multipurpose transporter unit including: a sub-chassis supported on a wheeled chassis; walls rising from the sub-chassis and extending about the periphery of the sub- chassis, the walls incorporating two pairs of log bolsters extending from said sub- chassis, the bolsters of each pair disposed on opposite sides of the unit, the walls including moveable panels which in a closed position complete the walls such that the unit can hold particulate material, and in an open position provide a space on each side of the unit between the log bolsters, each space being sufficient to enable logs to be loaded and unloaded; means to discharge the particulate material from the unit when configured to carry particulate material; and bolster bed means positioned between each pair of log bolsters to support S.."loaded logs when configured for log transportation. 1

2. A multipurpose transporter unit as claimed in Claim 1 including a floor positioned on said sub-chassis where each bolster bed means is moveable relative to the se "associated pairs of log bolsters from a first position substantially flush with the floor to a second position allowing a log to be supported with a clearance from the floor. ^0) :20

3. The transporter unit as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the bolster bed means is pivotally mounted to said sub-chassis. •ooe

4. The transporter unit as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the bolster .i bed means is pivotable through 90' from the first position to the second position.

The transporter unit as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the bolster bed is in the form of a transversely extending joist which in the first position is receiveable within a recess provided in the floor.

6. The transporter unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the log bolsters are attached to transverse structural members of the sub-chassis. 9

7. The transporter unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the walls including the moveable panels in the closed position present a substantially smooth inside surface.

8. The transporter unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the moveable panels comprise two pairs of hinged doors, each pair being provided on either side of the unit.

9. The transporter unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including releasable retention means to hold the moveable panels in the open position.

The transporter unit as claimed in Claim 8 wherein both pairs of doors are held in the closed position by a removable frame member extending between the top of both pairs of doors.

11. The transporter unit as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the removable frame member comprises a first channel member to receive inner upper corners of both doors "*00 on one side of the unit, a second channel member to receive inner upper corners of both doors on the other side of the unit and a transverse member extending from the first 0 channel member to the second channel member.

12. The multipurpose transporter unit substantially as hereinbefore described CJ) with reference to the accompanying figures. DATED: 26 July 1999 *0 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: McCARTHY TRANSPORT CONTRACTORS LIMITED