GB1594063A - Trailer - Google Patents

Description

(54) TRAILER (71) We, GLASDON LIMITED, a British Company of 117-123 Talbot Road, Blackpool, FY1 3QY, Lancashire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns a trailer which can be tipped to discharge its load.

Relatively light, small trailers are known for towing by fairly small tractor vehicles, in factories, parks, etc., for conveying materials, equipment or rubbish to a desired location. For some purposes it is desirable that the trailer should be tipped easily to discharge its load. Therefore, trailers have been provided which can be tipped by hydraulic power generated either by the tractor, if it has an appropriate hydraulic power system, or by a hand operated pump on the trailer.

An object of the invention is to provide a tipping trailer which can be tipped by the power of a tractor driven in reverse.

According to the invention a trailer which can be tipped to discharge its load comprises a body having first and second parts, said body running on trailer supporting ground wheels at least one of which is mounted on the second part for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis extending at substantially a right-angle to a fore and aft direction of the trailer, said first part being located in front of the first axis and below the second part to support said second part when the trailer is in the normal running position, rigid tow bar means connected to said first part and extending forwardly of the body for connection to a towing vehicle, the second part being provided to support the load to be carried by the trailer in which the space to receive the load is disposed above the second part and between a pair of spaced first elements, the first elements being mounted on the first part and extending rearwardly from said first part to positions which are above the second part and are on opposite sides of said space, a pair of spaced second elements on said opposite sides, said second elements being mounted on and extending above the second part, on said opposite sides a said first element and a said second element being pivotably connected one to another above the second part such that the first and second parts can pivot relatively to one another about a second axis extending substantially parallel to said first axis but at a higher position than the first axis, the arrangement being such that on force being applied to the first part to propel the trailer in reverse to bring the wheel(s) mounted on the second part into contact with an obstruction which halts rearward travel of said obstructed wheel(s), said first and second parts pivot relatively to one another about the second axis and the second parts tips rearwardly about the first axis so that the load supported on the second part can be tipped.

In one embodiment the second part may comprise a substantially horizontal main platform or frame extending from substantially the front to the rear of the trailer. The first part may comprise a substantially horizontal auxiliary platform or frame disposed under a front end of the main platform for the latter to be supported by the auxiliary.

Both platforms are mounted on ground wheels on which the trailer runs. There are at least three such wheels so that the trailer has at least a three point stable support. One or a front ground wheel may be mounted substantially centrally on the auxiliary platform, and two other ground wheels may be mounted, one on or to each side of the trailer, on the main platform preferably at or adjacent to a rear end of the platform. Or two front wheels may be mounted on the auxiliary platform, one on or to each side of the trailer, and at least one rear wheel mounted on the main platform centrally thereof preferably at or adjacent to the rear end of the platform, or there may be two rear wheels each disposed at or to an opposite respective side of the trailer.

Preferably the or each front wheel is of a castor type capable of pivoting about a substantially vertical axis as well as being rotatable about the usual horizontal axis.

A tow bar for connection to a tractor vehicle is pivotably mounted on the auxiliary platform for pivoting movement relative to the said platform about a horizontal axis.

The two platforms are connected together for pivoting movement with respect to each other about a horizontal main axis. This main axis which is above the main platform also extends at substantially a right-angle to the fore and aft direction of the trailer. Furthermore the main axis is disposed intermediate the axes of the front and rear wheels and is at a higher level than the axis of the or each rear wheel and the axis about which the tow bar pivots. Also the main axis is substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the or each rear wheel. The pivot connection between the two platforms is provided between elements rigidly mounted on the platforms and located at opposite sides of the trailer.

These elements extend above the main platform and may be struts. The elements mounted on the auxiliary platform extend rearwardly therefrom.

When the trailer experiences a rearward thrust transmitted thereto through the towing bar, such as when the tractor is driven in reverse, the trailer moves backwards. Should the or each rear wheel meet an obstruction which prevents further reverse travel by the rear wheel(s), the auxiliary platform continues in reverse for a short distance until the tractor is halted by the driver. During this continued movement, the auxiliary platform dips or tips forwardly about the axis of rotation of the or each front wheel (as permitted by the pivotal connection between the tow bar and auxiliary platform and a universal pivoting hitch connection between the tow bar and tractor) and lifts the main horizontal axis. This causes the main platform to tip rearwardly about the axis of rotation of the rear wheel(s).

In an advantageous arrangement there is only one front wheel, this being of the castor type to enable it to pivot about a vertical axis about which the tow bar is also arranged to pivot. This system prevents the trailer skewing should the reverse driven tractor travel in a direction which is not at 900 to the axis of the or each rear wheel.

If the tractor is driven forwards after tipping the trailer, the auxiliary platform is again brought to a horizontal position which lowers the main axis and thus lowers the main platform into a horizontal attitude, whereafter the trailer follows the tractor.

To prevent inadvertent tipping, releasable locking means may be provided between the main and auxiliary platforms.

If desired the main platform may form the actual base of a container which may have a pivotably opening tailgate or rear door, or a separate container with such a tailgate or door may be mounted on the main platform to be tipped therewith. If the main platform is an integral part cf tbie container, opposite sides of the container may provide support for the pivotable connection between the main platform and, for example, struts on the auxiliary platform.

In an alternative embodiment, only the main platform is mounted on wheels, in this case a pair of spaced, co-axial wheels disposed at or towards the rear of the main platform. The auxiliary platform may be a single substantially horizontal bar extending transversely to the fore and aft direction of the trailer. Opposite ends of this bar may be mounted on inclined struts having upper ends pivotably connected to upper ends of inclined struts extending forwardly from a rear end of the main platform so that the pivoting axis between the main auxiliary platforms is above the main platform and the axis of the wheels. A tow bar, which may have a forwardly extending horizontal part is rigidly connected to the auxiliary platform.

This tow bar can be hitched to a tractor vehicle by means of a universal coupling. On the tractor being driven in reverse, the trailer likewise moves in that direction. When its wheels meet an obstruction, the continued reverse thrust in the tow bar causes the main platform to pivot relatively to the auxiliary and tip rearwardly about the axis of the wheels.

Again locking means may be provided between the main and auxiliary platforms to prevent inadvertent tipping.

As with the first mentioned embodiment, a container can be carried on the main platform. Alternatively the platform and container can be integral so that opposite longitudinal side walls of the container can be used to support the pivoting connection between the main platform and the struts on the auxiliary platform.

A two wheel trailer as described can be used on ordinary roads.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment of a trailer formed according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view, on a reduced scale, of the trailer in Fig. 1 in a tipped attitude; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another embodiment of a trailer formed according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the trailer in Fig. 3, tipped; and Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic side views of a modification of the trailer in Fig. 3 in normal and tipped attitudes.

In Fig. 1 the trailer is shown with a substantially horizontal main platform exemplified by a main frame 2 supported at its front end by the substantially horizontal auxiliary platform exemplified by the auxiliary frame 4. At its rear end the frame 2 has depending arms 6 carrying an axle 8 for the rear wheels 10. The front wheel 12 is mounted on a depending arm or fork 13 rigidly mounted at its upper end on a turntable 15 located below a plate 14 affixedly mounted on the frame 4. This turntable 15 and front wheel 12 pivot about the vertical axis of a pivot 16 on the plate 14.

The trailer has a tow bar 18 provided at one end with a socket 20, for example a socket of a ball joint hitch, for connection to a tractor vehicle. At its other end the bar 18 is pivoted at 22 to arms 24 mounted rigid with the turntable 15. By reason of the pivots 22, the tow bar can pivot relatively to the frame 4 about a horizontal axis.

The frame 2 has inclined side struts 26 rigidly mounted thereon. These extend above the frame 2 and are pivotably connected via main pivots 28 to upper ends of struts 30. These latter, which are rigidly mounted on the auxiliary frame 4 at a location behind the horizontal axis of rotation of the front wheel 12, extend upwardly and rearwardly from the auxiliary frame. Thus the axis of pivots 28 is above the horizontal axes of rotation of the wheels 10, 12 and the main frame 2, it is intermediate the axes of the front and rear wheels when those axes are parallel, and it is parallel with the axis of rotation of the rear wheels.

If desired, the upper end of each strut 26 can be rigidly connected to the front part of the frame 2 by a respective inclined further strut 26' shown in phantom lines.

When the tow bar 18 is pushed in a reverse direction and the rear wheels 10 contact an obstruction A (Fig. 2), frames 2 and 4 pivot relatively one to another, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the frame 2 tips rearwardly.

If desired, a releasable locking device can be provided between frames 2 and 4 to prevent inadvertent tipping.

However, the frame 2 is intended to carry a container and the weight thereof, whether loaded or not, can be sufficient to hold down the frame 2 to prevent inadvertent tipping.

An example of such a container is shown in phantom lines at 32, this container having a pivoting tailgate 34 allowing discharge of material from the container which defines a load receiving space which is above the frame 2 and between the pairs of struts 26, 30 on opposite sides of the trailer.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the trailer has a main platform formed by a chassis or frame 102 with arm formations 106 carrying a pair of road wheels 110 on an axle 108. The auxiliary platform is formed by a bar 104 with side struts 130 pivotably connected at 128 to struts 126, 126' on the frame 102. A tow bar 118, with a universal pivot hitch component 120 is rigidly connected to the bar 104 through frame parts 132, 134. On a tractor (not shown) hitched to tow bar 118 reversing to reverse the wheels 110 against an obstruction (not shown) the frame 102 pivots about the axis of the pivot points 128 relatively to the bar and tips rearwardly about the axis of the axle 108 as shown in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a container 140 with a pivoting tailgate 142 is formed integral with the main platform 102. The pivot points 128 are between the struts 130 and the longitudinal sides of the container which tips as shown in Fig. 6 when the trailer wheels are reversed against an obstruction A.

The obstruction A may be one or more portable chocks.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A trailer which can be tipped to discharge its load, said trailer comprising a body having first and second parts, said body running on trailer supporting ground wheels at least one of which is mounted on the second part for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis extending at substantially a right-angle to a fore and aft direction of the trailer, said first part being located in front of the first axis and below the second part to support said second part when the trailer is in the normal running position, rigid tow bar means connected to said first part and extending forwardly of the body for connection to a towing vehicle, the second part being provided to support the load to be carried by the trailer in which the space to receive the load is disposed above the second part and between a pair of spaced first elements, the first elements being mounted on the first part and extending rearwardly from said first part to positions which are above the second part and are on opposite sides of said space, a pair of spaced second elements on said opposite sides, said second elements being mounted on and extending above the second part, on said opposite sides a said first element and a said second element being pivotably connected one to another above the second part such that the first and second parts can pivot relatively to one another about a second axis extending substantially parallel to said first axis but at a higher position than the first axis, the arrangement being such that on force being applied to the first part to propel the trailer in reverse to bring the wheel(s) mounted on the second part into contact with an obstruction which halts rearward travel of said obstructed wheel(s), said first and second parts pivot relatively to one another about the second axis and the second parts tips rearwardly about the first axis so that the load supported on the second part can be tipped.

2. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, in which two ground wheels are mounted on the second part for rotation about the first axis.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which, when the trailer is in at least a non-tipped attitude, the second axis is for

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. its rear end the frame 2 has depending arms 6 carrying an axle 8 for the rear wheels 10. The front wheel 12 is mounted on a depending arm or fork 13 rigidly mounted at its upper end on a turntable 15 located below a plate 14 affixedly mounted on the frame 4. This turntable 15 and front wheel 12 pivot about the vertical axis of a pivot 16 on the plate 14. The trailer has a tow bar 18 provided at one end with a socket 20, for example a socket of a ball joint hitch, for connection to a tractor vehicle. At its other end the bar 18 is pivoted at 22 to arms 24 mounted rigid with the turntable 15. By reason of the pivots 22, the tow bar can pivot relatively to the frame 4 about a horizontal axis. The frame 2 has inclined side struts 26 rigidly mounted thereon. These extend above the frame 2 and are pivotably connected via main pivots 28 to upper ends of struts 30. These latter, which are rigidly mounted on the auxiliary frame 4 at a location behind the horizontal axis of rotation of the front wheel 12, extend upwardly and rearwardly from the auxiliary frame. Thus the axis of pivots 28 is above the horizontal axes of rotation of the wheels 10, 12 and the main frame 2, it is intermediate the axes of the front and rear wheels when those axes are parallel, and it is parallel with the axis of rotation of the rear wheels. If desired, the upper end of each strut 26 can be rigidly connected to the front part of the frame 2 by a respective inclined further strut 26' shown in phantom lines. When the tow bar 18 is pushed in a reverse direction and the rear wheels 10 contact an obstruction A (Fig. 2), frames 2 and 4 pivot relatively one to another, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the frame 2 tips rearwardly. If desired, a releasable locking device can be provided between frames 2 and 4 to prevent inadvertent tipping. However, the frame 2 is intended to carry a container and the weight thereof, whether loaded or not, can be sufficient to hold down the frame 2 to prevent inadvertent tipping. An example of such a container is shown in phantom lines at 32, this container having a pivoting tailgate 34 allowing discharge of material from the container which defines a load receiving space which is above the frame 2 and between the pairs of struts 26, 30 on opposite sides of the trailer. In Figs. 3 and 4, the trailer has a main platform formed by a chassis or frame 102 with arm formations 106 carrying a pair of road wheels 110 on an axle 108. The auxiliary platform is formed by a bar 104 with side struts 130 pivotably connected at 128 to struts 126, 126' on the frame 102. A tow bar 118, with a universal pivot hitch component 120 is rigidly connected to the bar 104 through frame parts 132, 134. On a tractor (not shown) hitched to tow bar 118 reversing to reverse the wheels 110 against an obstruction (not shown) the frame 102 pivots about the axis of the pivot points 128 relatively to the bar and tips rearwardly about the axis of the axle 108 as shown in Fig. 4. In Figs. 5 and 6, a container 140 with a pivoting tailgate 142 is formed integral with the main platform 102. The pivot points 128 are between the struts 130 and the longitudinal sides of the container which tips as shown in Fig. 6 when the trailer wheels are reversed against an obstruction A. The obstruction A may be one or more portable chocks. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A trailer which can be tipped to discharge its load, said trailer comprising a body having first and second parts, said body running on trailer supporting ground wheels at least one of which is mounted on the second part for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis extending at substantially a right-angle to a fore and aft direction of the trailer, said first part being located in front of the first axis and below the second part to support said second part when the trailer is in the normal running position, rigid tow bar means connected to said first part and extending forwardly of the body for connection to a towing vehicle, the second part being provided to support the load to be carried by the trailer in which the space to receive the load is disposed above the second part and between a pair of spaced first elements, the first elements being mounted on the first part and extending rearwardly from said first part to positions which are above the second part and are on opposite sides of said space, a pair of spaced second elements on said opposite sides, said second elements being mounted on and extending above the second part, on said opposite sides a said first element and a said second element being pivotably connected one to another above the second part such that the first and second parts can pivot relatively to one another about a second axis extending substantially parallel to said first axis but at a higher position than the first axis, the arrangement being such that on force being applied to the first part to propel the trailer in reverse to bring the wheel(s) mounted on the second part into contact with an obstruction which halts rearward travel of said obstructed wheel(s), said first and second parts pivot relatively to one another about the second axis and the second parts tips rearwardly about the first axis so that the load supported on the second part can be tipped.

2. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, in which two ground wheels are mounted on the second part for rotation about the first axis.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which, when the trailer is in at least a non-tipped attitude, the second axis is for

wardly of the first axis.

4. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first part comprises a platform or frame which, when the trailer is in a non-tipped attitude, is.substantially horizontal and supports the forward end of the second part. trailer as claimed in any preceding

5. A claim, in which the second part comprises a platform or frame, and the second elements are struts inclined to the horizontal when the trailer is at least in a non-tipped attitude.

6. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claims, in which the second part is integral with a pair of spaced side walls defining opposite sides of the load carrying space, said side walls providing said second elements.

7. A trailer as claimed in claim 4, in which the first elements are struts inclined to the horizontal when the trailer is at least in a non-tipped attitude.

8. A trailer as claimed in claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 7 when appended to claim 2, in which the tow bar means is connected to the first part so that the tow bar means can pivot relatively to the first part about a substantially horizontal axis.

9. A trailer as claimed in claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 8 when appended to claim 2, in which a said ground wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis is mounted on said first part, and this wheel is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis.

10. A trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs. 3 and 4, or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.