ZA200801398B - Load conveying vehicle - Google Patents

Description

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THIS INVENTION relates to a vehicle. More particularly, it relates to a load conveying vehicle.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a load conveying vehicle which includes a wheeled chassis; a load supporting body having a base, the body being mounted on the chassis for displacement relative to the chassis between a rest position in which the base is generally horizontal and can support a load and a displaced position in which the base is generally perpendicular to the ground; and displacement means for displacing the body between its rest position and its displaced position.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a load conveying vehicle which includes: a wheeled chassis; a load supporting body having a base and supports extending from edges of the base generally perpendicular to the base, the body being mounted on the chassis for displacement relative to the chassis between a rest position in which the base is generally horizontal and can support a load and a displaced position in which one of the supports rests on the ground; and displacement means for displacing the body between its rest position and its displaced position.

The base may be rectangular, the body including a pair of side supports, a front support and a rear support which extend upwardly respectively from the sides, front and rear of the base when the body is in its rest position, the rear support being flat on the ground when the body is in its displaced position. The rear support may be disconnectably connectable to the base. This arrangement facilitates off-loading of goods, in particular agricultural produce, such as bales of hay, lucerne or the like. Hence, to load the vehicle, the vehicle is drawn through ¥ the lands and bales are loaded by hand and/or by a bale loader on the base. To unload the vehicle it is positioned at a desired location and the body is displaced to its displaced position in which the rear support lies flat on the ground and the stack of bales contained within the body rests on the rear support. The rear support is disconnected from the base permitting the vehicle to be displaced and leaving the stack of bales on the ground.

The rear support may be formed by a plurality of elongate support members operatively lower ends of which are releasably receivable in a complementary locating formation on the base.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle is in the form of a trailer and has connection means whereby it is disconnectably connectable to a draught vehicle. In this embodiment of the invention, the stabilizing means serves not only to resist tipping of the trailer but also possibly lifting up of a draught vehicle to which the trailer is connected. In another embodiment of the invention the vehicle may be in the form of a truck.

The vehicle may include stabilizing means for stabilizing the chassis when the body is being displaced between its rest and displaced positions thereby preventing the vehicle chassis from tipping.

The stabilising means may include a pair of arms displaceably mounted to the chassis for displacement between an extended position in which they engage the ground and support the chassis and a retracted position in which they are clear of the ground. Each arm may be elongate and pivotally mounted to the chassis at a position intermediate its ends, an actuator being provided to displace the arm between its extended and retracted positions. The actuator may be in the form of a jack or hydraulic cylinder positioned between the chassis and an end of the arm.

Each arm may be dismountably mounted to the chassis to permit the arms to be stowed when the vehicle is moving.

Instead, or in addition, the stabilizing means may include a pair of extendible : legs mounted to the chassis for displacement between an extended position in which they engage the ground and support the chassis and a retracted position in which they are clear of the ground. The extension and retraction of the legs may be effected under the influence of a pressurised fluid, typically hydraulically.

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 view of a load conveying vehicle in accordance with the invention with a load supporting body of the vehicle in its rest position;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view, similar to Figure 1, with the load supporting body in its displaced position;

Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the chassis of the vehicle with the body removed and support arms in an extended position;

Figure 4 shows a view similar to Figure 3 with the arms in a stowed position;

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view with the body displaced part way to its displaced position, certain features being omitted for the sake of clarity; and

Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view similar to Figure 3 of part of another load conveying vehicle in accordance with the invention. in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a load conveying vehicle in accordance with the invention. The vehicle 10 includes a wheeled chassis 12, a load supporting body, generally indicated by reference numeral 14 and displacement means, generally indicated by reference numeral 16 for displacing the body between its rest position (shown in Figure 1 of the drawings) and its displaced position (shown in Figure 2 of the drawings).

The chassis 12 includes a generally rectangular frame 18 to which a pair of transversally spaced apart wheels 20 is mounted via a suspension arrangement.

Draught vehicle engaging means, e.g. in the form of a tow bar 22 is connected to the chassis 12. It will be appreciated, that the draft vehicle engaging means will

%200g/ be configured to suit the draught vehicle with which the vehicle 10 is AR ; be used.

The body 14 includes a rectangular floor or base 24. A pair of side supports 26 protrude upwardly from opposite sides of the base 24 when the body is in its rest position. A front support 28 protrudes upwardly from a front of the base 24 when the body 14 is in its rest position and a rear support 30 protrudes upwardly from a rear of the base 24 when the body 14 is in its rest position. Each of the side supports 26 and front support 28 comprise a plurality of upwardly extending elements 32, typically angle iron elements, which are connected together by connecting members 34. The side supports 26 and front support 28 can be fixed to the base 24, e.g. by welding or alternatively one or more of them may be displaceably connected to the base, e.g. by a hinge arrangement.

A transverse connecting member 36 is connected to and extends between upper rear most ends of the side supports 26. The connecting member 36 is disconnectably connected to the side supports to facilitate off loading of the vehicle 10 as described in more detail here below.

The rear support 30 includes a plurality of elongate tubular members 38 operatively lower ends of which are receivable in transversally spaced sockets 40 provided at the rear of the base 24. Instead of the sockets 40 the lower ends of the members 38 may be received in a transverse channel. Upper ends of the members 38 are supported in loops 42 of an elongate flexible element 44 which is laced through complementary holes in the connecting member 36. Hence the members 38 are readily dismountably mountable off of the base 24.

The base 24 is connected by means of hinges 46 (Figure 5) to a rear edge of the chassis 12 for pivotal displacement about a transverse pivot axis. The displacement means 16 includes at least one hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement 48 which extends between the chassis 12 and the base 24 to displace the body 14 about the pivot axis defined by the hinges 46.

The vehicle 10 includes stabilizing means, generally indicated by reference : numeral 50 for stabilizing the vehicle when the body 14 is being displaced between its rest and displaced positions. The stabilizing means 50 includes a pair of arms 52 which are disconnectably connected to opposed sides of the chassis 12 by means of pivot pins 54 which are mounted on opposite ends of a transverse support beam 56 connected to the chassis 12 and which extend through complementary holes in the arms 52 approximately midway along their length. A foot 58 is provided at an operatively outer end of each arm 52 and a plate 60 protrudes from an operatively inner end of the arm 52. A channel or H member 62 is mounted on the chassis 12 such that it extends transversally relative thereto and protrudes from opposite sides thereof. A jack, typically an hydraulic bottle jack 64 or hydraulic cylinder can be positioned on a protruding end of the channel 62 for engagement with the associated plate 60 such that extension of the jack 64 causes pivotal displacement of the associated arm 52 in the direction of arrow 66.

As mentioned above, the arms 52 are disconnectably mounted on the pivot pins 54. Hence, when not in use, they can be removed from the pivot pins and stowed, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, on support brackets 68 which protrude transversally from the chassis 12 at opposite end thereof.

In use, with the body 14 in its rest position (shown in Figure 1) and the arms 52 in their stowed positions (shown in Figure 4), the vehicle 10 can be connected to a draught vehicle, e.g. a tractor and can be transported in a conventional manner. When it is desired to load the vehicle 10, the vehicle 10 is driven through the lands and bales of lucern, or the like , are loaded onto the body 14 either manually through an opening 49 in one of the side supports 26 or by means of a bale loader through the open top of the body 14. The bales are arranged in a stack on the base 24 against the rear support 30. The vehicle 10 is then transported to a desired location where it is desired to offload the stack of bales. Once at the desired location, the arms 52 are connected to the pivot pins 54 and are displaced in the direction of arrow 66 by means of the jacks 64 until the feet 58 engage the ground and provide support to the vehicle 10. The piston and cylinder 48 is then extended so as to displace the body 14 in the direction of arrow 70 (Figure 1) until the rear support 30 rests on the ground and the base 24 extends generally vertically (Figure 2). If desired, the bales can then be offloaded from the rear : support. Alternatively, the rear support can be disconnected from the chassis simply by pulling the loops 42 over the ends of the members 38. The transverse connecting member 36 is then disconnected from the side supports 26 and the remainder of the body 14 can then be pulled away from the stack which pulls the ends of the members 38 out of the sockets 40. Once clear of the stack, the body 14 can be returned to its rest position by retracting the piston and cylinder 48 and the vehicle 10 can be transported in a conventional fashion.

If desired, prior to loading the bales, pallets can be positioned such that the members 38 extends through the lifting holes in the pallets such that the support surfaces of the pallets effectively form a vertical rear support against which the bales are stacked. When the body 14 is displaced in the direction of arrow 70 into its displaced position, the pallets will then be positioned horizontally with the stack of bales resting thereon. The members 38 can then simply be withdrawn from the holes in the pallets and the body 14 can be returned to its rest position where the members 38 can be mounted thereon. Instead of the members 38 use could be made of fork elements which extend through the pallet or pallets and which are connectable to a fork lift.

Reference is now made to Figure 6 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 100 refers generally to part of another load conveying vehicle in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts.

The only difference between the vehicles 10, 100, is that in the case of the vehicle 100, the stabilizing means 50 includes a pair of hydraulically extendible legs 102 mounted on opposite sides of the chassis at or towards the rear thereof.

In use, the vehicle 100 is used in substantially the identical fashion to the vehicle 10. When it is desired to offload the vehicle 100, the legs 102 are extended until they are in contact with the ground and provide support and stability to the vehicle 100. Once the vehicle has been offloaded and the body returned to its rest position, the legs 102 are retracted and the vehicle 100 can be transported in a as. i 8 512008701394 ) conventional fashion. It will be appreciated that, instead of being actuated ) hydraulically, extension and retraction of the legs 102 can be achieved in any suitable fashion.

If desired, once a stack of bales has been off loaded, it can be covered with plastic sheeting to protect it from the weather. Alternatively, plastic sheeting can be positioned over the front of the body 14 when the body is in its rest position.

Once the bales have been loaded on to the body 14, the sheet can be folded back and strapped. When the stack of bales is offloaded in the manner described above, the sheet will form the top of the stack, which can then be left outside and is protected from the elements by the sheet of material. This avoids the need to store the bales indoors, e.g. in a shed.

The inventor believes that the vehicle 10, 100 will be particularly suitable for use in the transportation of baled agricultural products. However, it will be appreciated, that the vehicle may well be used for transport of other products.

Claims (14)

In ) CLAIMS o

1. Aload conveying vehicle which includes a wheeled chassis; a load supporting body having a base, the body being mounted on the chassis for displacement relative to the chassis between a rest position in which the base is generally horizontal and can support a load and a displaced position in which the base is generally perpendicular to the ground; and displacement means for displacing the body between its rest position and its displaced position.

2. Aload conveying vehicle which includes a wheeled chassis; a load supporting body having a base and supports extending from edges of the base generally perpendicular to the base, the body being mounted on the chassis for displacement relative to the chassis between a rest position in which the base is generally horizontal and can support a load and a displaced position in which one of the supports is on the ground; and displacement means for displacing the body between its rest position and its displaced position.

3. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the base is rectangular, the body including a pair of side supports, a front support and a rear support which extend upwardly respectively from the sides, front and rear of the base when the body is in its rest position, the rear support being flat on the ground when the body is in its displaced position.

4. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in claim 3 in which the rear support is disconnectably connectable to the base.

5. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which the rear support is formed by a plurality of elongate support members operatively lower ends of which are releasably receivable in a complementary locating formation on the base.

2G #°2 10 008/0139g

6. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in ) which the vehicle is in the form of a trailer and has connection means whereby it is disconnectably connectable to a draught vehicle.

7. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the vehicle includes stabilizing means for stabilizing the chassis when the body is being displaced between its rest and displaced positions thereby preventing the vehicle chassis from tipping.

8. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in claim 7, in which the stabilising means includes a pair of arms displaceably mounted to the chassis for displacement between an extended position in which they engage the ground and support the chassis and a retracted position in which they are clear of the ground.

9. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in claim 8, in which each arm is elongate and pivotally mounted to the chassis at a position intermediate its ends, an actuator being provided to displace the arm between its extended and retracted positions.

10. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in claim 9, in which the actuator is in the form of a jack or hydraulic cylinder positioned between the chassis and an end of the arm.

11. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, inclusive, in which each arm is dismountably mounted to the chassis to permit the arms to be stowed when the vehicle is moving.

12. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 inclusive, in which the stabilizing means includes a pair of extendible legs mounted to the chassis for displacement between an extended position in which they engage the ground and support the chassis and a retracted position in which they are clear of the ground.

13. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in claim 12, in which the extension and ) retraction of the legs is effected under the influence of a pressurized fluid.

14. A load conveying vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as described and as illustrated in the drawings. DATED THIS 11th DAY OF FEBRUARY 2008 (ons Ror LICANTS PATENT ATTO