AU2004200661B2 - A transporter - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicantss: STRATHAYR PTY LTD A.C.N. 006 751 024 Invention Title: A TRANSPORTER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2 A TRANSPORTER This invention relates to a transporter, more particularly a transporter for use with in the 5 transportation of heavy elongate articles such as cricket wickets or race track crossings. In the area of multi-use sports stadiums, there is often a need to replace parts of the playing surface to 10 prevent damage when the stadium is used for other purposes. Thus, where a stadium is used for the game of cricket, the cricket wicket, that is the central portion of the stadium on which the game of cricket is played, is very sensitive to damage if left in position and the 15 stadium is used for other sports or other uses such as equestrian events or concerts. Thus, to preserve the very sensitive cricket wicket it has been proposed to utilise drop in wickets. Drop in wickets essentially comprise elongate metallic trays in which is supported a sand/soil 20 mixture on which the grass of the real turf wicket is grown. The stadium is usually reprepared by the permanent location of a female receptor, also in the form of an open metal tray, into which a male receptor that contains the wicket can be dropped in. In the off season or when the 25 stadium is used for other purposes the drop in wicket is lifted clear of the receptor and then transported to a safe environment away from the stadium. In the off season it is often desirable to transport the cricket wicket a considerable distance so that it can be subjected to the 30 right climate in terms of sun and rain to ensure proper growth of the grass. In exchange, the wicket tray can be replaced by a football tray having a permeable root zone, as the football season is played in the cricket off season. The wickets can be prepared in a controlled 35 environmental greenhouse to facilitate preparation of wickets in different climates. The wickets can be covered for throughout and during installation. \\melb-files\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 -3 A cricket wicket needs to be at least 25 metres in length and it is generally viewed as undesirable to transversely split the wicket in half. Thus, the drop in 5 wickets are usually steel trays that measure 25 metres by about 3 metres. When these trays are full of sand/soil and real turf they are extremely heavy and their transportation is a real problem. 10 The transporter is preferably designed to carry an elongate cricket wicket. It has been proposed to design custom built transporters in the form of wheeled framework from which 15 the'cricket wicket is suspended. The framework can have lifting means incorporated therein to lift the cricket wicket in and out of its receptacle. The design of transporters of this kind leads to a further problem in that the transporters themselves have to transported to 20 the site. Whilst a transporter can be loaded on a flat bed trailer, the length of the trailer often dictates the use of a motorised escort. There is also a considerable problem in loading the transporter on and off the trailer with the use of cranes and loading ramps that have to be 25 available at both destinations. It is these issues that have brought about the present invention. 30 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a transporter having an elongate trussed frame supported at each end by a pair of wheel assemblies, the frame being adapted to support an elongate heavy structure suspended therefrom, the frame comprising at 35 least two telescopically mounted sub-frames, one positioned within the other to facilitate variation in the length of the transporter, each wheel assembly being \\melb-files\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 -4 coupled to the frame to be relatively vertically displaceable with a hydraulic ram positioned therebetween whereby the ram is adapted to raise the frame relative to each wheel assembly by at least two metres. 5 Each wheel assembly preferably comprises a yoke supported by the ram, a wheel and tyre assembly being axially rotatable about an axle extending transversely about a vertically extending pivotable strut. 10 The ram is preferably attached to the frame to be pivotable relative to the frame in a vertical plane. Hydraulic piston cylinders preferably control pivotable movement of the rams and struts. 15 In a preferred embodiment each wheel assembly is independently driven. Preferably each sub-frame is an elongate trussed 20 construction comprising truss beams extending in both vertical and horizontal planes joining spaced parallel side beams. Embodiments of the present invention will now be 25 described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a plan view of a transporter in a retracted configuration, Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the 30 transporter shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the transporter in an extended configuration, Figure 4 is a plan view of one end of the transporter showing two wheel assemblies, the wheels 35 defining two different tracks, Figure 5 is a plan view of the wheel assemblies with the tyre and wheels extending transversally to the \\melb-files\homeS\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 -5 longitudinal axis of the transporter, Figure 6 is a plan view of the wheel assemblies in the stored transport position, Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the 5 transporter shown in Figure 2, Figure 8a is a side elevational view of a wheel assembly with the frame in a lowered position, Figure 8b is a side elevational view of the wheel assembly with the frame in an elevated position, 10 Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the transporter with the frame in an elevated position and the wheel assemblies splayed to facilitate self loading onto a trailer, Figure 10 is a plan view of one wheel assembly 15 attached to the frame by a hydraulic ram, Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the wheel' assembly, Figure 12 is a front elevational view of the wheel assembly, 20 Figure 13 is a side elevational view of one end of the transporter showing the transporter carrying a cricket wicket, Figure 14a is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines A-A of Figure 13, 25 Figure 14b is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines B-B of Figure 13, Figure 15 is a side elevational view of a hanging bracket used to suspend the wicket from the transporter, Figure 16 is a side elevational view of part of a 30 tyre and wheel assembly illustrating a brake, Figure 17 is a cross-section view taken along the arrow Y of Figure 16, Figure 18 is a cross-section view taken along the arrow X of Figure 16, 35 Figure 19 is a side elevational view of a leg that forms part of the transporter, Figure 20 is a side elevational view of one end \\melb-files\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 -6 of the transporter illustrating a wheel assembly in accordance with a second embodiment, Figure 21 is a perspective view illustrating attachment of the wheel assembly of Figure 20 to the frame 5 of the transporter, Figure 22 is a plan view of the wheel assembly of Figure 20, and Figure 23 is a side elevational view of the wheel assembly. 10 The accompanying drawings illustrate a transporter 10 for drop in cricket wickets. Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the transporter 10 which essentially comprises a framework 11 that comprises two sub-frames 12 15 and 13 that are telescopically mounted to a central frame 14. The sub-frames 12, 13 and 14 are configured in a trussed arrangement which is described in greater detail later in the specification. The framework 11 is elongate and is supported at each end by wheel assemblies 15 and 20 16, each wheel assembly 15 or 16 comprises a pair of tyre and wheel assemblies 17 and 18 mounted to be axially rotatable on a yoke 19 that is in turn coupled to a vertical ram assembly 20 that is in turn pivotally secured to the frame 11. The sub-frame 12 and 13 are, as 25 mentioned above, telescopically mounted to the central frame 14 so that the transporter 10 can assume a retracted position shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which the length of the transporter is about 19 metres. The width of the transporter is approximately 4 metres when the tyre and 30 wheel assemblies are in the position shown in Figure 1. When the sub-frames 12, 13 are extended to the extended position shown in Figure 3 the transporter assumes a total length of 31 metres. 35 The transporter 10 is designed to support a drop in cricket wicket 100. Although the drop in cricket wicket is not shown in detail, it essentially comprises a \\melb-filee\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 -7 long elongate metal tray 101 that supports real turf, that is grass grown on a sand/soil mix. The cricket wicket is about 25 metres long and 3 metres wide and extends to a height of approximately 250mm. The cricket wicket 100 is 5 suspended from the underside of the transporter 10 as shown in Figures 13 to 15. The wheel assemblies 15, 16 allow the transporter 10 to be moved along the ground surface. The 10 manoeuvrability of the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 provide the steering capacity of the transporter 10. However, the wheel assemblies 15, 16 also have another role to play through the hydraulic rams 20. The rams 20 allow the frame 11 of the transporter to be displaceable 15 relative to the wheel assemblies 15, 16 through a vertical distance of about 2 metres. The vertical displaceability of the frame 11 allows the transporter 10 to lift and deposit drop in cricket wickets into a suitably configured hole in the ground. The vertical displaceability of the 20 frame 11 also allows the transporter 10 to be self loaded onto an appropriate flat bed trailer. As shown in Figure 9, when the frame 11 is in the highest configuration a trailer T can be driven under the 25 frame and then the frame 11 lowered onto the trailer T. As will be described later, the wheel assemblies 15, 16 can then be rotated to a stored position on the trailer and the whole transporter 10 can be carried by the trailer T. To ensure that the trailer T is not too long, the 30 loading of the transporter takes place in the retracted configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the finally loaded configuration the transporter can be located on a 20 metre trailer. A 20 metre trailer will not require an escort when used on public highways. However, in the 35 extended configuration, a trailer of greater than 30 metres will be required and most authorities require that trailers of that length need to have a motorised escort \\melb-files\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 - 8 and face stringent hours of travel restrictions. Each wheel assembly is shown in greater detail with reference to Figures 10 to 12. A hollow square 5 sectioned side frame 21 is supported with its axis vertical about two spaced pivot points 22, 23 attached to the adjacent edge of the frame 11. Mounted within the vertical slide frame 21 is a piston arrangement 24 that is driven to be a sliding fit within the cylinder that is 10 defined by the side frame 21. The piston 24 is integrally secured to the forwardly extended yoke 19, the forwardly edge of which supports a vertically mounted strut 30 that terminates in a turret.31 that in turn supports wheel yokes 32, 33 that, as shown in Figure 12, extend down to 15 support a horizontally located axle 34 on which a tyre and wheel assembly 17, 18 is free to rotate. The wheel yokes 32, 33 are secured to the turret 31 so that the turret 31 and thus the tyre and wheel assemblies 17 or 18 are pivotably about a vertical axis. A hydraulic piston and 20 cylinder 35 is attached to the turret 31 to enable the tyre and wheel assembly 17 or 18 to pivot through the desired degree of travel which is about 90 Each slide frame 21 is attached to a central portion of the framework 11 of the transporter 10 via a hydraulic piston/cylinder 25 40 that operates to pivot the side frame 21 about its mounting points namely about a vertical axis to enable the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 to splay outwardly of the transporter or inwardly of lines drawn down the sides of the transporter 10. Thus, the two hydraulic piston 30 cylinder assemblies 35 and 40 ensure pivotal movement of the wheel assemblies 15, 16 about a vertical axis and pivotal movement of the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 about the turret 31, again about a vertical axis. 35 The hydraulic ram 20 that is formed within the slide beam 21 provides about two metres of vertical movement of the frame 11 relative to the wheel assembly 15 \\melbfiles\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 -9 or 16. Figure 11 and detailed Figures 16 - 18 also illustrates a hydraulically operated fail safe park brake 5 50. A pair of wedges 54, 55 are driven by two coil springs 52, 53 to engage the periphery of the tyre to lock the wheel. A hydraulic cylinder 51 operates to drive the brake to an off position. Thus, in the event of power failure the brakes remain on urged by the springs 52, 53. 10 A variety of wheel positions are shown in Figures 4 to 8. Figure 4 is a plan view of one wheel assembly 15 and shows the tyre and wheels 17, 18 in a storage position in which their axes are transverse to the longitudinal 15 axis of the transporter 10 but they are housed within the confines of the sides of the transporter to an outward loading position in which the yokes 19 are pivoted outwardly and the tyre and wheels 17, 18 are rotated with their axes again transverse to the longitudinal axis of 20 the transporter 10. This is the self loading position shown in Figure 9 whereby when the hydraulic ram 20 is operated to lift the transporter 10 to the highest position, as shown in Figure 8b and Figure 9, a trailer T can be driven underneath the frame 11 between the wheel 25 assemblies 15, 16 that define a track of about 8 metres. There is more than a metre clearance between the extreme edges of the trailer T and the inner edges of the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 as shown in Figure 9. 30 In Figure 5, the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 have been.turned through 90 so that their axes are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transporter 10. This allows the transporter 10 to move in a crab like fashion transverse to its longitudinal direction and 35 greatly assist the manoeuvrability of the vehicle. In Figure 6, the yokes 19 are turned inwardly so that the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 are viewed from the \\melb-files\homeS\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 - 10 transport width where they are within the confines of the sides of the frame 11 of the transporter 10. Figure 7 is merely a front elevation of Figure 4 and Figure 8a shows the frame 11 and tyre and wheel assembly 17 in the 5 lowermost position at which a cricket wicket 100 would be lowered into an aperture in the ground surface. As can be seen in Figure 8a, in this position the lowermost surface of the hydraulic ram 20 engages the ground surface and the wheel 17 is slightly lifted clear of the ground surface. 10 As shown in Figures 2 and 3 and in the detail of Figure 19, both ends of the frame of the transporter are also provided with leg assemblies 60 that terminate in feet 61. The leg assemblies 60 can be lowered so that the 15 feet 61 engage the ground surface and then lock into position so that the transporter can be stood on the feet 61 and then the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 lifted relative to the frame 11 so that they can be positioned in their storage position during the self loading onto a 20 trailer T. Once the tyre and wheel assemblies have been put into the transport position shown in Figure 6, the legs can then be raised to a storage position where they are within the confines of the frame 11 and the trailer T can then be towed to its ultimate destination. To unload 25 the transporter 10 the legs 60 are lowered to support the frame 11 and then the wheels 17, 18 are returned to the position shown in Figure 9. The transporter 10 is then lifted clear of the trailer T and the trailer T is driven clear of the transporter 10. The wheels 17, 18 can then 30 be moved to the operative driving position shown in Figure 1 and the legs 60 and feet 61 retracted to the storage position so that the transporter is supported by the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18. 35 As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 are quite large and the large rubber tyres are designed to take the load for slow speed \\melbfiles\homeS\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 - 11 (maximum 10km/hr) transportation. To support for the cricket wicket 100, as shown with reference to Figures 13 to 15, a series of T-shaped 5 support brackets 110 shown in Figure 15 are equally spaced along both sides of the transporter 10. The T-shaped head 111 of the brackets 110 engages the lower most rail 71, 72 of the frame 11 and the triangular arrow head 112 of the bracket 110 locates under a rebate 113 in the top of the 10 tray 101 of the cricket wicket 100. In this way the cricket wicket 100 is suspended along each side by the spaced brackets 110. The weight of the wicket 100 and the supports on both sides ensures that the wicket will not come adrift of the transporter 10 when it is suspended by 15 the brackets 110. Once the wicket 100 is lowered into hole in the ground, the load comes off the brackets 110 which allows them to be displaced outwardly to release from the rebate 113 on the top of the tray 101. 20 The frame 11 of the transporter 10 comprises three sub-frames 12, 13, 14 all of trussed configuration. Each sub-frame 12, 13, 14 comprises parallel elongate beams 71, 72, 73, 74 spaced in a rectangular array when viewed end on. These beams 71, 72, 73, 74 are 25 interconnected by a series of trusses 75, 76 that extend vertically and horizontally to interconnect the beams. The trussed structure provides the inherent strength to support the span of the load of the cricket wicket without bending. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the frame 11 30 comprises a central sub-section 14 into which two end sections 12, 13 are arranged to be a telescopic sliding fit so that in the retracted position the end sections 12, 13 meet at the middle of the transporter 10. The end sections 12, 13 run within the central section 14 on 35 rollers 80 that run on rails 81 defined by the elongate beams 71, 72 of the framework 11. Suitable locking mechanisms are provided to lock the sub-frames in either \\melb-files\homeS\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 - 12 the retracted or fully extended position and the displacement of the sub-frames from one position to another is done through a pull or a push on the tyre and wheel assemblies 17, 18 to either open or close the 5 transporter 10. The transporter 10 described about is extremely versatile. It is able to carry a very large and cumbersome drop in cricket wicket. Its lifting capacity 10 allows it to be self loaded onto a trailer and its telescopic retractability allows it to be transported on a trailer that does not require a mechanised escort. The fact that the transporter can be self loaded onto and off a trailer does away with the need for cranes at either 15 destination. The design of the wheel assemblies allows the transporter to be readily manoeuvrable and reduces the likelihood of damage to the surrounding surface. The transporter can also be towed over short 20 distances having a large tractor on a public roadway with special permission. The transporter can also be used to carry racetrack cross over trays which are placed side by side to define removable racetrack crossings. 25 In a second embodiment shown in Figures 20 to 23, modifications have been made to the wheel assemblies of the transporter. As shown in Figures 20 & 21, the yoke 19 that interconnects a wheel assembly 18 with a vertical hydraulic ram 20 in the first embodiment has been replaced 30 by a parallelogram linkage 120 that connects the wheel assembly 121 to the frame 122 and comprises two vertically spaced pairs 125, 126 of parallel bars that are coupled at one end to the wheel 121 assembly and at the other end to a slide plate 130 that is mounted for sliding vertical 35 movement about an elongate channel section 131 that is in turn pivotally mounted to the frame 122. \\melb-files\homeS\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 - 13 A hydraulic ram 132 interconnects the slide plate 130 and the lower pair of linkages 125. Actuation of the ram 132 has the effect of causing a geometric change in the parallel linkage 120 which has the effect of raising one 5 component, namely the plate 130, relative to the other component, namely the wheel assembly 121. The plate 130 which extends to about half the length of the channel 131 has the facility of being displaceable along the elongate channel which includes square apertures 135 that can 10 accommodate pins to hold the plate in a particular position along the length of the channel. In this manner, through a two stage operation, the hydraulic ram 132 can effect a relative displacement of the wheel assembly 121 to the channel and thus the frame 122 by two 1 metre 15 lifts, the second taking place after the plate 130 has been pinned to the channel 131 to thus effect a two metre lift. A further feature of -this embodiment is illustrated 20 in Figures 20 whereby an elongate roller 150 is mounted across the periphery of the tyre 18. A hydraulic motor (not shown) causes the elongate roller 150 to axially rotate and the roller is in physical contact with the tread of the tyre so that -rotation of the roller 150 25 imparts rotation of the tyre. This provides a simple mechanism-of maneuvering the transporter on a wheel by wheel basis by control of the rotation of the roller 150. A further feature of this embodiment is illustrated 30 in Figures 22 and 23 whereby each tyre and wheel assembly 121 can pivot about a vertical axis from an inline position shown in the drawings to a transverse position where the axis of the tyre and wheel is 900 to the longitudinal direction of the transporter. Figure 3 shows 35 the tyre and wheel assemblies in this orientation. \\melb-files\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 - 14 The flanges that support the tyre and wheel assemblies are coupled to a turntable 155 that is in turn pivotally secured to the vertical pillar 156 that supports the wheel. A radially extending arm 157 projects from the 5 pillar 156 and is coupled to the turntable 155 via a hydraulic ram .158. Extension of the ram 158 is designed so that it causes the turntable to turn through about 1100 to in effect move the tyre and wheel assembly 121 through the same rotation. 10 The transporter can thus operate independently of cranes or loading ramps to either ensure it can be positioned on and off a low loader transportation trailer or to lift an elongate article such as a cricket wicket on 15 and off a trailer. \\melb_files\homeS\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04

Claims (12)

1. A transporter having an elongate trussed frame supported at each end by a pair of wheel assemblies, the 5 frame being adapted to support an elongate heavy structure suspended therefrom, the frame comprising at least two telescopically mounted sub-frames, one positioned within the other to facilitate variation in.the length of the transporter, each wheel assembly being coupled to the 10 frame to be vertically displaceable relative to the frame and means adapted to effect the vertical displacement through at least two metres.

2. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein each 15 wheel assembly comprises a yoke supported by a column to be vertically displaceable about the column that is in turn pivotally attached to the frame to pivot about a vertical axis. 20 3.. The transporter according to claim 2, wherein the yoke projects from the column to support a strut that is pivotable about a vertical axis, the strut supporting a stub axle which supports a tyre and wheel assembly, whereby the spacing of the wheels and the wheel direction 25 can be varied.

4. The transporter according to claim 3, wherein the columns are mounted parallel and spaced apart interconnected to the frame by hydraulic cylinders that 30 operate to cause each column to pivot about a vertical axis.

5. The transporter according to claim 4, wherein each strut is coupled to the yoke via a hydraulic cylinder that 35 causes the strut to pivot relative to the yoke about a vertical axis. \\melb-files\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 - 16 6. The transporter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each wheel assembly is independently driven. 5 7. The transporter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each sub-frame is an elongate trussed construction comprising truss beams extending in both vertical and horizontal planes joining spaced parallel side beams. 10

8. The transporter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame comprises a central sub-frame that supports two sub-frames slidable within the central sub-frame and extending out of each end of the central 15 sub-frame.

9. The transporter according to claim 8, wherein when the sub-frames are retracted the length of the frame is about half the length of the frame when extended. 20

10. The transporter according to claim 9, wherein means is provided to lock the sub-frames from relative movement in the retracted and extended positions. 25 11. The transporter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame includes a plurality of brackets that hang from the lower portion of each side of the frame the brackets being adapted to be secured to an elongate tray that is suspended from the frame above the ground 30 surface so that, in use, the. transporter can transport the tray.

12. The transporter according to claim 2, wherein hydraulic rams displace the yokes relative to the column 35 to effect the vertical displacement. \\melb_files\homeS\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04 - 17 13. The transporter according to claim 2, wherein the yoke is attached to the column by a parallel linkage and a hydraulic ram causes a change in the geometry of the parallel linkage to lift the yoke relative to the column. 5

14. The transporter according to claim 6,wherein the means to independently drive each wheel comprises a driver roller that engages the periphery of the tyre whereby rotation of the roller caused rotation of the 10 tyre.

15. The transporter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transporter is adapted to be connected to prime mover which supplies hydraulic and electric power 15 to the transporter.

16. The transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the transporter includes a motor that is adapted to drive the hydraulics of the transporter and 20 includes a generator to power the electrical components.

17. A transporter substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 25 Dated this 18 t day of February.2004 STRATHAYR PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK 30 Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia \\melb-files\home$\MCooper\Keep\Speci\TRANSPORTER-AU Complete.doc 18/02/04