AU2015201034B2

AU2015201034B2 - Longer Vehicle Configuration

Info

Publication number: AU2015201034B2
Application number: AU2015201034A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gary Byford
Original assignee: Byford Equipment Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Byford Equipment Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-28
Filing date: 2015-02-27
Publication date: 2017-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-27
Also published as: AU2015201034A1

Abstract

A longer vehicle combination for road transport uses a prime mover connected to a front trailer and then a rear trailer and the trailer axles are arranged in three tandem sets. The leading tandem set of the rear trailer is part of a dolly which supports a fifth wheel of the rear trailer and the spacing of the tandem sets is 1.5-2.5m. The rear axle of the tandem set has a pair of self-steered wheels which assist in the reduction of the turning circle over rough terrain when the combination is a bulk milk tanker combination. 20IS-02-27,C\Usrs\SharleneDocauments\SPECIFICAT[ONSbyford.capnpd,8 0c CMl o) 0 CMj N C\ CMl Ir CMl

Description

ι 2015201034 27 Feb 2015

TITLE OF INVENTION Longer Vehicle Configuration TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Tliis invention concerns larger combination vehicles (LC Vs).

BACKGROUND

[0002] In Australia the maximum width of road vehicles is 2.5m and the maximum height is 4.3m. Vehicles may exceed these limits but are restricted to selected road routes.

[0003] The most popular configurations of trailer combinations have a prime mover which with dual drive axles, with three axles on each trailer and four tires on each axle. In lighter duty combinations the trailer may have only two axles.

[0004] In trailer design it is usual to limit the load carried to 9 tonnes per axle. When the trailer has tandem axles, the pair in practice can only support 17 tonnes. This would normally be overcome by using a triple axle configuration but this in turn introduces other unwelcome restrictions.

[0005] Bulk liquid tankers face special design requirements in that the steering characteristics change moving from full to empty. If the trailer is being used for milk collection from farm to milk processing centres, the access road may not be ideal having regard to the length of the truck. Its tin ning circle may be too large for some collection areas having regard to the layout of farm buildings. If the vehicle combination has to travel over grassy areas these may become muddy in wet weather and the prime mover may lose traction.

[0006] Reducing length to reduce turning circle tends to proportionally reduce load capacity. This affects the economics of the collection operation. B-doubles are limited to a length of 26m 2015-02-27,C:\U«r$\Sharlene'Doaiments\SPliClFlCAT[0>iS'i>}ford.cai>.v.T)d,l 2 2015201034 27 Feb 2015 if they are fitted with front underrun protection devices and have a maximum weight limit. Milk tankers must be able to travel in all parts of the state in which they collect on behalf of a business. Such vehicle combinations commonly have a 26m turning circle.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] This invention provides a longer vehicle combination comprising a prime mover, a first trailer and a rear trailer, wherein the trailer axles are arranged in three tandem groups. The rear of the front trailer may have a tandem group, the rear trailer may have a leading tandem group and a trailing tandem group. The leading tandem group of the rear trailer may support a fifth wheel of the rear trailer. The spacing of the tandem may be wider than is customary. The spacing may be 1.5-2,5m. The spacing between the tandem groups may be adjusted so that the load is better distributed and the limit or mass is increased.

[0008] In a preferred arrangement the vehicle combination has a three axle prime mover with a fifth wheel and connected to this fifth wheel is the lead tanker, via its king pin. This trailer is supported at its rear by two axles, spaced widely apart (between 1.5m and 2.5m) to improve the performance of the steer axle that the rear axle possesses. A tandem dolly is connected to the rear of the lead trailer via a ring feeder, and may or may not have a steer axle at its rear. The dolly supports a fifth wheel and connected to this fifth wheel is the king pin of the tag trailer.

The tag trailer is also supported by tandem axles at its real' (between 1.5m and 2.2m), with the most rear axle being self-steering. The king pins and fifth wheels are located in positions to optimize weight distribution.

[0009] The tandem axles of both trailers may be 1900-2100mm apart.

[0010] The tandem axles of the dolly may be 1400-1600mm apart.

[0011] The rear axle of the front trailer and the front of the dolly frame may be 3300-3 800mm apart. The distance between the rear tow point of the first trailer to the centre of the fifth wheel supported by the dolly is 4100-4500mm. The rear tow point being the RINGFEDER® coupling. 201S-02-27,C:\Us€r5\ShaffeneMtocunienl^SPEC]FICATIONS'b>ford.cap.wpd,2 3 2015201034 27 Feb 2015 [0012] The rear axle of each trailer pair may be self-steering. Self-steering for the rear axle of the dolly pair is optional.

[0013] The self-steered wheels preferably have castor action.

[0014] The vehicle combination of the invention provides a prime mover with a fifth wheel, a front tanker trailer with a pin for coupling to the fifth wheel of the prime mover and tandem axles at the trailer rear, a rear tanker trailer with a pin for coupling to a fifth wheel and tandem axles at the trailer rear, and a dolly with a frame for supporting said fifth wheel, a draw bar for mutually connecting the two trailers, the dolly frame being supported by tandem axles, wherein if the mutual spacing of the tandem axles is x, the separation between the rear driven wheel of the prime mover and the tandem axle of the front trailer and the separation between the rear dolly axle and the tandem axle of the second trailer is about 2.5x, The extent of variation may be ±5%.

[0015] The dolly aspect of the invention provides a dolly for joining a rear trailer to a front trailer comprising a frame for supporting a fifth wheel, an A-configuration draw bar extending forwardly of the frame, a pair of wheel axles and wheel assemblies rendering the frame mobile, wherein the wheels of the trailing axle are self-steering.

[0016] The trailer aspect of the invention provides a trailer with a locating pin for a fifth wheel coupling at the front end and a pair of axles at the rear end, wherein the leading axle has wheels and the trailing axle has self-steered wheels.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0017] 1. The purpose of this arrangement is to share the load more evenly by spacing the axles differently, which is kinder to roads and bridges. The combination can carry three lots of the capacity of two axles, instead of two lots of the capacity of three axles. Therefore, as the load is better distributed, the limit on the mass is increased. Currently in Victoria, the higher mass limit (HML) of three axles is 21TN (7.5TN per axle), and the HML of two axles is 17TN (8.5TN per axle). This means by using tandem axles, all of the axles in the configuration can carry an extra 2015-02-27,CAUsers'SharlerwMJocunientsVSPECrFiCATIONS'byfbrd.cap.wpd,? 4 2015201034 27 Feb 2015 tonne each.

[0018] 2, The self-steering axles used in this invention also decrease the swept path of the combination. By having the self-steer axles, the swept path can be less than that of a 19m B-double. The self-steer axles are also designed to lock up at higher speed, so that they act as a rigid axle which improves the stability at said higher speeds.

[0019] 3. The self-steering axles will reduce the tyre scrub, which in turn reduces the tyre wear. This in turn means less friction, less fuel consumption and lower emissions. If the combination only drives from factoiy to factory, self-steer axles are superfluous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a side view of the vehicle combination.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring now to the drawing, prime mover 2 has steered wheels 4 beneath cab 6 and a pair of driver axles 8,8' in conventional manner. A fifth wheel assembly 10 between the driver axles supports the forward end of a front trailer 12, 8560mm in length. The trailer 12 has tandem axles 14,14' at its rear- spaced at 1924mm. The latter spacing is economical and improved load distribution. The distance between axle 8' and axle 14 is 5053mm. Front trailer 12 articulates about the axis of the fifth wheel 10.

[0022] Rear trailer 16 is likewise 8560mm in length and has a tandem axle assembly 18,18'. Again the spacing between the trailer axles is 1924mm, The forward end of the rear trailer is supported by a fifth wheel 20 borne by dolly frame 22. The tandem axle 24,24' of the dolly frame are 1500mm apart. The dolly frame 22 has an A-frame draw bar 26 which hitches to the rear of front trailer 12 via a RINGFEDER® coupling. The distance supporting the dolly fr ame 22 from the rear of trailer 12 is 3614mm which allows the dolly to articulate. 2015-02-27,C:\Users^5hirleneM>ocuments''SPECiFiCATIONS'bj,fordcap.\\pd,4 5 2015201034 27 Feb 2015 [0023] The fifth wheel 20 allows the trailer 16 to articulate. The combined effect of three axes of articulation is to reduce the turning circle to 21 in diameter instead of the 23780mm which is the distance separating steered axle 4 and the rearmost axle 18'. General Mass Limit (GML) up to 68.5TN and Higher Mass Limit (HML) up to 74.5TN (currently).

[0024] The wheel axles are connected to the two trailer chassis and to the dolly frame by trailing arm suspension units incorporating air bags.

[0025] Conventional retractable legs 28 extend from both trailer chassis.

[0026] In a non-illustrated variant, axles, 14', 24' and 18' are fitted with self-steered wheels which allow caster action. This is possible by the use of truncated cone mounts for the wheels. Caster action only occurs at speeds up to 40kph in order to confine this assistance to steering to the part of the vehicle journey in the vicinity of the collection area at the farm. At cruising speed there is no caster action. The speed at which the axles are locked and unlocked is programmed by the EBS system provided with the trailer.

[0027] It is to be understood that the word “comprising” as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word “comprising” does not exclude the addition of other elements.

[0028] It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

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Claims

1. A longer vehicle combination for road transport of bulk goods comprising a prime mover, a front trailer and a rear trailer, the trailer axles being arranged in three tandem sets, the rear of the front trailer having a tandem set, the rear trailer having a leading tandem set that is part of a dolly and also a trailing tandem set, and the dolly includes a dolly frame which supports a fifth wheel of the rear trailer, wherein each of the rear axles of the tandem set of the front trailer, the leading tandem set of the dolly and the trailing tandem set of the rear trailer is self-steering.

2. A longer vehicle combination as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: the distance between a rear tow point of the front trailer and the centre of the fifth wheel supported by the dolly is 4100-4500mm; and the spacing of the tandem set of the front trailer and the trailing tandem set of the rear trailer is 1.5 and 2.5m.

3. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the distance between the rear axle of the tandem set of the front trailer and the front of the dolly frame is 3300-3 800mm.

4. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one of Claims -3, wherein the spacing of the tandem set of the front trailer and the trailing tandem set of the rear trailer is 19002100mm.

5. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, wherein each of the rear axles of the tandem set of the front trailer and the trailing tandem set of the rear trailer has wheels which have caster action.

6. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the tandem dolly is connected to the rear of the front trailer at the rear tow point by a ring feeder coupling.

7. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one of Claims 1-6, wherein the leading tandem set of the rear trailer forming part of the dolly has a rear axle with self- steered wheels with caster action.

8. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one Claim 7, wherein the leading tandem set of the rear trailer and forming part of the dolly has a pair of axles that are 14001600mm apart.

9. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one of Claims 1-8, wherein the tandem set of the front trailer and the trailing tandem set of the rear trailer has axle pairs that are 19002100mm apart.

10. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one of Claims 1-9, wherein the separation between the rear drive wheel of the prime mover and the tandem axle of the front trailer is x and the separation between the rearmost wheel of the second trailer and the rearmost wheel of the first trailer is about 2.5x, the extent of variation being ±5%..

11. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one of Claims 1-9, wherein the spacing of the axles of the tandem set of the front trailer on the one hand and the axles of the trailing tandem set of the rear trailer is x and the separation between the rear driven wheel of the prime mover and the tandem set of the front bailer is about 2.5x, the extent of variation being ±5%.

12. A longer vehicle configuration as claimed in any one of Claims 1-9, wherein the spacing of the axles of the tandem set of the front trailer on the one hand and the axles of the trailing tandem set of the rear trailer is x and the separation between the leading tandem set and the railing tandem set of the rear bailer is about 2.5x, the extent of variation being ±5%.