IE981002A1 - A trailer - Google Patents

Abstract

An extendable trailer (1) for an articulated vehicle has a front part (2) and a rear part (3). The rear part (3) is slidably mounted on the front part (2) and movable between a retracted position, through a partially extended position, and a fully extended position for carriage of different container loads. Means is provided for locking the front part (2) and rear part (3) together in each position of use. The trailer (1) has a king pin (23, see figure 10) on the front part (2) and a plurality of pairs of bolster arms (27) projecting laterally outwardly from the trailer (1) there being twistlocks (28, see figure 11) at an outer end of each bolster arm (27). There is movable bolster assembly (16) at the rear of the rear part (3) which can be moved between a lowered stored position and a raised operative position.

Description

This invention relates to a trailer and in particular to a trailer for an articulated vehicle.

Containers and other load frames which are carried on articulated vehicles come in a number of different sizes. Fixed bed trailers are dedicated to ,a particular type of container load. This can be very inconvenient for haulage contractors given the large ✓ number of different load types used.

The present invention is directed towards providing a trailer which overcomes this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided an extendable trailer for an articulated vehicle, the trailer comprising a front trailer part and a rear trailer part, the rear part being slidably engagable with the front part and being movable longitudinally relative to the front part between a retracted position and an extended position to adjust the length of the trailer for carriage of different loads, and means for locking the front part and the rear part of the trailer together in each position of use, the front trailer part comprising a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal beams interconnected by a number of 0 cross members, a rubbing plate assembly at a front end of the front part, the rubbing plate assembly being integrally formed with a box structure provided at the front end of the trailer, said box structure comprising a forward cross beam and an associated rearward cross beam, said cross beams extending between the longitudinal beams and being mounted at a front end and a rear end respectively of the rubbing plate, a pair of longitudinal channel section supports extending between said cross beams at either side of the king pin, a downwardly facing open side of each support engaging against and welded to an upper face of the rubbing plate, an upstanding backing plate mounted above the king pin and extending between the supports, a lower end of the backing plate engaging the king pin, a plurality of pairs of bolster arms mounted longitudinally spaced-apart along the front trailer part, said bolster arms projecting laterally outwardly of the longitudinal beams, each bolster arm having a twistlock assembly mounted at an outer end of the bolster arm, the rear trailer part comprising a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal beams interconnected by a number of spacedapart transverse beams, a movable bolster assembly being provided at a rear end of - 2 the rear part for movement between a lowered stored position and a raised operative position.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a pair of bolster arms are integrally formed with the forward cross beam of the box structure support for the rubbing plate assembly.

Conveniently, the bolster arms on the front trailer part are of box-section construction, each bolster arm being tapered, the bolster arm narrowing outwardly of the longitudinal beam, an outer end of the bolster arm being sized such that a twistlock assembly mounts directly onto the outer end of the bolster arm closing an outer end of the bolster arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the movable bolster assembly comprises a pair of bolster arms pivotally mounted at each side of the rear trailer part for pivotal movement between the lowered position in which the bolster arm is located below a top surface of the rear trailer part, and a raised position extending above the rear trailer part top surface supporting a twistlock on each arm in alignment with associated twistlocks on the front trailer part, a locking pin being engagable between the bolster arm and the rear trailer part to secure the bolster arm in the stored or extended positions.

Preferably, each movable bolster arm is pivotally mounted on a support beam which extends laterally outwardly at a rear end of the rear trailer part, the bolster arm having an inner end hingedly attached at an upper front edge of the support beam such that in the stored position, the inner end of the arm engages against a front face of the support beam and when in the operative position, the arm lies on top of the support beam.

Conveniently, each movable bolster arm is of box-section construction.

In a further embodiment, rollers are provided on the front trailer part and these rollers engage with and support a top flange of the rear trailer part for slidably engaging the rear trailer part with the front trailer part. - 3 In a preferred embodiment, each roller is rotatably mounted on a roller pin, the roller pin being mounted between a pair of roller support plates on the front trailer part with the roller between the plates, roller locating collars engagable with the roller pin at each side of the roller for positioning the roller on the pin for rolling engagement with the rear trailer part.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a trailer according to the invention, shown in a collapsed position of minimum length; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the trailer shown in an intermediate partially extended position of use; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the trailer shown in a fully extended position of use; Fig. 4 is a detail elevational view of a swinging bolster portion of the trailer, shown in a rest position; Figs. 5 to 8 are detail views ilustrating various portions of the trailer; Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a front part of the trailer; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the front part of the trailer; Fig. 11 is a sectional view along the line XI-XI of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view taken along the line XII-XIl of Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is an elevational view of a rear part of the trailer; - 4 Fig. 14 is a plan view of the rear part of the trailer, Fig. 15 is a detail elevational view of a swinging bolster assembly of the traier shown in an extended, in-use position; Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail view of the swinging bolster assembly in the extended position; Fig. 17 is an elevational view showing the swinging bolster assembly in the lowered stored position; Fig. 18 is a detail partially sectioned view of a roller assembly used in the trailer; Fig. 19 is a detail elevational view of the roller assembly; and Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of the roller assembly.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a trailer, according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The trailer 1 is a two-part trailer having a front part 2 and a rear part 3, the rear part 3 being slidably engagable with the front part 2 and movable between a retracted position as shown in Fig. 1 through a partially extended position as shown in Fig. 2 and a fully extended position as shown in Fig. 3. Means is provided for locking the two trailer parts 2, 3 together in each position of use.

The front part 2 essentially comprises a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal beams 6, 7 interconnected by cross members 8. At a front end of the front part 2 is a rubbing plate assembly 9 comprising a rubbing plate with a number of channel sectional support members 10 supporting and reinforcing the rubbing plate. To minimise the weight of the trailer, the rubbing plate assembly at a front end of the front part 2 is integrally formed with a box structure. The box structure comprises a forward cross beam 20 and an associated rearward cross beam '21 extending between the longitudinal beams 6, 7 being mounted at a front end and at a rear end respectively of - 5 the rubbing plate 22. A pair of longitudinal channel section support members 10 extend between the cross beams 20, 21 at either side of a king pin 23. A downwardly facing open side of each support 10 engages against and is welded to an upper face of the rubbing plate 22. An upstanding backing plate 26 is mounted above the king pin 23 and extends between the supports 10. A lower end of the backing plate 26 ✓ engages the king pin 23.

A number of pairs of bolster arms 27 are mounted longitudinally spaced-apart along the front trailer part 2. These bolster arms 27 project laterally outwardly of the longitudinal beams 6, 7, each bolster arm 27 having a twistlock assembly 28 (Fig. 11) mounted at an outer end of the bolster arm 27. It will be noted that a pair of bolster arms 27 are integrally formed with the forward, cross beam 20 of the box structure support for the rubbing plate assembly. Similarly, the other bolster arms 27 in the front trailer part 2 form extensions of the cross members 8. Each of the bolster arms 27 are of box-section construction, each bolster arm 27 being tapered, the bolster arm 27 narrowing outwardly of the longitudinal beam 6, 7. An outer end of the bolster arm 27 is sized such that a twistlock assembly 28 mounts directly onto the outer end of the bolster arm 27 closing an outer end of the bolster arm 27. Thus advantageously, there is no need for a separate cover plate to be provided at the end of the bolster arm to which the twistlock would be attached, this feature providing a weight saving. It will be noted also that the bolster arms 27 project upwardly and outwardly of the beams 20, 8 with a space 29 (Fig. 11) between a top of the bolster arm 27 and an upper flange of the longitudinal beams 6, 7 which conveniently accommodates runs of cables and/or pipework.

The rear part 3 is of similar construction to the front part having a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal beams 11, 12 interconnected by transverse beams 14. A swinging bolster assembly 16 is provided at a rear end of the rear part 3.

The swinging bolster assembly is shown more clearly in Figs. 15 to 17. A pair of bolster arms 30 are pivotally mounted at each side of the rear trailer part 3 for pivotal movement about a pivot pin 31 between a lowered position (shown in Fig. 17) and a raised in-use position (shown in Figs. 15 and 16). A locking pin is engagable between the bolster arm 30 and the rear trailer part 3 to secure the bolster arm 30 in the stored - β or extended positions. Conveniently, each bolster arm 30 is of box-section construction which is easy and cheap to produce. Each bolster arm 30 is pivotally mounted on a support beam 32 at a rear end of the rear trailer part 3, the support beam 32 extending laterally outwardly at the rear end of the rear trailer part 3. It will be noted that an inner end of the bolster arm 30 is hingedly attached at an upper front ✓ edge of the support beam 32 such that in the stored position, the inner end 33 of the bolster arm 30 engages against a front face of the support beam 32 as shown in Fig. 17, and when in the operative position, the bolster arm 30 lies on top of the support beam 32 extending horizontally rearwardly of the support beam 32. A twistlock assembly (not shown) is mounted at an outer free end 34 of each bolster arm 30 for use when the bolster arm 30 is in the operative position, the twistlock aligning with associated twistlocks on the front trailer part for use. It will be noted that this particular construction of movable bolster arm helps to minimise the distance between the pivot axis and the axis of the twistlock assembly.

Rollers are provided on the front part and these engage with and support a top flange 11,12 of the rear part 3 for slidably mounting the rear part 3 on the front part 2. The roller assembly construction is shown more clearly in Figs. 18 to 20. Each roller 14 is rotatably mounted on a roller pin 41. The roller pin 41 is mounted between a pair of roller support plates 42, 43 with the roller 40 between the plates 42, 43. Roller locating collars 45, 46 are engagable with the roller pin 41 at each side of the roller 40 for positioning the roller 40 on the pin 41 for rolling engagement with the rear trailer part 3. Each roller 40 is located beneath a top flange 48 of the front part 2 and rests and rolls on a top flange 49 of the rear part 3 of the trailer. It will be noted that the top flange 49 of the rear part 3 is made narrower and deeper than the associated bottom flange 50 of the beams 11, 12. This construction advantageously provides added support for the rollers 40 and also gives clearance to prevent fouling with the webs of the longitudinal beams 6,7 of the front trailer part 2.

In use, the rear part 3 can be slid in and out on the front part 2 to adjust the trailer 1 to a desirable length for carrying different loads. When in the extended position, the swinging bolster assembly 16 is swung into the raised in-use position. When the trailer is in the collapsed position, the swinging bolster assembly 16 is swung into the stored position.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. An extendable trailer for an articulated vehicle, the trailer comprising a front trailer part and a rear trailer part, the rear part being slidably engagable with the front part and being movable longitudinally relative to the front part between a retracted position and an extended position tg adjust the length of the trailer for carriage of different loads, and means for locking the front part and the rear part of the trailer together in each position of use, the front trailer part comprising a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal beams interconnected by a number of cross members, a rubbing plate assembly at a front end of the front part, the rubbing plate assembly being integrally formed with a box structure z provided at the front end of the trailer, said box structure comprising a forward cross beam and an associated rearward cross beam, said cross beams extending between the longitudinal beams and being mounted at a front end and a rear end respectively of the rubbing plate, a pair of longitudinal channel sections supports extending between said cross beams at either side of the king pin, a downwardly facing open side of each support engaging against and welded to an upper face of the rubbing plate, an upstanding backing plate mounted above the king pin and extending between the supports, a lower end of the backing plate engaging the king pin, a plurality of pairs of bolster arms mounted longitudinally spaced-apart along the front trailer part, said bolster arms projecting laterally outwardly of the longitudinal beams, each bolster arm having a twistlock assembly mounted at an outer end of the bolster arm, the rear trailer part comprising a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal beams interconnected by a number of spaced-apart transverse beams, a movable bolster assembly being provided at a rear end of the rear part for movement between a lowered stored position and a raised operative position.

2. An extendable trailer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of bolster arms are integrally formed with the forward cross beam of the box structure support for the rubbing plate assembly.

3. An extendable trailer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the bolster arms on the front trailer part are of box-section construction, each bolster arm being - 9 tapered, the bolster arm narrowing outwardly of the longitudinal beam, an outer end of the bolster arm being sized such that a twistlock assembly mounts directly onto the outer end of the bolster arm closing an outer end of the bolster arm. An extendable trailer as claimed in any preceding claim,,wherein each bolster arm in the front trailer part forms an extension of a cross member. An extendable trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable bolster assembly comprises a pair of bolster arms pivotally mounted at each side of the rear trailer part for pivotal movement between the lowered position in which the bolster arm is located below a top surface of the rear trailer part, and the raised position extending above the rear trailer part top surface supporting a twistlock on each arm in alignment with associated twistlocks on the front trailer part, a locking pin being engagable between the bolster arm and the rear trailer part to secure the bolster arm in the stored or extended positions. An extendable trailer as claimed in claim 5, wherein each movable bolster arm is pivotally mounted on a support beam which extends laterally outwardly at a rear end of the rear trailer part, the bolster arm having an inner end hingedly attached at an upper front edge of the support beam such that in the stored position the inner end of the arm engages against a front face of the support beam and when in the operative position, the arm lies on top of the support beam. ✓ An extendable trailer as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein each movable bolster arm is of box-section construction. An extendable trailer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein rollers are provided on the front trailer part and these rollers engage with and support a top flange of the rear trailer part for slidably engaging the rear trailer part with the front trailer part. - ίο 9. An extendable trailer as claimed in claim 8, wherein each roller is rotatably mounted on a roller pin, the roller pin being mounted between a pair of roller support plates on the front trailer part with the roller between the plates, roller locating collars engagable with the roller pin at each side of the roller for

4. 5 positioning the roller on the pin for rolling engagement with the rear trailer part.

5. 10. An extendable trailer for an articulated vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.