JPH10297495A - Trailer for small vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To heighten the supporting rigidity of a caster leg in this trailer as well as to make improvements in operability. SOLUTION: A front part of a trailer loading space 22 of a trailer 20 is superposed on a tractor side rear body 8 of a rocking type tricycle and a hitch arm 21 is connected with a coupler. A caster leg 24 of the trailer 20 is provided with a guide member 30 in the longitudinal direction, and a slide member 33 sliding in the long groove 31 is installed in one end of a link rod 32 using a fixed leg lower part 25a as a support point. A locking mechanism to be engaged to the side of the caster leg 24 at the stroke end is installed in the slide member 33. These structures are installed in both sides of a car body, while the rocking mechanism is formed into being symmetrically interlocked. In addition, an operating arm 36 is attached to the link rod 32, making it into a curved form to set free of a turning path of the caster leg 24, and the tip is used as a grip 37 and this part is provided with a knuckle guard 38 being almost paralleled with a turning plane of the caster leg 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a trailer towed by a small vehicle having caster legs that can be stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-3729 discloses a three-wheeled trailer that is also used as a wheelbarrow to be pulled by a bicycle.
The trailer includes a pair of left and right rear wheels and one front wheel that can be raised and lowered. In addition, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-5694
No. 2 shows an in-vehicle bed provided with auxiliary wheels for detecting loading or unloading to and from a vehicle body, and a pair of left and right front wheels and rear wheels provided so as to be freely undulated.

[0003] In the present invention, the expression "up and down" refers to a state in which the caster wheels are flipped up so that the caster wheels do not touch the ground, and an upright state in which the caster legs are substantially upright so that the caster wheels touch the ground. It means freely.

[0004]

In the case where the front wheel side of the trailer is made up and down freely, the support rigidity of the caster legs must be increased. It is also necessary to improve the operability of the caster leg in the up / down operation.

[0005] From the above viewpoint, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-37
In No. 29, since the front wheels at the time of standing are supported by the operation rods arranged in the front-rear direction, the support rigidity can be secured, but when the front wheels are provided in a pair of left and right, the operation rods are provided and operated individually. The operability deteriorates because it must be done.

In Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 3-56942, the left and right caster legs can be operated in an interlocked manner. However, since the support at the time of standing is performed only by the lock mechanism provided on the rotation support shaft portion, the caster legs are long. The more it becomes, the more easily the supporting rigidity becomes insufficient.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a small vehicle trailer according to the present invention is a trailer towed by a small vehicle, wherein the trailer is supported by fixed legs provided on both sides of a rear portion. A trailer for a small vehicle having a rear wheel and a pair of left and right caster wheels supported on caster legs that are undulatingly mounted on both sides of the front part of the loading platform. A link member that rotates around the center of the caster leg, and a lower end of the caster leg at the time of standing up is supported by a tip end of the link member.

At this time, the caster legs are attached to one of the caster legs or the link member to maintain the connection between the caster legs and the link member during the undulating operation of the caster legs and the rotating operation of the link member following the operation, and the other is attached to the other. It is possible to provide a slide member that slidably engages in the axial direction, and it is possible to provide this slide member on the link member side.

In addition, a lock mechanism can be provided at the stroke end of the slide member. In this case, the slide members can be provided in pairs on the left and right, and can be moved in the left and right direction in conjunction with the distal end of the link member. A mechanism can also be provided on each of the left and right slide members so as to interlock with the left and right.

Further, a handle can be provided on the link member. In this case, the handle can be formed so as to have a curved shape that escapes the rotation trajectory of the caster leg. A knuckle guard substantially parallel to the rotating plane may be provided.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a link member that rotates around a support shaft is provided following the up-and-down movement of the caster leg, and the lower end of the caster leg is supported by the tip of the link member when the caster leg stands up. The support rigidity of the caster legs when standing can be increased.

At this time, if a slide member is provided which is attached to one of the caster legs or the link member and slidably engages with the other in the axial direction, the slide member allows the caster legs to move up and down and follow the movement. The connection between the caster legs and the link member can be maintained during the rotation operation of the link member.

Further, if this slide member is provided on the link member side, the tip end of the link member can be easily connected to the caster legs via the slide member.

Further, if a lock mechanism is provided at the stroke end of the slide member, the lock mechanism of the slide member can be used to lock the caster legs at the respective raised and lowered positions. Further, in this case, if the slide members are provided in pairs on the left and right so as to be movable in the left and right direction by the distal end portion of the link member, and the lock mechanisms are also provided on the left and right slide members so as to be linked in the left and right directions. The operability when raising and lowering is improved.

Further, if a handle is provided on the link member, the link member can be easily operated by the handle when raising and lowering the caster legs.

In this case, if the handle is formed in a curved shape so as to escape the rotation trajectory of the caster legs, the link member is disposed inside the caster legs to make the vehicle width direction compact and to operate the link member. It can be performed with good operability outside the caster legs.

In addition, if a knuckle guard is provided near the handle near the plane where the caster legs rotate,
The knuckle guard makes it possible to clearly separate the rotation space of the caster legs and the operation space of the handle.

[0018]

FIG. 1 to FIG. 13 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a trailer according to the present invention in a state where the trailer is towed, FIG. 2 is a side view of the trailer immediately before separation, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the lower caster legs when standing, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the lower caster legs (rear portion) when retracted, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the up-and-down operation of the caster legs on the left side of the vehicle body. 7 is FIG.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 7, showing the lock mechanism. FIG.
10 is an explanatory view of an interlocking link of the lock mechanism, FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the operation of the caster legs in the middle of rotation, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the operation immediately after the start of the connecting operation. FIG. 13 and FIG. 13 are explanatory diagrams of the operation when the connection is completed.

In FIG. 1, an oscillating three-wheeled vehicle 1 as a towing vehicle has a vehicle body front portion 3 supporting one front wheel 2 and a vehicle body rear portion 5 supporting a pair of right and left rear wheels 4 as drive wheels. This is a motor vehicle-equipped bicycle that is a small vehicle provided with a vehicle body front portion 3 and a vehicle body rear portion 5 connected by a rolling joint 6.

The rolling joint 6 is disposed obliquely downward with respect to the axis toward the rear. The front part 3 of the vehicle body is swingable around the axis thereof, and the rear part 5 of the vehicle body is composed of two horizontal rear wheels 4. Even if the vehicle body front part 3 swings, it is kept substantially parallel to the ground.

The rear portion 5 of the vehicle body further includes a swing-type power unit 7 for supporting the rear wheel 4 and a towing vehicle-side carrier 8 which is a non-swing portion disposed above the rear power unit 7. A rear frame for supporting the towing vehicle-side carrier 8 9 extend substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction.

The front portion of the rear frame 9 is bent obliquely downward, and the front ends of the rear arm 10 and the swing type power unit 7 are separately mounted on the rear frame 9, respectively. Supported at the end, a shock absorber 11 is mounted between the rear arm 10 and the rear frame 9.

A rear pillar 12 is provided at the front end of the flat towing vehicle-side carrier 8 in a substantially arched manner in the vertical direction.

The upper end of the rear pillar 12 is higher than the seat 13 and the mirror 14 in the front part 3 of the vehicle body, and a rear end of the rear end is provided with a lighting device 15 composed of a stop lamp and left and right turn indicators. A license plate 16 is attached below the license plate.

At the front of the towing vehicle-side carrier 8, the rear pillar 12
A coupler 17 is provided in the vicinity of the rear end, and a wiring cord 18 extending from the trailer side in the vicinity of the upper part is wired in the front-rear direction, and a coupler 19a at the front end thereof is coupled to a mating coupler 19b attached to the rear pillar 12. ing.

A hitch arm 21 provided at the front end of the trailer 20 so as to protrude forward can be connected to the coupler 17. As shown in FIG. A pin hole 22 penetrating in the direction is formed, and a pair of guide rollers 23 is rotatably mounted on the left and right sides at the lower part of the front end.

The trailer 20 includes a trailer-side loading platform 22 that is substantially rectangular in plan view, a caster wheel 24a supported by the lower ends of caster legs 24 attached to the front left and right portions, and a rear left and right trailer-side loading platform 22. And a rear wheel 27 supported via a swing arm 26 at a lower end 25a of a fixed leg 25 having a substantially V-shape in side view.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the caster legs 24 are erected and the caster wheels 24a are grounded to be able to be used independently as a bogie, and FIG. 1 shows a state in which the caster legs 24 are stored. I have.

The fixed leg 25 extends obliquely upward and forward and is connected to the trailer-side carrier 22.
b, a rear stay 25c extending obliquely upward and connected to the trailer-side carrier 22 and the rear stay 25c
And a reinforcement pipe 25d extending obliquely upward and forward from an intermediate portion of the front stay 25b and connected to the trailer-side carrier 22 near a connection portion of the front stay 25b.

The shock absorber 2 is provided at the rear end of the swing arm 26.
8, a lower end of the trailer 2 extends diagonally upward and is attached to a support 25e provided at an intermediate portion of the rear stay 25c.
0 constitutes a rear wheel suspension mechanism.

As is apparent from FIG.
The upper end is pivotally mounted on the trailer side loading platform 22 so as to be freely rotatable, and the lower half side is provided with a guide member 30 along the length direction, and the link rod 32 is inserted into a long groove 31 formed in the guide member. Both ends of a slide member 33 attached to a cross pipe portion provided at one end are slidably connected.

The slide member 33 is adapted to be locked to the caster leg 24 at the end of the long groove 31 on the side of the caster wheel 24a.
By operating the lock release lever 34 attached to the, the lock is released and the slide is enabled.

The other end of the link rod 32 is rotatably supported on the lower end 25a of the fixed leg 25 by a connecting shaft 35, and is turned by operating an operation arm 36 having one end welded to an intermediate portion of the link rod 32. It works.

The free end side of the operation arm 36 is a grip 37
The operation arm 36 is operated by grasping the grip, and the grip 37 is covered with a substantially meniscus knuckle guard 38 made of an appropriate material such as resin.

The operating arm 36 is disposed so as to intersect from the inside to the outside in a plan view when the caster legs 24 are stored. The reference numeral 38 is provided substantially parallel to the rotation plane of the caster legs 24, and is disposed at a position outside the rotation range of the caster legs 24 (see FIG. 6).

When the slide member 33 is locked with the caster legs 24 upright, the operation arm 36 functions as a support member for preventing the caster legs 24 from falling down, and holds the long caster legs 24 upright. be able to.

The upper end of the caster leg 24 is rotatably supported via a tubular member 41 to a bracket 40 attached to a peripheral frame 22a of the trailer-side carrier 22.
As shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical member 41 is supported between the pair of brackets 40 by bolts 42 and nuts 43, and the upper end of the caster leg 24 is welded to the outer periphery of the cylindrical member 41.

Further, a lock cam 44 is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the tubular member 41 by welding or the like so as to rotate integrally. The lock cam 44 is such that a lock portion 45 and a stopper portion 46 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other. While being formed, the tip of the lock portion 45 is a hook-shaped bent portion 47.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A pair of substantially U-shaped stopper metal fittings 50 are formed at positions corresponding to the left and right lock cams 44, respectively, and the locking parts 45 are locked from the front or the stopper parts 46 are fitted from the rear. It comes into contact.

A guide plate 52 for running the left and right guide rollers 23 is provided obliquely downward from the rear end of the towing vehicle-side carrier 8 at the rear end of the towing vehicle-side carrier 8 at the center in the vehicle width direction. It protrudes backward.

The guide plate 52 includes the hitch arm 21.
The height of the hitch arm 2 at the time of connection is different from the height at the time of connection of
The slope between the upper and lower ends corresponds to the changing height of the hitch arm 21.

Next, the lock mechanism will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the respective states of the caster legs 24 on the left side of the vehicle body when stored by solid lines and when they are standing up by virtual lines.

As is apparent from FIG.
One end of 2 is connected by a bolt 62 and a nut 63 to a bracket 61 attached to a cross pipe 60 provided in the width direction of the vehicle so as to form a fixed leg lower part 25a. It is rotatable.
The same applies to the right link rod 32.

The other end of the link rod 32 is welded to a cross pipe 64 connecting the left and right link rods 32, and the slide member 33 is supported by a cylindrical member 65 welded to both left and right ends of the cross pipe 64. .

As is apparent from FIG. 8, the slide member 33 is a cylindrical member fitted into a cylindrical member 65 formed of a resin or the like having good slidability, and one end in the axial direction has a flange shape. Then, the guide member 30 protrudes outward from the cylindrical member 65.
Is slidably fitted in the slide groove 31 of the first embodiment.

The other end of the slide member 33 protrudes from the inner end of the cylindrical member 65, and the screw member 66 formed on the outer periphery of the protruding portion is tightened with a nut 67 to attach the slide member 33 to the cylindrical member 65. ing.

A lock end 71 formed at one end of the lock pin 70 penetrates through the shaft hole 68 of the slide member 33 and protrudes outward, and a lock plate 72 provided at intervals outside the guide member 30. Are fitted in the lock holes 73. The lock hole 73 is provided only at one position near the end of the slide groove 31, which is the stroke end of the slide member 33, on the caster wheel 24 a side.

The lock plate 72 serves as the guide member 30
Are provided along the length direction of the caster legs 24 in parallel with the caster legs 2 at both ends with bolts 74 and nuts 75.
4 and a bracket 76 is mounted near the lock hole 73, and the unlock lever 34 is rotatably mounted on the bracket 76 by a shaft 77.

The lock release lever 34 is urged by a coil spring 78 so that a release pin 79 provided at the distal end of the release portion of the lock release lever 34 moves away from the lock plate 72 outward.

When the release pin 79 rotates the lock release lever 34 against the coil spring 78, the tip enters the lock hole 73, so that the lock end 71 of the lock pin 70 moves inward from the lock hole 73. Adjusted to a protruding length that can be extruded. One end of each is provided at one end of each of the left and right link rods 32 of the cross pipe portion provided at the end.

Reference numeral 39 denotes a lever guard. As is apparent from FIG. 7, when the lock end portion 71 is fitted into the lock hole 73, the lock release lever 34 rotates clockwise and moves in the front-rear direction. When viewed from above, the handle portion 34 a of the lock release lever 34 is located inside the lever guard 39.

On the other hand, in the unlocked state where the lock end 71 is not fitted into the lock hole 73, the lock release lever 34 is rotated counterclockwise and the release pin 79 is turned into the lock hole 73.
The handle portion 34a of the lock release lever 34 protrudes outward from the lever guard 39 when viewed from the front-back direction, so that the unlocked state can be immediately visually recognized from the appearance.

The structure of the lock portion on the opposite side (right side) of the vehicle body is almost the same as shown in FIG. 9, but the lock release lever 34 is not provided on this side, and the stopper plate 80 has a cross section instead. The lock end 72 is provided in a substantially L-shape so as to protrude outward from the lock plate 72.
1 is regulated.

As is apparent from FIG. 7, the lock pins 70 are rod-shaped members having a length of about half the width of the vehicle body, and are provided as a pair of right and left members. A link plate 83 rotatably mounted on a shaft 82 at a substantially central portion of the cross pipe 64 in the vehicle width direction.
Is mounted at the symmetrical position.

The link plate 83 is rotationally urged by the coil spring 84 in a direction in which the lock ends 71 of the lock pins 70 protrude outward, thereby forming an interlocking lock mechanism.

That is, when the lock end 71 on one side (left side) of the vehicle body is the operation side and the other is the interlocking side, and when the lock end 71 on the operation side moves to the position of the lock hole 73, the left and right interlocks. It fits into the hole 73 and becomes locked,
Conversely, when the lock end 71 on the operation side is unlocked by the lock release lever 34, the other side is also unlocked in conjunction with it.

The connecting portion 81 of each lock pin 70 is bent in the vicinity of the link plate 83, so that most of the left and right lock pins 70 in the longitudinal direction can be disposed along the cross pipe 64. ing.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the mounting pitch of the left and right lock pins 70 at the connecting portion 81 is changed to A and B (A> B), the stroke amount ab of each lock pin 70 is changed to the left and right. (A>
b).

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, in a state where the caster legs 24 shown in FIG. 11 are used as a truck that stands upright by using the trailer 20 standing up, the link rod 32 extends substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction, and a slide member provided at the tip of the link rod 32 is positioned below the caster legs 24. (See FIG. 4).

For this reason, the load of the trailer 20 applied to the caster legs 24 can be received by the link rod 32, and the lower part of the caster legs 24 farthest from the center of rotation locks the caster legs 24. The support rigidity of the legs 24 can be increased.

In this state, the guide roller 23 of the hitch arm 21 is guided by the guide plate 52 and rides on the towing vehicle-side carrier 8 to obtain the state shown in FIG. 3, where the lock release lever 34 is operated to operate the lock pin. When the lock by 70 is released and the operation arm 36 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the figure while holding the grip 37, the link rod 32 also rotates in the clockwise direction.

As a result, since the slide member 33 moves upward in the guide groove 31, the caster legs 24 rotate in the counterclockwise direction around the cylindrical member 41 in conjunction with the rotation of the link rod 32. When the slide member 33 moves to the other end of the guide groove 31, it moves to the state shown in FIG.

Then, when the rotation of the link rod 32 is further continued, the slide member 33 starts to return to the end of the caster wheel 24a on the long groove 31 again, and at the same time, the caster legs 24 further rotate in the same direction. to continue.

When the slide member 33 returns to the end of the long groove 31 on the caster wheel 24a side, that is, the stroke end of the slide member 33, the lock end 71 of the lock pin 70 is fitted into the lock hole 73 again to lock. Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the link rod 32 enters a storage state extending substantially horizontally rearward along the side of the trailer carrier 22.

At this time, the link rod 32 fixes the caster legs 24 to the storage position and receives the load from the trailer carrier 22 side, so that the fixed legs 25 can also be reinforced.

Further, the lock position of the caster leg 24 by the lock pin 70 is the same as that of the slide member 33 when standing.
Since only one stroke end is required, the structure of the lock mechanism can be simplified.

When the trailer 20 is further pushed forward, the hitch arm 21 reaches the coupler 17 as shown in FIG.
By connecting the hitch arm 21 to the coupler 17 by
Trailer 20 can be towed.

As described above, since the slide member 33 is provided on the link member 32 side, the caster leg 24 is moved by the slide member 33 during the up-and-down operation of the caster leg 24 and the turning operation of the link member 32 following it. Link member 3
2 can be maintained. Moreover, by providing the slide member 33 on the link member 32 side, the tip of the link member 32 can be easily connected to the caster legs 24 via the slide member 33.

Further, since the lock mechanism is provided at the stroke end of the slide member 33, the slide member 33 can be locked in the same place by the lock mechanism of the slide member at each of the raised and lowered positions.

In addition, the slide members 33 are provided in pairs on the left and right so as to be movable in the left and right direction by the distal end of the link member 32, and the lock mechanisms are also provided on the left and right slide members 33 so as to be linked in the left and right direction. The operability when raising and lowering the caster legs 24 is improved.

Further, since the link member 32 is provided with the operation arm 36 as a handle and the grip 37 at one end thereof, the operation of the link member 32 when the caster leg 24 is raised and lowered can be operated by gripping the grip 37. Can be performed more easily.

In this case, since the operation arm 36 is formed so as to be curved so as to escape the rotation locus of the caster leg 24, the link member 32 is disposed inside the caster leg 24 to make the vehicle width direction compact and , Link member 3
Operation 2 can be performed with good operability outside the caster legs 24.

In addition, a knuckle guard 38 substantially parallel to the plane on which the caster legs 24 rotate is provided near the grip 37.
Is provided, the knuckle guard 38 allows the rotation space of the caster legs 24 and the operation space of the grip 37 to be clearly separated.

The present invention is not limited to the above example, but can be variously modified. For example, the slide member 33 is provided on the caster leg 24 side, and the guide member 30 is connected to the link member 3.
It can also be provided on two sides.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a state in which a trailer according to the present invention is towed.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the trailer showing a state immediately before separation.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the trailer showing a state immediately after the towing vehicle has been loaded on a carrier.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a lower portion of a caster leg when standing up;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a lower portion (rear portion) of the caster legs when stored.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of raising and lowering the caster legs on the left side of the vehicle body;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the lock mechanism in a cross section taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the slide member taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a similar view of the other side (the right side of the vehicle body).

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an interlocking link of a lock mechanism.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of an operation when the caster legs are being rotated.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the operation immediately after the start of the connection work.

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory view at the time of completion of connection.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: rocking three-wheeled vehicle (towing vehicle), 8: loading bed of towing vehicle,
17: coupler, 20: trailer, 21: hitch arm, 22: trailer carrier, 24: caster leg, 2
4a: caster wheel, 30: guide member, 31: long groove,
32: Link rod, 33: Slide member, 36: Operation arm, 38: Knuckle guard, 70: Lock pin, 7
1: Lock end

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A trailer towed by a small vehicle, comprising: a pair of left and right rear wheels supported by fixed legs provided on both sides of a rear part; In a trailer for a small vehicle having a pair of left and right caster wheels supported by legs, a link member that rotates about a support shaft following an up-and-down operation of the caster legs is provided, and the link member stands up at a tip end of the link member. A trailer for a small vehicle, wherein the lower part of the caster legs is supported at the time. 2. The caster leg or link member is attached to one of the caster legs or the link member to maintain the connection between the caster leg and the link member during the up-and-down movement of the caster leg and the pivoting operation of the link member following the movement of the caster leg. The small vehicle trailer according to claim 1, further comprising a slide member slidably engaged in the axial direction. 3. The trailer according to claim 2, wherein the slide member is provided on a link member side. 4. The trailer according to claim 3, wherein a lock mechanism is provided at a stroke end of the slide member. 5. A slide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said slide members are provided in pairs on the left and right sides and are movable in a left and right direction by a tip end of a link member. The trailer for a small vehicle according to claim 4. 6. The trailer for a small vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a handle is provided on the link member. 7. The trailer for a small vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the handle has a curved shape that escapes the rotation locus of the caster legs. 8. A trailer for a small vehicle according to claim 7, wherein a knuckle guard substantially parallel to a plane on which the caster legs rotate is provided near the handle.