THIS INVENTION relates to apparatus for use in the transportation of goods.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for use in the transportation of goods, which includes a base; and a container mounted for displacement relative to the base between an operative position and a displaced position in which the container extends transversely relative to its operative position.

The container may be tippable, at least when in its displaced position.

The base may be the chassis of a vehicle.

The container may be angularly displaceable relative to the base between its operative and its displaced positions about an upwardly extending displacement axis.

The apparatus may include a support arrangement whereby the container is mounted on the base.

The support arrangement. may include a support platform to which the container is connected and a turntable mounted on the base and to

which the support platform is connected to permit displacement of the support platform and hence of the container about the displacement axis.

To permit tipping of the container, the container may be pivotally connected to the support platform for displacement relative to the support platform between a rest position and a tipped position, the apparatus including displacement means whereby the container is displaceable between its rest and tipped positions.

The displacement means may include a pressurised fluid operated piston and cylinder arrangement. The piston and cylinder arrangement may include at least one and preferably two elongate piston and cylinder assemblies, one end of the or each piston and cylinder assembly being connected to the container and the other end of the or each piston and cylinder assembly being connected to the support platform so that the piston and cylinder assembly are displaceable about the displacement axis together with the container.

The other end of the or each piston and cylinder assembly may be connected to the support platform by means of a support structure which includes a sleeve which is connected to and depends downwardly from the support platform and a transverse mounting member which is secured to the sleeve at a position spaced from the support platform and to which the other end of the piston and cylinder assembly is connected. This arrangement permits the angle of push, ie the angle at which the piston and cylinder assemblies are inclined relative to the horizontal when the container is in its rest position, to be increased, thereby to permit the size of the piston and cylinder assemblies to be reduced.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a rear view of apparatus for use in the transportation of goods in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the components of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the components of Figure 2 in plan view; Figure 4 shows a rear view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in which, a vehicle forming part of the apparatus has tipped; Figure 5 shows a plan view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention and a plan view with containers of the apparatus displaced to their displaced or offloading positions; and Figure 6 shows a side view of the apparatus of Figure 5, with the containers in their operative positions.

In Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to apparatus for use in the transportation of goods in accordance with the invention.

The apparatus 10 includes a base which is formed by a chassis 12 of a vehicle 14. The apparatus 10 further includes a container, generally indicated by reference numeral 16 which is mounted on the chassis and is displaceable relative thereto, as described in more detail herebelow.

In the embodiment shown, the container 16 is open topped and includes a rectangular bottom 18 with side walls 20 extending upwardly

from the long edges of the bottom18. A front wall 22 extends upwardly from a short side of the bottom 18 between corresponding ends of the side walls 20. A rear wall 24 is pivotally connected via cranked arms 26 to the side walls 20 for displacement between a closed position, in which it is releasably lockable, and in which it extends upwardly from the other short side of the bottom 18 and closes off the opening between the ends of the side walls 20 and an open position in which it can be pivoted in the direction of arrow 28 (Figure 1) to permit the discharge of the contents of the container 16 therefrom, as described in more detail herebelow.

It will be appreciated, however, that the container 16 can take any form, eg it could be in the form of a tank for transporting liquids, or in any other suitable form.

The apparatus 10 includes a support arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 30 whereby the container 16 is mounted on the chassis 12. The support arrangement 30 includes a turntable 32 which comprises a lower member 32.1 which is secured to the chassis 12 and an upper member 32.2 which is rotatable relative to the lower member 32.1 about an upwardly extending displacement axis 34. The turntable 32 is annular in form and defines a central opening 36 which is circular. The support arrangement 30 further includes a support platform 38 which is fixed to the upper member 32.2 for rotation together therewith. The support platform 38 is formed from a rectangular steel plate which has been longitudinally reinforced. An opening 40 (Figure 3) is provided in the support platform 38. The support arrangement 30 includes a sleeve 42 in the form of a flanged pipe section which is connected to an operatively lower surface of the support platform 38 and depends downwardly therefrom through the central opening 36 in the turntable 32. Two

transverse mounting members 44 extend across the sleeve 42 adjacent the operatively lower end thereof. Each mounting member 44 is formed by a pair of steel channel sections. A roller support 46 is mounted on the chassis 12 and a plurality of rollers 48 is mounted on the roller support 46.

The rollers 48 abut against a radially outer surface of the sleeve 42 adjacent to the operatively lower end thereof to reinforce and provide stability to the support arrangement 30.

The container 16 is pivotally mounted on the support platform 38 by means of a pivot pin 50 for pivotal displacement between a rest position in which the container extends generally horizontally and a tipped position in which the container extends at an angle to the horizontal and in which the rear wall 24 is positioned at an elevation which is lower than that of the front wall 22. In order to displace the container between its rest and tipped positions, the apparatus includes displacement means in the form of a pair of pressurised fluid operated, typically hydraulically, piston and cylinder assemblies 52. An operatively upper end of each piston and cylinder assembly 52 is pivotally connected via a pivot pin 54 to the container 16.

The piston and cylinder assemblies 52 extend through the opening 40 and the operatively lower ends thereof are pivotally connected via clevises 56 to the transverse mounting members 44.

In use, the container 16 will normally extend longitudinally relative to the vehicle permitting the vehicle 14 to travel along roads and transport a load in the normal fashion. When it is desired to discharge the contents of the container 16 at a desired location, the container 16 is rotated through approximately 90° about the axis 34 into a position in which it extends transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle 14. The rear wall 24 is unlocked and the piston and cylinder assemblies 52 are

extended which results in the container 16 being displaced in the direction of arrow 58 into its tipped position in which the contents of the container 16 are discharged from the rear end thereof under the influence of gravity.

Once the contents of the container have been discharged, the piston and cylinder assemblies 52 are retracted in order to return the container 16 to its rest position in which it is then displaced through 90° so that it once again extends longitudinally relative to the vehicle 14.

It will be appreciated that displacement of the container 16 about the axis 34 can be effected in any suitable manner, eg by use of an electric motor, hydraulically, or in any other manner. More particularly, use can be made of a ring gear with a pinion gear fitted to a hydraulic, electric or pneumatic motor. In another embodiment, a hydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder may be attached to arrangement 30. In yet another embodiment of the invention, displacement of the container 16 may be effected by an electromagnetic system.

The container 16 is typically configured that even in its fully tipped position its centre of gravity is positioned between the wheels 60 of the vehicle 14. If, however, eg as a result of movement of the load within the container, the centre of gravity shifts to a position which is outside the wheels 60, the vehicle 14 will tip through a limited angle until the rear end of the container 16 abuts against the ground (as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings) permitting the vehicle to be returned to its upright position relatively easily.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, reference numeral 70 refers generally to a composite vehicle forming another apparatus in accordance with the invention and unless otherwise indicated, the same reference

numerals used above are used to designate similar parts. In this embodiment, the vehicle 70 comprises a mechanical horse 72 with a tandem semi-interlink trailer arrangement 74. A container 16 is mounted on each of the trailers and is relatively displaceable in the same manner as described above.

The Inventor believes that advantages of the invention include that the vehicle cannot fall over sideways since the container will limit the angle of tilt as indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings. Further, the versatility of the vehicle is enhanced since the support arrangement is such that different load body bin sizes may be fitted on the turntable 32. A vehicle in accordance with the invention further has a relatively low centre of gravity thereby improving its stability and minimizing the rolling of the vehicle through corners. When offloading, the overall height of the vehicle is lower than that of conventional units, making it more stable to offload on uneven surfaces. This reduced height also facilitates the loading of goods into the container. Further, tipping of the container is assisted by virtue of the fact that the piston and cylinder arrangements 52, even in their retracted positions, are inclined at a substantial angle relative to the horizontal so that the vertical tipping component of the load applied by the piston and cylinder arrangements to the container 16 is relatively high thereby reducing the size of the piston and cylinder arrangements that are required compared with those required for a conventional tipper arrangement in which the piston and cylinder arrangements extend almost horizontally.

Further, in view of the fact that the pivot point of the container 16 is spaced inwardly from the end thereof, the load which the piston and cylinder assembly 52 must lift in order to tip the container is reduced compared to conventional tipping containers 16 which are pivoted adjacent the ends thereof.

In addition, in view of the fact that use is made of standard parts which are readily available and that the components of the invention are fairly open and visible, the Inventor believes that the system will be reliable and that when maintenance is required it will be relatively easy to carry out.

The composite vehicle 70 of Figure 5 includes the advantage that, by virtue of optimum load distribution, it is possible to maximise the load over each axle and thereby the load which can be transported by the vehicle. In addition, when compared with a rear tipping unit, it is possible to do away with one axle thereby reducing the tare weight or the vehicle and thereby correspondingly increasing the load which can be transported by the vehicle. By maximizing the payload which can be transported by the vehicle, the cost effectiveness of the transportation of the payload is considerably increased.

With most tilting containers, wear and tear will be most evident in the floor and side plates in the rear section of the container, ie closest to the discharge opening. This is as a result of the sliding friction and the amount of material sliding over the section. By having a shorter body length as shown in the invention, the amount of material which will slide over the rear part of the floor is reduced, and the wear and tear will be less than that compared to a conventional rear tipper.

In a conventional rear tipping unit, the hinge point is placed close to the rear end of the tipper body near the rear flap. With the new system, described above, the hinge point is placed a distance away from the rear end closer to the cylinder mounting point. This will reduce the lifting effort

required by the cylinder. Further, as the container begins to tilt, the weight placed on the overhanging section, is displaced from the front of the container towards the rear thereof and the centre of gravity will move closer to the hinge point during the tipping action, both of which will result in a reduction in the lifting effort required.

Further, in a tandem unit such as that shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, with the prior art, which made use of rear tipping containers, it was necessary to unhinge the pup trailer before the front trailer could be tipped. The pup trailer could then be hitched and also tipped. With the new combination shown in the drawings, both trailers can be tipped without unhinging, which saves time. This in turn results in an increase in turnaround time of the unit and increased productivity.