This invention relates to a load-carrying vehicle particularly, but not exclusively in the form of trailer and primarily, but not only, for carrying and transporting animals to and from different locations, for example market or grazing fields. While the invention is for use in carrying and transporting any goods or animals, it has been particularly developed to transport sheep.

Accordingly, the present invention is a load-carrying vehicle comprising a wheeled chassis having a lower substantially rectangular deck from around the perimeter of which a front and two side walls upstand to define an interior, an upper deck of similar shape to the lower deck being provided in two longitudinal halves, each half deck being hinged to a respective side wall and able to be articulated about its hinge between an out-of-use position uprightly against the respective side wall and an in-use position horizontally oriented across the interior parallel to the lower deck, means to support the upper deck in its in-use position, a rear door for access to the interior, the rear door serving when in an open lowered position as a ramp to service each deck in turn, and elevating means to adjust the inclination of the ramp between both decks.

Preferably, a roof of an openwork structure is provided over the interior. A gate is desirably provided to close off the rear of the interior between the upper deck in its in-use position and the roof. The gate is preferably parked in an out-of- use horizontal position under the roof adjacent to the rear door and articulated to be moved outwardly and downwardly to close off the rear.

Preferably also, the rear door has a rectangular frame hinged to the rear of the chassis at locations underneath the lower deck. The rear door is preferably swivable about the hinges between an upright closed position whereat it is lockable with the side walls, and a lowered position inclined as a ramp to the

lower deck. The door preferably has a rectangular sub-frame which fits complemently into the frame. The sub-frame is desirably sheeted over.

In one embodiment, the sub-frame is slidable relative to the laterals of the frame, each lateral of the sub-frame having an outwardly projecting pin tracking a corresponding slot in a respective lateral of the frame. The sub-frame desirably pivots about the pins in their respective slots. The laterals of the sub-frame are each desirably pivotally connected intermediate of their length to a link whose inner end is pivoted near to the inner end of a corresponding lateral of the frame and whose outer end is a handle whereby on upward movement of the link causing inward movement of the sub-frame, the sub-frame inclines due to the movement of the links about their respective pivot points, the lengths of the slots and the distance between the links' connection to the frame- and to the sub-frame is determined such that the inner end of the sub-frame inclines substantially to the level of the upper deck, when in use. Hatch means are desirably provided to hold the pins at their innermost position corresponding to the raised sub-frame positions. The links preferably form the elevating means. The rectangular area across the frame between the two slotted portions of its two laterals is sheeted over.

In a second embodiment, the sub-frame is desirably hinged to the frame at their outer ends and has under its inner end an extension plate of same width dimensions, the extension plate being slidably mounted under the sub-frame. The sub-frame is preferably pivotally connected intermediate of a link pivoted at its lower end to one lateral of the frame and a secondary link is pivoted at its lower end about a second pivot point and at its upper end to the extension plate whereby on the link being pivoted upwardly to cause the sub-frame to incline, the secondary link causes the extension plate to extend beyond the inner end of the sub-frame to close off the gap between the said inner end and the upper deck.

Preferably further, two fence sides are provided, one hinged to an upright at the rear end of each side wall of the vehicle, the fence sides being manually swung out to be positioned, one on each lateral side of the frame when lowered, and prior to the sub-frame being raised. The side walls of the vehicle are preferably each formed by a skeletal framework sheeted over on its inside face, the sheeting being in two parts, one for each deck and an air gap is provided between the top of the part for the lower deck and the bottom of the part for the upper deck.

The support means preferably comprises two beams each similarly hinged to one side wall and movable form an out-of-use position against the respective wall, prior to lowering the halves of the upper deck, to transverse the interior of the vehicle and be secured in their in-use positions.

Linkage arrangements may be provided to remotely control the movement of the upper deck halves, the handles for which being positioned on the outside face of the front of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one side and rear of a load-carrying vehicle hitched to a tractor according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the vehicle of the first embodiment with a rear door lowered as a ramp to a lower deck;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the other side and end of part of the vehicle of the first embodiment with the rear door raised as a ramp to an upper deck;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the vehicle according to the first embodiment; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a vehicle of the first embodiment with a roof structure removed for clarity and showing upper deck support means in position in full line and in mid-position in broken line;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic rear view of the vehicle of the first embodiment with the rear door omitted for clarity and showing an upper deck in a lowered position and a rear gate closing off the open rear of the interior above the upper deck; the positions of the two upper deck halves 20A,20B in a closed position and in an intermediate position being shown in dotted line;

Fig. 7A, 7B and 7C are diagrammatic side views of the rear part of a vehicle of the first embodiment showing three different positions of the rear door namely respectively an intermediate lowered position, a lowered position and a sub-frame raised position, fence sides and a tubular chamber being omitted for clarity;

Figs. 8 A, 8B and 8C are diagrammatic side views of the rear part of a vehicle according to a second embodiment and showing three different positions of the rear door namely and respectively an intermediate lowered position, a lowered position and a sub-frpme raised position, fence sides and a tubular chamber being omitted for clarity;

Figs. 9A and 9B are diagrammatic side views of the rear part of a vehicle showing fence sides with a hinged extension fence side in an in-board and out¬ board positions respectively; and

Figs. 10A to IOC are diagrammatic paired side views and rear views of the rear part of a vehicle showing three different positions of a gate usable respectively to close off the space above the rear door when closed and the roof, to be fully open when the ramp is raised for use with an upper deck, and to close off the upper deck when in use to transport animals.

Referring to the drawings in both embodiments, a load-carrying vehicle is in the form of a trailer having a draw-bar 8 and comprises a wheeled chassis 10 having a substantially rectangular lower deck 12 from around the perimeter of which a front 14 and two side walls 16,18 upstand to define an

interior. An upper deck 20 of similar shape to the lower deck 12 is provided in two longitudinal halves 20A,20B. Each half deck 20A,20B is hinged at 22 to a respective side wall 16,18 and is able to be articulated about its hinge 22 between an out-of-use position uprightly against the side wall 16,18 and an in-use position horizontally oriented across the interior parallel to the lower deck 12.

Means is provided to support the upper deck in its in-use position. A rear door 26 is provided for access to the interior. The rear door 26 serves, when in an open lowered position, as a ramp to service each deck 12,20 in turn. A roof 28 of an openwork structure is provided over the interior. The roof may be covered by a tarpaulin. A gate 30 is provided to close off the rear of the interior between the upper deck 20 in its in-use position and the roof 28. The gate 30 is parked in an out-of-use horizontal position under the roof 28 adjacent to the .. rear door 26 and articulated to be moved outwardly and downwardly to close off the rear.

The side walls 16,18 of the vehicle are each formed by a skeletal framework sheeted over on its inside face, the sheeting being in two parts, one for each deck 12,20 and an air gap 54 is provided between the top of the part for the lower deck 12 and the bottom of the part for the upper deck 20. The support means comprises two beams 24, each similarly hinged to one side wall 16 and movable from an out-of-use position against the respective wall 16, prior to lowering the halves 20A,20B of the upper deck 20, to trasverse the interior of the vehicle and be secured in their in-use positions on the opposite side wall 18. Linkage arrangements may be provided to remotely control the movement of the upper deck halves 20A, 20B, the handles 53 for which being positioned on the outside face of the front 14 of the vehicle.

The rear door 26 has a rectangular frame 32 hinged at 34 to the rear of the chassis 10 at locations underneath the lower deck 12. The rear door 26 is swivable about the hinges 34 between an upright closed position whereat it is lockable with the side walls 16,18, and a lowered position inclined as a ramp to the lower deck 12.

In a first embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7C, the door 26 has a rectangular sub-frame 36 which fits complementarily into the frame 32 and is slidable relative to the laterals 38 of the frame 32. Each lateral 40 of the sub- frame 36 has an outwardly projecting pin 42 tracking a corresponding slot 44 in a respective lateral 38 of the frame 32. The sub-frame 36 pivots about the pins 42 in their respective slots 44. The laterals 40 of the sub-frame 36 are each pivotally connected at 45 intermediate of their length to a link 46 whose inner end is pivoted at 48 near to the inner end of a corresponding lateral 38 of the frame 32 and whose outer end is a handle whereby on upward movement of the link 46 causing inward movement of the sub-frame 36, the sub-frame 36 inclines due to the movement of the links 46 about their respective pivot points 45,48. The lengths of the slots 44 and the distance between the links' connection to the frame 32 and to the sub-frame 36 is determined such that the inner end of the sub-frame 36 inclines substantially to the level of the upper deck 20, when in use. Hateh means are provided to hold the pins 42 at their innermost position corresponding to the raised sub-frame position. The links 46 form the elevating means. The rectangular area 50 across the frame 32 between the two slotted portions of its two laterals 38 is sheeted over with a non slip aluminium plate. The sub-frame 36 is similarly sheeted over by non-slip aluminium plate. The area 50 lies under the sub-frame 36 when the ramp is in a lowered position- Two fence sides 52 are provided, one hinged to an upright at the rear end of each side wall 16,18 of the vehicle, the fence sides 52 being positioned

overlapping each other in a closed position in which they close off the rear between the upper and lower decks 12,14. They are manually swung out to an in- use position and be positioned, one on each lateral side of the frame 32 when lowered, and prior to the sub-frame 36 being raised. The fences 52 when opened forms the ramp into an alleyway to direct animals to the bottom of the ramp and prevent them being pushed or falling from the sides of the ramp.

In a second embodiment, as shown in Figs. 8 A to 8C and 10A to IOC in which like parts are denoted by like numerals, the sub-frame 36' is hinged to the frame 32 at their outer ends and has under its inner end an extension plate 62 of same width dimensions thereto. The extension plate 62 is slidably mounted under the sub-frame 36'. The sub-frame 36' is pivotally connected intermediate of a link 46 pivoted at its lower end at 45 to one lateral side of the frame 32 and a secondary link 46A is pivoted at its lower end about a second pivot point 47 (Fig. . 8C) and at its upper end to the extension plate 62. When the link 46 is pivoted about pivot 45 to cause the sub-frame 36' to incline, the secondary link 46 A causes the extension plate 62 to extend beyond the inner end of the sub-frame 36' to close off the gap between the said inner end of the upper deck. Reverse movement of the link 46 will return the extension plate 62 and sub-frame 36' to their original positions. Fig. 10A to IOC shows a modified gate 30' usable in a partially extended arrangement to close off the upper end of the rear opening not otherwise closed off by the door 26 when closed as shown in Fig. 10 A. The gate 30' is capable of different arrangements, Fig.10B showing the gate 30' in an out-of-use position and a fully extended used position to close off the rear opening at the end of the upper deck. The gate 30' is pivoted to the side walls 16,18 as shown and is in two parts 30'A and 30'B. An extendible lockable stay 31 is provided to keep the part 30'B in rigid position when in use.

In each embodiment, if required, a tubular chamber 56 is provided longitudinally under the lower deck 12 having a closed inner end and an open rear end closable by a grille door 58 hinged to one side of the opening. The open rear end is positioned just below the rear end of the lower deck 12. This chamber 56 serves as a dog kennel particularly, but not only, when transporting sheep.

In use in both embodiments, with the upper deck halves 20A,20B raised into an out-of-use position, the trailer vehicle can be hitched to a tractor 6 and be used for carrying and transporting goods or cattle, the rear door being used in a closed or a lowered position. For carrying sheep or like sized animals, the beams 24 of the supporting means are swung into position and secured, and the upper deck halves 20A,20B lowered thereonto to be supported thereby.

The trailer is towed to a field in which the sheep to be transported are grazing. The rear door 26 is unlocked and lowered to form the ramp, the fence sides 52 opened out and positioned and the sub-frame 36 raised by use of the handle on one link 46 to service the upper deck and whereat the sub-frame 36 is locked in position to the frame 32. Using the sheepdog, the sheep are rounded up and the requisite number allowed up the ramp to be located on the upper deck. After this is full, the gate 30 is lowered after release of the latch means and the sub-frame 36 lowered. The remaining sheep are then herded up the ramp onto the lower deck 12. When all these sheep are loaded, the fence side 52 are swung into the closed position thereby closing off the rear of the lower deck interior. The ramp is raised into its closed position and secured and the dog or dogs allowed into the kennel and the grille door secured. The trailer is towed to the desired location and the reverse sequence of steps taken to free the dogs and unload the sheep from both decks.

As shown in Figs 9A and 9B, a second set of extension fence sides 52A are provided hinged to the post 53 at the outer ends of the fence sides 52 and can be

unfolded at an angle thereto as required to provide a lead-in guideway for animals. The spars 55,55A and posts 53,53A are pivotally mounted to allow them to move upwardly or downwardly as required to conform to the incline of the ramp 26 or to the ground as shown in the drawings. In a folded closed position, the spars 55A sent between the spars 55 as shown in Fig. 9A.

The roof may alternatively be sheeted over permanently using the same material as used for the front 14 and side walls 16,18, i.e. light weight aluminium sheeting or can be glass-reinforced plastics sheeting in either translucent or opaque form. Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter.