LOAD TRANSPORT TRAILER WITH ROTATING LOAD HOLDING

MEANS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a trailer. The trailer is adapted for picking up and transporting loads. For convenience, the present invention will be described with particular reference to picking up and transporting hay bales. However, the present invention is not limited to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hay bales are a common item on farms that need to be moved at different times. After they are created, they are left scattered in a hay field to dry. They will need to be moved from the field for storage or from storage to where they are used for feeding purposes.

A tractor can be used to move the hay bales, but tractors are expensive to operate and are not fuel efficient particularly for moving single bales. However, the hay bales themselves are usually large and cumbersome, and also heavy. Therefore, most smaller vehicles are not appropriate or equipped for moving large hay bales.

There is accordingly a need for alternative devices to assist with the transportation of hay bales.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a trailer comprising: a chassis; a load holding means for holding a load; at least one pair of wheels mounted respectively to each side of the load holding means; and a connection means connecting the chassis and the load holding means such that the load holding means can rotate with respect to the chassis, wherein the load holding means is operable between a first position where the holding means is arranged to engage the load, and a second position where the holding means is rotated with respect to the chassis to move the load to a holding position.

The trailer may further comprise a sliding draw bar operably connected to the load holding means and slidable between a retracted state where the load holding means is in its first position, and an extended state where the load holding means is in its second position, whereby the trailer can be reversed to the load with the sliding draw bar in its retracted state,

to engage the load with the load holding means, and then driven forward to draw the sliding draw bar into its extended state ad thereby move the load into a holding position.

The load holding means may comprise a plurality of substantially horizontal supports which may include tines for impaling items such as hay bails or forks that are more commonly used on forklift trucks. The tines or forks may project from a header frame which acts to support the load when the holding means is rotated to its second position.

The rotation of the holding means may be through substantially 90 degrees with respect to the chassis. The connection means and position of the axles of the wheels may be such that rotation of the load holding means from it first position to the second position is mechanically assisted so that forces to rotate the holding means to and from second position are minimised - the axis of rotation of each wheel may move relative to the chassis as the load holding means is rotated between its first and second positions.

The connection between the holding means and sliding draw bar may comprise direct linkages between the draw bar and the load holding means so that extension of the sliding draw bar applies a force to the load holding means to cause it to rotate with respect to the chassis. The connection means between the sliding draw bar and the holding means may comprise cables but may also comprise a plurality of ridged link bars pivotally connected with respect to one another and the sliding draw bar and holding means to provide the required force to pull the holding means so that it rotates with respect to the chassis.

A detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. While the invention is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention shall be described with reference to the following figures:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the trailer attached to the towbar of a vehicle with the load holding means in its first position prior to picking up a hay bale,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the trailer with the load holding means in its second position where the sliding draw bar is fully extended,

FIGURE 3 is a view of the trailer as shown in Figure 2 but from a different angle,

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view of the connection means connecting the load holding means to the chassis of the trailer,

FIGURES 5 to 7 are detailed views showing the movement of the connection means as the load holding means rotates with respect to the chassis, FIGURES 8 to 10 are diagrams illustrating the connection means shown in Figures 5 to 7 and schematically illustrate the operation of the connection means,

^! FIGURES 1 1 and 12 depict the tines of the load holding means being rotated from an in-use position to a storage position,

FIGURE 13 depicts a releasable catch to restrain the load holding means in position in respect of the chassis; and

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a trailer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the figures, there is shown a trailer 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The trailer has a chassis 12, and is supported on a pair of wheels 14, each having a stub axle 15. The trailer 10 is connected to a vehicle by a sliding draw bar 16, which can be connected to a vehicle using a conventional trailer coupling. The sliding draw bar 16 is telescopically slidable within an outer tube 18 between a forward and a rearward position. A spring loaded pin (not drawn) mounted to the outer tube 18 engages apertures in the draw bar 16 to lock it in place. Apertures are provided for when the draw bar 16 is fully closed and open, and intermediate apertures can be provided if required. The spring loaded pin is designed to be held out of engagement with the draw bar as required.

A load holding means is at the rear of the trailer 10. In this embodiment, the load to be shifted is a hay bale 34, and therefore the load holding means is in the form of tines 20, which are attached to a headboard frame 22. The headboard frame 22 comprises a bottom rail 21 , centrally located main post 27 that is welded to the bottom rail 21 , a pair of side posts 23 and a top rail 26. This arrangement of the headboard frame 22 provides sufficient support for the hay bale 34 when the headboard frame 22 is rotated to the substantially horizontal position.

The wheel stub axle 15 is mounted with respect to the bottom rail 21 via support arms 28. The chassis 12 and headboard 22 are connected to each other via two pairs of linkage arms 24, 25. A pair of linkage arms 24 and 25 are provided on either side of the chassis 12. They comprise the connection means that connects the headboard frame 22 and tines 20 (together they comprise the load holding means) with the chassis 12.

Each arm 24 and 25 is pivotally attached at each end respectively to the chassis 12 and headboard frame 22. Pairs of flanges 30 are secured to both the chassis 12 and the bottom rail 21 of the headboard frame 22. Each of the linkage arms 24, 25 are pivotally connected between the pairs of flanges 30 by upper pivot pins 31 and lower pivot pins 32. The upper pivot pins 31 as shown in Figure 4 with the other end of the linkage arms 24, 25 being mounted in a similar manner between pairs of flanges 30 at their lower ends to form lower pivot pins 32.

The rotation of the headboard frame 22 with respect to the chassis 12 is controlled by the changing geometry of pivoting points as the linkage arms 24, 25 and the support arms 28 rotate with the headboard frame 22. This sequence of rotation is illustrated in Figure 8 to 10. Referring to Figure 8, with the headboard frame 22 in its first position to receive the load, the hay bale 34, a portion of the weight of the trailer 10 is supported by the wheels 14. The axle 15 of the wheels 14 is spaced from the headboard frame 22 via the support arms 28 so that the weight of the trailer 10 is used to keep the headboard frame 22 in the first position. In other words, the moment of rotation created by the support arms 28 forces the headboard frame 22 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. This rotation is arrested by the draw bar 16 coming against a stop in its fully retracted position. As an alternative, the end of the chassis 12, adjacent the headboard frame 22, may have a projection or abutment surface against which the headboard frame 22 locates to prevent further rotation. The addition of the load to the headboard frame 22, which comprises a hay bale 34, further results in a force which holds the headboard frame 22 in its first position as shown in Figure 8. i

The sliding draw bar 16 is connected to a series of pivoting linkage bars 37 to 39. The first linkage bar 37 is pivotally connected to the sliding draw bar 16 via bracket 41 at its lower end and pivotally connected to linkage bar 38 at both of their upper ends. Linkage bar 38 is pivotally connected to the chassis 12 via bracket 42 and linkage bar 39 is pivotally connected at its lower end to linkage bar 38 and its upper end to the main post 27 via bracket 43.

In order to rotate the headboard frame 22 with its attached load 34, the wheel 14 is first fixed in position. This can be achieved either by application of a brake (not illustrated) or by simply placing a chock against the wheel. On slippery ground, a chock will be preferred to the brake as sliding of the trailer may result rather than rotation of the headboard frame 22. The sliding draw bar can then be drawn out of the outer tube 18 by movement of the vehicle to which the trailer 10 is attached. This in turn causes the linkage bar 37 to rotate linkage bar 38 which in turn, via linkage bar 39 and main post 27, rotates the headboard frame 22. This also rotates the support arms 28 and attached wheels 14 which is shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Chocks may be carried on the chassis 12 and conveniently may be a pair of opposed and connected wedges that are stored on either side of the chassis 12.

Figure 9 shows the headboard frame 22 partly rotated and as can be seen, the horizontal distance A between the axle 15 and the upper pivot 31 of linkaged arm 25 has shortened. Also, the mass of the load 34 is rotating past the upper pivot 31 of the linkage arm 25 and so, at some point prior to the length A becoming zero the forces will become balanced so that further rotation will result in an over-centre configuration. This will mean that the load 34 and the position of the axle 15 will result in the forces acting to rotate the headboard frame 22 in a clockwise direction, that is towards the second position.

As seen in Figure 10, the axle 15 has moved to a position so that it is now behind the upper pivot 31 of linkage arm 25. In this case, the distance between the axle 15 and the pivot point 31 is shown as B in Figure 10. In this position, a portion of the load 34 is now acting to hold the headboard frame 22 in the second position. The axle 15 and support arms 28 are now in an over centre position in relation to the upper pivot 31. Accordingly, the load is in a stable position.

However, the full mass of the load 34 is not holding the headboard frame 22 in the second position. Less than half of the mass of the load 34 is located rear-wardly of the upper pivot 31 of linkage arm 25 which acts as a balancing mass to reduce the load that would otherwise be required to rotate the headboard frame 22 back to its first position. Accordingly, the process of unloading the trailer 10 is made easier. When the wheels 14 are fixed/chocked with the trailer 10 in the position shown in Figure 10, then, although the linkage bars 37 to 39 are placed into compression as the sliding draw bar 16 slides back into the outer tube 18, the forces are not excessive and the linkage bars 37 to 39 can easily rotate the headboard frame 22 in a counter-clockwise (unloading) direction. Once the axle 15 goes past its over-centre position in relation to upper pivot 31 , then the load 34 will act to force rotation of the headboard frame 22 back to its first position.

As can be seen from the above description, the connection means between the chassis 12 and the headboard frame 22 provides assisted rotation of the headboard frame 22 both when it is rotating from its first to second position and back again when unloading. It also provides greater than 50 percent of the load being forward of the pivot point 31 which holds the load in the second position and also provides a positive down force on the draw bar of the vehicle towing the trailer 10.

Figures 1 1 and 12 show rotation of the tines 20 to a storage position. The tines 20 are welded to a cross bar 45 which in turn is pivotally attached to brackets 46 by a pivot 47. The brackets 46 are located on either side of the headboard frame 22 and are in turn themselves pivotally mounted with respect to the headboard frame 22. Lever arms 48 on both sides of the headboard frame 22 are adjustable in their position via a pin 49 which locates into a number of spaced apertures 50 in the side posts 23.

The tines 20 can be rotated from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical storage position as shown in Figure 12 and a loop 52 which is pivotally attached to the top rail 26 can be rotated and located over one of the tines 20 as shown in Figure 12 to hold the tines 20 in their substantially vertical position. The tines 20 and cross bar 45 to which they are attached rotate about pivot point 47.

Rotation of bracket 46 by re-positioning lever arm 48 will change the angle of the tines 20 at their lower extended position. This enables the angle of the tines 20 with respect to the load 34 to be adjusted. This enables the tines 20 to be levelled regardless of the variation of angle caused by differences in the height of tow bars on different vehicles.

Figure 13 illustrates the catch 54 used to secure the headboard frame 22 in its second position. Although the weight of the load 34 acts to hold the headboard frame 22 in this position, the latch 54 provides added security to ensure that the load 34 is held in the second position particularly as the trailer 10 traverses rough ground that would most likely result in upward force being applied to the load 34.

The latch 54 comprises a latching arm 55 that is pivotally attached to a bracket 56. The latching arm 55 has a hook 57 that engages over a catch 58. The catch 58 is supported by a post 59 which is in turn welded to the main post 27 The bracket 56 is welded to a post 60 which is in turn welded to the chassis 12. An indexing lever 61 is also pivotally attached to the bracket 56 and rotates between a first position as shown in Figure 13 to a second position shown in Figure 1. A spring 62 is attached between the latching arm 55 and the indexing lever 61 so that the latching arm 55 is held in a latching position as shown in Figure 13 but moves to an unlatched position shown in Figure 1 when the indexing lever 61 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction with reference to Figure 13. There are stops against which the indexing lever abuts in both of its positions.

Accordingly, with the latching arm 55 and indexing lever 61 in the position shown in Figure 13, the catch 58 will automatically engage with the hook 57 as the headboard frame 22 rotates

to its second position. Once engaged, the latch 54 will hold the headboard frame 22 in this position.

When it is required to rotate the headboard frame 22 back to its first position to release the load 34, the latch 54 is released by rotating indexing lever 61 in an anti-clockwise direction to thereby rotate the latching arm 55 away from the catch 58.

In an alternative arrangement, not illustrated, the post 60 may be attached to a bar that is pivotal Iy attached to the chassis 12 close to the end of the chassis 12 adjacent the headboard frame 22. The free end of the bar can be held at a number of heights with respect to the chassis 12 via pinning with respect to a bracket. This adjusts the height of the latch 54 which in turn controls the amount of rotation of the headboard frame 22. If the latch 54 is held high with respect to the chassis 12, then the headboard frame 22 will not rotate as far. This will be useful for different types of loads, such as drums, where it would be unsafe for the headboard frame 22 to be rotated to a substantially horizontal position. They will be less likely to slide off if it is instead at an angle.

Figure 14 depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the sliding draw bar 16 is replaced by a hydraulic cylinder 70. The hydraulic cylinder is powered by a battery, which in turn is charged using solar panel 75.

As will be seen from the above description, this preferred embodiment an easy means of engaging a load in a first position and rotating the load 34 to a second position where it enables the trailer to transport the load 34 as required. The connection means which rotates the load 34 to its second position for transport does not require a significant force and therefore this movement can be easily achieved by smaller farm vehicles therefore avoiding the need to use fuel inefficient tractors. It will be equally as easy to unload the trailer when the load is rotated back to the first position.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

For example, although the present invention has been described with particular reference to moving hay bales, the trailer may be used for moving other items - e.g. crates. Of course, the spikes 20 may bot be appropriate for moving different types of loads, and therefore the load holding means may be adapted to suit the type of load that the trailer is required to move.

Another alternative would be to replace the two stub axles 15 with a single wheel axle connected to the load holding means, In such an embodiment, the wheel axle would still be moveable relative to the chassis, thereby mechanically assisting rotation of the load holding means.

These examples are not intended as an exhaustive list, and are only intended to be indicative of other embodiments still in accordance with the present invention.