Anthony
Edwin
Anthony
Edwin
| 1. | A vehicle for use in the recovery of other vehicles, comprising a chassis and a support platform mounted on the chassis for movement longitudinal thereof, and for tilting movement about an axis which extends transversely thereof, the support platform including a main body portion and an end portion which is capable of tilting movement relative to the main body portion. |
| 2. | A vehicle according to Claim 1 wherein the end portion is movable relative to the main body from a position in which an upper surface thereof is substantially flush with an upper surface of the main body. |
| 3. | A vehicle according to Claim 2 wherein the end portion is pivotal relative to the main body and falls under the action of gravity into said position, and may be moved against the action of gravity from said position. |
| 4. | A vehicle according to Claim 1 wherein said position is determined by engagement of the end portion with stop means on the main body. |
| 5. | A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support platform is slidably mounted on a support frame, the frame being pivotally mounted on the chassis and means being provided to move the support platform longitudinally of the support frame. |
| 6. | A vehicle according to Claim 5 comprising power means on the chassis to move the frame about said axis relative to the chassis. |
| 7. | A support assembly comprising a support frame and a support platform mounted on the support frame for movement longitudinally thereof and for pivotal movement about an axis which extends transversely thereto, the support platform comprising a main body portion and an end portion which is capable of tilting movement relative to the main body. |
| 8. | A support assembly according to Claim 7 wherein .the support frame is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis, the support platform being mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the support frame and for pivotal movement with the support frame. |
| 9. | The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the construction and arrangement is such that on lowering of the support platform to the ground, the end portion engages the ground, and on continuing lowering of the support platform, the end portion pivots relative to the main body. |
| 10. | The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the end portion of the support platform is provided with roller means, positioned to engage the ground. |
This invention is concerned with improvements relating to recovery vehicles, and to support platforms, particularly but not exclusively for use with recovery vehicles.
Currently known methods and apparatus for vehicle recovery are in general unsuitable for recovery of low-fronted vehicles because of the incline onto which the vehicle to be recovered must travel.
According to this invention these is provided a vehicle for use in the recovery of other vehicles, comprising a chassis and a support platform mounted on the chassis for longitudinal movement relative thereto, and for tilting movement about an axis which extends transversely thereof, the support platform including a main body and an end portion which is capable of tilting relative to the main body.
Preferably the end portion is movable relative to the main body from a position in which an upper surface thereof is substantially flush with an upper surface of the main body, and advantageously the end portion is pivotal relative to the main body and falls under the action of gravity into said position, and is capable of being moved from said position against the action of gravity. Advantageously said position is determined by engagement of the end portion with stop means on the main body.
The support platform is conveniently slidably mounted on a support frame, the frame being pivotally mounted on the chassis and power means is provided to move the support platform longitudinally of the support frame.
Preferably further power means is mounted on the chassis to move the support frame about its pivot axis.
According to this invention there is also provided a support assembly comprising a support frame and a support platform mounted on the support frame for movement longitudinally thereof and for pivotal movement about an axis which extends at right angles thereto, the support
platform comprising a main body and an end portion which is capable of tilting movement relative to the main body.
Advantageously the support frame is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis, the support platform being mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the support frame and for pivotal movement with the support frame.
Preferably the construction and arrangement is such that on lowering of the support platform to the ground, the end portion of the platform engages the ground first, and pivots relative to the main body as the main body continues to be lowered.
Preferably the end portion is provided with roller means, such as wheels, positioned to engage the ground.
The support assembly set out above may be used on a recovery vehicle, but may alternatively provide a platform within a garage such that vehicles may readily be moved onto the platform and raised into a position which facilitates execution of repair or maintenance work on the vehicle.
The provision of a platform of the kind set out above whether on a vehicle which is used for the recovery of other motor vehicles, or to provide a platform within a garage, facilitates the mounting bf other motor vehicles with which conventional platforms have difficulty. For example the provision of an end portion which may be tilted relative to the main body as described above facilitates the mounting of vehicles which have a low front, for example as may be provided by a spoiler. Thus, the load bearing platform according to the invention provides an incline in two parts, a first shallow incline and a second steeper one, so that a low frontage vehicle is less likely to be damaged when it is moved onto the platform. Moreover the end portion of the platform assists in supporting the load of the recovered vehicle so that the total length of the platform with the end .portion extended substantially in the same plane as the main body may be somewhat reduced in comparison to conventional load bearing platforms which include a tailgate, where the tailgate extend substantially in the same plain as the remainder of the load bearing platform.
There will now be given a detailed description of the invention, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a recovery vehicle, comprising a support assembly, which are embodiments of the invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.
In the accompanying drawings:
FIGURES 1 to 3 are side elevations of a vehicle which provides a load bearing platform showing the load bearing platform in various attitudes relative to a chassis of the vehicle; and
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section through part of a load bearing platform showing the junction between an end portion thereof and the remainder thereof.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is a recovery vehicle, shown in the drawings, comprising a chassis 6 upon which a support assembly 8 is mounted, the support assembly 8 comprising a support fame 10 and a support platform 12 mounted on the frame 10 for sliding movement in a direction longitudinally of the vehicle. Conveniently mounted on the rear of the frame 10 is hydraulic means, shown schematically at 14, for moving the support platform 12 longitudinally of the support frame 10.
Hydraulic means 16 is also provided on the chassis to move the support frame 10 about an axis 18, conveniently located at the rear end of the chassis 6, whereby the support frame 10 may be moved between a lowered position, shown in Figure 1, and a raised position, shown in Figure 2.
The support platform 12 comprises a main body 20 and a rear end portion 22 which is pivotally mounted on the main body 20 by pivot means 48, described in more detail hereinafter. Additionally mounted at the end of the rear end portion 22 is roller means, afforded by a pair of wheels 24.
Extending upwardly from the inner end of the platform 12 is a tower 28, carrying at its upper end portion power-operated pulley means 30, in conventional manner.
In Figure 4, the junction of the end portion 22 and the main body 20 of the support platform 12 is shown. Laterally-extended edge members 42, 43 respectively of the end portion 22 and of the main body 20 each afford surfaces 44, 45, which when the upper surfaces 21 and 23 respectively of the main body and rear end portion are substantially flush, extend parallel to one another to abut against one another. The mutual abutment of these surfaces prevents deflection of the upper surface 23 of the end potion 22 relative to the upper surface 21 of the main body substantially beyond 180°.
The surfaces 44, 45 are provided at a lower part of the lateral edge members 42, 43, whilst uppermost parts afford surfaces 46, 47 which are inclined such that they diverge away from one another towards the top of the lateral edge members. In this way pivoting movement of the rear end portion 22 is limited, the limit being determined by abutment of the diverging parts 46, 47.
As shown in Figure 4, the pivot 48 is provided by coaxial pins respectively secured to bracing members 49, 50 which extend transversely of the support platform.
In the operation of the preferred embodiment, the rest position will be is as shown in dotted lined in Figure 1. The hydraulic means 14 is operated to move the support platform 12 longitudinally of the support frame 10, from the position shown in dotted lined to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1. At an intermediate position operation of the hydraulic means 14 may be terminated, and the hydraulic means 16 operated, causing the support frame 10, and with it the support platform 12, to rotate about the pivot axis 18, moving the rear end portion 22 towards the ground. Thereafter the hydraulic means 14 may be outstroked further, moving the support platform 12 longitudinally away from the truck, until the wheels 24 of the rear end portion 22 engage the ground.
Thereafter the rear end portion 23 commences to pivot relative to the main body 20, about axis 48 to the position shown in Figure 3.
A cable 34 may be unwound from the pulley 30, and hooked onto [for example] to the front of a vehicle to be recovered, and the power means operated to rotate the pulley 28, pulling the vehicle onto the support platform. Initially the wheels of the vehicle will engage the relatively shallow-angled surface 23 of the rear end portion 22, prior to mounting onto the more steeply inclined surface 21 of the main body 20.
In this way interference between the front of the vehicle, as is encountered in vehicles having a low-slung front [such as a spoiler] when pulled upon a more steeply inclined platform, is obviated.
When the vehicle has been pulled onto the main body 20, the power mechanism 16 may be instroked, returning the support frame 10 to its horizontal position, and the power means 14 operated to pull the support platform 12 back into the Figure 1 position.
If desired the rear end portion may then be lifted to an inclined position, in which it may secured by a pin, to prevent rearward movement of the vehicle from the support assembly.
Whilst the support assembly has been described above as part of a recovery vehicle, the principles of the invention may be utilised in the provision of a fixed support assembly, for example in a garage, whereby a means is provided conveniently to enable a low-slunk vehicle to be pulled or driven onto a fixed platform for maintenance purposes.