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GB2223465A - Articulated vehicles - Google Patents

Articulated vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2223465A
GB2223465A GB8819907A GB8819907A GB2223465A GB 2223465 A GB2223465 A GB 2223465A GB 8819907 A GB8819907 A GB 8819907A GB 8819907 A GB8819907 A GB 8819907A GB 2223465 A GB2223465 A GB 2223465A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
motor
articulated vehicle
vehicle according
trailer
control switch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8819907A
Other versions
GB8819907D0 (en
GB2223465B (en
Inventor
Michael Flounders
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB8819907A priority Critical patent/GB2223465B/en
Publication of GB8819907D0 publication Critical patent/GB8819907D0/en
Publication of GB2223465A publication Critical patent/GB2223465A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2223465B publication Critical patent/GB2223465B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60DVEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/24Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
    • B60D1/246Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for actuating the hitch by powered means
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60DVEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/66Props
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60SSERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S9/00Ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring the vehicle, wholly or in part, e.g. built-in jacks
    • B60S9/14Ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring the vehicle, wholly or in part, e.g. built-in jacks for both lifting and manoeuvring
    • B60S9/16Ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring the vehicle, wholly or in part, e.g. built-in jacks for both lifting and manoeuvring for operating only on one end of vehicle
    • B60S9/18Ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring the vehicle, wholly or in part, e.g. built-in jacks for both lifting and manoeuvring for operating only on one end of vehicle mechanically

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)

Abstract

An articulated vehicle having a tractor unit and a trailer unit, wherein a front end ground support (16, 18) for the trailer unit is operable by a reversible d.c. motor (20) acting through a coupling (21) and reduction gearing (22), the motor being operable from the standard 24V vehicle power supply by a three-position control switch having an off-position and two on-positions respectively for raising and lowering the ground support. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in Articulated Vehicles This invention relates generally to articulated vehicles.
Articulated vehicles comprise a tractor unit and a trailer unit disconnectable at a releasable coupling device.
Before disconnecting the tractor from the trailer, it is necessary to lower a ground support, in the form of a stand which may or may not be equipped with dolly wheels, beneath the trailer towards the front end thereof. The invention is concerned, more specifically, with this lowerable and raisable ground support.
Currently, when disconnecting or reconnecting a tractor and trailer, the driver or other operator has to lower or raise the ground support by means of a hand winch, which is operated by use of a detachable cranked handle from a standing position adjacent the side of the trailer. This system is disadvantageous, extending disconnection and connection times to at least several minutes. Sometimes, moreover, the driver, on coming to use the winch, finds the detachable handle damaged or that it has been totally mislaid. Moreover, in an endeavour to save time, there is risk that the ground stand will be raised to the minimum level necessary for normal ground clearance, whereby the risk remains of grounding at humps in the road, as at level crossings or bridges, and the risk of pulling the ground support through the snow arises on snow laden roads.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved system for lowering and raising the front end ground support of the trailer of an articulated vehicle.
According to the invention, there is provided an articulated vehicle having a tractor unit and a trailer unit, wherein the trailer unit is provided with a lOweTable.:and; raisable front end ground support, and the means for lowering and raising the ground support comprises a d.c. electric motor in combination with reduction gearing, a control switch including an off-position and two on-positions, and circuit means whereby the d.c. motor is driven from the vehicle electric power supply in one sense in one on-position of the switch and in the opposite sense in the other on-position.
The control switch may be situated within the cab of the tractor unit, or in a convenient position at the front end of the trailer, preferably a position not requiring the driver to have access down the side of the trailer.
A practical arrangement of articulated vehicle with a powered ground support adjacent the front end of the trailer is diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an articulated vehicle shown in side elevation, with the cab and trailer separated; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the powered ground support indicated by the arrow A in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a circuit diagram.
Referring to the drawings, an articulated vehicle comprises a tractor unit 10 having a cab 12 and a trailer unit 14 having on its underside a raisable and lowerable ground support A adjacent its front end.
The ground support A (see Figure 2) comprises a raisable and lowerable telescopic column 16 carrying dolly wheels 18. Usually a pair of such supports are provided, one on each side of the longitudinal centre line of the trailer.
The telescopic column 16 is operable by a d.c. motor 20 operating at 24 volts, which corresponds to the voltage of the conventional power supply on-board the vehicle.
The motor 20 drives the column 16 through an adjustable coupling 21 and reduction gearing 22, which may be of adjustable ratio.
A three position switch 24 (see Figure 3) situated in the cab 12 of the tractor 1O has an off-position 26 and onpositions 28 and 30. In the two on-positions, the d.c.
motor 20 is driven from the vehicle power supply but, by reversal of polarities, respectively in opposite senses in one on-position 28 as compared to the other on-position 30.
In the off-position 26, the motor is disconnected from the power supply and thereby the column is effectively locked in position, either up or down. However, the two onpositions of the switch 24 enable the column (and dolly wheels 18 carried thereby) to be raised and lowered, respectively.
Referring to Figure 3, the illustrated circuit means includes relays 40, 42 having power contacts 44, 46 in the supply lines 48, 50 connecting the vehicle power supply 52 to the d.c. motor 20. Relays 40, 42 also have normally closed contacts 54, 56 respectively, for ensuring that only one can be energised at a time. However, it will often be possible to dispense with these relays, depending on the characteristics of the motor, associated gearing and the ground support.In Figure 3, all circuitry except the motor is incorporated in the wiring in the cab, whilst the supply lines 58, 60 leading from the power supply or power relay contacts to the motor may be constituted either byspare conductors in the conventional releasable cable connecting between the cab and the trailer, which cable is provided to carry lighting currents, or in a separate releasable cable or possibly in a special purpose releasable lighting cable having additional conductors, for the supply current to the d.c. motor.
The powered ground support above-described has various advantages over the conventional hand-operated ground support, in particular in time saving, especially at ferry terminals and the like. Additionally, however, because the driver does not have to have access to the side of the trailer to operate the ground support, trailers can be parked closer together, thus saving space in congested vehicle terminals. Moreover, for example by the use of limit switches interlocked with the three-position control switch and/or with indicator lights, the risk can be minimised that ground supports are not always fully raised when the tractor is reconnected to the trailer, thus reducing risk of grounding of the support on uneven road surfaces.
Finally, it will be understood that the provision of the powered ground support does not prohibit use of a given trailer with a tractor not equipped with the electric control circuitry, as the d.c. motor may be equipped with a manual input operable by the standard cranked handle normally supplied for manual winching of the ground support.
Equally, a modified tractor unit can still be used with a trailer unit only equipped with a manually operable ground support.
In one modification, the control switch is transferred to a convenient position, for example inside a lockable box, at the front end of the trailer. The invention may then be applied to an articulated vehicle as an adaptation to the trailer only.
Various modifications of the above-described and illustrated arrangement are possible within the scope of the invention hereinbefore defined.

Claims (10)

  1. Patent Application No. 8819907.0
    Claims 1. An articulated vehicle having a tractor unit and a trailer unit, wherein the trailer unit is provided with a lowerable and raisable front end ground support, and the means for lowering and raising the ground support comprises a d.c. electric motor in combination with reduction gearing, a control switch including an offposition and two on-positions, and circuit means whereby the d.c. motor is driven from the vehicle electric powersupply in one sense in one on-position of the switch and in the opposite sense in the other on-position.
  2. 2. An articulated vehicle according to claim 1, having the control switch situated within the cap of the tractor unit or in a position at the front of the trailer unit not requiring the user to have access along the side of the trailer unit.
  3. 3. An articulated vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the circuit means includes e pair of relays energisable in the respective on-positions of the control switch and having power contacts in the supply line-s connection the vehicle power supply with the d.c. motor
  4. 4. An articulated vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the relays also have interconnected contact means whereby only one relay can be energised at a time.
  5. 5. An articulated vehicle according to any of claims 1to 4, wherein the motor drives the reduction gearing through an adjustable coupling.
  6. 6. An articulated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reduction gear is of adjustable ratio.
  7. 7. An articulated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the circuit means is incorporated with wiring in the cab and connects with the motor on the trailer unit through a releasable cable.
  8. 8. An articulated vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the releasable cable is a lighting cable incorporating conductors for carrying the supply current to the motor.
  9. 9. An articulated vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the motor has a manual input operable to turn the motor by a cranked handle.
  10. 10. An articulated vehicle according to any preceding claim, having travel limit switches interlocked with the control switch.
    li. An articulated vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8819907A 1988-08-22 1988-08-22 Improvements in articulated vehicles Expired - Lifetime GB2223465B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8819907A GB2223465B (en) 1988-08-22 1988-08-22 Improvements in articulated vehicles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8819907A GB2223465B (en) 1988-08-22 1988-08-22 Improvements in articulated vehicles

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8819907D0 GB8819907D0 (en) 1988-09-21
GB2223465A true GB2223465A (en) 1990-04-11
GB2223465B GB2223465B (en) 1992-09-16

Family

ID=10642514

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8819907A Expired - Lifetime GB2223465B (en) 1988-08-22 1988-08-22 Improvements in articulated vehicles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2223465B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0529544A1 (en) * 1991-08-22 1993-03-03 ROCKINGER Spezialfabrik für Anhängerkupplungen GmbH & Co. Tractor-semitrailer combination with power-operated landing gear
US5451076A (en) * 1993-12-20 1995-09-19 New Way Corporation Pneumatic trailer landing gear
US6551017B1 (en) 1998-06-02 2003-04-22 David R. Strassman Pavement heating trailer including self propelled tongue jack

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3764162A (en) * 1971-12-21 1973-10-09 Raymond Lee Organization Inc Automatic landing gear device
US3784160A (en) * 1972-11-09 1974-01-08 Wildwood Products Vehicle support system
US4174094A (en) * 1978-02-03 1979-11-13 Brandl Ronald A Recreational vehicle leveling and support system

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4129322A (en) * 1976-06-21 1978-12-12 Kuntz Jr Martin Support device for a trailer
US4103869A (en) * 1977-01-13 1978-08-01 Mesny Philip R Vehicle levelling and stabilizing system

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3764162A (en) * 1971-12-21 1973-10-09 Raymond Lee Organization Inc Automatic landing gear device
US3784160A (en) * 1972-11-09 1974-01-08 Wildwood Products Vehicle support system
US4174094A (en) * 1978-02-03 1979-11-13 Brandl Ronald A Recreational vehicle leveling and support system

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0529544A1 (en) * 1991-08-22 1993-03-03 ROCKINGER Spezialfabrik für Anhängerkupplungen GmbH & Co. Tractor-semitrailer combination with power-operated landing gear
US5451076A (en) * 1993-12-20 1995-09-19 New Way Corporation Pneumatic trailer landing gear
US6551017B1 (en) 1998-06-02 2003-04-22 David R. Strassman Pavement heating trailer including self propelled tongue jack
US6742959B2 (en) 1998-06-02 2004-06-01 Drs Limited Asphalt heater

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8819907D0 (en) 1988-09-21
GB2223465B (en) 1992-09-16

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19960822