GB2322620A

GB2322620A - A skip trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2322620A
Application number: GB9804061A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Stuart Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-27
Filing date: 1998-02-27
Publication date: 1998-09-02
Also published as: GB9804061D0; GB9704080D0

Abstract

A trailer for supporting a skip comprises a U-shaped body provided with support means for the skip. The support means may be either a pivotable platform 20 or a pair of horizontal arms 42, 44. The pivotable platform 20 comprises a plurality of rollers 26 along which the skip A may be propelled. By pushing the skip A to the opposite end of the trailer from stop 18 the pivotable platform 20 will pivot about its fulcrum and engage a portion of the skip with the ground. The trailer is then driven away allowing the skip to be deposited on the ground. In the second embodiment the horizontal arms 42, 44 are attached to piston means 46. In operation the trailer is positioned so that the skip B is between the legs 32, 34 of the U-shaped body. The piston 46 is used to allow the arms 42, 44 to be raised or lowered, engaging the skip B and lifting it from the ground. The trailer may be provided with rollers or with wheels if it is desired to take it on the road.

Description

SKIP TRAILER The present invention relates to a trailer for supporting a skip of the type used to carry waste material from an excavation or construction site.

Particularly in the case of excavation work, such a skip is filled with material excavated using a wheeled excavator, for example a JCB excavator. However, the excavator must then wait for the full skip to be picked up by a lorry and taken away and replaced by an empty skip, before the excavation work can continue. Alternatively, the lorry must wait for the skip to be filled, before it can take the skip away for emptying. Accordingly, the present practices involve substantial periods of time during which expensive machinery and skilled workers are left idle.

I have now devised an arrangement for overcoming this problem.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a trailer for supporting a skip and arranged to be towed, and operable for engaging the skip with the ground and then being towed forwardly to leave the skip behind on the ground.

In use of this trailer, the skip can be filled, preferably using an excavator which tows the trailer, and can then be left behind on the ground, for collection later. An empty skip can then be positioned on the trailer, so that work can continue.

In this way, the work of the excavator need be interrupted for only a short time, to replace the full skip with an empty one. Empty skips can be positioned in advance at suitable locations, e.g. spaced apart along the line of a trench which is to be excavated. The full skips can be collected when convenient, without requiring the collection lorry to wait.

In one embodiment, the trailer comprises a chassis having a support bed pivotally mounted to it, the support bed having a series of rotatable rollers, wheels or the like. In use, the skip is supported on these rollers or wheels etc., such that when the skip is full, it can be pushed rearwardly on the rollers or wheels, to a position at which the support bed is overbalanced and pivots rearwardly to a tilted position: the skip now engages the ground at its rear, and the trailer can be towed forwardly so that the skip rolls rearwardly to finish on the ground. An empty skip can now be lifted onto the trailer.

Preferably the support rollers or wheels on the support bed are of frictional material, or covered in frictional material, to prevent the skip sliding sideways: preferably these support rollers or wheels are of steel covered with rubber.

Preferably a number of such support rollers or wheels are provided on the chassis, forwardly of the pivoted support bed: in use, the skip is supported partly on these rollers or wheels and partly on the rollers or wheels of the support bed, but the skip will have been moved entirely onto the support bed by the time the latter is overbalanced.

Preferably the support bed comprises two sections spaced side-by-side and each provided with a series of the support rollers, wheels or the like.

Preferably the trailer chassis is provided with a series of rollers, wheels or the like to support it and run on the ground. Preferably these running rollers or wheels permit sideways sliding movement of the trailer, particularly when empty, to facilitate correct positioning of the trailer: preferably the running rollers or wheels are of steel, not covered with rubber or other frictional material.

Preferably the trailer chassis comprises two sections spaced side-by-side and each provided with a series of the running rollers or wheels.

In a second embodiment, the trailer comprises a chassis having two sections spaced side-by-side and interconnected at or adjacent their front ends only. The trailer further comprises a bed which is arranged to support a skip by way of projecting rails provided along the opposite sides of the skip, and means for raising and lowering the bed. In its raised position, the bed supports the skip between the two side sections of the chassis, and clear of the ground. When the skip is full, it can be lowered onto the ground, then the trailer pulled forwardly and free of the skip, ready to receive a fresh, empty skip.

Preferably the support bed for the skip comprises a pair of horizontal arms mounted to the respective side sections of the chassis. The mounting arrangement preferably comprises props pivotally coupled to the chassis and support arm, respectively, and a hydraulic actuator for raising and lowering the support arm.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of trailer, shown supporting a skip; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the trailer of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is an underside view of the trailer of Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a side view of the trailer, when offloading the skip; FIGURE 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of trailer, shown supporting a skip; FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the chassis of the trailer; and FIGURE 7 is a rear end view of the trailer of Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a trailer for supporting a skip A, the trailer comprising a chassis 10 having two sections 12,14 spaced side-by-side and connected by cross-braces 15. The two sections 12,14 have a series of steel rollers 16 mounted to them, for resting on the ground: these rollers may be replaced by wheels or tracks. The front end of the chassis is provided with a sloping wall 18 and with a tow bar 19.

A support bed 20 for the skip A is mounted on the chassis 10, and comprises two sections 22,24 spaced side-byside and connected by cross-braces 15a. The bed 20 projects beyond the rear end of the chassis and is pivoted to the chassis adjacent the rear end of the latter. The bed 20 terminates short of the front end of the chassis, and its two sections 22,24 have a series of rollers 26: similar rollers 27 are provided on the upper side of the chassis, forwardly of the front end of the bed 20. The rollers 26 and 27 are steel rollers covered with rubber, so that the skip A will not slide sideways: the rollers 26,27 may be replaced by wheels.

In use, the trailer may be towed by a wheeled excavator (such as a JCB excavator). When empty, the skip A can be lifted by the excavator arm onto the trailer: the excavator is then worked, for example to dig a trench, the excavated material being tipped into the skip A. When the skip is filled, the operator of the excavator uses the excavator arm to push the skip rearwardly, the skip running on the rollers 26,27: the skip will reach a position at which it overbalances the support bed 20, to cause the bed 20 to pivot rearwardly to the tilted position shown in Figure 4, the skip then moving on the rollers 26,27 until it meets the ground at its rear end.

The excavator is then driven to tow the trailer forwardly, during which the skip slides to the ground. Once the trailer is free of the skip, its bed 20 pivots back to its normal, horizontal position on the chassis 10.

An empty skip can now be lifted onto the trailer, and the excavation continued: the full skip can be left for collection at a later time. The work of the excavator is accordingly interrupted for only a very short period.

The rollers or wheels of the chassis 10 may, in general, be formed of steel or rubber or plastics. The rollers or wheels may be replaced by tracks. The rollers or wheels of the bed 20 may be distributed over the bed. The chassis 10 may be arranged for the fitting of road wheels so that it may be towed on the public highway.

Figures 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of trailer, which comprises a chassis 30 having two sections 32,34 spaced apart side-by-side and interconnected, at their front ends only, by a front section 33. The front end of the chassis is supported on a bogie 34 which is pivoted to the front section 33 of the chassis and has a pair of wheels 35: the bogie 34 is also provided with a tow bar 36. The side sections 32,34 are provided with wheels 37.

A bed 40 is carried on the chassis 30, for supporting a skip B. The bed 40 comprises two horizontal arms 42,44 supported on the respective side sections 32,34 of the chassis by pivoted props 45. Each arm 42,44 is provided with a hydraulic actuator 46, so that it can be supported in a raised position (shown in Figures 5 and 7) or lowered.

The arms 42,44 of the support bed 40 are arranged to support the skip B by means of horizontal rails 50 which are provided on the opposite sides of the skip. Figure 5 shows the support bed 40 in its raised position, to support the skip B clear of the ground and positioned between the arms 42,44 of the bed 40 and between the side sections 32,34 of the chassis 30. Once the skip B is filled, the hydraulic actuators 46 are operated, to lower the bed 40 (with corresponding pivoting of the props 45) until the skip B rests on the ground. The trailer can then be towed forwardly, leaving the skip behind for collection later. An empty skip can then be positioned on the trailer, for use as previously described.

It will be appreciated that the wheels 35 and/or 37 of the trailer shown in Figures 5 to 7 may be replaced by rollers or other rotatable elements, or by tracks. Also, arrangements may be provided for fitting road wheels to the chassis so that the trailer can be towed on the public highway.

Claims

1) A trailer for supporting a skip and arranged to be towed, the trailer being operable for engaging the skip with the ground and then being towed forwardly to leave the skip behind on the ground.

2) A trailer as claimed in claim 1, comprising a chassis having a support bed pivotally mounted to it, the support bed having a plurality of rotatable elements on which, in use, the skip is supported, the support bed being arranged so that the skip may be pushed rearwardly, on said rotatable elements, to a position at which the support bed is overbalanced and pivots to a rearwardly-inclined position.

3) A trailer as claimed in claim 2, in which a number of said rotatable elements are also provided on the chassis, forwardly of the support bed, to support the skip at its forward end.

4) A trailer as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the support bed comprises two sections spaced side-by-side and each provided with a series of said rotatable elements.

5) A trailer as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which said rotatable elements are formed of frictional material or are covered in frictional material.

6) A trailer as claimed in claim 1, comprising two sections spaced side-by-side and interconnected at or adjacent their front ends, arranged to receive a skip between said sections, a bed arranged to support a skip by way of projecting rails provided along the opposite sides of the skip, and means for raising and lowering said bed.

7) A trailer as claimed in claim 6, in which the support bed for the skip comprises a pair of horizontal arms mounted to the respective side sections of the chassis.

8) A trailer as claimed in claim 7, in which said horizontal arms are mounted to the respective side sections of the chassis by means of props pivotally coupled to the chassis and support arms, respectively.

9) A trailer for supporting a skip, the trailer being substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.