GB1597153A

GB1597153A - Trailers

Info

Publication number: GB1597153A
Application number: GB19193/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mathews S J
Current assignee: Mathews S J
Priority date: 1978-05-26
Filing date: 1978-05-26
Publication date: 1981-09-03

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TRAILERS (71) I, STANLEY JOHN MATTHEW, a British subject of Budock, Meadow Close, Wrea Green, Preston, Lancashire, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns trailers, and has more particular reference to mobile equipment for on-site work, especially on building sites.

According to the present invention there is proposed a trailer for use on a building site comprising a wheeled chassis adapted to be towed by a vehicle and a plurality of functional units mounted on said chassis, including an engine adapted to drive one or more of said functional units, at least a part of said chassis being of tubular form and providing a fluid storage and/or supply for one or more of the said functional units.

In one arrangement the chassis defines a receiver for an air compressor mounted thereon, whilst in another arrangement such chassis defines a fuel storage means for an internal combustion engine mounted thereon.

According to a preferred feature the chassis supports such functional units as, for example. an air compressor, an electrical generator, a sludge pump and a welding set, the engine being a four or six-cylinder diesel internal combustion engine.

The chassis may be fabricated from tubular elements of circular cross-section, although it is preferred that such elements be of rectangular, for example, square, cross-section.

The chassis may comprise a unitary structure of tubular elements joined together as by welding and wherein all of the elements are in fluid flow connection, but in some circumstances it may be found convenient to provide that some only of the elements are arranged in fluid flow connection to constitute storage and/or supply system of a lesser capacity than the total capacity of the chassis.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment thereof in perspective view.

Referring now to the drawing, a trailer comprises a chassis 11 having wheels 12, a tow bar 13 and a jockey wheel 14, the chassis 11 supporting a compressor 15, a diesel engine 16, a sludge pump unit 17, a welding set 18, and an electric generator 19, the electric generator having multiple power points 20.

In accordance with the invention, the chassis 11 is of generally rectangular form when viewed in plan and has a longitudinal element asymmetrically positioned with respect to the sides of the chassis and a plurality of transverse bearers lib to support the various functional units. The individual elements of the chassis, including the longitudinal element 1 1a aforesaid, are of square cross-section steel tube and are welded together to form a rigid integral structure.

The individual elements of the chassis are connected together in fluid flow relationship, and define a storage means for fuel for the internal combustion engine, the capacity of such storage means being of the order of forty gallons, thereby providing fuel for approximately a full working week of forty hours for a power unit of the kind envisaged and which has a consumption of approximately one gallon per hour.

The tow bar 13 is attached to the underside of the chassis at the forward end thereof and comprises two cranked members of which those parts 13a secured to the underside of the chassis are forwardly convergent whilst the forward extremities 13b lie in abutment on the centre line of the chassis. A connecting eye 13c is provided at the forward end of the two bar 13, and the jockey wheel 14 is secured to the abutting forward extremities at one side thereof.

The wheels 12 are similarly secured to the chassis at the underside thereof.

The compressor 15 comprises a hydrovane rotary compressor of large capacity, say 92 cubic feet per minute, such as can reasonably be expected to meet "on-site" demand without the need for reservoir means. A dual outlet 15a is provided for air tool connection, the said outlet being connected with the compressor outlet by pipe 15b.

The generator 19 is mounted on the chassis in diagonal disposition relative to the compressor, the diesel engine 16 wherein such generator is driven being located at the same side of the chassis as the compressor and in side-by-side relationship with the generator, being drivingly connected thereto via a pulley 16a on the output shaft of the diesel engine 16 and a corresponding pulley 19a on the shaft of the generator 19, there being a transmission belt 21 trained round the said pulleys 16a 19a.

The fuel tank for the diesel engine 16 is provided by the elements of the chassis as before described.

The generator 19 preferably comprises a heavy duty alternator thereby to provide a capacity in excess of any reasonable "onsite" requirement and the multiple power points or sockets 20 are connected with the alternator via a holster switch.

A control panel 21 is supported above the generator 19, and includes the control devices for the various units provided on the chassis, together with the multiple power points or sockets 20, the sockets comprising 1 at 60 amp, 415V; 2 at 30 amp. 415V; 2 at 15 amp, 415V; 1 at 13 amp, 240V; and 1 at l10V, 2 pin.

and being intended for connection thereto of ancillary site equipment.

At the forward end of the chassis 11 and in side-by-side disposition relative to the generator 19 is the sludge pump unit 17 comprising a pump 17a and electric motor 17b therefor, the output shaft of the motor 17b being connected directly with the pump 17a via a suitable gear box, whilst rearwardly of the pump unit 17 the chassis 11 supports the welding set 18.

On a telescopic pole (not shown) secured to a tie-bar joining two lifting arms (likewise not shown) located vertically from the central section of the chassis is a quadruple floodlight (not shown) with a swivel facility.

The structure is completed by a cover or housing (not shown) removably applied to a rigid framework 24 extending about the functional units and in clearance relationship thereto, the framework being supported from the chassis by such as brackets 24a.

In an alternative arrangement, not illustrated, the compressor may be of a kind such as would require, having regard to the "on-site" load requirement, a receiver to provide for an adequate capacity at maximum demand, in which case the chassis may be utilised, in whole or in part, as such receiver, a separate fuel tank being provided for the internal combustion engine or not according to the available space in the chassis after having taken account of the receiver requirement.

As will readily be appreciated, the trailer as herein proposed will provide a sell- contained, versatile plant for on-site work which makes available the full range of equipment likely to be required as a single piece of equipment, plus the facility to connect more equipment if needed.

The utilisation of a tubular construction in the dual role of chassis and storage and/or supply system optimises the effective pay load and size of the plant, and thus makes possible a reduction in the overall weight of the plant for a given combination of instrumentalities as compared with a structure having the same combination of instrumentalities wherein such instrumentalities are mounted on a conventional chassis and a separate storage and/or supply system is provided and separate units are required normally to fulfil the functions of the other constituent parts of the machine.

This reduction in weight may be of significance on construction sites where roadways and like support surfaces are in an incomplete state. Furthermore, the utilisation of the chassis as a storage and/or supply system will reduce the overall dimensions of the plant as compared with arrangements wherein a separate system is provided, or will make possible the inclusion of an additional unit in the space previously occupied by such system.

The invention is not restricted to the exact features of the embodiment hereinbefore described, since alternatives will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art.

Thus, for example. the nature of the units provided, and the relative disposition of the units on the chassis may be varied to suit particular requirements.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A trailer for use on a building site comprising a wheeled chassis adapted to be towed by a vehicle and a plurality of functional units mounted on said chassis.

including an engine adapted to drive one or more of said functional units, at least a part of said chassis being of tubular form and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. abutment on the centre line of the chassis. A connecting eye 13c is provided at the forward end of the two bar 13, and the jockey wheel 14 is secured to the abutting forward extremities at one side thereof. The wheels 12 are similarly secured to the chassis at the underside thereof. The compressor 15 comprises a hydrovane rotary compressor of large capacity, say 92 cubic feet per minute, such as can reasonably be expected to meet "on-site" demand without the need for reservoir means. A dual outlet 15a is provided for air tool connection, the said outlet being connected with the compressor outlet by pipe 15b. The generator 19 is mounted on the chassis in diagonal disposition relative to the compressor, the diesel engine 16 wherein such generator is driven being located at the same side of the chassis as the compressor and in side-by-side relationship with the generator, being drivingly connected thereto via a pulley 16a on the output shaft of the diesel engine 16 and a corresponding pulley 19a on the shaft of the generator 19, there being a transmission belt 21 trained round the said pulleys 16a 19a. The fuel tank for the diesel engine 16 is provided by the elements of the chassis as before described. The generator 19 preferably comprises a heavy duty alternator thereby to provide a capacity in excess of any reasonable "onsite" requirement and the multiple power points or sockets 20 are connected with the alternator via a holster switch. A control panel 21 is supported above the generator 19, and includes the control devices for the various units provided on the chassis, together with the multiple power points or sockets 20, the sockets comprising 1 at 60 amp, 415V; 2 at 30 amp. 415V; 2 at 15 amp, 415V; 1 at 13 amp, 240V; and

1 at l10V, 2 pin.

and being intended for connection thereto of ancillary site equipment.

providing a fluid storage and/or supply for one or more of the said functional units.

2. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chassis defines a fuel tank for said engine, being an internal combustion engine, mounted thereon.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the chassis defines a receiver for an air compressor mounted thereon.

4. A trailer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional units include a generator, a compressor and said engine, being an internal combustion engine, is adapted to drive the generator and compressor.

5. A trailer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the functional units include one or more of a sludge pump, a welding set and a flood-lighting system, all operable from the generator.

6. A trailer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a tow bar of the trailer includes a socket to receive a support post for a flood-lighting system.

7. A trailer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a cover mounted on the chassis and overlying the said functional units.

8. A trailer as claimed in claim 7, wherein a support frame is provided which is mounted on the chassis and on which the cover is mounted.

9. A trailer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including lifting arms attached to the chassis and extending upwardly therefrom.

10. A trailer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lifting arms include a restraining bar extending therebetween.

11. A trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.