GB2106049A - Threeway tipping vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A arrangement whereby a vehicle body may be tipped in any one of three directions comprises latch members 9, 10, 11, 12 located on either side and at the front and rear of a vehicle chassis having recesses 25 in which locating members on the vehicle body engage. The rear latch 9, 10 members are rotatable about an axis transverse to the chassis. The latch members include pivotal or sliding locking members 26, 27 capable of retaining the locating members in the latch recess. The locking members are actuated by a series of interconnecting levers operated from a handle 63 at the front of the chassis, the levers arranging that the rear locking members or front and rear locking members on one side of the vehicle selectively engage the body locating members to allow the body to pivot about the said members and tip in the required direction. The body is caused to tip by means of a conventional centrally mounted hydraulic ram. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to three-way tipping mechanisms The present invention relates to a device enabling the body of a tipping vehicle to be tipped in any one of three directions.

Vehicles having bodies that can be tipped in any one of three directions, i.e. either side or rear end, are commonly called three-way tippers and are well known.

In general the body of the vehicle in such tippers is located on the vehicle chassis on four pivot devices, for example ball and socket devices, and utilises locking pins passing through both elements of the pivot devices to maintain the body in the normal position when the vehicle body is not required to be tipped. The function of tipping is achieved by a centrally located pneumatic or hydraulic hoist acting between the vehicle chassis and the floor of the vehicle.

When the body is required to be tipped in a particular direction, the pins holding the pivots are removed from the side opposite to that about which the body is to be tipped and the central hoist is then actuated to give the required lift about the other two pivot devices. However vehicle drivers frequently fail to remove one or more of the locking pins before activating the hoist with the result that the vehicle body suffers considerable damage, or alternatively the wrong pins are removed with the result that the body tips in the wrong direction, for example to the wrong side.

We have now developed a mechanism for threeway tipping which is less prone to the above mentioned difficulties.

The present invention therefore, provides a device for attachment to or forming an integral part of a vehicle chassis, comprising a first pair of latch members mounted at the rear and on opposite sides of the vehicle chassis for rotational movement about a common horizontal axis extending transversely of the chassis, a second pair of latch members nonrotatably mounted at the front and on opposite sides of the vehicle chassis parallel to the said first pair of latch members, each of said latch members including a receiving element containing a recess to receive a corresponding locating member attached to the underside of the vehicle body and positioned to engage in the said recess when the body is in the normal load carrying position, and a locking element mounted adjacent said receiving element for movement between a first position in which the locking member locks the said locating member into the said element and a second position in which the locking member allows the said locating member to move out of the said element; the locking members forming part of front mounted latch members normally being maintained in the said second position and the locking members forming part of the rear mounted latch members normally being maintained in the said first position, whereby the said body can be tipped rearwardly, the rear latch members rotating about the said horizontal axis during such tipping movement, and including means operable on each said locking member and actuable to cause both locking members on one side of the chassis to assume the said first position and simultaneously to cause both locking members on the other side to assume the said second position, whereby the body can be tipped sideways by movement about the locating members locked in the latch members on the one said side of the chassis.

The locking element may be pivotally mounted for movement between the said first and second positions, or it may be mounted for sliding movement parallel to the plane of the vehicle chassis.

The said means may be hydraulically or pneumatically operated.

In one embodiment the said means is a mechanical linkage which may comprise four cranked rods, one end of each said rod being connected to an individual locking element to cause pivotal movement of the said element between said first and second positions and the other end located on or adjacent a cam member, one said cam member being located between the rear pair of latch members and a second said cam member being located between the front pair of latch members, rotation of the cam members causing one rod to pivotally move its associated locking element in one direction and the other rod to move its locking element in the opposite direction, means preferably being provided to cause both cam members to move simultaneously. Operation of the said means controlling the movement of the cams may conveniently be actuated manually from within the drivers vehicle cab.

In another embodiment the locking elements consist of four cranked rods slidable transversely with respect to the vehicle chassis and arranged to engage in concentric apertures formed in opposite sides of each receiving element when in said first position, whereby selected vehicle body locating members may be secured in their respective said recesses. The movement of the rods is controlled by a series of pivotally mounted levers operated by an operating handle which is preferably mounted at the front of the chassis.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of the invention, Figure2 is a diagrammatic representation of a tipper vehicle including the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a second embodiment of the invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a vehicle chassis, generally indicated at 1, consists of two channel section side members 2 and 3, a square section front transverse member 4, a hollow tubular transverse rear member 5 and two intermediate square section support members 6 and 7.

A load bearing shaft 8 extends through rear tubular member 5 for rotation therein, each end of rod 8 supporting rear latch members 9 and 10 for rotation therewith.

Front latch members 11 and 12 are mounted at each end of front member 4, e.g. by welding and are parallel to latch members 9 and 10.

Each latch member is of identical construction.

The latch member consists of a cup member generally indicated at 20 having side members 21 and 22 spanned by a plate 23 having an inner edge 24. A recess 25 is provided in each side member to accomodate a locating member 72 (Figure 2) extending downwardly from the floor 71 (Figure 2) of the vehicle body 70 (Figure 2). Such locating member is conveniently in the form of a bar supported from the floor of the vehicle by downwardly extending brackets to provide clearance between the said bar and the said body floor.

A crook-shaped locking element 26 having an extending tip portion 27 is located on pivot pins 28 in cup member 20 for pivotal movement therein between an unlocked position, as shown with reference to latch members 11 and 12 and a locking position in which the upper portion of the locking element 26 is adjacent plate 23 and the integral portion 27 extends beneath edge 24 of plate 23 to lock a body locating member extending downwardly from a vehicle body within the said cup member, as shown with reference to latch members 9 and 10.

Afirst pear-shaped cam 30 is located, narrow end down, on panel 31 attached to front transverse member 4 and rotatable about pivot pin 33 positioned at the intersection of the major axes of the cam.

Elongate cam followers 34 and 35 are vertically positioned on either side of cam 30 and are mounted on plate 31 at their lowermost ends for pivotal movement about pins 36 and 37. A tension spring 38 is attached to the upper ends of cam followers 34 and 35 to urge them against cam 30.

Cranked link rods 39 and 40 are attached at one end to the upper ends of cam followers 35 and 34 respectively and the other ends via additional cranked linkages 41 and 42 to pins 28 carrying locking element 26 in latch members 12 and 11 respectively.

Pivotal meovement of cam 30 in a clockwise direction causes the upper end of cam follower 34 to move outwardly of plate 31 pushing link rod 39 in the same direction and thereby rotating pivot pin 28 in latch member 12 in a clockwise direction, thus moving locking element 26 of latch member 12 into the closed position. At the same time the upper end of cam follower 35 moves a relatively short distance inwardly of plate 31 pulling rod 40 in the same direction thereby causing some rotation of pin 28 of locking element 26 in a clockwise direction to move the said locking element further from plate 23, i.e.

maintaining the latch in the open position.

A second pear-shaped cam member 50 is located narrow end upwards (reverse to cam 30) on panel 51 attached to the rear tubular member 5 and rotatable about pivot pin 52 positioned at the intersection of the major axes of the cam.

Elongate cam followers 53 and 54 are positioned on either side of cam 50 and mounted at their upper ends on panel 51 for rotation about pivot pins 55 and 56 respectively. A tension spring 57 is attached to the lower ends of cam followers 53 and 54 urging them into contact with cam 50.

Cranked link rods 58 and 59 have one end pivotally attached to cam followers 53 and 54 respectively adjacent the lower ends thereof. The other ends of rods 58 and 59 being pivotally attached to linkage devices 60 and 61 attached to pins 28 of crook shaped locking elements 26 of latch members 9 and 10 respectively. Rotation of cam 50 in a clockwise direction causes cam follower 54 to move outwardly of panel 51 pulling link 59 in the opposite direction and in turn causing linkage device 61 to rotate crook shaped locking element 26 of latch member 10 clockwise and thereby moving it into the unlocked position.At the same time cam follower 53 moves inwardly of panel 51 to a relatively small extent, which through link rod 58 and linkage devices 60, rotates pin 28 of locking element 26 clockwise, again to a relatively small extent to urge said locking element 26 further against plate 23 of latch member 9.

It can be seen, therefore that with both cams rotated in the clockwise direction, latch members 10 and 11 are in the open position and latch members 9 and 12 are closed, so that a body mounted on frame 1 as previously described will be able to tip to the nearside of the vehicle. As illustrated in Figure 2.

As illustrated in Figure 1 cams 30 and 50 are linked by a common connection rod 62 which passes through suitable apertures in cross members 4,6 and 7. End of rod 62 extends forwardly of cam 30 where it can be manually operated by lever 63.

Movement of lever 63 can be seen to rotate cams 30 and 50 either clockwise or anti-clockwise. Thus movement of lever 63 to the left causes anticlockwise movement of the cams and permits offside tipping, whereas movement to the right rotates cams 30 and 50 in the clockwise directions and permits nearsidetipping.

Again as illustrated in Figure 1, the cams are in the neutral position with lever 63 in the vertical position.

As previously noted with cams in the neutral position the forward latch members 11 and 12 are in the open position whereas the rear latch members 9 and 10 are in the closed position. Thus a vehicle body is available for end tipping, the forward end of the body lifting and the rear end being located in latch members 9 and 10 which are able to rotate on rod 8.

Tipping may be accomplished in a conventional manner by means of a hydraulically operated ram acting between the vehicle chassis and the underfloor of the vehicle body. As shown in Figure 2 the ram 75, is conveniently positioned to act on the body underfloor 71 at a point midway between its sides and forward of the body's centre of gravity (for end tipping).

The device of the present invention has the advantage that there are no retaining pins to be removed before actuation of the operating hoist under the body floor and therefore damage to the body will not occur as a result of failure to remove such pins. Furthermore the driver can see from the position of the operating lever whether the body is set for tipping end or offside or nearside as required.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, a vehicle chassis generally indicated at 100 includes two channel section side members 102 (right hand side) and 103 (left hand side), a square section front transverse section 104 and a rear and two intermediate square section transverse members 105, 106 and 107 respectively.

A transverse tubular member 108 is positioned immediately behind the rear transverse member 105 and has a load bearing shaft 109 extending therethrough for rotation within the said member. Latch members 110 and 111 are welded onto each end of shaft 109 and rotate with the shaft.

Latch member 110 and 111 each consist of a rectangular body portion 120 one end of which is welded onto the end of the shaft 109 and the other end carrying U-section channel members 121 having side elements 122 and 123 extending upwardly and parallel to the axis of chassis 100. Members 121 provide recesses 124 between side elements 122 and 123 to accommodate a rear mounted vehicle body locating members (e.g. 72 in Figure 2).

Two concentric apertures 125 and 126 are formed in the side elements 122 and 123 of members 121 and a tubular member 127 is welded onto elements 123 concentrically with apertures 126 and extends inwardly of element 123 parallel to transverse member 105.

Cranked rods 128 hae outer end portions extending into tubular members 127,through apertures 125 and 126 and are arranged to retain the vehicle body locating members within recesses 124 during load carrying or rearward tipping.

The inward end of left hand rod 128 is pivotally connected to one end of arm 129 and the inward end of right hand rod 128 is pivotally connected to one end of arm 130. Arms 129 and 130 extend parallel to transverse member 105 and their other ends pivotally attached to one end of a longitudinally extending link member 131 the other end of which is nonrotatably attached to one end of pivot pin 132 carried in bracket 133 for rotation in a vertical plane. A link member 144 extending at right angles to member 131 has one end non-rotatably attached to the other end of pivot pin 132. The other end of link member 134 is pivotally attached to one end of rod operating member 135 which extends longitudinally of the chassis parallel to side member 102 and passes through suitable apertures formed in transverse members 104,106 and 107.

Forward latch members 139 and 140 are provided at each end offronttransverse member 104 and consists of U-section channel members 141 each having upwardly extending side elements 142 and 143 parallel to chassis 100 and defining recesses 144 to accommodate forwardly mounted body locating members (72 of Figure 2).

In common with the rear latch members 110 and 111, each of the side elements 142 and 143 of channel members 141 contain concentrically formed apertures 145 and 146. Tubular members 147 are welded to elements 143 concentrically with apertures 145 and extend inwardly thereof and parallel to member 104.

Crank rods 148 have outward end portions extending into tube members 107 and inward end portions pivotally attached to an outer end of each of transverse arms 149 and 150 (right hand rod to arm 149 and left hand rod to arm 150). When right hand rod 148, for example, is caused through the action of rod 149 to extend through both apertures 145, 146 of latch 140, it retains the right hand forward mounted vehicle body locating member in recess 144.

The inner ends of arms 149 and 150 are pivotally connected to one end 152, of a forwardly extending arm 151 through pivot pin 153. Arm 151 is nonrotatably mounted about midway between its end portions on vertical pivot 155 located for pivotal movement in bracket 156. One end 163 of an operating handle 160 is attached to the other end 154 of arm 151. Operating handle 160 consists of two rods 161 and 162. End 164 of rod 162 is attached to a tube 165 in which is contained a spring member 166.

Rod 161 is a sliding fit within tube 165 to act against spring 166 when pushed from rightto left. Rod 161 also includes an abutment (not shown) that cooperates with an inwardly directed flange (not shown) at the end of tube 165 to prevent the rod being withdrawn from the tube when pulled from left to right.

A link member 170 having one end attached to the other end of pivot 155 extends parallel to link member 134 and in the same sense. The other end of link 170 is pivotally attached to the forward end of rod operating member 135.

As shown in Figure 3, the latch members and associated linkages are positioned in the neutral position, i.e. the position taken when the vehicle body is in the normal load carrying condition. In this position rear latch member 110 and 111 are each "closed" to retain the rear body locating members in recesses 124 and latch member 139, 140 are "open" to permit the forward body locating members to move out of recesses 144 in response to the extension of the hydraulic lifting ramp. In this position the vehicle body can be tipped rearwardly, transverse shaft 109 rotating with latch members 110 and 111.

If it is required that the body be tipped to the right, then rod 161 of handle 160 is pushed from right to left compressing spring 166 and causing end 154 of arm 151 to move to the left. Pivot 155 rotates within bracket 156 and end 152 of arm 151 moves to the right pushing arm 149 in the same direction and causing right hand rod 148 to close latch 140 by extending across the element 141 and through apertures 145 and 146to retain the forward mounted right hand body located member in recess 144 of latch 140. At the same time arm 150 pulls rod 148 of latch 139 outwardly along tube 147 away from aperture 145. The length of rod 148 is arranged such that with the operating handle 160 pushed to its maximum distance from right to left an end of rod 148 remains engaged in tube 147.

Since pivot 155 rotates under the action of handle 160 and arm 151, link member 170 is caused to swing about the pivot axis to pull operating rod 135 in a forward direction with the result that, under the action of link 134, pivot 132 link 131 and arm 129, rod 128 of latch 111 is pushed further through aperture 125 to maintain the latch in the locked position and arm 130 pulls rod 128 of latch 110 in the opposite direction and out of aperture 125 to withdraw it into tube 127, thus releasing the body locating member in recess 124 and enabling the body to be tipped about the right hand mounted body locating members that are retained in recess 124 and 144 of latch members 111 and 140.

To tip the body to the left the reverse proceedure is followed, operating handle 160 being pulled to the right to cause rod 148 attached to arm 150 to extend across element 141 and through aperture 146 to "close" latch 139, and rod 128 of latch 111 to be withdrawn into tube 127. Thus enabling the body locating member to move out of recess 124 of latch 111.

Claims (10)

1. A device for attachment to or forming an integral part of a vehicle chassis comprising a first pair of latch members mounted at the rear and on opposite sides of the said chassis for rotational movement about a common horizontal axis extending transversely of the chassis, a second pair of latch members non-rotatably mounted at the front and on opposite sides of the said chassis parallel to said first pair of latch members, each said latch member including a receiving element containing a recess to receive a corresponding locating member attached to the underside of the vehicle body and positioned to engage in the recess when the body is in the normal load carrying position, a locking element being mounted adjacent each said receiving element for movement between a first position in which the said locking member locks the said locating member into said element and a second position in which the said locking member allows the said locating memberto move out of the said element; the locking members forming part of said front mounted latch members normally being maintained in the said second position and the locking members forming part of the rear mounted latch members normally being maintained in said first position, whereby the body is in the normal load carrying position and can be tipped rearwardly, the rear latch members rotating about the said horizontal axis during said tipping movement, and including means actuable on each said locking member to cause both locking members on one side of the chassis to assume said first position and simultaneously to cause both locking members on the other side to assume said second position, whereby the body can be tipped sideways by movement about said locating members locked in the latch members on the said one side of the chassis.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the said locking elements are pivotally mounted for movement between said first and said second positions.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said locking elements are mounted for movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the vehicle chassis between said first and said second positions.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein said means comprises four cranked rods, one end of each rod being connected to an individual locking element to cause pivotal movement of said element between said first and said second positions, the opposite ends of said rod members connected to said rear mounted locking elements engaging a cam member located between said rear latch members and the opposite end of said rod members connected to said forward mounting locking elements engaging a second cam member located between said front pair of latch members, rotation of each cam member causing one associated rod to pivotaly move its associated locking element in one direction and the other associated rod to move its associated locking element in the opposite direction,

5.A device according to claim 4 wherein rotation of the cam members is controlled by a common linkage whereby the cams can be rotated simultaneously.

6. A device according to claim 3 wherein the locking elements comprise four rods slidabletrans- versely with respect to the vehicle chassis and arranged to engage in concentric apertures formed in opposite sides of each receiving element when in said first position, whereby selected vehicle body locating members may be locked in their respective recesses; movement of the rods being controlled by pivotally mounted levers actuated by an operating means whereby movement of the means in one direction causes one of the front mounting locking elements to engage in the concentric apertures formed in its associated receiving element and simultaneously to cause the locking element of the diagonally opposite rear latch member to be withdrawn, whereby the vehicle body may be tipped sideways about the body locating elements locked in the latches on the one said side of the vehicle.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the operating means is a handle.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for controlling the movement of the locking members is located at the front end of the chassis.

9. A device permitting three way tipping of a vehicle body on its chassis substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings

10. A device permitting three way tipping of a vehicle body on its chassis substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the drawings.