TRAILER

REMORQUE

English Abstract

The invention relates to a trailer hitchable to a passenger car, a van or the
like, comprising a separate chassis element (1) equipped
with wheels (3), and an interchangeable platform (10) mountable thereon, said
chassis element (1) being provided with means (5) for hauling
the platform (10) on top of the chassis element (1). The chassis element (1)
has its rear section provided with a guide roller (2) close to
an axial line extending between the wheels (3), and that the underside of the
platform ( 10) is provided with a guide bar (13), extending
lengthwise of the platform (10) and intended for cooperation with the guide
roller (2) as the platform is being hauled on top of the chassis
element (1).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une remorque pouvant être attelée à une voiture, à un bus, etc., qui comprend un élément châssis séparé (1), pourvu de roues (3), et une plate-forme (10) interchangeable pouvant être montée sur ledit élément châssis (1). Celui-ci comporte un organe (5) permettant de hisser la plate-forme (10) sur ledit élément châssis (1). La partie arrière de ce dernier comporte une poulie de guidage (2) disposée à proximité d'une ligne axiale reliant les roues (3). La face inférieure de la plate-forme (10) comporte une barre de guidage (13) allongée longitudinalement sous ladite plate-forme (10) et conçue pour coopérer avec la poulie de guidage (2) quand on hisse la plate-forme sur l'élément châssis (1).

Claims

7
Claims
1. A light-duty trailer hitchable to a passenger car, a van or the like,
comprising a separate chassis element equipped with wheels, and an
interchangeable platform mountable thereon, said chassis element being
provided with means for hauling the platform on top of the chassis element,
characterized in that the chassis element has its rear section provided with a
guide roller close to an axial line extending between the wheels, and that the
underside of the platform is provided with a guide bar, extending lengthwise
of
the platform and intended for cooperation with the guide roller as the
platform is
being hauled on top of the chassis element.
2. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chassis element
is
further provided with bearing rollers present in its top side for moving the
platform
on top of the chassis element.
3. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guide bar has a
cross-section in the shape of a reversed U, and that the guide roller is
provided
with a slot for accommodating the downward flanks of the guide bar.
4. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 1, further comprising locking
means for locking the interchangeable platform at a desired spot to the
chassis
element.
5. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 4, wherein the locking means
include a locking bolt movable crosswise relative to the length of the chassis
element, and a runner set on the bottom edge of the lengthwise side of the
interchangeable platform and provided with attachment holes for the locking
bolt.
6. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 5, wherein the locking bolt is
provided with a tapering tip portion.

8
7. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 2, wherein the guide bar has a
cross-section in the shape of a reversed U, and that the guide roller is
provided
with a slot for accommodating the downward flanks of the guide bar.
8. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 7, further comprising locking
means for locking the interchangeable platform at a desired spot to the
chassis
element.
9. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 8, wherein the locking means
include a locking bolt movable crosswise relative to the length of the chassis
element, and a runner set on the bottom edge of the lengthwise side of the
interchangeable platform and provided with attachment holes for the locking
bolt.
10. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 9, wherein the locking bolt
is
provided with a tapering tip portion.
11. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 2, further comprising locking
means for locking the interchangeable platform at a desired spot to the
chassis
element.
12. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 11, wherein the locking means
include a locking bolt movable crosswise relative to the length of the chassis
element, and a runner set on the bottom edge of the lengthwise side of the
interchangeable platform and provided with attachment holes for the locking
bolt.
13. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 12, wherein the locking bolt
is
provided with a tapering tip portion.
14. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 3, further comprising locking
means for locking the interchangeable platform at a desired spot to the
chassis
element.

9
15. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 14, wherein the locking means
include a locking bolt movable crosswise relative to the length of the chassis
element, and a runner set on the bottom edge of the lengthwise side of the
interchangeable platform and provided with attachment holes for the locking
bolt.
16. The light-duty trailer as set forth in claim 15, wherein the locking bolt
is
provided with a tapering tip portion.

Description

CA 02294419 1999-12-17
WO 98/58817 PCT/FI98100493
1
Trailer
The present invention relates to a trailer hitchable to a passenger car, a van
or
the like, comprising a separate chassis element equipped with wheels, and an
interchangeable platform mountable thereon, said chassis element being
provided with means for hauling the platform on top of the chassis element.
The recommended beam weight for a trailer towed by a car or a van is about
30-40 kg, i.e. the fluctuation range is quite barrow. In commercially
available
light-duty trailers, the balance problem can only be solved by loading the
trailer
properly. If the beam weight is too heavy or light, the load must be shifted
and
secured to another position. it is required that the platform of an
interchangeable-platform trailer can also be loaded when lowered down from
the top of the chassis. Thus, the centre of gravity of a platform is set in
various
positions, depending on the amount, weight, and position of a load. One object
of the present invention is to provide such a car- or van-pulled trailer that
is
suitable for a multitude of applications by readily replacing the platform and
wherein the beam weight can be set at an optimal level without rearranging the
loading, even though the centre of gravity of a loaded platform cannot be
known
in advance. Another object is to provide an interchangeable-platform trailer,
wherein the beam weight can be maintained during the course of lifting and
lowering the platform at such a level that the chassis can be worked with even
when disconnected from the tractor vehicle without the load urging to wrench
the beam vigorously upright.
In addition, it is necessary that the interchangeable platform can be secured
to
the chassis in various locations, which is why the locking must be simple and
absolutely reliable in operation, nor can it be releasable in any conditions
by
itself. Hence, still another object of the present invention is to provide a
suffi-
ciently user-friendly locking system, which is readily and conveniently secur-
able. Yet another further object of the invention is to provide an
interchangeable-platform trailer, wherein the platform can be brought on top
of

CA 02294419 2004-12-O1
2
the chassis, even if the chassis and the platform were not absolutely in line
or
register with each other. A further object of the invention is to provide a
solution,
which is operable also in soft terrain and in the case of a platform frozen to
the
ground.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
light-duty trailer hitchable to a passenger car, a van or the like, comprising
a
separate chassis element equipped with wheels, and an interchangeable platform
mountable thereon, said chassis element being provided with means for hauling
the platform on top of the chassis element, characterized in that the chassis
element has its rear section provided with a guide roller close to an axial
line
extending between the wheels, and that the underside of the platform is
provided
with a guide bar, extending lengthwise of the platform and intended for
cooperation with the guide roller as the platform is being hauled on top of
the
chassis element.
The invention will now be described with reference made to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a chassis element for a trailer of the invention in one
embodiment
and in a plan view;
FIG. 2 shows the chassis element of FIG. 1 in a view from behind;
FIG. 3 shows the chassis element of FIG. 1 together with an interchangeable
platform;
FIG. 4 shows the condition of FIG. 3 in a lateral view;
FIG. 5 shows one detail in a trailer solution of the invention; and
FIG. 6 shows the same detail in an enlarged view.
According to the invention, the interchangeable-platform trailer of the
invention
comprises a chassis element 1 fitted with wheels 3, and an interchangeable
platform 10 mountable on top of the same. The chassis element 1 is provided
with a hauling means 5, e.g. a winch, including a hauling cable, e.g. a rope,
chain, a line or the like (hauling cable is not shown in the figures) for
pulling the

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interchangeable platform on top of the chassis element 1. According to the
invention, the chassis element 1 has its rear section provided with a guide
roller
2 close to an axial line 15 extending between the wheels 3. By virtue of this
configuration, the vertical force vector extending downwards upon hauling the
platform 10 on top of the chassis 1 is positioned so close to the wheel axle
that
the tow bar or beam in its released condition does not rise up at any time. On
the other hand, the underside of the platform 10 is provided with a guide bar
13,
extending lengthwise of the platform and intended for cooperation with the
guide roller 2 as the platform is being hauled on top of the chassis element
1. In
addition, the top side of the chassis element 1 is provided with bearing
rollers 9
for moving the platform on top of the chassis element. These include rearmost
bearing rollers 9a for receiving the platform and for preventing a lateral
tilting of
the platform during the course of lifting the platform. These rearmost bearing
rollers 9a are preferably located slightly inwards from the axial line of the
guide
roller 2. Such a set-in of the rear rollers enables the platform to be lifted
on top
of the chassis in a slightly inclined position, nor does the platform get
stuck
underneath the rear rollers during its lifting process. The guide bar 13
present
in the underside of the platform 10 has a cross-section in the shape of a
reversed U and the guide roller 2 is provided with a slot 14 for accommodating
the downward flanks of the guide bar 13 (figs. 5 and 6). The hauling cable is
preferably adapted to be secured inside the guide bar 13.
The interchangeable-platform trailer of the invention is further provided with
a
locking mechanism 6, comprising a linkage 6 which is pivotable by means of a
lever 18 and which in the present embodiment includes four locking bolts 7
movable in the direction transverse to the length of the chassis element 1
through guide holes included in guides 19 mounted on the sides of the chassis
element. The locking mechanism 6 is preferably provided with spring means
(not shown), which urge to pull the linkage to a locking position upon
releasing
the operating lever 18. The locking bolts 7 are further provided with a
tapering,
e.g. conical or wedge-shaped tip portion 8 for facilitating the guidance
thereof
through locking holes 12 present in a runner 11 fitted below the lengthwise
side

CA 02294419 1999-12-17
WO 98/58817 PCT/FI98/00493
4
edge of the platform 10. Fig. 3 depicts the interchangeable platform 10 placed
in a slightly inclined position on top of the chassis element 1. When hauling
the
platform 10 onto the chassis element 1, the tires 3 function as guides. Thus,
fenders 4 are turned aside (figs. 2 and 3). The slot 14 in the guide roller 2
is
bevelled in terms of its flanks and, hence, the guide bar 13 is able to travel
on
top of the guide roller 2 also in a position somewhat misaiigned relative to
the
chassis element 1. When the platform has been hauled onto the chassis
element 1 sufficiently far to bring the centre of gravity of the platform
close to
the guide roller 2, the trailing edge of the platform leaves the ground. At
that
point, the hauling cable turns the misaligned platform to a perfect alignment
with
the chassis. When the platform has been hauled onto the platform to a point
appropriate in terms of the beam weight, the lever 18 is operated for pushing
the locking bolts 7 through the locking holes 12 present in the runner 11
fastened to the underside of the platform for locking the platform in place.
The
conical tip 8 of the locking bolt 7 assists the bolt in finding the hole, even
if the
components were not in a perfect alignment with each other. The locking bolt 7
and the hole 12 in the runner 11 can be positioned in such a manner that the
locking bolt 7 elevates the platform upon passing through the hole 12. A
result
of this arrangement is that the small amount of ice, snow, or dirt possibly
present on the underside of the runner does not prevent engagement of the
locking system due to an unexpected difference in elevation.

Representative Drawing