Removable axle method incorporated within a collapsable motorcycle trailer

A motor cycle trailer as shown in FIG. 1. wherein the axle item 1 can be easily removed by a locking pin arrangement without the use of tools, this enables collapsing of the trailer for storage purposes to be carried out within an acceptable time scale.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the method in which the axle on a collapsible trailer, capable of carrying a single or multiple motorcycles, can be attached and removed from the trailer.

Conventional collapsible motorcycle trailers available, at the present time, require the necessity of tools to remove the main trailer axle, thus reducing the practicability of the concept of a collapsible trailer, which is—to be used for the purpose of transporting a motorcycle or motorcycles to their destination and then being able to be collapsed for storage. This storage may be in the boot of the car for a return journey, or to reduce the possibility of trailer theft and thus the operation of collapsing the trailer may be done on the roadside. It is an advantage to collapse the trailer in the minimum time period and preferably without tools, without compromising its strength. Another method of attaching the axle is to feed its whole length through a fixed aperture and fixing it centrally. This method can also require tools to fix the axle firmly in place and requires more space around the work area to withdraw the axle and often results in undesirable scratched paint or metal surfaces as withdrawal takes place. The invention seeks to improve upon the aforesaid problems and is described as follows:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of an axle clamp with locking pin arrangement, which is incorporated into the trailer design to enable the axle to be quickly removable without the use of any tools, whilst maintaining the strength required enabling the function of the axle, which is a critical part of the trailer.

By allowing the removal of the axle by withdrawing one locking pin and releasing the clamp, the overall time required to collapse the trailer is reduced to an acceptable timescale and no tools are required to complete the process.

Preferably, the clamping of the axle and the locking pin remove the possibility of the axle being withdrawn in any direction.

Preferably, the weight of the load carried by the trailer increases the clamping effect around the axle thus reducing the possibility of axle withdrawal.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

For this example only the construction material is steel, with individual parts of the assembly screwed together, but these could also be welded together.

A trailer beam,4and5ofFIGS. 1,2and3, hinge/pivot at point ‘D’ this hinge point is suitably robust using pivoting bosses8FIG. 3, and fixing screw's9FIG. 2, to avoid possibility of deformation in beam sections4and5at point ‘D’.

The position of pivot point D′ is set centrally above the ‘C’ shaped opening, indicated by arrow ‘E’ in plate2FIGS. 2 and 3, and when in the closed built-up position with axle located within, is centrally above the corresponding ‘C’ shaped opening in3. Pivot point ‘D’ facilitates the opening up of plates2and3FIGS. 2 and 3, and the closing of plates2and3, so that the ‘C’-shaped openings in plates2and3form a completely enclosed aperture sized accordingly to tightly fit the axle1FIGS. 1,2and3.

Chamfer7FIG. 3, in plate3FIGS. 2 and 3, acts to lead-in the axle and add additional clamping force and gives clearance to the rotating path of plate3around axleFIGS. 1,2and3.

The distance from the pivot point ‘D’ to the furthest part of the axle1FIGS. 1,2and3, in its normal built up position, is sufficiently large enough to reduce the overall pressure on the axle1from plates2and3by the load indicated by arrows13′FIG. 1but still present enough to adequately clamp the axle1.

Additional clamping force and clamping area is applied by trailer beam sections10and11FIG. 3, by having surfaces in line with the clamping face of plates2and3, also beam sections10and11extend to the furthest parts of the clamped axle face which increases the load bearing area on all clamping components.

Identical parts to plates2and3as indicated by plates12and13FIG. 3, symmetrically positioned on the far side of the trailer to complete the clamping arrangement.

To attach axle1FIGS. 1,2and3, to the trailer beam, beam section4FIGS. 1,2and3, is pivotally raised as indicated byFIG. 3, allowing axle1to be position into the ‘C’-shaped recess in plateFIGS. 2 and 3, beam section4is then pivotally lowered so that the ‘C’-shaped recess in plate3FIGS. 2 and 3, encloses around and applies pressure to axle1. Finally a locking pin6FIGS. 2 and 3is passed through hole16FIG. 3, in beam section4, through hole17FIG. 3, in beam section5and through hole15FIG. 3, in axle1, an R-clip14FIGS. 2 and 3, is fitted to the end of pin6FIGS. 2 and 3to prevent the removal of the pin6.

PinFIGS. 2 and 3, prevents the removal of axle1in a sideways direction and also prevents beam sections4and5FIGS. 2 and 3from being pivotally moved in respect to each other or the axle1.

Removal of the axle1is the above reverse of the procedure.

All the hereinbefore description is reliant upon both the material and dimensions satisfying the design criteria.